Worth The Wait by K. Bromberg

Blurb:

From New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg comes a new, sexy standalone about taking chances and finding love when it’s least expected. Or wanted.

This whole contest was supposed to be easy. I know, I know. Famous last words.

It’s a long story, but I messed up at work. Big time. To earn back the trust of my boss, I promised to save one of our magazines. Yep. That Hot Dad contest you’ve seen advertised all over the place was my idea. And if I’m successful, if I’m able to increase our online readership, then I get a shot at my dream job.

But the one thing I never expected to happen, happened: Contestant number ten, Grayson Malone. Hello, Mr. Difficult. And did I mention sexy as hell?

Unfortunately he knows me. The old me, anyway. And while we might be older now, I remind him of before. Of the woman who broke his heart, who hardened him, and who left him alone to raise the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen.

But I don’t want a relationship. And I definitely don’t fall for single dads with baggage. Even ones with chiseled abs and killer smiles.

But he got to me. They got to me. Him and his son and their messy, crazy life. But I got to him too. I see the stolen glances. I feel the walls he built start to crumble. I recognize that there’s an unexpected beauty to the chaos in his life.

And now that the contest is about to end, we’re left to decide whether the last six months were just fun or if what we have is worth risking it all?

Find on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2wIhWss

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2rJg0u0

Amazon PB: https://amzn.to/2Il2sjF

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2KZLSDL

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2L6WSPI
iBooks: https://smarturl.it/WTRiBooks
B&N: https://smarturl.it/WTRBN
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/WTRKobo

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: May 2018.

I'm still a little unsure as to where to start this, it's been days and I'm still no closer to putting into words how much I truly enjoyed Worth The Risk. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, the usual angst that I can count on in a Bromberg novel, yeah sure but the dreamy cover, the somewhat sombre brother we'd caught glimpses of in the previous books in the Malone brothers series, the allure of a strong and sassy heroine that was owning her sh*t even in the blurb and there wasn't a chance I'd look past this book.

“You did this,”
“Did what?” Her eyes narrow. Her hand goes to press against her chest.
“Made me want you.”

Grayson Malone is an enigma in so many ways, the smouldering single dad to a young son, the dedicated 'copter pilot, the steady and stable son in a family of boys. Outwardly, Grayson seems to have life figured out, his life is neatly defined by the roles he plays. Father. Son. Pilot. Brother. Uncle. He's known in his community in the way only someone who's grown up in a small town can be. Everyone thinking they know Grayson, while it's merely carefully constructed half truths, hearsay and unsubstantiated rumour. Regardless of what people choose to believe or say about him, Grayson has only two plans, go to work everyday and be the best father he can be.

Sidney Thornton has long lived with the crushing weight of expectation from her father. She left her small town life years ago and never looked back. Always destined for bigger things then her hometown could provide she left after graduation and didn't look back. The thrill of city life isn't always what you expect, and the shine starts to fade. Mistakes were made and consequences have her heading back home.

"I love you, damn it, and I don't have a f*cking clue what to do about it other than to ask you to choose me. To tell me I'm worth the risk."

Bromberg writes angst with the best, her ability to weave together a world you want to lose yourself in second to none. Worth The Risk is the very epitome of a cat and mouse tale come to life, Grayson and Sidney circle each other while their chemistry simmered just beneath the surface. It's that za za zing you want in Romance, that snap, crackle and pop that draws you in and holds you captive and demands you pay attention. The more desperately Sidney and Grayson fought against the pull they felt, the more enamoured I was by Bromberg's words. The more these two enigmatic characters gave into temptation the move I craved those stolen moments and sizzling touches. It's in those moments when the desperation of the characters bleeds through the pages, when the words hit you full force that their pain, their elation, their fear, their joy becomes yours, that you can recognise what you're reading for what it is... a story you'll never forget. This book absolutely stole my heart, unequivocally one of Bromberg's strongest works, Worth The Risk hit all the right notes making it utterly impossible to put down. 

About K. Bromberg:

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate but can’t help to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over one and a half million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in 2018.

With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero.

Connect with Kristy on Facebook

COMBUST (Everyday Heroes #2) by K.Bromberg

Blurb:

From New York Times Bestselling author, K. Bromberg, comes a new standalone book. Just how hot will firefighter Grady Malone turn up the heat?

Songwriter Dylan McCoy has been burned.

By her boyfriend she found in her bed . . . with someone else.

By the contract she signed that obligates her to work with him until the songs for his new album are complete.

