blog tour · book blog · book review · books · Uncategorized

Blog Tour: Return Once More

After my little mini hiatus recovering from all the eating I did during Thanksgiving and welcoming the fact that it is finally December (I LOVE Christmas btw), I am here to bring you another blog tour! This awesome tour is being hosted by Xpresso Book Tours and you can check out the rest of the tour here.

Time travel, a new futuristic world, and a little romance mixed in is what caught my attention to this book so if any of those intrigues you too, continue reading to see if Return Once More by Trisha Leigh will be your next read. Plus, be sure to stare at the cover for long periods of time because it is GORGEOUS!! Also, there are two wonderful giveaway opportunities that I would not pass up the chance to enter.


Return Once More by Trisha Leigh
(The Historians #1)
Published by: Bloomsbury Spark
Publication date: September 29th 2015
Genres: Science Fiction, Time-Travel, Young Adult

ROM

If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even though you will never meet— would you?

Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually settling a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting your one true love.

If you could save your one true love from an untimely death, would you be able to resist?

Sixteen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and she can’t resist a peek at her long-dead soul mate in Ancient Egypt. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could destroy more than just her new romance.

Or would you have the strength to watch him die?

But when Kaia notices a fellow classmate snooping around in a time where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers could threaten the entire universe. If her experience has taught her anything, to changing history means facing the consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it— in a race across time to save her only chance at a future.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17798068-return-once-more?ac=1

Purchase:


Author Spotlight

Trisha

Trisha Leigh is a product of the Midwest, which means it’s pop, not soda, garage sales, not tag sales, and you guys as opposed to y’all. Most of the time. She’s been writing seriously for five years now, and has published 4 young adult novels and 4 new adult novels (under her pen name Lyla Payne). Her favorite things, in no particular order, include: reading, Game of Thrones, Hershey’s kisses, reading, her dogs (Yoda and Jilly), summer, movies, reading, Jude Law, coffee, and rewatching WB series from the 90’s-00’s.

Her family is made up of farmers and/or almost rock stars from Iowa, people who are numerous, loud, full of love–the kind of people that make the world a better place. Trisha tries her best to honor them, and the lessons they’ve taught, through characters and stories–made up, of course, but true enough in their way.

Trisha is the author of THE LAST YEAR series and the WHITMAN UNIVERSITY books. She’s represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

To learn more about Trisha Leigh, please visit her at trishaleigh.com.

If you enjoy New Adult books or a good contemporary romance, please check out my pen name, Lyla Payne!

Author links:
http://trishaleigh.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828387.Trisha_Leigh
https://www.facebook.com/Trisha-Leigh-463838867020091/timeline/
https://twitter.com/trishaleighkc



GIVEAWAYS

Tour Wide Giveaway (US/CAN):
$30 Amazon Gift Card

Click the link below to enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Individual Blog Giveaway:
One lucky person will have the chance to win a Return Once More Swag Pack. This giveaway ends on December 13th at 11:59pm.

 Click the link below to enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Review

I will go on the record right now and say that this is not a book I would normally read. My niche usually revolves around romance books as I am a huge hopeless romantic (not afraid to admit that whatsoever) but I was drawn to this book from the very beginning. Sure, I was sold the minute I saw the cover. Did I mention it is GORGEOUS because it is. But my intrigue and curiosity only grew once I read the synopsis. You’ve got a futuristic world where people live in a newly developed solar system, time travel is real and utilized to go back in time and study significant moments in history to see what mistakes were made in order to prevent them from happening again, and when you turn 17 like our protagonist Kaia you find out the person who is destined to love you. Please try and tell me you are the least bit curious after reading that. I have not dabbled that much in the world of science fiction but to my own personal knowledge this is the most original and unique premise for a book I have read in a long time.

My curiosity drew me in and from the first chapter I was hooked. Right off the bat you get a feel for what it means to be a Historian which is the job Kaia was sorted into as the setting of the book first starts off, you guessed it, back in time. Kaia and her fellow Historians witness and record a key moment in history in order to reflect on the events that unfolded and learn from it so as to not let it happen again. The term “History has a way of repeating itself” definitely came to mind when I was reading this book because Kaia’s world is trying to do the opposite in order to prevent what happened before the “New Era” began. Kaia as the story’s protagonist was also such a joy to read about because from the very beginning you could see she had her own interests within the realm of being a Historian as she focused more on the environment around her when she was back in time in the beginning of the novel then on witnessing what they travelled back in time to witness. Seeing her own curiosities at the very beginning made it all the more wonderful to see her character grow throughout the book especially as she starts to question her world around her.

If you enjoy time travel, a world where finding out who your true love is, and a book that will keep you intrigued from start to finish, then I definitely suggest you pick up Return Once More by Trisha Leigh.

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blog tour · book blog · book review · books · Uncategorized

Blog Tour: The Last First Game

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I hope you all are having or going to have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine is starting off with a blog tour which is something I am very thankful that I get to do.

This wonderful blog tour is being hosted by Xpresso Book Tours and it is for The Last First Game by Gina Aziz which is a contemporary new adult sports romance with so much heart in it that I could not put it down. You can follow the rest of the blog tour here.

If you enjoy reading contemporary sports romances that revolve around college football but also have a romance that is both adorably cute and, at times, heart wrenching then you should definitely check out The Last First Game.


The Last First Game by Gina Azzi
(The Senior Semester Series, #1)
Publication date: November 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

The Last First Game When Lila Avers accepts a medical internship through Astor University in California for the fall semester of her senior year, she doesn’t expect much. In fact, she’d rather work on her tan and meet a surfer instead of logging long hours at the hospital and studying. But before she even boards her flight to LA, she meets Astor University wide receiver, Cade Wilkins. A football player. When Cade turns out to be so much more than just muscle, Lila is smitten. Maybe a semester away from her friends won’t be so bad after all.

Cade Wilkins is beyond ready for his last season at Astor. Already being scouted and projected as a NFL draft pick, he’s riding a natural high and all set to breeze through his senior year. To sweeten the start of the fall semester, he meets his dream girl at the airport on his way back to LA. Lila Avers, a blonde, blue-eyed angel. Could life get any better?

When Cade is sidelined by an unexpected injury, he’s devastated to learn of more serious health concerns. As his world implodes, Lila holds him together. But is she strong enough to see him through his recovery?

As their own insecurities and doubts emerge, their new, fragile relationship is tested. Can Cade and Lila handle the ugly truths of falling in love when tensions flare, boundaries are violated, and uncertainty looms over the future of their relationship?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26251237-the-last-first-game

Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Last-First-Game-Senior-Semester/dp/0996483543/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447103439&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Last+First+Game


Author Spotlight

gina-copy
Gina Azzi loved every moment of college – especially her study abroad experiences, internships, and travel adventures! She drew on her college experiences to create the storylines for The Senior Semester Series.

