Wednesday, April 30, 2014

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION by KELSIE LEVERICH

Coming 5/1


Welcome to the blog tour for A Beautiful Distraction! I have a review and giveaway to share with you; thanks for stopping by! 


A Beautiful Distraction (Hard Feelings, #3)Series: Hard Feelings #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: NAL Trade
Publication Date: 5/6/14
Format: Paperback
Pages: 360
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars
A brand new novel in the New York Times bestselling Hard Feelings series—where nothing’s more dangerous than a bad boy with a broken heart…

First Sergeant Rafe Murano did everything to the extreme. He trained harder, he fought harder, and, unfortunately, he loved harder. And falling for the wrong woman nearly destroyed him.

Home from a deployment, and without his missions to consume him, Murano is ravaged by memories of his heartbreak. So he drinks until he’s numb and drowns himself in meaningless one-night stands. But they only take the edge off…

Until he meets Fallon.

Haunted by her past, Fallon Kelly knows all too well about the desperate desire for an escape. So when she sees the tatted-up bad boy who’s one punch away from a ride in the back of a squad car, she offers a distraction—one that quickly becomes an addiction.

Little does she know, this bad boy can love so hard, it can break her…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18159529-a-beautiful-distraction?from_search=true



"I know you, babe. I've memorized you. And if you'd let me, I'd memorize your heart. I know how to make it beat a little faster. Just tell me how to make it mine."

I've been so anxious to read A Beautiful Distraction since the moment Rafe Murano came on the page, in Feel the Rush, as one of Reed's fellow soldiers. Rafe was an intense guy, and it was clear that something heavy was eating away at him. When I found out what that was, I was initially put off. But gosh, when you see how torn up he is by the situation, it was quickly easy easy to cut the guy some slack. In A Beautiful Distraction, we've moved forward a few years with Rafe stationed in Colorado, home from his fourth deployment. Now that he no longer has the distractions that come with being 
deployed, Rafe is still trying to move on from the woman who destroyed his heart, and in the way of many dumb guys, he does this by booze and women. It's a solid plan that never fails, right? No. But don't worry, Rafe Murano's world is completely flipped when he lays eyes on Fallon Kelly.

Fallon is a real departure from the other women in the series. And you know, I appreciate that each of Leverich's leading ladies are dynamic and engaging. She's not an open, friendly person like Megan (Feel the Rush) or covered in hard edges like Roni (The Valentine's Arrangement), but she does have her own heavy issues. Fallon is a closed book, for sure, and it's not exactly clear what's put here there, besides the fact her parents were image-obsessed jerks who threw her out when she was seventeen. It is implied, though, that something much heavier weighs on Fallon, and helped contribute to the controlled woman she's become. The past has left Fallon with no desire to become close to anyone, but Rafe is not just anyone. He's the man who crumbles her walls with dark eyes and a crooked smile.

A Beautiful Distraction. The title of this book is absolutely perfect. Rafe and Fallon tentatively become involved because they are desperately attracted to each other, but also because they are each desperate for a distraction. From the past, the emptiness of the present. Rafe and Fallon simply fit, and I love how they acknowledge that, and don't fight the attraction, even if they fear the future. I love the honesty between them, the acceptance, and the strength. Especially when old, awful faces show back up. It was dramatic and draining and it was awesome. I loved every moment of this story, the ways in which Rafe and Fallon changed one another for the better, by simply loving each other. The story left me smiling, wiping away tears, and completely fulfilled.

And can I just say, the Murano family is just begging for a spin-off!

I have to say, Kelsie Leverich is such a talented writer. I enjoyed The Valentine's Arrangement very much, Feel the Rush even more, and in this book, her talent is stronger than ever. The prose is very well-written, focused, but also has a beauty that caused me to sometimes pause, then re-read a paragraph multiple times because it's just that good. Leverich has a secured me as a devoted reader.

The Hard Feelings series is one of intense, fast-moving relationships. Relationships between characters who aren't necessarily searching for more, or who may be searching for an ideal that they just haven't found yet. The relationships don't start our destined for forever, simply right now, but it's
inevitable. Leverich also gives respect and tribute to those in the Armed Services, and their family. I've really come to love this series. It's passionate, sexy, heartfelt, and delicious. I highly recommend
it.

 
Favorite Quotes
  He moaned into her mouth again, and the sound vibrated against her lips, numbing them and warming them at the same time. "I needed to taste you," he whispered, his lips still lingering over hers. "Had I known you would taste so good, I would have kissed you the moment you were in my reach." Then he kissed her again.


