Mariana Zapata Binge Reading Review

I don't know where to start right now friends, because this past week has been a whirlwind of delicious reading time, I've been utterly swept away, lost in a Mariana Zapata abyss, and to be totally honest, I don't know if I'm ready to emerge yet.

Back in August 2016, at the second Sydney Author Event I was lucky enough to meet and chat with Mariana Zapata, it seemed at the time her books had taken the Romance Reading world by storm, the titles on everyone's lips were Kulti, Winnipeg, Lingus. When my follow SAE organisers were RAVING about the new Queen of Slow Burn I'd been ignorant to her books. I was so enamoured by our meeting though that I ordered a collection of her paperbacks to read at a later time. And yet in the blink of an eye, almost two years passed, while those pretty (and heavy) paperbacks collected dust on my bookshelf. When I started a new job at the end of April I knew that the extra long commute would give me ample time to get back into reading, or more aptly, back into audio. I started listening to book after book during those long drives, slowly reaffirming my love of the romance genre.

“I was an only child; I didn't know how to share, and I wasn't willing to learn. What was I going to do if I started developing feelings for a porn star?” - Lingus

When Lingus popped up on my kindle, I figured why not, it had been one of the titles I'd been meaning to read after all. I started and those long commutes starting feeling way too short, instead of turning of my kindle when I got home I found myself reaching for it not long after walking in the door. I found myself using any excuse to grab my phone, desperate to sneak in even one more chapter. For those who know me, you know I love a long book, once I've connected with an authors words I crave more and more, I love the banter and slow burn, the delicious feeling that rumbles through your body when your head and your heart play the will they won't they game. Throw in a porn star hero and I was all but assured to be in my book nirvana. The storyline had me giddy and I loved the quirkiness of real life meeting...well porn life, I loved that the portrayal of the adult industry wasn't seedy and underground. I adored how Zapata explored the themes while crafting an engaging and hilarious story about two people who just happened to meet at a Porn Convention. 

“I was going to murder his ass. One day. One day long after I quit, so no one would suspect me.” - The Wall of Winnipeg and Me.

After Lingus I moved on to The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, and you know I'm a sucker for Sports Romance. Throw in a frienemies / my boss is a complete and utter jerk storyline and holy moly was I on the fast track to worshipping at the Zapata alter. The chemistry between Vanessa and Aiden...the banter that had me so invested that sleep no longer seemed important, the snap, crackle and pop of their developing relationship made me want to weep for joy. I adored these characters, and despite the long length I still found myself bereft as I turned the last page, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Aiden Graves and Vanny but more than that, I certainly wasn't ready to move onto another author when there were still more books in Zapata's back catalogue to explore.

"It was the worst non-break-up ever in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who didn't even know I existed." - Kulti.

From Winnipeg, I moved on to fan favourite Kulti... the man, the myth, the Legend. Another sports romance? YES PLEASE. This time I met Salome (Sal), twenty seven year soccer star, head strong, determined and filled with talent, has dedicated her life to her profession. As a child she fell in love with German Soccer legend Reiner The King Kulti, as an adult she's just learnt he's accepted a role as her new assistant coach. Kulti, known for his talent and temper in equal measure makes waves, but it's the unlikely bond these two develop that shocks them both. In true Zapata style, Kulti is slow burn all the way, despite the length, the story never feels disjointed or tedious. The push pull of growing fondness for one another left me giddy. The sizzling chemistry, the will they won't they left me desperate, I wanted... no I needed more of these two characters. Not since discovering the Rock Chick series by Kristen Ashley have I been this voracious of a reader. With a thirst that couldn't be quenched, moments after turning the last page I downloaded every title in print, both ebook and audio to continue my love affair with Zapata's words. 

“Right then, in that moment, Dex The Dick grinned. Grinned. And sweet mother of God, it was devastating. So completely catastrophic I just stood there and absorbed the nuclear bomb going off in front of me, defenceless.” - Under Locke.

