The Goal (Off Campus #4) by Elle Kennedy

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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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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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Twelve Truths and a Lie

Blurb:

Aurora Jones has it all—a job she loves as a child and family therapist, supportive friends, and a decent place to live. What she doesn’t have is much luck when it comes to dating men. And not only are her choices terrible, she also hasn’t been boyfriend free since she was a teenager. So she places herself on a sabbatical of sorts. No dating for twelve months.

Cameron Miller has had a crappy year. His girlfriend fell for his best friend and to ease the pain, he drowns his troubles in more booze and women than he can count. When his buddies finally slap some sense into him and urge him to focus on his new position as a special education teacher in an urban school district, he decides to get his act together.

Away from the prying eyes of their mutual friends, Cameron and Aurora agree to hang out once a week in their newly dubbed Chastity Club. Number of members? Two. It’s a chance to find solace, companionship, and something neither anticipated – a burgeoning attraction. But when Cameron invites Aurora to be his fake date at the reunion his ex-girlfriend and best friend will be attending, their passion ignites. What happens in Chastity Club stays in Chastity Club, right? Until they discover that a year of self-truths might actually lead them to true love.

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Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: September 2016.

Holy Moly!!! Where do I even start... from the very moment I laid eyes on the cover for Twelve Truths and a Lie I was intrigued, and that title, I was sold by that alone, I experienced that rare connection immediately, I *needed* to read this book, once I read the blurb I was already over halfway to be absolutely smitten, with that much excitement building inside of me any number of things could of gone wrong, I could of failed to feel that connection to the words, the one that we as readers need to live and breathe. Twelve Truths was my first foray into Christina Lee's work, within the first chapter I was enchanted, by chapter two I was hooked, I devoured Lee's words like a Lush imbibes on wine, I was utterly and hopelessly invested in Aurora and Cameron's lives and to be honest sitting here writing this review, my hands anxious, my heart still racing, a smile on my face, I'm envious of those who get to read this book for the first time.

"Nobody's normal, no matter what they tell you."

Aurora and Cameron are each fighting an uncomfortable truth about themselves, Lee's exquisite prose serves to draw reader in, there is a rawness to their journey's, one that resonated deeply with me, in a world where these two spend so much of their professional lives being a voice of reason and support for those less fortunate, those battling larger demons than themselves it's inevitable that there's comfort in finding someone who understands the world they inhabit. Twelve Truths is simultaneously sweet and funny and raw and profound, filled with a tenderness that perfectly showed the vulnerability of the human condition interlaced with the tenacity of the human spirit, Lee encapsulated exactly what we seek, true love. A love built on more than purely animalistic attraction, or chemistry, a love so profound that you only truly understand its depth when you surrender your heart to it, a love that opens you up to life, a love that challenges you, a love that both makes you vulnerable and strong.

"You walk in the room and I can't catch my breath. My heart goes crazy. You're like this warm and commanding light that I can't turn away from. My very own Northern Light. I want to be near you all the time."

I want to divulge all the moments that made my heart skip a beat, I want to regale  you with all the moments that had me giggling, I wanted to share with you all the moments that I felt that blush creep up my cheeks, everything about this story was addictive, like a compulsion I could not bare to put this book down. Twelve Truths and a Lie absolutely stole my heart, I had a sneaking suspicion this book would be right up my proverbial alley, however I could of never had anticipated how ardently I would love it. I implore you to spend some time in the world Lee created, and allow Aurora and Cameron to captivate and enchant you the way they did me.

About Christina Lee:

Once upon a time, Christina Lee lived in New York City and was a wardrobe stylist. She spent her days getting in cabs, shopping for photo shoots, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at her favorite hangouts.

Now she lives in the Midwest with her husband and son—her two favorite guys. She’s been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn't until she wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that she realized she could turn the fairytales inside her head into the reality of writing fiction.
She’s addicted to lip balm and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

She writes Adult, New Adult, and LGBTQ romance.

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Stroked Long (Stroked #2) by Meghan Quinn

Blurb:

From his dirty-blond hair and breathtaking smile, to the abs from heaven and the irresistible V in his waistline, everything about Bodi Olympic-gold-medalist Banks screams hot piece of @$$.

