Let's Get Textual & I Wanna Text You Up by Teagan Hunter

Blurb:

A wrong number is supposed to be just that—a wrong number.

Delete. Done.

Do not continue to text. Do not flirt.

A wrong number shouldn’t be the first person on your mind in the morning, or the last at night…and you’re definitely not supposed to talk them into buying a baby goat.

Because that would be weird.

When Zach Hastings and I get into a wrong-number mix-up, we don’t follow the rules. We keep texting and flirting, because he’s wicked funny and perfectly nerdy and a wonderful distraction.

I’m not looking for love, and Zach definitely had the wrong number.

But maybe…

Maybe he’s the right guy.

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Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: June 2018.

HOLY MOLY!! Seriously, where did this book come from, I'll be honest here and say Teagan Hunter is a new to me author, I was scrolling through a book recommendation thread in a book group on Facebook looking for authors and titles similar to the likes of Mariana Zapata, Sally Thorne, Christina Lauren, Alice Clayton, Helen Hoang, books that had that illusive spark we all seek. Something funny, a little zany, with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, with a depth that draws the reader in almost immediately...you know the unicorn of ROM COM world. I stumbled upon a post absolutely RAVING about Teagan Hunter, as soon as I read the duet titles I ran (figuratively of course, we all know I don't run... anywhere...ever) and #1clicked those badboys like it was a fire sale on lipstick.

I mean seriously....LET'S GET TEXTUAL... I love me so wordy jokes, they're so punny.... (I'll be here all week, try the chicken) any who I'm getting distracted, the point it, the titles alone drew me in, before I had seen the cover or read a blurb, and you want to know the best part? The first chapter absolutely sold me, witty dialogue, a meet cute I could go gaga over, this book played like a movie through mind, I was and in truth, still am absolutely smitten by Hunter's words. 

Delia, is newly single - despite it being a very amicable break up, she's still feeling the loss of something that was comforting if nothing else. Caleb wasn't her meant to be, there were no fireworks, no desperation to be near each other, no deep and meaningful conversations, it was a surface level relationship that was easy and fun, until it wasn't anymore. Not looking to jump back into the dating game, her focus is classes, hanging out with her bestie and roommate Zoe, and that's about it. When she receives a text from an unknown number she doesn't think much of it, chalking it up to her brother losing his phone yet again. As the texts continue she realises there's been a mix up of epic proportions. 

Enter Zack, when his roommate flubs the number of a business contact, he ends up sending a text to Delia. instead of an oops sorry wrong number, what follows is a steady stream of messages that both Delia and Zack enjoy far more than they could have anticipated. 

“You’re a cool dude.”

“A cool dude, huh? That’s what you call your best friend, or a guy you’ve stuck in the friend zone, not someone you keep kissing. Are you trying to friend-zone me, Delia?”

Let's Get Textual was fun, and light, and I found myself giggling while stopped at lights in traffic while my audio played, those two plus hours spent commuting to and from work suddenly felt too quick. I didn't want to leave my car, often finding myself squirrelling away extra moments to read one more chapter before heading into work, or home from my driveway. 

“Will you go on a second date with me?”

“We’re still in the middle of our first date, Zach. You can’t just ask me that out of the blue.”

“I already did, and I refuse to take it back.”

“What if I don’t like you by the end of this date?” I volley back.

“You honestly think that’s possible?” His dimples poke through his smile, and I know right then I’m going to say yes. “Say yes, Delia. Be wild. Do something crazy and fun.”

Zack is deliciously nerdy, and Delia, well she's got this take no sh*t vibe without the resting bitch face which I adored. It was their quirkiness that I loved, the back and forth, the push and pull that I found so enthralling, it was cute, and fun, and sweet, and sexy and so damn funny that it was absolutely impossible to put down, and that baby goat...don't even get me started on him...do yourself a favour a #1click Let's Get Textual now.

Blurb:

ROOMMATE WANTED
Chicks or dudes welcome!

