Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Swoon Worthy Spotlights #13


Welcome to Swoon Worthy Spotlights hosted by Bookworm NationKatie'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!

Yes... I know I picked more than 3 books (again!) but I just couldn't decide which ones to do! I read some pretty amazing books this month! For this month's Swoon Worthy Spotlights I am going to choose...


Hothouse Flower by Taylor Dean


#Starstruck by Sariah Wilson


The Sidelined Wife by Jennifer Peel


Bargaining with the Boss by Jennifer Shirk



Love's Shadow by Nichole Van

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And don't for get to check Katie's post here and Kathy'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!
Tuesday, January 30, 2018

**Brew Ha Ha Giveaway**


And who doesn't love a GIVEAWAY?! 

One of my favorite authors, Bria Quinlan, is giving away a few ebook copies of her Brew Ha Ha series! And I'm one of the lucky bloggers who gets to give one of those copies away! 

Wait! What?! You haven't heard of the Brew Ha Ha series?! You are definitely missing out! Check out all these fun books! 



THE LAST SINGLE GIRL

The internet gave Sarah her Kate Spade bag and that apartment outside Washington Square. Now maybe it can find her Mr. Right. Internet dating....What could possibly go wrong?

You can check out my review here!

WORTH THE FALL

When Kasey loses her job, her apartment, and her guy in one day she just wants to start a new life and be a guy-free-zone. But, when one thing after another goes wrong, Mr. Right might be the one good thing worth taking a chance on.

You can check out my review here!

THE CATCHING KIND

Hailey thought she was worth more than a straight flush until her agent loses her in a bet. Now she’s stuck being the fake girl-next-door beard for America’s Sexiest Athlete. Are arrogance and good looks a match for this stubborn Quirky Girl?

You can check out my review here!

THE PROPOSING KIND

Connor may have proposed. Or maybe not.
Now it's 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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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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Entering is easy! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below and I will choose a winner on Friday!

Monday, January 29, 2018

1 Day 99 Cent Sale – The Ghost Groom by Jennifer Youngblood


 

  The Ghost Groom by Jennifer Youngblood 

  A tough football player, a devoted sister, and the most difficult choice of all … After a long, painful search that involved legions of duds, Ariana Sanchez, fitness guru and gym owner, finally meets the perfect guy when she least expects it. Not only can Rennen tear up the dance floor, but he has these adorable blonde curls and compelling green eyes, specked with gold. When Ariana’s around him she feels oh, so alive! And the best part is that he’s a perfect gentleman and easy to talk to. Their first encounter leaves Ariana floating on air, thinking there’s hope for her love life after all … until she learns that Rennen is the celebrated rookie who’s taking her brother’s position as starting running back for the Titans. Too bad she’s totally loyal to her brother and has to hate him now! Rennen Bradley, the Ghost, has worked long and hard to get the opportunity to shine as the starting running back. Sure, he feels bad that Ace Sanchez was injured and that he’s taking his place on the team, but that’s how the game rolls. Rennen never expects to fall for Ariana, and it throws him for a loop when he realizes she’s Ace’s sister. But Rennen’s not going to let a simple complication like that come between him and the woman of his dreams. He understands Ariana’s reservations—heck, even admires her loyalty to her brother. But Rennen’s used to waging uphill battles. Abandoned as a child, Rennen learned a long time ago that you have to fight tooth and nail for anything you want in this life. And he wants Ariana, heart, body, and soul! Caught between loyalty and love, will Ariana choose her family or her heart?  

 

 