  Brushing his thumb over her bottom lip, he smiled. That one dexterous touch melted her. Her body warmed from the inside out. 
  "I want you," he whispered, his voice dripping with a desirous hunger as his lips tenderly swept over her jaw. When he raised his head back to look at her, his velvet eyes swam with a heady list that forced every nerve, every sense to sharpen and bind to him.




The Hard Feelings Series
The Valentine's Arrangement (Hard Feelings, #1)  Feel the Rush (Hard Feelings, #2)  Pretending She's His (Hard Feelings, #2.5)  A Beautiful Distraction (Hard Feelings, #3)

(covers lead to GoodReads pages)
Purchase Links

GIVEAWAY
I have one copy of A Beautiful Distraction up for grabs, courtesy of the publisher.
Must be 18+ years of age; open to US only.

About the author

Kelsie Leverich
Kelsie Leverich grew up in the small town of St. Joseph Illinois before getting married and following her husband from one Army post to another. After eight years, they finally settled down in Avon, Indiana with two adorable knuckleheads that are better known as her kids. Kelsie's life revolves around her family (to include two dogs and a cat) and most of the time, actually all of the time, it’s a crazy mess—but that’s the way she loves it! When Kelsie’s not writing, you can usually find her snuggling on the couch with her kids and a good book or out on the lake with family and friends. Kelsie is not a morning person, has a soft spot for animals, loves musicals, hates seafood, and thinks laundry is the source of all evil.


Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest GoodReads








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MAY KINDLE FIRE/GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash! The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd
giveaway in the rafflecopter.


  Kindle Fire May


Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)



  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)




  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)


  May Kindle Fire Giveaway Sponsors
  I Am A Reader Feed Your Reader Author Rachael Anderson Author A. Wrighton Fairiechick's Fantasy Book Reader Kindle and Me Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton A Bookish Girl The Bookish Babe Lori's Reading Corner LeahSay's Views Stacy Claflin, Author Generation iKid Kelsey Ketch Laurie Here - Contemporary Fiction and MORE Launching Sisters to WitchCamp Novel Moments Lia Fairchild Crystal's Tiny Treasures Zharmae Publishing Press Luthando Coeur F.W. Fife Jabari & Jaser LSM Books Barbara Silkstone Once Upon a YA Book Author Alecia Stone Reviews from a Bookworm Literary Sweet Author Rae Z. Ryans Bonnie Blythe's Pure Romance Bella Street's Weird Romance Author Inger Iversen Buried Under Romance Author M.A. George SMIBookClub Tressa's Wishful Endings Mother Daughter Book Reviews Helen Smith (author) Lena Sledge Book Reviews And Giveaways Auggie Talk Kelly's Lucky You Jetpack Dragons Gin's Book Notes Life of a Writer Extaordinaryreads News Letter Shannon and Elm Books The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something year Old Girl SR Johannes Author Steven Brown Author Rosanne Rivers Heather Gray (Author) The Reporter and The Girl Author FA Michaels Free Bookster  

  Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here: http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups  

  Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7", $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash. Ends 5/31/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway  
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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

COURTNEY REVIEWS: CHOICES (CHOICES #1) by SYDNEY LANE

Choices (Choices, #1)Series: Choices #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 6/22/13
Format: ebook
Pages: 206
Source: Author
Rating: 3.5 stars

GoodReads  |  Amazon B&N
Choices is a new adult contemporary romance intended for audiences 18+. Although Choices is included in a series, each book can stand alone.

Choices

Fate brought her here, but will her choices destroy her dreams?

Quincy Priest made all the right choices in her small town, black-and-white life. But being perfect is tiring. So. Very. Tiring.

Wanting desperately to step out of her sister's shadow, Quincy jumps at the opportunity to attend college with her best friend. The quiet bookworm with family secrets comes out of her shell. But when Quincy meets not one, but two perfect guys, she has to make a choice. In doing so, she might forfeit the relationship she secretly longed to find.

Declan. Sweet, handsome, and perfect. He makes her feel cherished for the first time in her life.

Brody. Sexy, hot, and irresistible. He could tear down her carefully built walls.

Before she can become the woman she wants to be, Quincy will make mistakes. And suffer one unimaginable loss.


