Silver Star by Lisa Swinton

Synopsis:

Her cowboy might just be another broken-heart ballad waiting to happen…

Country superstar Sara Silver has it all: fame, fortune, and a mantel full of Grammys. She also has a string of chart-topping heartbreak songs to go with them—all based on her miserable love life. Now her manager says Sara doesn’t sing with the heart she used to. If she doesn’t come up with another hit album soon, then her label will move on to the next big thing.

Sara heads to a ranch in Wyoming to get back to her country roots and rediscover herself. To keep the press away, she hides her identity and is determined to let nothing distract her. Then she meets Cal: tall, brooding, and all cowboy. Sara falls for Cal and the quiet ranch life, but with each song she writes her time there draws to a close.

Sara will have to choose between the country stars of Nashville or the glittering stars of a Wyoming sky…unless she can find a way to have both.

My Review: 5 Stars

Ever since her mom passed away, Sara Silver has been a shell of a human being. Going through the motions and doing whatever anyone tells her to do. She keeps to herself and refuses to let anyone get too close to her. She's no longer living... just existing.

Determined to rediscover herself, Sara loads up her old red truck and heads to Wyoming. She's determined to figure out the next step in her life and she can't afford any distractions. Enter in the handsome cowboy, Cal Jamieson and his adorable 4 year old daughter, Stella. 

After losing his wife 3 years ago, Cal is no stranger to heartache. When he first meets Sara, he thinks she's a towner.. just there visiting the ranch for a week. But when he discovers she's there for an undetermined amount of time, he doesn't know what to think. He does his best to stay away from her but the more time she spends with Stella, the harder it becomes to hold her at arms length. It takes some time, but they slowly start to fall in love. 

But when Sara feels her time on the ranch coming to an end, she will have to decide what she really wants. Can she see her life without Cal and Stella in it? Can she see her life without music in it? The answer to both questions is no... she can't. But how is she going to balance a family and her career? And will Cal even go for it? She's come this far and she refuses to let go. She'll just have to go all in and have faith that it will all work out the way it's meant to be and they'll be able to find their HEA. 

*dreamy sigh* 

I absolutely adored Sara, Cal and of course little Stella, who stole my heart from the very beginning! The setting and story line were perfect! I'm not going to lie... I was worried that drama would abound once Cal figured out who she was but I was pleasantly surprised with how that all worked out. It was seriously perfect and made me love Cal even more!

This is my very first book by Ms. Swinton and I can tell you it won't be my last! Can't wait to read her other books!

And we just cannot forget my casting! *dreamy sigh* I really do love these two! What do you think?

Content: Mild violence. Attempted rape. Swoony kisses. 

Hothouse Flower by Taylor Dean

Synopsis:

I loved Jace Faraday with all my heart. I loved everything about him, from his huge smile to his fabulous laugh. Another man never caught my eye. It was always Jace and Shay, together forever.

Until it wasn’t.

He devastated me, he ruined me. I’ve never gotten over it.

But, I’m a survivor. I’m not a precious flower that can only thrive if kept safe from the perils of the outside world.

Except now Jace has returned home. He’s just across the street from me, so close I swear I can actually feel his presence.

I can’t avoid him forever. At some point I have to face him. And when I do, I know sparks will fly.

To redeem himself for his past actions, I need major remorse. I need a profuse apology and maybe even a little begging for forgiveness. I won’t settle for anything less.

However, when the truth behind our break-up is revealed, I’m stunned. It leaves me reeling—and yearning for the six years that have been lost to us.

The thing is, once the truth is known, there’s nothing to keep us apart.

Absolutely nothing.

(Dear Reader: This book deals with a sensitive issue.)

My Review: 5 Stars

Shay and Jace, Jace and Shay. They have loved each other all their lives. They had their whole life together planned out. They had their hopes and dreams. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that they would live happily ever after. 

But sometimes life has a way of knocking you off your perfectly planned out path. No one ever saw it coming. Devastated and broken, they do their best to live their lives apart and try to move on.

Six years. It has been six years since the last time they saw each other. Six years since Jace broke her. And now he's moving back home to help out his Mom. He'll be right across the street from her and there's no way she'll be able to avoid him. One look at him and she knows she's in trouble. She still desperately loves him and probably always will. If only he'd apologize for his actions, beg for her forgiveness, confess that he still loves her too. Maybe, just maybe they'd still have a chance. 

But beware, things aren't always what they seem. Life may have knocked them off their path, but fate has a way of bringing them back together. Time. They have lost so much time. It has been stolen from them and they are never going to be able to get it back. But that just means they will have to treasure all of their time together. 

