Friday, September 22, 2017

Review: Got Mine by Nicole Loufas

Got Mine
By: Nicole Loufas
Release Date: July 25, 2017
Series: Men of Trance #1

Description:
When his precocious daughter is accepted into a hipster private school - Theodore Sway sacrifices his ego, his morals, and his body hair so Lulu isn’t damned to a life of ramen noodles and broken dreams. 

Theo takes a job at Trance; the city’s only women’s club, and soon becomes its star attraction. That still isn’t enough to pay his daughter's tuition and the ever-rising cost of his San Francisco neighborhood. With the help of Rico, a fellow entertainer and part-time pimp; Theo earns extra cash through a series of hilarious side jobs.

Soon, Theo’s sexy stage persona becomes a liability and threatens his role as the world's okayest dad.

Review:
I saw this cover and read the description and thought ok this definitely sounds like a book up my alley let me check it out.  I’m glad I did because it really wasn’t what I expected. 

We meet Theo as he ventures on to stripping trying to pay for his daughter’s education, which is a noble thing if you think about it because he’s being selfless about it.  I really thought the book was going to go somewhere and it eventually did but it was so typical that I didn’t feel any excitement.  It really wasn’t what I expected but then again the description didn’t go much further than he’s taking a job at Trance. There was a lot going in in the story, the plot was good I just wish it was a little more.   

I really couldn’t relate to the characters, at times it felt rushed or like there was way more to the story that could have been told but there wasn’t.  Overall it was an okay book.  I really love the cover, the guy just looks amazing.  I think the ending is definitely where it gets you.  Just when I was ready to give up on it, it just hooked me back in.  The book was interesting, maybe I’ll read the next one in the series. 

I will say this the other characters in the book they were questionable at best, I wonder about them, why they strip etc.  maybe I really will check out the next book. 

Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Nicole Loufas, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Review: Convicted: A Dark Ex-Con Romance by Piper Sullivan

Convicted: A Dark Ex-Con Romance
By: Piper Sullivan
Release Date: March 10, 2017

Description:
Will an ex-con’s dark past keep him from a second chance at romance? 

Jason 
Prison had been no walk in the park, and after I served my time for murder and stepped back into society, I had no idea what to expect. 
Certainly not sweet Ally, my sister’s best friend. 
I knew I should have left her alone. 
But I just couldn’t help myself. 
She was just too tempting. 
I knew she still craved my touch, she tried to hide it, but her body betrayed her. 
Just like the first time I put my hands on her virgin body. 
The look of fear and disgust in her eyes shredded me, I knew she saw nothing but a criminal. 

But I’d risk anything to protect her…even my freedom. 

Ally 
My life was on track. Finally. 
I was working part time and still managing to carry a 4.0 GPA at college. 
Best of all, my roommate was my bestie. 
The last thing I needed was my best friend’s brother naked in my bedroom. 

Or to be pregnant with his baby. 

Review:
Sometimes you just need a little bit of quick romance in your life, and this book definitely provided that.  It was a dark romance, although I didn’t find it that dark.  There was not a lot of detail throughout the book and everything was pretty quick.  We meet Jason as he’s getting out of jail, there is a brief flashback as to what happened before he went to jail with his sister’s best friend.  I always love books that have to deal with siblings best friends, I don’t know maybe it’s the convenience of having that person around or just that mild attraction that always seems to form somehow but books about this subject always lure me in.

He’s back and Ally is everywhere he is, their attraction is undeniable and they had a few really great moments throughout the book.  But I have to say the book was really rushed through and through.  I wanted a little more emotion, a little more depth to each of the characters, even the sister Jamie.  I felt like they were all accepting of everything without going into too much detail.  Like who is Mac and why is she the way she is?  I want to know more about Jamie, I mean I know the story wasn’t really about these secondary characters but a little more history would have been great.


Overall this was a really quick romance book, something to whet your appetite but definitely left me wanting more.   

Monday, September 11, 2017

Review: Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken

Fraternize
By: Rachel Van Dyken
Release Date: September 12, 2017
Series: Players Game #1

Description:
Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done…

No fraternizing with the players.

Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.

Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart.
 

Review:
So I’ve seen this author around for a while and have always wanted to pick up one of her books and I’m so thoroughly thrilled that I finally had the chance.  Rachel Van Dyken is quite addicting, this book was nothing what I expected.  I didn’t think it would flow the way it did but I was pleasantly surprised.  Definitely a book you should pick up, because it’s worth it.