From Soccer stars I dove into Motor Cycle Clubs and Tattoo parlours. Under Locke introduced me to Iris and Dex. Down on her luck and needing a job in a new city, Iris uses the connections of her half brother to secure employment at a tattoo parlour. Her first day doesn't go as planned and her new boss is a jerk. While Iris is used to looking after herself, there's something about the jackass boss that gets under her skin more then she would like. As their connection deepens, and their proximity to one another causes all kinds of close calls, Iris finds herself seeing Dex in a different light. More fast paced then her other titles, Under Locke had me smiling and giggling and down right swooning as this heroine showed time and time again that she didn't need saving. 

"Real love was gritty. The real kind of love never quit. Someone who loved you would do what’s best for you; they’d stand up for you and sacrifice. Someone who loved you would face any inconvenience willingly.” - Wait For It.

Four books in as many days and I found myself opening Wait For It. To my surprise I found myself face to face with Vanessa's (The Wall of Winnipeg and Me) bestie and Sal's (Kulti) cousin Diana. In the years since Winnipeg and Kulti ended, Diana has had a rough go of it. A relationship that ended badly, and inheriting two young nephews in the worst possible way, she's just managed to keep her head above water. Moving to a new home is all the upheaval she can handle. Until she meets her new neighbour and coach of the Select baseball team Dallas. Oh boy did Wait For It do a number on my heart. Ya'll I cried real tears (something that doesn't happen that often anymore) I felt every second of Diana's struggle while she navigated her own grief, as well as the pressure to be the best parent to her nephews. This book hit me in the feels and refused to release it's choke hold on my heart. I smiled so damn big as I turned the last page, not ready to say goodbye. 

“Because if I remember correctly, your text message said, ‘I just kicked the hottest guy I’ve probably ever seen in the ass.’ And I asked you what he looked like and you texted me back, ‘Like a double bacon cheeseburger I’d take a bite out of.” - Rhythm, Chord and Malykhin.

From single aunts raising a young family to rockstars seemed like the logical next step. In Rhythm, Chord and Malykhin in which we meet Gabby, freshly dumped and with no job prospects knocking down her door after finishing college, the idea of going on tour with her brother and his two knuckle headed best mates doesn't sound so bad. When the four of them join together again hilarious pranks
and sometimes good natured ribbing is sure to happen while touring around the States, Australia and Europe. What begins with a untraditional first meeting between Sacha, lead singer of The Cloud Collision and Gabby soon blossoms into something far more. Rhythm had me laughing out loud literally, I could not wipe the smile off my face from the first page until the very last. This book was ridiculous in the best possible way, the bonds Gabby shared with her twin and her extra brothers from other mothers had me giggling throughout, the connection between Gabby and Sacha gave me the kind of butterflies every romance reader dreams of. Rhythm was fun, sweet and one hell of a hilarious adventure.

“Mostly though, Rubes, I want to go back in time and beat every single person’s ass who’s ever made you doubt yourself, because the girl who makes me smile ‘til my face hurts even on a shit day needs to see that in herself. I feel like I owe it to you.” - Dear Aaron.

As I picked up Dear Aaron, it felt like the beginning of the end. From musicians I swiftly moved into pen pals. Ruby lives a quiet unassuming life, she's in her early twenties and lives at home, a seamstress by day and er night, and regularly takes part in a program writing letters and emails to an assigned soldier serving overseas. After a couple of pairings she's assigned Aaron, after a slow start and no reply she's ready to bid farewell to her newest match. When Aaron finally replies the two embark on an ongoing conversation of sorts. The more they exchange emails the more they find themselves turning to each other as more than just a pen pal. Aaron is weary of relationships after a bitter breakup, and well Ruby is just weary in general. Both desperately trying to guard their hearts and yet slowly finding more and more reasons not to around each other. While all of Zapata's books have had me captivated, Dear Aaron was a like a punch to the gut, because boy did I feel all of Ruby's insecurities and fears. I felt every moment of her hurt and doubt and I felt it in spades. I wanted to hold her in my arms and whisper all kinds of tributes to the incredible woman she is. The slow burn and build of their relationship was so deliciously satisfying that I felt bereft as I turned the last page.