Yet there’s more.

Dark shadows lurk behind his soulful, serious eyes.

I’m enamored. He’s captured me.

How can running an art foundation with Bodi Banks turns into a slow-burning, epic romance, even though he tries to push me away at every chance? How can I stay away from a broken, routine-driven man whose soul cries to be forgiven for a crime only he believes he committed? Or is that a lie?

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Purchase Stroked (Stroked #1)

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Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: September 2016.

I've been a fan of Quinn's work since I discovered The Virgin Romance Novelist, since falling in love with her words then I've found myself earnestly following her social media profiles, eagerly awaiting her next release, unfortunately due to travel and event commitments I haven't had a chance to read the first book in the Stroked series, news of this latest release however had me intrigued, with catch phrases like damaged and broken being thrown around in relation to the hero Bodi I *knew* Stroked Long would be right up my proverbial alley, I'm a sucker for a few things in romance books, friends to lovers ...and I'm there, broken or damaged hero's ....*boom* I'm like a moth to a flame, sassy, outgoing lacking a filter heroine's...YES PLEASE... with all the trappings of what is essentially my go to list I wasn't going to let a pesky thing like sleep get in the way of me settling down with Bodi and Ruby.

"Sometimes the beauty in the art piece isn't about the strokes, Bodi. Sometimes it's about the colors and how you mold them together."

Bodi is a world renowned gold medal winning Olympic swimmer, arguably not only one of the best of his generation but undoubtedly one of the best of all time, his speed in the pool coupled with his single minded focus has ensured he is at the top of his game, only weeks out from Olympic trials Bodi is gearing up for the Rio games. To the outside world Bodi has the world at his feet, financial security, adored by millions, loving and close relationship with his sister, he seems to have the perfect life, appearances though aren't always what they seem, the carefully constructed façade Bodi has created serves to protect him from prying eyes, the victim of unfathomable violence and heartbreak at a young age, the now Gold medalist is a far cry from the shiny Olympian he portrays to the world, crippled by self loathing and guilt, suffering from anxiety and obsessive disorders that effect his day to day life, Bodi's only goal is to get through each day without exposing his secrets.

"There are going to be times where I might hurt you, insult you, or make you mad. I just ask that you take a second to breathe before you leave me. Give me a second to make it up to you because I promise I will realize I was being an idiot."

I'll be honest here, by the end of the prologue I was absolutely smitten with Bodi, within the first few chapters I was ready to elevate him to new book boyfriend status, when something magical happened, I realised that I was falling for someone else, when I realised that not only was Bodi beautifully broken and devastatingly sweet but that I was head over heels for Ruby too. There's usually a moment in a book where I break down a character in my mind, and I look at them logically in terms of if I met this person in real life how would they make me feel, are they the type of person who I would want in my life, and while Bodi absolutely rocked the swoon train, especially in lines like the one quoted above, what I *knew* with clarity was Ruby was the kind of person I NEEDED to know, everything about her drew me in. Her absolute lack of filter, her curves, in the way that she wasn't scared to embrace them, her eclectic fashion sense, her undying belief that everyone deserves to have some colour in their life, that speaks volumes about who she is as a person, it was in those early moments that Ruby easily became one of my favourite characters.

"Don't downplay your character because you've forgotten who you are."

There's an essence of reality woven through Stroked Long, yes we're talking Olympic Gold Medalists and quirky Art History majors but there's an accessibility to Quinn's words that seem to effortlessly keep the story grounded, just the way I like my contemporary romance, there's aspects of both Bodi and Ruby that I could relate to, moments that had me laughing out loud at the sheer oddness of whatever flew out of Ruby's mouth, interspersed with moments of soul crushing guilt as Bodi struggled with a pain he may never fully let go of, everything about Stoked Long had me enraptured, and while I had moments of thinking I *knew* what was coming the beauty of this story is the message that rings true throughout that life isn't about finish times and regimented control, for me Quinn reminded me that sometimes the greatest joy comes from the unexpected and unplanned, that life much like art isn't about precision, sometimes the beauty comes from the mess you create together, the process, the journey.

