Bountiful (True North #4) by Sarina Bowen

Mark your calendars - October 20th...It's apple picking season. It's also time for a brand new True North story. Bountiful is Zara's story. Remember Zara? She is Griff's ex, and the bartender at The Mountain Goat. She has a cute little baby daughter, and hasn't told a soul who the father is. More about Bountiful...

Blurb:

No last names. No life stories. Those were the rules.

Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling—a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on.

Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life.

Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave No-Last-Name will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.

Hockey star Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.

Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards—and hard won love—are Bountiful.

Pre-order at Amazon US | iBooks | Kobo | Nook  

Excerpt:

“Last call,” she said to me as she wiped down the bar. “Can I get you anything else?”

“Not unless you’ll let me buy you a drink. Seems like you might need to unwind after that last bit of bullshit.”

She gave me a wry smile. “You’re sweet to ask. But I can’t accept. Company policy.”

“Uh-huh.” I took out my wallet and put a fifty on the bar. “First of all, I’m not sweet.”

Her eyes widened a little when I said that. Now I had her attention.

“And secondly, company policy my ass. It’s you who calls the shots in this place. Nobody else but you. I can see why you need a handy excuse, though. If you couldn’t pull the ‘company policy’ out of your pocket sometimes, the men would be buying the sexy bartender drinks left and right all night long, I bet. You’d never get a moment’s peace.”

A smile stole across her features. “Yeah, sure. I have to keep a stick back here behind the bar just to beat back all the men.”

“You don’t need that stick, gorgeous, because you give ’em the evil eye and they run off, knowing they’re not man enough for you. But every guy who drinks in this bar has the secret, fervent wish that fortune would smile down on him just long enough for him to earn an hour of your undivided attention.”

Zara rolled her dark eyes, but a telltale blush splashed her cheekbones. “You know how to lay it on thick.”

“No need.” I shook my head. “Just telling you how it is. Now I think you should do a shot with me, and we’ll toast your unapproachability.”

She laughed, and her eyes lit up for the first time tonight. “You are smooth, mister. I’m almost tempted.”

“Almost? Damn.”

She smiled. “There aren’t any taxis out here in the woods, and I’ve been pouring your beers all night. If you do a shot with me, it won’t be safe to drive away from here. And it’s quitting time.”

“Well. Now that you mention it…” I reached across the bar and laid a hand very gently over her smooth one. Our gazes collided as I stroked my thumb across the back of her hand. “Driving after doing shots with you wouldn’t be such a great plan. I’d have to stick around for a couple hours until it wears off.”

Zara waited a beat before retrieving her hand from beneath mine. “I see.”

“Do you?” I put both elbows on the bar and leaned forward. She was trying to play it cool, but my not-so-subtle message was getting through. I saw the blush beginning to creep across those fine cheekbones. She and I had chemistry, damn it. We’d been eye-fucking each other all night. “Look. I think you had a stressful evening. And I’m really good at stress relief. Like, pro level.”

She braced both hands on the bar and smiled at me. “Are you always this forward?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “Some women can’t handle the truth. But I’ve watched you run this place. You’re in charge of everything that happens inside these walls, and I’ll bet that gets old. I’m thinking you might like to hand over the reins once in a while. Let someone else take charge. Tonight that someone is gonna be me...”

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

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

Steadfast (True North #2) by Sarina Bowen

Blurb:

She’s the only one who ever loved him—and the only one he can never have.

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there's no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.

For Sophie Haines, coming face to face with the man who broke her heart is gut-wrenching. Suddenly, he’s everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never turn up volunteer in the church kitchen.

She knows it’s foolish to yearn for the man who returned all the heartsick letters she wrote him in prison. But the looks he sends her now speak volumes.

No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie's police chief father. But it's a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29yKvb8
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/29vAL1K
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/29B48Qy
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29TZnq6
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/29uQCyb

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: July 2016.

Have you ever picked up a book with zero expectations about how you think the story will play out and yet finish it thinking WOW! That is so not what I expected?? Now I know I probably sound crazy, but the thing is I didn't really have any idea how Ms Bowen would craft a story about a recovering addict, from the first book in the True North series I expected laugh out loud funny, I expected steamy sex, I expected those swoony moments that Bowen writes to perfection, what I didn't however expect was to read a story about a recovering addict and all the pain and regret he experienced, all the hurt he left behind, but most of all I didn't expect a story to capture so eloquently the destruction addiction causes. From Jude's introduction in Bittersweet I *knew* that he would be something special, addiction isn't only hard on the addict, but on those that love and care for them.

