Ladies Man (Manwhore #3) by Katy Evans - Review

Blurb:

Tahoe Roth.
Irreverent, cocky, playful and naughty.
He’s not the guy you date.
He’s the one night stand.
The one your mother warned you about.
The one your body craves.


You’d think the man who called me succulent would want to strip me down and spread me out on his bed—like he’s done with countless others.

But he passed on my offer….

Just like I’d once passed on his.

He’s wary, like I am.

He’s broken, like I am.

And everyone knows two broken parts can’t ever make a whole.

Tahoe and I are strictly friends.

So I distract myself with other men.

He doesn’t think my new man is good enough. This blond blue-eyed beast doesn’t think any man is—himself included.

But the more time we spend together, the more confused I feel.
I'm trying to open myself to love.

Yet I'm quickly realizing that the only man I want is Tahoe Roth.
The one man who will surely break my heart.

A sexy new Manwhore series standalone contemporary romance from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Evans.


Purchase Links:

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1NKpAjj
iBooks: bit.ly/LadiesManiBooks
Nook: bit.ly/LadiesManNook

Audible: bit.ly/LadiesManAudible

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1VyJgP6

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

Tahoe Roth is the epitome of the term ladies man, he's well known, lusted after, and isn't at all discreet about his night time dalliances with the fairer sex, he's part of the Manhattan elite, he's wealthy and powerful, with friends like Malcolm Saint he's sure to have quite a reputation. Men want to be him, women want him, watching his best friend find love only seemed to make him more determine to continue leading his swinging single life, answering to no one but himself, Roth has quite the enviable existence.

Regina was determined to maintain her single existence, after heartbreak and betrayal years before, she swore off love and romance, determined to protect her heart against men who would only disappoint and hurt her, when her best friend Rachel falls hopelessly in love with one of the city's most eligible bachelor's Saint, she finds herself fighting to keep telling herself that single is what she truly wants to be. Saints best friend Tahoe was at first the epitome of everything she hated about men, he was cocky and arrogant, had women falling at his feet, and he used them and tossed them away just as quickly, but the more she got to know the cocky business man, the more she began to see him as her friend, the friend that she spent her time alternating between wanting to kiss him or punch him in the face.

On the surface, everything about Tahoe and Regina's friendship seems all wrong, and yet quickly they come to mean more to each other than anyone else, they become each others sounding board, lucky charm, best friend, their chemistry is explosive, their attraction undeniable, and yet they skirt the truth of what they are and how they feel, seeming to always take one step forward and two steps back, coming dangerously close to unravelling the lies they tell themselves and each other. Regina has always felt broken, betrayed, forgotten, left behind, first by her parents and then by her ex boyfriend Paul, she's a walking case study on abandonment issues, terrified of being hurt again, and yet simultaneously scared to miss out on life by pushing people away. It's assumed that she is the one battling past demons, but the more we delve into their friendship, the more we see that Tahoe is just as adept at keeping secrets himself. Are his playboy ways be design or is there more to the man the he leads people to believe...

Ladies Man isn't a story of instalove, their chemistry is potent, it's undeniable, there's a rawness to their budding friendship, an honesty that neither has truly experienced, despite her overwhelming attraction to the man, Gina slowly shows more of herself than she even realises, Tahoe despite his reputation dispels the playboy myth so many times when it comes to her, neither can deny that what they have is more than friendship, and yet there is still a slow build that is so exquisite to watch unfold, admitting they want each other has never been a problem, spending time together definitely not a chore, recognising that together they have something worth fighting for is part of the beauty of the journey. Ladies Man was captivating, exploring the enigma that is Tahoe Roth had me glued to the pages, watching Gina's journey from a woman who resigned herself to never putting herself out there again, to a woman who almost welcomed the pain knowing she was chasing after something more for herself that hiding behind past heartbreak is what had me unable to look away.

About Katy Evans:

Katy Evans is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her debut REAL shot to the top of the bestselling lists in 2013 and since then all of her titles have been New York Times bestsellers. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages across the world, with over a million copies sold worldwide.

Connect with Katy on Facebook

Shameless by Lex Martin - Review

Blurb:

Brady…
What the hell do I know about raising a baby? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing.

Yet here I am, the sole guardian of my niece. I’d be lost if it weren’t for Katherine, the beautiful girl who seems to have all the answers. Katherine, who’s slowly finding her way into my cynical heart.

I keep reminding myself that I can’t fall for someone when we don’t have a future. But telling myself this lie and believing it are two different things.