Looking for a new roomie? I have a place for you! Like your music loud? I own headphones. Enjoy having late-night guests over? Again, headphones. Want someone to help pay the bills? Do the dishes? Take out the trash? You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours (metaphorically, of course).

Check us out, getting along already.

Must be able to pay first and last month's rent up front.
Must be okay with Breakfast & Beats.
No dogs.
No trying to sleep with me.
Two bedrooms. One bathroom.
$350/month plus electricity.

If interested, email ineedarobin@gmail.com.
P.S. Wiener pics sent directly to my grandmother. Don't do that crap to her.

This book does feature characters from Let's Get Textual but can be read as a standalone as the book does not follow the same timeline.

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Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: June 2018.

After the glorious high that was Let's Get Textual I had HIGH expectations, I mean come on... a baby goat... (trust me you'll understand when you read it) knowing I was diving into Zoe's story... well that had me positively giddy! Zoe as a supporting character in LGT was hilarious, but as the heroine she had a depth I didn't expect. When her bestie and roommate Delia moves out she needs to find a new roomie. In typical Zoe fashion her help ad is quirky and hilarious. 

Her search yields only one true candidate and it's the last person she could of expected, or wanted to be in such close proximity to. For the sake of keeping this review spoiler free I'm going to call the hero Mr C. These two are no strangers to one another, although they were never what you would call friends, they've spent sometime together while in college. Those surface level friendships we all have in life, deeper than an acquaintance but not someone you'd necessarily call to spend time with. Only lately Zoe has found her attention drifting to Mr C more than she expected.

“Where you’re from? That’s not you. Your dreams, your goals, those aspirations you hold so dear to your heart? Those are you. The rest of it only defines you as much as you let it.”

To the outside world Mr C seems to have his life together, talented, genuinely nice, everything he does he gives 100% too, but beneath the bright smile is a past that haunts him. Mr C is in need of a new place to stay, a place that is clean and quiet, with a roommate that won't ask too many questions or force him to open up and share anything real about himself.

"You know that's when I really started noticing you too. I mean, you were always this kind of force to be reckoned with, but it wasn't until Delia went though all that sh*t and you were there for her that I realized how great you really were."

When Zoe and Mr C collide, it's earth shattering for both of them, neither have ever sought anything more than surface level attachment, Zoe too scared to put her heart on the line, and Mr C to scared to open his life to prying and judgemental eyes. 

I Wanna Text You Up was fun, and flirty, with the witty banter I expected, and the kind of chemistry that burns up the page, but it also had a depth that sung to my heart, willing me to feel these characters intrinsically. Where Let's Get Textual was all about taking a leap, a chance on someone new, I Wanna Text You Up, was all about being willing to open yourself up to someone else, and having enough faith that what others saw there was enough to make them want to stay, it's the subtle messages that stay with me long after I turn the last page. This duet was wickedly fun, super sweet, quirky dialogue that made it utterly impossible not to be invested in the characters story. An absolute must read.

About Teagan Hunter:

I’m a Missouri-raised gal, but currently live in North Carolina with my US Marine husband and 8-year-old Miniature Pinscher. I spend my days begging him for a cat, and I survive off coffee, pizza, and sarcasm. When I’m not writing, you can find me binge-watching various TV shows, especially Supernatural and One Tree Hill. I like cold weather, buy more paperbacks than I’ll ever read, and I never say no to brownies.

Connect with Teagan on Facebook

Dating-ish (Knitting in the Cty #6) by Penny Reid

Blurb:

There are three things you need to know about Marie Harris:
1) She’s fed up with online dating,
2) She’s so fed up, she’s willing to forego the annoyance and consider more creative alternatives, and
3) She knows how to knit.