By her agent when she asked Dylan to keep their breakup on the down-low.

When she finds herself in Sunnyville, she refuses to let her new roommate burn her too. Still . . . a rebound has never looked so good.

That’s her first thought when she sees firefighter Grady Malone.
Sexy. Charismatic. Unapologetic. He’s a man who carries his own scars—the ones on his back, the survivor’s guilt on his soul, and the fear in his heart.

When an unexpected visitor puts their roommate status to the test, will their undeniable attraction burn out, or will they both take a chance and play with fire?

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ErYLmX

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2E5LItN

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2s29jHd

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2DOKuj7
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/CombustiBooks
B&N: http://smarturl.it/CombustBN
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/CombustKobo

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: January 2018.

As a blogger and reviewer I've always found it easiest to sit down in front of my laptop as soon as I've finished a book, put pen to paper so to speak, and allow every feeling and emotion pour out as I pound the keys, hoping for something that will make sense of the thoughts swirling around my head. As I sat down at my trusty keyboard I expected the same ease that I usually find after finishing one of Bromberg's books, sure I may stumble over my words as I try to contain my emotions, but as I get the essence of my emotional reaction on screen I can weave together my words into something that should make sense. This time however I started typing...tap tap tap... then I hit delete...delete ...delete... this went on and on, until I pushed aside my laptop and settled back down with Grady and Dylan one more time.

Grady Malone knows all to well that bad things can happen at work, he's been there, done that, and got the physical and psychological scars to prove it. Working as a Fire Fighter sure sounds glamourous and heroic, but there's a side that only those who PROTECT and SERVE will truly every understand. With a family built on that very legacy, the Malone boys all truly know that each work day could be their last.

There’s definitely something beneath the sexiness of Grady Malone. Question is, do I want to get invested enough to find out what?

Dylan McCoy thought she had things mostly figured out, a career she's exceptional at, a boyfriend she loves, a life so far removed from the tension of her childhood, she knows with certainty that her partner will come home from work each day safe and unscathed, what she didn't expect though, was the heartache of finding him in bed with another woman.

Stop staring at me like I’m going to f*cking break. I’ve already broken, Dylan.

The dichotomy of these two characters couldn't have been more obvious, one who wants a family to call her own versus one who refuses to make a real emotional connection, but what truly stood out for me was how similar these two were, both strongly grounded in a sense of family, both who despite their need to guard their hearts love easily and unreservedly, two people whose souls sought each other out, seeing the fear and hurt behind the fast smiles and snappy comebacks and knew instinctively that this could be real.

In Combust as the name would suggest there's scorching heat, electric chemistry and everything you would expect from Bromberg, but as always what I truly love about this author is her ability to convey emotion so freely and openly. It's her inherent desire to give her readers an experience rather then just an experience. It's willingly checking your heart at the door as you step into her world despite not knowing how or what condition it will be returned to you in. It's sitting here, after scrapping seven versions of this review, and still not being sure how to adequately and articulately describe the range of emotions you're still feeling over two fictional characters. It's knowing that your life is richer from reading Bromberg's words.

About K. Bromberg:

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, Kristy has sold over one million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in the summer of 2018.

She recently released a two book, sports romance series, The Player and The Catch. Cuffed is the first book in her new Everyday Heroes trilogy. This three-book series will be about three brothers who are emergency responders, the jobs that call to them, and the women who challenge them. The remaining standalones in the series are Combust (January 29th) and Cockpit (Spring 2018).

Connect with K Bromberg on Facebook

The Catch (The Player #2) by K. Bromberg

Blurb:

After an unexpected twist of fate, All-Star catcher Easton Wylder is left questioning the loyalty of everyone around him.

Even the woman who shares his bed, Scout Dalton.

But if Easton thought being uprooted to the last place he expected was the only challenge life had to throw at him, he was dead wrong.

With an ailing shoulder and his career in limbo, his decision to make an unexpected change leads him to question everything – Scout’s love, family loyalties, and whether he can conquer the one obstacle he’s never been able to overcome. The secret he’s never shared with anyone.

He may be a man pushed to his limits, but he’s hell-bent on proving his worth no matter the cost.  

