Roomies by Christina Lauren

Blurb:

Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.

Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a big-time musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.

Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realise that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

Find Roomies on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2MPO6Gy
Amazon PB: https://amzn.to/2Ml6SV8
Amazon FR: https://amzn.to/2tz5o1Z
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2KbtLNF
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2KhexTZ

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: June 2018.

Christina Lauren have long been a favourite duo of mine, many of their titles hitting my most loved lists each year, with sexy and suave heroes and sassy and strong heroines I always enamoured by their words. The authors note for Roomies stated that writing Holland and Calvin's story was "pure, shameless fun." While this story was exactly that, Holland's character also resonated so deeply with me, this young woman who was so sure of her dreams and yet inherently terrified of taking that leap. That's the thing about dreams, they don't work unless you do.

Holland isn't living her best life, she has a job that she doesn't love but doesn't despise, she has a roof over her head thanks to her uncles, she has dreams of becoming a great writer but nothing that thrills her enough to write about, and she has a crush on a mysterious, talented subway musician.  

"I think I admire that she, more than anyone I know, tries to be circumspect about her successes and failures and who she is. She tries to see herself clearly - both kindly and critically - and I think she's generally pretty spot on."

Calvin came to the US to study music and never left, despite his VISA expiring years ago. He's doing his best to continue pushing forward to find his dream of playing music in the big leagues while trying not to arose too much suspicion that would get him booted from the country.

"Use your words, Holland. Tell him it isn't so much that you're feeling regret as you're feeling sheer panic at the prospect of sharing an apartment with a stranger who also happens to be the hottest man you've ever touched. What if you fart in your sleep?"

When an opportunity arises that would give Calvin his dream and save Holland's uncles show, a marriage of convenience seems like the best plan, this is contemporary romance though, so we know it won't all be smooth sailing.

"What I said before was true...about how Holland tries to see herself clearly and seems to end up in a pretty good place. But I also think she sees herself as a supporting character, even in her own life story."

Roomies is a stand alone, and while Calvin plays a huge role, it's Holland that truly stood out for me. She's so very self aware, so in tune with her strengths and her flaws and yet she's stifling her talent and her chances at success because she's too scared to push out of her comfort zone, terrified that she would even have a voice to begin with. It's easy to find yourself stagnate, most of us have dreams for our lives, whether it's professionally or personally, we have these secrets that we hope and pray become a reality, and often the fear of failure wins out over ever truly trying. When Holland realises she's been playing a side character in her own life her world tilts on it's axis, in truth so did mine, for I felt that realisation inherently. How often have I wanted something bigger for myself and been too scared to truly go for it, content with where I was, safe in the knowledge that if I didn't really try  couldn't fail. Remember what I said about dreams not working if you don't. When a book makes you pause, makes you re-evaluate what you want out of your life, makes you question whether you're living your best life, it's a joyous thing. The authors may not have set out to give Roomies such a strong message, but as I turned the last page I felt invigorated in a way I certainly didn't expect, passionate and ready to take that starring role in my life. 

About Christina Lauren:

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 30+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)

Connect with Christina and Lauren on Facebook

Accidental Tryst by Natasha Boyd

Blurb:

A new standalone, sexy, romantic comedy! Meet Trystan Montgomery. Suit monkey, commitment-phobic serial dater. No more than three dates, unless he hasn't ... you know.

Emmy:
What a disaster! I only just made my flight to New York to help my uncle, and the phone I’m holding is not mine! It seems to belong to some commitment-phobic serial dater who’s never made it past four dates (according to the constant notifications he's getting from his fake dating profile...) And worse? I have a sinking feeling it’s that hot suit-monkey with the arctic grey eyes I just had a run-in with at the airport. Somehow I have to persuade him not to get a new phone until I get back. My whole life is on that phone. It’s only a few days. Surely we can handle it.

Trystan :
This is a joke, right? My life could not get more f*cked up. I’m in the middle of selling my company and on my way to a funeral and that hot mess hippie-chick stole my freaking phone. I’m not sure how she convinced me not to immediately walk into a smart phone store and get a new one, but now she’s going to have to play stand in and distract me while I deal with my long-avoided and estranged family. I don’t have my dating apps after all, and frankly she’s pretty funny. And sexy. And why can’t I stop texting her? And now we’re talking. And … look, I’ll admit that I usually run for the hills the morning after, but the morning after phone sex? That’s not really real, right?

