Excerpt and Giveaway: Taking Control - Jen Frederick

In anticipation of the upcoming release, Jen Frederick is sharing an excerpt and giveaway from Taking Control. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

Series: Kerr Chronicles #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pear Tree, LLC
Publication Date: 9/8/14


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I thought I needed only one thing in my life--the money and power to crush one man. But the moment I laid eyes on Victoria Corielli, my thirst for revenge was replaced by my craving for her.


No rule would keep me away; no obstacle too large to overcome. Not her will, not our differing social positions, not my infamous past. When she lost everything, I helped her pick up the pieces. When she trusted me with everything, she sealed her fate.



I've convinced Victoria she can put her heart in my hands. Now I have to protect it--from her shady stepfather and my business rivals, from enemies known and hidden. I'll do anything to keep her. And I might have to prove it, because now Victoria''s risking more than her heart to be with me; she's risking her life.

"I want us to get married. Soon. Do you want a big wedding?”

“Married? I mean, I guess I thought you were serious but I figured…I don’t know.” Her voice trails off.

“That my proposal of marriage was somehow insincere? I’ve never wanted anything more. I just didn’t want to pressure you because of all the emotional upheaval you’re experiencing now.” Rolling over so she can see me and judge the sincerity for herself, I declare, “I want you to be my wife. The mother of any children we have. My partner in life. I want that to happen now so that I can introduce you as Mrs. Ian Kerr.”

Her eyes close for a moment and beneath the lids, silent tears leak out. Her words, though, are classic. “Maybe you should take my name. You can be Ian Corielli and I’ll introduce you as Mr. Victoria Corielli.”

“As long as it means you’re mine in the eyes of the world, I’ll be Mr. John Smith.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and clings to me. This time the shudders I’m soothing are from maybe, possibly, hopefully joy for our future. “I’m okay with Victoria Kerr,” she chokes out. “You better give me a big rock and lots of flowers since you’re proposing to me while we’re naked.”

“I proposed to you when I first took you to the house on the Long Island Sound.”

“You didn’t propose. You said that you wanted me to be your wife and fill your big house with lots of little people.”

“That’s a proposal.”

“It was a demand.”

“It was a request couched as a demand.”

Her body is shaking with laughter. “You’ve been in charge for too long. That was no request.”

Pushing to my knees, I reach into the nightstand and retrieve the box I bought before Sophie died. Her eyes grow huge and her hands come up to the cover her mouth. I flip the box lid open, pluck the ring out and toss it aside.

Lifting her shaking hand in mine, I slide the ring down her finger.

“When I was fifteen I made a hundred different stupid vows. I’d avenge my mother. I’d rise to the top of Wall Street and smite everyone down. I’d crush Richard Howe beneath the sole of my boot. I’d win at everything. But I never wished for happiness because I didn’t know what it was until you came into my life. How could I want something I didn’t know was missing? Now, everything I’ve achieved pales in comparison to having you love me. When I say that you’re my heart, my everything, those aren’t just words. They are the only truth in my world. I’d give up money, revenge, success, as long as I could lie down next to you at night and wake up with your face beside mine.

There is no greater achievement in my life than having you fall in love with me and I recognize on some mysterious level that is pure luck. I need you to marry me and be my wife. I need you to be the mother of my children. I need you because without you I am nothing. I am a pile of bones and flesh filled with misery. You bring me to life. Love me, marry me, be with me in this life and into all the ones we live from this point ever after.”

“Well, since you put it like that, I guess I must.” She rises and kisses me. Our mouths sealing the promises we’ve made to another one another.

I make love to her again then, slowly. We barely move. I just slide in and we rock together and allow the strength of our emotions to carry us into the heaven.
 

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Bestselling author Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

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MINI-REVIEWS: LAST HIT and LAST BREATH by JESSICA CLARE AND JEN FREDERICK

Series: Hitman #1Genre: Erotic/Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 11/30/13

Format: Kindle

Pages: 272

Source: Author

Rating: 3.5 stars

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Nikolai:

I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos. The stars on my knees, the marks on my fingers, the dagger in my neck, all bespoke of danger. If you saw my eyes, it was the last vision you’d have. I have ever been the hunter, never the prey. With her, I am the mark and I am ready to lie down and let her capture me. Opening my small scarred heart to her brings out my enemies. I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears.