We meet Emerson and Miller during their high school years through flashbacks, which I love because sometimes you just need a little bit of history thrown in to make that story that much more powerful.  The two were inseparable but things happened and as you can imagine they grew apart.  Fast forward a couple years and here they are face to face again, both still very hurt but both still very much loving each other.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away because really you have to read it.  Just throw in a really hot new player into the mix and this love triangle gets more and more interesting each page you turn.  There was a lot going on this book, not only the romance throughout but also the different forms of friendship, comraderies, strong connection for being on a team, family issues and even bullying.  This book touched a little bit upon all of that.  Also status in life, where someone had more than the other, that’s always a tough subject matter as well. 

I enjoyed Emerson’s story, I felt for her throughout the book she became a real person to me and I could relate to the character as well as ride the different waves of emotions she was going through.  Again it really didn’t end up like I thought it would like every other typical romance or contemporary I’ve ever read but I was really pleasantly surprised.  Sometimes you don’t’ really meet your true love in high school, sometimes things have to happen for you to experience life and then things seem to fall into place during the hardest time in your life.


I wholly enjoyed this book.  The cover is absolutely eye catching, after all who doesn’t love a good love triangle?  The story was amazing and had me so hooked that I had to finish it within 24 hours, I stayed up real late for this one but I couldn’t put it down.  The setting is great, football players, cheerleaders, best friends, new friends and life experiences with realities of family thrown in to make it just that much more realistic.  Must read. I want to talk more about the book but don’t’ really want to give too much away.  


Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Review: Breaking the Rules of Revenge by Samantha Bohrman

Breaking the Rules of Revenge
By: Samantha Bohrman
Release Date: September 11, 2017

Description:
Mallory Jones is tired of being the girl who stays home and practices French horn while her identical twin, Blake, is crowned homecoming queen. So when she has the opportunity to pretend to be Blake, she takes it. At Camp Pine Ridge, she will spread her wings and emerge a butterfly. Or at least someone who finally gets kissed by a cute guy. That is, until bad boy Ben Iron Cloud shows up, ready to get revenge on Blake—aka Mallory.

If it weren’t for that infuriating girl, Ben wouldn’t even be at camp. Luckily, he now has six weeks to soak up some rays and get even with his nemesis. But the more time he spends with Blake, the more he realizes she’s nothing like the girl he thought she was—she’s kind and innocent and suddenly way too tempting. And soon enough, revenge is the last thing on his mind. Unfortunately, the girl he’s falling for is keeping a major secret…

Disclaimer: This book contains a super-hot bad boy out for revenge, all sorts of camp hijinks, and a girl who realized she’s been a butterfly all along.
 

Review:
Now that summer is coming to an end so is the lovely world of sleep away camps, and we all know what happens at camps (or at least we can imagine) a whole lot of shenanigans.  This book did not disappoint in the whole camp pranks that’s for sure.  Samantha Bohrman did a great job bringing this camping experience to life.  We met some interesting characters and had a laugh or two.

We meet Mallory, who is Blake’s identical sister (but she’s also the one no one notices), she decides to take over Blake’s life for her at camp.  Yes they are pulling the old switch-a-roo almost parent trap like but not, man I really loved that movie.  Anyway so Mallory wants to come out and be a different person, someone people will notice and will interact with her more, little did she know that Blake’s nemesis will also be at the same camp, Ben. 

I really liked the fact that Ben was a Native American, as you don’t often see that in young adult novels (not included you know what Team Jacob lol).  But it was sad to see that he really didn’t know much about his heritage to begin with, regardless he was an interesting character.  Especially when he thought he was dealing with the real Blake and was fooled the whole time.  Oh the regret of those silly, silly pranks.  Although they were quite funny and unique. 

Anyway the dynamic between Mallory and Ben is adorable.  They get each other and complement each other very well, but again there are secrets that are being held and won’t be revealed until the end, with that as I’m sure you can imagine will be consequences.  Things happen between the two of them, truths come out and realities are finally in play.  It’s what you do with the information you are given that make you the better person and I think the two of them figured out exactly what they needed to do with each other.


Overall I thought the book was a quick and easy fun read.  Perfect for the end of summer, with a few funny hi-jinks, some very interesting secondary characters and typical people you would expect to see at camp.  The setting was great, the people were great, just an overall good book.  I really liked the cover too, it was very eye catching.  

Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Review: Boomerang Boyfriend by Chris Cannon

Boomerang Boyfriend
By: Chris Cannon
Release Date: September 11, 2017
Series: Boyfriend Chronicles

Description:
Working with her best friend’s brother at Betty’s Burgers, free-spirited Delia starts to see Jack in a new light. Not only has Jack-the-Jerk turned into a hottie, he’s even acting like a niceguy, who rescues dogs and knows how she likes her coffee. But if Jack is into her, then why is he keeping her a secret? Of course, if her best friend doesn’t approve, Delia could lose the only family she’s ever known.
Seeing Delia in her retro waitress uniform throws Jack’s world out of whack. She’s always been just another pain in the butt little sister...not a datable female. But she’s rockin’ the Pie Princess tiara, and even her hot-pink striped hair is sexy. What’s that about? He needs to get his head on straight, because artsy, funky Delia and her nonconformist ways don’t fit in his safe and ordered world.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains kisses that make the world fall away and snarky humor that may cause you to LOL in public places.
Review:
This book was absolutely adorable in every way.  Who doesn’t at some point fantasize about your brother’s best friend?  Sometimes the best things are right in front of you and you don’t even know it.  Chris Cannon did a very good job of showing us this concept in Boomerang Boyfriend.

We meet Zoe and her best friend Delia. Delia is always at their house because her parents are always working, she’s always around her brother too, Jack.  But they have a sister/brother vibe, that is until things change and they begin to see each other in a new light.  Many girls throughout time have always fantasized about their best friend’s brother, especially if he was older and good looking.  But to see these two awkwardly grown into that stage was adorable.

Jack seems like an average kind of guy, going with the flow of things although he is going through some things of his own.  The book wasn’t very serious but I wouldn’t have minded if they touched upon some of those feelings a little more.  I think it would have bought him out more and made him a stronger character.  Jack was definitely a little aloof and well very high school boyish.  There were times I wanted to smack him upside the head for being so dense about things, but again he is just a boy.

Delia wasn’t much better either though at times you wanted to knock some sense into her, although I think this is why I enjoyed the books.  The characters truly seemed like their age, they didn’t pretend to be older, do more adult things everything was pretty innocent and adorable and simplistic.  Yes they all had background issues with family or about family but they didn’t let it rule their lives.  Even the secondary characters such as Aiden had something going for him.  It’s hard keeping secrets for friends but even harder when it starts to disrupt relationships you are trying to grow.


Overall the book was good, I liked it. The characters were believable as high schoolers.  The story was interesting and the read was very quick and fun.  I wouldn’t mind finding out more about Jack’s best friend though, perhaps the next book in the series?

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Friday, August 18, 2017

Review: Tied Up in You By Erin Fletcher

Tied Up In You
By: Erin Fletcher
Release Date: July 10, 2017
Series: All Laced Up #2

Description:
Everyone says hotshot goalie Luke Jackson is God’s gift to girls, but the only girl he wants is his best friend, Malina Hall. He’s always known how brilliant she is, but now that he’s “accidentally” kissed her, he can’t stop thinking about her…or wanting to kiss her again.

Problem is, things have been a little…awkward since the kiss. Because she likes him, too? Hopefully, but even if she did, their futures—and the ridiculous schedules that come with them—are in the way. And now one of his teammates is showing interest, and the guy has more in common with Malina than Jackson ever will.

As her best friend, Jackson should get out of the way. But if there’s one thing he’s learned from hockey, it’s that you have to go for what you want, even if it means falling flat on your face. And he’s definitely falling for Malina.

Disclaimer: This book contains a hot hockey player who goes after what he wants, a super-hot, super-distracting shirtless workout, and the kind of best friends to lovers romance every girl in the friend zone has dreamed of.
 

Review:
This was an adorably sweet contemporary novel that hit just the right spot.  Erin Fletcher did a great job bringing us into the world of Malina and Jackson.  That time in your life when the big decisions about the rest of your future are made, and who you want to spend that time with.  It’s a daunting task but it’s always better when there are people who have your back.

We meet Malina and Jackson, who have been best friends forever but something just clicks and something else seems to form between the two of them.  You know what they say it’s very hard for a female and a male to be best friends because there is always one that may feel just slightly more than the other, and when they both do it’s a very magical thing.  The two of them are struggling with what will happen next in their lives but they figure things out together, maybe not the easiest way but the best way for them.

This book was very fast paced and seemed to move very quickly through the relationship, but if you think about it they’ve been in a relationship for many many years since they’ve known each other since probably elementary school.  It went so quickly because they know each other, they didn’t have to go through the whole learning phase of getting to know you and what you do and do not like.  They already have that in the bag.  So of course when they have a big blow out all the real daggers come out to play.  Because they know exactly where to dig.


Overall I liked the book, I’m intrigued to see what happened in the first book and I really can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.  This is a great read if you want something quick and fun, something that will get your emotions left and right but still simple young contemporary. I really enjoyed all the family moments too and this book had me googling Hawaiian food left and right.  Really enjoyed it. 

Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Monday, August 14, 2017

Review: The Bad Boy's Girl by Blair Holden

The Bad Boy's Girl
By: Blair Holden
Release Date: Feb 27, 2017
Series: The Bad Boy's Girl #1

Description:
“Some people bring out the worst in you, others bring out the best, and then there are those remarkably rare, addictive ones who just bring out the most. Of everything. They make you feel so alive that you’d follow them straight into hell, just to keep getting your fix.”
— Karen Marie Moning, Shadowfever

Tessa O’Connell is a girl as ordinary as they come-or so she thinks. Her aim for senior year is to keep her head down yet somehow manage to convince her childhood love Jay Stone to love her back. What she isn’t prepared for is for Jay’s brother, Cole to return to town and change the life she’s always been seemingly content to live. Tall, gorgeous as all hell and a bad boy with ocean blue eyes and the perfect edge of adorability, he was her greatest tormentor, her number one enemy.But the guy that’s come back is like no one Tessa’s ever come across. He challenges her, he tests her limits, he forces her to bring out the girl she’s long ago buried under a veil of mediocrity and most of all he compels her to consider that perhaps the boy that infuriates her to the point of no return might just her guardian angel.

Warning: The story comes with a bad boy notorious for making you swoon, inducing hysterical laughter and making you question whether you could purchase a clone on ebay

Review:
This book really wasn’t what I expected, because it was so much more than that.  I know this is a series from Wattpad and I will have to look into the rest of the series but Blair Holden had you hooked from the very beginning.  The characters were multi-dimensional and interesting to say the very least but what really got you was the story.

We meet Tessa and her friends who are constantly bullied by her ex best friend Nicole, while she is deeply in love and crushing on Nicole’s boyfriend Jason.  This is a classic story and one that always catches my attention because you just know there will be jealousy and drama from the get go.  But throw in an even hotter step brother who just also happens to be in love with someone who doesn’t even suspect it and the book just got a million times more interesting. 

Cole is a bad boy who has terrorized Tessa for most of her life, little did she know that there was something more to it than just that.  It’s so cute when boys are so obviously trying to get a girls attention probably not in the best way but it’s still so noticeable to everyone but the involved parties.  Again another classic story but still the way it was developed throughout the book, bringing him back after being away for a while and him finally being in touch with what he really feels and knowing how to express that.  Bonus. 

I really liked all the characters they bought life to this book and kept me wondering what would happen with them next.  It dragged a little in the middle with the transition of the story continuing but overall I can’t wait to read what happens next to these characters and how their lives are about to change in college.


Don’t get me wrong I feel like this was almost two short stories in one because it could have easily stopped with a happy ending for the two finally getting together, but then it kept going.  I was surprised and worried at the same time like where is this book going to go to next.  The way it ended left me breathless and my heart in pain.  You have to read this book from the very first line to the very last.  I am thoroughly impressed.

Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Trident Media Group, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Review: Paper Hearts by Ali Novak

Paper Hearts
By: Ali Novak
Release Date:
Series: The Heartbreakers Chronicles #2

Description:

“When I met Alec Williams, I nearly fainted. Totally embarrassing, but how often does a regular girl get to meet a famous heartthrob?”

Felicity has been living in the shadow of her best friend Lucy since they were kids. But things change when she is introduced to a quiet guy named Alec. At first Felicity is intimidated by his fame, but as the two grow closer she starts to realize that Alec just might be the guy of her dreams. No other guy has ever made her feel so alive. 

The only problem? Lucy has different plans for Alec—plans that start with prom. 

Felicity quickly realizes that she will have to make a decision. Will she choose her best friend who has always been there for her, or the mysterious boy that she can't stop thinking about? Whatever her choice, someone is going to be left broken hearted.

Meet... The Queen of Hearts.

Review:
This was a very sweet book, great addition to this series.  Finding out more about the other band members is always a wonderful thing.  Ali Novak is doing a great job bringing this series to life.

We meet Felicity, who is a very dedicated person trying to get through her plan for life without any hiccups, but then she discovers the truth about something and all that goes out the window.  Her sister has been missing for a while and with the help of Alec, a member of the heartbreakers, and oh so scrumptious of a person she’s on a mission to find her.  Also included are her best friends Asha and Boomer.

Alec is a very serious and private person, I guess you can say he’s like the shy one in the group if you had to stereotype him, he’s very serious.  But with Felicity it’s like he wants to let himself go.  Get out from under the thumb of people around him.  The two main characters definitely have some familiar struggles just in different ways, but struggles none the less.  The two help each other overcome these struggles in life and with the freedom they both desired, or didn’t even know they desired.

I thought this book was really good, not as much as the first one but still good in its own right.  You can definitely read it as a stand-alone but it’s good to see the other characters from the first book blossom throughout the book or more like how they have blossomed since the first book.  I really enjoyed the book overall.  I was definitely interested in what would happen between Felicity and Alec, and was quite surprised with a few other characters in the book.