They have a long road ahead of them and it's not going to be easy. But as long as they are together, they can weather any storm. They have been ripped apart once, but their love has brought them back together. 

Shay and Jace, Jace and Shay. Together Forever. There is nothing in this world that can tear them apart again. Their love for each other grows stronger every day. And they will live happily ever after. 

*dreamy sigh* 

All I can say is wow! Just WOW! Once I started this book, I could not put it down! I devoured it in one sitting! I have been dying to read Shay and Jace's story since Stone Silence and I am happy to announce that it was worth the wait! 

Oh how I love these two! They are perfect for each other! I fell in love with Jace from their first meeting after 6 years! And the way he took to little Brit melted my heart and had me rooting for their HEA! SO adorable!

I do have to admit that I was a little hesitant to read this book because of the sensitive issue warning. But I should have known I had nothing to worry about. This IS a Taylor Dean book after all. She does an amazing job of touching on sensitive subjects and bringing awareness to it without it taking away from the rest of the story. 

I'm not going to lie.. I'm kind of sad that this series is over! It is such an amazing series and one that I encourage everyone to read! I know for a fact that I will be reading these books over and over and over again! 

Ms. Dean is an amazing author! She has been on my favorite authors list from the first book of hers I ever read. If you haven't read any of her books then you are definitely missing out! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

And of course I cannot forget my casting! I absolutely LOVE these two! What do you think?! 

March 2018:

*dreamy sigh* I can't express how much I LOVE this series! It is SO good! Shay and Jace's story is the perfect ending to an AMAZING series! I can already tell you that I will definitely be reading these books over and over and over again!

January 2019:

It says a lot about an author when they can suck me in over and over and over again each time I reread one of their books. I devoured this series in a couple of days and I still LOVE it! I'm looking forward to rereading it again... probably next year... ;) 

All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle

Synopsis:

While on vacation at McLeod Castle in Scotland, Gwen Mackenzie has nightly dreams of an ancient warrior bound by a curse. During the day, she sees Niall, nicknamed #ScottishBoyfriend. She clicks a few selfies with him in the background. Oh, and can that man rock a kilt! As she gets to know him, she realizes that Niall is the warrior from her dreams, cursed to live as a ghost for the past five hundred years, to see life around him but never see, taste, or feel any of it—except Gwen.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

From a young age, Gwen has been plagued with nightmares about a warrior who has been cursed to live as a ghost. She could never make out faces in her dreams but she knew that she had to be the one to save him. Her parents realized that the nightmares would get worse whenever they would vacation in Scotland. They ended up cutting their vacation short one year and never returned. 

When Gwen inherits her ancestral home in Scotland, she decides to take a vacation there to see if she has what it takes to move across the ocean to open up a Bed and Breakfast. The first night she is there, the nightmares come back. But she still can't see the faces. It isn't until she sees and meets Niall that everything starts falling into place. 

Niall has been cursed to live in stasis, only awakening every 10 years for 10 days. It has been 500 years since he's tasted, smelled or touched anything. No one can see him. But the moment he sees Gwen, he starts to feel different. He can't explain it but he's drawn to her and wants to protect her. When he realizes that she can actually see him, he has hope that this might be the year he's released from the curse. 

While getting to know each other, Gwen and Niall try to figure out a way to break the curse. Niall is all for it, until he realizes what Gwen might have to sacrifice in order to free him. He's come to care for her too much and refuses to let her do it. But Gwen knows, in her heart, what needs to be done. All they can hope for is they will both be alive in the end. 

*dreamy sigh* 

I know I am late to the party but you guys! I adored this book! It was so good! I was sucked in from the beginning and would get mad whenever I would have to put the book down and attend to real life stuff. Gwen and Niall were amazing! I loved these two together! :) 

For those of you who know me, know that I have a hard time when it comes to novellas. But I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised! This book did not feel like a novella at all! And bonus! It had an epilogue! I love it when that happens! Haha. 

This is my first book by Jo Noelle and I'm definitely looking forward to checking out more of their books! 

And can we just take a minute to look at my casting... *dreamy sigh* I love these two! 

The Unwanted Suitor by Michelle Pennington

Synopsis:

When Cornelia Greystock received a proposal from Sir James Hawkston, she couldn’t bear it. It had been inspired, she knew, from pity and remorse—not love. Unable to face him afterward, she leaped at an offer of employment from the Countess, Lady Du’Breven. Serving as her companion, Cornelia struggles to adjust to the change in her social status, but the hard work distracts her from her broken heart. That is, until the Countess decides to hold a summer house party at her family estate and invites Sir James.