Daisy:

I’ve been sheltered from the outside world all my life. Homeschooled and farm-raised, I’m so naive that my best friend calls me Pollyanna. I like to believe the best in people. Nikolai is part of this new life, and he’s terrifying to me. Not because his eyes are cold or my friend warns me away from him, but because he’s the only man that has ever seen the real me beneath the awkwardness. With him, my heart is at risk..and also, my life.

I've been curious about the Hitman series since Last Hit released. I'm a fan of Jen Frederick's Woodland series, and pretty much want to read whatever she writes. She did warn me that this series is very different from her contemporary romance. And it is. But you know, I liked it.

I'll admit, I had a bit of a time connecting with this story. I felt more detached from the characters than normal. At first this bothered me, but then...I got to thinking about it, and it suited the story. Nikolai is a Ukranian hitman. His stilted American dialogue and his awkward manners were well-placed in the story. If he'd been perfectly comfortable, with an American dialect, that would have been out of place in this story. I don't have to feel completely connected to every character to enjoy a story, particularly when he's a Eastern European hitman. I did like Daisy quite a lot. She came from a tragic, strange background, and once again, the way she was written fit that. Daisy was innocence and light to Nikolai's darkness and sin. I wondered how she would react to his life, would she run away or brush it off. The answer was...really neither, and that worked for me.

I know this review has been a vague, rambling hot mess. I don't know why! I was really into Last Hit, and read it within a matter of a couple hours. The story was strange and intriguing, the last half was exciting. There was never this one moment that completely blew me away, but I was in it throughout. Last Breath, book two, was set up very nicely. Daniel was a fun and engaging character and I have a feeling I'm going to adore him. And with what Regan went through in this book, I can't wait to find out what happened, and what happens next.

 

Series: Hitman #2

Genre: Erotic/Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 3/24/14

Format: Kindle

Pages: 280

Source: Author

Rating: 3.5 stars

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Regan

I never really knew what misery was until the day I was kidnapped and sold for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two months later, I'm at a brothel in Rio when I meet Daniel Hays. He says he's here to save me, but can I trust him? All I know of him are his sarcastic retorts and his tendency to solve every dispute with his gun. He's also the only safe thing in my world, and I know it's wrong to fall in love with him, but I can't seem to help myself. He says he’ll protect me until his last breath but I don’t know if I should believe him or even if I can.


Daniel

For the last eighteen months, I’ve had one goal: to find my kidnapped sister. I’ve left the Army, turned paid hit man, and have befriended criminals all across the globe. In every brothel I raid or every human trafficking truck I stop, her face is the one I’m desperate to see. In Rio, I find Regan Porter, bruised but not broken and still sane despite her weeks in hell. I should leave her behind or send her home because the last thing either of us needs is to get involved. But with every passing minute, I find I can’t let her go.

After that perfect set-up at the end of Last Hit, I was really excited to start Last Breath. Daniel was ridiculously charming, intriguing, and I wanted to follow along as he sets out to rescue Regan. Now, I knew that whatever had happened to Regan couldn't be good, but I hoped that maybe I was wrong. I wasn't. The horror that Regan experienced made Last Breath both an intriguing and stomach-churning/turning read.

Please don't get me wrong, Last Breath was a good read. It was just hard for me, given what Regan endures and how it's dealt with. I'm not saying how the aftermath was written was right or wrong, it just didn't sit so well with me. I will say that if you have sexual assault triggers, proceed with caution. In some ways, I admired the way Regan was written, dealing with the aftermath of what she'd undergone. In other ways, it made me uncomfortable but that may be just my issue. I just don't know...

What I really liked about Last Breath was that was an adventure, a mystery. The action kept the story moving at an excellent pace, and kept me on the edge. The details the author gave to the setting and the characters gave the story an enormous sense of authenticity. The dialogue was humorous and witty. I enjoyed the verbal sparring between Daniel and Regan very much. And when it came to the dirty talk, wow, Daniel was pretty hardcore!

In the end, I did like Last Breath. Because of the trigger issues, I wouldn't recommend it to those sensitive to that. That aside, I would recommend it to those who are looking for adventure and steamy romantic suspense.

 

About Jen Frederick

 

Bestselling author Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

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About Jessica Clare

Jessica Clare is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who writes under three different names. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance.

