tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41051374130247713292024-03-14T10:21:06.417-04:00Book Babes UniteReanell_lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13187039367542317760noreply@blogger.comBlogger2518125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-74673761448100707432024-03-14T08:00:00.002-04:002024-03-14T10:20:11.608-04:00Blog Tour: HAPPILY NEVER AFTER by Lynn Painter <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxDghEVSptau-S4IginbBQkqXuMSVKp_8QJnRXaRf5o58nulJqkJyPVmBB5lVoBGb5Hs5bCcZSccu7i3239ytouJ1M_cpEwNmlqBCSYep0BryCv6I028wyiIpijWNJC-OybwbaRWvXF9hfO_JYqYqc3nKqYxg9Vu5Fj06zBZfxycRKccmP10JTgKXq50/s4950/9780593638019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4950" data-original-width="3300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxDghEVSptau-S4IginbBQkqXuMSVKp_8QJnRXaRf5o58nulJqkJyPVmBB5lVoBGb5Hs5bCcZSccu7i3239ytouJ1M_cpEwNmlqBCSYep0BryCv6I028wyiIpijWNJC-OybwbaRWvXF9hfO_JYqYqc3nKqYxg9Vu5Fj06zBZfxycRKccmP10JTgKXq50/s320/9780593638019.jpg" width="213" /></a><b>T</b><b style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; outline: currentcolor;"><span style="color: black; outline: currentcolor;">heir name? The objectors.</span></b></div><p class="yiv8872562020MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor;"><b style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="color: black; outline: currentcolor;">Their job? To break off weddings as hired.<br style="outline: currentcolor;" />Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.<br style="outline: currentcolor;" /><br style="outline: currentcolor;" /></span></b></p><p class="yiv8872562020MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor;"><span style="color: black; outline: currentcolor;">When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her wedding that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, <i style="outline: currentcolor;">she</i> doesn’t want to be the one to do it. Her savior comes in the form of a professional objector, whose purpose is to show up at weddings and proclaim the words no couple (usually) wants to hear at their wedding: “I object!”<br style="outline: currentcolor;" /><br style="outline: currentcolor;" /> During anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.<br style="outline: currentcolor;" /><br style="outline: currentcolor;" /> Max and Sophie start working together, the two love cynics going from wedding to wedding, and she’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. Sophie looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony, where she gets to save the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As they spend more time together, however, they realize their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine because they definitely do <i style="outline: currentcolor;">not</i> have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.<br style="outline: currentcolor;" /><br style="outline: currentcolor;" /> And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to her getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime.</span></p><p class="yiv8872562020MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor;"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>CHRISTY'S REVIEW</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">Happily Never After</i><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">was such a fun, easy-to-read romance. I loved the friends-to-lovers/fake dating aspect and the banter between Sophie and Max.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><br />Sophie and Max meet at Sophie’s wedding where he’s an objector. It’s a bit of a side job and much needed for Sophie. She’s so thankful for Max’s help and with time they become friends. Sophie wants in on the ‘objectors’ gig and they become a team. They also find hanging out beneficial for Sophie’s job and getting Max’s parents off his back. <br /><br />With all this time they spend together, it’s normal that feelings start to happen. The problem is Sophie doesn’t believe in love. Can Max change her mind? This one had me chuckling and smiling more times than I can count. Max and Sophie had great chemistry and an even greater friendship. And her roommate/bestie Larry made the book for me. Such a fun read!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p><b>LYNN PAINTER- AUTHOR </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLQVo7i8oGToOvKKViz0LojX90TogdHv2-2ozlG7LgoCAIvRgMLf5QsQejUvWRdobbRDM1Mru5vyfJuuENGrYcJ13qjMmOD6AGcjwxGJSuTAHblYFHeptjbVr2LGu8MCk7gjc3Hw4jwdu91Qnm4BZn6flTt-BzNxSQbsdMIDkd1mQr8T_43e6QXMAtKw/s3600/Lynn%20Painter_c%20Heather%20Hall%20Photography.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLQVo7i8oGToOvKKViz0LojX90TogdHv2-2ozlG7LgoCAIvRgMLf5QsQejUvWRdobbRDM1Mru5vyfJuuENGrYcJ13qjMmOD6AGcjwxGJSuTAHblYFHeptjbVr2LGu8MCk7gjc3Hw4jwdu91Qnm4BZn6flTt-BzNxSQbsdMIDkd1mQr8T_43e6QXMAtKw/s320/Lynn%20Painter_c%20Heather%20Hall%20Photography.jpg" width="213" /></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.666667px; text-align: left;">Lynn Painter lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband and pack of wild kids. She is a community columnist for the </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px; outline: currentcolor; text-align: left;">Omaha World-Herald</i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.666667px; text-align: left;">, as well as a regular blogger for their parenting section. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found eating her feelings and shotgunning cans of Red Bull. Learn more online at </span><a href="http://www.lynnpainter.