Friday, July 31, 2020

Review: A Lesson in Thorns

A Lesson in Thorns A Lesson in Thorns by Sierra Simone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sierra Simone is a writer with an exceptional way with words. She creates a complex and curious world within this new series. Slightly paranormal exceptionally kinky, 6 childhood friends reunited as adults and strangely drawn in by the power of Thornchapel. 

Having read some of Sierra Simone's other work I was not surprised to see the religious undertones woven throughout this novel. She finds comparison between pagan rituals and catholic scripture and rites that seems natural in this context. This seems to be a theme with her writing and while it did add some mystery to the story, I did find parts to be a little slow.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sara Ormenyi, who is a new to me narrator. I initially found her narration very abrasive. The first chapter was read very fast, very monotone and I was very concerned this was going to be a DNF. What I found, was that there were 2 different kinds of chapters in this book. There was a 3rd person narrative scattered throughout the main first person POV of Poe. Once she started narrating from Poe's perspective, I noticed an increase in performance, characters had their own accents which were relatively easy to discern, and I was able to enjoy the book more. For anyone considering this book on audio, give yourself a few chapters to decide. If you are like me I think it will be worth it. This is the first book in a series and not a standalone, it ends in a cliffhanger.


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Review: This is So Happening

This is So Happening This is So Happening by Amelia Kingston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Ritual by Kandi Steiner Release Blitz

"If Gossip Girl and Riverdale had a love child, it would be PSU." -- #1NYT Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken

Ritual by bestselling author Kandi Steiner is now live! 

Written like your favorite drama television show, the Palm South University series has been called "a mix of Greek meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Friends." Follow seven college students as they maneuver unrequited love, teacher/student romance, the tangles of “no strings” relationships, love triangles and more. Each “season” has six “episodes,” and just like when your favorite show hits Netflix, you can read just one episode at a time or binge the entire thing. With the perfect mix of angst, emotional romance, and romantic comedy, the Palm South University series is your next guilty addiction.

Drama. Lies. Sex.

Welcome to Palm South University.

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up in South Florida. At a school where fraternities and sororities don’t exactly play by the rules, relationships are bound to be tested. Parties and sex are definitely key ingredients in the Palm South recipe, but what happens when family issues, secret lives, and unrequited love get tossed in the mix?

Follow Cassie, Bear, Jess, Skyler, Erin, Ashlei, and Adam as they tackle college at a small, private beach town university. Written in television drama form, each episode of this serial will pull you deeper and deeper into the world of PSU.

Where the sun is hot and the clothes are scarce, anything can happen.

  Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2P8y9xX

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/RitualPSU5KS

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2vLkJBm

Also Available in the Palm South University series:

Rush

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CVlAmJ

Anchor

Amazon: https://amzn.to/30SV0CF

Pledge

Amazon: https://amzn.to/30UvzAC

Legacy

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3hBtRuI

Excerpt:

“Do you have pole tomorrow?” he asks, checking his side mirror before he pulls onto the road.

“No, I need a rest day.”

“And it’s Sunday, so you wouldn’t have class, right?”

My suspicion rises. “No… but I do have Chapter at six.”

“Chapter…” he muses, side-eyeing me with a grin. “Damn sorority.”

I smack his arm playfully.

“Do you think you could skip it, just this once?”

“Probably not without a death threat from Ex,” I say seriously. “But… what are you proposing?”

We pull up to a red light, and Brandon bites his lip before turning to me. “The Bahamas.”

“The Bahamas?!”

“The Exumas, technically.”

“The Exumas,” I repeat, sounding like a freaking parrot at this point. “You’re proposing we go to the Exumas tonight,” I clarify. “As in… the place where you swim with pigs.”

“I was thinking more like the place where I fuck you on my yacht and drink fruity cocktails out of coconuts with you on the beach,” he says on a smirk, and the light turns green, making him turn back to the road with a shrug. “But if you’d rather swim with pigs…”

I laugh, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it. I’m tempted to say We can’t just go to the fucking Bahamas, Brandon, but I know that’s a lie.