I will say that I am now interested in researching more origami especially the hearts, just sounded so cute in the book that I had to look it up and try it myself.  Another great thing about this book were all the great locations mentioned throughout, it’s always fun when there is a road trip involved.  Check the book out, it’s a good quick fun easy read.  Can’t wait for the next one in the series.  


Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Review: The Perfectly Imperfect Match by Kendra C. Highley

The Perfectly Imperfect Match 
By: Kendra C. Highley
Release Date: July 10, 2017
Series: Suttonville Sentinels, #3

Description:
Pitcher Dylan Dennings has his future all mapped out: make the minors straight out of high school, work his way up the farm system, and get called up to the majors by the time he’s twenty-three. The Plan has been his sole focus for years, and if making his dreams come true means instituting a strict “ no girls” policy, so be it.
Lucy Foster, needlepoint ninja, big sister to an aspiring pitcher, and chicken advocate, likes a little mayhem. So what if she gets lost taking her brother to baseball camp...at her own high school? The pitching coach, some hotshot high school player, obviously thinks she’s a hot mess. Too bad he’s cute, because he’s so not her type. 
Problem is, they keep running into each other, and every interaction sparks hotter than the last. But with Dylan’s future on the line, he has to decide whether some rules are made to be broken...
Disclaimer: This book contains a crazy night of moonlit skinny-dipping, a combustible crush, and kisses swoony enough to unwind even the most Type A athlete.
Each book in the Suttonville Sentinels series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order. 
Series Order:
Book #1: The Bad Boy Bargain
Book #2: Swinging at Love
Book #3: The Perfectly Imperfect Match

Review:
Swoon worthy and adorable, that’s how I can best describe this book. 

This is my second Suttonville Sentinels books, luckily they can all be read alone.  It was so very sweet to watch these two characters develop and grow with each other throughout the book.  We meet Lucy who is very out there and unique in her own right, she likes to sew which is not something common in young kids these days but it was great to watch and visualize.  We also dive into Dylan’s life and his dream for becoming the next hot baseball star.  These two are very determined people but in different ways.  Where one is very low key and leaned back the other is very strict and regime in the things that they do.  

It was fun to experience the full on attraction of this ying and yang couple.  Sure there were some hiccups in the road, but it’s how they overcame them that mattered.  I loved all the secondary characters like Tristen and Otis as well as Lucy’s mother.  I really felt for her and her family when they would talk about their father and how they wish he was home from the military but it’s hard sometimes. 

There were moments in this book where my heart would sink and soar and I would connect with the characters so much.  Life is hard sometimes.  Achieving your goals can be even harder, but it’s that determination and that strength that will always get you there, sometimes you just have to get sidetracked to get on the right path.

I thought this book was overall adorable and sweet.  Very realistic it wasn’t insta love but there was definitely an instant connection between these two characters.  I really believe that they needed each other in so many ways to show each other that there are other things out there sometimes it’s good to be free and sometimes it’s good to have order.  Very quick and easy fun read.  Loved the baseball facts throughout the book and the insight into previous characters as well.  

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Blog Tour: Artificial Sweethearts by Julie Hammerle



Artificial Sweethearts
By Julie Hammerle
Release Date: 7/10/17
Published by Entangled Teen

Description:
It’s not chemistry between Tinka Foster and Sam Anderson that made them agree to fake date. With her parents trying to set her up with an annoying student golf coach, and intentionally single Sam’s family pressuring him to bring a date to his brother’s wedding, they could both use a drama-free summer.
So it’s not his muscular arms and quick wit that makes Tinka suggest they tell everyone they’re both taken. Definitely not. And it’s not butterflies that makes a kiss for appearances during the lake party go on way too long—so long that Sam wishes it were real.
But Tinka keeps people at arm’s length—she’s always been second best, even to her parents. And her relationship-for-show could crush everything when she realizes she’s done with fake, pretend, and second-best.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains bikinis at the lake, a lot of making out in dark theaters, and a meet-cute you’ll read twice.
Buy Links:
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads 
About the author:
Julie Hammerle is the author of The Sound of Us (Entangled TEEN, 2016) and the North Pole, Minnesota young adult romance series (Entangled Crush, 2017). She writes about TV and pop culture for the ChicagoNow blog, Hammervision, and lives in Chicago with her family. She enjoys reading, cooking, and watching all the television.
Connect:

Review:
I haven’t read anything by Julie Hammerle previously but I have always adored Entangled Crush books.  Ms. Hammerle did not disappoint in the very least.  I think this book was well written and really sucked the reader into this small town in Minnesota.  I was almost tempted to bring out some Christmas stuff, after all it is July!