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px; outline: currentcolor; text-align: left;" target="_blank">www.lynnpainter.com</a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.666667px; text-align: left;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); font-size: 14.666667px;"><i>*Lynn Painter’s author photo credited to Heather Hall Photography</i></span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>HAPPILY NEVER AFTER Excerpt </b></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sophie</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The moment my dad raised my veil, kissed my cheek, and handed me off to Stuart, I wanted to throw up.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">No-first, I wanted to punch my groom right in his besotted smile.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Then I wanted to vomit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Instead, I took his arm and grinned back at him like a good bride.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The pastor started speaking, launching into his cookie-cutter TED talk about true love, and my heart was racing as I waited. I swear I could feel four hundred sets of eyes burning into the back of my Jacqueline Firkins wedding gown as I heard nothing but the sound of my panicked pulse pounding through my veins and reverberating in my eardrums.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Was he already there, seated among the guests? Was he going to burst through the doors, yelling?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">And-God-what if he was a no-show?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The photographer, kneeling just to my right, took a photo of my face as I listened to Pastor Pete's love lies, so I turned up my lips and attempted to project bridal joy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"You look so nervous," Stuart whispered, giving me a small smile.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I honestly don't know how I didn't throat-punch him at that moment.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Welcome, loved ones," the pastor said, beaming at the congregation as he spoke. "We are gathered here today to join together Sophie and Stuart in holy matrimony."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I felt my breath hitch, unsteady, as he kept yammering, leading us closer to the moment. Something about the twinkling lights and evergreen boughs that we'd painstakingly selected for our December wedding felt garish to me all of a sudden, as if the hobo ghost from Polar Express was going to show up in the back of the church and mock me for my foolishness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">And he wouldn't be wrong.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, I thought, panic tightening my chest. With every word the pastor spoke, my anxiety grew.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Stuart squeezed my trembling hand, the ever-supportive fiancé, and I squeezed back hard enough to make him look at me in surprise.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your-"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"I do."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">A collective gasp shot through the large chapel, and when I turned around, the man standing up was not at all what I expected. He was big and tall and impeccably dressed: charcoal suit, white shirt, gray tie, and matching pocket square. He looked like Henry Cavill's stunt double or something, but with darker hair and more intense eyes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Honestly, I'd imagined he would be a party bro, like Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers, but this man looked more like he belonged in a boardroom.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"So sorry to interrupt," he said in a smooth, deep voice, "but these two should absolutely not be married."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Who is that?" Stuart hissed, daring to give me an accusing stare as a low rumble of whispers emanated from the pews.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Oh, she doesn't know me, Stuart," the man said, looking a hundred percent comfortable in his uncomfortable role. He raised one dark eyebrow and added, "But my friend Becca knows you."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I gasped, my response entirely authentic even though I'd actually practiced it beforehand. I'd known this man was coming, but I hadn't expected him to be so . . .</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Good.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The man was good. The way he spoke made me feel just as shocked as I'd been two nights ago, when I'd discovered Stuart's Becca on his phone.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Listen, pal, I don't know-"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Stuart. Shut up." The man looked down at his wrist and straightened his cuff, as if the mere sight of Stuart bored him. "The lovely Sophie deserves so much more than a cheater for a husband. I would imagine most of us here know it isn't the first time; wasn't there a Chloe last year?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"I don't know who you are, but this is bullshit." Stuart's face was red as he glared at the man, and then his darting eyes came back to me. I looked at his face, remembering how it'd looked when he'd sobbingly begged my forgiveness over his Chloe transgression, and he actually had the gall to say to me, "You know it's not true, right?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">My gut burned as he feigned innocence and I said, "How would I know that? Isn't Becca the name of the girl who texted you in the middle of the night, and you said it was a wrong number?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"It was a wrong number," he said with wild eyes. "This guy is obviously trying to ruin our day, and you're letting him, Soph."