Katherine…

When Brady shows up on a Harley, looking like an avenging angel—six feet, three inches of chiseled muscle, eyes the color of wild sage, and sun-kissed skin emblazoned with tattoos—I’m not sure if I should fall at his feet or run like hell. Because if I tell him what happened the night his family died, he might hate me.

What I don’t count on are the nights we spend together trying to forget the heartache that brought us here. I promise him it won’t mean anything, that I won’t fall in love.

I shouldn’t make promises I can’t keep.

Shameless is an adult contemporary romance/spinoff featuring a character from The Dearest Series, but it can be read as a complete standalone.

 

 

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29282745-shameless

 Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1UaR0Fq

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/23SE2CC

Universal Amazon link: http://myBook.to/Shameless

B&N: http://bit.ly/1VnRtFy

Kobo: http://bit.ly/248KdiD

iBooks: http://apple.co/1S3GPBl

 

Also Available: 

The Dearest Series Boxed Set is FREE on KU for a limited time. Get all three Dearest Series books, including Dearest Clementine, Finding Dandelion and Kissing Madeline, as well as Dearest Series bonus scenes and the first chapter of Shameless.

US: http://amzn.to/1U0pB97

UK: http://amzn.to/1YBClSN

Universal Amazon link: http://myBook.to/DearestSeries

http://amzn.to/1VM8ZUo

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

Brady isn't the kind of man who chases women, he's never really needed to, there was a time when he lusted after his close friend Dani, despite knowing she would never feel the same way, when she found happiness with someone that wasn't him, he nursed his bruised male pride and moved on, he had bigger things to worry about than women, like his dad's ailing health and crumbling family business, his brother had  left town to study in order to be an asset to their fathers business,  but instead had met a woman and eloped and was now a young father himself, with no intention of returning home Brady faced a future of sacrificing his passion in order to support his father and mother by taking over the family business. Brady is tired, he's worn out, he's frustrated and angry, once again he's stepping up to support everyone else's choices with little regard given to what he truly wants.

A phone call in the middle of the night changes everything for Brady, suddenly he's second guessing himself, he's rethinking every cross word, every heated thought, his baby brother Cal is gone and his last thoughts of him were filled with anger and frustration, there's a heady sense of loss, one the reader feels acutely. With the mounting pressure of a sick father, a family business haemorrhaging money, a dead brother and an estate to deal with Brady heads to Cal and Melissa's farm to try and say goodbye the only way he can.

"Death does that. Sticks everything under a magnifying glass and makes each scratch or cut feel like a gaping wound."

Brady isn't the only person who lost someone that dark night when Cal and Melissa died, Melissa was more than just Katherine's best friend, she was her confidante, her support system, Cal, Melissa and their daughter Isabella were her family, her sense of peace, her safe haven when her world was rocked once before. Katherine found a home with them, she loves Isabella like her own, standing in to care for her after her parents sudden death was never an issue, her bond with the little girl unquestionable, grieving for the loss they both feel so acutely, they are tethered to one another.

"Her chubby little cheek drops to my shoulder, and it's all I can do to keep from breaking down myself."

There's a familiarity between Kat and Brady, one borne out of experiencing the same grief, living through the same nightmare, wishing they would wake up and Cal and Melissa were still alive, that Brady was only visiting, that Isabella still had two parents. Grief and loss weigh heavily on both of them, struggling to keep the farm running, caring for a baby girl, processing and dealing with their own sense of grief, Brady and Kat circle each other, doing what's needs to get, focusing on just making it through, the connection between them growing deeper each day, their chemistry is undeniable, in another time and another place, they would be perfect for one another. Regrettably they are not the care free young adults they should be, Brady is facing the brunt of familial financial expectation, as well as guardianship of his baby niece Izzy,  and Kat has secrets that weight heavily on her mind. Finding solace and support in each other is inevitable, an intimate connection borne out of need that would end when Brady and Katherine returned to their own homes.

"Because in another lifetime, in a parallel world - one where he doesn't live on the other side of the country - I think he's the kind of man I could love."

From the title, I expected Shameless to be quick, sexy ride...boyyyy was I wrong, the author demonstrates her range here, making the reader every second of that bleak, shrouded sense of pain and loss, from the very first moments we feel something building, and when that phone rings, it's the feeling of dread, of anguish, of powerlessness, the loss so acute, the pain so real, that you can feel it wash over you, leaving you feel like you're treading water, just trying to stay afloat right along with Brady and Kat. Ms Martin weaves moments of hilarity through the tapestry she created, the connection they share going beyond purely physical attraction, it's a recognition of each other on a soul deep level, the ability to provide comfort and understanding to one another when they both feel so utterly alone. There's a rawness there that makes it impossible to look away, and utterly mesmerising to watch. Set against the backdrop of farm life, complete with animals to care for, Shameless tells the story of love and loss, of hope and most importantly reminds the reader that even after the darkest storms, there's a rainbow.