Gina is a passionate reader, frequent globetrotter, and coffee enthusiast. She currently resides in Dubai with her husband Tony.

Gina loves meeting new people and would love to hear from you! Get in touch with her at:

Email: ginaazziauthor@gmail.com
Twitter: @gina_azzi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginaazziauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14086131.Gina_Azzi
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gina_azzi


Giveaway
Tour Wide Giveaway:
2 x $50 Amazon Gift Cards (International)
2 x paperback copies of The Last Fist Game (US only)

Click the link below to enter into the giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Review

For Lila Avers, her college experience has been spectacular. After meeting Mia, Maura, and Emma freshman year when they were all assigned as roommates, they soon became best friends constantly together and enjoying what college life has to offer them. Now it is the beginning of their senior year and for the first time ever they will all be apart from one another as each is setting off on their own adventure whether it is studying abroad or attending an internship located in another part of the US. Lila, who is on the path of becoming a doctor even though she is not entirely sure that is what she wants to do, is attending a medical internship at Astor University located in California. She wants to soak up the sun at the beach more than she wants to be in a hospital all day but that all changes when she meets Cade Wilkins at the airport. Little does she know that that encounter will alter her entire experience at Astor University and what she believes will be her future once she finishes college.

Cade Wilkins is psyched to go back to Astor University for his senior year because he can’t wait to start the new football season especially now that there is talk that he is being considered as an NFL draft pick. Even though he had to deal with some family heartbreak as the one year anniversary of his older brother’s death occurred right before he heads back to Astor, life seems to be getting a little better for him the minute he sets eyes on the tall blonde with cornflower blue eyes at his gate in the airport. From the moment he sees Lila, Cade’s life changes even though he doesn’t even know it yet. What is to come will be amazing and wonderful but also challenging. The two immediately hit it off as they travel to Astor together. Lila becomes situated into her new life at Astor, meeting her hilarious and very witty friends Kristen and Sam as well as going on dates with Cade as they become closer and closer to one another. Things seem to be going well for the both of them until Cade’s injury during a football game that reveals a much more serious health issue that will test their relationship to the max.

Words can not describe how much I fell in love with this book and Lila and Cade’s relationship. I felt as if I was literally swept up into their world experiencing all the swoon worthy moments as well as the hardships along with them that I read this book in one sitting which is something I have not done in a VERY long time. It is amazing what can happen in just four months because what Cade and Lila went through and how their relationship changed, sometimes getting stronger and then at times drifting apart due to what was happening with Cade’s health, was so captivating to read about. Both experienced hardships that impacted their relationship but they did not allow those hardships to consume them and therefore jeopardize the love they had for one another. At times this book was so emotionally charged that I felt compelled to continue reading it to see how they would handle what life threw at them and if they would (which I knew they would) continue to fight to remain in each other’s lives even when faced with life threatening issues. This sweet, adorable romance was definitely tested to its limits. After all that happened to Lila and Cade, their relationship evolved into one that should inspire anyone to keep fighting for the one you love no matter what obstacles are put in your path. Lila definitely did not get the experience she thought she was going to get when she came to Astor but she ended up gaining so much more than she thought she would and that includes Cade, the man she loves and would do anything for.

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blog tour · book blog · book review · books · Uncategorized

Blog Tour: Wild Boys After Dark (Books 3 & 4)

It is time to continue with this electrifying, extremely passionate series that has had me fall in love with each of the Wild boys countless times as I have read their stories. They may have fallen in the love with other people in these stories but that does not mean my feelings toward them will ever falter lol.

If you are just joining in on this amazing blog tour which is being hosted by Tasty Book Tours, then I strongly encourage you to check out my first blog tour post focused on the first two books of the series here. If you are returning to see how much I enjoyed the final two books in the series, then welcome back! I will gladly say that the final two books did not disappoint whatsoever which is why this overall series has been so addicting. Stay tuned to hear more about Jackson and Cooper’s stories.



Jackson: Wild Boys After Dark #3  (Releasing November 24, 2015)

 

Jackson

Receiving a marriage proposal is supposed to make a women happy, but when Erica Lane receives a beautiful marriage proposal from her perfect boyfriend on the eve of her annual camping trip with her best friend, Jackson Wild, the first thing she does is jump into bed with Jackson.

Jackson’s all too happy to screw the annoyance out of Erica. After all, they’ve always screwed the hell out of each other when they were bored or angry, lonely, or too damn drunk to see straight.

But the marriage proposal changes everything, and their annual camping trip takes unexpected turns. Will a few nights in the wilderness set these friends with benefits free, or lead them on a path of destruction?

Link to Follow Tour:  http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/09/logan-heath-jackson-and-cooper-wild.html 

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24779579-jackson

 

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/146133-wild-boys-after-dark


  Amazon | B & N| Google Play |iTunes | Kobo


Cooper: Wild Boys After Dark #4  (Releasing December 1, 2015)

 

Cooper

Four years ago at a film festival, Cici Fine met Cooper Wild, a man who turned her world upside down in the span of one deliciously perfect week. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of: sinfully sexy, intelligent, and incredibly loving. When the festival ended, they returned to their own hometowns with promises of forever. But Cooper disappeared, and Cici was left to raise the daughter he never knew about alone.

Cooper is finally thinking straight after years of being lost in grief from the tragedy that killed his father and left his mother blind. Now he’s on a mission to find the woman he left behind—the only woman he’s ever loved.

But Cici Fine is no longer a naive young girl. She’s a savvy businesswoman with big responsibilities, on the cusp of a life-changing move. When fate brings the two together, they’ll put the old adage to the test and find out if love really can conquer all.

