When We Were Reckless {a review}

 

When We Were Reckless by Emery Rose is now available! You will LOVE this standalone in the Lost Stars series! Don't miss this age gap, brother's best friend, unrequited romance!

In When We Were Reckless we meet Quinn and Jesse. Quinn is 18 years old, and has just graduated high school. It is her dream to go to school in California, and that is going to happen at the end of the summer. But, can her family convince her to stay in town? They think it is what would be best for Quinn. Quinn's real reason for wanting to go to California is Jesse. He's her brother's best friend, and she's been in love with him since she was 5. They even had a wedding. Meanwhile Jesse has recently returned to town, is now single, and has announced that he is retiring from Motocross. No one knows the truth as to why though, and he is keeping it quiet. His friends have managed to convince him to 1) help out at the brewery/restaurant this summer, and 2) try to convince Quinn to stay in town. Jesse would never admit it to his friend, but he is attracted to Quinn. One night Quinn manages to convince Jesse that they could just have a summer fling with no strings, and at the end of it all just walk away from each other. Of course this fling will have to be in secret, as it would cause issues between the friends. All is going as planned until everything changes.

At the beginning of When We Were Reckless I wasn't certain what I was getting myself into. Yes, I knew a little, but at the same time it wasn't enough. As I continued on with the story, I found myself getting attached to Jesse and Quinn. From their past, to everything Quinn revealed to Jesse, to the secrets Jesse revealed as well, to how their "relationship" began. I was all in. The storyline with Quinn's parents was a bit odd for me, and I didn't understand how that all tied into the main story. Even now, looking back, I'm not 100% certain that parts of that side story were necessary. What it did reveal though was that the parents had no clue what Quinn was doing, or who she was spending time with, or even her motivations for attending school in California. When the big moment happened with Jesse and Quinn happened, I gasped. All I could think was that their story was going to be similar to the relationship in Dirt Queen, and I wasn't going to be okay. (still not over that book) That moment for Jesse and Quinn though was a turning point. Not only were Jesse's feelings brought to light for him, we could also see Quinn trying to guard herself. Then the moment came where the family became aware of what was happening, and there was a lot of hurt people. How this story ended though was just so dang good! Jesse's grand gesture, and Quinn's response was wonderful. These two walked away with the HEA they deserved. 

I loved Quinn and Jesse. I loved the setting. Jesse's house sounds AMAZING. I loved the story. Just all of it. It was so good, and the book was hard to put down. Definitely recommend When We Were Reckless.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts,
Laura

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜k?

𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒 𝑀𝑐𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟.

Motocross legend. Reckless heartbreaker. And the love of my life.

Too bad he only thought of me as his best friend’s little sister.

Naïve and innocent. Only eighteen. Completely off-limits.

Unrequited love… was there anything more painful?

Turns out there was—when he kisses you but has no memory of it.

When he tells you his heart was broken, and he doesn't believe in love.

When he doesn’t want you kissing anyone else, but you're stuck in the friend zone.

Despite the odds stacked against us, my foolish heart refused to stop loving him.

Now I’m falling under his spell.

Drowning in his perfect lies.

Addicted to his stolen glances and forbidden kisses.

I’m on a collision course with disaster and only one thing is certain… Jesse McCallister is going to ruin me.

Add WHEN WE WERE RECKLESS to your Goodreads TBR!

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US | UK | CA | AU

Catch up with the Lost Stars series!

When the Stars Fall, Book One:

AMAZON US | UK | CA | AU

 

When The Storm Breaks, Book Two:

AMAZON US | UK | CA | AU

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emery Rose has been known to indulge in good red wine, strong coffee, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. When she’s not working on her latest project, you can find her binge-watching Netflix, trotting the globe in search of sunshine, or immersed in a good book. A former New Yorker, she currently resides in London with her two beautiful daughters.

AUTHOR LINKS

Reader Group | Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Hosted by:

Thank you to Emery Rose, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of When We Were Reckless.

Adventurous Love's cover has just been revealed!

Lea Coll has revealed the cover for Adventurous Love! This is the second book in the Mountain Haven series, and if you're a fan of opposites attract and/or small town romances, then add Adventurous Love to your to be read list!

Adventurous Love is releasing on October 5, 2021.

Cover Designer: Kari March Designs 

~Kelsey~
I don't do small town, country living. The hustle and bustle of New York pumps through my veins. Still, when a dear friend invited me to stand up in her wedding, I decided to embrace all Colorado had to offer. I was expecting mountainous terrain and outdoor adventures. Instead, I found myself face to face with the ruggedly handsome Henry Rigby--a lumberjack fantasy come to life. It was supposed to be a short trip. Yet the time we spent together made New York seem farther and farther away...