About Lex Martin:

Lex writes adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters. When she's not writing, she lives a parallel life as an English teacher. She loves printing black and white photos, listening to music on vinyl, and getting lost in a great book. Bitten by wanderlust, she's lived all over the country but currently resides in the City of Angels with her husband and twin daughters.


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Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexlaughs
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The True North Series by Sarina Bowen Cover Reveal

EXCLUSIVE iBooks pre-order https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bittersweet/id1081481347?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

BITTERSWEET

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.
The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago. 
At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.
Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.
They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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Bookblogging: what happens when reading is leaving you feeling burnt out.

This might just be the most honest blog post I've ever written, over the past almost five months GPI has changed a lot, over Christmas and New Years I experienced something I wasn't acquainted with when it came to reading, being a speed reader I've always been able to read quickly, even at that speed I've been able to take every word in, digest it, ruminate on it, comprehend it, but over New Years I found myself struggling to connect, to become invested, reading felt more like a chore than the joy it had previously been, for the first time in years I found myself staring at the television screen instead of having my nose stuck in a book. I changed up what I read, I took a break from heavy, emotionally taxing books, I drifted toward the light and fluffy and for a while it was enough. I instigated some other changes, I cut back on beta reading, I disabled private messages on GPI's facebook page, I made a conscious effort to focus less on promotion, and more on the books I was eager to read, I stopped accepting ARC's or review copies unless it was a book I had already pre-ordered and was desperate for, whether it be via author, tour company or publisher invite.  I wanted GPI to be a reflection of my personal tastes, I wanted the readers who follow my blog and reviews to know that anything featured was because I loved it, read it, reviewed it, or couldn't wait to get my hands on it, some followers loved the changes, I created a reader group - GPI Wine Bar for those who love reading the way I do, for book discussion, for promotion of the aforementioned books, I wanted to carve out a little space of the interwebs to connect with readers just like me. Again for a while it worked, I found myself loving reading again, I was discovering new books, new authors, I fell in love with some of my old favourites again, and I loved reading again, I found myself desperate to get back to my book, devouring pages.

I bet you're thinking that's great, you're fixed... only I wasn't, again those feelings started coming back, I'd already cut back on signing up for blogging tours, and yet those restless feelings were definitely there. Between some health problems, stress at work, helping to plan a signing, making arrangements to attend a signing overseas, and trying to fall pregnant and making arrangements to begin our IVF journey... I was exhausted, both mentally and physically,  I've heard about people being burnt out before, but until now I never really understood what they meant. I do now.

The changes that started to come into effect will continue for the foreseeable future, to be honest, feeling less harried is something I'm enjoying, it's helping to alleviate some of the stress I placed on myself, when I started this blog it was to create a place where I could talk about the books I loved (without regaling my husband with my next favourite book) I wanted somewhere I could promote the Authors I adored, somewhere along the line it became about maximising followers, getting better reach, and I guess what I realised is as long as I'm chasing that I'm loosing track of why I started this journey. I recently created a blogger support group if you will, with a blogger I admire and respect, we wanted a place where we could vent and talk about our blogs, and the struggles we were facing, and the most common one is juggling reviewing and promotional posts, networking and building an audience, responding to messages and emails, handling requests, this is part of the reason I'm writing this, because I want to be honest about where I am, and want other bloggers to know that most of us will experience those moments where we struggle to remember why we started this, will find themselves drowning under blog commitments and trying to be everything to everyone, I've always been an exceptionally honest person, writing reviews can be intensely personal, so this post is just an extension of that, if you yourself are a blogger and want to join our support group the link is posted below.

Book Bloggers United

Until next time...

Shameless by Lex Martin - Cover Reveal

Title: Shameless
Author: Lex Martin
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs
Photography: Perrywinkle Photography
Release Date: April 26, 2016

 

Blurb:


Brady…
What the hell do I know about raising a baby? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing.

Yet here I am, the sole guardian of my niece. I’d be lost if it weren’t for Katherine, the beautiful girl who seems to have all the answers. Katherine, who’s slowly finding her way into my cynical heart.