I have been really struggling to find the words that would adequately describe how I feel after reading Choices by Sydney Lane. I liked it, a lot, but there were a few things that I stopped and thought maybe weren't perfect while I was reading it...and unfortunately I can't ignore that, either. Final rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Choices is a new adult title of the 'will she get with this cute boy or that one'...and I was pleasantly surprised by the other elements that it involved. Quincy and her best friend move to Knoxville to go to the University of Tennessee, and you find out quick that Quincy is running from her good girl reputation due to reasons that were the very interesting part (aka, spoiler alert if I tell you). She sees the sexy boys on campus in class, and happens (not accidentally) to see them again at a frat party. We have lots of angst and frustration on who should she pick, who's heart should she break...and I was frustrated with her...but didn't want her to settle either. Love triangle-centric story that I actually enjoyed!

The parts I got hung up on were a little bit of the sentence structure to the writing...I felt like there was a lot of explaining and telling going on when the scenes could have held up on their own (they were really good!) I hate saying stuff like that, because it is sometimes more subjective how much that bothers you...but there ya go. The other was how warm (not even hot) and (ice) cold Brody was for a while. There interactions in the beginning make it hard for me to believe that he was a contender for her love until certain scenes finally led me there...because of how small their exchanges were. Later, I believed it...but I was scratching my heard for a few percent there.

The story meant a lot, putting that aside, because there elements that I got vibes that are deeply personal for the author. With the dedication, and notes after, you can pick up on this...and that story arc was touching, sad, and so hard to understand if you haven't been around people like that. This means, this story has the pre-requisite psychiatric component that seems to find me all of the time! Gah, lol. I don't even search for it, and it finds me!


The Choices Series
Choices (Choices, #1)  Fate (Choices, #2)  Patience (Choices, #2.5)
(covers lead to GoodReads page)
 
 
 
About the author
Sydney Lane lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and children. Growing up in Smalltown, USA, Sydney dreamed of being a writer. After spending an outrageous amount of money to go to college, Sydney finally decided to follow her heart. With her babies in bed and husband neglected, she worked by the light of her laptop and wrote Choices. Sydney is very active in charity work for anti-bullying and depression awareness groups.


WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: IF I STAY by TAMARA MORGAN




Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine,that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's WoW selection is...
 
 
If I Stay (Montgomery Manor, #1)Series: Montgomery Manor #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: 5/12/14
 
Ryan Lucas would rather be anywhere but Ransom Creek, Connecticut. After losing his high-adrenaline career as a Hollywood stunt driver, he's had to tuck his tail between his legs and take up employment as a chauffeur for the Montgomerys, a wealthy hotelier family.

Amy Sanders has returned home to Ransom Creek to take over her mother's former position as nanny to the Montgomerys—bringing her close to dashing Jake Montgomery once again. She grew up with a major crush on Jake, and it's not easy to leave those feelings behind, even though her friendship with the hard-edged family chauffeur, Ryan, has a sizzling undercurrent of undeniable attraction.

Amy's determined to prove to Ryan that life at Montgomery Manor isn't all bad, but each time they draw closer Jake swoops in. Amy is torn between two men—and two worlds. And Ryan is rapidly coming to learn that if he wants to make Amy his, he'll have to prove to her that life downstairs can be everything they both want.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20766884-if-i-stay?from_search=true

 
 
Why I'm Waiting... I've had really good luck with Carina Press lately, and have heard great things about Morgan's books. Plus, I adore the cover! 
 
 
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Monday, April 28, 2014

MARIE FORCE: INTEVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 
 
 
I am happy to welcome author Marie Force to the blog today! Maries is here to discuss her new Green Mountain Series, and is also hosting a giveaway. Thanks for stopping by!
 
 
 
Marie ForceWith more than 2.5 million books sold, Marie Force is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 contemporary romances. Her New York Times bestselling self-published McCarthys of Gansett Island Series has sold more than 1 million e-books since Maid for Love was released in 2011. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Fatal Series from Harlequin’s Carina Press, as well as the Treading Water Series and numerous stand-alone books. All You Need is Love, book 1 in her new Green Mountain Series from Berkley Sensation, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller in February. The second book, I Want to Hold Your Hand, will be out in June, and the third book, I Saw Her Standing There, is coming in November. In 2014, Marie will have eight mass-market print releases—the first five Fatal Series books from Harlequin and the first three Green Mountain Series books from Berkley. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two teenagers and two feisty dogs, Brandy and Louie. Join Marie's mailing list at http://marieforce.com/ for news about new books and other possible appearances in your area.
 