We meet Tinka who is back from boarding school and who has moved to a new town without even knowing it.  Her parents just uprooted and did all this without her knowledge, as if that wasn’t shock enough she was going through her own things with her roommate who just happened to come along for the summer break.  This book definitely had a lot of complicated realistic situations that happen to people all the time.  It was hard to read but worth the read.  Tinka is a strong girl, but instead of facing her issues head on she tends to run away.  You see her grown throughout the book and finally realize what she’s been doing to herself and others around her.  Of course she has help learning this not only from old friends but from Sam, her neighbor.

Sam also has his own family issues to deal with, he never really stands up for himself and let people know what’s going on.  Sometimes it’s hard keeping up a façade like that.  But together he and Tinka learn to grown as people with new emotions growing between the two of them.

I really can’t say enough good things about this book.  It was a quick read, very sweet and endearing. I had my heart strings pulled more than once throughout the book, I really felt invested in the characters and what they were going through.  I just hope you get a chance to read it and remember how important family and friends are in your life, and how important it is to always talk to them truthfully.  Letting things go will not only make yourself feel better but will make those around you understand and feel better as well. 


The relationship between Sam and Tinka was cute, should I or shouldn’t I, is this real or is this pretend struggle between the two.  It was sweet, and I was rooting for them the entire time.  Loved this book, definitely need to go read the first book in this series just to see how it all began in this small town in Minnesota. 


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Monday, June 26, 2017

Book Blitz: The Librarian By Christy Sloat

The Librarian 
by Christy Sloat
Genre: YA Historical/Romance
Published June 17th, 2017
Published by CHBB Publishing
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

He’s from 1892 England, she’s in a small library in 2017. And that's just the start of their troubles.

Emme never meant to stay in Maine. She'd come only to find a librarian for her Gram's library, a custodian for the collection of mysterious books she'd promised to protect. On a dark, wintery night, alone in the library, she takes her first glance into one of the antique novels and finds herself transported to 1892 England staring into the eyes of handsome and dashing hero Jack Ridgewell. As each chapter passes she learns you can truly fall in love with a character in a book, that book boyfriends are real and Emme must choose between the real world, and his.

When the last page is read he's gone and Emme feels the cold loneliness of lost love. Will she find Jack again, or will their love be forever lost? The answer lies within the pages…

About the Author:
Christy Sloat is a SoCal born girl who resides in New Jersey currently with her husband, two daughters and Sophie her Chihuahua. Christy has embraced the love of reading and writing since her youth and was inspired by her grandmother's loving support. Christy passes that love of reading, writing, and creativity to her daughters, family, and friends. When you do not find Christy within the pages of a book you can find her being mommy, wife, crafter, and dear friend. She loves adventurous journeys with her friends and can be known to get lost inside a bookstore. Be sure to venture into her Past Lives Series, The Visitor's Series, and watch for many more exciting things to come. Check out her website www.christysloat.com
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Facebook: Christy Sloat
Author www.facebook.com/christysloatauthor.
Twitter: ChristySloat

Excerpt:
I spent the rest of the day filing paperwork for the funding process and preparing to open the library doors on Monday morning. I told Rose and Becca to spread the word. Tarryn had decided to move her smaller items in already, and she was asleep by nine the same night. It didn’t seem strange to me that I had a roommate; instead it made me feel comfortable. I never lived alone before, and I would feel lonely otherwise. Tarryn was quiet, but I knew in time she’d get used to me and I’d get used to her. We just needed to get to know each other first.

Once I was done with the paperwork, I filed the books that were left on the shelf from when Gram was still here. As I placed the classic books on the correct shelves, I felt a longing to finish reading my mysterious book in my nook.

So, instead of going to bed at a decent hour, I climbed into my cozy space and picked the book back up. I didn’t open it right away. Instead I inspected the outside for any sort of title. I found nothing of the sort. I flipped to the title page once more, trying to find my place, and that’s when I saw the word on the page. It was just a simple “The” typed out on the once blank title page. I ran my finger across it and realized it was printed in ink as if the press had done it. I was sure the night before it was blank, but then again, I was sure my dream about being with a man was real. So I wasn’t really a reliable source at the moment.

I found the spot where I ended with a dog-eared page. I absolutely hated doing this to the book and didn’t remember it at all. I usually had a nice bookmark, but this seemed to be the only thing to mark the page before I had fallen asleep. Running my fingers across the crease at the corner of the page, I settled back and started reading.

I woke up once again face down, this time I was in grass. I blinked my eyes and felt the blades of grass tickling my nose and lips. I pulled myself up and took a deep breath. I looked around and saw the fields upon which I had dreamt of the night before. I was back in England. I was dreaming the same dream. How odd.

There were times when I had thought I had the same dream over and over again, to only find out that it was my mind playing tricks on me. This was no mistake. I was, once again, in the same place.