I keep reminding myself that I can’t fall for someone when we don’t have a future. But telling myself this lie and believing it are two different things.


Katherine…When Brady shows up on a Harley, looking like an avenging angel—six feet, three inches of chiseled muscle, eyes the color of wild sage, and sun-kissed skin emblazoned with tattoos—I’m not sure if I should fall at his feet or run like hell. Because if I tell him what happened the night his family died, he might hate me.

What I don’t count on are the nights we spend together trying to forget the heartache that brought us here. I promise him it won’t mean anything, that I won’t fall in love.

I shouldn’t make promises I can’t keep.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29282745-shameless



Shameless is an adult contemporary romance/spinoff featuring a character from The Dearest Series, but it can be read as a complete standalone. Shameless is on SALE for 99 cents only during the preorder, which is available now.


PRE-ORDER LINKS **Special pre-order price of 99c **

US:  http://amzn.to/1SQdG8T
UK: http://amzn.to/1YBCvK4
Universal Amazon link: http://myBook.to/Shameless
iBooks: http://apple.co/22FuCo1

ALSO AVAILABLE

The Dearest Series Boxed Set just went live and is FREE on KU for a limited time. Get all three Dearest Series books, including Dearest Clementine, Finding Dandelion and Kissing Madeline, as well as Dearest Series bonus scenes and the first chapter of Shameless.

US:  http://amzn.to/1qVVJQ3
UK: http://amzn.to/1YBClSN
Universal Amazon link: http://myBook.to/DearestSeries

GPI's Reviews:

Dearest Clementine
Finding Dendelion
Kissing Madeline



About Lex Martin:


Lex writes adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters. When she's not writing, she lives a parallel life as an English teacher. She loves printing black and white photos, listening to music on vinyl, and getting lost in a great book. Bitten by wanderlust, she's lived all over the country but currently resides in the City of Angels with her husband and twin daughters.

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1CgVvUO
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1xbYIVv
Facebook group: http://on.fb.me/1oJN3mZ
Blog: http://lexmartinwrites.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexlaughs
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lexlaughs/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lexmartin790/

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Sidebarred (Legal Briefs #3) by Emma Chase

Blurb:
 
Join Jake & Chelsea, Stanton & Sofia, Brent & Kennedy as they navigate the hilarious and heartwarming hurdles of love, life and the law in this final addition to the Legal Briefs Series.

There was a time when Jake Becker had it all together. He was controlled, driven, ruthless—in and out of the courtroom.

Then, six irresistible orphans and their heartbreakingly beautiful aunt crashed into his perfectly ordered life. They changed everything. They changed him. Now he’s a husband, an upstanding member of society, a father figure—a family man.
And he’s pretty damn good at it.

Sure, he has to referee sibling smackdowns, re-learn algebra, ensure his clients stay of jail, and keep his wife happy—but it finally feels like he’s got it together again....
So, of course something has to screw it all up.

It’s huge. Life-changing. Kind of terrifying.

And it will be the most amazing, perfect thing he’ll ever do.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

iBooks: http://apple.co/1XjJcjE
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1S6YnfV
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1VzlphH
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1rcMewj
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1rcMkUu
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1Nk0dd4

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

When Jake Becker waltzed into Chelsea McQuaids already unstable life flipped on it's head, their undeniable connection and explosive chemistry gave this reader that goofy smile that undoubtedly follows after I have fallen in love with a book. Everything about Jake drew me in, from his stoic strength, to those handsome good looks, to the fierce protectiveness he showed for everyone he cared about, but more than just Jake, I fell in love with Chelsea as well, her quiet strength, her temerity, her tenacity, the way she took every hit aimed at her and kept getting back up, she kept fighting, never giving up or giving in. Their story is one that has not only stayed with me, but has held it's place on my favourites list, being picked up time and time again to reread when I'm feeling unmoved by other couples, it's storytelling at it's most beautiful, when characters invade your senses, steal your heart and you're forever changed by experiencing their journey with them.

Life has been good to Jake and Chelsea in the time since Jake got his act together and they became husband and wife, caring for six kids as a newly wed is not easy feat, but together they have weathered storms and created a loving environment for their family, but their biggest challenge may be one they never anticipated.

"You're crying because you're disappointed. Because, even just for a little while, you thought we were having a baby - and you were happy about it. You want to have a baby.