He has a yacht.

And more money than he knows how to spend.

Technically, we can go to the Bahamas.

I’m quiet for a long while, and Brandon glances at me from the corner of his eye before pulling into a random restaurant parking lot. It’s a Mexican diner, not even open yet, since it’s only ten in the morning. When he’s parked, he turns to me, grabbing my hands and pulling them into his lap.

“Look, we’ve both been busy this summer — you with your exec position in the sorority, and pole… me with this national client we’re in the bidding war for… both of us working hard at Okay, Cool after everything that went down in the spring with Kim… and now, school is back in session, it’s the last semester before you graduate, we’re both hard at work, and I just…”

He smooths his dark thumbs over my wrists, his eyes that are usually so intense, soft and vulnerable now.

“This might be our last chance to spend some real, quality time together before life gets even crazier than it already is.”

My heart melts into a puddle right there on the floorboard of his expensive ass car, and I lean over the console, kissing him long and hard.

“Let’s go to the Bahamas,” I whisper between kisses. “You’re right. Everything else can wait.”

He sighs, wrapping his arms around me until he’s pulling me into his lap. I squeal and laugh, but then my next breath is stolen by the erection growing in his slacks.

“This would be a lot easier on the yacht,” I say, rubbing the seam of my leggings against his hard-on.

“Maybe,” he says, sucking on my bottom lip and releasing it with a pop. His lips trail down my neck as my head rolls back. “But these windows are tinted, and you’re sexy when you say I’m right.”

Meet Kandi

Kandi Steiner is a bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing "emotional rollercoaster" stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance -- in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you're a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she's your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women's Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her "freedom of press." She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn't writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys live music, traveling, anything heavy in carbs, beach days, movie marathons, craft beer and sweet wine -- not necessarily in that order.

Connect with Kandi

Website:  www.kandisteiner.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7319216.Kandi_Steiner

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kandi-Steiner/e/B00JDJOINE 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KandiSteiner/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kandilandks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandisteiner/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KandiSteiner

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kandi-steiner

Book+Main: https://bit.ly/39u1KLs


Sunday, July 26, 2020

Review: Ritual

Ritual Ritual by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 5th book in the series and you need to read the previous books prior to reading this one. I am so invested in these people! I devoured this book in one day and I after reading books 1-5 in such quick succession waiting for book 6 is going to be torture. I feel like as these characters grow up and the reader gets to know them more, they stop making self sabotaging decisions and the drama feels more organic and engaging. In this book, Erin was actually one of my favorite story lines (if you have read my reviews for previous books you know this is shocking), Jess was also a favorite as was Bear. The cliff hangers are going to kill me! I need to know what is going to happen to my Greek peeps!! 

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily give my review.


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Review: Legacy

Legacy Legacy by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Saturday, July 25, 2020

Review: Pledge

Pledge Pledge by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pledge is definitely my favorite of this series so far. The characters continue to fall for the classic blunders, but I felt more sympathetic to them and the angst level was high, which fit my mood! My favorite story lines for this book were Cassie, Ashlei and Jess. Adam really grew on me in this book, and Jarret disappointed me

I continue to be extremely frustrated with Erin, for such a smart girl I cannot support her decisions. I feel that there is a real opportunity to promote mental health awareness and support sexual assault survivors. Instead the story line follows a familiar path where women victimize themselves and the perpetrator gets away with it. I was also annoyed with the unprotected sex between characters, and the inappropriate power dynamics between employer and employee.