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Then give me your phone," I said calmly, and Pastor Pete pulled at his collar.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"What?" Stuart's flushed face twisted, and he glanced at the congregation as though looking for backup.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"If you have nothing to hide," the objector said, still standing and talking in that deep, steady voice like this whole scenario was completely normal. "Just give her the phone, Stuart."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"That's it, fucker!" Stuart yelled, rushing toward the guy. All hell broke loose as his groomsmen followed, though it was unclear if they were trying to hold him back or incite the forthcoming brawl.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">It was a cacophony of male yelling and gray tuxedos in motion.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">His mother yelled, "Stuart, no!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Just as Stuart punched the objector square in the face.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Oh, my God," I said to no one in particular, watching in disbelief as the objector took the punch without his body moving, as if he hadn't even felt it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Stuart's father looked right at me as he loudly muttered, "Jesus Christ."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">And Pastor Pete apparently forgot that his lapel mic was on, because he sighed and said, "Are you fucking kidding me?"</span><br />
</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Excerpted from <b>Happily Never After</b> by Lynn Painter Copyright © 2024 by Lynn Painter. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.</p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-56499080889058763542024-02-12T14:05:00.000-05:002024-02-12T14:05:01.268-05:00Blog Tour: The Catch by Amy Lea<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinO5j2dTUcf1NihIRPe9mINOgqXukF0wBcWFw0yd4fyKg3sruKYWhL7axNmtkxa5_x65Z2oqj6BXW5Jkrbk3nb6AbMpJcOptpHK2Bd15Zxi7Gi70QlzmHQsrizt9PnEkLDSJ3YpEr93GQv2G47nNsH5hKBe8qRkUGngCPVtGql3HJT1Zfzal-BEKVq-c4/s2888/9780593336618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2888" data-original-width="1925" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinO5j2dTUcf1NihIRPe9mINOgqXukF0wBcWFw0yd4fyKg3sruKYWhL7axNmtkxa5_x65Z2oqj6BXW5Jkrbk3nb6AbMpJcOptpHK2Bd15Zxi7Gi70QlzmHQsrizt9PnEkLDSJ3YpEr93GQv2G47nNsH5hKBe8qRkUGngCPVtGql3HJT1Zfzal-BEKVq-c4/w266-h400/9780593336618.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p></p><p class="yiv1809070128MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor;"><b style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="color: black; outline: currentcolor;">A grumpy lobster fisherman tosses a fashion influencer’s impeccably curated life overboard in the next romantic comedy from international bestselling author Amy Lea.<br style="outline: currentcolor;" /><br style="outline: currentcolor;" /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="yiv1809070128MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: currentcolor;">In a last-ditch effort to rescue her brand from the brink of irrelevance, Boston fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen finds herself in a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada. The only thing scarier than nature itself? The burly and bearded B and B owner and fisherman, Evan Whaler—who single-handedly disproves the theory that Canadians are “nice.”<br style="outline: currentcolor;" /><br style="outline: currentcolor;" /> After a boating accident lands Evan unconscious in the hospital, Mel is mistaken for his fiancée by his welcoming yet quirky family, who are embroiled in a long-standing feud over the B and B. In a bold attempt to mend family fences, Mel agrees to fake their engagement for one week in exchange for Evan’s help with her social media content.<br style="outline: currentcolor;" /><br style="outline: currentcolor;" /> Amid long hikes and campfire chats, reeling in their budding feelings for each other proves more difficult by the day. But is Mel willing to sacrifice her picture-perfect life in the city for a chance at a true, unfiltered love in the wild?</span></p><p class="yiv1809070128MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: currentcolor;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1809070128MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; outline: currentcolor;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christy's Review:</span></b></span></p><p class="yiv1809070128MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; outline: currentcolor;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p></div>I have been a fan of Amy Lea’s ‘The Influencer’ series from the start, and though <i>The Catch</i> wasn’t my favorite of the three (Exes and O’s is by far the best imo) it was still enjoyable overall. <br /><br />Melanie is a different kind of influencer than her two best friends. The kind you think of when influencers come to mind. Highly edited photos, fashion, travel, etc. She is sort of at a crossroads with her career and goes out of the country to review a resort, but not everything goes to plan. <br /><br />Mel ends up at an only partially operational AirBnB run by two cousins, Lucy and Evan. Evan is a grumpy fisherman but there are sparks between him and Mel, even if neither wants to admit it. Evan was the best part of this book. I adored him. And his entire family. The fake dating was fun, but some of the third-act stuff made me eye-roll some. <br /><br />The ending of this book was bittersweet. I was happy with how things turned out for this couple, but I’ll miss these characters!