....And I do, too,"

What I expected here was a fun little sneak peak into Jake and Chelsea's lives, I expected a few flashes into Stanton and Sofia and Brent and Kennedy, an easy reading novella that would undoubtedly make me giggle, something light, instead Chase crafted a story that was sincere and eloquent, that was timeless in so many ways, a story that had me utterly enraptured from the first page, because these characters, these people somewhere along the lines became my people, and every moment of joy, every soft smile, every whispered word, every reverent look, every moment of heartbreak I felt with them, I wanted to climb inside the pages and laugh with Jake when things were good and sit and hold Chelsea's hand when things were difficult, it's an interesting feeling, being an avid reader, and hopeless romantic to boot, knowing that they are characters and aren't real, and yet believing so fully in the authors powers of storytelling that you forget even for the briefest of moments, sharing their joys and their sorrows as real as you would with a friend sitting by your side.

"And my whispered words slice the stillness of the moment. All of this only works if you're here. It begins with you, it ends..."

Sidebarred reminded me why I adore Emma Chase's writing, why I will drop everything to read her words, her ability to take the reader on a journey, one that can be confronting at times, one that often pushes you to think, one that makes you smile and sigh knowing that what your reading maybe be fiction but can give you lessons for life, she reminds me that life isn't just about the destination, but the journey, it's about the false steps, and pot holes and laughter and tears, it's about all those memories your creating without even realising, it's all those tiny moments that shape who you are and who you want to be, it's the soft smiles and sense of contentment that washes over you as you read her words. Saying good bye to this group is bittersweet, but loving them and letting go only to come back again, to pick them back up, to reacquaint myself with them is truly the most joyous part of reading, with the perfect balance of laugh out loud humour, of deliciously decadent heat, of heartfelt emotion Sidebarred is a book I will no doubt come back to time and time again.

"She's my love, my home, the solace to my soul, the keeper of my heart, the centre of my entire f*cking world. The only reason I really believe in my own goodness is because I see it reflected in her eyes."

 

About Emma Chase:

Emma Chase lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two misbehaving (but really cute) dogs. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

Connect with Emma on Facebook
Visit Emma's Website

Dirty (Dive Bar #1) by Kylie Scott

Blurb:

The last thing Vaughan Hewson expects to find when he returns to his childhood home is a broken hearted bride in his shower, let alone the drama and chaos that comes with her.

Lydia Green doesn't know whether to burn down the church or sit and cry in a corner. Discovering the love of your life is having an affair on your wedding day is bad enough. Finding out it's with his best man is another thing all together. She narrowly escapes tying the knot and meets Vaughan only hours later.

Vaughan is the exact opposite of the picture perfect, respected businessman she thought she'd marry. This former musician-turned-bartender is rough around the edges and unsettled. But she already tried Mr. Right and discovered he's all wrong-maybe it's time to give Mr. Right Now a chance.

After all, what's wrong with getting dirty?

Purchase Links:

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1MetF1F
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Mez6t6
iBooks: http://apple.co/1TOAhIG
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1NyBX1I

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/20PGvsc
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Sp9m6p
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Ni7UjT
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/1S52okT
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1U1NTQ6

PreOrder Twist (Dive Bar #2)

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

Since discovering Lick all those years ago, I've been an avid Kylie Scott fan, her rough and tumble rockers who have hit the big time have been keeping thoroughly entertained for quite a while now, when news of Dirty broke I was excited, Vaughan had a small but memorable role in Deep, as the sweet talking rocker who noticed Lizzy almost immediately, in another place and another time, one where Ben didn't exist Vaughan might have found his perfect match. In Dirty, Vaughan is coming home to Coeur d'Alene after a tour with the worldwide sensation Stage Dive, unfortunately his band Down Fourths didn't make it, one or two hit songs and supporting a major bank does not equate to longevity or success in the music industry. His visit is only meant to be long enough to lick his wounds, and to sell his house, before going back out on the road to conquer his dream of hitting the big time, the last thing he expects to find is a stranger in his bathtub.

"But I'm not that piece of shit. I'd never deliberately do anything to hurt or humiliate you."

Lydia has had a bad day, dressed in vintage couture, ready to marry the sweetest man she's even known when she discovers that the man of her dreams is actually the man of the Bestman's dreams as well, finding out your fiancé is cheating on you on your wedding day is horrendous, realising he's gay just the next blow, hurt and humiliated, her only goal is to escape her wedding.  Jumping a fence in your dress definitely isn't pleasant, waking up in a strangers bathtub, with said stranger standing above you only cements it as the worst day in history.

"You've done nothing but show me who you are since I met you."