She also has a third pen name (because why stop at two?). As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She lives in Texas with her husband, cats, and too many dust-bunnies. Jill spends her time writing, reading, writing, playing video games, and doing even more writing.

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PROMOTIONAL EVENT: UNRAVELED by JEN FREDERICK ~ EXCERPT, TOP TEN AND GIVEAWAY

I am a big fan of the Woodlands series by Jen Frederick, and am happy to help promote the latest installment, Unraveled. My post includes a short excerpt, a fun Top Ten, and a giveaway.

Series: Woodlands #3
Category/Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pear Tree LLC
Publication Date: 1/20/14

Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.

Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?

EXCERPT

THIS WAS ONLY TEMPORARY, I reminded myself, as Samantha so sweetly kissed me back. I'm only here for a short time I reminded myself but as I felt her tongue stroke the side of my tongue, as she nipped her teeth against my lip, I wanted to just drown in the sensation. Her scent filled my head and the air around us shrank until all I knew was her small body sitting so close to mine. I moved my hand from her shoulder to cup her neck and angled her face for deeper penetration. I licked every inch inside of her mouth until the taste of her was all that I knew on my tongue.

And all that time I stared in to her green eyes and not once did she look like she was anywhere but right here with me. I saw my reflection there. Her heartbeat was made wild by my kisses.



And temporary was the farthest thing from my mind.

Ten Surprising Things Sam Would Tell You About Gray

10. Gray really isn’t as bad of a knitter as you might think and he’s really good at helping unwind skeins of yarn and re rolling them into balls.

9. He’s a homebody probably because when he’s deployed he’s getting all the adventure out of his system. When he comes home, he likes to relax on the sofa, drink beer and watch sports. Oh and other stuff. ;)

8. He really loves family. We have dinner with his parents almost once a week and have gone to see his brothers regularly. He Skypes with Bitsy and tells her to stay away from all men particularly my brother in law Tucker.

7. He doesn’t snore.

6. He will rarely fall asleep before me. He says its because he likes to watch me while I’m sleeping.

5. He would like a pet, preferably a dog that he can take to the beach with him.

4. He loves being a Marine. I know that it’s popular to make fun of someone who enjoys being enlisted so much but it means something to him. He likes the idea that he’s involved in something bigger than himself so that even if the day to day things grind him down, he has the greater purpose in mind.

3. He often thinks about separating. He misses his family a lot and his brothers are often telling him to come and work in their custom auto business.

2. He’s very tender.

1. He wants to have his own family. That’s really important to him. And we work on it regularly. :)

The Woodlands Series

 

    

 

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

My Reviews

Undeclared  |  Unspoken  |  Unraveled

 

Purchase Links

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords  |  iBooks

 

GIVEAWAY

$50 Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author

Bestselling author Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

 

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REVIEW: UNRAVELED (WOODLANDS #3) by JEN FREDERICK

Series: Woodlands #3
Category/Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pear Tree LLC
Publication Date: 1/20/14
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Rating: 4.5 stars

Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.

Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?

 

First Impression.... Oh. Looks like I have another great Woodlands book in my hands.

 

The Story... The Woodlands series takes a turn in a slightly new direction with Gray Phillips, not officially a member of the Woodlands gang, but a close friend and fellow Marine to Bo and Noah. Gray is at a crossroads, at a point where he must decide whether to reenlist in the Marines, or join civilian life. Burned badly by an ex, Gray is not interested in relationships, and then he meets Sam Anderson. Sam lost her husband in the war two years ago, and has spent the time since barely existing. Meeting Gray for her is like waking up. He's everything she thinks she never wants again, but can't stay away from. Gray feels the same, but his past may destroy his future.

 

The Characters... Gray was introduced in Unspoken, when Bo and AM visited him in San Diego. He didn't have a lot of page time, but he did make a big impression on me. When I learned Unraveled was his book, I was very intrigued. That interest paid off, because Gray was a very engaging and likable character. He has a strong dilemma on his hands, with his choice between his duty to his fellow Marines and the stress of the lifestyle. I was honestly prepared to be more frustrated by him, given his anti-relationship stance, but Frederick gave much insight to his thoughts and doubts and feelings.

