Swoon Worthy Spotlights #8

Welcome to Swoon Worthy Spotlights hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Once a month we will feature 1-3 of our favorite books that we have read during the month. We will share the cover(s), our review(s) and a link to each other's post so you can check out which books we have all chosen!

For this month's Swoon Worthy Spotlights I am going to choose...

The Catching Kind by Bria Quinlan

The Proposing Kind by Bria Quinlan

Beauty and the Billionaire Beast by Maria Hoagland

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And don't for get to check Kathy's post here and Katie's post here!

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Do you have a blog and want to join us for Swoon Worthy Spotlights? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting on the last day of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well!

Happy reading my fellow bookworms!

Fate Bound by Madeline Freeman

Synopsis:

A werewolf's first instinct is to protect those weaker than himself. But Jack chose to protect the wrong girl.

After a brutal encounter, Ava awakes to a new life of heightened senses and supernatural speed. But she isn't like other werewolves, and her special qualities put her--and her new family--in unimaginable danger. Her very existence threatens a precarious balance--one that can only be set right by her death.

My Review: 4.5

Ava has been on her own since her father passed away from cancer. She was bounced from foster home to foster home. Now at the age of 19 she's on her own. No family and no friends. 

She's on her way home one night when she is attacked my a mugger. Not wanting to give up the only picture of her and her father that she has, she fights back. Only to be stabbed repeatedly. She can feel herself dying, fading away. 

Out of no where she hears someone approaching her. She looks up and into the most beautiful eyes she has ever seen. She feels drawn to this stranger but can't figure out why. Her only thought is she wishes she would have met him under different circumstances and that she wasn't dying. She can't believe her eyes when she sees this handsome stranger transform right before her eyes. But it can't be. Her mind is playing tricks on her. It has to be. There is no way the stranger turned into a werewolf. 

Jack has been keeping a close eye on Ava. He can't explain it but he just has to be near her as often as possible. When he finds her lying on the ground dying, he is heartbroken. But there's something he can do to save her. He can change her. But to his surprise, she is already changing. He refuses to lose her again so he sends a couple of wolves from his pack to watch over her during her transformation.

Little did any of them know, Ava's transformation is anything but normal. And once she's made the change, their lives will never be the same again. Danger lurks around every corner. They find themselves coming up against enemies and friends, good and bad, happy and sad, trials and triumphs. They will get help from the unlikeliest places and people. 

But through it all, one thing will never change. Jack and Ava will always be there for each other as well as the wolves in their pack. They don't know how, they don't know when, but somehow they will be able to overcome everything. They have to. There is no other option. 

Wow! That is all I have to say! I have been on the hunt for a good urban fantasy that will grab and keep my attention. After a few months of searching, I stumbled upon Fate Bound. I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis and grabbed a sample of the book. And boy am I glad I did! This definitely has a unique storyline that will engage you from the beginning and not let you go till the very end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series! I will need to wait till Friday to start it because I know myself all too well. If I start it now I will want to read way past my bedtime and sneak in reading when I'm supposed to be working! Lol. 

This is my first book by Madeline Freeman and I am looking forward to reading more by her! 

And of course we can't forget my casting. What do you think?!

Content: mild swearing and mild violence. 

And The Winner Is....

Another successful Mystery Box Giveaway has come to an end! I have loved reading all your comments and see all your favorite books of the summer! I will definitely be adding some of those to my TBR list... ;)

I do want to say thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway! I really love being able to do these Mystery Boxes! It seriously makes me happy to give them away!

And now.. the part that I just KNOW you all have been waiting for....

Heidi Madsen Robbins

CONGRATULATIONS!! I will be emailing you for your address and then I will get this shipped out to you very soon! I hope you enjoy it! :)

Oh and P.S. Stay tuned for the next mystery box giveaway! ;)

Wrong Brother, Right Match Sale Blitz!

Two brothers. One Christmas. One matchmaker's mistake…

Wrong Brother, Right Match

Anyone But You #3

Jennifer Shirk

Entangled Bliss

Matchmaking guru Kennedy Pepperdine’s life is perfect. Perfect job. Perfect friends. Perfect boyfriend. Except...when she gets trapped in an elevator with a handsome stranger, she accidentally confesses a secret: maybe her perfect boyfriend, Justin, isn’t so perfect for her after all. But a matchmaker should be able to successfully match herself, right? Thankfully, she’ll never see the handsome stranger again. Until she heads home with Justin for the holidays and learns that the sexy stranger is none other than Justin’s older brother, Matt.

