Thursday, May 20, 2021

Dirt Queen {a review}




Happy Book Release Day to Nora Blake! 

Dirt Queen is Nora Blake's debut novel, and she has kicked off with an amazing story. 

Dirt Queen is based on a true story, and it is a friends to lovers story. 

Aaron and Sarah were childhood friends, and when they became teenagers they both realized they were attracted to the other. But those words were never spoken. About that same time, Sarah moved away. They tried to keep in touch, but life happens, and they became more like acquaintances than friends. As time went on, Aaron and Melany were married, and had two little boys. That marriage ended. Shortly before the divorce was finalized, Sarah returned to town. The sparks were immediate. The attraction was still there, and a relationship started. That is where the story begins, and my little recap ends.

This book was absolutely amazing. I laughed. I awww'd. I laughed some more. I cringed. I gasped. I ugly cried. My emotions were all over the place, and even though I was a wreck, I loved it. Even how it ended. Aaron and Sarah's relationship was fast, but when you have that history with the other person it just works. It's as though they were meant to be. Plus they had the mutual love of racing and working on the race cars. Watching their new relationship blossom was spectacular. Watching Aaron call out Sarah when she was trying to hold back was so good. He wasn't letting a communication issue happen in their relationship. Even the relationship that Sarah had with Aaron's boys was special. Then there was Nick. What a fun person. Perfect for the comedic relief. 

There is so much I want to say about Dirt Queen, but I also don't want to spoil this amazing story. Just know that you will laugh, you will fall for the characters, you'll be frustrated with the custody situation, you'll also be devastated, and you'll feel the love between Sarah and Aaron. I gave Dirt Queen 5 stars, and I am going to be talking about this book for quite some time. As of now, it is definitely on my top 5 for  May.

Should you choose to read the book, have the tissues handy.


Thank you for reading my thoughts,




Dirt Queen by Nora Blake is now live!


I love you. Always.

Sarah--We hadn't spoken in years, and more often than not, he was on my mind. When I moved back to town he reached out. I stalked him enough times on Facebook to know he had a wife and two kids. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but the pull I felt inside couldn't be ignored.

Aaron--She was back. I thought I'd never see her again, but there she was. Within my reach. She agreed to meet up at the dirt track when I sent her a message. What would she think of me being a dad? Did she even know?

The unspoken feelings she tried to leave in the past forced her to keep him at arm's length. He was in the middle of a divorce and had two boys they both needed to consider. He was all in but she was questioning everything.

But sometimes...you have to follow your heart and let yourself fall--no matter how things might end. It'd be worth it. Always.

This book is based on a true story.


Photographer: Courtney Hartness Photography


Download today!



Meet Nora Blake


Nora Blake is a lover of nature and getting lost in her made-up worlds. When she isn't writing or spending time with her amazing family, she is horseback riding or reading. She has a passion for literature and her goal is to promote the importance of reading while engaging readers in her stories. Her debut novel, Dirt Queen, is set to release in May and is based on a true story.

Connect with Nora



Thank you to Nora Blake and Grey's Promo for providing me with an advanced copy of Dirt Queen.

Caught in Us {a review}





Yesterday I shared my review of Caught in the Chase by Kacey Shea. It is the first half of Alicia and Chase's duet, and you do need to read that prior to reading Caught in Us. After all we are picking up about 3 years later.

If you've read Caught in the Chase, then you know how it ended. You know we were left unfulfilled, and Alicia & Chase did not get their happily ever after. We know that Chase finally went to see Mav, they reconnected and forgiveness was given, and Chase also returned home. For Alicia we know that she ran to her dad's bedside after his medical crisis, returned to the community center to gather her belongings, and then went off to pursue her degree in London. We also know that Alicia wrote a letter to Chase before she left which she left at the house he had been staying.

So what happened next? Well they both went on with their lives. For the most part. Alicia went to London, and began her life there. But it was shortly after she arrived that she realized she was pregnant. Meanwhile Chase was assigned to a new fire station, and he started a teen program in his area. So that's awesome. Flash forward a bit and we are gearing up for Cam and Jill's wedding. Chase is the best man, and has many jobs to fulfill for Jill. Alicia has sent in her RSVP, and stated that she is attending the wedding. Alicia hasn't seen, nor spoken to, Jill or Callie since shortly after she left. She just cut all ties, and to say her friends are angry would be an understatement. And that is all I will say about the plot of the book. I'm cruel I know.

