Bite the Bullet {a review}

Bite the Bullet is the third book in the Birch Police Department series by April Canavan, and it releases TODAY!

If you've been with me for a while, then you know that both Balls to the Wall and Boots on the Ground made my monthly top 5 lists. I am a bit obsessed with the series, and love the romantic suspense element that they offer. I get sucked right in, and I cannot put the books down. So I am expecting Bite the Bullet to be the same way.

In Bite the Bullet we are meeting up with Emma Hayes and Dominic Ortiz. Emma, you may recall, is the sister of Linc and Danny. Linc and Danny served overseas with Dominic. Linc and Dominic now serve together at Birch PD. One night Bee comes over to Emma's house, as her parents asked if Emma could watch her. Emma loves Bee, so it wasn't an issue. Plus Emma knows a bit of what goes on across the street. She's reported it a few times. That night though, everything changes. It is also this night that Emma finds out Dom is back in town. Emma is a new recruit to the police department and is beginning her training. Dom has been tapped to be her training officer. But there's a problem. They're attracted to each other, and the other night they kissed. Dom agrees to continue on, and tells the Chief the kiss meant nothing. And that is where it all starts.

I am obsessed with the Birch Police Department series. I cannot get enough. I absolutely loved Emma and Dom's story. Loved the relationship that Emma has with Dom's parents and siblings. Love the friendship that this group has. Love the ritual the guys have before someone deploys. Love how they have each others backs. The love story was fabulous. It has a bit of an age gap, as well as the brother's friend trope, along with a little military romance. It's just wonderful. Now I honestly thought the big moment of the book was when Dom deployed and Emma went to training. HAHAHAHAHA NO. That wasn't it. I mean that was the little moment of conflict. The suspenseful moment was still to come. And when it did, I can't lie, my mind immediately went to another person. Even though clues were given early on, my mind still didn't go there. But when I realized what was happening, my jaw dropped, and I gasped.

This book. OH THIS BOOK. Is it going to make my May top 5? Well I don't quite know yet, but there's a good chance.

If you're a fan of romantic suspense, then go read the Birch Police Department series. There's two more books yet to come, and I am eagerly anticipating both of them. 

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
Laura

Unsteady {cover reveal}

 

 Release Date: June 17

Traveling nurse Rhys Wild knows the consequences of choices.

 

After she lost the most important people in her life, she has vowed to herself to never make the decision to fall in love.

 

The only way to cope is to keep moving, to stay busy. To stop means to think. To feel. And feeling is a luxury she cannot afford.

 

Unless it’s Random Day.

 

The stranger on the plane ride home is the perfect distraction from her anguished thoughts about returning to the one place that will make her face everything she’s left behind.  

 

It was supposed to be a random bit of fun.

 

She wasn’t supposed to see him again.

 

But sometimes life makes the choice for us. And this time, Rhys must steady herself, if she is to live the life she thought was lost forever.

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Meet Ashley Christin

Ashley Christin is a wife, nurse, and crazy dog mom. Like any other Texan, she enjoys long summer days, camping, and spending time with friends and family. 

If you're in the mood to laugh out loud and drink a few White Claws while jamming out to 90s alternative - we should be friends! 

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A French Connection {a review}

Happy Friday my fellow book lovers!

Are you a fan of insta-love? How about hockey romance?  If so, do I have a book for you!

Last night I finished reading Aven Ellis's latest release, A French Connection. This is the fourth book in the Rinkside in the Rockies series, and it has been highly anticipated. I mean Aven has been teasing this story for quite some time, and if you're in her Facebook group (or on her message board) then you know all of this. You'll probably also know about the hashtag #HEA4Pierre. If you're not in the group or on the message board, GO JOIN! 

Based on the hashtag, A French Connection is obviously about Pierre Gaudet. We've met Pierre in previous books with in the series, and he also made an appearance in the Chicago on Ice series. In A French Connection, Pierre finds love. He meets Lila at a Halloween party that is hosted by Gavin Tremblay, and many of his teammates are at the event. Lila is also at the party but it's to help Whitney repair her relationship with Gavin. You can read about their relationship in Outscored. Anyways as it is a Halloween party, there are costumes involved, and everyone is wearing a mask. When Lila and Pierre meet, they know nothing about each other, and after talking for a short period of time, Lila agrees to meet Pierre for dinner that night. From dinner to their next date, to talking on video chats, to texting, this relationship moves quickly. But is it moving too quickly? Are they falling too fast?