Sir James has never recovered from his disappointment when Miss Greystock refused his proposal and then fled, according to her family, to live with an unheard-of aunt in Ireland. When he grudgingly accepts an invitation to Lady Du’Breven’s house party, however, he is astounded to find Miss Greystock there. One thing is certain—this time he’ll court her the way he always should have. He is almost certain she returns his feelings, but he must tread carefully. If she refuses his proposal a second time, it would not be gentlemanly to ask a third. As time grows short and she continues to hold him at arms-length, will he find a way to at last win her hand?

My Review: 5 Stars

Miss Cornelia Greystock has secretly been in love with her neighbor, Sir James Hawkston for a long time. She did not think that she would ever catch his eye, so she set her sights on his younger brother. But when Timothy professed himself to be in love with her, Sir James made arrangements for him to be betrothed to a wealthy heiress from Bath and ruined her hopes of marriage. So imagine Cornelia's shock when Sir James proposes to her out of pity. She turns him down and flees her home, unable to face him every day. 

She finds herself employed as a companion to Countess Du'Breven. Struggling to adjust to her new social standing, she throws herself into her work in hopes that someday her broken heart will heal. When the Countess decides to throw a summer house party, Cornelia finds herself splitting the duties of hostess with her. While reading the names of who'll be attending, Cornelia is shocked to see Sir James' name on the list. She will need to do her best to keep her feelings from showing. He cannot know that she still loves with him. 

Sir James Hawkston does not know what in the world possessed him to say yes to attending Countess Du'Breven's summer house party. He's still trying to recover from his rejected proposal. He can't believe how bad he messed everything up. When he arrives at Somerstone, he's shocked to see that Cornelia is employed with the Countess and not off living with some distant aunt like he was told. 

Things are starting to look up for Sir James. Now he'll have a second chance at courting Cornelia and showing her just how much he loves her. But with her new social standing, it's not going to be easy. He'll have to convince her that being a Lady's companion is not what life has in store for her. She deserves a happily ever after and he won't stop until he gives it to her.  

*dreamy sigh* 

Oh my gosh! You guys! I absolutely LOVED The Unwanted Suitor! I was sucked in from the very beginning and devoured it in just a couple of hours! I adored both Cornelia and James. They were perfect for each other! I did NOT want the book to end! I knew going in that it was a novella but I was secretly hoping it would magically turn into a full length novel! A girl can dream, right?! If you're looking for a cute, fun afternoon read and are a fan of regency, then I highly recommend this one! You can thank me later... ;) 

This was the first book in the Regency House Party Somerstone series and I already know I will be reading the other books! I want to know what other scheming the Countess Du'Breven has been up to! 

Ms. Pennington has quickly become a favorite of mine! I'm definitely looking forward to what she has in store for us next!

And my review just wouldn't be complete without my casting! I adore these two! What do you think?!

Autumn's Embrace by Laura D. Bastian

Synopsis:

The last thing Abby wants to do is clean out her great-aunt’s house that she just inherited, but she needs to get it ready to sell. It doesn’t help that the arrogant man she met in town happens to be her new neighbor.

Luke can’t believe the little girl who’d followed him around when she’d stayed with his mother’s old neighbor has grown up to be such a beautiful and feisty woman.

As Luke helps Abby remodel the old home to get it ready to sell, he comes to realize she might just be what he was missing from his life. Can the two of them give up their dreams to build something better together?

My Review: 4 Stars

The last thing Abby Sherman expected was to inherit her Aunt Beverly's house in Maryland after she passes away. She has fond memories of the house and her old neighbors, but she can't see herself living there. She's definitely a California girl and there isn't anything in Maryland that could change her mind. Her only option is to fix it up and sell it. Who would've ever guessed that fixing up the old house could change her life forever. 

After his mom's accident, Luke Morison moves back home temporarily to help her out and make sure that she doesn't over do it. He has definitely missed the quietness of his hometown and is enjoying being back. While shopping at the mercantile one day, he literally runs into the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. There's something about her that intrigues him and draws him in. But when she doesn't respond to his flirting ways, he tries to put her out of his mind. 

While mowing his neighbors lawn, Luke is shocked to see the beauty from the mercantile standing on the porch yelling at him. He soon realizes that the woman standing before him is none other than little Abby Sherman, the girl who used to follow him around when they were kids. 

When Luke hears what Abby's plans are for the house, he offers his help to fix it up and then get it listed. Luke realizes that his feelings for Abby are growing stronger and he can see she's starting to feel the same way. But she's determined to get the house fixed up and sold so she can get back to her life California. He'll have to do everything in his power to show her that life in Maryland can be just as good as life in California. Abby soon finds herself wondering... is her life really back in California or is it in Maryland with Luke?

