Thursday 30 March 2017

Review: It Happens All the Time by Amy Hatvany

From master storyteller Amy Hatvany—whose writing has been hailed as “gripping and emotionally honest” (Stephanie Evanovich, New York Times betselling author)—comes a provocative and compelling novel about two friends whose lives are changed by a drunken kiss.

I want to rewind the clock, take back the night when the world shattered. I want to erase everything that went wrong.

Amber Bryant and Tyler Hicks have been best friends since they were teenagers—trusting and depending on each other through some of the darkest periods of their young lives. And while Amber has always felt that their relationship is strictly platonic, Tyler has long harbored the secret desire that they might one day become more than friends.

Returning home for the summer after her college graduation, Amber begins spending more time with Tyler than she has in years. Despite the fact that Amber is engaged to her college sweetheart, a flirtation begins to grow between them. One night, fueled by alcohol and concerns about whether she’s getting married too young, Amber kisses Tyler.

What happens next will change them forever.

In alternating points of view, It Happens All the Time examines the complexity of sexual dynamics between men and women and offers an incisive exploration of gender roles, expectations, and the ever-timely issue of consent.

Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Expected publication: March 28th 2017 by Washington Square Press 
Genre: Fiction/Womens Fiction

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received an advanced readers copy from the publishe via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

I knew nothing about It Happens All the Time when I started reading it.  Being a long time fan of Amy Hatvany, I requested this book without even reading the synopsis. Whenever I saw anything about the book on social media I would quickly scroll past it so that I wouldn't get any clues as to what it was about. Going in blind often adds to my enjoyment and that was certainly true in this case.

If you don't know what this book is about and don't want to before you read it, stop reading now!

Wow! I finished this book over a week ago but I had to take some time to think about it before I could put my thoughts into writing. I kept putting myself in Amber's shoes and all I can say is that it was devastating. It affected me deeply and I couldn't and still don't have the proper words to describe it on paper.

Amber and Tyler were best friends and had been for all of their teenage years. When Amber was hospitalised because of a eating disorder, Tyler was the one that sat beside her and held her hand throughout it all. They were a constant in each others lives. Don't misunderstand, It Happens All the Time was not a friends to lover story. In fact it wasn't even close. Although Tyler always harboured feelings for Amber, she looked at him  like a brother.

After graduating from College, Amber returned home for the summer, engaged and planning for the future. Tyler and Amber's friendship picked up where it left off and they began spending a lot of time together. As Amber began questioning her engagement an easy flirtation started between the best friends.

But...

One night fuelled by alcohol and flirtation went seriously wrong when Amber decided she didn't want anything to happen between them and Tyler didn't listen.

What happens when you are raped by your best friend? This was a question that kept going through my mind. What would I do? How would I cope? How could I move on? I had no answers. I couldn't even imagine being violated like that by someone I trusted and depended on for so many years. My emotions were all over the place. I could feel Amber's every emotion. In all honestly, this story kind of gutted me. A sign of really great writing when I can become so emotionally invested.

It Happens All the Time was told from both Amber and Tyler's point of view which ables the reader to see into both characters before and after that brutal night. I think in doing this it made what happened more real and enabled the reader to comprehend more fully the emotion impact. In fact, I can see it being a hot topic of many book club discussions to come.

Any book that makes me think and feel deeply is a good book in my eyes. Amy Hatvany accomplished just that with It Happens All the Time. I felt  anger, sadness, despair and heartache for this story and characters that still hasn't gone away over a week later. It was not the easiest topic to read but a relevant one that I won't soon forget.

  




About the Author
Amy Hatvany was born in Seattle, WA in 1972, the youngest of three children. She graduated from Western Washington University in 1994 with a degree in Sociology only to discover most sociologists are unemployed. Soon followed a variety of jobs – some of which she loved, like decorating wedding cakes; others which she merely tolerated, like receptionist. In 1998, Amy finally decided to sell her car, quit her job, and take a chance on writing books.