~Henry~
As best man, I promised the groom I would show Kelsey a good time. I considered her one of my groomsmen responsibilities... until I saw her. Far from the high-maintenance New Yorker I expected, she was working that alluring girl next door look. Still, I had sworn off commitment and she had major trust issues. Feelings shouldn't have factored into our time together. But, the vulnerability beneath her steadfast independence called to me. And, for the first time in a long time, I found myself regretting I couldn't offer her the commitment she deserved. 

Pre-order your copy today 

Amazon | Apple Books | Nook | Kobo

and

add Adventurous Love to your Goodreads TBR!

Meet Lea Coll

Lea Coll worked as a trial attorney for over ten years. Now she stays home with her three children, plotting stories while fetching snacks and running them back and forth to activities. She enjoys the freedom of writing romance after years of legal writing.

She currently resides in Maryland with her family. 

 

Connect with Lea

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | BookBub | Newsletter

 

Look at this cover for My Sister's Flirty Friend!

 

Look at this stunning cover for My Sister's Flirty Friend! That background alone just speaks to me. Then add in the beautiful couple.

My Sister's Flirty Friend is the fourth book in the Greene Family series by Piper Rayne. This book is clearly taking on the sibling's best friend trope, and I am here for it! After all, it is one of my top 3 tropes. I cannot wait to meet back up with the Greene's and see what's happening. If you've read the series then you already know that Ethel and Dori will make an appearance.

My Sister's Flirty Friend will be released on November 2, 2021. Pre-order links are below if you're interested.

I broke the cardinal rule and slept with my sister’s best friend.

 

Granted, I’d just found out that I was now a single father to a three-year-old little girl and was low on willpower.

 

It should also be noted that there’s been sexual tension between us for years. There’s no way it would be a surprise if anyone in our small town found out. That is if we were telling people, which we’re not.

 

We’re in agreement to keep our affair a secret, especially since neither one of us do relationships. 

 

You’ve probably figured it out already, but things didn’t go as planned.   

Pre-Order Your Copy Here!

Add to your Goodreads TBR List!

Meet Piper Rayne

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. 

They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they're married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they're both chauffeurs to their kids. 

Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Connect with Piper Rayne
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub | Goodreads 

Join our newsletter & get 2 FREE BOOKS!

Be one of our Unicorns!

Hosted By:

Coming Soon from Elise Faber!

 

Did you know Elise Faber had a new hockey series? Because I didn't! And now I'm finding out that Boldly, book 2, is going to be released NEXT WEEK! How did I miss this news? HOW?!? What kind of hockey romance reader am I? Egads.

So yes, Elise Faber has a brand new book dropping on August 31. It is called Boldly, and it is the second book in the Breakers series. It is a forbidden romance, and I am so ready for it. BRING IT ON.

And yes, since learning this news, I have rushed to Amazon and placed my order for Broken, Boldly, and Breathless. Because it's what I do.

One second, he had everything.
The next, it was torn away.

Oliver James was at the peak of his career, captain of the Baltimore Breakers, minutes away from winning another Cup. Then one hit had derailed all that.

All he’d ever known was hockey, and he didn’t know where he fit in a world where playing was no longer a possibility. But then he was offered a chance to bring hockey back into his life. A shot at starting over.

The only condition of that second chance was required meetings with the team psychologist, Hazel.

She was exactly the kind of woman he might have once lusted after—beautiful, kind, a body that screamed sex. She made him feel whole, like a man again.

Except, she wasn’t interested in him outside of being a patient.

Well then, Oliver would just have to convince her otherwise.

Want to pre-order? Click HERE!

Don't forget to add Boldly to your Goodreads TBR!

Meet

USA Today bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys.

She lives in Northern California. Connect with her in her Facebook group, the Fabinators or email her at elisefaberauthor@gmail.com.

Connect with Elise!

Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter | BookBub

Afraid to Love {a review}

 

Are you wanting a book that has a boatload of suspense? How about a good love story? A gorgeous setting? An alpha hero whose past is torturing him?  If you said, yes please, then go grab Afraid to Love by Sutton Bishop! Afraid to Love was just released today, and I literally just finished my arc of the book. So this is fresh in my mind, and this book was GOOD.