This will surprise no one, but I LOVED this book! It's an Aven book, so it's practically automatic that I'm going to love it, but still I LOVED IT. Pierre and Lila are so wonderful together. I don't care that it was insta-love, and this relationship was on the fast track. Pierre and Lila got their HEA. We got to witness an amazing date that took place at sunrise. We saw each of them being passionate about their interests. We heard them telling their stories about past hurts, and how that impacts their relationship. We also saw the point of conflict, and how that was resolved. Oh, and we got to catch up with previous characters from two series. All in all, I loved the book. Would I have changed anything? Eh, not really. Like the only thing I wanted to "see" was Pierre's reaction to the macarons that JoJo made. Oh, and I wanted to know what the Christmas gifts were. That's just me being nosy though. And now I want to go snoop through Aven's Pinterest boards to see if she pinned either of the art pieces that Lila created. There has to be pins that it was based off of.  Oh, and if you're a fan of The Princess Bride, there are references in this book. 

I highly recommend you go read A French Connection by Aven Ellis. While it is technically a standalone within the series, but I suggest that you start at the beginning with Hold the Lift.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

Laura

He’s gorgeous. He’s French. And his lips are definitely kissable…

At the most, men last two dates with the vibrant and fun-loving Lila Porter. Thank you and goodbye are her favorite words after a second date.

Lila has no desire to be bored. Or to date a man who doesn’t meet her criteria for romance. After all, she’s young, owns her own color consultation company, and is living her best life in Colorado. It would have to be someone exceptional to make her want a third date, let alone open her heart.

But when a sexy masked stranger with a French accent crosses her path at a Halloween party, Lila finds herself wanting to say bonjour instead of au revoir … 

Falling in love is a journey, and Lila finds herself willing to follow the path to be with sweet and sexy hockey player Pierre Gaudet. However, scars of the past run deep and fears of the future create shades of gray in Lila’s palette. Will love bloom in full color or will this romance end in complete heartbreak?

If you love romance, sexy and swoony heroes, fun-loving heroines, and happily ever afters, pick up A French Connection today.

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Meet Aven

USA Today bestselling author Aven Ellis began her publishing career in 2013 with her debut release, Connectivity. She currently writes romantic comedies featuring royals, billionaires, aristocrats, and athletes.

Her books are designed to make readers laugh out loud and fall in love. Happily-ever-after endings and good-boy heroes are guaranteed.

Aven lives in the Dallas area with her family. Aven loves shopping and fashion and can spend hours playing with fragrances in any department store. She can be found chatting it up on social media, eating speciality M&Ms, and crushing on the latest outfit the Duchess of Cambridge is wearing.

Connect with Aven

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Wild Love {a review}

You may recall that earlier this month I read the Fillmore Siblings series by Melissa Schroeder. At the end of my Love to Hate You review, I mentioned how I was looking forward to Wild Love because I needed Quinn's story! Well here we are my friends.

Today is the day that Wild Love is available, and if you've been waiting for Quinn's story, go grab this book! Wild Love is also the first book in the new Juniper Springs series!

Late last night I finished reading my advanced copy of the book, and while I enjoyed the heck out of it, I also had higher hopes. Does that make sense?

Let's recap a bit of the book first before we delve into my thoughts.

Wild Love fills us in on what happened when the Hawthornes visited Denver, and the "outcomes" of that trip. You may recall that whole scene from the Hate to Love You book. Quinn was introduced to a woman named Everly, and Everly had some rules for their one night stand. First, no last names can be exchanged. Two, no talking about what you do for a living, or really where you live. Basically no personal information should be shared. So they had their fling, and that was supposed to be the end. But Everly had gotten under Quinn's skin. Everly also inspired Quinn's creativity, and he began working on his next book. So much so that he created a new character, and look at that, that character looks exactly like Everly. She also has her name. While all this is going on, Quinn and Everly meet up a couple more times. Essentially continuing what was a one night stand. After their last get together though, Everly ghosts Quinn. That is until the day he shows up at the bookstore she owns. It is there that the ball really gets rolling.