 
Interview
 
Hi, Marie. Welcome to The Bookish Babe. Can you tell us a bit about how the Green Mountain series came about?
 
Marie: Thanks for having me, Andrea! It’s great to be here. The Green Mountain Series was inspired by a news story I saw about the Vermont Country Store, which is located in Weston, Vermont, and is run by the Ortons, a father and his three sons, who are third generation proprietors. I thought it was a really interesting story, so I went to Vermont to check out the flagship store in Weston as well as the second store in Rockingham. If you don’t get the Vermont Country Store catalog, I recommend you check it out. It’s a fascinating place! I’ve since met two of the Orton brothers and they will be hosting the series launch party at the store in Weston in June. It’s been so fun to write about a family that runs a country store in Vermont. My fictional family has ten children, five of whom run the store with their father and the other five provide goods that are sold at the store, including maple syrup, wood working, jewelry and Christmas trees. 

 
With ten Abbott siblings, you have potential for a big series. Will each of the Abbotts get a book? (Please say Colton is getting a book!)
Marie:  LOL, yes, Colton is the star of book 3, I Saw Her Standing There, and he has been so fun to write since book 1. He had me laughing out loud several times when I was writing book 3. I do hope to write a book for each of the Abbott siblings, and maybe a few of their friends and family, too. :-)

 
Is there a particular Abbott sibling whose story you're especially excited to tell? 
 
Marie:  I’m writing Hunter’s story next, which will be book 4, And I Love Her. After that will be Ella’s story, and after you read Book 2, you will know why I’m looking forward to her book. I don’t want to give anything away, so that’s all I’ll say for now.
 
 
I Want to Hold Your Hand is Abbott sister, Hannah's story.. Can you tell us what we can expect from her story? (I'm planning on having a box of tissues on stand-by)

Marie:  Yes, you will need them! Hannah’s story was a really special book for me. She is an Iraqi war widow who finds new love with her late husband’s close friend. It was an amazing journey that included interviews with other war widows and a lot of reading about the journey through grief. It was also a challenge to make her late husband Caleb a vibrant character in her story so readers would fully understand what she had lost. I’m really proud of that book, and I hope readers will love it as much as I do.
 
 
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers? Or potential readers?

Marie:  I always love the chance to say THANK YOU to the readers who are so faithful to me and my books. I’ve been blessed beyond my wildest dreams with the most incredible readers. I hope those of you who haven’t tried my books will check them out at http://marieforce.com/books. You can try Maid for Love, book 1 in the McCarthy series, for free. Thanks again for having me!
 
 


All You Need is Love (Green Mountain #1)
Series: Green Mountain #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 2/4/14

GoodReads  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  Kobo
Hoping to take the magic of the island and move it to the mountains with the Abbot family, purveyors of the odd and hard to find relics of a time long gone by in small-town Vermont. Hope you'll come with me to the Green Mountains! Watch for the first book in the series in early 2014!

The family-run Green Mountain Country Store is cherished by locals as a reminder of simpler times. The Abbott children are determined to keep it that way—but their father has different plans…

When Cameron Murphy heads to Vermont to build a website for a new client, she imagines a more relaxing trip than she gets. After wrecking her car by colliding with the town moose, she meets the most handsome hero she’s ever seen. Unfortunately, her savior, Will Abbott, is also the son of her client—and he wants nothing to do with the new website or the city girl creating it.

For all Will cares, Cameron can march her fancy boots right out of town and out of his family’s business. But he can’t seem to get her out of his head. As his family’s dispute heats up, so does the chemistry between the two, leaving them wondering if simple is better after all—especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

 


The Green Mountain Series 
All You Need is Love (Green Mountain #1)  I Want To Hold Your Hand (Green Mountain, #2)
(covers lead to GoodReads page)
 
 


Giveaway
 

Marie is offering two lucky winners a signed copy of All You Need is Love.
Must be 18+ years of age; open to US.

 


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TEASER TUESDAY: A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION by KELSIE LEVERICH





 Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.


 
A Beautiful Distraction (Hard Feelings, #3)Series: Hard Feelings #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: NAL Trade
Publication Date: 5/6/14
 
A brand new novel in the New York Times bestselling Hard Feelings series—where nothing’s more dangerous than a bad boy with a broken heart…

First Sergeant Rafe Murano did everything to the extreme. He trained harder, he fought harder, and, unfortunately, he loved harder. And falling for the wrong woman nearly destroyed him.