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tnTV79

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2tnYazP

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2tnYgYd

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2tnN91p

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/iBooksTheCatch
B&N: http://smarturl.it/NookTheCatch
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/KoboTheCatch

Kristine's Review:
Review: June 2017

Where do I even begin right now, I'm sitting here typing through bleary eyes, struggling to put into words everything I'm feeling, the swarm of emotions raging within me, mind a mess, heart beating wildly. I am overcome by the author's eloquence, by her ability to craft a beautifully raw story about life and love and pain and forgiveness. I am lost at sea, drowning in my feelings, as every word, every smile, every soft look and furtive glance washes over me one last time.

From the dramatic end of The Player I expected The Catch to begin with a bang, I expected fireworks and drama and that big AH HA moment where everything fell into place, I often forget that is not this particular author's way, Ms Bromberg likes to tease and titillate, I secretly think she likes the build up, the edge of your seat, need to know more feeling, she wants you so deeply invested in her characters and in her story that you're begging to know what comes next, and I was, so utterly invested, so incredibly engaged that I forgot about the journey, that at it's very core this story isn't just about a baseball star and a sports rehab hotshot, it's about families and life and love and despair and hurt and forgiveness, and grief and anguish, about finding someone who will love the parts of you're not even sure how to love yourself.

There were so many moments throughout this book that I found myself staggered by the sheer beauty of Bromberg's words, moments I found myself in awe of her ability to convey in words feelings and emotions I have never been able to...

"Both of their eyes close as she drinks - hers as she gets the fix she needs from the drug that provides it and his from knowing his love for her is not enough to break the cycle."

It's lines like that that make me stop, make me revel in old feelings of loss and despair, it's those moments that remind me of a childhood spent loving a father who loved the bottle more, it's those moments that quiet the buzz of adrenaline running through my veins and leave me spellbound that someone could write something so eloquently beautiful and raw that carve open that long closed part of mind and allow me to feel a little less alone.

"He hates her addiction - that much is obvious - so, he does the only thing he can: love her."

Bromberg quickly became a favourite author for me several years ago, with her witty banter and heartfelt dialogue, her strong heroines and dashing leading men. But beneath all that, what I truly adored was her ability to create characters who were rich and dense, who were flawed and relatable, who showed that we all face darkness in our lives, we all face trials and tribulations that we have to overcome, it was in those quiet moments when her characters were filled with pain and despair that the gravity of her message, the strength of her writing shone through.

"I want you. All of you. Your flaws. Your mistakes. Your achievements. Your shortcomings. Your love."

It's in those moments in The Catch, where Scout and Easton grow as individuals and together that Bromberg shows her talent, it's the small glances, the shy smiles, the looks of longing, of desperation, of passion and of love that show her ability to craft a story where the characters leap off the page and into our hearts. Where this story transcends everything I expected and gave me so much more than I could of hoped for, reminding me that ultimately the very greatest gift we can receive is unconditional love, a love that defies question, a love that knows no limit, that can not be defined.

"someone will love the parts of you that no one else knows how to love."

About K. Bromberg:

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, Kristy has sold over one million copies of her books and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times.

Her latest release is a sports romance (two books) titled The Player and The Catch. Up next is The Everyday Heroes series: three books on three brothers who are all emergency responders. And there are many more already outlined and ready to be written.

Connect with Kristy on Facebook

All That I Am (Men of Monroe #1) by Rachel Brookes

Blurb:

A kickass home décor boutique – tick
A sassy mouth and absolutely no filter – tick
A wall so strong no man could ever tear it down - tick, tick, tick!

Or so I thought.

Until I meet Detective Ben Hunt, the owner of exquisite blue eyes, a god-like physique and a seductive smirk that makes me weak at the knees. He charges into my life like a force of nature. No matter how hard I try to keep the walls up around my heart, he’s made it his mission to shatter them. I have no chance of resisting him, but I would make sure I won this tug of war.

Which was what I wanted.

Right? When did the idea of losing myself to him start to sound so good?

I wish Ben was the only battle I faced. There’s a reason this small town needs a good detective. One way or another I’m going to have to brace for impact, because no wall I build can stop the new threat thundering toward Monroe.

After all, secrets only stay a secret for so long around here.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2rDNoSr...
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/ATIA-amazonUK
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/ATIA-amazonAU
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2r2DjRY.

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: May 2017.

When Rachel Brookes first spoke of All That I Am over a year ago, the thought of midtown American filled with these alpha broody men had me intrigued, I mean was it based on a real place, could I visit there?? The Author often teased that ATIA would be different to her previous books, and for a fan of her earlier work, statements like that could be met with equal parts eager anticipation and trepidation. Change after all is good, but there's often a healthy sense of fear that you may not love what comes next. In Brookes' newest release she shows a growth that even I as a seasoned reader wasn't anticipating, there's certainly a deeper realisation of her characters, one that is sure to resonate deeply with old and new readers alike.