Sam Anderson is a character that even the hardest-hearted readers will find impossible not to like. She's a young war widow who is exhausted by being defined by her husband's death. Her sense of obligation to her husband's memory is admirable, and the author did a brilliant job of conveying her pain, exhaustion, and struggles in moving ahead. I did love that we got to meet Sam at a point in which she was beginning to be ready to move on, and not in the midst of full-on grief. She was just a really well-developed and endearing character.

 

The Writing... I think Frederick is an incredible writer. Her style is a bit quiet or subdued, with great prose. The dual point-of-view was done well, with each character having a distinct voice. And I really love how she writes her men. They're Alpha, without being Alphaholes.

 

The Heat... No doubt about it, Unraveled is definitely the steamiest book in the Woodlands series. And when I say steamy, I mean WOAH. Gray and Sam have a great chemistry. The intensity and frequency of their...interactions was on par with the situation and feelings moving through them.

 

Was Unraveled Un-putdownable? It took me approximately two paragraphs to fall into this story. It's not that the opening was especially attention-grabbing. It's more that Frederick is a great writer, and I felt like I was slipping into the comfort of an author who's never let me down. Invaluable.

 

In the End... Unraveled is a great addition to the Woodlands series, possibly my favorite. If you love this series, you'll love this installment. If you haven't tried the series, wait no longer.

 

Favorite Quote:

  "I'm going to kiss you now." His voice was deep, rough and matched the rest of his thoroughly masculine body.
  "I know," I whispered back. And I wanted that kiss from Gray who ordinarily wouldn't be my type at all. I wanted it more than I wanted breath. When his mouth molded against mine, it felt like bliss, as if my whole cold body had been submerged into a warm bath. If I thought I was engulfed before it was nothing like I felt at that moment. My entire world--my thoughts, my feelings, my senses--were full of him.

 

The Woodlands Series

 

    

 

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

My Reviews

Undeclared  |  Unspoken

 

 

Purchase the Woodlands Series

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

Connect with Jen Frederick

Website  |   Facebook  |  Twitter

 

     

REVIEW: UNSPOKEN (WOODLANDS #2) by JEN FREDERICK

Series: Woodlands #2

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 9/16/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 5 stars

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.

I've been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?

He's everything I shouldn't want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren't the danger to me, though, it's his charm. He's sliding his way into my heart and I'm afraid that he's going to be the one to break me.

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I'll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I've got fighting and I've got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.

She's everything I didn't realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she's been hurt too much in the past and I don't want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can't.

 

Welp, now that I've read the second Woodlands series book, I think I can officially say that I am a fan of both this series and author Jen Frederick. My favorite type of series is the companions, with each story focusing on a different member of a group of friends or family.  In this series, we get the guys of the Woodlands. The first book, Undeclared, was Noah Jackson's book. Unspoken is his best friend Bo Randolph's story.

If you've read Undeclared, then you've met Bo Randolph. And if you've met Bo Randolph, then you know why I wanted to read this as soon as possible. Bo is a blond-haired, sexy, charming former Marine. He's a good time guy who's always up for a fight or a f--- (you know what I'm saying). But the thing is, Bo is a good guy. A good friend. Best of all, he's more than good to the girl he cares about.

Not only does Unspoken have a worthy guy, but also a heroine who does my heart good. AnnMarie, AM, is a girl that I, like way too many women I'm afraid, could identify with. She's a girl who has been labeled, mistreated, harassed for one event during her first semester in college. She's become withdrawn from university society in an effort to protect herself, the campus ghost. Some might say AM's reaction to the bullying is weak, but I say she's not. That however she handles her feelings and fears is okay and part of a process. Unspoken is not only a love story, or Bo's story, but also AM's journey past the people who've persecuted her, and reclaiming her life and voice.

I absolutely loved AM and Bo together. I like how they started out as friends and had a natural chemistry that was both fun, antagonistic, teasing, and suggestive. I love that their relationship didn't revolve around the physical, though they definitely did have that going for them. It was a layered and beautiful relationship that did revolve around trust and friendship and becoming stronger together. A team.

Undeclared deals with several heavy issues: bullying, society's unbalanced treatment between the genders in regards to sexuality, physical and emotional abuse and how it affects a victim's decisions throughout their lives. It also deals with trust and the safety you can find in someone that loves you in your entirety.