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2MvNV3f

Amazon PB: https://amzn.to/2yhBXai

Amazon UK:https://amzn.to/2tgtQVL

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2t3BN1g

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: June 2018.

I feel as though I've been on a quest to find the very best in slow burn romance, my requirements always remain the same, witty banter, electric chemistry, a story that grabs my attention from the first chapter. Accidental Tryst was sitting on my kindle, it's bright cover calling to me. The fun and flirty chemistry between Trystan and Emmy was intoxicating, the unexpected emotional connection between the two from text to in person made this story absolutely impossible to put down. 

Trystan L Montgomery is locked up tight, rigid business man, typical Type A personality, I'll be honest, he seemed like such a jerk. He's built a life focused solely on his business, forsaking relationships and companionship for physical pleasure when needed that's free of commitment and complications. 

“I’d really love to fall asleep talking to you.”

From their first, albeit brief meeting Emmaline Angelique Dubois seems like Trystan's polar opposite. Despite first impressions Emmy isn't the free spirited gypsy Trystan thinks. Emmy has commitments and people who love her, people she loves and will do anything for even to the detriment of herself. 

‘Maybe most people never meet that someone, or maybe they don’t recognize when they do. Maybe they pass them on the street and share a look, but they don’t realize the size of the opportunity they are passing. Or they do but their hands are tied.’

It's the growing connection between these two that I found so thrilling, the banter that erupts between

the two from their very first accidental and brief meeting, from the texts they exchange, to the phone calls that soon develop into something far more. It's their sizzling chemistry and their electric connection. It's the way something that started out as mistaken phone sway evolved into something so much bigger. Accidental Tryst left me feeling all those warm, lovey feelings as I turned the last page, Boyd created a story that was filled with so much raw emotion that I felt that familiar tug on my heart. The deeper I got into Trystan and Emmy's story, the more I needed from them. Smile on my face and a song in my heart, Accidental Tryst was an absolute joy to read leaving me giddy.

About Natasha Boyd:

Winter Rose FINALIST 2013 (Eversea), Digital Book Award Winner 2014 (Eversea) and Chatelaine Awards for Romantic Fiction FINALIST 2015 (Deep Blue Eternity).

Connect with Natasha on Facebook

The Varlet and the Voyeur (Rugby #4) by Penny Reid and LH Cosway

Blurb:

He kept his salacious secret for years. But soon, everyone is going to be reading about it in their morning paper…

THE VARLET (and the VOYEUR)
William Moore is a long way from home. A farm boy from Oklahoma, he’s now the most well-respected member of the Irish rugby team. But appearances are often deceptive, and Will isn’t the clean-cut, all-American good-guy everyone imagines him to be. He’s got a secret, one that will tarnish his reputation forever.

THE VOYEUR (and the VARLET)
Josey Kavanagh is a self-proclaimed mess, but she’s finally getting her shi…uh, act together. She’s set her sights on becoming a veterinarian, but there’s one teeny tiny road bump. Her living arrangements are coming to an abrupt end, leaving Josey homeless and in need of a job to pay her way through college.

THE PLAN
What he needs is a companion to keep him on the right path.
What she needs is an apartment with free rent.
Will is convinced Josey will make the perfect companion, since she’s brutally honest and basically ‘just one of the guys.’ Josey is convinced she can ensure Will doesn’t succumb to his voyeuristic proclivities by keeping a scrupulous eye on him.
Except, what happens when the varlet is tempted by the voyeur, and vice-versa?!
Perchance something very, very volatile. And vexing.

The Varlet and the Voyeur is a full-length romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the 4th (and last) book in the USA TODAY bestselling Rugby Series

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon PB: https://amzn.to/2Mky3QN

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2HMHfu1

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2HLC11e

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2t0Z5nw

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: June 2018.

It's not often til you revisit old friends in your most beloved books that you realise how much you needed to revisit the authors work. After a week filled with great book after great book I needed something I would love just as much. When I picked up The Varlet and the Voyeur I was quietly confident I wouldn't be disappointed. Individually Penny Reid and LH Cosway have written some of my favourite titles, together they've created books I've adored. With the fourth and final instalment in the Rugby series landing on my kindle I was ready to be swept away.