Matt Ellis is trying to be on his best behavior for his mother—it is Christmas, after all. But when he recognizes the beautiful woman from the elevator—the one he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about for months—his best behavior is being held by a thread. Matt’s always sacrificed for his family, and nothing is more important than their happiness, but the more time he spends around Kennedy, the more he wonders if her supposed "right match" might just be the wrong brother.

Praise for Wrong Brother, Right Match

"Wrong Brother, Right Match is basically a Hallmark Christmas Movie in book form and I love it!" - Stephanie's Book Reviews

If you want to be swept away into a sweet read that will keep you glued to the page then this is the book for you. There was just something about this storyline that was the right amount of sweet, romance and fun that made it unputdownable."- The Sub Club Books

 Wrong Brother, Right Match WON the 2017 ©Desert Rose RWA® Golden Quill Contest- Sweet Traditional Category 

EXCERPT

Kennedy grew silent again. She began chewing her bottom lip. His eyes automatically dropped to her mouth, and for the forty-eighth time since being trapped together, he thought about kissing some sense into that anxious brain of hers.

“You’re right.” Her words were so soft, he wasn’t sure she’d spoken them. “He’s wonderful. Really awesome. But honestly…” She gave him a sharp if slightly tipsy look. “I’ve never said this to anyone, so you can’t tell a soul.”

He gave her a droll look. “Who am I going to tell?”

She stared him down for several seconds as if judging his sincerity. “Cross your heart?”

“Cross my heart,” he repeated, making the motion against his chest.

“Okay.” She bit her lip. “It’s just that…sometimes I doubt we’re meant for each other.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I know it’s crazy,” she murmured. “Especially since I can’t afford for my software to be wrong.”

Before he could respond, the lights overhead flickered. Her head whipped up toward the ceiling. “Thank God!” The elated expression on her face reminded him of a child watching fireworks go off. “We’re finally going to get out of here,” she squealed.

“Yeah…awesome.” Matt swallowed hard. He should be happy, too. Why the hell wasn’t he happy? He’d finally be out of this cramped elevator and away from this anxiety-ridden woman with her boyfriend issues. But instead, all he could do was bank down a strange sense of disappointment at the thought of her walking through those elevator doors and him never seeing her again.

He stood first then held out his hand to help her up. Her palm met his, and he tugged just as the elevator began to move again, causing them to lose their balance. His back slammed against the wall, and she fell into his arms.

“Nice catch,” she said with a laugh, obviously still feeling the effects of the champagne.

Matt held on to her, his heart beating wildly. Having her in his arms ignited all kinds of thoughts, all kinds of feelings. Naughty thoughts. Good feelings. His gaze captured hers for a long moment until eventually her smiling face grew serious, too. Then his conscience tapped him on the shoulder.

What the hell do you think you’re doing? it said. You’ve both been drinking. And she has a boyfriend.

He’d always hated his conscience.

“Matt?”

Matt didn’t move. The elevator was going to open soon. They would be free to leave separately or leave together. There was still a choice. Growing up, he had always been the one to toe the line. Do what was right for everyone else in his life. But so help him, he didn’t want to do that this time. Maybe it was the alcohol, but he wanted her. True, the woman had a boyfriend—a neglectful boyfriend—but still, there were rules for that sort of thing, weren’t there? Like what if…

Screw it.

He kissed her.

99 CENTS FOR A LIMITED TIME

Amazon:  http://bit.ly/WBRMsale

B&N:  http://bit.ly/WBRMBN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/WBRMK

IBooks: http://bit.ly/WBRMapple

Jennifer Shirk is the award-winning author of sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Montlake Romance and Entangled Publishing. Her novel SUNNY DAYS FOR SAM won the 2013 Golden Quill Published Authors Contest for Best Traditional Romance. Recently, her novel, FIANCE BY FATE—a 2015 Readers' Crown Finalist—became an Amazon #1 best seller for Series Romance. And recently, WRONG BROTHER, RIGHT MATCH won the

Sweet Traditional category of the 2017 Golden Quill Contest.

She resides in a beach resort in NJ, so when she's not writing or working on her tan, she's taking care of her most treasured possessions: her husband, daughter and puppy (Sox).