  Excerpt 

This was getting ridiculous. Justin was more handsy than an octopus. “Stop touching me,” Ariana warned.
He laughed. “Come on, babe. Don’t be so stiff. You know you like it.”
“No, I don’t like it,” she countered. “No one likes being pawed.” Revulsion churned in her gut as his eyes went to her chest. An incredulous laugh bubbled in her throat. Was he really ogling her chest, right here in front of her? What a jerk! As soon as she got home, she was going to contact Heart to Heart and put in a complaint. They really should be more diligent in making sure people were truthful in their profiles. Justin was nothing like he’d pretended to be, and it was obvious he was only after one thing … and it wasn’t a long-term relationship. She tensed, clenching her fists. “Hey, buddy. My face is up here.”
He snorted out a chortle. “Yeah, but you’ve got something else going on down there. For a little girl, you’ve got a nice rack.”
She froze amidst the dancing couples surrounding them. “What did you just say to me?”
He laughed. “You heard me. Lighten up.” He grabbed her waist with an iron grip. “I thought Latin girls were supposed to be loose.”
Her hand balled into a fist, and she thought about how it would feel to knock him across the floor. “I’m going to give you a half a second to let go of me.”
He grunted in amusement. “Make me.”
Heat splintered up her neck, making her feel like her head would split in two. Then cool precision took over as she calculated Justin’s height and weight. The bigger they are … the harder they fall. From the corner of her eye, she saw the blonde guy from earlier approach. “Is everything okay here?” he asked, his body taut, like he was ready to pounce.
“Buzz off,” Justin grumbled. Letting loose a string of curse words.
“Strike three,” Ariana muttered. She shot her arm straight up in a swift motion where it connected with Justin’s neck, right under his jaw line. Then she brought her arm back down, using her weight to knock him off his feet where he landed on his back with a heavy thud. Murmurs rippled through the couples surrounding them as they backed away. Justin gurgled, clutching his neck, a dazed look in his eyes.
Ariana’s hands flew to her hips. “Just because I’m Latin does not make me easy!”
Claps broke out around her. “That’s right,” a few of the women agreed. “Dirt bag,” one woman muttered, shooting Justin a death glare.
As Justin stumbled to his feet, Ariana planted herself in a battle stance, ready to do more damage if necessary. Her adrenaline was going, and she’d make short work of him, putting her training to good use. But luckily for Justin, he ducked his head and scuttled away.
“That has got to be the most awesome thing I’ve ever seen.”
She turned to the blonde guy who was looking at her in astonishment, admiration shining in his eyes. “Thanks. I appreciate you trying to help.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets, rocking forward on the balls of his feet. “Yeah, I was trying to rescue you from that creep … not that you needed my help.”
Ariana’s blood was pumping so ferociously that she felt dizzy.
He gave her a concerned look. “Are you okay?”
A wan smile tipped her lips as she ran a hand through her hair. “Yeah, I guess that date didn’t go as planned.”
He chuckled. “Life rarely does.” He held her gaze, and she felt the same buzz she’d experienced earlier. Everything around them slowed, and it was just the two of them. His voice was deeper than she imagined, with a husky edge. Her eyes traced the definition of the muscles underneath his form-fitting t-shirt. Heat fanned her face when she saw the flicker of amusement that turned his hazel-green eyes a honey-gold. He’d caught her checking him out. She jerked her eyes to his face, making a mental note to keep her focus there. He had a fine layer of scruff, emphasizing the lean line of his jaw. She swallowed, feeling she was staring at the real-life version of Thor and Captain America, all rolled into one. Captain Thor. Or Goldie Locks because of his thick tangles of beautiful curls.
People around them resumed dancing, but the two of them just stood there. Ariana knew she should start dancing … or do something to break the tension, but she couldn’t get her body to cooperate.
He cleared his throat, a grin washing over his face. “Um, maybe we should get off the dance floor.”
“Oh, yeah.” She propelled her feet into action. Her mind whirled, going through all that had just happened. She could hardly believe he’d been the one to offer help. When they got to the side, he motioned to an empty table.
“Would you like to sit down?”
Her voice sounded unnaturally high and screechy in her ears. “Sure.”
He pulled out a chair for her and helped her get seated. Wow. Captain Thor was a gentleman to the nth degree. A startling contrast to Justin.
As they sat there, staring across the table at each other, Ariana scrambled for something halfway intelligent to say. “Thanks again. You’re a great dancer,” she blurted. Sheesh. She was making an idiot out of herself. Normally she was calm and cool around men, always knowing the right thing to say. But it seemed her mouth had disconnected from her brain.
His lips curved into a radiant smile, causing the edges of his eyes to crease. “Thanks. You’re pretty good yourself.”
The compliment caught her off guard, sending warm ripples cascading through her. He’d been watching her too. It was good to know the attraction went both ways.
He leaned forward. “Was that guy your boyfriend?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Heck no!” She laughed. “We’d never met in person before tonight. We were matched on a dating app.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really?”
She felt foolish and a little desperate for resorting to a dating app. Her explanation gushed out. “It’s an app where people in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area can connect. You know, people with similar interests.” She shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea … in theory.” She scowled, darkness gathering inside her. “Of course, I should’ve known better than to go out with a football coach. Note to self … don’t date anymore coaches or football players. Their egos are the size of a whale, their brains the size of a pea, from one too many hits on the field.”
He laughed. “That’s a bit of a blanket statement.”
Her face fell. “Don’t tell me, you’re a football player.” Of course he was. That would be just her luck.
An easy grin stole over his lips. “Well, if I were, I certainly wouldn’t admit it now.”
She pursed her lips together, assessing him. He didn’t seem bothered by her scrutiny. He just sat there, patiently enduring it. “No, you’re not a football player,” she finally said. “I don’t know what you are, but you’re far too intelligent to play football.”
He cocked his head. “So, all football players are stupid? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Nope. Not all of them. Just about ninety percent.”
“So only ten percent are intelligent.” He grinned. “See, I can do math.”
The teasing tone of his voice caused her to smile. “That’s good to know.”
He tsked his tongue. “What turned you against football players?”
“Aside from Justin?” She lifted an eyebrow, waiting for him to respond.
“Yep, aside from him. I mean, he was a douche bag, but the bite in your voice tells me there’s more.”
When her brother Ace first started playing pro ball, Ariana went out with a few players on the team. After about the sixth disaster, she swore off football players altogether. “Experience,” she finally said.
Interest lit his eyes. “Care to elaborate?”
“Not really,” she said loudly, then felt like she was yelling when the music suddenly stopped.
They turned their attention to the guy on stage holding the microphone. “Folks, we’ve got a fun evening lined up, it’s karaoke night!” He pumped a fist in the air as the crowd cheered.
Ariana’s heart dropped. Oh, no!
The emcee looked down at the sheet of paper in his hand. “To start, we have a duet by Ariana and Justin.”
Captain Thor looked at her. “Is everything okay?”
“Not really.” She groaned. “I’m Ariana.”

