Saturday, February 29, 2020

Stacking the Shelves & Sunday Post (61)

Hosted by:  Tynga's Reviews
Hosted by:  Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

I can't believe we are going to be in March already.  It's been warming up and Spring is definitely in the air!  This week flew by, and I've been reading every spare moment that I have.  It was nice being able to take my daughter to the park this week, and I'm looking forward to spending more time outdoors.  For March, I'm gearing up for the Historical Romance Readathon the week of the 16th!  I'm really excited!

On the Blog this Week:

Thanks to Tor Teen, HarperTeen, 
Kylie Scott, Social Butterfly PR & William Morrow 

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Book Review: Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club #2) by Lyssa Kay Adams

Undercover Bromance
Bromance Book Club #2
By: Lyssa Kay Adams
Release Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review
Add to Goodreads
Book Synopsis:

Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction. 

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef. 

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club. 

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assist Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart… even while she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

 

Check out the first book in the 
Bromance Book Club series!
My Review

My Thoughts:

I didn't think it could be possible, but this series just keeps getting better!  Undercover Bromance is the second book in the Bromance Book Club.  These books can be read as standalones. Each book focuses on a different couple, and features the Bromance Book Club as a strong and colorful cast of supporting characters.

In this book, we get Braden Mack and Liv Papandreas' love story told through their dual perspectives.  Liv is a talented pastry chef at Savoy, a top notch restaurant, where she works for the famous reality star, owner, and despicable head chef of the establishment.  When she catches him sexually harassing a young hostess, she is outraged, and speaks up, only to be fired, and blacklisted.  

Braden offers to help bring down Liv's ex-boss, and even though Liv is determined to do it on her own, Braden won't take "no" for an answer.  He enlists the help of his best friends, members of the Bromance Book Club.  What follows is a page-turning, fun, humorous, entertaining, and romantic love story.

Undercover Bromance was such a treat!  This story had me smiling, chuckling, and laughing out loud at the love story that developed between Braden and Liv, as well as the shenanigans of the bromance book club members.

Liv struggled with trusting others, especially members of the opposite sex.  She refused to lean on anyone, and was determined to do everything on her own.  Braden was a modern day, "Knight in Shining Armor." I loved how his actions showed Liv that good men exist.  She didn't make it easy on him, but through patience, determination, and persistence, Braden managed to break down her walls.

He was lonely, and wanted love, and a family all his own.  Braden thought by being "perfect," and living life by a manual, (his romance novels), he could get what he wanted.  However, he learned that "real" or authentic, wasn't perfect; and all of the crazy feelings that Liv stirred up in him, and drove him crazy in a good way, where what true love was all about.

I loved Braden and Liv's story.  The pages just flew by, and I completely escaped in this book.  I loved every moment of this story, and didn't want it to end.  It had me swooning and excited for the intense, and passionate love that Braden and Liv experienced.  I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships from the Bromance Book Club Members.  They were fun, hilarious, and entertaining.  When things got tough, they were always there for Braden and each other.

I liked the way the author addressed the issues of sexual harassment, woman's rights, and treatment in our society.  She gave women a voice and delivered a strong message about blaming the victim, women supporting women, and people standing up, instead of passively standing by when they witness the abuse and ill treatment of women in our society. 

If you are looking for an entertaining, super fast paced, fun, humorous, and romantic read, check out Undercover Bromance!








About the Author:

Lyssa Kay Adams is the pen name of an award-winning journalist who gave up the world of telling true stories to pen emotional romances. She’s also a diehard Detroit Tigers fan who will occasionally cheer for the Red Sox because her husband is from Boston. Lyssa lives in Michigan with her family and an anxiety-ridden Maltese who steals food and buries it around the house and who will undoubtedly be a character in a future book. Things Lyssa loves: Baseball pants, mashed potatoes, and that little clicking sound that scissors make on the cutting table at fabric stores. Things she doesn’t love: Mean people, melting ice cream cones, and finding food in her underwear drawer. Keep up with Lyssa on Twitter at @LyssaKayAdams. Please note: She mostly tweets about baseball pants and mashed potatoes.


Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday (116)

https://www.wishfulendings.com


Kissing Lessons 
By: Sophie Jordan
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Book Synopsis:

A steamy contemporary YA romance by New York Times best-selling author Sophie Jordan about a girl with a bad reputation giving lessons on how to attract guys for some extra cash—only to fall for her client’s golden-boy brother. For fans of Kami Garcia, Katie McGarry, and Netflix’s Sex Education

Wild, beautiful, and (as rumor has it) experienced, Hayden Vargas doesn’t have time for love or relationships. She’s learned the hard way that the only person you can count on is yourself, and she’s hell-bent on earning enough money to leave her small, judgy Texas town as fast as possible. So when nerdy Emmaline Martin offers to pay Hayden for lessons in seduction, the money is so easy, there must be a catch. Enter the catch: Emmaline’s older brother, popular, all-around nice guy™ Nolan Martin, who doesn’t want his sister’s reputation tarnished by the school’s resident bad girl. 

But Hayden should know that looks can be deceiving. Nolan may seem like a golden boy, but like Hayden, he has a few secrets of his own. And the more he meddles in her lessons with Emmaline, the more these polar opposites clash—and the more sparks fly. Turns out Nolan may have some lessons to teach Hayden, but only if she’s willing to learn.


Why I'm Eagerly Waiting:

Sophie Jordan is one of those authors that can write any genre, any age group, and whatever she writes, I love it!  Kissing Lessons sounds like a cute read, and I also like the fun book cover!

What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Book Review: Love Hard (Hard Play #3) by Nalini Singh

Love Hard
Hard Play #3
By: Nalini Singh
Release Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Add to Goodreads
Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review
Book Summary:

Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side. 

As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends—and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend. 

Straitlaced Jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.


My Thoughts:


Love Hard was an emotional second chance at romance.  Jacob Esera was madly in love with high school sweetheart, Callie, and they had a beautiful daughter together.  Shortly after Esme's birth, Callie got bacterial meningitis and passed away.  As a single father, and star rugby player, Jacob doesn't have much time for a social life and dating.  All of his time is spent on training, and making the most out of quality time with his daughter, and the rest of the tight-knit Esera family.

Jacob's life changes the day of his oldest brother, Gabriel's, wedding to Charlie.   He is shocked to see none other than Juliet "Jules" Nelsi, Callie's high school best friend, and the girl that managed to drive him crazy all those years ago.  She has matured into a beautiful woman with lots of curves.  When Jacob and Jules interact there is a spark of powerful chemistry, but they still manage to push each other's buttons.  As fate brings these two together, will they manage to break down each other's walls and take a chance on love?

I loved the characters in this story.  Ms. Singh brought their personalities to life, and they were so real, that they could have walked right off of the page.  Jacob and Jules were only in there mid-twenties, but life experience had aged them.  When they were together you could feel the sparks between them.  They were so passionate together, whether they were pushing each other's buttons, teasing, or getting swept away as they fell madly in love.

I loved how dedicated and loyal Jacob and Jules were.  Jacob had known grief, and after that had never gotten close to another woman before.  I loved how he was as a father.  I swooned at his loving, patient, and sweet interactions with his daughter, who was absolutely adorable!  He was such a devoted, dedicated, and loving man, and I fell in love with his character.

Jules had been let down by all of the people in her life before, and had learned to stand on her own two feet without any kind of help or support.  She was independent, feisty in a fun way, intelligent, loving, and hard working.  I enjoyed Jacob's pursuit of Jules.  He was the kind of person that once he knew what he wanted, nothing could stand in his way.  These two together were scorching hot, and adorably sweet to watch!

The Esera family was a wonderful addition to this story.  I loved Jacob's parents; Allison and Joseph, as well as his brothers, Gabriel, Sailor, and Danny.  There was a full cast of secondary characters, and even though this story can be read as a standalone, the previous books give insight in to this robust cast.  It took me a little while to get all of the characters straight in my head and remember who was who.

The pacing of the story was a little slow at the beginning, picked up in the middle, and flew by with a romantic, sweet, and spectacular end.  The characters were the best part of this story, as they were deeply layered, and three-dimensional.  I found myself invested in them, and Ms. Singh really has a talent in bringing them to life!

If you are looking for a sweet and sexy second chance romance, that will tug on your emotions, check out, 
Love Hard by Nalini Singh.







Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and NobleTBD



About the Author:

I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard. 

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month). 

So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.