Caught in Us was unbelievably good. I could not put the book down, and I may have stayed up a bit too late while reading. Thank goodness for coffee, and three of my kids being at school. Other than what the teaser told me, I went into the book not knowing what would happen. I mean my fingers were crossed that there would be an HEA, but as I read, I wasn't so certain that was going to happen. Witnessing Alicia reconnect with Jill and Callie was wonderful. To have friends like that, who can forgive you, love you, and jump right back in with is so special. Those are the true friendships that so many of us long to have. Then there is the little piece of information that Alicia hasn't shared with many (Simon, Jill, Callie), and it needs to come out. This secret needs to be revealed. Chase and Alicia are also frequently surrounded by people drinking, and occasionally it finds them needing to find a meeting quickly, as it is just so overwhelming. But they work through it. I could not get enough of the book. I would have loved to have witnessed Chase reading what was in the box. To see his reaction, and how that all affected him.  I also really want to know if Chase ever said anything regarding the secret he revealed. I mean yes, it was briefly mentioned he told his dad, but waht about Cam? What happened with that? I'm not ready to say goodbye to Alicia and Chase, nor any of the other characters. They feel like friends, and I want to know what happens next in their lives.

This duet had me feeling so many emotions, and I loved every single minute of it. Please, go read Alicia and Chase's story. I think you'll like it a lot. If you do read it, send me a message on Facebook, or drop me an email, I'd love to chat about it with you.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
 

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Saving Us {a review}



Saving Us by Wendy Million was released on May 17, 2021. It is a new adult sports romance that takes place at Northern University. Sebastian and Johnny are both football players, and Annika and Natalie are roommates. In this book we follow these four characters, and while the focus is more so on Annika and Johnny's relationship, our main characters are actually Natalie and Sebastian. 

Right away before I even dive into a brief synopsis of the book, I want to say that there are content warnings for physical and sexual assault. If that is difficult for you to read about, then feel free to click out now. I won't go into specifics, but just know it is a side story in the book.

Oh how to even recap Saving Us. Natalie, Annika, Johnny, and Sebastian are all college students at Northern University. Sebastian has just transferred in for his junior year, and he is the running back on for the Ravens. Johnny is a senior, and is focused on making it to the NFL. Natalie and Annika are best friends, and roommates. Annika is a major football fan and dreams of being a coach. Annika is also extremely interested in Johnny. Natalie is not a football fan, and she is working toward becoming a lawyer. One night the Natalie and Annika head to a party at the frat house. Most of the football players are in that frat, so it just makes sense to go there. It is there where Annika and Johnny's story begins. It is also there that Natalie feels a bit sketchy about Johnny, and she also meets Sebastian for the first time. She has an immediate attraction to Sebastian, but once she learns he's a football player, she really doesn't want anything to do with him. It is at this party where Natalie and Sebastian's story begins as well. 

I want to continue on with a recap, but it is shortly after this where things pick up. So I need to cut it here.

If you all have read my weekly recaps, or if you follow me on Goodreads, then you know I am extremely stingy with my 5 star ratings. So me saying that Saving Us is a 5 star read, means a lot. This is not only a love story between the characters, but it's also the story about friendships, and teammates. You have friends who will stand by your side through the good times and the not so good times. You have teammates who you want to be by your side, you want their support, and you hope they'll stand by you through it all. 

When I started reading Saving Us I figured it would just be the typical sports romance that I adore. As the story went on though, I realized that wasn't the case. Not at all. There was nothing "typical" about this sports romance. Once the rumors were started about the quarterback, and the disagreement between friends grew, I knew I wasn't going to be able to put the book down. I was so fully invested in this storyline that I just had to know what was going to happen next. What was going to be that moment that switched things? What was going to happen in both of these relationships? Were Sebastian and Natalie ever going to start dating, or would they remain friends? What about those rumors? Was there truth behind them? If there was truth behind them, when was it going to come out?

Now don't worry, you get all those answers! You'll know what happens with Annika & Johnny, and Natalie & Sebastian. There is a HEA for one of the couples. That much I will tell you.

Oh how I loved this story, even though the assault portions were difficult to read. I highly recommend this book. Please go order it. If your library has it, check it out. Just promise me that you'll read it.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,


NEW RELEASE

Release Date: May 17


Hot, talented, and fresh to campus. Can Natalie trust the gorgeous new football player, or will his team loyalty win out? 

***** 

Natalie Chapman is drawn into a friendship and flirtation with Northern University's newest football transfer, Sebastian Swan, when her roommate and best friend, Annika, begins dating his teammate. Fresh off a breakup, Natalie isn't interested in hooking up with a player who has women chasing him all over campus. 

But Sebastian claims his best quality is perseverance, and he has no problem pursuing Natalie instead. As the two grow closer, details of Annika's troubled relationship with the star quarterback come to light.  