Home from a deployment, and without his missions to consume him, Murano is ravaged by memories of his heartbreak. So he drinks until he’s numb and drowns himself in meaningless one-night stands. But they only take the edge off…

Until he meets Fallon.

Haunted by her past, Fallon Kelly knows all too well about the desperate desire for an escape. So when she sees the tatted-up bad boy who’s one punch away from a ride in the back of a squad car, she offers a distraction—one that quickly becomes an addiction.

Little does she know, this bad boy can love so hard, it can break her…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18159529-a-beautiful-distraction?from_search=true
 
 
 
My Teaser ~
 
 
  Lifting her hand to his mouth, he carefully and slowly brushed his lips against the inside of her wrist, undulating a shiver that coursed through her entire body. It was as if that thin spot had a direct line to every sensitive, feminine part of her that was begging to come alive.
 "I can do this for you too. I can be your distraction."
 
 
I loved this book! My review posts on Thursday.
 
 
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Sunday, April 27, 2014

REVIEW: MAKE IT A DOUBLE (LAST CALL #2) by SAWYER BENNETT

Make It a Double (Last Call, #2)Series: Last Call Series #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Big Dog Books
Publication Date: 4/21/14
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Rating: 4 stars
 
Brody Markham has endured a nightmare, spending the last five years in prison and losing everything that was dear to him. Now he’s back home, trying to survive in a world he doesn’t recognize anymore. While his family and friends desperately try to reach through to him, he shelters himself further and further away from their love.

Alyssa Myers has worked her entire life to distance herself from the luxurious and privileged lifestyle in which she was raised. Running her non-profit agency, The Haven, she is content to spend her days helping abused animals find sanctuary, which fulfills her in a way that money just can’t buy.

Maybe it’s that she recognizes in Brody some of the same characteristics she sees in her homeless wards, but Alyssa is powerless to stop her personal quest to make Brody whole again.

While Brody struggles to surface from the darkness, Alyssa tries to protect her heart in case he’s not willing to accept the light that she offers him.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20360010-make-it-a-double?from_search=true
 
 

I adored the first book in the Last Call series, On the Rocks. Gabby Ward was funny and badass; Hunter Markham was a sexy and charismatic leading man. When I finished, the first thing I said to author Sawyer Bennett was something along the lines of "On the Rocks was great! When will I get Brody's book?" You see, while Hunter was the golden boy surfer god, his twin Brody was newly released from prison and extreeeeeemely broody. I mean, he's obviously got some baggage, but it was obvious there was more going on with Brody. So needless to say, I was very excited to read Make It a Double. I wanted to know what was going on with Broody Brody (besides the obvious). I hoped his book would deliver.

Make It a Double was a sexy book that made my heart beat hard and left it happy. I'm not going to analyze every detail of Brody's story, but I will say that the subject of his past was delved into even deeper than I expected. There were some great insights into Brody's anger and withdrawal. There were a couple of big surprises, and while I liked Brody as a character to begin with, I loved him even more after. He was a self-aware man who shoulder every bit of his responsibility for what sent him to prison. No one could punish him more than he punished himself. His journey back into the outside world was difficult and very thought-provoking. I really admire Bennett's dedication into not glossing this over at all.

It's often said that behind every good man is a good woman. I'd like to think that beside every good man is a good woman, and vice versa. In the best of cases, two people in love balance and complement one another. The woman who would be beside Brody, if he'll let her, is Alyssa Myers. Alyssa was an exceedingly likeable character. A good friend, a thoughtful person, and generous with her time and money, she is nearly the perfect heroine. While she came from a rich yet cold family, Alyssa had the warmest of hearts.

I'm going to take a moment to praise the beard. As in, Brody has one. Beards are kinda my weakness, and let's just say Brody makes good use of his. And to that turn, Make It a Double was a sexy book, guys. Sawyer Bennett always brings the heat, but it means even more to me when you find two leading characters who deserve the love so much. They take care of each other, in any and every way possible. Nurturing is what Brody and Alyssa are all about.

Make It a Double was such a good follow-up to On the Rocks. I enjoyed it even more, actually. I went into this book with high expectations. Happily, all those expectations were met. I really enjoy the Last Call series. I cannot wait to see whose book is next!