After the most bizarre and irritating first date in the history of human kind, Marie is looking for an alternative to men. With the help of her friends, she quickly identifies a few possibilities:

Need a cuddle? Use a professional cuddler. Need affirmation? Get yourself a life coach. Need an orgasm? Try orgasm meditation! Why does she need the hassle of a romantic partner when she can meet all her needs with paid services?
But then her irritating date resurfaces. And he’s not at all the person she thought he was. And he suggests a different—and crazier—solution to her dilemma . . .
As everyone knows (or will soon come to realize), traditional relations between humans are a thing of the past. Robots are our future. And if robots are our future, then why do we need other people at all?

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Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: June 2017.

Over a week later and I'm still ruminating over Dating-ish, the basis of this story was instantly intriguing, there's something inherently thrilling about diving into a Penny Reid novel, it's filled with a sense of the unknown, never quite sure what you're going to find. For fans of the Knitting in the City series, we finally get to embark on Marie's story, for those new to this crafty bunch, it's a seamless introduction to an old group of friends.

“Whatever happened to taking the time to actually know a person?"

"People don’t do that anymore.” Sandra flicked her wrist toward Ashley’s image on the laptop. “It’s all swipe left for sex or right to murder.”
“Not quite, but, yeah. It’s pretty bad out there.”  

Tinder, eHarmony, Plenty of Fish, HER, Grindr most of us have used some sort of dating app in our quest to meet THE ONE, after all we're busy 20, 30, 40 and beyond somethings, we work chaotic jobs, live in a fast paced world, and we won't say no to a little help when it comes to finding a good match. Before marriage I saw Saturday nights with equal amounts of joy and trepidation, I was happy being single but I saw my coupled off friends and wondered if I was missing out on something, I wanted to meet someone, I wanted the butterflies and the swoony eyes, the elation over receiving that text and trying to figure out how long I had to wait before replying, and don't even get me started on weird first dates, and the sheer horror of some of those blind dates, awkward introductions, stilted conversations, longingly staring at your phone praying it will ring, the entire process is not for the faint of heart, at least in my experience. The worst part of my tale of woe, isn't even the bad first dates, it's what comes after, it's the meeting someone and clicking, it's the hanging out and becoming something else entirely, it's the threat of the dreaded FRIEND ZONE, and for a girl who's lived a great deal of her life in that murky grey area, I've got to tell you, it's tough, because feelings get involved, and you realise the line between friendship and more is actually pretty blurry.

“I’m gonna give you some unsolicited advice, okay?” Dan peered at me, as though making sure I knew to take his words seriously. “But it’s good advice, even though I’m tired as hell, so it might not make much sense.”
“Sure. Go for it.” Even in my muddled state, I couldn’t help but smile at my friend.
“You like that guy, you tell him flat out. You just lay what you want and everything out there. Don’t waste time not saying things that need to be said. He’ll always be in your mind, wrecking the possibility of things with other people, because your heart can’t move on until it knows for sure a door is closed.”
I managed a reassuring smile. “Thanks for the ad—”
“But then, if the door opens, make sure it’s the right door, not a different door. Because then you’ll be in the room, but it’s not the right room. And then you’re stuck in the room, you’ve committed to the room, and you’d be an asshole for trying a new door in the same house when you’re already in a room. And then your f*cking heart won’t stop looking for a window.”  

When Marie goes out on a quasi blind date she's hopeful, surely it's her turn right, she's a good catch, she has a good job, great friends, her own place, sure she's not Rockafeller but she does okay for herself, what has potential soon crumbles, dissolving in the most awkward of first dates, so bad it's entirely laughable, and just when she thinks the whole thing is done and dusted, life has a way of throwing her a curveball, in the form of the socially awkward Matt. As Marie begins her quest to find out if services bought and rendered can make up for a real life intimate relationship, something bizarre happens, the man who was once the enemy, becomes someone who makes her life better.

“Maybe the answer is: Don’t be an asshole, think before you open your trap, take responsibility for your words. Meaning, apologize when you’re wrong and correct yourself moving forward—and don’t constantly look for reasons to be offended and police well-meaning people’s words. We want folks to talk to each other, right? Not just hang out with like-minded people all the time. Everyone is ignorant about something, and everyone is offended by something. If people can’t have a calm, respectful dialogue without being hurt by ignorance, or without offending with insensitivity, then what the hell are we supposed to do? Surround ourselves with robots who don’t challenge our ideas?”