Josey Kavanagh is the very definition of hot mess, she's honest to a fault, has absolutely no filter and is absolutely living in the present with little to no thought of the future. Happy to be a home body and spending the majority of her free time with her eclectic parents, she's blind sighted by the news of her parents wanting to sell her childhood home pushing her to move out and forge her own path. Hurt and still very much in shock Josey has no plan and no idea what she's going to do.

"She wasn't crazy, she was kind. She wasn't nutty, she was naïve, trusting. There was absolutely nothing wrong with Josey, and I silently promised I'd never let Bryan - or anyone else - plant seeds of doubt about her again."

William Moore has done his best to live as private a life as possible despite being his chosen profession, he's been the consummate professional, a good friend to those around him, albeit stoic in his interactions with others. When the media grabs hold of a scandal of an intimate nature his once carefully constructed persona is blown apart. With vultures at every turn vying for blood he's thrust into a spotlight he never craved.

"She'd eradicated the emptiness, but she'd made the space bigger, fuller, brighter than before. Her leaving would create too large of a chasm, one that I'd feel both acutely ad chronically."

Josey needs somewhere to live, Will needs someone who will hold him accountable and not be afraid to ask him direct questions, it seems like a perfect arrangement right? In the land of romance we know it's going to be anything but smooth sailing for these two.


The beauty of these two slightly quirky characters is in the vulnerability and honesty that laces all of their interactions. In a world full of deceit and make believe being open and earnest can be a revolutionary act. The way Josey and Will exist around one another means so much because they operate without judgement. It's their connection from tentative to all encompassing that I found so thrilling. I wanted them to be each others safe haven, I wanted Josey to know Will's kinks and love him not in spite of it, but because it was part of who he is, and I wanted Will to see this young woman who was too loud, too quirky, too awkward for so may others and worship her because it's what made her, her. It's what we all crave after all, a genuine connection, an unshakeable bond, a person who is our common sense, our mischief, our best day, our sounding board. Someone who knows our hopes, our dreams, our fears and encourages and supports us through all of it. Someone who knows all of our best qualities and our worst ones as well. It's being vulnerable with someone knowing they will safeguard your heart. It was this connection that had my heart swelling and skipping a beat because having that connection with someone regardless of whether it's in the form of a friend, soul mate or lover is without a doubt one of the greatest gifts we can receive.

"Unfortunately, a tear had already formed inside me. And where there was a tear, pain was inevitable."

The Varlet and the Voyeur had the same humour I've come to expect from Reid and Cosway, it was sexy and fun in equal measure ticking all the boxes for this romance reader, and yet it had this depth that I wasn't quite ready for, with moments of unyielding beauty, an exquisite rawness that stole my breath. The vulnerability on the pages that had me so utterly invested in the characters that I found this story impossible to put down. I adored every moment of this story, I fell hopelessly in love with Josey and Will, with the way Reid and Cosway breathed life into them so they jumped off the page and straight into my heart. Full of frivolity and fun, and laced with so much emotion that I'm not sure to forget these two anytime soon.

"I wasn't falling in love with Josey because I was already in love with her."

About Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny on Facebook

About LH Cosway:

L.H. Cosway lives in Dublin, Ireland. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Connect with Lorraine on Facebook

Bittersweet by Carmen Jenner and Lauren K. McKellar

Blurb:

From two USA Today bestselling authors comes a tale of miscommunication and muffins.

Romy Love knows weddings. As the author of a hugely successful wedding blog, you’d think she’d have love covered. It is her last name, after all.
When it comes to her big day, Romy has the flowers picked out, a dress collecting dust in the back of her closet, and a preacher on standby. There’s just one problem: the groom doesn’t know it yet.

Romy has eyes for the Italian coffee god and single dad who owns the bakery in her building—she also has plans for his delicious buns—but in order to get her happily-ever-after, she has a few things to check off her list first:

Lose twenty pounds

Take over the blogging world one wedding at a time

Make Coffee Hottie fall in love with me
Yeah, this shouldn’t be difficult at all.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2HeJbuW

Amazon PB: https://amzn.to/2LS6fDa

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2syLXGJ

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2xJiaQW

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2sszVP4

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: May 2018.