*sigh* This was such a cute book! I really enjoyed watching the relationship between Abby and Luke grow from friends into something more. There was no insta-love here. While the attraction was there pretty early on, they didn't rush into anything. They took their time getting to know each other and this helped to make the relationship feel real. 

I had been thinking about this series the last few weeks wondering when the next book would be released. I was checking my email the other day and in an author's newsletter there was a link to Autumn's Embrace! I quickly went and grabbed my copy! This is definitely a cute series. I am looking forward to the next book!

This is the only series I have read by Ms. Bastian. I'm looking forward to checking out more of her books. :) 

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

Kiss of the Spindle by Nancy Campbell Allen

Synopsis:

Doctor Isla Cooper is cursed. Literally. Each night, at the stroke of midnight she falls into a death-like sleep from which she cannot be awakened for six hours. To make it worse, the curse has an expiration date--after a year, it becomes permanent. And the year is almost up.

In a desperate attempt to find Malette--the witch who cursed her--Isla blackmails her way onto Daniel Pickett's private airship bound for the Caribbean, only to discover she's traveling with three illegal shapeshifters and the despicable Nigel Crowe, a government official determined to hunt down and exterminate every shapeshifter in England. Isla and Daniel must work together to keep the identities of the shapeshifters hidden while coming to terms with their own hidden secrets, and their blossoming attraction to each other.

Filled with suspense, intrigue, and plenty of romance, Kiss of the Spindle is steampunk Sleeping Beauty story. It is a race against the clock as Isla and Daniel try to hunt down the elusive Malette before Isla's death-like sleep becomes permanent.

My Review: 5 Stars

Dr. Isla Cooper was cursed nearly a year ago and time is running out for her to find the Dark Magick witch, Malette, and get her to reverse the curse. She'll do anything and everything in her power to secure passage to Port Lucy... even resort to blackmail. But will Daniel Pickett see through her threats and refuse her passage? She'll have to be very convincing because she MUST be on the flight no matter what. 

Daniel Pickett already has enough on his plate and doesn't need the added stress of Isla Cooper forcing her way onto his personal airship. It's bad enough that he's going to have to travel without the proper accommodations for the three illegal shifters on board so close to the full moon phase. And if that wasn't enough, Nigel Crowe, a member of the Predatory Shifter Regulations Committee and a thorn in everyone's side, has decided that he, too, will board the airship bound for Port Lucy. Heaven help him. 

To say that Isla and Daniel got off on the wrong foot is an understatement. The man is maddening. How dare he take all her weapons and leave her unprotected? But did she really give him a choice in the matter? She DID blackmail him after all. But they will need to get over it with Crowe now part of their travelling party. They must work together to protect Lewis, Quince and Bonadea from Crowe. 

When circumstances arise that would prevent Isla from helping the shifters, who quickly became her friends, she is forced to tell Daniel about the curse and the real reason why she is headed to Port Lucy. Isla has never had anyone to look after her or protect her. She has always had to go at it alone. She's beyond shocked when Daniel offers his help with her situation. Along the way, Isla and Daniel develop a friendship which soon turns into deep feelings for each other. Isla just hopes she has enough time to see where their relationship will go. 

With the expiration date of the curse looming over them, Isla and Daniel, with the help of their shifter friends, will need to work together and quickly to find Malette. But there's something else they haven't dealt with... or rather someone else. Crowe. How are they ever going to keep all of this from him? They will all need to stay alert, focused and work together. Leaving Port Lucy without breaking Isla's curse is just not an option. If anyone deserves a HEA it's these two. And Isla and Daniel have too much to lose to not go down without a fight. 

Wow! That is all I can say! I absolutely adored this book! The twists and turns, the swoony moments, the laughing out loud, the suspense, and did I mention the swoony moments? SO good! Once I picked up this book, I could NOT put it down! I devoured it in one day! I highly recommend this book to everyone! I am loving this series! I can't wait for the next book to be released! 

I have only read 2 books by this author and can see myself checking out more books by her!

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

Content: Mild violence. Clean romance... just swoony kisses! 

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

Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson

Synopsis:

For Noah Mackie, life is finally back on track. He has a great support system, a promised promotion is on its way, and he's finally getting the hang of this single father thing. But when the job falls through and his neighbor's matchmaking efforts become more aggressive, Noah is in for yet another unwanted detour. With his career and two spirited daughters to worry about, he doesn't have time for dating—especially not someone like Cassie Ellis, his girls' beautiful and sophisticated dance instructor, who is about as open and approachable as a brick wall.