The literary gods took kindly to her aspirations and THE KIND OF LOVE THAT SAVES YOU was published in 2000 by Bantam Doubleday. THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS was picked up by NAL in 2002. (Both titles published under "Yurk.")

Amy spends most of her time today with her second and final husband, Stephan. (Seriously, if this one doesn’t work out, she’s done.) She stays busy with her two children, Scarlett and Miles, and her “bonus child,” Anna. Their blended family also includes two four-legged hairy children, commonly known as Black Lab mutts, Kenda and Dolcé. When Amy’s not with friends or family, she is most likely reading, cooking or zoning out on certain reality television shows. Top Chef is a current favorite. She eagerly awaits auditions for the cast of “Top Author.” (“Quick Edit” instead of “Quick Fire” Challenge? C’mon, producers! That’s gripping television!)

Connect with Amy
Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads 
 
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Wednesday 29 March 2017

Review: Good Gracie by Ines Saint



Spinning Hills, Ohio, home of the third most haunted street in the state, is the perfect place for three sisters to banish the unhappy specters of their pasts—and to let romance cast its spell . . .
Gracie Piper is good at being invisible, and she likes it that way. At just seventeen, she took a very public stand against the boy who passed a revealing video of her all over school. Ever since, she’s staked her life on staying out of the limelight. But when she moves back to Spinning Hills, she comes face to face with her painful past. In the same historic building Gracie’s boss has assigned her to supervise renovating works the man who helped her find justice nine years ago, and nearly lost his own career in the process. A man who suddenly arouses feelings that make Gracie weak in the knees . . .

Josh Goodwin is sure he’s seeing a ghost when he spots Gracie in the halls of his office building. Taking her case was a professional risk that became all too personal when a bitter ex accused him of getting involved with teenage Gracie. Seeing her again is opening old wounds, and threatening brand-new ones—his campaign for County Prosecutor won’t withstand a brand-new scandal. But there’s something about sweet, gorgeous Gracie that brings out the crusader in him—and the thing he’ll fight hardest for is her love . . .

ebook
Expected publication: April 11th 2017

Terri's Thoughts

 I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for providing an honest review.  Thank you!  The expected publication date is April 11th, 2017.

This is the second story in the Piper sisters series, following Perfect Paige, featuring you guessed it. Paige.  This one focuses on telling the story of Gracie.  This could easily be read as a stand alone however reading the series in order will give a little bit of context to some of the supporting characters.

I have to admit that I preferred the first story over this one.  It is hard for me to pinpoint why, but if I really have to come up with something is that both Josh and Gracie read (to me) a little juvenile.  While I realize that Josh was treating Gracie with kid gloves because she was just a kid the last time they met, it still felt awkward at times.  Gracie in particular seemed like her entire emotional development was stunted but I think it was meant to come across that way.  I should be too harsh or lay too much judgement as the whole moral of the story is standing up against bullying and standing up for yourself.  All in all the whole romance aspect was just a little uncomfortable for me.

What saved the story for me was the supporting cast of characters.  The dynamic between Gracie and her sisters was touching in how they fiercely defended her.  Then there is her grandmother and two sidekicks who stole the show with their unique brand of meddling and love.  I loved this threesome since the first story.

It appears that there is now just Hope's story left to tell.  I look forward to seeing what her story has to offer.  I am hoping that her scars are not as awkward as Gracie's were and that we will get too see more of the humour that present in the first two stories.

Completely off topic and I normally don't do this but as I was reading, the following quote really stuck true to me.  I felt that it was really relevant with everything going on in the world today so I am including it simply because it spoke to me.

"The trick to blinding people to what's happening right in front of them is to place something even more scandalous, and more exciting to talk about, right under their nose"


About the Author


(from her Goodreads profile)

A little bit about me: I was born in Zaragoza, Spain, though my parents are from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, I've moved more than twenty times. I went to school in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico and I'm bilingual and bicultural. I've spent the last thirteen years raising my fun, inspiring boys while working from home. My greatest joys are spending time with family and close friends and coming up with characters and interesting situations.