Link to Follow Tour:  http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/09/logan-heath-jackson-and-cooper-wild.html 

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24779585-cooper

 

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/146133-wild-boys-after-dark


  Amazon | B & N| Google Play |iTunes | Kobo


Author Spotlight

Melissa

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Author Links:   Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


Giveaway

Tour Wide Giveaway for Two Winners to receive an Ebook Copy of LOGAN, Wild Boys #1

Click the link below to enter into the giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Review-Banner

Jackson: Wild Boys After Dark #3 

Jackson Wild and Erica Lane, or Laney which is what Jackson calls her have known each other since high school. Their friendship with one another has been a stable thread throughout their lives, caring about one another through each of the hardships they have both faced as well as trusting each other wholeheartedly that they would get tattoos linking each other to one another for the rest of their lives. That trust can also be seen in the friends with benefits relationship they have also had since high school. This almost unconventional relationship has continued to last even now when Laney is in another relationship with a man who is comfortable with what she and Jackson are doing because he believes that one day she won’t need him in that way anymore. Jackson and Laney rely on the natural flow of their relationship, coming together in fits of passion whenever the other person felt or needed it but that relationship is threatened to cease to exist the minute Laney’s boyfriend, Bryce, proposed to her during her birthday dinner. It is this jolt of reality that Laney might actually have found the person who can give her what every woman wants: a loving marriage and down the road the start of creating a family with that person, that cause Jackson to realize that his feelings for Laney are more than just of the friends variety.
I will say that this is the first time I have read about a relationship like Jackson and Laney’s where not only have they known each other for over ten years but for those ten years they have been engaging in a friends with benefits relationship with one another. As I have said above, this relationship seemed very unconventional to me only because most relationships that I have read about that decide to do the friends with benefits thing between one another have usually just met. The fact that these two know each other so well being best friends and all definitely brought an unexpected yet wonderful element to the story. I mean they have continued this relationship even when Laney has had boyfriends like the one she has in the book who decides to take things to the next step and propose to her. And to top it all off, Laney has told her boyfriend, Bryce, about her relationship and/or arrangement with Jackson and he was fine with it because he believed it would end and he would therefore take over from there. What Bryce did not bank on was just how much of a connection Jackson and Laney have no only as friends but as lovers. The shock of the engagement brought both Jackson and Laney to re-evaluate their friendship/relationship with one another but it was obvious from the very beginning that they were meant for one another. There was just so much heart and love for one another even if both were denying it a little bit that you could not help but latch on and ride out the story with them with the hope and anticipation that they would finally realize what they have is truly magical and not something they should let slip away.

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Review-Banner

Cooper: Wild Boys After Dark #4 

Based on how quickly the other Wild boys have fallen in love, it is no surprise that Cooper Wild hopped on that train as well the minute he laid eyes on Celeste “Ceci” Fine at the Bay City Film Festival. Within a week, the two were so wrapped up in one another it seemed like they had known each other for forever. Life for Ceci seemed perfect until Cooper ended it abruptly and left her. Her world came tumbling down from the paradise she was in until she found out she was pregnant. After trying to reach out to Cooper to tell him about the baby for almost a year with no response on his end Ceci gave up and focused on raising her daughter whose brilliant blue eyes reminded her of Cooper and the amazing week they had each and every day. Little did Ceci know that the night that Cooper left her and ultimately ended things was the night his parents were attacked in their home which resulted in the death of his father and his mother becoming blind after taking a horrible beating from the attacker. The attack left Cooper with a mix of emotions as he tried to wrap his head around what had happened and come to terms with the outcomes. Dealing with the tragedy left Cooper numb as a part of him died the day his father was murdered. It wasn’t until his brothers more specifically Jackson found love that he was pulled out of that fog his thoughts now focused on the women he had fallen in love with all those years ago before his life was turned upside down. Now back at the Bay City Film Festival where they both met, Cooper is ready to win Ceci back while Ceci is just trying to move on with her life for herself and her daughter before they move to New York City to start their new chapter. Of course, life had other plans causing them to her to come face to face with the man her consumed her thoughts over the past four years as she tried to move on and raise their daughter.
I was so happy to have a story that involved a pregnancy within this story because not only are they some of my favorite stories to read about but also because it rounded the series as a whole bringing a whole other element amongst the ones that have already been told in the other books. After reading about how sustaining and powerful Jackson and Laney’s love was for one another overcoming the obstacles in front of them, I had no doubt that Cooper’s and Ceci’s relationship would be just as all consuming as it was before even after four years. I mean even after they reconnected in her hotel room when Ceci had every right to be furious about how Cooper left her they still were so drawn to one another that it is as if time never past. The reminder of how love never falters even after four years of total silence was so remarkable for me especially after seeing how much of an impact it had on Jackson and Laney’s relationship even when they were in denial that it could actually work between them beyond the parameters of just being friends with benefits. The sustainability of love that weaves through both of these stories was so refreshing to read about making me love them and this series so much more.
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blog tour · book blog · book review · books · Uncategorized

Blog Tour: Wild Boys After Dark (Books 1 & 2)

As we near Thanksgiving, I am reminded of just how thankful I am tohave the opportunity to be a host on so many wonderful blog tours and this one, which will be broken up into two days, will be spectacular so you won’t want to miss it.

Today’s blog tour, hosted by Tasty Book Tours, will be focusing on the first two books in Melissa Foster’s Wild Boys After Dark series. Each book follows one of the Wild brothers, so today we will be talking about Logan and Heath’s stories and let me just say they are captivating, emotionally charged, and very steamy.


Logan: Wild Boys After Dark #1 (Releasing November 15, 2015)

Logan

Stella “Stormy” Knight is an expert at hiding—her feelings, her past, and her identity. Sometimes all that hiding takes its toll, and she needs to come out from under that heavy suit of armor and cut loose—but it never takes her long to put it right back on and disappear without a trace.

Private Investigator Logan Wild is relentless in his pursuit to discover the truth for his clients. He works hard, plays even harder, and always walks away unscathed and untethered. Until he meets mysterious and sexy-as-hell Stormy, who leaves him craving more than a one-night stand.

Passion ignites, secrets are shared, and their deep connection is impossible to ignore. But in order to have a future, Logan must uncover Stormy’s dark past—and when he does, he’ll hold her fate in his hands.

Link to Follow Tour:  http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/09/logan-heath-jackson-and-cooper-wild.html 

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24779568-logan?ac=1

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/146133-wild-boys-after-dark

 Amazon | B & N| Google Play |iTunes | Kobo



Heath: Wild Boys After Dark #2 (Releasing November 17, 2015)

HEATH
No last names. No strings. No ties. Except of the silk variety.

Dr. Heath Wild and Allyson Jenner only wanted a simple tryst. But Heath couldn’t live with just one night, just one taste, of Ally—and Ally couldn’t escape the memory of his hands on her skin, the way he looked at her like she was his obsession, or his seduction, which had pushed her to the edge and had made her want to do things she never had before.

One night leads to one tantalizing phone call. Can one phone call lead to forever?