Even knowing very little about the man Jude Nickel was before he went to prison for vehicular manslaughter, it was easy to see how much his time incarcerated changed the man he is now. Three years in prison and six months in rehab is an awfully long time to spend reflecting the choices and mistakes you made, even the least repentant person would struggle under the weight of that kind of solitude. Beating addiction might have been the one of the hardest things Jude ever had to do, but returning to his hometown, of Colebury Vermont , confronting the ghosts of his former life, the ghost of the only woman, the only person who ever loved him was infinitely the hardest.

"Keeps me sane, knowing that if I stay strong all week I get to see you."

Sophie Haines was once the perfect stepford daughter, she did exactly what she was told, she played along with whatever her Sherriff father wanted, she lived her life in the shadows, a quiet  but lonely existence, Jude Nickel was the badboy she'd lust after from afar, a boy like him would never go for a good girl like her, meeting him, changed her, their teenage romance changed each other, in him she found wild and crazy, lust and romance, support and love. At seventeen she thought their love was invincible, but one night changed both of their lives and she was left heartbroken and alone, trapped with a mother who still hadn't mourned her son's passing and a father who blamed her for his death.

"He didn't keep me sane - he made me crazy. Until he'd shown up I hadn't realized how lonely I was."

Two people's lives changed irrevocably one night, one man died, and two families were left broken, addiction is insidious, it breaks trusts, damages lives, shatters families, I know this from personal experience, addiction leaves gaping holes in it's wake, rehabilitation is never an easy fix, it's a statistic universally proven that the rate of return use amongst users is extremely high, as a society we seem to believe that the hard part is admitting you have a problem, is rehabilitation, either forced or voluntary, but the simple fact is that that is the easy part, staying sober while in a regulated treatment program isn't hard, it's returning to your life once your out that shocks the body, that challenges that heart and soul, it's the cravings that tempt you, while all the things you once found so hard to deal with are back breaking down your resolve, it's the knowing how easy it would be to find your drug of choice, Reading books that deal with addiction is difficult because I've heard the I'm sorry's, the I won't do it agains, the I didn't mean its, the I'm tryings, I've heard them so many times that they lost their meaning, they became blank words, a void, and yet the more I read of Jude and Sophie's story the more I let go of some of the anger I didn't realise I was still holding onto.

"Those are just bullsh*t labels. And since when are you interested in other people's opinions."

Jude and Sophie's story isn't one of your typical addict, nor is it one of your typical badboy tempting the good girl, it's multi layered feel left me clutching my chest, it often left my heart feeling heavy, and my soul in need of support, it dealt with a topic that is a trigger for so many and dealt with it with sensitivity and respect, without demonising or sugar coating the reality of it. Steadfast isn't only about drug addiction and recovery, nor is it only about young love, it's paints a beautiful message about forgiveness and redemption, of others and yourself. Steadfast was raw, heart wrenching and utterly addictive in the best possible way.

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. Sarina enjoys skiing, espresso drinks and the occasional margarita. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.

Connect with Sarina on Facebook

Grin & Beard It (Winston Brothers #2) by Penny Reid

Blurb:

Sienna Diaz is everyone’s favorite “fat” funny lady. The movie studio executives can’t explain it, but her films are out-grossing all the fit and trim headliners and Hollywood’s most beautiful elite. The simple truth is, everyone loves plus-sized Sienna.

But she has a problem, she can’t read maps and her sense of direction is almost as bad as her comedic timing is stellar. Therefore, when Sienna’s latest starring role takes her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park she finds herself continually lost while trying to navigate the backroads of Green Valley, Tennessee. Much to her consternation, Sienna’s most frequent savior is a ridiculously handsome, charming, and cheeky Park Ranger by the name of Jethro Winston.

Sienna is accustomed to high levels of man-handsome, so it’s not Jethro’s chiseled features or his perfect physique that make Sienna stutter. It’s his southern charm. And gentlemanly manners. And habit of looking at her too long and too often.