<br />
<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40);"><b>Excerpt: </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Put me down! My underwear is showing,” I demand as a gust of wind hits my ass cheeks. At least I’m wearing a cute lace thong.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Rest assured, I’m not looking,” he mutters as I flail like an eel the entire ascent up the staircase. He doesn’t put me down until we’re outside my bedroom.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“I’m taking a star off your Airbnb review for manhandling,” I warn as he attempts to steady me against the wall just as Lucy passes by with a mini garbage can.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Double bagged. Just in case. Looks like she might need it,” she says, giving Evan a troubled look as she turns to get out of my vicinity. “Sorry, I’m out. I don’t do puke. Night, guys.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“I won’t puke. I’m feeling fan-tas-tic!” I shout after her with unfounded confidence. I push the door open the tiniest crack, revealing the disaster I left my room in. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. I’m a secret slob—someone who looks neat and tidy to others but is most comfortable in my own chaos (when no one’s looking).</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“I can take it from here,” I assure Evan, righting myself.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">His expression is quizzical. “No. You can barely stand.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“I’m <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>great</i></span>. You can retire to your underground candlelit lair now.” I take an eager stride into my room, which to me was pretty smooth, but apparently I’m useless.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">He leads me to the bench at the foot of the bed, where I proceed to topple face-first into the mattress, legs spread like a mannequin. The compromising position isn’t lost on me.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“I feel the need to warn you, I have some pretty lethal hair spray. Just as effective as bear mace, according to <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>Cosmo</i></span>,” I say, voice muffled by the mattress.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“What are you gonna do? Blind me with it?” he asks, bending over to retrieve it from under the bed.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“If you try anything, I’ll have no choice.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“You don’t have to worry about that, Mel.” He softens his tone considerably, which is comforting. I’m pretty sure this is the first time he’s ever referred to me by name.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Any lingering appreciation is short lived when he jabs my shoulder without an ounce of delicacy. I must have drifted out of consciousness for a minute or two, because when I open my eyes again, Evan is placing a garbage bin next to me.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“It’s right beside the bed if you need it,” he says slowly, like I’m a small child. “Do you need me to ask Lucy to help you change? A glass of water?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“No. I’m perfectly fine,” I mumble, flopping over onto my side. He’s weirdly attractive from a horizontal perspective, and I don’t like it one bit.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">He watches me for a couple of peaceful breaths before abruptly pivoting on his heel. “This is going in your Airbnb guest review, by the way.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">I glare at him, blowing at the hair stuck to my lip gloss. “The intoxication? Or my veiled threat?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Both. Mostly the drunk part. I did warn you about the Screech,” he reminds me, hands flexing at his sides.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“It wasn’t the Screech. Your friends were the ones pouring shots down my throat. Who am I to deny Canadian hospi-taly?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">He cocks his head. “Hospi<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>tality</i></span>, you mean. And you’re wasted.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Perfectly sober,” I mumble, sliding under the covers without taking my shoes off.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Wears shoes in bed. Another star off,” he mutters.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Mean host. One and a half stars off,” I retort, squeezing my eyes shut when the room starts to spin.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Scratched the shit out of me with those claws. Minus two stars,” he says, pretending to rub a hand over his shoulder. I definitely scratched him while holding on for dear life as he hauled me up the stairs.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Hey, I paid a lot for these nails.