Link to Follow Tour:  http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/09/logan-heath-jackson-and-cooper-wild.html 

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24779574-heath

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/146133-wild-boys-after-dark

 Amazon | B & N| Google Play |iTunes | Kobo


Author Spotlight

Melissa

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Author Links:   Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


Giveaway

Tour Wide Giveaway for Two Winners to receive an Ebook Copy of LOGAN, Wild Boys #1

Click the link below to enter into the giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Review-Banner
Logan: Wild Boys After Dark #1

For the past few years, Stella Krane aka Stormy Knight has lead a life riddled with uncertainty and fear as she assumed her new identity, moved away from the only place that she knew and brought he fond memories, and started over as someone else to try and escape her dark and traumatic past. Before her boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend, showed his true colors Stella thought she had found the perfect person to share the rest of here life with. She couldn’t have been more wrong as Carl Kutcher changed the nice girl in her into something else entirely, bringing out her sexual desires while also allowing his abusive nature to surface threatening both her life and the life of her mother who is battling cancer. After fleeing Mystic and becoming Stormy Knight, Stella is now living in New York city working as a bartender trying to keep a low profile and stay hidden from Carl who is due to be released from jail any day now. It isn’t until Logan Wild saves her from being assaulted by a drunk customer that Stella soon learns she won’t have to continue to look over her shoulder and live in fear once Logan entered her life.

Logan Wild is the ultimate protector. Being a former Navy Seal and therefore earning countless medals for his service, the skills he acquired come in handy in his profession as a private investigator. Though he is excellent at everything he does always striving to be the best, he still feels guilty that even though he could provide service for his country and protect others while he was overseas, the two people that mattered most to him besides his three brothers fell prey to an attack that he could not have prevented due to being overseas at the time. That attack was on his parents as a burglar broke into their house, wrestling and killing Logan’s father and then attacking his mother causing her to become blind. Logan has taken his revenge on the attacker who assaulted his parents making things right in his eyes but when he encounters Stella aka Stormy at the bar owned by his friend he can’t seem to take his eyes off of her even if she came off a little distant and hostile because that instinct enabled him to interrupt her almost assault by a customer in the alley behind the bar. After that, Logan felt this need to protect Stormy at all costs especially when her behavior combined with his PI knowledge told him she was running from something or someone and wanted to be that person who could provide her with the safety and comfort she so desperately wanted back.

This book started off Melissa Foster’s Wild Boys After Dark series with a bang as you have such an emotionally charged story between these two characters that you can’t help but get swept up in each person’s back story as well as the progression of their relationship that was both sweet and intensely passionate at the same time. Melissa Foster did not disappoint, which I very much expected based on how much I loved the last book of hers that I read. I will say as a precaution that because of Stella’s back story with her abusive relationship with Carl and how much that affected her mindset and the way she lived her life in total fear that he could just show up again and hurt her might be a trigger for some people who have also experienced this in some form. With that being said, Stella and Logan’s relationship was so wonderfully sweet and compassionate as Logan did everything in his power to protect Stella even if she fought him about it because he wanted to be the one to provide her with the safety and stability that could allow her to regain the person she was before Carl took that away from her. The situation that they are put in causes many emotions to surface amongst them very quickly which for some might be too soon in terms of how the book progresses but considering the ordeals that Stella goes through and the possibility of being found by Carl again who last time left her for dead you can’t help but believe that those feelings are completely genuine given the circumstances. This book provided me with just a taste of what could come in the next three books leaving me completely hooked and ready for the next one.

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Heath: Wild Boys After Dark #2

Next in this delightfully entertaining series, we have Heath who is the eldest of the Wild boys. Heath, who is a doctor, gets introduced in Logan’s story when he provides his skills after the incident at the bar involving Stella and the drunk customer which leaves her slightly injured. Let’s just say he has an excellent bedside manner when he is helping his patients but when it comes to his methods in the bedroom he is more of the take charge variety. Ally, the one night stand which ultimately turns into more, who he meets at a medical conference in Vermont does not seem to mind at all. Right off the bat we get a taste for their chemistry as the book opens up with them all over each other in the elevator of the hotel as they make their way to Ally’s room. The rules in the beginning were no last names, no particulars but that quickly changed as their connection to one another left neither of them able to stop thinking about one another once the conference was over. Heath, who was burned in the past, decides to nix his rules and asks for Ally’s phone number before they part ways. Little did they know they were going to be seeing each other sooner than they thought.

While Heath is one of New York city’s best sports medicine orthopedic doctors, Ally works in a medical lab at one of the hospitals as a lab tech. It is there that their worlds collided once again as Ally’s is handling one of Heath’s samples which he comes in to check on. After getting more than just the results he sought after but also another encounter with the woman he could not stop thinking about Heath decides to go against his rules and ask Ally out on a date. Another magnetic connection is formed as Heath and Ally’s relationship progresses. While Logan and Stella’s relationship started under an air of danger because of her abusive ex trying to find her, Heath and Ally’s started under an air of passion which simmered down to this sweet and caring relationship between two people who have both been betrayed by others in the past. I love how Heath has that compassionate side which definitely comes from being a doctor but also has his dominant nature which come out when things start heating up in the bedroom. I can obviously see why Ally was so drawn to him when they had their “one night stand” at the medical conference where this all started. I mean pulling some strings so that their first date was at the Central Park Zoo after hours because Ally had never been to a zoo before was just the most adorable and thoughtful gesture that my heart couldn’t help but swoon a little and it continued to do so throughout the rest of the book.

First you have Logan, the noble and bad ass protector who goes to great lengths to ensure that Stella will be safe and then you have Heath, the compassionate yet dominating doctor who captivates Ally as much as she captivates him. After reading both of their stories, I can definitely see the appeal of the Wild boys and can’t wait to delve in more with the last two books of the series which are Jackson and Cooper’s stories.

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If you have enjoyed what you have read so far then don’t forget to check back in tomorrow to read about the last two books in this wonderful series. And of course, go pick up any of the books in this series because they will pull you in and capture your attention to the very end.

blog tour · book blog · book review · books · Uncategorized

Blog Tour: Mutually Exclusive

Hope you enjoyed the last blog tour here at Reaffirming My Bookworm Status this week because I have one more for you before the week is over and it is equally as steamy as the last one. This blog tour is being hosted by Tasty Book Tours who I would just like to thank for allowing me to be a part of it. To follow the rest of the tour, click here.

Disclaimer: This delightful book is all sorts of steamy (in the bedroom if you catch my drift) so if that is not exactly your cup of tea I would proceed with caution before you decide to read it. If not, then I think you will thoroughly enjoy this as much as I did.


Mutually Exclusive
By: Charlotte Winston
Releasing November 2, 2015
Self-Published

ME_CoverEveryone believes Alexandra Kane is a good girl. She follows the rules, stays the course, but there’s only so far she can bend before she breaks. Her reputation is everything, but she can’t resist temptation when given an opportunity to join Club Valentine, the exclusive sex club that caters to the wealthy.

Roman Valentine makes a living providing people a place to exercise their sexual preferences with discretion. He knows how to keep secrets, especially since he has some of his own he doesn’t want discovered. Alexandra provides a distraction he doesn’t need, but Roman how can he say no when she makes him an offer he can’t refuse.