      

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Book Blitz: Tempt Me by Christine Kingsley

Tempt Me
by
Christine Kingsley

Welcome to Sunset Bay, where the days are hot and the nights even hotter...
Katrina Caldwell loves her job managing the spa at the tropical Sunset Bay beach resort. One of the many perks is getting to work for hotter than hot Brandon Jacobs. She knows it's a mistake to let herself fall for him—he's made it clear that he's all business. But every time she's near him, he makes her feel things she thought she'd never feel again.
Brandon doesn't have time for dating. Every bit of energy he has goes into the resort he's worked hard to transform into the greatest vacation destination around, and Katrina is a temptation he just can't indulge—even if he can't get her off his mind.
The closer they get, the harder it is to avoid their undeniable chemistry. When it becomes too much to resist, Brandon makes Kat an offer—one she knows will only lead to heartache. Can she give in to her desires and still keep her heart intact?


BUY LINKS

AUTHOR BIO
Christine Kingsley is the author of sweet and sassy contemporary romance. Her Willow Valley and Sunset Bay series are known for their compelling blend of heat and heart. When she’s not dreaming up her next love story, she’s wrangling her three kids or planning her next escape to the beach.
Get a taste of Christine’s sexy, heartwarming books by grabbing a free copy of Sunset Kisses at www.christinekingsley.com/yourfreebook and connect with her on social media:
Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/2nIZ9Yo 

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Tuesday 28 March 2017

Release Blast & Giveaway: Kiss Marry Kill by Sidney Halston


He's been chasing a memory . . .


KISS, MARRY, KILL
Iron Clad Security #1
Sidney Halston
Releasing March 28th, 2017
Swerve


He's been chasing a memory . . .

It was just supposed to be a regular Thursday afternoon…and then he saw her. Sitting in seat L214, one seat over from his at the baseball game, right next to her douche of a soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend. An impromptu kiss for the kiss cam, and Jax knew his life would never be the same. Five years and a tour in Afghanistan later, Jax is back stateside running his own private security firm, Iron-Clad, with his best friend. He isn't the man he used to be... but Megan isn't the sexy and sweet, though sheltered, twenty-two-year-old he left behind, either. And she's in trouble.

...but now they're on the run.

Megan Cruz has made something of herself. She’s turned her dreams of pop stardom into a reality. But when a deadly stalker breaks into her home claiming to be her number-one fan, the only person she can turn to is the boy who got away. But Jax isn’t the same carefree charmer who stole her heart, then broke it when he joined the military. This man is seductive, hard, guarded. And he'll do anything to protect what's his.

He stuffed the last bite of food into his mouth.
“You know what this means, right?”
“What?”
“We have to do five fun things for you while we do five boring things for me.”
“I don’t remember agreeing to that.”
“So you don’t want to do five fun things?”
Megan pushed her plate back, no longer hungry. She felt emboldened, and this time she leaned over and reached for the lock of hair by his eye and pushed hit back, needing to see those sexy green eyes. “With you? Yes, I think I do,” she said, her voice a little thicker, a little lower, and her eyes never leaving his.
It was time sweet sheltered Megan had some fun.
 




USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: "Just Do It"--Nike. And that's exactly what she did.

After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative, romantic side and wrote Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she's not writing, you can find her reading and reading and reading. She's a reader first and a writer second. When she's not writing or reading, her life is complete and utter chaos, trying to balance family life with work and writing (and reading). But she wouldn't have it any other way. 

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Book Blitz: Ruthless by Emma Slate

Ruthless
by Emma Slate
(A SINS of the Rex Prequel Novella)
Romantic Suspense

Blurb:

Igor Dolinsky wasn’t always an evil bastard. He wasn’t always his father’s son.
Betrayal and blood shaped his destiny and thrust him into a world of vengeance.
Gone was the man, in his place, a monster.
Villain born or villain made, the result is the same.
Shrewd. Cold. Brutal.
Igor Dolinsky is RUTHLESS.