  

 

  Alternate Ending - After reading The Ghost Groom be sure to download and read the FREE alternate ending written by Cami Checketts & Taylor Hart.

 

$25 Release Day Giveaway Ends March 5, 2018 

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Romance is in the Air – $100 Kick Off Giveaway


– Romance is in the Air –

A Month-Long Celebration of Clean Romance

– February 2018 –




Starting February 1st and running through the entire month of February we will be showcasing 14 fabulous authors. There will be 15 different giveaways, free ebooks and lots of great deals on books.
We’re starting off with a $100 Kick-Off Giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 in Paypal Cash.
Check out this great list of authors we will be spotlighting!








Kimberley Montpetit



Be sure to stop by each week during February to learn about these amazing authors. You definitely don’t want to miss out on all the giveaways! 









Giveaway Details

$100 in Paypal Cash or a $100 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 2/28/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via PayPal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Monday, January 22, 2018

**1 Day 99 Cent Sale** The Trustworthy Groom by Cami Checketts



 

The Trustworthy Groom by Cami Checketts
Hailey Knight has two choices: fall prey to a predator who is out to own her and destroy her football team, or marry a man she’s just met. True, her fake husband can make her quiver with a touch, gets her jokes, and is patience personified, but she knows better than anyone how quickly charm can turn ugly.
Brady Giles has dealt with a sweetheart stalker for two years and has no hope of shaking the annoyance. He steps in to rescue the beautiful and feisty Hailey Knight from a leering idiot and somehow ends up engaged to her.
The marriage is supposed to help them both out of sticky situations, but instead turns into a media hailstorm with lies and attacks coming from all sides. When Hailey falls in love with her fake husband and danger lurks around every corner, she knows it’s time to run, but Brady has never given up on an impossible battle.
 

 

Excerpt
Hailey’s brain scrambled for an out, any out. She put on a fake smile and said, “You don’t know how much I wish I could have dinner with you tonight, but you must not have heard … I’m recently engaged.” She kept a straight face when she wanted to gasp in shock. Where had that come from, and who was she going to claim she was engaged to?
William released her hair and actually took a step back, the scowl on his face ruining all his supposed good looks. “You are?” His eyes strayed to her left hand. She clasped it with her right to hide her naked finger. “To whom?”
A dark-haired man appeared at her table. Hailey dealt with burly football players every day of her life, but this guy’s shape still gave her pause. He was probably around six three and two hundred and fifty pounds. Every inch was muscle, not bodybuilder muscle but lean and functional and covered by smooth, tanned skin. He definitely had some Italian heritage in him as dark and good-looking as he was. Hailey had a strict policy of not checking out her own team’s football players, but she knew every single one of them. This guy wasn’t on her roster.
“Excuse me.” The man’s deep voice washed over her as his dark eyes looked at her with concern then flashed to William with annoyance. “Do you need some help?”
Yes, yes she did. Hailey grasped his arm and cuddled into his side, wrapping her other arm around his waist. “Thank you for coming to check on me, sweetheart.” His body tightened at the way she was trying to manhandle him, impossible to really do as she was almost a foot shorter and less than half his bodyweight, but she needed help, and she needed it now. The solution was so clear. William would back off if she were engaged. He would have to. Then there would be no repercussions on her football team and no coercion to date, and especially not to stay the night with, the slime ball VP.
“Um, sure … anything for you, honey.” The man wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and Hailey had never felt so safe as he gently pulled her close. Safety and reassurance were amazing and unexpected feelings to have at the moment, especially after the fear of William clogging her throat mere seconds ago and the fact that she naturally shied away from well-built men. The emotion of it all made her weak, and she found herself leaning against his muscular chest.
The dark-haired guy glanced down at her and winked. Ooh, he was quick too. She ticked off his positive qualities in her mind—not one of her football brothers, handsome with strong facial features, brown eyes framed with dark lashes, and smart. She might even give this guy a date to prove they were engaged.
“This is my fiancé,” she said to William, inclining her chin with pride.
The man kind of started, but he stayed close to her side as he released her from his hold and stuck his hand out to William. “Brady Giles. Pleasure to meet you …”
Brady Giles? Oh, crap, he was one of her players! He’d recently transferred from New England. He was one of the top cornerbacks in the nation, and they were extremely blessed to get him, but the Brady Giles she’d seen from the sidelines had long, dark wavy hair and a full beard. This guy with the cropped hair and clean shaven model-gorgeous face was a Brady Giles she’d never expected—sharp and way too appealing. What had she done?