Check out her website for News and Links: www.jennifershirk.com

Feel free to friend her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferShirkBooks

And don't forget to join her mailing list for a chance to win free ARCs: eepurl.com/Q6TH1

Beauty and the Billionaire Beast by Maria Hoagland

Synopsis:

Landscape architect Emma Treager is searching for answers to a family mystery. She stumbles across an important clue at the run-down Indio Pointe Plantation where mystery floats through the air like the ghosts of the former owners. She can’t pass up the job that property owner Theo Lambert offers like an enchanted rose, despite his reputation of being a beast of a boss. As the two of them delve into the secrets of the past, Theo and Emma discover that finding clues is almost as much fun as finding each other.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Emma finds herself in Lousiana on the trail of solving her family's mystery and finding their lost treasure. While she has hit deadend after deadend, she refuses to give up. A chance encounter with a handsome stranger has her searching for a plantation called Indigo Pointe. It is not easy to find. But with a little help from the unseen, she discovers it hidden off the beaten path.

From the moment she discovers Indigo Pointe she is intrigued and knows this is the planation that her Opa remembers. Surely she will be able to find all the answers to her questions. But her hope diminishes slightly when she discovers the handsome stranger who came to her aide has a beastly side to him. 

Off to a rocky start, she has to do her best to smooth things over so she can have the chance to solve her family's mystery. What better way than to help the stranger get the grounds of Indigo Pointe looking gorgeous again? She'll have access to look for the clues and she'll play an important role in bringing this piece of history to life. It's a win/win for all involved, right? 

Theo is both intrigued and suspicous of Emma. Either she's one heck of an actress or she has zero clue about their families fued that has been going on for over a century. You know how the saying goes... keep your friends close and your enemies closer. 

But is Emma really an enemy? If he were to believe everything he has been told his entire life the answer would be yes, she is! But there is just something about her that draws him in and has him questioning everything he has been taught.

Working side by side to bring Indigo Pointe back to life has both of them opening their eyes to more than just the beauty and enchantment of the property. It has them looking towards a future together. Both of them are having a hard time seeing life without the other in it. Mystery or no mystery, they are determined to get their HEA together.

Oh how I loved this book! I was quickly swept away with the enchantment of the setting and the mystery. It was easy to picture myself right next to Emma and Theo. I found myself giggling at their antics and the bantering back and forth. Especially when it came to the gnomes! Of how I loved them and thought they were a perfect addition to this enchanting story. And the family treasure was absolutely perfect! I loved it! 

I only have one complaint... the book just ends! I wanted just a little bit more of Emma and Theo and Indigo Pointe! An epilogue would have made this book absolutely perfect in my opinion. You know what they say... when something is good... you always want more! We're selfish like that... ;) Hehe.  

This is my first book by Maria Hoagland and I can tell you that it definitely won't be my last! I am looking forward to reading more by her! :) 

And we all know that my review would not be complete without my casting picks. What do you think?! Pretty amazing, right?! ;) 

Weekend Ramblings #15

Are you ready for another Weekend Ramblings a la KJ?!

Well then... let's get ready to raaaaammmmmbbbbbllllleeeee!!!!!

This week's rambling question is...

*Insta-Love. When does it work and when is it too much?*

This has been an ongoing topic with a few of my bookish friends. Since it has come up a couple of times this week I thought it would be a good topic to discuss.

There are times that I think insta-love can work and other times that it has me rolling my eyes. I am not sure why that is but it is. I guess it would all have to do with the genre I'm reading and the circumstances.

It doesn't seem to bother me when I'm reading fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, etc. But it does bother me when I'm reading any other kind of books. I am not sure why that is. Maybe because with vampires, werewolves, witches, magical settings we can extend our imaginations to have it fit with this kind of world. But when it happens in normal every day life? Nope! It just doesn't work. Well I guess I shouldn't say it doesn't work because as stated above it all depends on the circumstances of the book I am reading.

If I'm reading a book and the hero looks across the room and catches the eye of the heroine and BAM! I love you! Lets get married! Nope... sorry! That does not work for me! But if they meet, feel a connection, spend time together, get to know each other and then start feeling that it could be love and want to explore it more then, yes. I can get behind that. But then again, maybe that's not what everyone considers insta-love? Hmmm... maybe it just needs to be believable in order for it to work?

What are your thoughts? Does it work? Does it not work? Do you lower your rating because of it? What are some books that it worked in for you? Inquiring minds want to know! :)

First Line Friday's #18

Ok party people! It's that time again! First Line Friday's hosted by my amazing friend Kathy over at Bookworm Nation! Are you ready?! 

