Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Favorite Books of each Month {2021}


If you read my 12 days of Christmas post, then you know which book was declared my FAVORITE of 2021! Believe me when I say that was not an easy declaration to make, but I am sticking with that selection.

Throughout 2021 I kept a list in my planner for my monthly favorite. Some months were easier to choose than others, I will say that! Occasionally there were those months where a few books would stand out, but I would force myself to narrow it down to just the one.

So what books were my monthly favorites? Let's take a gander.

The Plan by Karla Sorensen {cover reveal}

Cover Design: Qamber Designs  Cover Photography: Wander Aguiar Cover Model: Andrew Biernat  


 

Release Date: February 9

Have you ever fake dated your bodyguard? I don't recommend it. 

 

Especially if he's anything like Erik Wilder: former football player, world class know-it-all and unapologetic grump. 

 

To be clear, I didn't want a bodyguard (hence the fake dating idea). Most days, I can’t figure out why he wants the job either. We drive each other insane, probably because we’re as opposite as two people can be. 

 

He’s suspicious, never talks about his past and has the comfort skills of a cactus. I’m a happily ever after kinda girl who knows exactly what she wants out of life. 

 

Erik’s words might say that the lines have to stay firm between us, but those dark eyes of his? They tell another story when he looks at me. 

 

He’s just as stubborn as I am, but when our fake dating plan starts to feel a lot more real, it's only a matter of time before his professional walls come crashing down.  


I just have to hope my heart doesn't get buried in the rubble.

Pre-Order Your Copy Here!

Add to your Goodreads TBR List! 


Meet Karla Sorensen

Well, let’s see ... I’m a wife and a mother. If the things that I write bring a smile to someone's face, then I've done my job.  


I am obsessed with Outlander (both the books and the show). I’m almost exclusively a romance reader, which means some people will never consider me a literary snob. 


If I could meet one historical figure, it would be Jane Austen. I received my Bachelors in Public Relations and worked in health care marketing before I had my babies. 


I hate Twitter. I do it, but I hate it. Also, if you want to get on my good side, bring me wine and I'll love you forever. 


Connect with Karla Sorensen

Website | NewsletterFacebook | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | BookBub | Reader Group


Hosted By:     

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Off the Bench by Alley Ciz {a review}

 

Calling all U of J fans! Today is the day you have been waiting for. Off the Bench by Alley Ciz is NOW AVAILABLE! Run to Amazon and grab this book. It was SO GOOD.

Quinn has had her eyes on CK for quite a while now, but he pays her no attention. It's frustrating. No matter how much she flirts with him, he doesn't seem to be interested. It's even worse now that they both living in the same place with their friends. They see each other constantly. CK is only interested in friendship. Or is he? CK struggles with thoughts of his past that keep popping up in his mind. Once a nerd always a nerd, and the athletes are beyond his level. They could never be friends with him. Athletes always want something from him. Except with this group who has adopted him. They seem genuine. Yet that nagging voice keeps popping up that he isn't worthy of a relationship with them. Especially not with Quinn. He's doing a great job of keeping his distance. That is until he mentions a dating app that he's on. Suddenly Quinn is taking him under her wing, and has agreed to be his dating coach. Can this work out? Can she coach him through his awkward dating skills? Can he manage a relationship with someone? What about Quinn, can she handle seeing CK date someone else? Will she ever confess her feelings?

This was my first UofJ book, but dang if I'm not going back to read Kay and Mason's trilogy! Those two seem intense. Plus I am really enjoying this cast of characters. Then there's the fact that Savvy and Carter both made appearances. Carter's little side story has me curious as to when that book will be written. That is going to be explosive. Back to CK and Quinn though. This book is opposites attract. It's forced proximity. CK is absolutely adorkable! I want to know more about this video game he's creating too! I loved these two. Quinn is a strong, outspoken woman, who isn't afraid to go after what she wants. Obviously CK is a bit of an exception for that, until it's not. Quinn isn't going to let her mother's thoughts hold her back. She's getting her education, and not the MRS degree her mother thinks she should get. Throughout this book I loved seeing CK bloom. He was finding himself, and some of that was with Quinn's pushing of his boundaries. When the big dramatic moment happened, my heart sank a bit. These two had just found their way to each other, and now it was up in flames. But it was because of this that CK really stepped up. He trusted his friends, and followed his heart. Loved it. Absolutely loved it.