 

   

  $50 Release Day Giveaway 
Ends 1/29/18 
Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Finding Beauty in the Beast by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee


Synopsis:

Princess Rose’s fiery temper has kept every potential suitor away—until now. After being spurned and humiliated for the last time, the princess forces every eligible man in the kingdom to present a gift to her under pain of death. The man who brings her the best gift will be chosen as her husband.

When Corbin is summoned to present his gift, he hopes that his simple offering will keep him safely overlooked. All he wants is to return to his quiet life as a common blacksmith, away from forbidding castles and beastly princesses. But love works in mysterious ways, and it all starts with a rose...

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Rose lost her parents when she was only 13 years old. Feeling hurt, angry, abandoned and broken, she hardens her heart towards everyone. She refuses to let anyone get close to her. The hurt and grief of losing her parents was just too much and she refuses to let it happen again. She knows what they call her, she just doesn't care. She's disconnected herself from everyone and does her best to just exist. 

Corbin can't believe his luck. Just as he breaks off his engagement to someone who doesn't love him and moves to the city of Laurel for a fresh start, he discovers that Princess Rose has ordered every eligible bachelor to bring a gift to her Gift Giving Ceremony. The man who brings her the best gift will be her husband and King of Laurel. 

All Corbin wants is to live a quiet life as a blacksmith. His hope is that his simple gift will be overlooked and he'll be able to return back to his life as a commoner. But little did he know that fate had something else in store for him and Rose. 

Thrown into an unknown world, Corbin does his best to balance his old life and his new life. But somewhere along the way, he loses sight of who he truly is. Having to take a good look within, he discovers that he's no better than Rose. If he had really opened his eyes, who would have seen the hurt and vulnerability behind her angry eyes. 

On the path of self discovery, Corbin not only finds out who he is and what he wants, but he will also help Rose discover the person she is meant to be and help her to live again. 

But just as things start looking up, outside forces do their best to tear them apart. Will Rose and Corbin allow past hurts and insecurities to get in the way? Or will they discover that together they can conquer anything that's being thrown at them? Will they continue to be miserable? Or will they both finally get the HEA they deserve?

I am a sucker for a good beauty and the beast retelling. So when I stumbled upon this book on Goodreads, I immediately downloaded a sample. It didn't take me long to go and one click this baby! I was definitely intrigued by the princess being the beast. Once I got started, I took very little breaks and read this book in one day. 

This is my first book by Ms. Peaslee and I've decided that I will definitely need to keep an eye out for other books by her! 

And of course I can't forget my casting! I am loving these two! What do you think?


**Cover Reveal** Veins of Gold by Charlie N. Holmberg


VEINS OF GOLD

A new historical fantasy novel from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Desperate to save her siblings from poverty, a young woman discovers magic fueled by gold . . . and a love for the man who wields it.

Abandoned by their father for the gold rush, Gentry and her siblings labor to survive alone in the inhospitable west. When bizarre natural disasters begin wreaking havoc on the land, Gentry discovers a world of magic. Desperate for help, she accepts aid from a mysterious stranger.

Winn not only sees the magic, but controls its hunger by feeding it gold—the very thing Gentry’s father left to acquire. But the earth’s unrest only grows worse, and Gentry’s fear leads her to a terrible choice: marry a wealthy man she does not love, or trust in Winn’s unpredictable power to save her family.

Release date: July 17, 2018

Amazon pre-order link for VEINS OF GOLD: http://a.co/5A8rRlW

Goodreads link for VEINS OF GOLD: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37839111

About the Author


Charlie Nicholes Holmberg was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to two parents who sacrificed a great deal to give their very lazy daughter a good education. As a result, Charlie learned to hate uniforms, memorized all English prepositions in alphabetical order, and mastered the art of Reed-Kellogg diagramming a sentence at age seven. She entered several writing contests in her elementary years and never placed.