This week's First Line Friday is:

Beauty and the Billionaire Beast by Maria Hoagland

Landscape architect Emma Treager is searching for answers to a family mystery. She stumbles across an important clue at the run-down Indio Pointe Plantation where mystery floats through the air like the ghosts of the former owners. She can’t pass up the job that property owner Theo Lambert offers like an enchanted rose, despite his reputation of being a beast of a boss. As the two of them delve into the secrets of the past, Theo and Emma discover that finding clues is almost as much fun as finding each other.

FIRST LINE

"The whisper of a breeze shouldn't have been enough to lift the corners of Emma Treager's sketchbook, nevertheless, something disturbed its thick pages and caused her pencil to roll."

I am a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling! It's my favorite fairy tale! While I was trying to figure out which book to read next, I get a text message from my sister. It's a picture of my adorable 6 year old niece holding a picture that she drew for me. What was the picture of? Why Belle and the Beast of course! She knows it's my favorite! So I took that as a sign and decided that this would be my next book. Yes... I just started it today but I am really enjoying it so far! Keep an eye out for my review probably tomorrow... I feel an all nighter coming on! ;)

Do you want to participate in First Line? Yes?! Then tell us what your First Line is! Are you going to do a blog post? Then don't forget to link your post back to Bookworm Nation! Post your link in the comments. Don't have a blog? No worries! Just leave a comment with the title, author name and first line.

Ready?! And GO!

Summer Mystery Box!

Hey party people! What's crack-a-lackin?! Can you believe that it's already the middle of August?! Where did summer go?! I don't know about anyone else but this summer has been crazy! Full of ups and downs for sure! And it has seriously flown by! Do you guys feel like the older you get, the faster time goes?! Or is it just me?! Lol.

Anyway, to celebrate my birthday (really late! lol) and the end of summer it's MYSTERY BOX time! YAY!

How do you enter?! It's easy peasy lemon squeezy! All you have to do is check out the Rafflecopter below and follow the instructions! And don't forget to share the love! Shout it from the rooftops to all your bookish friends! ;)

U.S. residents only.

Good luck and happy reading!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author's Corner #8

Welcome to Author's Corner hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Once a month we will feature either a favorite author or new to us author. We will share the author's bio, one of our favorite books of theirs and a review. Each of us will be featuring a different author each month so there will also be links to each of our posts.

For this month's Author's Corner I am going to choose...

Bria Quinlan

RWA RITA award finalist and USA Today Best Seller Bria Quinlan writes Diet-Coke-Snort-Worthy Rom Coms about what it's like to be a girl and deal with crap and still look for love. She also writes books for teens that take hard topics and make you laugh through your tears. Some people call them issue books. Some people call them romantic comedies. Bria calls them what-life-looks-like. 

Her stories remind you that life is an adventure not to be ignored. You can contact her at www.briaquinlan.com OR on Twitter @briaquinlan.

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Just like last month I cannot tell you how I discovered Bria Quinlan. But again, just like last month, I am SO glad I did! I have loved every single book of hers that I have read! And I can't wait to read more! Ms. Quinlan is extremely talented. She sucks me in from the very beginning and doesn't let me go until the very end. I have laughed out loud, let out little dreamy sighs and just enjoyed every minute I spend in her books! I can't pick just one favorite of hers. So two it is! ;)

Hailey Tate thought she was worth more than a straight flush.

Apparently not.

When camera-shy author Hailey Tate’s agent loses a bet and brokers a deal, it leaves Hailey in the last place she wants to be: backed into the corner of Publicity and Paparazzi. Now, thanks to her girl-next-door image and role as pretend girlfriend to a womanizing short stop, she's getting the attention she always managed to avoid.

Connor Ryan is not only America’s Sexiest Athlete, he’s also the current Bad Boy of Baseball. But when he goes a base too far, management wants to bench him…permanently. One thing he never counted on? Falling for his sweet, fake girlfriend. He’s the guy who can catch anything and now she’s next on his list.

You can check out my review here

Hailey Tate is living the good life: A new book contract, great friends, the man of her—oh, who is she kidding, she never would have dreamed up pro-ball player, Connor Ryan. But somehow, they work. 

So when Connor may or may not have proposed, it's left up to Hailey and her Brew Crew girls figure it all out. Ridiculousness, shenanigans, arguments, and reconciliations ensue…because, Quirky Girl Power! 

But at the end of it all, is Hailey ready to marry America’s Most Eligible Athlete or is time to call a delay on that particular play?

You can check out my review here

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And don't for get to check out Kathy's post here and Katie's post here! 

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Do you have a blog and want to join us for Author's Corner? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting the 2nd Saturday of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well! 

Happy reading my fellow bookworms!