"The scariest part wasn't what he said. The scariest part was how it made me feel."

For a self confessed lover of Alpha Hero's Brookes certainly created the strong, brooding type to a tea, Ben Hunt comes across as gruff and demanding, hard edged and tightly controlled, he commands a certain air of authority that his career belies. Hunt is clearly not a man to be trifled with, as a decorated Detective he is clearly a shrewd operator, determined to undercover the worst of society and put them behind bars where they can't hurt anyone else.

"My heart screamed as his words penetrated. How could I love what he said but in the next breath want to erase every memory I had of him."

On the outset Sasha Hamilton is all sass and bravado, she's strong, determined and independent, she's had enough knock downs and set backs in her life to have learnt how to look after herself, she's been meticulous in surrounding herself with a small group of people she trusts, to those outside her circle Sasha is the girl about town, who's carefree and loving life, but on the inside she's still weathering the effects of one too many past hurts to fully trust anyone or let them in.

"Give me the keys to your heart, Sweetheart. You won't regret it. Let me get in there and start clearing out the hurt. I don't want to keep losing you."

When the hot headed Hunt and smart mouthed Sasha collide both of their lives shift, it's a battle of wills, where they need to be prepared to bend and break to have a chance at something permanent and real. Brookes' flexes ability to create the kind of angsty, suspense that romance readers love, with a sense of foreboding that overshadows so much of this story, I felt myself simultaneously wanting to read more and savour what I was sure to be short lived moments of peace. With a heady mix of impending fear, and heart swelling joy, All That I Am struck all the right notes for a book that felt almost impossible to put down. For fans of Kristen Ashley, lovers of dirty talking, raw and masculine absolute alpha males, of strong and fiery heroines who seem to come back swinging no matter how many times the world seems to knock them down, for fans of steamy romance with a side of edge of your seat suspense, and most importantly, for readers who want to be immersed so deeply in their books that they don't ever want to leave All That I Am is for you.

"Let me be the man who gives you the life a woman as incredible as you deserves."

About Rachel Brookes:

Rachel Brookes is from the east coast of Australia and writes angst ridden love stories with a pinch of craziness, a dash of drama, a cup of romance, and a bucketload of sexiness. With five novels currently published, she is constantly writing and getting ready to release her next hero and heroine into the world. An avid reader, Rachel can often be found with her kindle in her hand, and getting lost in a happily ever after. She has an unhealthy obsession with The Walking Dead, and social media, and loves hearing from readers.

Connect with Rachel on Facebook

Singe (Guardian Protection #1) by Aly Martinez

Blurb:

She was my nightmare. Every time I closed my eyes, I watched her fall into that inferno. Over and over, I failed to save her.

I hadn’t been able to reach her, and the guilt only burned hotter over time. Four years later, I was the unreachable one.

Heroes aren’t always saints. Sometimes, we’re nothing more than jaded sinners driven by sleepless nights and hearts full of darkness.

And then I met her. She was a dreamer who managed to soothe my scars and heal my wounds.

But, as the flames closed in around us, I feared I wasn’t the right man to save her. That is until I realized she was the one woman I’d burn the world down to protect.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2kGoPEr

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2kGm3PE

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kfyRdL

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2l29gCU
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kC4kru

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

I discovered Aly Martinez with The Fall Up, I was utterly spellbound by her ability to draw in the reader, her talent absolutely captivated me, when news of Singe hit the interwebs I was intrigued, why every romance reader has a soft spot for strong alpha heroes, it was the somewhat eerie blurb that truly captured my attention.  

Four years ago Jude Levitt, was doing what he had always dreamt of and was working as a Cop, one night, long after he had finished his shift he received a phone call that would change his life, summoned to a disturbance, he found a home in flames, and an ethereal beauty who he knew he couldn't save, that night would alter more than just his life.

"My Butterfly was beautiful. Still a little broke. Still a little scared. But weren't we all."

Years after the fire that changed Jude's life, he finds himself the newest recruit for Guardian Protection, battling alpha males and their top dog mentality is nothing new, but finding his feet and proving himself is to be harder then he anticipated, when he meets Rhion Park, his world is set to shift once again.

"I shrank back, but he kept talking. In paragraphs. Horrible, heartbreaking paragraphs."