Sienna has successfully navigated the labyrinth of Hollywood heart-throbs. But can she traverse the tenuous trails of Tennessee without losing her head? Or worse, her heart?

Find on Goodreads 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1TS9IBk
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1U2wm8M
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1Vclw2e
iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/…/grin-and-beard…/id1086774926…
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1sDwGSY
B&N: http://bit.ly/20cHhhL
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1Xn93ZS

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: May 2016.

Have you ever had that moment where you're so in awe of an authors work that you feel a sense of trepidation every time you pick up one of their books? When Grin & Beard It landed on my kindle it was with a sense of both heady excitement and nervous trepidation, I was desperate for this book, but what if it didn't live up to my expectations? I was clearly foolish to be concerned, within the first page Sienna's voice gripped me, she was quirky and forthright, captivating almost immediately, there was something about her that was both enticing and yet so incredibly real, it's a hard task, making a Hollywood starlet still seem like the girl next door, well not the boring girl next door, but the one you desperately want to be friends with.

"I honesty don't know. It's everything about you, I guess. Everything together that makes you impossible to leave, impossible to forget."

If Sienna Diaz is all sexy, confident, friendly and outgoing, Jethro Winston is somewhat of an enigma, he's the black sheep of the Winston clan, he's definitely had the most colourful past, and yet has truly changed his ways becoming an upstanding member of the local community. When Sienna and Jethro meet there's a connection for sure, but Reid writes it so eloquently that it's slow burn at it's finest, their increased interaction purely stroking the flames of attraction, slowly building so that the more they spoke with one another, the more they interacted, the more that spark deepened into something real, something beautiful, the more I fell in love with both the characters and with Reid's words.

"Our past would always be part of us, but it would never wholly define us, either together or as individuals. Each moment was a decision. We could either live up or down to people's expectations, or blow them completely away. We had no control over what other people decided to think, but we did have control over our own actions, who we wanted to be, and how we lived our life."

Therein lies the beauty of Reid's books, it's experiencing everything from those first twinges of attraction, to the sly smiles and longing looks, it's the sweet words and the tender moments, it's the burning desire and lust, so explosive that it jumps off the page. It's all of those moments, and all of the others in between, it's the feeling of completely losing yourself in the story, in the small town that the Winston brothers call home, the sheer brilliance of Sienna, a woman that has been content playing the role everyone expects her to for so long that she's started to forget why she started this journey in the first place, a woman who is unquestionably a Hollywood megastar and yet uncharacteristically down to earth, she's found something in Jethro that she's never experienced before, from the undeniable attraction, to the butterflies to the constant need to just be near them, she's sure of herself, confident, has that thing, that x factor that makes someone impossible to forget, in so many ways she's Jethro's polar opposite, and yet in others they mesh more perfectly than either dreamt possible. There's a moment for every reader when you connect with a book, when you lose yourself in the author's words, when you forget time, forget what you need to do, forget everything that exists outside of the characters and their connection, that moment was instantaneous with Grin & Beard It, it was effortless in everyway, just like Jethro when he speaks to his feelings for Sienna, everything about this story was impossible to leave, impossible to forget, I was invested, captivated, utterly enchanted by the full of life lady and the mountain man who found each other unexpectedly, and in the midst of their normal lives found something extraordinary. Penny Reid once again reminded me why she is an automatic purchase author for me, her stories fanciful and yet full of universal truths, adults meeting and embarking on their something more, no angst for the sake of building drama, no silly miscommunication that leaves me tugging my hair out, her sheer brilliance reliant purely on her ability to captivate her reader, something she has done EVERY SINGLE TIME I pick up her books.

"Happy to hear it. Because when I'm with you, I feel like I'm both flying and falling."

About Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is a USA Today Best Selling Author of romantic fiction. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances she works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She's also a full time mom to three diminutive adults (boy-8, girl-6, and girl-4 months), wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny on Facebook

Seeking Faith by Lauren McKellar & Losing Faith by Jennifer Ryder - Review

Blurb:

The inseparable are well and truly split.

Mack, Faith and Lacey, joined at the hip since they were kids, are about to graduate high school. You might think this sounds like a book about coming-of-age and taking that leap into adulthood.