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Despite my questionable eyesight in my current state, I’m pretty sure I catch his lips draw upward into the tiniest smile before my eyes close.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><img alt="pastedGraphic.png" src="blob:https://draft.blogger.com/1c3ae24b-9bec-470c-9d1f-6eb61b3858f6" /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px;">Excerpted from <b>The Catch</b> by Amy Lea Copyright © 2024 by Amy Lea. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.</p><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">About the Author: </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq-cJwEBIYydZLHymNKt8bVTZl0Z_CVYqk59lkIBEjiolGzZhlg12AZaonXLbo3EGQ0d9DMzItLBxymC3dFy46jJCimdpp3p0oNJ7RlCY4mloXqH8rHfZTYZ-Na6xHxb73ypgdFZciNDNsPKtiHmTFobkaXFXFKzOqFGbb5kW3YaMKryojxhdip7sIxI/s2437/Amy%20Lea_c%20Amy%20Lea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2437" data-original-width="1828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq-cJwEBIYydZLHymNKt8bVTZl0Z_CVYqk59lkIBEjiolGzZhlg12AZaonXLbo3EGQ0d9DMzItLBxymC3dFy46jJCimdpp3p0oNJ7RlCY4mloXqH8rHfZTYZ-Na6xHxb73ypgdFZciNDNsPKtiHmTFobkaXFXFKzOqFGbb5kW3YaMKryojxhdip7sIxI/s320/Amy%20Lea_c%20Amy%20Lea.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></b><p class="yiv1809070128font8" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: currentcolor !important;"><b style="outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.6pt; outline: currentcolor !important;">Amy Lea</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.6pt; outline: currentcolor !important;"> is the international bestselling author of romantic comedies for adults and teens, including Mindy Kaling’s Book Studio selection <i style="outline: currentcolor !important;">Woke Up Like This</i>. Her acclaimed works have been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Elle Magazine and has been long listed as a CBC Canada Reads finalist. They have also been optioned for film and sold to over a dozen foreign territories.</span></p><p class="yiv1809070128font8" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.6pt; outline: currentcolor !important;">When Amy is not writing, she can be found fan-girling over other romance books on Instagram (@amyleabooks), eating potato chips with reckless abandon, and snuggling with her husband and two goldendoodles in Ottawa, Canada.</span></p><ul style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline: currentcolor !important;" type="disc"><li class="yiv1809070128MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor !important;">Author photo credited to: Amy Lea</li></ul></div></div>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-51943678229284970112024-02-06T16:30:00.001-05:002024-02-06T16:30:18.804-05:005 Stars for BRIDE by Ali Hazelwood <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4bP-_m9u7SB2a1Zvbfbg6_2bSZ1-6M4l4r6UBPBUss6pXlIwqBh8b2So6VX4PWVblTatr4-iZO1VfqQvQYeEAVm7Sy4ZV67PJ_aWVdXHD9yQP3f2rF9QBe36ow8rHhQHI1xh_lmK8vLbSXVqq_CkRACsgXjoS4vmZ4E9ULvp72x1Z-4DpHy5y84Ly6M/s770/thumbnail.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4bP-_m9u7SB2a1Zvbfbg6_2bSZ1-6M4l4r6UBPBUss6pXlIwqBh8b2So6VX4PWVblTatr4-iZO1VfqQvQYeEAVm7Sy4ZV67PJ_aWVdXHD9yQP3f2rF9QBe36ow8rHhQHI1xh_lmK8vLbSXVqq_CkRACsgXjoS4vmZ4E9ULvp72x1Z-4DpHy5y84Ly6M/w266-h400/thumbnail.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="yiv4883590966MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: medium; outline: currentcolor;">Misery Lark has always felt like an outsider—as the daughter of a Vampyre councilman, she’s been volun-<i style="outline: currentcolor;">told</i> to sacrifice her freedom and needs for the good of her kind for her entire life. The newest sacrifice? Upholding a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, by entering an arranged marriage with the Alpha Were.</span></p><p class="yiv4883590966MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: medium; outline: currentcolor;"> </span></p><p class="yiv4883590966MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: medium; outline: currentcolor;">Wedding bells are ringing as Misery is whisked down the aisle to her betrothed, <span style="background: repeat white; color: black; outline: currentcolor;">Lowe Moreland. Despite those broad shoulders, brooding stares, and extremely attractive looks, Lowe and Misery despise each other from the get-go. But Misery agreed to this for more than familial obligation and a white dress. Her human best friend, Serena, has been missing for weeks, and Misery has reason to believe she’s in Were territory. It’s impossible to figure out who she can—and can’t—trust…and it may take help from her newly declared “other half” to find her friend and make her heart whole once more.</span></span></p><p class="yiv4883590966MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor;"><span style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: black; outline: currentcolor;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="yiv4883590966MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor; text-align: center;"><span style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: black; outline: currentcolor;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Christy's 5-star Review</span></u></b></span></span></p><p class="yiv4883590966MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: currentcolor; text-align: center;"><br /></p><i>