Being a nerd, Charlie started writing fan-fiction as a teenager in between episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She became a full-fledged band geek with mediocre talent in high school, where she met her husband Jordan Holmberg. While she strove to win his attention by baking him cookies and throwing ramen noodles at his house, he didn't actually ask her out until six years later.

Charlie began taking writing seriously during her undergrad at Brigham Young University, where she majored in English and minored in editing. She finally won a few writing contests. She graduated with her BA in 2010 and got hitched three months later. Shortly afterwards, her darling husband dragged her to Moscow, Idaho, where he subsequently impregnated her.

In summer 2013, after collecting many rejection letters and making a quilt out of them, Charlie sold her ninth novel, The Paper Magician, and its sequel to 47North with the help of her wonderful agent, Marlene Stringer. Someday she will own a dog.

(Did she mention her third book, The Master Magician, totally made the WSJ bestseller list? Because it totally made the WSJ bestseller list.)

Charlie is also a board member for the Deep Magic ezine of science fiction and fantasy. Learn more at deepmagic.co.

Other Books by Charlie N. Holmberg:

The Paper Magician
The Glass Magician
The Master Magician
The Plastic Magician
Followed by Frost
Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet
The Fifth Doll
Monday, January 15, 2018

The Sidelined Wife by Jennifer Peel


Synopsis:

She’s getting back in the game, one blog post at a time.

Samantha Higgins never thought driving her husband’s car would forever change her life. But one conversation later, heard through his Bluetooth, and Samantha is changing her last name. While trying to figure out who Samantha Decker is, she writes what she thinks is one final post on her blog, announcing her divorce. When the post goes viral, she finds herself with a new title, The Sidelined Wife, and an unbelievable following.

To make matters more interesting, her younger brother’s best friend, Reed Cassidy, who was a thorn in Samantha’s adolescent side, moves back to town as the new head football coach for her son’s high school team. Unbeknownst to Samantha, Reed has harbored a crush for his old babysitter all these years. But, Samantha isn’t keen on dating anyone, much less a younger man that used to booby trap her bedroom with firecrackers.

While Samantha is doing her best to learn and even make up some of the rules of single life and being a semi-celebrity, Reed comes in and changes the game. Now Samantha must decide if she should get back on the field or if she prefers the sidelines.

My Review: 5 Stars

Divorced. Samantha never would have thought her marriage would end in a divorce. But it has. Her ex-husband is off having a baby with another woman. For 19 years she has been Samantha Higgins, wife and mother. But now she's Samantha Decker, mother. It's time to pick herself back up, figure out who she is meant to be and bring light and laughter back into her's and her son, Cody's life.

She needs an outlet. A place to let all her hurt, anger, frustration, disappointment, fear and loneliness go. She will beat this and she will become better for it. She turns to her blog to post what she thinks is her last post. It's time to end one book and start a new story.

But something terrifyingly wonderful happens. Her favorite author shares her blog post and she has gone viral. She can't believe the outpouring of love, encouragement and comradery she has received. It saddens her that there are so many women out there who have gone through what she is. Maybe being The Sidelined Wife will not only give her the outlet she needs but also allow her to be a voice for all those who are going through the same thing.

As if she doesn't already have enough on her plate, life decides to add more. Enter Reed Cassidy. Her younger brother's best friend and kid she used to babysit. Reed has been in love with Samantha since he was 13 years old. Now that they're older and she's divorced, maybe he'll actually have a chance with her. But will she ever look at him and see the man he has become? Or will she always see him as the kid she used to babysit?

Samantha has no desire to date... ever again. What she needs the most is a friend. Someone that she can talk to and be herself with. Reed proves to be just that. But somewhere along the way she starts falling for him. It may have been those spine-tingling kisses, or their clandestine meetings, or the shoulder he freely offers for her to cry on. Whatever it is has their feelings for each other growing.

However, the closer they get, the more scared Samantha becomes. What will Cody think? Would he be okay with her dating his coach? And what about her family? She can't get involved with her younger brother's best friend! It will never work! Her first marriage ended because her husband cheated, who's to say that Reed wouldn't cheat as well? Life will be safer for all involved if she just stayed single.

But life would also be miserable. Can she take that leap of faith and give Reed a chance? She owes it to herself, Reed and Cody to figure out if there's a happily ever after in their future.

Oh how I loved The Sidelined Wife! I knew from the moment I started it that it would be an emotional rollercoaster! It was beautiful, tragic, hilarious, perfect and did I mention beautiful?! I laughed, I cried, I growled in frustration, let out little dreamy sighs and loved every single minute of it! I absolutely adore Samantha and Reed! And that epilogue... *dreamy sigh* You guys are going to LOVE it!