“Emmeline, are you all right?” I looked up and blocked the sun from my eyes. The man from before was standing in front of me. “You … you disappeared. It happened so fast that I fear I cannot explain to you how it happened. Now you’re here once again.” He sounded really confused and, to put it lightly, so was I.

This dream felt way too real. It was exactly like before. So real and tangible that I couldn’t explain it even if I tried.

“I … I don’t know how I’m here again,” I mumbled.

He reached out to steady me as I swayed to the side. “You’ve been gone for days. I worried I was going mad, that your presence was one of my imaginings. I dared not to speak a word to anyone about it. I have to admit, Emmeline, I’ve been going slightly crazed since I saw you last.”

His hair was disheveled and he had grown a slight beard that only enhanced the sexiness of his strong jawline. His deep set blue-green eyes looked weary, and for that I felt awful.
My sudden disappearance had made him fall apart, that was apparent.

“I’ll tell you, I feel like I’m going crazy too. Trust me,” I admitted. “Can we sit somewhere? Out of the sun?”

“Of course.”

He held my arm and led me to a tree in the center of the field. Once underneath the large tree, I felt instantly better. I looked down at my clothes and saw that I was, once again, in my own clothes. This time a little better than before. I was wearing yoga pants and an old T-shirt.

“I can’t explain how or why I’m here. Hell, I don’t even know your name, but I’m here again and I’m beginning to think that this isn’t a dream. That I’m really here, with you,” I said as I touched his arm. “I’m not from … here.”

I didn’t know how to explain it to him, but I did the best any girl who was somehow traveling through time could. I didn’t have answers or explanations, but I had a gut feeling.

“I’m from a different time as you. As you can tell by my lovely clothing, I’m not from 1893.”

He placed his fingers on my lips, stopping me, while shaking his head.

“This isn’t right, Emmeline. Trickery at a time like this isn’t fair,” he said as he stood up fast. “I am leaving soon. I shall not have you doing this to me.”

My mouth fell open in shock and I stood. “Do something to you? Listen here, buddy, I didn’t ask for this. I sat down to read a book and then boom, I’m stuck in England with a stranger.”

I pointed at myself. “Look at me. Do I really look like I belong here?”

He looked at my clothing and up to my hair, and I could see his cheeks redden.

“You are dressed very indecent, I suppose. No woman I’ve ever met wears trousers. Nor do they wear clothing that fitting.”

I laughed. He thought this was indecent, he should see some of the dresses I had worn to parties. They were nothing like the dresses he was used to seeing on a woman. We absolutely didn’t dress ladylike anymore. My sexy little black dress that currently hung in my closet would definitely shock some of the people of this era for sure.

“I don’t know why I’m here. I’m absolutely not trying to, I don’t know, hurt you or anything. I don’t know how to go home.” I slumped back against the tree. “I wish that I could prove to you that I’m not lying to you, but I cannot. You’ll have to just believe me, I guess.” It was as simple as that. He could either believe this bat-shit crazy explanation or not. One way or another, I didn’t care. I just wanted to go home.

“I don’t know why, Emmeline, but I feel as if I should say that I do believe you.” He ran a hand through his thick hair, mussing it up. “I just don’t know how else to explain your abrupt presence. One minute you are here and the next you’re disappearing into thin air. I read many books on fiction, so I suppose it could be true.”

“Well, I may know someone who knows something. She works for the lucky bastard that owns that house,” I told him pointing to the house where Nancy was the last time I saw her. She was probably cooking something again for her master.

He smiled. “That house?”

“Yes. Her name is Nancy.”

“Ah. Nancy. And who is this Nancy woman you speak of?” He continued to smile as if this was a joke, but I ignored it.

“She’s a cook. I met her on my last visit here,” I explained. “She’s not the nicest person I’ve ever met, but I think she has some answers.”

“I must argue that Miss Nancy is more than a cook. She’s also the lady upon with which I trust my household while I’m gone. She’s more of an aunt than a housekeeper,” he said as he took my hand in his. “It’s very nice to finally introduce myself to you, Emmeline Bailey. I’m Jack Ridgewell or you may just call me the lucky bastard.”
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Friday, June 23, 2017

Review: Trusting You & Other Lies by Nicole Williams

Trusting You & Other Lies
By: Nicole Williams
Release Date:

Description:
USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Nicole Williams delivers a seductive summer romance worth swooning over. Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins.

Phoenix can't imagine anything worse than being shipped off to family summer camp. Her parents have been fighting for the past two years--do they seriously think being crammed in a cabin with Phoenix and her little brother, Harry, will make things better? 