“Everyone, Jasmine, everyone that’s an athlete—that’s successful—has had to give up a lot. Some of us more than others. You’re not the first person, and you’re not the last person that sees that and feels bad about it,” he started to say, his voice steady and even. “You don’t get to become good at anything without sacrificing something to make time.”

I pressed my lips together and closed my eyes and tried again. “Successful people, Ivan. It’s worth it if you’re successful, not if you’re not.” - From Lukov With Love.

What did I say about the beginning of the end... from pen pals to figure skaters, and to the last book on my list. Remember Ruby from Dear Aaron, it was my pleasant surprise that the figure skater I was about to read about was none other then Jasmine, Ruby's younger sister. OMGGG can you sense my smile from there?? Page one and I was HOOKED! From Lukov With Love is Jasmine's story, in the years that have passed since the end of Dear Aaron, Jasmine hasn't had the best run, her professional career has had set back after set back, and she's never gotten back to the level of success she enjoyed years before. Skating singles or in pairs hasn't seen her rise to the top of the pack, and even at her tender age she knows her time competing on the ice might be coming to an end. When her arch nemesis Ivan makes an offer she can't refuse she might have found the golden ticket to her dreams of success. The snarky banter, the constant bickering, the way these two move around each other captivated and thrilled me. I was floating on cloud nine so utterly with this story that I could of dropped dead with a smile on my face. When Jasmine faced a set back I wanted to lift her up, and when she excelled I was cheering her on.

Despite my love of all things slow burn, and let's be clear, Mariana Zapata is, without a doubt, the undisputed Queen of Slow Burn, what I adored was the depth of technical knowledge that went into each story, from NFL to Soccer to Musicians to Armed Forces Letter Campaigns to Figure Skating, to ahem Porn Stars to Baseball to Tattoo Parlours and MC clubs Zapata gives the reader enough to be well informed without overloading the technical background. Her storytelling seamlessly giving the reader characters to love and cherish, and a story that fills them with hope, heartbreak and joy in equal measure. Stories that are filled with heroines that are strong and sassy, flawed and sometimes vulnerable, women who are above all else real, the connection from character to reader often tangible. Mariana Zapata has cemented herself as a MUST READ author for me, her books skyrocketing to my all time favourites list for so many different reasons. I feel so many things as I sit here pouring out my jumbled thoughts onto paper, oh so bereft that I've finished, but so very grateful for the journey.

Purchase Links and GPI's suggested reading order:

Lingus:

US: https://amzn.to/2HpVvbM

AU: https://amzn.to/2sCxMk3

UK: https://amzn.to/2JjdjHd

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me:

US: https://amzn.to/2Jw7w4G

AU: https://amzn.to/2szqqhe

UK: https://amzn.to/2kU7lCi

Kulti:

US: https://amzn.to/2LoO4nK

AU: https://amzn.to/2JfJtYf

UK: https://amzn.to/2HoMgbL

Under Locke:

US: https://amzn.to/2sK9XG9

AU: https://amzn.to/2sAWQI1

UK: https://amzn.to/2sA1aaK

Wait For It:

US: https://amzn.to/2xMRrTp
AU: https://amzn.to/2syGqQK
UK: https://amzn.to/2kT2f92

Rhythm, Chord and Malykhin:

US: https://amzn.to/2xMCyjT
AU: https://amzn.to/2JeSOzy
UK: https://amzn.to/2kSNZgT

Dear Aaron:

US: https://amzn.to/2Jw95Q6
AU: https://amzn.to/2JhaU3S
UK: https://amzn.to/2JiUbct

From Lukov With Love:

US: https://amzn.to/2JoOeuN
AU: https://amzn.to/2sC0ktO
UK: https://amzn.to/2Jdmugk

About Mariana Zapata:

Mariana Zapata began writing love stories soon after she learned how to spell. She probably shouldn’t admit that she started sneaking romance novels from her aunt’s bookshelves way before she was old enough to even understand what it meant when a man flipped up a woman’s skirt… don’t tell her mom. Luckily, she stuck to stories about princesses and princes for a while.