Excerpt #1
He had never needed a woman more than he needed one right then. He didn’t care what she looked like, how old she was, or if she found him attractive.
His body throbbed with pain and blood lust. He leaned against the cool wall of the dressing room and closed his eyes. He needed a woman before the pain settled into him and rendered him useless.
“Igor?”
He lifted his bloody, bruised limbs from the wall and turned.
Maryruth stood a few feet from him. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, the bright lights overhead made her look pale. Or maybe she was pale because all the blood had drained from her face.
“What are you doing here?” he rasped. His gaze left her eyes to drag down her body. She wore a pair of dark jeans, flats, a peacoat. Completely out of place in a sinner’s den.
He wanted to drag his tongue along the column of her throat, taste her skin, mar it with his blood. The primitive picture took hold of him until he was reaching for her. He forced his hands down.
“Get out,” he gritted.
“You’re hurt.”
“Da.”
“Let me help you.” Her eyes widened as she pled.
“You’ll hurt too, if you stay.”
She took a step closer. “You need me.”
He didn’t correct her.
“You need me the way a man needs a woman.” Her eyes dropped to the bulge in his shorts. “So take me.”

Excerpt #2

“I’ve never done anything the way other people do,” he said. “I’ve always been different that way. I spent years fighting, trying to be something I wasn’t. You know what I learned? Who cares? People judge. Fuck them. You get one life. How are you going to live it?”
They faced one another, their breaths mingling, a shaft of moonlight giving them just enough light to see outlines and curves.
Maryruth rolled on top of him and stripped off her shirt. Leaning over, she grazed her lips against his. “Show me how to live, Igor.”
Author Bio:
Emma writes romantic suspense. Usually dark. Usually with cliffhangers. Always with a lot of sex. She makes a wicked vodka gimlet. Autumn is her favorite season. She loves Friends but hates Rachel. She also thinks Chandler is amazing, but Monica should’ve chosen Richard. She loves hearing your thoughts on fictional people.

Author Links:
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Monday 27 March 2017

Review: Intoxicating (Oregon Wine Country #2) by Heather Heyford


The Girl Most Likely
. . . to be a waitress at her hometown café. That’s what Clarkston’s high school yearbook said about Poppy Springer ten years ago and that’s where the beauty queen is today. But that’s about to change now that Poppy has been offered a position as a lady sommelier at a cutting-edge new restaurant. Only Poppy has an embarrassing secret that could keep her from landing her dream job. A secret her high school crush seems determined to help her with . . .

The Man Most Wanted
In high school, Heath Sinclair may have been voted most likely to blow something up, but these days the sexy science prodigy is a self-made success story with his popular microbrewery and chiseled good looks. So why is Clarkston’s most-eligible man so hell-bent on helping Poppy prove that she is more than her reputation? Could it be the enigmatic bachelor has a hankering for the girl who got away?

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: March 28th 2017 by Lyrical Press

Terri's Thoughts

 I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is March 28th, 2017.

This is the second story in the Oregon Wine Country series.  It is not necessary to read the first one to enjoy this instalment however I would recommend it just so you can become familiar with the cast of characters.

I was a big fan of Poppy.  Her determination and drive to succeed at any cost was something that I could identify with in my career.  Her eternal optimism is something that I do not share yet envy.  Heath on the other hand was a little bit of an odd character for me.  His social awkwardness almost read as juvenile at times to me.  His devotion to Poppy on the other hand did not.

This was a sweet story that told the lesson on how priceless friends, family and home are.  Fans of contemporary romance will enjoy this story!


About the Author


Heather Heyford learned to walk and talk in Texas, and then moved to England. (“Ya’ll want some scones?”) While in Europe, Heather was forced by her cruel parents to spend Saturdays in the leopard vinyl back seat of their Peugeot, motoring from one medieval pile to the next for the lame purpose of ‘learning something.’ What she soon learned was how to allay the boredom by stashing a Cosmo under the seat. Now a recovering teacher, Heather writes contemporary romance novels set in the
wine country.