Martinez paints a picture so vivid that it plays through the mind like a movie reel, everything about her use of imagery sets the scene so effortlessly that you lose yourself in the world she creates. Her ability to weave magic that is both heartbreakingly raw and sweetly romantic ensured that Singe would stand out in my mind long after I turned the last page. Singe perfectly tells the story of two people recovering from a past that has shaped the way the inhabit the world, it has forced them to be more aware of their world, and in it's most extreme forced one to nurture the need to protect and for the other the need to hide behind closed doors, and yet in each they find something they both equally possessed but had forgotten they had, it was in those quiet moments when they were discovering each other that they found something that every romantic at heart desires, a reason to take that step forward, into someone else's light. Heartbreakingly beautiful, raw and real, this story is about second chances, letting go and moving on, and true to Martinez's talent, is one that will linger in my mind for a long time to come.

About Aly Martinez:

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five- including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

Connect with Aly on Facebook

Down Shift (A Driven Novel) by K. Bromberg

Blurb:

The New York Times bestselling Driven series continues with a standalone story about finding love where you least expect it…

Behind the wheel, racing champion Zander Donavan is at the top of his game. But after too much excess in his personal life, he’s forced to step away. He needs to accomplish something all on his own—outside of his famous father’s shadow.

Getty Caster is running away from the abuse that clouds her past. She thinks she’s found the perfect escape—until she discovers a stranger in the beachside cottage she’d been promised. He’s undeniably sexy, but she’s there to heal. Alone.

Before long though, fighting with each other turns into fighting their attraction. And giving into desire sets off a chain reaction that has their pasts colliding. With an unexpected love on the line, can they overcome the fallout to build a future?

Find on Goodreads


Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cLRzYt

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2cLKDKG
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2beXGVq
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2bg3ATq
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ViqTO8
iBooks: http://apple.co/1PlnyM9
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1KeJzKE

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: October 2016.

"She's beautifully scarred, gorgeously flawed, irresistibly captivating."

I've become very familiar with procrastination lately, in fact it's most evident in the fact that Down Shift has been sitting on my kindle for over a month and yet I couldn't bring myself to read it, this may not seem overly concerning in and of itself unless you know that Down Shift is one of my most anticipated reads of 2016. Bromberg cemented herself as a MUST READ author way back when I picked up Driven for the first time, over the years that followed and with each subsequent book she has released I've fallen more in love with her words, more in love with the deeply flawed characters she's created, more in love with the worlds she so eloquently breathes life into.

"I've seen a lot of sh*t in my life...more than you could probably imagine. So phrase it any way you want to, deny it every which way from Sunday, but until you face whatever it is, nothing's going to get fixed."

Zander Donovan was a child when he first made on impression on readers minds and scored himself on their hearts, in the years that have followed he's grown up, he's become every inch of the man Colton and Rylee were sure to raise, a young man that despite having the world at his feet is currently crippled by the memories that are flooding his mind, his past enough to derail even the strongest of men. When his life veers even further offcourse, Zander takes a much needed respite from his usual high octane, privileged existence to reconnect with himself, to unpack all the baggage that is clouding his mind and to make peace with the man he is.

"Everybody's running from something Getty."

Zetty Caster grew up in a world of privilege and excess, her early childhood from memory seemed almost perfect, until the death of her mother detonated her perfect existence, left with a father that saw her as nothing more than pawn used and traded for professional gain. When Getty leaves that only life she's even known and runs to PineRidge to start over, she's going to be self sufficient, and depend on no one but herself, she'll prove to herself that everything she's been conditioned to believe isn't true.

"The invisible scars are the ones that cut the deepest and stay with you the longest."

Admittedly my procrastination was due largely to the impossibly high expectations I was creating in my mind, every time I decided to bite the bullet and dive in, I found myself creating roadblocks, what if my anticipation overshadowed my reading enjoyment, what if in my desperation to devour Bromberg's words my reaction was merely lacklustre, what if I'd built it up to be more than what it was....that fear, the anxiety, the uncertainty of taking a leap of faith, that knowledge that sometimes you need to just jump is exactly the message that the author weaves throughout her tale. Instead of allowing my fears of anticipation to cloud my mind further, I spent my day lost in Bromberg's words, reading and rereading, revelling in that moment that every reader dreams about, the one that hit's you like a freight train, that demands your attention, that stifles your breath and captures your heart. I allowed her words to wash over me, set fire to my senses, invigorate my soul, I sat there helpless to do anything other than FEEL and by gosh....that heart thumping, goose pebbled skin, eyes bright and breathing shallow feeling can't be replicated, in truth, it can barely be explained. Now as I sit here deliciously sated, mind and soul enriched, heart soaring I see the relevance of Bromberg's hashtags, I'm reminded that sometimes the best advice you can hear is to JUST JUMP.