Romy Love runs a successful wedding blog, she should live and breathe all things love and weddings, but after a messy break up she's feeling anything but romantic, a little bit jaded would be far closer to the truth. All that's left of her own wedding plans is a dress that she might never get to wear. Romy spends her days dividing her time between working from home and the café below her apartment working on blog posts for brides planning their special day, while quietly crushing on the sexy owner Elio. 

Everything about Elio draws Romy in, and leaves her wanting more. For lovers of slow burn romance Bittersweet hits all the right notes, as each day passes and Romy and Elio spend more time around each other, their relationship grows into something more than just customer and business owner. The trading of sweet smiles and often awkward conversations only serves to allow their budding relationship to flourish.

As Romy and Elio learn more about each other, they still keep parts of themselves hidden in an effort to protect their hearts. Despite everything going for them, their sizzingly chemistry that delicious temptation proves too much. When miscommunication rears it's ugly head, their fears of getting hurt only lead to heartbreak. Every thing about Bittersweet was all consuming, utterly enticing and so very addictive. For every book I've loved and blogged about of late, there's been others that I've failed to connect with, from the very first page of Bittersweet I felt that zing, that exhilarating rush that left me breathless and desperate for more. There's something all consuming about combining two of your favourite authors, the absolute joy that comes from relishing their words and their ability to craft a story that played out in my mind like my very favourite romantic comedy film. 

"Because as much as I love the idea of indulging in Elio, I know a guy as delicious as him would never go for a woman like me."

The thing I adored most about Bittersweet was the way I was able to connect with Romy, I felt her insecurities, I knew with a clarity that only comes with a life well lived that sometimes you need to confront those past hurts, face those fears of heartbreak and pain to find something worth risking your heart for. With a one two punch that is Lauren K. McKellar and Carmen Jenner writing together, Bittersweet is exactly what I needed to pull me out of my self imposed reading funk. Bittersweet was a sassy, fun, and heart warming read that left me wanting more while still getting the ending I needed like every great book should. 

About Carmen Jenner:

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

A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore makeup addict, cake fanatic, and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives in sunny Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.

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

Connect with Carmen on Facebook

About Lauren K. McKellar:

Lauren K. McKellar is a writer of contemporary romance reads that make you feel. This hybrid-published USA Today best-selling author loves writing books with stunning local settings, heart-throb heroes, and leading ladies who overcome great hardships in their lives.
In addition to writing, Lauren loves to read, and you can often find her up at all hours of the night with a glass of wine, some chocolate, and a good book. She lives by the beach in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband, infant son, and their two dogs. Most of the time, all four of them are well behaved.

Connect with Lauren on Facebook

Worth The Wait by K. Bromberg

Blurb:

From New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg comes a new, sexy standalone about taking chances and finding love when it’s least expected. Or wanted.

This whole contest was supposed to be easy. I know, I know. Famous last words.

It’s a long story, but I messed up at work. Big time. To earn back the trust of my boss, I promised to save one of our magazines. Yep. That Hot Dad contest you’ve seen advertised all over the place was my idea. And if I’m successful, if I’m able to increase our online readership, then I get a shot at my dream job.

But the one thing I never expected to happen, happened: Contestant number ten, Grayson Malone. Hello, Mr. Difficult. And did I mention sexy as hell?

Unfortunately he knows me. The old me, anyway. And while we might be older now, I remind him of before. Of the woman who broke his heart, who hardened him, and who left him alone to raise the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen.

But I don’t want a relationship. And I definitely don’t fall for single dads with baggage. Even ones with chiseled abs and killer smiles.

But he got to me. They got to me. Him and his son and their messy, crazy life. But I got to him too. I see the stolen glances. I feel the walls he built start to crumble. I recognize that there’s an unexpected beauty to the chaos in his life.

And now that the contest is about to end, we’re left to decide whether the last six months were just fun or if what we have is worth risking it all?

Find on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2wIhWss

Purchase Links:

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Amazon PB: https://amzn.to/2Il2sjF

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Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2L6WSPI
iBooks: https://smarturl.it/WTRiBooks
B&N: https://smarturl.it/WTRBN
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/WTRKobo

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: May 2018.