In her teens, she wrote boy band fanfiction (there’s still a website up somewhere on the internet with those masterpieces), and in her early twenties, she picked it back up again with Sookie Stackhouse and Twilight. Eventually, her significant other finally told her to do what she wanted to do and she began working on her original work. Her novels tend to include potty humor, bodily functions, and bad words.
Mariana lives in a small town called Pagosa Springs, Colorado with her husband/best friend, Chris Letchford, and their two well-beloved (and emotionally manipulative) Great Dane children, Dorian and Kaiser. When she’s not pretending to write, she’s reading sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk or historical romance novels. You can usually find her harassing her dogs, being a hermit at home or cracking jokes at the expense of her family members.

Connect with Mariana 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?

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

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

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2ro2PjA

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

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

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2sdCenw

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.

Connect with Penny on Facebook

Mister Romance (Masters of Romance #1) by Leisa Rayven

Blurb:

Max Riley is the man of your dreams. Or at least he will be, for a price.

As his alter-ego Mister Romance, Max is a drop-dead gorgeous escort who makes romantic fantasies come to life. No sex, just swoon-worthy dates to die for, and the cream of New York's socialites can't get enough. Whether they want a dominating billionaire, bad boy with a heart of gold, hot geek, sexy biker, or best friend who loves them from afar, Max can make it all happen, but he's careful to keep his real identity a secret.

Enter investigative journalist Eden Tate. Having caught wind of the urban legend of Mister Romance from a lovestruck client, Eden is determined to publish a scathing expose on Max and his ability to swindle lonely society women out of their fortunes.

Desperate to protect his anonymity and his clients, Max challenges Eden to give him three dates. If she doesn't fall in love with him, she can run her story with his blessing. If she succumbs to his charms, the story dies.

Cynical Eden has no doubt she can resist his fake romance personas, but when the real Max admits he’s falling for her, she has to decide if the professional liar is telling the truth, or if the passionate man with the mysterious past is just one more character designed to con her out of her career-making story.

Don’t miss this sizzling new standalone from the internationally best selling author of Bad Romeo, Broken Juliet, and Wicked Heart.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

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

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2q4Ypvx

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

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2pvVwCd

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2q5g8D3

iBooks: https://goo.gl/xxaFdI
B&N: https://goo.gl/cEunKT
Kobo: https://goo.gl/NK49GZ

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: May 2017.

So here's the thing, I'm a sucker for certain tropes, childhood best friends, brothers best friend, enemies to lovers, and male escorts... it's with an almost giddy sense of anticipation that I find myself diving into these stories, add to that, the author has easily become an automatic 1click for me and you may be able to guess reaction to the idea alone of Mister Romance, I mean Leisa Rayven is the woman who created Ethan Holt and Cassie Taylor... and for those who have been following GPI for a while now, you'll no doubt remember my reaction the Starcrossed series, in truth, I still have that same reaction, it's part awed by the story and part far too emotionally invested in fictional characters to be classified as sane.

Now that you know my trope loves, let me add that the idea of opposite's attracting is another one of the things that makes me giddy, so combining Eden Tate, perhaps the worlds most cynical and anti love young woman, with Max, Mr Romance himself, who's goal is to create the most romantic of situations for his clients and you're almost guaranteed to make me just about beg for more.

Eden, is young, smart and sassy, she's knows all about failed relationships, and partners that split when things get hard. She's seen first hand the devastation a broken relationship can have on a person, let alone on a family. Despite those around her seemingly charmed by the notions of forever loves and happily ever afters, Eden is determined not to end up distraught after believing in something that isn't real, instead she's focusing on fixing her stalling career and finally busting out of the click bait nonsense articles her boss is forcing her to write. Eden is determined to become the savvy investigative journalist she's always dreamt of, when she stumbles on Mister Romance - a $5000 a date escort who is servicing the social elite and making romantic dreams come true, she might just have found the key to her professional success.

"Is that why I'm hesitating? Because on some level, I think this man, who's sitting there pretending to be another man, sees through the person I'm pretending to be."