Their agreement is simple. Discretion, orgasms, and never mix business with pleasure. But what happens when business becomes personal? How will they react when the secrets they keep buried threaten to overtake them? And what’s Alexandra supposed to do when Roman’s secret directly impacts her life?
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25372301-mutually-exclusive?ac=1
Buy Links:  Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

Excerpt-Banner
“Wait.” Her voice shook although she stood proud, deepening his respect for her. “I’ve never done anything like this before, and it freaked me out. That doesn’t mean I don’t want you, or need you; it just means I needed a minute.” She closed her eyes at the last statement, shaking her head slightly, and he instantly softened. How could he not when this beautiful, vulnerable woman was so proud and strong in her professional life she’d neglected her personal life. Not anymore, he thought as he moved closer, lifting his hand to her face. Her eyes remained closed but she moved her face toward him, pressing into his palm.
“Hey,” he whispered, rubbing his thumb lightly against her cheek. She turned toward him, opening her eyes and allowing him to see everything she was feeling. He read the fear, trepidation, and anticipation in those brown depths. More than anything, he wanted to wipe away the anxiety burning bright, and he kissed her softly to alleviate the burn in his chest when he thought about her. Because he had thought about her, way more than he should; even when he was supposed to be working on his club, he couldn’t get the brown-haired beauty out of his mind. She was every fantasy and nightmare rolled into one, a siren built for temporary pleasure before she brought endless destruction. This girl would be his downfall.

7b492-author-banner

Charlotte is a southern girl who has loved a good story for as long as she can remember. A long way from sneaking around past her bedtime with a flashlight, she’s currently plugging away writing her own stories. She loves writing about strong characters and how their personalities influence those around them. Her first book, Mutually Exclusive, will be available in November 2015.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
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Charlotte will be hosting a Tour Wide Giveaway for a $10.00 Amazon eGift Card and Select Ebook Set
Click the link below to enter into the giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review-Banner

“I know you do baby, but your dad would be the first to tell you all work and no play makes Jane a dull girl.”

Alexandra Kane’s life has revolved around her career for as long as she can remember as she works towards becoming partner at the corporate law firm where she works before she is thirty. It is no surprise that with the amount of hours she has put in that she has the opportunity to become the one thing she knows would make her late father proud the only problem is the rest of her life and more importantly according to her, her sex life have taken a hit. That is until her best friend suggests a way for that to be remedied by seeking out the amenities of an exclusive sex club in the city. Alexandra, though apprehensive about it, takes her best friend’s advice in order to satisfy her sexual outlet. But, she is not interested in enjoying the company of just anyone at the club. No, if this is going to happen discretion is the number one priority in order to ensure her law career is not affected by her actions so she goes directly to the source, the owner of the club, to be the one to give her the release and pleasure she needs.

Roman Valentine is the owner of the most sought after sex club in the city where he allows his members to engage in their fantasies in a space that takes judgment out of the equation and just allows them to enjoy themselves. Becoming a member of this establishment is not easy but for those who are granted it, they are able to come and engage consensually with others in whatever sexual act they choose. The one rule that Roman has is that he himself does not get involved with any of the members. Of course, that all changes when he decides to meet with Alexandra Kane who wants only him if the arrangement she desires is going to work. He allows for an exception to his rule and agrees that he and Alex will become mutually exclusive to one another allowing for both their needs as well as wants to be met. Of course, Roman’s needs/wants are shrouded in secrecy something he does not initially disclose to Alex and those secrets just happen to involve her father. But, when those secrets come to light business has already mixed with pleasure between Roman and Alex leading to complications as trust is broken and feelings are undoubtedly hurt.

Sex takes center stage for a good portion of this novel but regardless of how much time is spent in the bedroom between these two, I really enjoyed Alex and Roman’s relationship. From the very beginning because of their personalities they butted heads with one another which lead to the banter that I very much love to read when it comes to romance books such as this one. It is no surprise though considering you have Alex who is a lawyer and a damn good one at that so her need for control and to be in charge was clearly going to clash with Roman who is dominant in nature seeing as he runs and maintains a sex club where keeping the wants/needs as well as the safety of his members is key. The progression of their relationship was so entertaining as you see them challenge one another but also gradually start to open up to each other and become more than just the mutually exclusive agreement they contracted between themselves. But of course, it can not all be smooth sailing as there always seems to be secrets involved that come out. I will say that I did not expect Roman’s secret to involve Alexandra’s late father. When I first began reading I just thought the connection created between them was because Alex was referred to Roman’s sex club by her best friend. I did not see Roman’s ulterior motive involving getting revenge on Alex’s father coming in addition to the agreement he made with Alex and just thought that aspect of the story made it that much better.

If you are looking for a book that equal parts steamy but also has a lot of heart to it, then I definitely suggest you check out Mutually Exclusive by Charlotte Winston. You won’t regret it!!

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blog tour · book blog · book review · books · Uncategorized

Blog Tour: The Devil’s Gate

And we are back with another blog tour!

Today’s blog tour for The Devil’s Gate by Rue Volley is being hosted by Expresso Book Tours and as always, I am very appreciative that I am able to be a part of this tour in the first place. To check out the rest of the tour click here.

Disclaimer: I will say that The Devil’s Gate is a lot “steamier” when it comes to what happens in the bedroom (if you catch my drift) so if that is something you don’t entirely enjoy then a would proceed with a little caution if you decide to pick this book up.

With that being said, if you enjoy a dark, mysterious read with a very enigmatic male lead as well as a thoroughly engrossing romance, then you are in for a treat with The Devil’s Gate.


The Devil’s Gate by Rue Volley
(The Devil’s Gate Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: April 11th 2015
Genres: Erotica, Mystery, Romance
devilsGate
Curiosity can be a dangerous thing. In Abigail Watson’s case, it nearly ended her life.