With all that I still found myself turning page after page hooked on the drama and what was going to happen next. i can't wait to find out what happens next in Legacy.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Review: Just Sign Here

Just Sign Here Just Sign Here by Cara Dee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just Sign Here by Cara dee is a very sweet story about Edward a successful business man and single father and his PA/Manny Payton developing a relationship. This is a great summer read, it is flirty and fun with a light D/s story line and daddy kink. Cara is one of my go to authors and I love how she blends a an emotional love story with a decent amount of kink. There were a couple of things that broke the fantasy in this story for me. I struggled with Julia's language and sentence structure. I have a child about the same age who is highly verbal, but I felt she talked more like a 5 year old than a 2 or 3 year old. There were also some parts where the DD/lb parts of the relationship felt forced. Overall though this book was exactly what I wanted it to be. It is clear that really deep feelings develop between are two heroes and their story is sweet from start to finish.

I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily give my review.

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Monday, July 20, 2020

Review: The Devil's Crown: Part One

The Devil's Crown: Part One The Devil's Crown: Part One by Monica James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alek, Alek, Alek a fallen villan becomes an adored anti-hero and redemption never tasted so sweet. Aleksi Popov is the bad guy, for all intents and purposes. "You're a villain... who has a heart. And what woman doesn't want to try to fix a bad man?" I mean- she's not wrong. We all love a bad boy and Alek is one of the best I have read.

Alek is an unexpected hero, he has done horrible, deplorable things, but he has the heart of a warm gooey chocolate chip cookie. It gets him into trouble as he is trying to find his new balance as the fallen ruler of the Russian underworld. I have read many anti-hero books, but this book not only has an anti-hero but also what I would consider an anti-heroine. For most of the book I didn't feel like I could trust any of the females in the story and wasn't sure who our heroine was. This added a level of suspense that kept the pages turning quickly. For that reason I am going to keep the mystery alive, but let me just say Alek definitely meets his match.

This book is exciting and complicated and suspenseful and violent. It does come with a trigger warning but I am not easily triggered and was not negatively affected by the topics discussed. They were definitely necessary for this storyline and the dark depraved underworld that Monica James has created. Like all things there is balance though and the orphanage, the sisters who work there and a little girl named Irina help you see who Alek truly is.

This book follows the All the Pretty things trilogy by Monica James and I do recommend reading that series first. Then you should dive straight into this duet (Book 2 coming soon).

I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily give my review

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Flirtasaurus Blog Tour

Flirtasaurus - BT Banner (1).jpg

Flirtasaurus, an all-new quirky and fun, laugh-out-out romantic comedy from debut author Erin Mallon is available now! 

Flirtasaurus_Ebook_Amazon

My name is Calliope and "I bone for a living." Kidding. I am studying to be a paleontologist though. It's the only thing I've ever wanted to be, and I have finally landed the perfect museum internship to make all of my dino-loving dreams come true.

Trouble is, everyone wants me to be a gentle, loving sort of creature, but I'm more of the T-Rex type by nature - the kind who is determined to stomp and tear her way through any obstacle in order to get what she wants.

But when a sexy, rumbly-voiced astronomer plummets into my orbit and threatens to break open my hard little heart, my career and my whole way of looking at the world is suddenly on the line.

The dinosaurs didn't see their asteroid coming.

And I sure as hell wasn't prepared for mine. 

Flirtasaurus_AvaialableNow.v2  

Download your copy today! Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zuFJhP Apple Books: https://apple.co/37r42d7 Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/flirtasaurus Nook: https://bit.ly/2B1Bn2a Kobo: https://bit.ly/2MWXGso 

Add FLIRTASAURUS to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Ax0f1T 

 

Excerpt: 

“I literally have no idea what you’re—”

“Your asteroid friends killed my dinos!” I say with a bit too much force, I’m guessing. Yup, my buzz can now officially be promoted to drunk.

“Ohhhhhhhhhh. Okay. Yeah, I guess that’s… Wait. You’re mad at me for that?”

“Maybe.” 

“Huh.”

He takes a moment to consider his response. And then he shocks the hell out of me. 

“What else can I say to you then, other than… I am incredibly sorry, Calliope?”

“You’re what?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t think a guy has ever said that to me before.” 

“What. That he’s sorry?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow.”