From the moment their paths cross, there's a tangible chemistry, despite the bumbling words, and apologies, and never minds, and breast ogling there's something innate there, like a recognition on a soul deep level, sometime that draws the two together. Both are running from past hurts, both are desperate to wipe the slate clean and start over somewhere else, whereas Vaughan has consistently ran from everyone and everything he knows to carve out a new life filled with success and music, Lydia has been desperately been seeking somewhere to fit in, to belong, in all the ways that they are similar, they are also polar opposites, however despite everything they both seem to be chasing the idea of what they thought their lives would be like, still desperately clawing onto hope of what ifs and some days, missing the things in front of them until it becomes so blaringly obvious that they can no longer deny it.

"The great thing about crying in the shower was that with all of the noise and water, there was no real evidence. No one need ever know."

 Vaughan had an inherently sexiness about him, effortlessly cool, confident and charismatic, rocking that sexy ripped V that women lose their minds over, but aside from that, he's a good guy, within moments of meeting Lydia, on what could possibly be the most humiliating day of her life, a day when she feels wrung out and used, when she has to reconcile her life now, with what she imagined it would be, while she grieving the loss of the life she imagined for herself, something she has in common with Vaughan without even realising it, he see's beyond her humiliation, beyond her despair, beyond her bruised face and torn dress, he's see's a woman he wants to know. Vaughan doesn't see the too curvy girl, nor does he see the girl who's confidence took a hit because of her douchebag ex fiancé, instead he sees a woman who excites and tantalises him, he see's a woman who makes him laugh, a woman who is honest and real.

"Deal with your shit, Vaughan. Mourne your parents. Get over your guilt. Give you and your sister a break. Do whatever the hell you need to, to be alright."

Lydia is so much more than just her plus size figure, more than her failed wedding, more than her cheating fiancé or his stuck up family, she's taken a hit to her self esteem, beyond the hurt and embarrassment is the feeling that she's not enough, not enough for her parents, not enough for her college boyfriend, not enough for her fiancé or his family, not enough to be noticed and certainly not enough to be lusted after by someone like Vaughan, such is the beauty of Scott's writing that the more she examined their burgeoning relationship, their electric connection, the explosive chemistry, the more desperate I became for these characters. Every part of Dirty was deliciously enticing, affable characters, eclectic locations, a story that seamlessly blended heart and humour, beautifully tender and yet uproariously funny, scintillating and sexy, Scott yet again gave this reader her Rocker fix, it's safe to say that the Stage Dive boys have some competition, Vaughan and Lydia proving themselves to be stars in their own right.

About Kylie Scott:

New York Times & USA Today Best Selling Australian Romance Writer.

Website

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Mad Addiction (Crazy Beautiful #2) by Jessica Serra Huizenga

Released: May 8th 2016.

Blurb:

Kelley Brooks is saving herself for Prince Charming.

Ryan Blake, while charming, is definitely not a prince.

Always straightforward and realistic, Kelley Brooks and Ryan Blake know they are not right for each other. Kelley believes in fate and waiting for “the one” while Ryan prefers maintaining distance and control with unattached one-night stands.

But after indulging in a single, meaningless wedding hookup, unexpected circumstances force them into one hell of a complicated situation.

After agreeing to a fake engagement, both Ryan and Kelley must confront their pasts — and true feelings — causing them to question everything they thought they knew about family, commitment, and most importantly, love.

A lie brought them together, but will the truth tear them apart?

And what the heck does happily ever after really mean, anyway?

**This books is for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and explicit sexual content**

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1TcfonZ
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1TZ8i8y
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1TcfzQ6
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01E2T3D3A
iBooks: http://apple.co/1WovEVA
Signed Paperback: http://bit.ly/25Ux9iq
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1MBjd6u

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

In Crazy Beautiful the reader is introduced to Kelley and Ryan, respectively as Kinsley and Lucas's best friends, two incredibly loyal and determined  people that would do anything to ensure their best friends happiness, unfortunately that's where the similarities between the two end, where Ryan has mastered the art of the hit it and quit it move, Kelley dreams of Prince Charming and happily ever afters. Ryan is content to sow his oats as it were as far and wide as possible, he never promises anything more than he's willing to give which is sex only, no strings attached, he doesn't need to, he's smart, attractive and has enough charisma to make even his toughest female critic swoon, and Kelley would know, because despite her absolute vehemence for his lifestyle she can't fight her attraction to him, even Kelley can admit that despite his sexual activity he's a good guy, he may not be boyfriend material but he's kind and considerate and he's there for his friends without a word, Ryan has become a quasi friend, but she's not looking for one night, Kelley is desperately seeking the kind of love that will light up her life, the kind of passion and need that will change her world, and she's not willing to settle for anything other than that.