At its heart, Dating-ish is essentially a frienemies/friends to lovers rom com, but like everything Reid writes, it's also so much more than that, with her ability to engage in a moral debate of sorts with the reader, I often find myself, asking more questions, of not just my own thoughts and beliefs but of the world around me. There were so many moments that I found myself stopping to process my emotional response Reid's words, from the outset I found myself drawn to Marie, from her self deprecating humour, to the care she easily bestowed on all lucky enough to be loved by her, but more than that I sympathised with her in the way only someone who has felt the sting of developing feeling for someone who won't or can't reciprocate them, I felt that physical, crushing pain for her in the quiet moments when she allowed herself to break, and because of that I could feel her joy when she smiled and laughed.

“Only you get to decide how you stand, what you stand for, and when you do it.”  

Penny Reid has easily become one of my go to authors, I find myself drawn to her words, like a moth to a flame, her often poignant dialogue and spirited thought provoking prose is what leaves me remarking to book friends "I feel smarter reading her books", there's a simple, unassuming beauty in Marie and Matt's story, one filled with undeniable heart, and a health amount of humour, that had me utterly invested from the very first page, even now I find myself struggling to make sense of everything I felt reading this book, the emotions often too big to adequately describe, and the sucker punch to the gut to real and raw, Dating-ish left an indelible mark on my heart, one I'll wear proudly.

About Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is the USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

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The Sugartown Collection by Carmen Jenner

COVER RE-REVEAL & BOX SET RELEASE BLITZ

Title: Sugartown: The Collection

Series: Sugartown Series

Author: Carmen Jenner

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Be Designs

Release Date: November 16, 2016

Sugartown: The Collection: Wander Aguiar

Welcome to Sugartown: Perrywinkle Photography

Enjoy Your Stay: Sara Eirew

Greetings From Sugartown: Perrywinkle Photography

Now Leaving Sugartown: Sara Eirew

BLURB

Box set contains over 307,400 words, 123 chapters, and two bonus Sugartown short stories.

One would assume life in quiet Australian Sugartown would be sweet, but you know what they say about assumptions. Between a hotter than hell, tattooed, biker sex god, run-ins with the club, rock star baby daddies, trampy ex-lovers and old flames that refuse to be smothered, Sugartown is sweet—until it isn’t.

For the first time, you can read all four books in the hilarious, hot and addictively suspenseful Sugartown series. Box set includes: Welcome to Sugartown, Enjoy Your Stay, Greetings from Sugartown and Now Leaving Sugartown. 

And you thought small towns were boring.

Welcome to Sugartown.

Warning: intended for a mature 18+ audience. Contains explicit sex, oodles of profanity, short-tempered Australian wildlife, and a crap-tonne of AWKWARD. Scenes from this series may be a trigger for certain readers.

GOODREADS LINK:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32942892-sugartown

BOX SET PURCHASE LINKS - 99c FOR ONE WEEK ONLY

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THE COMPLETE SUGARTOWN SERIES

#1 Welcome to Sugartown

Ana Belle never wanted anything more than to hang up her apron, jump on her Vespa and ride off into the sunset, leaving Sugartown in the dust.

Elijah Cade never wanted anything more than a hot meal, a side of hot arse and a soft place to lay his head at night where he could forget about his past.

But you know what they say about wanting: you always want what you can’t have.

Nineteen year-old virgin Ana is about to discover that’s not quite true because a six foot three, hotter than hell, tattooed, Aussie sex god just rode into town. He’s had a taste of her pie and he wants more– no really, Ana bakes pies for a living, get your mind out of the gutter.

She’d be willing to hand over everything tied up in a big red bow, there’s just one problem; Elijah has secrets dirtier than last week’s underwear. Secrets that won't just break Ana’s heart, but put her life at risk, too. When those secrets come to light, their relationship is pushed to breaking point.