About Meghan Quinn:

When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn't take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. It wasn't until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven't turned back since.

You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.

​I currently reside in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.

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Roman Crazy (Broads Abroad #1) by Alice Clayton & Nina Bocci

Blurb:

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy, licking her wounds—and perhaps a gelato or two. But when her American-expat friend throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop when she sees a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello was the man—the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious! And so is Marcello…

Slipping easily into the good life of summertime in Rome, Avery spends her days exploring a city that makes art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over her unexpected what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could this really be her new life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twin-set cardigans and crustless sandwiches?


A celebration of great friendship, passionate romance, and wonderful food, Roman Crazy is a lighthearted story of second chances and living life to the fullest.

Purchase Links:

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Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1m1OfIr

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Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: September 2016.

Alice Clayton has always been a must read author for me, her stories always captivate me with the perfect blend of swoon worthy romance, laugh out loud humor and sizzingly sexiness, falling somewhere between contemporary romance and chick lit, Clayton's prose eloquently invite the reader on a journey of sight, sound and smell, effortlessly evoking the senses in a whirlwind love affair with not only her characters but the world at large. Roman Crazy, not only cements Clayton's place amongst the best of the best but marks Nina Bocci's debut into authordom.

"Time apparently doesn't heal all wounds when it comes to proud Italian men."

Avery Bardot was once a wide eyed girl jet setting across the globe to study her passion, in those months in Barcelona she experienced the sights and sounds of young adulthood, of new love, of the kind of chemistry and attraction authors wax lyrical about in romance books, she lived a life many of us would envy with a carefree spirit synonymous with the young, and
then she returned home, changed forever, full of wide eyed optimism, but as is common for many of us, life happened. Granted not a horrible life, Avery's existence was filled with privilege, she wanted for nothing financially, and as a whole she convinced herself that she was content, happy even. It took walking in on her husband schtooping his administrative assistant to realise how much she had been fooling herself.

" My Marcello who could make me laugh and cry and gasp and sigh and feel all of the feelings that remind me I am part of this planet and experiencing good wonderful things as I was meant to? But, as quickly as I remembered all of the good things, I remembered everything else."

Setting her sights on Rome, supported by her best friend Daisy, Avery is ready to put herself first for the first time in almost a decade, what ensues is an adventure that delighted my foodie sensibilities, an adventure that set my heart racing as Avery crossed continents, and rediscovered who she is, and more importantly what she wants out of life. In a new country Avery is able to connect with the her surroundings in a way she hadn't been able to before, free of country club meetings and twin sets Avery discovers that the adage about the world being a small place is absolutely true, locking eyes with Marcello, the man that stole her heart all those years ago she's finally ready to revisit the choices she made once upon a time and the life those choices led to, and more importantly what the future holds for Avery now.

"You didn't end it. An ending has a finale. Come si dice, a resolution... You disappeared."

Roman Crazy was everything I expected and more, it was uproariously funny, it was scintillating and sexy, it was a feast for the senses that ensured I felt as though I was acquiring new stamps on my passport with Avery. It was every bit a European holiday, filled with excitement and exhilaration, a story about life and love and second chances, what's so special about Avery's journey is that there's that nugget of truth in her realisation for most of us, at one point or another we have found ourselves questioning whether the choices we've made were the right ones years later, hindsight is 20/20 and all that, having a second chance at life and love allows us to live vicariously through Avery's journey. Impossible to put down Roman Crazy left me with a sense of wanderlust only another dose of Clayton/Bocci magic can cure.

 

About the Authors:

Alice Clayton:

ALICE CLAYTON worked in the cosmetics industry for over a decade before picking up a pen (read laptop).

She enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up, and finally convinced her long-time boyfriend to marry her.

Now, about that Bernese Mountain dog.

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Nina Bocci:

Nina Bocci is a novelist, publicist, eternal optimist, unabashed lipgloss enthusiast, constant apologist, and a hopeless romanticist. She has too many college degrees that she’s not using, and a Lego addiction that she blames on her son.

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