One moment of weakness however changes everything, when the King of One Night Stands and the Queen of Happily Ever Afters collide, everything they had planned shifts, now pregnant and expecting their child, Kelley is forced to put her dreams of a White Knight riding to her romantic rescue on hold, and Ryan is forced to confront his worst fears, parenthood and being accountable for someone other than himself. Desperate not to face judgement and ridicule from those around them, Ryan and Kelley come up with a deal, a fake engagement so that Ryan doesn't appear to be reckless, and Kelley isn't just another notch on his rather large bedpost. They've already had sex, she's already pregnant, what could possibly go wrong?

"I just didn't realize how comfortable I would get around you. It's sort of how I always pictured my life, but twisted and backwards."

Mad Addiction is at times uproariously funny, and yet tender and sweet, the more Kelley reflects on her past failed relationship and what she wants from her future, softens to the idea that there could be more to Ryan than what he's willing to admit, the more Ryan unpacks his past struggles, his sense of abandonment and fear of repeating the actions of others when responsibility became to heavier burden, the more he grows as both a man and a soon to be father and partner. For fans of Crazy Beautiful, the glimpses of Lucas and Kinsley throughout made me smile, but mist of all what I truly adored was the scope and growth you see for both Kelley and Ryan, the moments of pure anguish as you see two people shackled to their pasts, and the absolute soaring joy or seeing them look at what their future could be if they are brave enough to chase it.

"We're real. This is real. You spout all this bullsh*t about true love but I don't think you even know what that f*cking means."

The author shows a talent for drawing in the reader, for crafting a story that is witty and smart, and funny and sweet, where Crazy Beautiful grabbed my attention, it's follow up Mad Addiction had me grinning like a goon, desperate for more of these characters that I couldn't stop thinking about. Engaging from the first page, captivating to the last line, Mad Addiction quells the theory that the follow up never measures up to the first, for an author who is new to book world, she has cemented her place on my MUST READ list.

"And that's the sad, harsh, ironic truth - a lie brought us together, and the truth tore us apart."

About Jessica:

When she’s not making confetti as head honcho over at The Confetti Bar (theconfettibar.com),
co-dreaming with creative women through Monarch Workshop (monarchworkshop.com), and
blogging about her health & wellness journey going sugar-free at Simple Unsweet
(simpleunsweet.com), Jessica loves to spend her nights getting caught up in imaginary worlds.
She lives in central CT with her husband, Clifford, and the cutest cat EVER, named Curious.
She loves colorful things, making people smile, things that smell good, and is obsessed with
lemon water. And glitter. Lots of glitter.
She also loves, well…love. (She’s a sucker for a sweet story.)
You can check out what she’s up to at JSH Books and on Instagram (@jshbooks)
Want to know anything else?
Feel free to say hi at lovejshbooks@gmail.com!

The Wedding Agreement (Strictly Business #3) by Elizabeth Hayley

Released: May 3rd 2016.

Blurb:

The author of Just Say Yes is back with another sweet and sultry Strictly Business novel about working hard and falling harder into an unexpected romance...

Love doesn’t always follow the same schedule...

Alex Walker doesn’t need a woman in his life. In fact, he doesn’t have time for one. Between his career in the FBI and the demands of being good father, romance is an unwanted distraction.

Likewise, Cassidy Mullen is fine on her own. The independent career woman has never had a husband in her plans—forget about kids. But when her friend Alex gets into a bind with his ex over their daughter, Cass finds herself suddenly playing the part of Alex’s stable, child-loving fiancée—and liking it a lot more than she’d care to admit.

Soon Alex and Cass can’t deny the real passion growing between them. But as fake affection turns into real love, Cass and Alex will have to make a choice: say “I Do” to their feelings or give up on happily-ever-after for good...


Purchase Links: 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/23DOJc0
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/23DP0eR
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/23DPdPa
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B013Q706WA

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

Cassidy Mullen has a great life, she has a job she loves most days and is exceptional at, wonderful friends, a loving family and a casual but mutually beneficial relationship with sexy FBI agent and friend Alex Walker, life for Cass is exactly how she wants it, uncomplicated. On the surface Alex's life is pretty spectacular, he's got good friends, a job he loves as an FBI agent, a daughter her adores, an ex wife who stays largely out of his way, and a casual hook up partner in Cass, she's feisty, confident, and sexy as hell and only wants friendship and the occasional hook up when it suits them both, it's the perfect relationship for relationship shy Alex, one failed marriage is enough under his belt, his career is unpredictable, settling down again isn't in the cards.