After a brush with death, Abigail is reminded of just how short life can be…then she meets Jack Landon, the mysterious heir to the Landon fortune and her savior from a certain death. Jack’s needs are very defined, and his ability to seduce with ease draws Abigail into his dark world. One taste of him on her lips and she is consumed with a desire, a willingness to submit and let him take the gift that she has protected for so long.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25348866-the-devil-s-gat

Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Author Spotlight
Rue-Volley
Rue Volley resides on Earth with her husband, Von Erik, and their two pug sons, Momo and Oshi. She is an award-winning author, graphic artist, and screenwriter. She is also the Creative/Marketing Director for Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, and co-owner of Lovebites Production Company, which specializes in Dark Fantasy Films.
Rue released her first film, Hellhound, in November of 2014 and her second film, Awakening, in July 2015. Keep up with Rue on IMDb smarturl.it/RueVolleyIMDb
 Author links:
http://www.ruevolley.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rue-Volley/146299465525490?ref_type=bookmark
https://twitter.com/ruevolley
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4529674.Rue_Volley

Giveaway
Tour Wide Giveaway (US/Can): $25 Amazon Gift Card
Click the link below to enter into the giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review
Having a near-death experience can change a person’s life completely especially if that near-death experience involves getting saved by a gorgeous, wealthy, mysterious and yet his reputation-definitely-precedes-him knight in shining armor, or in this case, a very well worn suit. That is what happens to Abigail Watson when she is almost hit by a bus only to be saved moments before by the infamous Jack Landon, the heir to the Landon fortune and a member of the family that owns and/or finances a lot of the businesses/organizations in the surrounding city. This one event sends Abigail’s life into a whirlwind as she is swept into Jack’s world and along with that discovers the dormant sexual desires she hoped to feel once she met the right guy even though the guy in question does not exactly fit into the “right guy” category.
I don’t think I have ever connected more with a character than I have with Abigail. It got to the point where I could easily have replaced myself with Abigail and the story could has seamlessly continued as if nothing happened. And given that the end result of doing that would mean having Jack Landon to myself, I definitely wished on more than one occasion while reading that the switch could be possible. An aspect of Abigail that I both enjoyed and appreciated was how she approached the fact that she was inexperienced sexually. To come out and state the reason why she was still a virgin at 23 was because she never found someone who was worthy enough was incredibly empowering and wonderfully refreshing because it completely mimicked how I felt in regards to the subject. Being able to make that connection with the narrator of this book solidified my interest in the story that much more that I could not stop reading.
Jack. Landon. I feel that it is appropriate to use a Regina George-esque introduction for him because he had such a strong and captivating presence in the book, even though his life was shrouded in mystery for being the heir to this large expansive fortune. Yes, I could not help but swoon a little when he saved Abigail from being hit by a bus (I am a hopeless romantic like her) but even after that his presence in the story just resonated so greatly that he seemed to almost leap off the page for me. That was also something I was hoping for because who wouldn’t want a man like Jack Landon in their life, sadly it never happened. His dominant, yet caring nature towards Abigail was intoxicating so much so that I can see why her sexual desires were brought out when they were around one another. Even after their first meeting, there seemed to be a connection between them that it consumed Abigail’s thoughts in the beginning of the story.
Besides Abigail and Jack’s electric connection to one another, I also enjoyed the fact that the pacing of their relationship was not so all-consuming that it put them in this bubble closing them off from the world around them. Yes, I will admit it was not something a initially liked seeing how magnetic their connection is to one another but after a while I appreciated the reprieve that they had from one another towards the beginning of the novel because it added so much more depth to the unfolding of their already passionate relationship. Considering that this is the first book in a trilogy, I can only assume that Abigail and Jack’s relationship will be epic considering the fact that it will span over three whole books. Knowing that, I am very much intrigued to see how the rest of this trilogy turns out.
If you are at all intrigued after reading that, or just love an intense, passionate relationship like Abigail and Jack’s as well as have an affinity towards things that are dark and mysterious, then I definitely encourage you to pick up The Devil’s Gate by Rue Volley

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book blog · book review · books

Review: Emerge

EmergeEmerge by Melissa A. Craven
(The Awakening #1)
Release Date: April 1st 2015
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Ebook
Where You Can Find It: Amazon | Goodreads

**I received an advanced copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**

Synopsis:
Allie Carmichael has always believed life is simple.

You’re born. You live. You die.
She has no cause to believe that equation works differently for her, but there has to be a reason the world treats her like a pariah.

When an unexpected move to Kelleys Island brings Aidan McBrien crashing into her life, Allie is thrown by his reaction. He doesn’t shrink from her touch. He doesn’t stutter or make a quick exit. He smiles and welcomes her into his circle of friends, who aren’t exactly comfortable with Allie, but they seem to get her in a way most people don’t.

Finally, Allie has a real shot at normal and rides that high right up to her sixteenth birthday when she wakes in agony—an experience Aidan insists they have all faced. She struggles in ignorance, uncertain of what is real and what isn’t. When she emerges, Allie is different. She has always been different, but even among her extraordinary friends, she and Aidan are special.

As Allie struggles to maintain her tenuous grasp on the power that threatens to overwhelm her, she worries she will lose herself in this strange new world. A dangerous world where she will have to fight tooth and nail to defend the power and freedom that is her birthright.

…only Allie hates to fight.


Review

We all have a fairly clear idea of how our lives play out. In the simplest of terms, we’re born, we live, and then we die. But what if you found out that the normal rules of life do not apply to you, in fact you will continue to live on long after many people have died. Essentially, you find out you are an Immortal. How do you think you would react? What if you sensed it all along based purely on how others reacted to you when you were around them or the fact that you seemed to move a lot when people got too close to you and your family? These are basically the thoughts Allie has before and after she finds out she is in fact an Immortal. Of course, finding out this life altering secret does not happen easily especially not in Allie’s case, she has been isolated from this world for the majority of her life as her adoptive parents have moved all over the world in order to keep her safe. It is only on her 16th birthday that she experiences what it truly means to be an Immortal as she goes through what is called her “Awakening” which is basically a very painful process in which her powers emerge. Afterwards, she begins to fully see life for what it is as an Immortal. It definitely helps that Aidan McBrien and his family is at her side when this happens because without them she would have been helpless in knowing how to make through her “Awakening” not to mention the rest of her life.
The overall concept revolving around the idea of Immortals and the powers they possess and how they have been around for thousands if not millions of years is very unique seeing as I have not read a fantasy book like this before. The beginning part of the book did start out a little confusing to me as it seems like things progressed fairly quickly between Allie and Aidan and his friends when she arrived on Kellen’s Island after living in New Zealand for the past two years. You are definitely left wondering why Allie’s life is the way it is and why, for example, people seem to be uncomfortable around her, flinching each time she comes into contact with them. I understand that it is meant to leave the reader intrigued therefore causing them to continue to read to figure out why this happening but for me I just felt a little too lost. I get that there was an air of mystery since Allie also does not know what is going on but after a while I just wanted there to be some insight of what was happening and the world that Allie was  about to a part of. The building of the world encompassed in the novel is a crucial part of a fantasy book for me and this one left me more lost than curious.
I will say once we did find out the world that Allie is thrust into and the history behind it, I really liked the concept of being Immortal and having these abilities/unique powers which traced back all the way to beginning of time. Also, the fact that she and Aidan and everyone else stops aging is a major perk in my book. In addition to that, Allie and Aidan’s relationship is another aspect of the book I enjoyed just because it was almost like you could feel the connection they had from the very first time they literally ran into one another in the woods. Allie’s ability of being very perceptive of people and who they are as a person accounts for why in the book she becomes such good friends with Aidan, Sasha, Chloe, Graham, etc. almost instantaneously. I was a little thrown off by it at first just because it felt rushed to me but after finding out about this instinct Allie has and how it is connected her being an Immortal it all began to make sense. Which brings me back to Aidan, and how from the minute they met Allie felt she could trust him, allowing them to become best friends almost overnight.Their sarcastic banter back and forth along with how caring and protective Aidan is of Allie was so much fun to read about and definitely was a positive element within the book.
If you are looking for a unique fantasy involving powers/abilities and the inability to age along with a budding yet almost electric romance then I would definitely suggest you check out Emerge by Melissa A. Craven.