I'm still a little unsure as to where to start this, it's been days and I'm still no closer to putting into words how much I truly enjoyed Worth The Risk. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, the usual angst that I can count on in a Bromberg novel, yeah sure but the dreamy cover, the somewhat sombre brother we'd caught glimpses of in the previous books in the Malone brothers series, the allure of a strong and sassy heroine that was owning her sh*t even in the blurb and there wasn't a chance I'd look past this book.

“You did this,”
“Did what?” Her eyes narrow. Her hand goes to press against her chest.
“Made me want you.”

Grayson Malone is an enigma in so many ways, the smouldering single dad to a young son, the dedicated 'copter pilot, the steady and stable son in a family of boys. Outwardly, Grayson seems to have life figured out, his life is neatly defined by the roles he plays. Father. Son. Pilot. Brother. Uncle. He's known in his community in the way only someone who's grown up in a small town can be. Everyone thinking they know Grayson, while it's merely carefully constructed half truths, hearsay and unsubstantiated rumour. Regardless of what people choose to believe or say about him, Grayson has only two plans, go to work everyday and be the best father he can be.

Sidney Thornton has long lived with the crushing weight of expectation from her father. She left her small town life years ago and never looked back. Always destined for bigger things then her hometown could provide she left after graduation and didn't look back. The thrill of city life isn't always what you expect, and the shine starts to fade. Mistakes were made and consequences have her heading back home.

"I love you, damn it, and I don't have a f*cking clue what to do about it other than to ask you to choose me. To tell me I'm worth the risk."

Bromberg writes angst with the best, her ability to weave together a world you want to lose yourself in second to none. Worth The Risk is the very epitome of a cat and mouse tale come to life, Grayson and Sidney circle each other while their chemistry simmered just beneath the surface. It's that za za zing you want in Romance, that snap, crackle and pop that draws you in and holds you captive and demands you pay attention. The more desperately Sidney and Grayson fought against the pull they felt, the more enamoured I was by Bromberg's words. The more these two enigmatic characters gave into temptation the move I craved those stolen moments and sizzling touches. It's in those moments when the desperation of the characters bleeds through the pages, when the words hit you full force that their pain, their elation, their fear, their joy becomes yours, that you can recognise what you're reading for what it is... a story you'll never forget. This book absolutely stole my heart, unequivocally one of Bromberg's strongest works, Worth The Risk hit all the right notes making it utterly impossible to put down. 

About K. Bromberg:

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 but can’t help to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over one and a half million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in 2018.

With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero.

Connect with Kristy on Facebook

TRIP (Remember When 1) by T Torrest - Review & Exclusive Excerpt

Follow the Trip Release Excitement: http://bit.ly/2ttRKR3

Blurb:

Layla Warren first introduced us to Trip Wilmington in REMEMBER WHEN...
Now read his side of the story!

Trip Wiley wasn't always a Hollywood movie star.
In fact, he wasn't always Trip Wiley.
Back in 1990, he was better known as Trip Wilmington, the new kid in town.
New place, new school... same old story.
No big deal. It’s not like this is the first time he’s been forced to start over.
But seventeen years of city living hasn’t prepared him for life in the suburbs...
or for Layla Warren.
Layla is smart, funny, beautiful... the kind of girl every guy dreams about.
Trip should know.
He’s been falling for her since the first minute he saw her.
And his life hasn’t been the same since.

~

Prepare to travel back to your teen years... That time in your life before the real world kicked in, that limbo between adolescence and adulthood, that trial of hanging onto the past while figuring out where the future will lie.

With heart-shredding romance, steamy love scenes, and hilarious 80s references, readers of all ages will find themselves falling in love with TRIP all over again.

It is highly recommended--but not required--that you read Remember When prior to reading TRIP.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2FBtHVO
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2HwrI1x
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2DtRjph
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2pcvZQX


Every story has two sides, want to hear Layla's story:
Remember When 1 is currently #FREE
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pd8BTl

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: March 2018.

Dear God I don't think I'll ever get enough of Chester and Lay Lay... wait...you thought this book was about Trip and Layla...ahhhh but it is, but they will forever be known as Chester and Lay Lay to me. Okay so before I confuse more then I need to, lets take a step back to the early 90s.