Max AKA Mr Romance has created a lucrative career out of wining and dining rich women and fulfilling their romantic fantasies. He's not trading sexual acts, and all parties involved are consenting adults, so he's hardly doing anything wrong...right?? When Eden infiltrates his inner sanctum and threatens to expose not only his business but his wealthy clients, his only option is to issue a challenge he knows Eden won't be able to refuse.

"I'm trying to ignore how goddamn attracted I am to you."

I've been finding myself more and more drawn to the not quite slow burn books of late, where I once craved lots of sex and fast gratification in my books, I now find myself gravitating to that deliciously sexy chemistry that you only find in stories where the build is just as important if not more than the climax. I want that edge of my seat feeling, you know the one...where you're desperate to read more, to live and breathe the story, where you're so enamoured by the characters that you want to be them, know them, everything about the story draws you in and demands you pay attention, you're hungry for that first touch, first kiss, first everything... gahhhhh...it's that heady feeling of need and desire and love and lust that tickles your senses that I crave, and within the first chapter I was feeling those initial stirrings pulsing through my blood, in a matter of pages I was so utterly invested that I was buzzing and on edge ready for everything Rayven was bound to throw at me. The more I read, the more intense my reaction, before I knew it I was desperate, the authors ability to convey emotion and elicit a response from the reader overwhelming.

"Their partners give them sex, but what they truly crave is for someone to see them. Value them. Love them. That's what Maxwell does."

The beauty of this story lies in not only Rayven's exquisite prose, but her snappy dialogue and sharp characterisation. Eden and Max leapt from the page, I craved their interactions as much they did, feeling rather than simply reading their conversations. Everything about Mister Romance flowed effortlessly from the page, creating a story that felt more film than book, making it utterly addictive leaving me entirely unable to put it down.

About Leisa Rayven:

Writing has always been a passion for Leisa, and even though she originally intended to be an actress, it wasn't long into her time at drama school that she began writing plays.

Those plays were bad. Very bad. Well, her friends thought they were good, but that's because they were always cast in them and any opportunity to be on stage was met with an obnoxious amount of enthusiasm.

Since then, she's honed her craft, and several of her plays have been produced and toured throughout Australia.

These days, playwriting has given way to fiction writing, and she is now the proud mother of numerous book babies, including BAD ROMEO, BROKEN JULIET, and WICKED HEART. (Macmillan New York)

Leisa lives in Australia with her husband, two little boys, three judgmental cats, and a kangaroo named Howard. (*NB: Howard may or may not be her imaginary marsupial friend. Everyone should have one.*)

Contact with Leisa on Facebook

Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey

Blurb:

Lucas Thatcher has always been my enemy.

It’s been a decade since I’ve seen him, but our years on opposite coasts were less of a lasting peace and more of a temporary cease-fire. Now that we’re both back in our small town, I know Lucas expects the same old war, but I’ve changed since high school—and from the looks of it, so has he.

The arrogant boy who was my teenage rival is now a chiseled doctor armed with intimidating good looks. He is Lucas Thatcher 2.0, the new and improved version I’ll be competing with in the workplace instead of the schoolyard.

I’m not worried; I’m a doctor now too, board-certified and sexy in a white coat. It almost feels like winning will be too easy—until Lucas unveils a tactic neither of us has ever used before: sexual warfare.

The day he pushes me up against the wall and presses his lips to mine, I can’t help but wonder if he’s filling me with passion or poison. Every fleeting touch is perfect torture. With every stolen kiss, my walls crumble a little more. After all this time, Lucas knows exactly how to strip me of my defences, but I’m in no hurry to surrender.

Knowing thy enemy has never felt so good.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/2kv32y9
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kGbloA
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2kLZoN7...
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2jvvVGd

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: February 2017.

Positively giddy, that's the only way to describe how I'm feeling right now. It's no secret that I've been suffering through something akin to reader's burn out of late, injury, illness and some family issues coupled with a packed reading schedule over the last few years have impacted on the joy I once found in reading. I had this looming sense of what if I can't get into this book when it landed on my kindle, and yet instantly, and I mean instantly, on the very first page I was hooked, my fears and doubts were replaced with loud cackles of laughter, R.S. Grey set the scene for a fast paced, fresh take on frienemies turned lovers and even as I'm typing this I still have huge smile on my face.