Everly and Quinn's story was good. There was so much that I enjoyed. From the initial meeting in Denver, to the hookup in California, to the random run in at the bookstore in Juniper. Everly is an amazing character on her own, and quite honestly I would have read any book that featured her. Same goes for Quinn. He seems like a strong character who has been through some stuff, and is trying to get his creativity back. Again, I would have read any book that featured his story. You combine these two, and all their geeky tendencies, and it has the potential to be wonderful. While there was so much that I loved about the book, there were also a few things that I wasn't as fond of.  I guess the biggest is that it just felt a bit rushed in my mind. We have this reconnection, the surprise is revealed, there's a little drama surrounding it, and then it's smooth sailing. I guess in my mind I wanted more conflict, and for that to be a bit more drawn out. I was also expecting more shenanigans from the LOLs and the Juniper Express App. I was waiting to see how that impacted their relationship, and the journey back to each other. 

Even with those little things, I loved the book. Everly and Quinn's journey to their HEA was so good. I am looking forward to the next in the series. I'm hoping that Becca eventually gets her HEA, and it's looking like it will be with one of Everly's brothers. 

If you choose to read Wild Love, and I suggest you do, I do think you'll want to read the Fillmore Siblings duet first. I say that because the back story would be helpful. Plus it might help you understand Carter a bit more. Oh Carter.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

Laura

Damien {a review}

I jumped into a new series by reading the third book first. If you know me, you know this isn't my norm. I always start at the beginning. But you better believe I will be going back to read the first two books in the Perfectly Imperfect series. Especially since I know those are about Drew and Vince. I wonder if Dani has a story. Hmmm. I'll have to go look at Amanda Shelley's backlist titles.

Anyways, late last night I finished reading Damien by Amanda Shelley. It is a new adult, single parent romance, with some insta-love action happening. 

Damien has recently relocated to town, and is working on a construction project at the college. He had discovered a little diner on one of his first days in town, and has been eating breakfast there almost daily. It helps that his usual server is absolutely gorgeous. Vanessa is a nursing student at the college, and she is also a single mom who works her butt off to make all of it happen. Her daughter, Julia, is 5 years old and the bright spot in her world. Vanessa hasn't dated in years, and so when Damien eventually works up the courage to ask her out, she is shocked, and then turns him down. Many days later Damien asks again. Vanessa had already talked to her friends about this, and agrees to a date. And that is how it all starts. 

I absolutely loved this book. The relationship between Damien and Vanessa is so good. I love how Vanessa isn't afraid to tell Damien the hard things (single parent, loss of parents, etc). Then there's Damien, who isn't afraid to talk about the hard stuff, and he realizes that Vanessa being a parent comes first. He is willing to do anything in his power to make the relationship work. The chemistry between the two is spectacular. The connection between Vanessa and Julia is top notch. The way Julia and Damien interact is impressive. A bond has definitely been formed. I will say I thought the point of conflict would have been greater or drawn out. But I wasn't disappointed in it. I liked how Damien and Vanessa worked through it, and it allowed Damien to share a bit about his past and what he had been through.

Loved the book. I cannot wait to read more of the series, and also check out other works by the author.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

When I walk into the diner, all I’m looking for is a decent meal. As a civil engineer for the largest project on campus, I just want to eat in peace. I’m happy to find this hidden gem since students are scarce. Don’t get me wrong, co-eds on campus are beautiful, but I was over that scene when I graduated three years ago. I need to finish this job and move onto the next one by the end of the year.

Then Vanessa walks up with a simple smile and takes my breath away. The next thing I know, I’m making every excuse imaginable to dine with this intriguing woman. She’s not only smart and sexy; she’s completely focused on reaching the goals she has set for herself.

The more I get to know her, the more I know she’s the one. I just have to find a way to make her deviate from her perfectly laid plans and take a chance on me.

Grab Your Copy Here!

Meet Amanda Shelley

Amanda Shelley loves falling into a book to experience new worlds. As an avid reader and writer, sharing worlds of her own creations is a passion that inspired her to become an author. 

She writes contemporary romance with characters who are strong and sexy with a touch of sass. 

When not writing, Amanda enjoys time with her family, playing chauffeur, chef and being an enthusiastic fan for her children. Keeping up with them keeps her alert and grounded in reality. She enjoys long car rides, chai lattes, and popping her SUV into four-wheel drive for adventures anywhere. 

Amanda loves hearing from readers. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter and follow her on social media. Join her reader group: Amanda's Army of Readers to stay up to date on her latest information!

Connect with Amanda Shelley:

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Thank you to Amanda Shelley and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an advanced copy of Damien, the third book in the Perfectly Imperfect series.