Friday, February 21, 2020

Stacking the Shelves & Sunday Post (60)

Hosted by:  Tynga's Reviews
Hosted by:  Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

We've been dealing with sore throats, and sinus infections over here.  This week I got a lot of reading done, and am excitedly waiting on a few books for tour reviews.  On Netflix, I binged on Love Is Blind.  I love reality television, and am eager to see which couples actually end up making it down the aisle.  I got happy mail this week with a finished copy of Undercover Bromance as well as more planner stickers from PB Taco on Etsy.  I just love her store!

On the Blog this Week:

Purchased:
Add to Goodreads

For Review:
Finished Copy-
Add to Goodreads

eARC-
Add to Goodreads


Thanks to Berkley Romance and Random House Books for Young Readers 

Thursday, February 20, 2020

I Hate You, Fuller James by Kelly Anne Blout


I Hate You, James Fuller
By: Kelly Anne Blout
Release Date: March 2, 2020
Publisher: Entangled Crush
Add to Goodreads
Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review
Book Summary:

I hate you, Fuller James. 

I hate your floppy hair and your lopsided grin and those laughing blue eyes that always seem to be laughing at me. 

I hate that you’re the most popular guy in school and I’m still the girl who sneezed and spit out her retainer on someone at a middle school dance. It’s just such a cliché. 

I hate that I’m being forced to tutor you in English and keep it a secret from everyone. Because otherwise it might put our basketball team’s chances at winning State in jeopardy, and even though I hate you, I love basketball. 

I hate that it seems like you’re keeping a secret from me…and that the more time we spend together, the less I feel like I’m on solid ground. Because I’m starting to realize there’s so much more to you than meets the eye. Underneath it all, you’re real. 

But what I hate most is that I really don’t hate you at all. 


My Thoughts:


When I read the synopsis and saw the cute cover for I Hate You, Fuller James, I expected a fun, and cute story.  However, I got so much more!  I must admit that at the beginning of the story I didn't know if I would enjoy it, because James came across as immature for being a senior in high school, and it seemed like everything about him irritated Wren, even things that I thought weren't a big deal.  However, we quickly learn it's because these two have quite the history!

I'm happy to say, that the pages just flew by!  James was the captain of the basketball team and the most popular guy in his high school.  He was dating mean girl, Marissa, who was pretty, but extremely shallow, and a horrible bully!  Both of them consistently gave Wren a hard time at school.  James was more worried about his image and being popular than anything else.

I loved Wren.  She was sweet, intelligent, and dedicated to her family.  When James starts a food fight, Wren, who usually doesn't react to shenanigans, gets so angry that she throws food back.  As her punishment, she gets stuck tutoring James, because he is failing A.P. Literature, and needs to bring up his grade in order to play basketball. 

As Wren and James are forced to spend more time together, they get to know each other on a deeper level.  I connected to both of these characters emotionally, and found myself in love with their story.

Wren was extremely close to her grandfather, who had moved in with her family, because he was suffering from Alzheimers.  My heart broke for her, and I smiled at all of the heartwarming scenes with her and her grandfather.  This was extremely difficult for me read, because I've always shared a special bond with my grandparents, and lost my Nana a couple of years ago, and my grandpa has been really sick.

James was very close to his little brother, Hudson, who had brittle bone disease.  I loved his little bro, and their relationship was super sweet.  James matured, and underwent a lot of character growth, but I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, because of an unfortunate mistake that James made at the beginning of the story.

I Hate You, Fuller James, was a super fast, light, cute, and fun read!  It balanced out heavy topics, with lightness, humor, friendship, and first love.  This was a story that sucked me right in, and gave me great characters, and a real, relatable, and emotional reading experience.






About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling author and Wattpad Star Kelly Anne Blount has more than seventy-three-thousand followers on social media. Her Wattpad stories have been read more than twenty-million times. She’s contributed to Tap, Wattpad’s new app for chat-style stories, where her work has been “tapped” more than fifty-million times. She is a writer and reviewer for SpoilerTV, which has allowed her to develop an incredible network of film and TV stars. 

Two of her Wattpad works, including Captured (seventeen-million reads), have been optioned for film by Komixx Entertainment, and she is regularly invited to present seminars about social media at author events. 

Stop by any of Kelly’s social-media platforms (@KellyAnneBlount) and stay tuned to this website for announcements and information about upcoming releases and events. ​ 

Kelly Anne Blount is represented by Jennifer Wills (jennifer@theseymouragency.com) and Nicole Resciniti (nicole@theseymouragency.com) of The Seymour Agency.