"I am Daisy Bell, rival to Lucas Thatcher, and the weight of carrying around that hatred has started to wear on me. Deep down I'm starting to forget what exactly it is I hate about Lucas."

The ongoing rivalry between Daisy and Lucas is the stuff legends are made of, neighbours since birth, the pair have seemingly been in competition since conception. Where once upon a time their rivalry caused nothing but fights and friction, as they grew older it also served to push them both to strive for the best, their careers as Doctor's is a testament to that. With dreams of owning their own family practice Daisy and Lucas return to their hometown of Hamilton after a decade away, even with years apart their need to one up each other still burns bright, now fighting over the same practice it seems the games have only just begun.

"Lucas Thatcher, bane of my waking life and lead role in my nightmares is kissing me, and my good hand is wrapped around the collar of his white coat and tugging him. Hard. Against me."

The animosity between these two is humming just below the surface, the chemistry between them white hot, the angst, oh God the angst of will they/won't they is EXPLOSIVE, it's a living breathing thing, tangible and so very real that it seeped from the pages and left my body buzzing in the way that any avid reader longs for. I was clutching my kindle to my chest and grinning like a fiend, every fibre of my being twisted in anticipation desperate for more.

"You listen here, Lucas Thatcher. I hate you, but you're going to kiss me. You're going to kiss me and you're not going to stop."

I have been a long time fan of R.S. Grey, from the moment I read Scoring Wilder all those books ago I was enamoured, with a style that is inherently hers, I found myself #1clicking without preamble, sight unseen, I just knew that I needed to dive into whatever she released next, while I have loved her previous titles, Anything You Can Do was a step above the already high standard she had set. With it's electric chemistry, laugh out loud banter and relatable human connection that Grey excels at, Anything You Can Do deserves my very first GOLD LIPSTICK of 2017, absolutely impossible to put down, my only complaint is I wish I could experience it for the first time again.

"For 18 years, I loved you. Now, I've loved you for 28. It sounds like quite the accomplishment, but it's always been so easy for me to love you. Through all the pain, all the conflict, I've always known the truth. We cared about each other. Nobody fights over something that doesn't matter - they just walk away..."

About R.S. Grey:

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things… everyday.

I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors are Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m a comedy geek and love all things “funny”. Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.
Connect with R.S. Grey on Facebook

                                                    

GPI's Best of 2016

It seems to be that time again, I've been going over my favourite books of 2016 and am elated at the number of titles that stole my heart this year. Without any further preamble I present you with my top books of 2016.

The Platinum Lipstick is reserved for my favourite reads EVER!

These titles made me forget time and space, made hours blur into minutes, made me simultaneously rejoice and feel heartache. These are the books that I can't stop talking about and are automatic recommendations.

The Hating Game  by Sally Thorne

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Coast by Jay McLean

Toward the Sound of Chaos by Carmen Jenner

Aced by K. Bromberg

The Gold Lipstick is reserved for my favourite reads of the year.

These are the titles that pulled me from book slumps, reminded me why I love reading, made my heart flutter and my skin prickle in the way you know something special is about to happen. These are the books that made my heart sing.

Bad Romeo Christmas by Leisa Rayven

Last Call by Staci Hart

One With You by Sylvia Day

Sweet Cheeks by K. Bromberg

Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

Chasing Spring by R.S. Grey

The Player and the Pixie by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

Keepsake by Sarina Bowen

Grin & Beard It by Penny Reid

Don't Wake The Dead by C.C. Wood

Wicked Heart by Leisa Rayven

The Spiral Down by Aly Martinez

US by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen

Twelve Truths and a Lie by Christina Lee

Finding North by Carmen Jenner

A Way to Get By by T.Torrest

Game Saver by B.J. Harvey

Harley and Rose  by Carmen Jenner

The above books were my absolute favourite of 2016, these titles left footprints on my heart and scored themselves on my soul, when asked for a recommendation these books are the ones I will automatically recommend. 2016 brought with it so many amazing books, it's left me eager to see what 2017 will bring.