From the characters, to the setting, to the storyline, this book had my complete attention. I didn't want to set it down, but being sick doesn't always allow me to push through. Thankfully that virus is just about gone, so that helps.

If you are a fan of college romances that feature the opposites attract, friends to lovers, and/or forced proximity tropes, then please go grab this one. This could also be considered a sports romance too as Quinn is a very skilled cheerleader.

I want more of this setting, and the characters! Alley Ciz has created a very strong group of friends, and oh how I wish I could meet them all.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Off the Bench. I hope you'll consider giving this new release a read. If you have KU it is included with your subscription!
Laura

@UofJ411: What’s happening here?
#TheyDoSayOppositesAttract #WhereAreAllThePost-its

On a scale of one to ten, Quinn Thompson is a fifteen.

Gorgeous. Fiery. A cheerleader so far out of my league it’s embarrassing that I even fantasize about her.

I need to find a way to shut down the dirty thoughts she inspires before it’s too late.

If I don’t, this whole new life of mine is at risk.

Easier said than done when temptation lives right down the hall.

For such a smart guy, CK can be surprisingly clueless.

Sweet. Shy. The star of all my naughty nerd fantasies, but utterly blind to my flirtations. 

Giving in to his plea to be his love coach may seem drastic, but I’m desperate for the chance to come off the bench.

Too bad the friend zone was a hell of a lot safer for my heart.


Add Quinn & CK's story to your Goodreads TBR!


Meet Alley
Alley Ciz is an internationally bestselling indie author of sassy heroines and the alpha men that fall on their knees for them. She is a romance junkie whose love for books turned into her telling the stories of the crazies who live in her head…even if they don’t know how to stay in their lane.

This Potterhead can typically be found in the wild wearing a funny T-shirt, connected to an IV drip of coffee, stuffing her face with pizza and tacos, chasing behind her 3 minis, all while her 95lb yellow lab—the best behaved child—watches on in amusement.

Where to find Alley

Facebook | Facebook Group | Goodreads | Newsletter | Instagram | Pinterest | Website | YouTube | Amazon | BookBub | TikTok


Hosted by:


Thank you to Alley Ciz, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with a review copy of Off the Bench.

Monday, December 20, 2021

Be back soon


 Happy Holidays all my fellow bookworms!

I'm going to be posting sporadically over the next two weeks. One it's winter break for my kids, and two, so far one kid has been hit with the virus. So obviously my attention will be focused there.

Enjoy your holiday season with family and friends. See you back here soon.

Laura


Notes on Love by Naaz Spencer {cover reveal}


Naaz Spencer has just revealed the cover for Notes on Love! This is the first book that Naaz has released, and it is sure to be a wonderful read. If not a bit emotional at times.  

This book contains topics that some may find triggering. These include discussion of  loss, grief, suicide, infertility, mature language and sexually explicit scenes.

Save the date for January 22 when you will get to meet Seth and Kiran!




Seth
 
Six months away, nursing heartbreak, and my father plucks a ray of sunshine from the sky and puts her in the office opposite mine.

Kiran Jafri is the one thing I hate - happy.

She’s an explosion of colour in one gorgeous package and I should stay away.

But Kiran’s warmth is all I’ve ever craved and avoiding her isn’t an option.

The more I learn about her, the more complicated it gets.

I’ll figure out a way to prove this is worth it.

Kiran
 
Moving to London is a fresh start.

New office. A personal assistant. And a stunning boss who is missing a heart in his chest.

Seth Sinclair is the office grump and fate seems to throw us together.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t stay away.

He’s something I want when I definitely shouldn’t.

It’s too complicated and I can’t trust myself not to mess up.

But Seth’s reminding me of one thing I thought I lost - hope.

Is it really possible for me to have it all?





Preorder Your Copy Here

Meet Naaz Spencer.

Naaz Spencer is the pen name of Zavi James.

Naaz Spencer spends most of her time rushing around a laboratory and trying to make people believe she has her life in order. After a near death experience, she decided to flex her fingers and take a stab at writing as that had always been her childhood dream. Now, she splits her time between experiments and fictional worlds and enjoys getting people to swoon and cry over her creations.

When she’s not writing and working, she can be found traveling across the world in a bid to find inspiration and unleashing her chaos on social media.

For more information about Naaz Spencer, visit:



Hosted by