Trip Wilmington is no stranger to being uprooted and moving from town to town, when he lands in New Jersey there's not much for him to do but to move with the punches and settle into his new life, and prepare for his Senior year. Now I don't know about you but boy am I invested in high school crushes, I mean there's that sense of vulnerability and naivety that I love, everything feels so dramatic and huge without the responsibility of actual adultdom. So here is Trip ready to take on a new school when *kapow* he meets Layla Warren...and boy is he hit for a six (don't mind my Aussie cricket reference there). Their chemistry is undeniable, they sink into easy friendship, but he's never quite sure where he stands or how she feels about him. Queue the angsty boy teen feels here....like seriously ahhhh Torrest paints such a vivid picture it's easy to experience every emotion with Trip and Layla without having to revisit our own adolescence (which I'm so grateful for). 

"We actually made pretty great friends. It was kind of weird to think we’d only known each other for two weeks. It felt like I’d known her a lot longer. And I know she felt the same.
What can I say? Sometimes, when it comes to certain people, you just click.
I still wanted to suck her face, however."

I'll be honest here, as much as I love love love the Remember When Trilogy, and as much as I've been begging Ms Torrest for more of my beloved Chester and Lay Lay, the idea of a companion novel doesn't always grab me, I mean I've already devoured the series (more times then I can count) so I don't just want a rehashing of the same old story. Plus for devoted fans, it's kind of like Romeo & Juliet or the Titanic... we already know how it ends right.... how much new content can the author really deliver?? GUYS!! Seriously though... this story felt fresh and new....and OMGGGG.... I can 100% confirm that it is possible to love Trip Wilmington even more then I did prior to this novels release. I mean I SWOONED like I've never swooned before, Trip is every book boyfriend rolled into one delightful package with his easy grace, self deprecating humour and maturity beyond his years. I mean I could wax lyrical all afternoon about our hero and it still wouldn't be enough.

Layla was leaning against her car, the sunlight bouncing off her dark brown hair, and I swear to God, the world around her disappeared. I had tunnel vision as I walked straight toward her, dropped my bag on the ground, and pulled her to me for a kiss. I was pretty sure all our friends were watching and I didn’t care. I always knew this girl was created to be in my arms. It was about time everyone else realized it, too.

“You’re all I want, Lay. Just you.”

There's few authors that I willingly and knowingly harass for more of a much loved series, I mean the mark of a great storyteller is when you turn the last page and still crave more and yet still got the story you needed, I can usually finish a book knowing that justice was given to these characters that became real for me and know that whatever my imagination conjures up for them and their future is exactly how it should be... and yet when it comes to this pair I think I'll always be hopeful for more of them.

For lovers of great storytelling, of swoon worthy heroes and smart, sassy and real heroines, who yearn for a simpler time and all that angsty goodness that only YA/NA can deliver TRIP is a tale you won't want to put down.

“Don’t ever ask me to stop loving you, because I can’t. don’t ever think I’ll be able to forget you, because I won’t.

Rafflecopter link - Gift Card up for grabs!

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Glass Paper Ink Exclusive Excerpt:

With my target acquired, I psyched myself up for the ritual hazing as I took a casual stroll through the middle of the room. Sure enough, as I passed by, the gorilla called me over. “Yo, New Kid!”

The rest of them snickered at that as I walked toward them, all heads turning in my direction. Gorilla leaned back in his seat and asked, “So, what’s up, man? Who are you?”

“My name’s Trip,” I answered, holding out my hand.

Gorilla shook it. “I’m Rymer,” he offered, before pointing to the rest of his tablemates in turn. “That’s Sarge, that’s Cooper, and that’s DeSanto.”

The big-haired girl rolled her eyes. “It’s Lisa DeSanto. Nice to meet you.” She cocked her head to the side and asked, “How come we don’t know you yet?”

“First day.”

“School started last week, you know.”

“Yeah.” I ran a hand over my hair, taking notice of the two apes talking (undoubtedly about me) under their breath. “Took me a little longer to get here from Indy.”

Lisa looked intrigued. “You’re from Indiana?”

“I’m from everywhere.”

About T Torrest:

T. Torrest is a romance and chick-lit author from the U.S.; her alter ego writes eroticomedy under the name T. Torrid. Her stories are geared toward readers of any age that know how to enjoy a good laugh and a dreamy romance.