“It’s pretty… um. Well, it’s… it’s kind of. It’s really sexy behavior.”

“Oh. Well, in that case… let me take it a step further then. I, Ralph Anderson, take full and complete responsibility for the death of your dinos.”

“Shut up, dude,” I say, laughing.

“No, no, really! Had I known that a massive asteroid would strike this planet and wipe out the creatures you so dearly love, and if I had the power to go back in time and stop it… I would.” 

“Well, how in the hell would you have done that? That’s impossible. That’s—”

“Hey, Callie?” 

“Yeah?”

“Go with me here, will ya? I’m letting myself be unscientific and non-literal for just a minute.”

“You called me Callie.”

“I did. Is… that okay?”

“Nobody really calls me that. But, yeah. It’s okay.”

“Cool,” he says with a smile. “So, Callie. I guess what I would have to do… You know, after I time traveled back a few millennia—”

“A few?”

“Alright, more than a few. I’d have to invent a rocket since they wouldn’t be invented just yet, shoot myself up to the heavens, then circle the Earth’s atmosphere until I could hitch a ride on that bastard ball of flaming rock dead set for your dinos. I would latch onto it with my brute strength and push that mammoth motherfucker off course until it found some other planet and some other life form to obliterate. Then I’d fall back to Earth like a feather, land back on a cozy couch with you and our pet, Troodon, since Troodon is obviously and by far the most precious dinosaur to ever walk the planet, and we’d watch Friends, drink Yoo-hoo, and laugh our asses off together until the day we died a peaceful non-apocalyptic death.” 

This. Guy.

“Uggadah-uggadah. Woo!”

“What was that? Did you just do a little jig?”

“Of course not. I just had a-a, uh…. a charley horse situation.”

“Really? I thought those only happened when people were sleeping.” 

“Oh no, they can happen anytime.” 

“Huh.”

Truth? I was so turned on by him at that moment, I did a lusty little leg shake to get those warm and fuzzy feelings moving right back where they came from. 

Full disclosure? 

It didn’t work. 

Meet Erin 

Erin photo 2

Erin Mallon's debut romantic comedy novel, Flirtasaurus, releases in July 2020. She is an award-winning narrator of over 450 books and an accomplished playwright and producer in New York City. She has written over 40 plays, which have been produced Off-Broadway and all over the country, including These Walls Can Talk, a raucous theatrical love letter to the romance audiobook community. She lives in a little yellow house on the outskirts of NYC with her husband and Three J's.

Connect with Erin Facebook: https://bit.ly/2XKvu2t Instagram: https://bit.ly/3f0xYPY Twitter: https://bit.ly/3eYTzrP Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2UkbMZ6 Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2Ab8Abo Stay up-to-date with Erin, sign up for her mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b_Ym75 Website: https://bit.ly/37akDBZ 


Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Review: A Worthy Opponent

A Worthy Opponent A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Release Blitz: Flirtasaurus by Erin Mallon

Flirtasaurus - RB Banner

Flirtasaurus is fantastic, flirty fun! Full of fabulous banter, clever characters and a delicious romance!" -  Lauren Blakely, #1 New York Times Bestselling author 

Flirtasaurus, an all-new not-to-be-missed workplace romantic comedy from debut author Erin Mallon is available now! 

Flirtasaurus_Ebook_Amazon

My name is Calliope and "I bone for a living." Kidding. I am studying to be a paleontologist though. It's the only thing I've ever wanted to be, and I have finally landed the perfect museum internship to make all of my dino-loving dreams come true.

Trouble is, everyone wants me to be a gentle, loving sort of creature, but I'm more of the T-Rex type by nature - the kind who is determined to stomp and tear her way through any obstacle in order to get what she wants.

But when a sexy, rumbly-voiced astronomer plummets into my orbit and threatens to break open my hard little heart, my career and my whole way of looking at the world is suddenly on the line.

The dinosaurs didn't see their asteroid coming.

And I sure as hell wasn't prepared for mine. 