On top of that, Phoenix is stuck training with Callum--the head counselor who is seriously cute but a complete know-it-all. His hot-cold attitude means he's impossible to figure out--and even harder to rely on. But despite her better judgment, Phoenix is attracted to Callum. And he's promising Phoenix a summer she'll never forget. Can she trust him? Or is this just another lie?

Review:
Ahh, Nicole Williams has done it again.  She has succeeded in giving me all the necessary fills throughout a book.  This was a ride I would go on again, the book was just flat out amazing.  The character interactions, the emotions, the real life scenarios, it was just beautiful.  Trust, it’s a hard thing to get back, but it’s an important thing to have with anyone. 

We meet Phoenix, which when you finish the book couldn’t have been a more perfect name for the main character, who is on her way to spend the summer at a family camp, with her disastrous family.  She doesn’t have too much of any high hopes that this vacation will be any good especially with all the background drama happening with her family.  But being young, you really have no choice but to go along. This is where she meets Callum.  He’s quite the enigma himself, keeping to himself but somehow she breaks down through some of those barriers. 

The relationship the develop is very sweet and endearing, gives you high hopes that there are good things out there in life for us, but it’s their trust and sometimes lack of trust in one another that made their relationship just so real and believable.  I felt for them, and I was rooting for them throughout the whole book.  There were moments that made me smile, moments that made me sad and broke my heart and then of course moments that just outright made me cry throughout this book but those moments they shared gave me butterflies, and those are the best kinds of moments.

This book not only talked about romance, and love but it was about family.  Trusting your family and making sure your family trusted you.  It was a beautiful story to show this dynamic, everything isn’t always perfect but it’s how you perceive and work through those issues that make you the family you are.  It will bring everyone closer together.  Don’t get me wrong I loved the scenes between Callum and Phoenix, but those moments with her mom and her dad, and the precious ones with her brother, those are the memories I will keep the dearest to me from this book.  Family is everything.

I will definitely give some high praise to this book because trust and lies sometimes they go hand in hand, and sometimes you just have to learn why someone did what they did to get clarity on everything.
I loved the characters in the book, the scenery with it being at camp, and it being summer and all.  I really enjoyed reading through the different situations that took place in the book, again very believable and realistic, and dare I say may even be helpful to some who read it.  Sometimes you just have to remember that sometimes people do certain things in your best interest, even if you don’t see it that way at first.


Go read this book! It’s worth it and you will not regret it.  It really touched my heart and to that I thank the author, Nicole Williams, who has yet to let me down in any story of hers that I’ve read.  


Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Random House Children, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Friday, June 16, 2017

Review: I'm Not in the Band by Amber Garza

I'm Not in the Band
By: Amber Garza
Release Date: June 12, 2017

Description:
I like Kassidy Milton. There, I said it. She’s funny, beautiful—even though she doesn’t know it—and my favorite kind of weird. But I can’t tell if she’s into me or just trying to get close to me for a chance with my famous twin brother instead. I mean, it has to be me. I am the better-looking one.

But Kassidy has some demons, and she’s not good at letting people in. That happens when you’ve been hurt by someone close to you. I can relate. Trust is a funny thing; it’s hard to gain but easy to lose. I might just learn that the hard way.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book includes a snarky heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, crazy best friends, your favorite music, and lots of feels.
 

Review:
Sometimes it’s really hard being a teenager, and when there are other factors in your life preventing you from fully being yourself it makes life even harder.  I think that Amber Garza did a really great job showing the different sides to teenagers and just people in general today.  Sometimes there are factors out of your control.

We meet Kassidy (great name by the way) who is out with her sister and trying to pretty much get her life back on track.  She’s starting a new school and trying to find herself after her breakup with all her friends at her old school.  Of course she just happens to run into a guy at a concert and one thing leads to another and they really hit it off.  I think this is a fantasy of many teenage girls, to find a guy at a concert who just so happens to be related to the band or at least knows someone.  I know when I was younger I used to fantasize about things like that.  Anyway back to the story, it just so happens they go to the same school and he’s going to show her around.

I don’t really want to expand on the story to much because you should really check it out.  But the interaction between these two and their friends is quite fun to experience.  There is a bit of jealousy going on that I think anyone would feel and then of course all the backstory with Kassidy comes out in little pieces here and there.  It’s interesting and difficult to live through her panic attacks, and understand what she’s going through but at the same time I think it’s something we definitely need to learn to understand.  These are some serious illnesses, thoughts and things that happen to these kids and it will just make you a better person for reading about them and experiencing it through their eyes.  Especially because the author did such a great job describing them.


This was really a great book overall and I think anyone would enjoy it.  I love the cover I think it’s sweet and endearing and I’m totally rooting for these two to live happily ever after.  Great quick read with some serious undertones.

Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!