"You've left your old life behind, leapt without looking, and I think before you face your father tonight, you need something to ground you too. Something to remind you that you did this on your own, started a new life, your way, and that you're not the woman your father or Ethan thought you were. You're strong. And beautiful. And brave. Maybe doing this will help you see it."

About K. Bromberg:

Multi-New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

She’s a mixture of most of her female characters: sassy, intelligent, stubborn, reserved, outgoing, driven, emotional, strong, and wears her heart on her sleeve. All of which she displays daily with her husband and three children where they live in Southern California.

On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Since then she has written The Driven Series (Driven, Fueled, Crashed, Raced, Aced), the standalone Driven Novels (Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, Hard Beat, and Down Shift (Releasing 10/4/16)), and a short story titled UnRaveled. She is currently finishing up Sweet Cheeks a standalone novel out at the end of 2016.

Her plans for 2017 include a sports romance duet (The Player (#1) and The Catch (#2)) and the Everyday Heroes series (Cuffed (#1), Combust (#2), and Cockpit (#3). She’s also writing a novella for the 1,001 Dark Night series that will be out in February 2017.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media.
Connect with Kristy on Facebook

The Goal (Off Campus #4) by Elle Kennedy

New Cover

Original Cover

Blurb:

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.
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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2djjFqt

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2cSNtLV

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dthHHk

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2ctRCTT
B&N: http://bit.ly/2cRoyWK
iBooks: http://apple.co/1Ye8BLO

Purchase:

The Deal (Off Campus #1)

The Mistake (Off Campus #2)

The Score (Off Campus #3)

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: September 2016.

Elle Kennedy has quickly become one of my favourite authors, the Off Campus series I often find myself rereading when I'm in a funk, there's something inherently thrilling about these big, brooding, dirty talking ice hockey players that ticks all the right boxes for me. Throughout the previous books in the Off Campus series, I've found myself particularly drawn to John Tucker, the lovable larrikin of the house, the man that ensures that the groceries are done and meals are cooked, the one that makes sure the house and the team continues to function. I wasn't under any false impressions that Tuck didn't enjoy the perks of being a former Frozen Four winner, surely having women throwing themselves at him wasn't a chore, being one of the undisputed Kings of school wouldn't have hurt, but there was always something deeper there that intrigued me, something about him that left me eager for more, I like most readers finished The Score absolutely desperate for The Goal, not only for Tuck but for the elusive Sabrina.

"I'm trashy, I live with trashy people. I belong in a trashy place. The question is, will I ever be able to rub off the stench of my past to belong at Harvard? I thought I could."

Throughout the previous books Sabrina seemed like a stuck up b*tch to put it mildly, she is self sufficient to the extreme, determined to excel in everything she takes on, tough as nails in every aspect of her life. Sabrina's life is carefully constructed timetable, every activity, every moment scheduled to precision, while she may be well known on campus, very few actually truly know her, she knows how to get in, get off and get out, strict rules for all of her brief sexual encounters, and keeping people at a distance is a way of life. Everything about Sabrina shouts stand back and stay away, while most people see the out of reach, bitchy façade she puts on, Tuck see's past it all and is instantly intrigued, desperate to know more about the woman who quickly captured his attention.

"I'm usually the strong one. But right now I don't feel strong at all."

Tuck has seen both sides of the proverbial coin, growing up he was all to aware of the trials of living in a single income home, his widowed mother sacrificing to ensure he never went without, while still living a modest existence, despite living away at college, playing for a championship winning team, proud recipient of a scholarship and big man on campus he has dreams of something more, a career outside of hockey, a wife and children, his Southern charm showing through.

"You're the only one for me. My sun rises and sets on your smile. My heart beats because yours does.