Add to that a psychotic nympho best friend, an overbearing father, a cuter than humanly possible kid brother, a wanton womanizing cousin, the ex from hell, and more pies than you could poke a ... err ... stick ... at.

And you thought small towns were boring.

Welcome to Sugartown

Content Warning: Intended for a mature 18+ audience. Contains explicit sex, oodles of profanity and a crap-tonne of AWKWARD. 

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18337069-welcome-to-sugartown

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#2 Enjoy Your Stay

The last thing Holly Harris expected was to wind up nineteen, knocked-up, and all alone. When Coop left to pursue his dreams of becoming a rock god, he left a tiny piece of him behind.

Holly wishes he hadn’t.

Jackson wishes he hadn’t.

Jackson Rowe tried filling the void his family left by drinking, screwing around, and leaving a string of heartbroken women in his wake. Moving back to Sugartown should have been easy, but he hadn’t counted on the fact his sometimes attraction to Holly would still be alive and kicking—and he sure as hell hadn’t counted on her being pregnant with another man’s baby.

They drive one another crazy, and yet they can’t stay away.

When old flames resurface, and even older wounds are torn open, can two people so similar make it work? Or will their stubbornness only drive them further apart?

Content Warning. Intended for a mature 18+ audience. Contains angst, a crap-tonne of profanity, short-tempered Australian wildlife, and some very pregnant sex.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18457632-enjoy-your-stay

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#3 Greetings from Sugartown

Life in Sugartown hasn't always been easy, not for an ex-con like Elijah, and certainly not for Ana, who grew up desperate for a way out.

Meeting Elijah changed all that; Elijah changed a lot of things.

You’d think that after three years together and the worst behind them that life would be a walk in the park, but Sugartown’s sexiest couple may be about to face their biggest obstacles yet.

Between failed marriage proposals, a trampy ex-lover and a tempting new biker, Sugartown is suddenly not so sweet. 

They’re head-over-heels in love. It should be simple—but it rarely is.

Will they make it down the aisle to the happy ever after they deserve? Or are some relationships just destined to fail?

Intended for an 18+ audience. Contains explicit sex, violence, a crap-tonne of profanity, and naked encounters with disastrous outcomes.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20497027-greetings-from-sugartown

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#4 Now Leaving Sugartown

Pepper Ryan grew up the troublesome, spoiled child of a rock god. With her less-than-stellar parentage, and the bipolar disorder that has plagued her existence, to say this little firecracker is a handful would be the understatement of the century.

Sammy Belle spent more than half his life saving Pepper. He’d been her strength, her sanity, and the protective brotherly figure she never wanted to have.

They were never meant to be together.

They gave in anyway.

And just when Sammy thought he had everything he wanted, Pepper ran.

Now twenty-three, Pepper returns to Sugartown, a failed tattoo artist with one too many screws loose who’s down on her luck, wielding an ice cream van as beaten up as her heart.

Sugartown’s most coveted bachelor has always been content with the quiet life he leads until Pepper, the hellion from his past, returns to test his strength, his patience, and perhaps even his sanity. But two can play at that game, and Pepper is about to learn that Sam can give as good as he gets.

Can this good country boy survive Pepper’s cruel city world, or will the whole thing be put down to a bout of temporary insanity?

One thing is for certain:

He’s crazy about her.

She’s just crazy.

Warning: Intended for an 18+ audience. Contains sexual content, oodles of profanity, a firefighter so hot you may need a very cold shower, and one pink-haired crazy Harajuku girl. May also contain traces of nuts. Some scenes within this book may be a trigger for certain readers.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18493012-now-leaving-sugartown

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About Carmen Jenner

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA Today and international bestselling author.

Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU, 2015.

A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore makeup addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.

A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?

 Connect with Carmen

Website: http://www.carmenjenner.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Jenner/274005066033305

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarmenJAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6547659.Carmen_Jenner

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Jenner/e/B00GEUI8VI/