It is—except one of them doesn’t make it …

Mackenzie Carter has one solid thing on the agenda for her future—get out of town and focus on her post-school studies. After all, she’s wanted to be a vet since she was a little girl, and nothing, not the thought of being apart from her two best mates or the idea that maybe she’s got more-than-friendly feelings for a sexy local surfer can alter that … can it?

Graduation changes everything.

Almost three years later, and Mack’s high school dreams are just that—figments of her imagination, thanks to the guilt that haunts her on a daily basis. Will a faux relationship with Byron Leckie be the thing she needs to get her life back on track? Or will it make everything worse?

One thing is for certain. When these two collide, the damage will be fierce. After all, graduation was never meant to end like this.

Purchase Links:

iBooks: https://itun.es/au/oDHebb.l
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1RaCuXK
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/20a10in
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1RaBaV4
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1TITPsV

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: May 2016.

Mackenzie Carter had a comfortable life, she was loved by her family, surrounded by her two bestfriends Lacey and Faith, the end of year twelve and graduation is in her sights and her university study options after school are already narrowed down to moving to Sydney to follow her dream, only she's not sure if it's her dream anymore or everyone else's. Embarking on her final push towards end of year Mack is both ready and unsure, on the cusp of adulthood, that dichotomous age where you know everything and nothing at all. Certain truths are always true though, bestfriends tell each other everything, and its never okay to fall for your bestfriends boyfriend. When graduation night ends in unexpected tragedy, Mack's world tilts on it's axis, three bestfriends are torn apart, the lives of those around them broken, staying was never part of the plan, leaving is truly the only option, when Mack leaves everything behind determined to start again, she thinks her days in their small town are over, only the past has a way of coming back whether your ready to deal the memories it brings or not.

Byron Leckie had the seemingly perfect life, loved by all, hottest girlfriend in town, good friends, plans for the future, the last thing he expected was to develop feelings for his girlfriends best friend, despite doing the right thing and abiding by the cardinal rule of never coming between friends, that year changes the trajectory of his life forever, when tragedy strikes on graduation night Byron is broken, being the good guy didn't save anyone and his close knit group of friends was torn apart. Chasing memories of guilt and years of heartache when he runs into Mack again years later he finally has the chance to write the wrongs of the past, to fix some of whats broken, and bring one of the towns favourite daughters home.

Losing someone too soon, too young is tragic, the mystery surrounding Faith's death only intensifying the feelings of guilt, one night three years ago changed everyone's lives, in Seeking Faith McKellar takes the reader on a journey of guilt and shame, of pain and heartbreak, of ultimately forgiveness and love, the inherent sense of suspense woven through each moment held me captive, intrigued almost immediately and desperate for more I devoured Seeking Faith, McKellar begs the question of what happens after the storm, after the sadness and after the hurt, she's examines survivors guilt in the subtlest of ways, as both Mack and Byron wade through a sea of emotions, some beating them down, others buoying them to continue. Set across a picturesque backdrop of coastal life, interspersed with the vibrant canvas of bustling Sydney McKellar held me captive from the first page until the very last page.

 

About Lauren McKellar:

Lauren K. McKellar is the writer of contemporary romance reads that make you feel. With a passion for all things fiction, she is a hybrid-published best-selling Australian author of young and new adult books.
In addition to her fiction work, Lauren edits manuscripts for both publishing houses and a host of successful independent authors, working on both structural and line elements. She loves working collaboratively to achieve a common end goal.
Lauren lives by the beach in Australia with her husband and their two dogs. Most of the time, all three of them are well behaved.

Connect with Lauren on Facebook

Blurb:

The inseparable are well and truly split.

Mack, Faith and Lacey, joined at the hip since primary school, are about to graduate high school. You might think this sounds like a book about coming-of-age and taking that leap into adulthood.

It is— except one of them doesn’t make it …

Lacey Marone had two solid things on her agenda for her future — working in the Pepperoni Palace until she figured out what the hell to do with her life, and getting together with her bestie’s older brother, Quade, who she’s crushed on since she was a kid.

Then graduation night changed everything. Almost three years later, Lacey won’t rest until she discovers the truth surrounding Faith’s death. She’s outcast by those who want to move on from the tragedy, as if the town’s sweetheart never existed.