Flirtasaurus_AvaialableNow (1)  

Download your copy today! Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zuFJhP Apple Books: https://apple.co/37r42d7 Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/flirtasaurus Nook: https://bit.ly/2B1Bn2a Kobo: https://bit.ly/2MWXGso 

Add FLIRTASAURUS to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Ax0f1T 

 
Erin photo 2

Meet Erin 

Erin Mallon's debut romantic comedy novel, Flirtasaurus, releases in July 2020. She is an award-winning narrator of over 450 books and an accomplished playwright and producer in New York City. She has written over 40 plays, which have been produced Off-Broadway and all over the country, including These Walls Can Talk, a raucous theatrical love letter to the romance audiobook community. She lives in a little yellow house on the outskirts of NYC with her husband and Three J's.

Connect with Erin Facebook: https://bit.ly/2XKvu2t Instagram: https://bit.ly/3f0xYPY Twitter: https://bit.ly/3eYTzrP Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2UkbMZ6 Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2Ab8Abo Stay up-to-date with Erin, sign up for her mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b_Ym75 Website: https://bit.ly/37akDBZ 

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Unpredictable Release Day




Unpredictable

Book Three in the Love in LA Series

Jenna Hartley


Releases July 1st, 2020

https://bit.ly/UnpredictableLA




Unpredictable

Jenna Hartley

Sleeping with the father of the bride—a former NFL player and one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors—was not part of the plan.

It was only supposed to be one night.

One night to forget.

But he made me feel wanted.

Reckless.

Alive.

I’d been down this road before, and it only ended in disaster.

Was I willing to risk my heart again?


πŸ’šUnpredictable 𝐒𝐬 π‹πˆπ•π„πŸ’š


“Kissing him was like a homecoming and the beginning of a new adventure.”


UNPREDICTABLE by Jenna Hartley is LIVE and #FREE in Kindle Unlimited!! If you love single dad, 𝐚𝐠𝐞-𝐠𝐚𝐩 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, full of chemistry 𝐚𝐧𝐝 ALL the 𝐟𝐞𝐞π₯𝐬, then you NEED Harrison and Juliana’s story in your life!


Amazon US: https://bit.ly/UnpredictableLA

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/UnpredictableLAUK

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/UnpredictableLACA

Amazon AU: https://bit.ly/UnpredictableLAAU

πŸ’š FREE in #KindleUnlimited

πŸ’šStandalone Romance

Don’t miss out on any of Jenna’s upcoming books, giveaways, and important news! Sign up for her bi-monthly newsletter! https://bit.ly/JennaHartleyNews

Start the Love in LA Series FREE: https://bit.ly/perspectivela



About Jenna Hartley


Contemporary romance author, Jenna Hartley writes about strong, independent women and the men who dare to love them. Her characters aren't perfect; they're authentic. Her passion is to make their stories feel as real for readers as they do to her, infusing each one with sexy, sweet, and laughable moments that reflect real love.


When she's not writing, Jenna spends her days chasing after a hilarious and imaginative toddler, as well as hunting down new allergy-friendly recipes for them to cook together. She lives in Texas with her family and loves nothing more than a good book, good chocolate, and Topo Chico.




✶ Read Jenna’s books FREE in Kindle Unlimited: amazon.com/author/jennahartley

✶ Instagram: https://bit.ly/JennaHartleyIG

✶ Bookbub: https://bit.ly/JennaHartleyBB

✶ Facebook: https://bit.ly/JennaHartleyFB

✶ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/JennaHartleyGR

✶ Website: https://www.authorjennahartley.com

✶ Join the Hopeful Romantics: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hartleyshopefulromantics/








Review: A Sweet Mess

A Sweet Mess A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Completely delightful read! I am so guilty of judging this book by its cover! I thought the cover was adorable, but I have been burned by new authors with cute covers and I was so hesitant to read.

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Review: If You Need Me

If You Need Me by Helena Hunting My rating: 5 of 5 stars Full review to come! This is my favorite of the...