The Proposing Kind by Bria Quinlan

Synopsis:

Hailey Tate is living the good life: A new book contract, great friends, the man of her—oh, who is she kidding, she never would have dreamed up pro-ball player, Connor Ryan. But somehow, they work.

So when Connor may or may not have proposed, it's left up to Hailey and her Brew Crew girls figure it all out. Ridiculousness, shenanigans, arguments, and reconciliations ensue…because, Quirky Girl Power!

But at the end of it all, is Hailey ready to marry America’s Most Eligible Athlete or is time to call a delay on that particular play?

My Review: 5 Stars

First things first... if you have NOT read The Catching Kind then I would NOT suggest reading The Proposing Kind! If you want my personal opinion then I suggest reading the entire series in order. It's fun and super cute! I have loved every book I have read so far! 

And now... on to my review... ;) 

Hailey never imagined she would be dating Mr. Baseball/America's Most Eligible Bachelor, let alone maybe being engaged to him! How does one become maybe engaged?! Leave it to Connor to kind of, sort of, maybe propose and leave Hailey hanging wondering WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?! 

On top of dealing with her maybe proposal, she has to deal with everything changing around her. Like the rest of us, Hailey does not like change and is on the verge of one big panic attack. But there is one constant that she can always count on to ground her and bring everything back into focus... Connor. 

Connor may be one of the major factors causing craziness in Hailey's life, but he is also one of the major factors in making everything in life just fall into place. From the outside looking in, they may not look like they fit into each other's world, but to them, life just wouldn't be complete without the other in it. They just fit. Life may not be full of sunshine and roses, but at the end of the day they have each other to balance and maneuver this crazy thing we call life together. 

*dreamy sigh*

I am not ashamed to admit that I was one of those people who wanted MORE when it came to Hailey and Connor! When I heard that Ms. Quinlan had written a sequel to The Catching Kind, you better believe I snagged it without even reading the synopsis because... Hailey and Connor! Duh! Hehe. This entire series is one the the cutest series I have read and will definitely be rereading them over and over and over again! And I am keeping my fingers crossed for more in this series! I would love to see Dane, Abby and even Gavin get their books! ;) Hehe.

Oh! And I still totally love these two for Hailey and Connor! <3

The Catching Kind by Bria Quinlan

Synopsis:

Hailey Tate thought she was worth more than a straight flush.

Apparently not.

When camera-shy author Hailey Tate’s agent loses a bet and brokers a deal, it leaves Hailey in the last place she wants to be: backed into the corner of Publicity and Paparazzi. Now, thanks to her girl-next-door image and role as pretend girlfriend to a womanizing short stop, she's getting the attention she always managed to avoid.

Connor Ryan is not only America’s Sexiest Athlete, he’s also the current Bad Boy of Baseball. But when he goes a base too far, management wants to bench him…permanently. One thing he never counted on? Falling for his sweet, fake girlfriend. He’s the guy who can catch anything and now she’s next on his list.

My Review: 5 Stars

If there's one thing best selling author Hailey Tate hates, it's being the center of attention. She freezes and doesn't know what to say or do. So when her agent tells her that she lost a bet and Hailey is the prize, she doesn't know whether to run away or just get it over with. 

Connor Ryan is America's Sexiest Athlete and resident Bad Boy of Baseball. "Caught" in one too many compromising positions, his agent tells him he needs to clean up his act or he will be out of baseball for good. So when his agent wins a bet and Hailey is the prize, he doesn't know whether he'll keep his heart or lose it to the spunky, tell it like it is, girl next door, Hailey. 

From the moment Hailey and Connor meet it's dislike at first sight. Neither of them like the position their agents have put them in but know it's for the best for both of them and their careers. So the sooner they can get this fake relationship over and done with, the sooner the both of them can get back to their normal lives. But what happens when dislike turns to like and like turns to... love? Will opposites really attract? Or do Hailey and Connor have more in common then they think?

This book was SO adorable! I loved watching Hailey and Connor's relationship grow. It was definitely believable and I found myself rooting for them from almost the very beginning. Their witty banter, cute arguments and sweet, touching scenes had me letting out little dreamy sighs throughout the book. I can't wait to read The Proposing Kind to see more of Hailey and Connor's HEA!

Brew Ha Ha is definitely a fun series! And I am secretly hoping we'll get another book or two. I would love to see who finally catches Dane! ;) 

It should come as no surprise that Bria Quinlan has been added to my favorite authors list! I can't wait to read more by her!  

And of course we can't forget my casting! What do you think? ;)