I have to say that this is a perfect start to what I know will be an amazing series! I am SO excited! I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

I know I say this all the time but Ms. Peel has done it again! I absolutely love all her books! There is a reason she is one of my favorite authors. If you haven't read any of her books that you are seriously missing out!

Let's all just take a moment and stare at this casting... aren't they perfect?! I absolutely LOVE these two! *dreamy sigh*


*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.*

Bargaining with the Boss by Jennifer Shirk


Synopsis:

Kinsley just wanted to have some fun for a change. Then she wakes up in a stranger's bed, with her bridesmaid dress on backward and a hazy memory of what happened at her friend's wedding. With a quick escape, she can get back to her predictable life. But then she meets her new boss—the same guy she'd woken up next to—and seeing him with a clear head doesn't make him any less attractive.

Mixing business with pleasure has never been Damon's style, and easily avoided, but the hotel he just bought comes with an unexpected perk—its manager. "Sensible" Kinsley today is as alluring as "impulsive" Kinsley was the night before, and she talks him into a deal. If she can turn around the hotel by the end of summer, he won't tear it down to put up more profitable condominiums.

Their plan is simple…until falling for each other becomes more than they bargained for.

My Review: 5 Stars

Kinsley has had a rough couple of years. With the passing of her father, her fiance calling off their wedding because she's too "sensible", and now her family's hotel being sold out from under her, she's in need of a little impulsive behavior. 

So when the hottie from her friend's wedding reception starts chatting with her she decides to throw caution to the wind and allow him to buy her a drink or two. With a little liquid courage, she finds herself relaxing and letting loose. So what if she ends up kissing a perfect stranger... she's "impulsive" Kinsley tonight! And did I mention that he's a total hottie?!

But when she wakes up the next morning in a hotel room, with said hottie from the night before, "sensible" Kinsley makes an appearance and makes a mad dash to get the heck out of dodge! Little did she know that "impulsive" Kinsley from the night before had opened a big ol' can of worms!

From the moment Damon first saw Kinsley at the wedding reception, he was instantly drawn to her. There was a sadness in her eyes that he's all too familiar with. What's the harm in having a little fun? But they're both in for the shock of their lives. Kinsley meet Damon... your new boss. Damon meet Kinsley... your new General Manager for the hotel you just bought. 

Business. It's not personal, It's business. But with Kinsley begging Damon for a chance to turn the hotel around and his dad and the board pushing Damon to sell, he's torn. He doesn't want to disappoint either one of them, but he knows eventually he will. Time. Damon just needs to buy a little time for Kinsley to work her magic and prove to his dad that he's not the failure he seems to think he is. 

But when outside forces start rearing their ugly heads, trying to ruin the plans Damon has set in motion, he will have to choose. Business or his own happiness and love. Can he just walk away from Kinsley and move on with his life? Or will he stay and fight for happiness and love? He's never seen himself as a happily ever after kind of guy. But from the moment he laid eyes on Kinsley, he's never wanted something so bad in his life... even if he didn't see it at first. 

*dreamy sigh* 

What a great start to a fun new series! I have a feeling I know who the other books are going to be about and I can't wait! If you are looking for a book that can make you laugh out loud, let out little dreamy sighs and have you cheering for love to win then this book is definitely for you! 

Have I mentioned before how much I love Ms. Shirk's books?! If not, then allow me to tell you now... I love her books! She's another one that can suck me in from the very beginning and I end up devouring her books in one sitting! And if you haven't guessed... I love it when that happens! 

As for my casting... I have to admit I saw these two from the very beginning! I love them! 


Content: Mild swearing and mild-moderate innuendo. 

*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.*

#Starstruck Blog Tour and Giveaway!




“You’ve done better.”

With one uncharacteristically sassy tweet to her longtime celebrity crush, Zoe Miller’s life turns upside down. Ultra hot A-lister Chase Covington doesn’t just respond to Zoe’s tweet, he does the unthinkable: he messages Zoe directly. Now she must decide between walking away or meeting her crush in person.

Chase knows better than to trust anyone from the Internet, but Zoe’s saucy challenge has totally caught his interest—and her girl-next-door personality is keeping it. He’s been burned enough to know he needs to keep his heart close. But his feelings for Zoe might be a lot more than just an online flirtation. He just has to convince her…

When the press gets wind of Zoe and Chase’s secret relationship, their romance turns into tabloid headlines. Will they be able to hold on to their Hollywood love story?

Click here to read my review!