Author Jen Frederick has really hit on something special with  the Woodlands series. Her stories are fun, funny, steamy, and thoughtful. Each story delivers enough of the other Woodlands guys to have you itching for more. And now, Frederick and this series have a permanent spot  on my "Highly-Anticipated" list.


Favorite Quotes:

    "I can't believe you're my lab partner. Would you just stand up an let me out?" She threw her backpack over her shoulder and gestured for me to move, but I couldn't. I had a little wood in my pants and I needed her to be about fifteen degrees less cute in order for me to be able to obey her commands.    ~ eARC, 6%


  "His breath was warm and his voice, deep and strong, raised the hair on my neck. "We'll have to test the hypothesis. I'll ask again when it's over."
  As he drew back, it felt like his lips dragged across the top of my lobe, and a shiver shook me from head to toe. He removed himself slowly, one arm pushing upward and off the barrel. I looked at him and bit my lip, trying to suppress any dumb statements. He grinned and brought his thumb up to draw my lower lip out of my teeth and rubbed his thumb over the abused area. My lip plumped up under his ministrations.    ~eARC, 26%


  "I like to think we have a more elevated form of bacchanalia," Finn quipped. "You should come see for yourself."
  "What special events occur if I do?" I smiled. The banter with Finn was easy and nonthreatening.
  "Me, of course. Once you've seen my delectable form in my natural habitat, every other guy will look dull and unformed to you." Bo's hand appeared heavily on Finn's shoulder. "Especially this guy."
  "Are you poaching on my territory?" Bo squeezed Finn's shoulder.
  Finn leaned toward me. "Bo's still stuck on level three of the evolutionary scale."   ~eARC, 30%
 

  "Now whenever you feel alone, know that I've got your back. No matter who's against you, know that a thousand others wait to avenge you."
  "But I'm not a Marine," I whispered back, my voice catching on the tears threatening to spill out.
  "You're a fighter, Sunshine. Plus, you belong to this Marine."  ~eARC, 80%

Woodlands Series

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My Review of Undeclared

Purchase the Woodlands Series
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TEASER TUESDAY ~ UNSPOKEN

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.


Series: Woodlands #2

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 9/16/13

 

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.

I've been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?

He's everything I shouldn't want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren't the danger to me, though, it's his charm. He's sliding his way into my heart and I'm afraid that he's going to be the one to break me.

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I'll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I've got fighting and I've got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.

She's everything I didn't realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she's been hurt too much in the past and I don't want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can't.

 

My Teasers ~

  "Sorry, couldn't resist," drawled Bo. The rumor about Bo being a southerner? True. His drawl was as recognizable as the shocking blue eyes he sported. They were so blue I wondered if they were fake. I stared at them for a moment too long, looking for the outline of a contact lens, but saw nothing but pure ocean blue, like the waves you see in the spring break pamphlets of the Caribbean Sea lapping against the white sand beaches. Who needed Cancun when you could stare at Bo Randolph's eyes for a week?
  I wrenched my gaze away. Bo was the poster child for every disaster that female singers warbled about. He'd break your heart and do it smiling. Worse, he'd make you think you were better off for having your heart broken because it was done in by him.   ~eARC, 3%

.

  "Oh my God," she said in clipped, low tones. "It's a good thing there are still people in here because, I swear, if we were alone, I would stab you through the eye with a pen."
  "You know, a lot of people say that they'd do those things, but I've found few can actually follow through." I tried for contemplative but could feel my facial muscles moving into a grin, and probably an unrepentant one at that, because the more she talked, the more interested I became. She was actually turning me on. I might have to sit in the chair for a few more minutes before I could walk out.    ~eARC, 6%

 

 

Woodlands Series

(cover will take you to GoodReads page)

I know, I know...I cheated. But in my defense, I loved this book and wanted to share the awesome! Be sure to leave a comment and I will come check out your teaser!

 

REVIEW: UNDECLARED by JEN FREDERICK

Series: Woodlands #1
Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Jen Frederick
Publication Date: 4/28/13
Format: ebook
Pages: 260
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 4.5 stars

For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson — or any man — ever going to break her heart again.

Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way — literally — through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet.

This is a mature New Adult book. I see that it is classified as YA - not sure how to change that - but I wanted to be clear that it has explicit love scenes in the story.