What I adored so much about this story is that Sabrina makes no apology for who she is, and what she does, she's straight forward, blunt to a fault, Sabrina has only one goal in life, to work her way out of her soul crushing existence and to a life she's always dreamt of, one where she's self sufficient, financially stable, and shooting to the top of Harvard, kicking ass and taking names. She doesn't need a big circle of friends, to be liked or dare say loved, she certainly doesn't need a man, but for the first time in her life, with John Tucker she finds herself wanting one, wanting someone to share the load. For the first time in a long time, there wasn't a clear hero for me, both Sabrina and Tucker stole my heart in equal measure, while fans of this series will remember the bombshell that Elle Kennedy dropped at the end of The Score, with the two stories running partly concurrently, I expected to lose that WOW! factor, and I found myself even more drawn into the story, immediately invested because of that. While The Goal is the fourth book in the Off Campus series, all of these titles can be read as stand alones. While The Deal will always hold a special place in my heart, The Goal and in fact this entire series continues to go from strength to strength, everything about this book stole my heart,
with the perfect blend of heat, heart and humor The Goal hit the mark for me.

About Elle Kennedy:

New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

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Bittersweet (True North #1) by Sarina Bowen

Blurb:

The new series is set in Vermont. True North is populated by the tough, outdoorsy mountain men that populate the Green Mountain State. They raise cows and they grow apples. They chop a lot of wood, especially when they need to blow off steam. (Beards are optional but encouraged.)

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1UnC5Dj
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1U0FF9m
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1O8eCtA
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01G6493MO
iBooks: https://itun.es/au/dIHDab.l

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: June 2016.

Sarina Bowen wormed her way into my heart with her Ivy Years series and her co-written duology Him and Us, her writing style fresh and inviting, and yet as familiar as a warm embrace, her ability to draw the reader in almost immediately and to capture their attention almost effortlessly is a true testament to the talent she possesses.

Griff Shipley once had a possible NFL career in his future but the unexpected death of his father meant that his career aspirations were cut short so he could return home to take over running his families farm in Vermont. Griff is proof that life can change in the blink of an eye, ever since that fateful day he's spent his days doing what's expected of him, what's needed of him to assure his father's legacy doesn't die out. He's not resentful of the hand he's been dealt, but he also doesn't have a lot of time to spend devoting to women or relationships, until his eyes land on the sexy damsel in distress.

Audrey Kidder has lived under her mother's shadow for as long as she can remember, she flunked out of college and out of her mother's good graces years ago, discovering culinary school was the one bright spark in her otherwise dull existence. When he car gets a flat whilst on the backroads of Vermont the last person she expects to see is Griff Shipley, her one time college hook up.

Audrey has her fill of sh*t kicker jobs since embarking on a career as a chef, after all there's a reason they call it grunt work, as the wife of a chef I've heard horror stories of the kinds of jobs you can be given, peeling 180kg of carrots, cooking 100 chafing trays of mash potato, yep imagine you're most hated tasks in the kitchen and then picture doing it for 10 hours all the while being called "oi you" or "prep girl" sounds like a barrel of laughs right! Our plucky heroine isn't to be deterred though, out from corporate's rule, Audrey has been given a task, secure farmers in the Vermont area who will sell farm fresh to table produce at a good price for her boss, corporate owner of some of the best known restaurants around. In theory it seems easy enough, only things never run smoothly for Ms Kidder, but her greatest lesson might be entirely different from the one she originally imagined.

"This right here was my five year plan. I didn't know how it was going to work out yet. But I wasn't giving up."

Exactly like title, this story is equal parts sexy, sweet romance, and zappy, punchy, angst, Bowen's pacing as usual is en pointe, delivering every well timed zinger and sizzling swoon worthy sigh with great aplomb. Where Bittersweet could of been just another life after college story about the misunderstood jock and the down on her luck rich girl, it was a story that had depth, that evoked emotion, they say the thing about good books is that they always finish too fast, which was certainly true here. Not only did Griff and Audrey become the kind of hero and heroine you want to befriend, you would want to know, but Griff's family and farm hands were multi faceted, adding layer after layer to the story, sparking off ideas and hopes for the following books in this series. When an author so effortlessly captures you, has you invested, makes you crave more of her words while still reading, you know with certainty that it's a book you won't want to end.

Filled with the perfect blend of scintillating sexy moments that had me tugging at my collar, snark and wit as Griff and Audrey battled one another for control, and the absolute heart string tugging, swoon worthy moments where I found myself grinning like a goon as two people learnt to rely on someone else emotionally after so long of convincing themselves that they were an island. With Bittersweet I expected a deliciously dirty, sexy romp filled with mountain man, what I got instead was a beautifully rounded story that had me smiling from the first page, until the very last line.

About Sarina Bowen:

Sarina Bowen is the USA Today bestselling author of steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction. She lives in the wilds of Vermont.