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Release Blast & Giveaway: Hot for the Fireman by Gina L. Maxwell


It’s time to see how much heat this fireman can take...


HOT FOR THE FIREMAN
Boston Heat #1
Gina L. Maxwell
Releasing March 27th, 2017
Entangled Select


Ex-Army Ranger Erik Grady lives for the job. So when his chief at the Boston Fire Department offers him two choices—mandated therapy for supposed PTSD or a permanent desk job at the station, he reluctantly agrees to see a shrink. Only this doctor is unlike anything he expected. Female and curved in all the right places? Check. Hotter than a four-alarm fire? Check. The kind of woman that can heat his blood in and out of bed? Check, check. And oh, yeah, he just happens to have firsthand experience...

Of all the men to walk into psychologist Olivia Jones' office, why did it have to be him? Her one-night stand isn't playing by the rules of just. One. Night. She’s had her heart broken in the past, and no way is she going there again. And now he's blackmailing her into three dates? Well, if that's what it takes to make him see a different therapist, fine. She can handle it. So what if the chemistry between them is combustible? She's a professional, damn it. She'll date Mr. I'm Too Sexy For My Bunker Pants. But it won’t end in the fun he expects.

It’s time to see how much heat this fireman can take...

Shit, how much time had passed? A cursory glance at his watch told him it was now fifteen minutes past. Gritting his teeth, Erik gave the area a wide sweep of his gaze, searching for a stunning blonde with the face of an angel and a body made for sin…and came up empty.
Goddamn it, he swore that if she wasn’t here in the next—
“Looks like you’ve been waiting a while. Did she stand you up?”
The feminine voice came from behind and a little to the left and held a distinct amused lilt. Relief flooded his system faster than a dose of adrenaline shot straight into the bloodstream. Erik cracked a smile then did his best to school his features with the help of dragging a hand over his afternoon stubble. Without turning around or looking back at her he said, “Yeah, it’s starting to look that way. Probably just as well, though.”
“Oh?” He felt her take a step toward him, stopping behind his left shoulder. “Why do you say that?”
“I think she was only using me for my body.” She gasped dramatically, and he barely contained his laughter. “I know,” he continued, “it shocked me, too. I thought she liked me for the important things.”
He’d never seen her playful side—didn’t even know she had one—and that she showed it to him now felt like a huge fucking win. Unable to resist any longer, he turned to face her and take her in.
“And what are the important things?”
Erik stepped into her until she had to lift her face to maintain eye contact with him. Then he used a sex-roughened voice to say, “You know, like my collection of pre-Civil War coins and freakishly extensive knowledge of Sumatran orangutans.”
Amusement danced in her eyes, and in order to prevent breaking character, she bit the center of her full lower lip. An act he very much wanted to do for her. “What a coincidence,” she said, her tone a mix of seduction and innocence that had him harder than a Halligan. “Those are two of my favorite subjects. It’s been such a long time since anyone’s showered me with”—she peered up at him through thick lashes — “Sumatran orangutan facts.”
Christ, even her playful side liked to kill him. “Sweetheart, I’ll shower you with whatever facts you want,” he said with a wink, “as long as I get to use my hands while doing it.” Erik watched as her pupils dilated in response, filling him with satisfaction. “You’re late.”
 





Gina L. Maxwell is a full-time writer, wife, and mother living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. An avid romance novel addict, she began writing as an alternate way of enjoying the romance stories she loves to read. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, hit both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists in less than four weeks, and she’s been living her newfound dream ever since.

When she’s not reading or writing steamy romance novels, she spends her time losing at Scrabble (and every other game) to her high school sweetheart, doing her best to hang out with their teenagers before they fly the coop, and dreaming about her move to sunny Florida once they do.

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