 

Undeclared has such a great premise: Grace, a high school girl, is assigned to correspond with a soldier. She is matched with Noah, barely out of school himself, and overseas. Thus begins a friendship that lasted four years, and ended when Noah turned Grace down when she admitted she had feelings for him and wanted to meet. A heartbroken Grace can't forget Noah. After two years, Noah is stronger, ready to find Grace, and win her heart back.

So between the potential of a truly special love story, and the fact that a few of my favorite bloggers (Hi, Courtney!) loved Undeclared, my choice was obvious. And boy, did it pay off.

Undeclared begins with Grace and Noah's first letters to each other, then moves ahead to six years later, in the present. I was a bit worried that jumping that far ahead would take away from Noah and Grace's bond, but that didn't happen. Chapters throughout the story opened with their letters, giving glimpses of who they were at that time and showing how their feelings for one another change and grow over the years. Grace's letters were always so supportive and Noah's broke my heart. This took me back to writing my cousin when he was stationed in the Middle East. Seriously, let's all go out and hug a service man or woman today, okay?

  I think what you feel on my letters is dust. I'm bummed that it is on my letters to you. They say it's sand, but it's finer than that. It's like the particles that make up the sand, and it is everywhere. When you get home on leave and wash for the first time, you have to stand under the water for at least twenty minutes, all the while watching the black dust collect and pool at your feet, creating coffee-colored water that swirls down the drain.
  I don't think you can ever fully erase the dust from your belongings. It sticks with you no matter how long you let the water wash over you or how many times you wipe it away. Like the tension I have in being weaponless and exposed back home, the dust is one of the many things I'll carry with me when I'm out.   ~46%


What I loved most about Undeclared was Noah and Grace. Grace, who practically grew up loving Noah, has never spread her wings. She's always played it safe. After having her heart broken, Grace is even more hesitant. Though she's always loved Noah, once he comes back into her life, she doesn't just accept that. He must prove himself to her. As someone who has only put her heart on the line once in her life, I totally get Grace. I love that for as much as she wants to be with Noah, Grace makes him work to earn back her faith.

And Noah? Sigh.... Just for the fact that anyone who risks their lives are pure badass, Noah immediately had my respect. But then you find out about his childhood and the fact he's never felt good enough, and I melted. Add to that the fact Noah has spent so many years loving Grace, and the past two working to make himself into a stronger man, and I was in Swoon City.


The bond Grace and Noah share, the dedication, and faithfulness to that connection despite the unspoken feelings and distance, won me over. It wasn't based on physical attraction, but on a deeper, soulful level. And even though it is tested many times over by hesitation and insecurity after they reconnect, this is the type of love that will always find a way. The romantic in me could not get enough!

I feel like I've said too much about Undeclared, but also not enough. Jen Frederick told a great story, and I didn't want to let these characters go after the last page. The books that make up the Woodlands series will each center around Noah's roommates. First up will be Unspoken, about Noah's best friend Bo (Peep!), whom I didn't even mention (FAIL!),  but trust me when I say that Bo is a fantastic character and you will want to read his book. The Woodlands series got off to a great start, and based on what I think is coming ahead, will continue to be a must-read series.



Favorite Quote:

  The Marines may have made me a man, but Grace made me human. No matter what I told her in my letters, she accepted it and wrote me back something funny or sweet. She made me realize I could have more if I wanted it. And I wanted more bad.  ~ebook, 17%


  I looked back at Grace. She appeared adorably awkward, folding and unfolding her arms as if she didn't know what she could touch. Everything, I said silently. I would show her instead.  ~ebook, 81%

The Woodlands Series

(click on cover for GoodReads page)

Purchase Undeclared

       

Connect with Jen Frederick:
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WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: UNSPOKEN by JEN FREDERICK

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...

 

 

Series: Woodlands #2

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 9/16/13

 

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.

I've been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?

He's everything I shouldn't want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren't the danger to me, though, it's his charm. He's sliding his way into my heart and I'm afraid that he's going to be the one to break me.

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I'll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I've got fighting and I've got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.

She's everything I didn't realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she's been hurt too much in the past and I don't want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can't.

 

 Why I'm Waiting ~ I recently read Undeclared, the first book in the Woodlands series, and I loved it. I cannot wait to get my hot little hands on this one!

 

Woodlands Series

(cover will take you to GoodReads page)


What do you think of my pick? Be sure to comment, and I will come check your WoW out!