Ms. Torrest was a child of the eighties, but has since traded in her Rubik's cube for a laptop and her Catholic school uniform for a comfy pair of yoga pants. She's a pop-culture junkie, a movie aficionado, and an enthusiast of talking about herself in the third person. A lifelong Jersey girl, she currently resides there with her husband and two sons.

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COMBUST (Everyday Heroes #2) by K.Bromberg

Blurb:

From New York Times Bestselling author, K. Bromberg, comes a new standalone book. Just how hot will firefighter Grady Malone turn up the heat?

Songwriter Dylan McCoy has been burned.

By her boyfriend she found in her bed . . . with someone else.

By the contract she signed that obligates her to work with him until the songs for his new album are complete.

By her agent when she asked Dylan to keep their breakup on the down-low.

When she finds herself in Sunnyville, she refuses to let her new roommate burn her too. Still . . . a rebound has never looked so good.

That’s her first thought when she sees firefighter Grady Malone.
Sexy. Charismatic. Unapologetic. He’s a man who carries his own scars—the ones on his back, the survivor’s guilt on his soul, and the fear in his heart.

When an unexpected visitor puts their roommate status to the test, will their undeniable attraction burn out, or will they both take a chance and play with fire?

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ErYLmX

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2E5LItN

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2s29jHd

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2DOKuj7
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/CombustiBooks
B&N: http://smarturl.it/CombustBN
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/CombustKobo

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: January 2018.

As a blogger and reviewer I've always found it easiest to sit down in front of my laptop as soon as I've finished a book, put pen to paper so to speak, and allow every feeling and emotion pour out as I pound the keys, hoping for something that will make sense of the thoughts swirling around my head. As I sat down at my trusty keyboard I expected the same ease that I usually find after finishing one of Bromberg's books, sure I may stumble over my words as I try to contain my emotions, but as I get the essence of my emotional reaction on screen I can weave together my words into something that should make sense. This time however I started typing...tap tap tap... then I hit delete...delete ...delete... this went on and on, until I pushed aside my laptop and settled back down with Grady and Dylan one more time.

Grady Malone knows all to well that bad things can happen at work, he's been there, done that, and got the physical and psychological scars to prove it. Working as a Fire Fighter sure sounds glamourous and heroic, but there's a side that only those who PROTECT and SERVE will truly every understand. With a family built on that very legacy, the Malone boys all truly know that each work day could be their last.

There’s definitely something beneath the sexiness of Grady Malone. Question is, do I want to get invested enough to find out what?

Dylan McCoy thought she had things mostly figured out, a career she's exceptional at, a boyfriend she loves, a life so far removed from the tension of her childhood, she knows with certainty that her partner will come home from work each day safe and unscathed, what she didn't expect though, was the heartache of finding him in bed with another woman.

Stop staring at me like I’m going to f*cking break. I’ve already broken, Dylan.

The dichotomy of these two characters couldn't have been more obvious, one who wants a family to call her own versus one who refuses to make a real emotional connection, but what truly stood out for me was how similar these two were, both strongly grounded in a sense of family, both who despite their need to guard their hearts love easily and unreservedly, two people whose souls sought each other out, seeing the fear and hurt behind the fast smiles and snappy comebacks and knew instinctively that this could be real.

In Combust as the name would suggest there's scorching heat, electric chemistry and everything you would expect from Bromberg, but as always what I truly love about this author is her ability to convey emotion so freely and openly. It's her inherent desire to give her readers an experience rather then just an experience. It's willingly checking your heart at the door as you step into her world despite not knowing how or what condition it will be returned to you in. It's sitting here, after scrapping seven versions of this review, and still not being sure how to adequately and articulately describe the range of emotions you're still feeling over two fictional characters. It's knowing that your life is richer from reading Bromberg's words.

About K. Bromberg:

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.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, Kristy has sold over one million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in the summer of 2018.

She recently released a two book, sports romance series, The Player and The Catch. Cuffed is the first book in her new Everyday Heroes trilogy. This three-book series will be about three brothers who are emergency responders, the jobs that call to them, and the women who challenge them. The remaining standalones in the series are Combust (January 29th) and Cockpit (Spring 2018).

Connect with K Bromberg on Facebook