Book Links:

#Starstruck Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35995497-starstruck
#Starstruck Amazon buy link: http://a.co/hiB5NbL

Author Bio:


Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

Sariah's book ROYAL DATE was selected as one of the first winners in Amazon's Kindle Scout program and is Kindle Press's most successful author to date. She has sold five books to Montlake Romance, three to Kindle Press and helped launch Amazon Publishing's Kindle In Motion technology with her latest release, ROYAL DESIGN. She was given her own Kindle World for THE ROYALS OF MONTERRA. Sariah has repeatedly hit Amazon's overall Top 100 (both in and outside the U.S.) and been a #1 bestseller on Amazon category lists multiple times. Her books have been featured in USA TODAY and GLAMOUR UK.

Connect with Sariah:

Sariah’s Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6471623.Sariah_Wilson

Sunday, January 14, 2018

#Starstruck by Sariah Wilson


Synopsis:

“You’ve done better.”

With one uncharacteristically sassy tweet to her longtime celebrity crush, Zoe Miller’s life turns upside down. Ultrahot A-lister Chase Covington doesn’t just respond to Zoe’s tweet, he does the unthinkable: he messages Zoe directly. Now she must decide between walking away or meeting her crush in person.

Chase knows better than to trust anyone from the Internet, but Zoe’s saucy challenge has totally caught his interest—and her girl-next-door personality is keeping it. He’s been burned enough to know he needs to keep his heart close. But his feelings for Zoe might be a lot more than just an online flirtation. He just has to convince her…

When the press gets wind of Zoe and Chase’s secret relationship, their romance turns into tabloid headlines. Will they be able to hold on to their Hollywood love story?

My Review: 5 Stars

Zoe and her best friend, Lexi, have been in love with Chase Covington since they were 12 years old. For years he's been that dream that was always and forever out of reach. So imagine Zoe's surprise when one sassy tweet from her gains a reply from Chase. Did he really just acknowledge her for all the world to see?! And is he really carrying on a conversation with her through Twitter?! She just can't believe it! But through all her excitement a nagging voice in the back of her mind informs her that there is no way Chase Covington would even look twice at someone like her.

When Zoe calls Chase out in a tweet, he can't help but be intrigued by her. Never has anyone ever disagreed with anything he said or did. He's Chase Covington and everyone, including his own mother, is always out to get something from him. So when someone like Zoe comes along, he finds her refreshing. Finally. Someone who is real and is not afraid to tell it like it is. Call him crazy but fate seems to be working in his favor.  

Is this really happening?! Is Zoe really hanging out with and getting to know Chase?! It just seems too good to be true! With everything so new, she doesn't want anything or anyone messing up what little chance she might have with Chase. Thank goodness for that NDA she had to sign. Now she legally CAN'T tell anyone about her and Chase. When it's just the two of them, it's easy to get lost in the moment. But when they are not together, guilt for lying to her best friend and family slowly starts eating away at her. Soon. She will tell them soon. She just needs a little more time with Chase. She's not ready to come out of their bubble and face the real world. 

But when information about their secret relationship is leaked to the press, everything starts to unravel around her. She's losing not only Chase but her best friend as well. How can something so amazing cause so much pain and anguish?! She loves Chase with all her heart and would never do anything to jeopardize what they have together. But Chase doesn't believe her. Everyone else around him is always using him to get whatever they want. What makes Zoe any different? 

Broken and alone, Zoe does her best to pick herself up and move on. But without Chase in her life, everything feels wrong. And she's not the only one that notices it. Chase has been miserable since their breakup. Things were said in the heat of the moment that can't be taken back. He didn't mean what he said. He knows that Zoe would never do anything to hurt him or use him. He has to earn her trust back. He has to win HER back. He doesn't know how he's going to do it, but he's determined to make Zoe his once again. She needs to be back in his life where she belongs. Never, ever underestimate a man in love... you will lose.. Every. Single. Time!

*dreamy sigh* 

Oh. My. Gosh! You guys! Drop whatever you are reading right now and grab this book! I just can't tell you how much I loved it! It was SO good! And that ending! How perfect was THAT?! I have to tell you that I kept getting mad when real life got in the way  of my reading time! I did NOT want to stop reading to be an adult! I mean come on! Who wants to be an adult when you could be reading #Starstruck?! I can tell you right now that I will definitely be reading this book over and over again! 

Ms. Wilson did such an AMAZING job of sucking me into her book! I did NOT want to put this one down! I really need to check out more books by her! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

And of course we need a casting! I saw these two pretty much from the beginning. Aren't they perfect?! *dreamy sigh*


*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.*
Saturday, January 13, 2018

Author's Corner #13


Welcome to Author's Corner hosted by KJ's Book NookKatie's Clean Book Collection and Bookworm Nation! 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...