Years after losing Faith, Quade Kelly returns home to Runaway Beach, determined to mend ties with his parents and cement a future in his hometown teaching at the local primary school. Quade soon learns that his sister’s ghost lives on, thanks to Lacey, the girl who still owns a piece of his heart.

Lacey is hung up on her quest for answers. Quade wants to bury his failures of the past. The pull between them can’t be denied but can the past be forgotten?

Truths will be uncovered and hearts will be cracked open wide. After all, graduation was never meant to end like this.

Purchase Links:

iBooks: https://itun.es/au/71jebb.l
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1WE0ZWc
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/209YTep
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1U1sUZg
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1NzYCjU


Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: May 2016.

Lacey Marone had a pretty sweet deal, final year of high school, one third of the best bitches, loving and supportive family and the beginnings of a new relationship with the only boy that's ever caught her attention, Quade Kelly. The boy who she's loved from afar for as long as she can remember is just as smitten with her, no longer destined to admire the object of her affection from afar, her best friend Faith's older brother, with plans to tell everyone about their new relationship after graduation Lacey is excited for what's to come, when tragedy rocks their tight knit community the last thing on her mind is announcing her big news. At a time when Lacey should be surrounded by those she loves, she's left alone, heartbroken, desolate, when Quade leaves without an explanation and Mack disappears into the night, the girl who once had everything now has a gaping black hole in her life, grieving for her dead best friend, grieving the lost of the relationship that was just beginning, grieving her other best friend, she turns her efforts to educating teens about the dangers of drinking and alcohol and the roads at night, while searching for some clue as to what happened to Faith that fateful night that everything fell apart.

Quade Kelly had a good life, older brother to Faith, whom he adored, loving family, good friends, and a new relationship with Lacey, the girl who had always been there and yet was suddenly everywhere he looked. Brother to the prodigal daughter, when she dies Quade is adrift, blame for her tragic death falling squarely on his shoulders, shrouded in guilt and pain he leaves everything he knows behind. Returning home three years later, ready to rewrite the past that crushed him, try to rebuild the relationship that crumbled with his parents, try to reconnect with the girl he never forgot.

The sense of suspense and intrigue ran through Losing Faith, Lacey's need to discover what happened to her best friend, using her pain to fuel her quest to uncover the truth, Lacey is strong, sassy, confident, she refuses to be bullied by those in town who just want to forget Faith every existed, strongly supportive of her parents, and their family business, there is so much about her that I truly adored, independently I adored by Lacey and Quade, but together I wanted more, I wanted more from Quade, I wanted more strength from Lacey, I wanted to feel their connection, the strength of his apology, I wanted to know with certainty that she exorcised some of that anger and grief, I wanted to feel Quade's ability to admit that the way he left effected more than just him, that taking off unexpectedly broke something inside of Lacey, that running away was something he regretted, and more than anything was desperate to fix, to make right. I wanted passion, and need, I wanted to feel that inherently through their actions and their words, rather than being told how deeply they felt for one another.

Losing Faith running concurrently to Seeking Faith explores the side of what happens after tragedy strikes to the people left behind, the town left in its wake. Lacey shows herself to be the rare combination of adolescence and adult, clinging to rewriting the past, dogged by the uncertainty of not knowing the hows and whys of that fateful night, desperate to ensure that it never happens again, that drive and dedication is what I cheered on relentlessly while reading.
Exhilarating at times, Lacey and Quade's story had me intrigued, and while there were moments that's utterly captivated me, I struggled to truly feel connected to Lacey and Quade as their relationship reconnected and gained strength. Dive into Losing Faith and discover all the secrets and lies that hide behind the smiling faces left behind.

About Jennifer Ryder:

Jennifer Ryder is a bestselling author with five novels in the Spark Series published to date. She loves to write about boys on dirt bikes, detectives and strong females who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want.

Living on a rural property in New South Wales, Australia, she enjoys the best of city and country. Her loving husband is ever willing to provide inspiration, and her two young cherubs, and sheep that don't see fences as barriers, keep life more than interesting.

Jennifer placed third in the International Stringybark Erotic Short Fiction Award 2013.

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