With the football team on the cusp of winning a National Championship, Natalie wonders if Sebastian's loyalty to his teammates supersedes all else. Can she trust him to do the right thing, or will he let her down when it matters most? 

Triggers: Sexual and physical abuse





Add To Your Goodreads TBR List!







Meet Wendy Million



Wendy Million is a Watty Award winner, and author of Saving Us, her newest novel. Her contemporary romances about strong women and troubled men have captivated her loyal readers. She is also the author of the romantic suspense series The Donaghey Brothers, and the contemporary romance When Stars Fall. When not writing, Wendy enjoys spending time in or around the water. She lives in Ontario, Canada with two beautiful daughters, two cute pooches, and one handsome husband (who is grateful she doesn’t need two of those). 

Connect with Wendy Million








Hosted By:

Thank you to Wendy Million and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an advanced copy of Saving Us.

Caught in the Chase {a review}



Caught in the Chase is the third book in the Caught series by Kacey Shea. In this book we focus specifically on Alicia and Chase.

If you read Caught in Flames or Caught in Lies, then you'll recognize both of them. But those are both standalone books, so you don't need to read them to read Caught in the Chase. Would it help with backstory? Probably.

Caught in the Chase features Alicia and Chase. Both of them have been through the wringer, and have hit rock bottom. For Alicia it is a letter that she received, and it has sent her spiraling. So much so that she gave up her sobriety and had way too much to drink at a local bar. It is there that she ran into Chase. They had a night together a while back, and the attraction is there. But Alicia feels guilty since she blames herself for what happened between Callie and Chase (Caught in Flames). Meanwhile Chase is out celebrating with his fellow firefighters. He leaves them though to help Alicia leave the bar and get home. Chase's rock bottom comes when he is at the bar with his buddies, and he has had way too much to drink. As he and Maverick leave to head home, Chase makes the choice to drive him and Maverick home versus getting an Uber. After all, he feels fine. It is then that everything changes in his life. Flash forward to the end of May. Alicia has accepted an internship working with teenagers, and Chase is having to serve 300 hours of community service. And where is he performing those hours? At the same community center Alicia is headed to. That, my friends, is where the story really picks up.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster! We have two characters who have been through so much, and both have issues with alcohol. Not only that but both of them have family issues that they need to work through. Alicia knows she has a problem, and has started AA, but she is choosing to forget that one night, and carry on as normal. No one knows she relapsed. Well no one but Chase. Chase is in denial about his alcohol addiction. He sees no problem with having a drink from time to time. Even after the accident. When they both ended up at the community center, I could not wait to see how these two would grow, how their relationship would blossom, and also see what the big moment is.  I loved this book! Yes it was difficult to read about their addictions, but at the same time they were working on it, they were both doing the best they could. Yes it hurt to see them build this relationship, only to then have it falter. Yes it was amazing to see how they both thrived at the community center. Yes I was bummed when the book ended. But friends it was all worth it. From the alcohol addiction, to recovery, to the family issues, to everything else that happened, it was worth it.

By the way, Caught in the Chase is the first part in a duet. You are not getting your HEA in this book my friends. So be sure to grab Caught in Us when it releases on May 20, 2021. 

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

His Secret Love {cover reveal}


Ava Ryan has revealed the cover for His Secret Love!

Don't miss the final standalone in Ava Ryan's sexy
contemporary romance series, Manhattan Billionaires!

Available July 1, 2021



She's our new nanny. And my new obsession…

Commitments? No thanks.

And after my painful divorce I'm also done with secrets and lies.

The occasional hookup is more my speed as a new billionaire, busy doctor and single dad.

But there's something about Skye. That's why I swiped right on her profile.

That's why we enjoyed sizzling chemistry and an unforgettable one-night stand.

I meant it to be a one-time thing.

I never anticipated this growing obsession with her.

I certainly never expected my ex to hire her as our new nanny.

Now my life is full of messy secrets.

And the relentless desire to get feisty Skye back in my bed…



Pre-order your copy today on Amazon!
US | WW



Meet Ava Ryan


Ava Ryan is an author of sexy contemporary romance. Her favorite things, in no special order, are animals, her family, cookies, people with great senses of humor and love stories. Currently in her writer's cave (ostensibly working hard on her next book while also checking Netflix every few hours to make sure she hasn't missed a new true crime documentary show), she loves hearing from readers via her website or social media.

If you love billionaire alpha males, the feisty women who snag their hearts and books that end with a happily ever after, you've come to the right place.

Please make sure to subscribe to Ava's newsletter to stay in the loop about her latest releases and upcoming books!

Connect with Ava


Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)