When Alex's ex wife Tessa announces that she'll be travelling over the holidays with her husband for work without their daughter, Alex thinks he has the chance to spend weeks with his daughter Nina, instead Tessa has plans to send her to her grandparents as Alex's schedule is too unpredictable to factor in the care of their young daughter, despite Alex's claims that he can take care of his daughter, Tessa is proven correct once again when his work interferes and Cass is caught child minding. Cass, in her haste to protect Alex, introduces herself as his fiancée, without thinking of the possible consequences, in a split second Cass is no longer a card carrying member of the single and happy about it league, instead for all intents and purposes Cass is now madly in love, planning a wedding and getting to know her future step daughter Nina, while Alex is just trying to catch up, while ensuring to the outside world, especially to Tessa that he can't wait to tie the knot.

The Wedding Agreement is equal parts laugh out loud funny, deliciously sexy and heart warmingly tender, the struggles that both Cass and Alex face are both raw and touching, their epiphany's throughout made me grasp my chest as I feel their uncertainty, their fear, their triumph wash over me. From the self destructive belief that one failed marriage was a sign that he would never be able to make marriage work again, to the belief that it's all or nothing when it comes to having a career or a family, that in order to have one, you would have to sacrifice the other, that one would choose motherhood and a family of their own volition, that you were saddled with it and would ultimately resent it in the years that followed. There's a childlike wonder to their budding connection, the deeper they fall, and the more they become intrinsically entwined in each others lives the more real the game they're playing becomes, pretending the chemistry that draws them to one another is no match for what is building between them.

The look that passed between them was the realest and rawest moment they had in almost two months.

The Wedding Agreement ticked all the boxes for my perfect light hearted read, friends with benefits...check, snarky humour and witty dialogue .... check, characters that you can feel through the page.... check, a story that pulls you in from the very first page...check....Elizabeth Hayley have hit their stride, giving the reader a story that they truly want to read, want to devour, want to lose themselves in, every moment here had me glued to the page, their characters make you feel something, make you cheer for them, make you swoon and smile and pump your first in the air, make you want to draw them into your arms and console them, it's a testament to their talent, that almost a week after finishing Cass and Alex's story I'm still smiling, still reminiscing, still desperate for more of the Strictly Business band of friends.

 

 

 

Purchase:

The Best Medicine

Just Say Yes

 



About Elizabeth Hayley:

Elizabeth Hayley is actually "Elizabeth" and "Hayley," two friends who love reading romance novels to obsessive levels. This mutual love prompted them to put their English degrees to good use by penning their own. The product is Pieces of Perfect, their debut novel. They learned a ton about one another through the process, like how they clearly share a brain and have a persistent need to text each other constantly (much to their husbands' chagrin).

They live with their husbands and kids in a suburb of Philadelphia. Thankfully, their children are still too young to read.

Elizabeth Hayley's writing motto is best captured by the words of Patrick Dennis: "I always start with a clean piece of paper and a dirty mind."

Visit Elizabeth Hayley's Website

Toward The Sound Of Chaos by Carmen Jenner - Cover Reveal

Toward the Sound of Chaos

Jake Tucker is broken. At twenty-two, he went in to the Marine Corps a naïve, troubled youth. Nine years and four tours later, Jake finds himself back on US soil, though his mind remains firmly planted in the sands of Afghanistan with the men he left behind.

Wounded, chewed up and spat out by war, Jake has only his dog, Nuke, PTSD, and survivor’s guilt to keep him company. He’s lived every day for nine years wondering when it will be his last, but there’s little comfort in the fact that he’s still standing when his platoon isn’t.

Ellie Mason doesn’t have time for broken. She’s too busy trying to put food on the table. And keeping up with the demands of her autistic son, Spencer, is sometimes like fighting behind enemy lines. As if navigating the minefields of single parenthood isn’t enough, Ellie finds herself drawn to the quiet Marine who’s just as lonely as she is. But she’s loved damaged men before, and it left her wounded.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Fairhope, Alabama, Ellie and Jake find themselves running toward the sound of chaos.

Love is war.

Only the strong survive, and surrender is inevitable.

Toward the Sound of Chaos ARC Sign Up: http://goo.gl/forms/ErWQGhsqYK

Release Day Blitz Sign Up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Et09vsVFqwLVlSZLZbIEiiIzWaPrRswCP3WaLH9y71M/viewform

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29378395-toward-the-sound-of-chaos