Crystal received her bachelor of arts from Messiah College in PA, married her exact opposite in upstate NY, and earned her master of arts from Regent University in VA, where she currently resides with her husband, David.

She writes modern clean romances with humor, broken characters, and emotional plots full of grace and hope. Her popular Home In You series includes Write Me Home, a 2017 RONE Award finalist, and Begin Again, a 2017 Readers' Favorite Gold Award winner. When not working her accounting day job, she's delving into the wonder of words, supporting her Starbucks habit, or laughing over movie quotes with her husband.

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I've been trying to figure out how I discovered Crystal Walton and it was either from a couple of my bookish friends or the Swoony Awards. Either way I am SO glad I found her! She is a pretty amazing author! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! But until then... allow me to share with you one of my all time favorite books of hers! 


Three weeks. That’s all the time self-made billionaire Cooper Anderson has to respond to discovering he’s a single dad, sell his lake house, and catch a one-way ticket across the world. The quick-witted nanny responding to his ad couldn’t be more of a life saver … and maybe a nice distraction. Until the secrets she’s hiding get a little too close to exposing his own. 

The one lead guaranteeing Quinn Thompson a promotion just has to land her back in her hometown to finagle an interview out of Mr. Elusive, of all people. But she can hack it, right? Even while mistaken for the nanny, she can keep things quick and professional. No running into her embarrassing southern family, no stirring up the wounds that’d sent her packing four years ago, and definitely no melting over a stockbroker’s unfair dimples and boyish charm. 

Why, oh, why doesn’t anything ever go according to plan? 

With both their deadlines closing in before they’re ready, Quinn and Cooper must decide whether the life they’re set on pursuing alone is worth more than the one they could be missing together.

You can check out my review here.

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And don't for get to check out Katie's post here and Kathy'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!
Wednesday, January 10, 2018

2018 Swoony Awards!


What are the Swoony Awards?

The Swoony Awards are a reader’s choice award recognizing excellence in clean secular, wholesome romance. We wanted a way to show our appreciation to these awesome authors who write the kind of books that we love. It’s also a great way to find new books and a good go-to when looking for something fun to read.

What books are eligible for a Swoony Award?

-ONLY books PUBLISHED December 1, 2017 – November 30, 2018 are eligible.
-Books must be published OR have arc reviews before nomination. Since the award is based on readers having actually read and enjoyed the book(s) they are voting for, the book has to have been published or arcs read in order to receive votes.
-Intimacy: No sex, no/low closed door/fade-to-black, no/low innuendo, nothing crude or crass. G-PG13.
-Language: None/mild (No F words or other explicit language) nothing overly crude.
-Violence: Mild/low.
-Page Count: 100 pages or higher, anthologies are okay. No short stories.
-Age: Only Young Adult, New Adult and Adult. NO children’s or middle grade.
-Religious: No Christian fiction, some *very mild* religious elements may be allowed.

*non-Goodreads votes can be submitted here: https://tinyurl.com/y9lrm6hh ... since these votes won't show on this list, the Goodreads rankings won't reflect votes that have come in via the external link.


On Goodreads, you can vote for up to 100 books on the list. Books will be added throughout the year so be sure to check back often and vote whenever you finish and love a book. Voting ends December 31, 2018.

Where do you vote for the Swoony Awards? 

On Goodreads! If you don't have an account it is really easy to sign up for one! And it's an AMAZING place to keep track of which books you have read, which books you want to read and of course see all kinds of reviews on books!

For those of you who are not on Goodreads, we have created a Google form for you to fill out! Click here to go directly to the form!

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We are SO excited for this year's Swoony Awards! You can click here and go straight to our list! Head on over, check out the list and if there are any books on there that you have read and LOVED then make sure you VOTE! If you have read a book that is eligible but has not been added yet then make sure you VOTE to add it to the list for everyone to see! But make sure you check the entire list before voting. Again, please make sure to DOUBLE check the eligibility before voting! 

One last thing...

Note to Authors:

If you’ve written a book that matches the above criteria fill free to nominate it for a Swoony! We have been told that authors cannot nominate their own books on Goodreads so please visit our Google form to nominate it. You can also help bring awareness to your nomination. We are doing some promoting, but sometimes a newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or blog post directly from the author is the best way to let your fan base know your book has been nominated and help it get all the votes it can get.

Note to Voters:

This is a great way to let authors know you appreciate all their hard work. You can vote for up to 100 books on the Goodreads list. We’ve also learned that the order you rank the books you vote on does affect the overall score of the book. So take a minute and make sure you have your books in the order you want them. Invite your friends to vote! Voting ends December 31, 2018.

So what are you waiting for?! Let's show all these AMAZING authors how much we love them AND their books! Ready?! GO VOTE!