Favorite Quotes
  The snotty, rich bitch heiress comment tells me where he's coming from, but not why he feels that adequately describes me. I mean...he got the rich heiress part right, but I am not snotty, nor a bitch. Unless you cross me, then I can be a bitch. But in an understated, classy way.


  And here I stand...inches away from a woman so beautiful she makes her eyes hurt sometimes, and so kind she makes my heart hurt. I know that I had, without a doubt, the best kiss of my life with her the other night, and it will be even better if I kiss her again. I should run. Push her away, bark at her...something to stop this train wreck from happening. Because if we kiss...I know there won't be any stopping.

  I am going to take care of this man. I'm going to guard his secret, I'm going to make him feel unbelievable pleasure, and then I'm going to make sure he knows that he's worthy of the best life has to offer.
 
The Last Call Series
On the Rocks (Last Call, #1)   Make It a Double (Last Call, #2)
(covers lead to GoodReads page)
 
 
Purchase Links
 
 
 
 
About the author
USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.



 
 
 
 
 
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{REVIEW} TANYA by REBECCA ROGERS-MAHER

TanyaGenre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Promised Land Books
Publication Date: 4/30/14
Format: eARC
Pages: 88
Source: Author
Rating: 5 stars

Tanya—a recovering alcoholic—meets Jack at a roadside stop on the way to her sister’s wedding. Hoping to drown her sorrows in the company of a stranger, she brings him back to her motel room.

The next day, shaken by the intensity of the experience, Tanya joins her sister’s bridal party at an upscale mountain lodge. There, she meets the groom’s family for the first time, including his brother, Jack—just home from the Peace Corps and reeling from his night with the bold, beautiful woman he thought he’d never see again.

Both at a crossroads in their lives, Tanya and Jack collide for one explosive weekend. Will they choose the safety of past regrets, or will they be brave enough to embrace the present—together?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21795649-tanya?from_search=true

If you ever wanted to know what became of The Bridge's Henry and Christa (and how could you not?) this is the story for you. If you were curious about Christa's troubled sister Tanya, this is a must-read. If you want another beautifully-written story from Rebecca Rogers-Maher that will completely consume you, you will want to read Tanya.

In The Bridge, Rebecca Rogers-Maher created an insightful, painful, and enlightening look at depression and suicide. In Tanya, we have one lead who is a recovering alcoholic. Every day Tanya must make the choice not to drink. Sometimes, though, the dark places inside her require fulfillment, which often results in dirty, anonymous sex. One such encounter results in a one night stand with her sister's soon-to-be brother-in-law, Jack. Jack was portrayed as vibrant and happy in The Bridge, and we quickly learn that Henry's perception of Jack is not quite how Jack sees himself. He feels a lot of guilt over his brother's  struggles with depression. He also feels anxiety over the direction of his life. Over the course of a few days, this quiet, loving, smitten man and the woman who finds herself too dark, too dangerous, uncover each other, and possibly find exactly what they need.

If you're a "well-adjusted", healthy person, you might not understand those who are self-destructive, how deep the inner turmoil roots and drive to do things that aren't reasonable or healthy from the outside looking in. Tanya is a character who will challenge readers. She is not a nice girl, easy to like like her sister. She has harsh edges, she's smart, and she can be selfish. She's two years sober, and still struggling with guilt and regret. She is a character who reminded me that all heroines- all women -are not sweet, easy to love, or even likeable. As women, we are often taught to smile, even when we don't feel like it. To fake the niceties that make others comfortable. Never let anyone know you're unhappy. For some reason, maybe because she is not inherently sweet and soft, Tanya reminded me that it is okay to simply be. Even if you have the sharper edges or aren't quick with a smile, there is still another out there who will love you exactly as you are. The dark secrets don't scare them away, the hard-won smiles mean even more. Jack was that man for Tanya. He seems like the quintessential rich boy do-gooder. A man constantly in motion, always searching. Jack, though not as bleak as his brother Henry, is just as introspective, questioning, insightful. While Tanya assumes her darkness will scare Jack away, he loves what she gives him. She stills him.

Rogers-Maher offers a thorough story of a recovering addict, and I'm continually amazed how she can create such fulfilling, deeply-driven, insightful stories with so few pages. Of course, I would love more- her writing is gorgeous- but I never felt cheated or that the story is lacking. Tanya was a rewarding experience. Surprisingly, I think I cried more with this story than The Bridge. Tanya spoke to the parts of me that struggle. Jack's acceptance and love, his need for her, reaffirmed my belief that we all need love. Tanya reminded me that we all have a story to tell.