Rough around the Edges Meets Refined is about two people who think they know exactly what they want but who have no idea what they really need. It's about learning that people aren't always what they seem and that sometimes life’s detours take you exactly where you need to go.

My Review: 5 Stars

Cassie is a recent widow. But she's not like any other widow. She does not miss her husband at all. He was a horrible person who was very controlling and wouldn't let Cassie do anything that she wanted to do. Now that she is free from him she is on a journey of self discovery. She knows that she can never be the person that she used to be but she also doesn't want to be the person her husband had turned her into. She doesn't know who she is. But she does know that she never, ever wants to be controlled by a man again. So when her friend, Becky, tries to set her up with a single father, she wants nothing at all to do with it.

Noah is a single father of two beautiful, active girls. He's on the verge of a promotion and life just couldn't get any better! Until the promotion doesn't come through. he loses his job and his well meaning but meddling neighbor, Becky, decides she has the perfect woman to set him up with. He really doesn't want to have anything to do with any woman and tries his best to dodge any kind of setups. When Becky tells him that all he has to do is find out what Cassie's favorite ice cream is and she'll leave him alone and never set him up again, Noah agrees and sets out to find out what it is so he can get back to living his life. Little did he know that one simple question would set him on the path that he never knew he wanted to go down. Now... all he has to do is to show Cassie that that path isn't all that scary and going down it together is just what they both need.

I really enjoyed seeing Noah and Cassie get to know each other and grow closer together. Noah was extremely patient with what Cassie went through with her husband and had to remind her several times that he wasn't him and didn't want to control her. But I do understand that it can be very scary to start any kind of relationship after everything she had to go through. I felt at times she was too cautious. Noah had to prove himself over and over and over again! And I really didn't think it was very fair to him. When she left to "figure things out" I was thinking she had better do something spectacular to win Noah back!

Most of you know that one of my biggest pet peeves is when a book just ends! No conclusion... no nothing! Just ends! I hate that! But another one of my pet peeves is when the heroine does something to hurt the hero and then the hero has to go crawling back to her. Seriously?! She broke it! Let her fix it! I know... I know... I am probably one of the very few who think this way. But alas... I do! And thank goodness there are some authors who think the way I do! ;) That is all I have to say on this subject. Hehe.

All in all this was a really, really good book! I loved it! Rachael Anderson does it again! She is another auto-buy author for me! I seriously can't wait for Sam's story... Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity. I have already pre-ordered it and I can't WAIT to read it!! ;)

And of course I can't forget the casting! Can I tell you how much I love finding new people to cast for all these amazing books?! Seriously... I love it! :) Hehe. So... what do you think?!

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?

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.*

#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.*

2018 Reading Challenge

Since I really enjoyed making and doing my 2017 Reading Challenge, I thought I would keep it going and do a new one for 2018! 

I didn't see any 2018 Reading Challenges that I would enjoy so I made my own again! Hehe.

Allow me to share with you KJ's Book Nook 2018 Reading Challenge!

1. Start a new series: The Sidelined Wife by Jennifer Peel
2. A book with a title that makes you go Hmmm..: A Madness Most Discreet by Nichole Van
3. A book you own but have never read: All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle
4. A book published this year: Hothouse Flower by Taylor Dean
5. Reread a favorite book from 2017: Pianos and Promises Collection by Jennifer Peel
6. Reread a favorite book from 2016: Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt
7. Reread a favorite book from 2015: Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson
8. A book based on its cover: Silver Star by Lisa Swinton
9. A fairytale retelling: Finding Beauty in the Beast by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee
10. A book by an author's pen name: Stone Silence by Taylor Dean
11. A steampunk novel: Kiss of the Spindle by Nancy Campbell Allen
12. A book with an ocean, lake or sea on the cover: Bargaining with the Boss by Jennifer Shirk
13. A book with over 300 pages: #Starstruck by Sariah Wilson
14. A book with less than 150 pages: The Unwanted Suitor by Michelle Pennington
15. A book that has been on your TBR list forever: Jade's Cowboy Crush by Kimberly Krey
16. A book with one of the four seasons in the title: Autumn's Embrace by Laura D. Bastian
17. A book WITHOUT people on the cover: Written in Blood by Rebecca Deel
18. A book with food in the title: The Cupcake Dilemma by Jennifer Rodewald
19. A book that a movie is based on: Christmas in Homestead by Kara Tate
20. A book with magic or angels: Cupid Misses the Mark by Heather Horrocks

Does this challenge sound like one you would love and could accomplish? Then feel free to join me!

2018 Reading Challenge Participants:

Katie

Happy reading my fellow bookworms!