What's the book about? It is about Gianna (Gia), a mystery man who is blackmailing her, and a group of former Navy SEALs who now work in security. At the beginning of the story, we meet Gianna. She is out for a quick bite to eat before returning to work, when a woman approaches her. That woman then gives Gianna a package. Inside that package are photos, a burner phone, and a note to dial a number. After doing so, Gianna is then informed of the job he has for her to complete, and it is not optional. Flash forward a bit, and we are introduced to Booth, and his team. They are on assignment waiting to intercept a package that is going to be handed off at this location. They are just waiting on the handoff to happen so they can jump in. When suddenly Booth takes notice of a woman, and he is drawn to her. But before any introduction can happen, everything goes south. The job is a bust. Days later, Booth goes to a store that sells rare and antique books. Reading, and book collecting, is a hobby of his, so he is drawn to the business. It is here where he officially meets Gianna, and Booth is taken by her. She captivates him. So much so that he asks her to go get coffee with him. Which then turns into a request for a dinner date. As the story unfolds, we find out that Booth actually had previous knowledge of Gianna, her family, and her business. She was a part of his job. And this job, it was intense. 

As I started reading the book, I was second guessing my choice. Seeing all the history mentioned, and talks of artifacts had me a bit worried. Yet I continued on, and I am glad I did. As the story progressed, and the layers started unfolding, I was hooked. I wanted to know more about Gianna, this mystery man, and the mission that Booth's team was on. Add in the storyline with Liv, and I was even more curious as I was wondering how that fit into the full picture. Now though, I get it. Afraid to Love takes you on this journey. A journey towards the potential apprehension of a nationally wanted person/criminal, a journey towards healing from a past traumatic experience, and a journey towards finding love. I was fully immersed in the book, and could almost picture every major scene that happened. The book is full of action, a little mystery, and of course romance. If you are looking for an open door romance, that isn't this book. It is really more closed door or fade to black during the bedroom moments, but you will get a few details. That didn't matter to me though. I loved seeing how the relationship with Booth and Gia evolved. Witnessing them go through everything with the mission, the dramatic moment that Booth was dealing with, and just seeing how that worked into their relationship, was really wonderful. You could see the pain, the heartache, the desire, and every other emotion just laid out before you. Loved the characters (main and sides), loved the setting, and really want to go back and read the first two books in the series.

I highly suggest you read this book. I don't know what else to say other than read Afraid to Love. Oh, and my Goodreads rating was 4 stars.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts,

Laura

Betrayal.

Intrigue.

A desperate rescue, and a love they never saw coming. 

 

She's the woman he needs most. 

 

Gianna Zichella has always had a bright and secure future, next in line to oversee her family’s business. She doesn’t see the harm in flirting with her newest, ruggedly handsome client. 

 

Gia’s life begins to unravel when a stranger contacts her. She will stop at nothing to keep her family and their legacy safe. 

 

He's the man she can trust with every fiber of her being;

 

Former SEAL, Booth Merrick is all about being the consummate security professional. Sent to Italy on assignment, he never intended to become personally involved. 

 

He does women, but not relationships. That is until he meets the beautiful and captivating Gia.

Grab Your Copy Here:

Amazon US | CA | AU | UK

Read for free with a KU subscription!

Add to your Goodreads TBR!

Enter the Goodreads Giveaway Here! 

Have you read the first two books in the Ancient Passages series?

Book 1: Afraid to Fall

Ariana & Luca

Amazon | Goodreads

Book 2: Afraid to Hope

Natasha & Bane

Amazon | Goodreads

Meet Sutton Bishop

I’ve been creating stories since I was a young girl. Playing in the rural meadows and woods in Illinois ​afforded my active imagination ample opportunity to go wild. 

I grew up believing in fairy tales and dreaming of Prince Charming, creating some fanciful, complex stories. I crushed hard on most of my prince charmings. Many of them disappointed me, but a few did not. Those that didn’t matured as I matured. I added textures of character, physicality, and backstory. My monkey mind stayed busy, fleshing them out with strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies, based on men I met and experiences I had. Putting the stories on paper came much later, after four kids and a disjointed career. 

My passions are culture and history. I have degrees in anthropology, forensics, and history. I have traveled near and far, asked countless questions, and made untold observations. Out great world is my imagination-laboratory, and writing brings it all together—the layers, the ordinary, and the extraordinary. Writing is how I explore the “what ifs.” 

Anything is possible and often is. I invite you to take a break from your day-to-day living. Take a journey in a book. Immerse yourself in fantasy. What if? 

Lose yourself in romance. Read mine.  

Sutton

Romancing the Wild

Connect with Sutton Bishop

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Sutton's Posse | Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon Author Page | Newsletter | VIP Street Team

Hosted By:

Thank you to Sutton Bishop, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Afraid to Love.