Favorite Quotes
  She doesn't want to know why I'm here. She doesn't want to know who I am, or what I want to do with my life, or why there is so much waste and excess and emptiness in the country I though was my home, or how infuriatingly helpless I feel, or why after two years in Guyana, I'm pretty sure I won't ever belong anywhere. What this woman wants is a quick tryst with a stranger in a roadside motel room.
  And despite all good sense and caution, I want to give her that. I want to take it, for myself, too. I want to obliterate from my brain every particle of restlessness and doubt.


  I don't know who I was before this. I don't know what will be left of me when it's done. I am a single atom dying to be split in two. Begging to be obliterated by her, to obliterate everything around me.


  It's love that's slicing into me, I know that. There's no stopping it even if I wanted to. I'm walking right into its clean blade with my eyes open. 
  I kiss her.
  I know there is something wrong. Many things wrong. She won't talk about it with me, not yet. Not now.
  Now, she is asking for something else. She wants what I gave to her that first night--escape, a lightning rod to pour her pain into.
  It's something I can give freely. That I want to give.
  She pours that feeling into me and makes me alive, too. Electrified. I would do anything she asked.



Purchase Links
Amazon  |  B&N  |  iTunes
 
 
 
 
About the author  
Rebecca Rogers MaherRebecca Rogers Maher writes bold contemporary romance novels with strong, flawed heroines. She’s a Vassar graduate, a former community organizer and Brooklyn public school teacher, and a mother to two insanely sweet boys. She believes messed-up ladies deserve happy endings too, as well as lots of hot sex with genuinely kind men. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her hot, kind husband and their children.

RT Book Reviews describes Rebecca’s writing as “beautiful, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming,” Library Journal calls it “dark, electrically charged…gut-wrenching…” and Dear Author says it “resonate(s) with depth.” In a ridiculously embarrassing article, New York Daily News called her novels “steamy.”
 




 
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Saturday, April 26, 2014

THE WEEKLY REWIND, #96: BOOK HAUL AND GIVEAWAY

 
 
THE WEEKLY REWIND is a weekly post in which I recap the bookish awesomeness from the past week, and post a book haul.
 

Book Haul
(click on covers to visit GoodReads page)
 
For Review:
 
 
 
Purchases:
 
Ready to Fall  An Unsuitable Husband  Nocturnes (Hard Rock Harlots, #3)
 
 
Freebies:
 
The Fallen (Sons of Wrath, #0.5)  Bound (Fire on Ice, #1)  When I Break (When I Break, #1)   One Wild Night
 
 
 
 
The Rundown
I know Maisey Yates is an author a lot of romance readers enjoy, so I was excited to see Unbroken. Look at the cover! I can't wait to give it a try. I also received another Yates book, Avenge Me, for the Fifth Avenue Trilogy blog tour hosted by MLM Media. What's cool is the books in the trilogy, Scandalize Me and Expose Me, will release in June, July and August, so not much of a wait. My tour stop is in June. I received a request for Untamed after commenting on Vi's review at Vietbabe. It looks good!
 
So I bought three books this week, but they were all on sale for $0.99. I've been meaning to get Ready to Fall because Hootie loves it, plus the guy on the cover is wearing plaid. Hot dudes wearing plaid is my kryptonite, y'all! Laura Florand tweeted about An Unsuitable Husband, and her book tweets always get my attention. The hero is a French soccer player! I didn't even realize Nocturnes had released, but when I saw that it was on sale I snatched it up. I really loved the first book, Strings.
 
There were several tempting freebies this week. Braine at Talk Soup liked The Fallen. Autumn liked Bound. I'm a fan of several of Kendall Ryan's books (Make Me Yours!) and had been meaning to get When I Break. I've also heard good things about Jessie Evans so I got One Wild Night.
 
 
 
Thanks to
 
 
 
Reviews
Last Week
 
 
This Week
 
  • Tanya by Rebecca Rogers-Maher
  • Make it a Double (Last Call #2) by Sawyer Bennett
  • A Beautiful Distraction (Hard Feelings #3) by Kelsie Leverich
  • Talk Dirty to Me (Plum Orchard #1) by Dakota Cassidy
  • Natural Law/Naughty Bits by Joey W. Hill
 
Giveaway
Once a Witch (Witch, #1)  Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (Jessica, #1)
 
(covers lead to GoodReads page)
 
 
 
 
 
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