She is the author of The Ivy Years, an award-winning series set amid the hockey team at an elite Connecticut college. Also, the The Gravity series.

With Elle Kennedy, Sarina is the author of HIM and US.

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The Spiral Down by Aly Martinez - Review

Blurb:

Standalone M/M romance.

I was afraid to fly.
He made me soar.

After years of climbing the ladder of success in the music industry, I finally had everything I could want.
Yet I still found myself wandering through life alone.

Captain Evan Roth was the one man I never saw coming.
Tall, dark, mysterious… Straight.

We were both damaged beyond repair and searching for something so elusive we weren’t sure it even existed.

But, when two broken souls collide in midair, falling is a given.

I just never expected to crave the spiral down.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1WBq1oi
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/22ck2pW
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1TcpnwN
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1OuY9dz
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1TQX3Kx

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: May 2016

When I say I loved The Fall Up it would be an understatement, see I didn't just love it, I adored it, I fell in love with Aly Martinez in that moment, The Fall Up earned itself a PLATINUM LIPSTICK and cemented it's place on my Favourite Books of All Time List, to say I was excited for The Spiral Down again would again be an understatement, to say I had high expectations...well again massive understatement, I may have squealed when I opened my kindle to find it waiting for me, it was with excitement and trepidation that I turned to the first page... I'll be honest in those first pages I didn't particularly like Henry Alexander, sure he was funny as hell, but in those first moments when he was cocky and the consummate playboy I didn't particularly like him, I told myself I wouldn't fall under his charms, I was resolute, I was determined, Evan Roth was going to be my main man and I was going to quietly...okay nothing I do is quietly...dislike Henry... I'm quite stubborn when I want to be, it's my Taurean pride at stake after all...but as much as I fought it, as much as I tired...I JUST COULDN'T HATE HENRY! He was so darn suave, and confident, and funny, so damn funny that I found myself laughing out loud and his quips and quick witted come backs, his relationship with Carter, with Levee, with Sam, but what truly dragged me over to the dark side was the pulling back of layer after layer of this complex man, I may not have been a huge fan of Henry Alexander every moment, but Henry Gilchrist...well he stole my heart.

"But there was one thing I knew; I wasn't wrong for being who I was."

Now, I might be going against the grain here, I know The Spiral Down was supposed to be Henry's book, but Evan Roth was the hero for me, everything about him absolutely dragged me in, I was invested immediately, I was desperate to learn more about him, it was like a shot to the nervous system, I was hooked, I craved his point of view, his words, his thoughts, and the more I read, the more I discovered, the more I fell in love with him, his inner most thoughts struck a chord deep inside and I got it, I got him, I relished that feeling, revelled in the way his words resonated.

"Or, more likely, he'd be the earthquake that was going to break me down before swallowing me whole. Either way, I wasn't going to be left standing. I just had to decide how long I wanted to fight."

There is so much here I want to tell you about, so many scenes that I have highlighted and earmarked, words of prose, of exquisite dialogue, under the cocky bravado, under the high flying life of affluence, under the perfect comedic timing, and under the scorching hot interludes was a story that touched my heart. Abandonment issues, lost love, hurt feelings, desperation for something bigger than anything they've even known. There's a ethereal quality watching Henry and Evan's story unfold, watching their connection go from one of raw lust to something deeper, something more intrinsic, something so all consuming that it left them feeling simultaneously strong as a lion and weak as a mouse. No longer able to deny their connection, no longer able to tell themselves it was animalistic lust, or explosive chemistry meant with certainty that failing to discuss the changing dynamics of their relationship was no longer possible.

"I miss him. His laugh. His randomness. The way he can captivate me from across a room. The rush I felt when we were together. It was the closest thing to flying I've ever experienced with my feet on the ground."

I wanted to hate Henry, truly I did, I wanted to be unaffected by his charms, but the heady combination of Evan and Henry, of Levee and Sam, of Carter, the raw explosive chemistry that leapt off the page and incinerated everything in sight, the heartbreaking honesty of facing everyone of your fears, everyone of your past hurts, the terrifying fear of opening yourself up to someone else, of giving them your heart and asking them not to break it left me reeling as I turned the last page, The Spiral Down isn't just MM, nor is it rock star romance, nor is it anyone thing, it's requires no labels because none of them can do it justice, put simply this is a book about soaring without wings.

Start back where it all began The Fall Up

About Aly Martinez:

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five- including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

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