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book blog · book review · books

Review: The Pledge

PledgeThe Pledge by Laura Ward and Christine Manzari
Release Date: July 27th, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Format: Ebook
Where You Can Find It: Amazon | Goodreads

**I received an advanced copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**

Synopsis:
Taren needs a do-over. She’s decided the best way to put the high school bullies behind her is to pledge a Taylor-Swift-lip-syncing, beer-guzzling, sorority. Sisterhood helps Taren find the acceptance she’s always craved, but not the love she needs.

Alec wants freedom. To escape his father’s iron fist and unrealistic expectations, he pledges a campus acrobatics club where he finds that drugs and alcohol aren’t the only ways to get high. His addiction to danger helps him gain his independence, but it comes at a heavy price.

When the two cross paths, Alec fears his undeniable attraction to the party girl just might threaten everything he’s worked so hard to earn. Taren hasn’t forgotten that Alec humiliated her back in high school, but she also can’t deny the chemistry they share.

Alec and Taren have nothing in common, but fate is bound and determined to bring them together. They know falling in love is a risk, and yet it’s too hard to ignore. When their worlds clash and they both end up suffering, will they fight to stay together? Or are some pledges too hard to keep?


Review
College is a place where one can start over and become an entirely new version of themselves separate from who they were in high school. That is exactly what Taren wanted to do when she began her freshman year and it seemed to be going wonderfully as she met new friends and was even persuaded to rush a sorority. Of course, that came to a bit of a screeching halt when she saw the one person from her past life she didn’t want to see, Alec Hart. Finding out the guy you had a crush on in high school who you thought was a good guy but who subsequently decided to embarrass you in front of the entire school when he rejected you goes to the same college as you is the last thing that Taren wanted. And on Alec’s end the feeling was entirely mutual due to the fact that he thought she was the reason the second half of his senior year of high school was ruined. Little did they know the chance encounters they had their freshman year would lead to so much more.
This was an absolutely adorable new adult romance that brought me back to college making me miss it even more than I do now especially since this is the kind of romance I wish I had the chance to experience when I was in college. Despite the ups and downs that Taren and Alec faced in the beginning of the novel it was totally worth it for what happened after they realized the other was not who they thought he/she was. The pacing of this novel and the unfolding of their romance was wonderful because not only were you let wondering when it was going to happen but you also got to see how each character developed as the story moves from their freshman year into their sophomore year of college.
My favorite aspect of Taren and Alec’s relationship was when it is compared to the red string of fate which is something that Alec is learning about in one of his classes. I loved this comparison because it brought depth to their relationship as well as allowed the reader to see how all relationships could be seen in this concept. It is even expanded to encompass the relationship that Taren builds with William as part of her sorority’s philanthropy project. This overall idea that you are connected to a person no matter what happens in life by this red string therefore meaning that at some point your lives will cross again was just a profound idea to me and having it woven into the story made me connect with the characters that much more.
Overall, there was an authenticity to the book in regards to the college life that was depicted that, when mixed with this, at some times, all-consuming romance just made this book so attention grabbing for me. Despite what happens along the way with Taren and Alec and the obstacles they must overcome both individually and as a couple, you can’t help but hope that regardless of the pledges they made to the other aspects of their college lives they are still able to uphold the pledge that they come to make with one another. This is such a sweet and adorably cute romance that allows you to continue to believe in the power that love holds when you find the one you are meant to be with even if it happens to coincide with the best 4 years of your life: college.

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blog tour · book blog · book review · books

Blog Tour: How to Lose a Bachelor

And we are back with this week’s blog tour!

I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for How to Lose a Bachelor by Anna Banks because I really enjoyed her Syrena Legacy series and definitely wanted to see if I would love her adult romance too. As always, this blog tour is being hosted by Tasty Book Tours and you can check out the rest of the schedule for the blog tour here.

If you are looking for a hilariously adorable second chance romance that takes place during a “The Bachelor” style reality show, then you will not want to miss How to Lose a Bachelor by Anna Banks.


How to Lose a Bachelor
By: Anna Banks
Releasing Nov 9th, 2015
Entangled Bliss
HOW TO LOSE_CoverWhen Rochelle Ransom auditioned for the dating show Luring Love, she had big plans for winning the prize money to help her favorite charity–and if she won the hot bachelor’s heart, even better. But at the last minute she finds out the hot bachelor is her ex-boyfriend, Grant Drake. Desperate to keep her distance from him, she’ll do anything–and everything–to get voted off.

Years ago, Rochelle broke Grant’s heart, and he’s out for revenge. There’s no way he’ll vote her off.  After all, vengeance is a dish best served red-hot…and on live television.

When her hilarious antics to get kicked off the show escalate, Grant’s reminded why he fell in love with her the first time. Now he isn’t sure which might be more fun… Seeing how far Rochelle is willing to go to get away or how far he will to keep her forever

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25833031-how-to-lose-a-bachelor?ac=1
 Amazon | B&N | Kobo iTunes

7b492-author-banner
Anna_Tour

NYT Bestselling YA author of The Syrena Legacy series: OF POSEIDON (2012) OF TRITON (2013) OF NEPTUNE (2014). Repped by rockstar Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency. I live with my husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. I have a southern accent compared to New Yorkers, and I enjoy food cooked with real fat. I can’t walk in high heels, but I’m very good at holding still in them. If you put chocolate in front of me, you must not have wanted it in the first place.

Website
 | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Giveaway
Author will be hosting a Tour Wide Giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card
Click the link below to enter into the giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review-Banner

The number of times I have laughed out loud or smiled while reading this book should give you some kind of indication of just how much I enjoyed it. Having previously read the first book in Anna Bank’s Syrena Legacy (I will be finishing that series ASAP lol), I knew I was in for a treat and she did not disappoint me one bit. How to Lose a Bachelor is witty, hilarious, adorable, and just down right cute at times, making it a wonderfully quick read of the second chance romance between Rochelle and Grant. Plus add in the “The Bachelor” style reality show setting and you got your own little mini drama on the side which is always fun to watch, or in this case read about.
Rochelle Ransom is a no holds bar attorney who has worked her butt off to get herself on track to becoming partner in a few years. In addition to that, she spends what little time is left over from her job as a corporate attorney doing pro bono work for Helping Hands, a shelter that helps battered women get their lives back together as the trauma they have experienced. This is her real passion which is why she decides to go on Luring Love in the first place, not to find “true love” but to win and convince the bachelor to give her his share of the prize money to put towards getting Helping Hands a state of the art facility for the women at the shelter. It is also a matter that is near and dear to her heart seeing as she watched her father abuse her mother when she was younger before he was sent away to prison because of it. Rochelle, or Chelle which is Grant’s nickname for her, is feisty, determined, a little stubborn, but totally lovable. It was so much fun watching her pull her antics on Luring Love after she finds out Grant is the bachelor, doing whatever it takes to get revenge on him for how he broke her heart almost ten years earlier when they were dating back in college. It is even more entertaining to see that despite her efforts of revenge, Rochelle slowly starts to fall for Grant again causing you to root for their second chance romance as the novel progresses.
And then you have Grant Drake, who gets the shock of his life when he sees Rochelle as one of the contestants on Luring Love where he is the bachelor that all the girls are trying to win. Grant decided to become the bachelor with the help from his friend Chris who happens to be the host on the show in order to try and get over the woman he is still in love with even after he broke up with her in college. Of course, things do not necessarily go as planned seeing as the woman he is still in love with just so happens to be one of the contestants aka Rochelle. Still hurt from finding out that Rochelle was going to choose going to law school at Berkeley over being with him back in college, Grant also uses this opportunity to get some vengeance on her. Obviously, one can see that both of their plans will lead to something more than just revenge but hey, props to them for trying lol. Besides being the bachelor, Grant is also a tactical training consultant which means he provides training for people in ways to defend themselves in case they are attacked. It is definitely kismet that both he and Rochelle do work that revolve around helping people who have either been attacked or who want to be able to prevent themselves from being attacked again whether that is learning self-defense skills or turning towards a shelter to help them rebuild their life. I really admired how much Grant cared about this topic in his own way especially after he saw what it did to Rochelle when they were dating in college.
Given the circumstances and the motives of both Rochelle and Grant, one can only assume that things on the show did not go smoothly. As both try to get back at one another, they are also met with the feelings they had way back when for one each other which makes you hope that in some way they will reconcile and, in the end, get back together. The fire and passion between Rochelle and Grant is still there, made evident during one of the challenges on the show where the women had to come up with a booth at a charity event and try to raise the most money to go towards a cause that helps battered women. Rochelle’s idea of having an old-fashioned kissing booth pays off in more ways than one solidifying your hope for them to realize their love for one another is still there and, to therefore put aside their need for vengeance against one another.
If you love witty banter, crazy antics that come with the territory of being on a “The Bachelor” style reality show, and above all else a passionate as well as an adorably cute second chance romance, then look now further and pick up How to Lose a Bachelor by Anna Banks. You will not be disappointed, I promise you that!

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book review · books

Review: Back to Us

BtUBack to Us by Theresa Roman
Release Date: July 28th, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Format: Ebook
Where You Can Find It: Amazon | Goodreads

**I received an advanced copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**

Synopsis:  Abandoned by her parents at fourteen, Jessica knows what it means to struggle. She’s vowed that getting her degree is the only thing she has time for, until a summer internship brings Justin into her life.

But Justin has scars of his own. A tour of duty in Afghanistan has left him with wounds. A medical discharge from the Navy leaves Justin struggling to make sense of his new reality. Then he meets Jessica; but can the two of them leave their pain in the past and make a future together?

Fighting for want you want despite the hardships you have faced is definitely the over-arching theme in this novel. Both Jess and Justin have been hit hard by what life has decided to throw at them and yet they keep on going after what they want or doing what they are passionate about. You learn very early on just how strong and determined Jess had to be once her parents abandoned her and she was put in the system. She got into college where her focus now went to finishing and earning her degree in the hopes of becoming a teacher afterwards. That focus leads her to her internship at the community center where she crosses paths with Justin, the basketball coach, and in that moment her plan for the future shifts dramatically.
Though you do not realize the degree of hardships Justin has had to face until it is revealed in the novel which, was a complete shock to me and definitely brought an unexpected element to the story that I quickly embraced, he is also fighting to maintain the normalcy of his life after what has happened. Of course that normalcy is shattered once he and Jess meet and slowly start to get close to one another. His fears and insecurities of how he will be perceived by Jess when she finds out the extent of his injuries leads him to first fight against his feelings for her. That of course is a lost cause as the two become closer and closer, resulting in them accepting what has happened to each one another in their pasts as well as between them as the novel progresses. Never giving up the fight for one another after all the obstacles and issues that arise, Jess and Justin are finally able to be together, the “us” they were from the very beginning.
Stepping into Jess’s shoes and taking in the full extent of what happened to her when she was a teenager allows you to see just how strong she is. Her parents ABANDONED her when she was 14, they just left and went back to Croatia neglecting her and her brother Mike because they saw them as burdens. That and the fact that afterwards, Jess was put in the foster system where she lived in a group home until she moved into the dorms for college is unbelievable because despite that hardship Jess was still able to move forward into college where her focus was turned towards getting her degree. Her determination and fortitude is so admirable you couldn’t help but rally behind Jess hoping she would finally get what she wanted after all she has been through.
With the degree of struggles and obstacles that both Jess and Justin have faced it is not surprising to find that this novel is definitely full of emotions. Jess and Justin’s romance begins slowly and is adorable to read but their relationship is not immune to certain factors that lead to it hit a few bumps, some larger than others, along the way. *SPOILERS* Justin’s injuries and how he is a double amputee, having lost both his legs from below the knee due to an IED when he was in Afghanistan, definitely kicks things up a notch on the emotional scale. Not only did it completely surprise me but it also allowed me to look past Justin as someone who has a disability and see him how Jess saw him from the very beginning. By revealing the extent of his injuries a little later in the novel, you are able see him as this guy who is sincere and caring towards Jess and not as someone who lost his legs while overseas in Afghanistan. I really appreciated that reveal because it definitely allowed me to look past what has happened to Justin and focus more on his relationship with Jess.
Despite all this, there were a few things with this book that did not sit right with me. The pacing of the novel felt a little off to me especially when at times it seemed like things happened just a little too fast between Jess and Justin in regards to the unfolding of their relationship. Also, though I am glad of how Justin’s character turned out at the end of the novel, his issues and insecurities reared their ugly head a few too many times to the point that I found him to be a little annoying and just a tad too protective of Jess.

3-out-of-5-stars