<b>
<blockquote>She’s not like he imagined. She’s more, in every possible way.</blockquote>
</b>
</i><br />As soon as I finished reading this I knew I had just read my first five star book of the year. I forget how much I love paranormal romance until I read one and I remember they were the books that got me back into reading and reading romance. Sometimes they can be so good and passionate and all encompassing and this one was just that. <br /><br /><i>Bride</i> was much different than Ali Hazelwood’s other books (I’ve read them all) and I was obsessed from the start. Misery is a Vampyre who is marrying a Were she’s never met, but not just any Were. The Alpha. This won’t be the first time Misery has taken one for the team for her kind, but she has a reason this time. And that is her best friend, Serena. <br /><br />Marriage of convenience, fated mates, forbidden romance, this book had it all. Lowe was such an Alpha (ha) and he fell hard and fast for Misery. Misery was funny, sarcastic, and guarded at first, but once she started opening up to people, I loved watching her personality shine. I adored this couple together and so many of the secondary characters. With the way this ended, I only hope Ali writes more from this world. <br /><br /><i>Bride</i> was fast paced, entertaining, exciting, action packed and intoxicating. I loved seeing this author step out of the contemporary romance/stem books she does so well and go a different direction. This paranormal romance was fantastic and I highly recommend it! <br /><i>
<b>
<blockquote>“Of all the good things… of all the good things I’ve felt in my life, you are the best.”</blockquote>
</b>
</i><br /><br /><br />
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/11284813-christy">View all my reviews</a>
Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-36178693409761802072024-01-18T11:06:00.006-05:002024-01-18T11:06:59.819-05:00Review: Loving Romeo by Laura Pavlov <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAUqtHhenQSmG19wdcP-pE9qv4lY0vihmumMkXJUPe83K0o_4hgywNF5bCkeBRn-Bn3m8vMDKtiEEtGf6VZvLmL6fM1vA6Pv2gufAgRBoQj2zBJ_W6MZ0rv1kpZCt7ngadGVN5x43H2J6u391AviRRdykIEFjiC7VWfwXhKrTe5wE81OY51uiTgsb2Bo/s1500/182451484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="977" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAUqtHhenQSmG19wdcP-pE9qv4lY0vihmumMkXJUPe83K0o_4hgywNF5bCkeBRn-Bn3m8vMDKtiEEtGf6VZvLmL6fM1vA6Pv2gufAgRBoQj2zBJ_W6MZ0rv1kpZCt7ngadGVN5x43H2J6u391AviRRdykIEFjiC7VWfwXhKrTe5wE81OY51uiTgsb2Bo/s320/182451484.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br />
<b>4.5 stars</b> <br /><br />Laura Pavlov does small-town romance so well. She was a new to me author last year and I’m loving not only catching up on her backlist but reading her new releases as well. Loving Romeo was a fantastic start to her new ‘Magnolia Falls’ series. <br /><br />Demi and Romeo’s story is an opposites attract in a way, as Demi is the good girl from the wealthy family in town and Romeo is a boxer who owns the town gym and has a bit of a past. Things aren’t always what they seem, though. Romeo is a truly good guy and Demi is also a good girl, but her family life isn’t all it seems to be. <br /><br />I love that these two start out with a bit of an enemies-to-lovers vibe, but then they turn into friends, and then it’s so much more. The romance between them was beautiful and I loved both of the main characters. I absolutely love a good found family book, and Romeo and his band of brothers was one of my favorite parts of this book. I hope they all get books. Every single one. <br /><br />Some of the drama at the end was a bit predictable for me, but aside from that this book was wonderful. If you love a good sports romance, pick this one up. On a side note, the narration was amazing. 100% recommend this audiobook! <br /><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">
<blockquote style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/4b4SX1G" target="_blank">One-click on Amazon</a></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182451484-loving-romeo" target="_blank">Add to your Goodreads TBR</a> </p></span></b></u>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-80830602215995488932023-11-30T16:58:00.003-05:002023-11-30T16:58:15.099-05:00Review: Caution to the Wind by Giana Darling <p><br /></p> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56658887-caution-to-the-wind" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Caution to the Wind (The Fallen Men, #7)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1648906845l/56658887._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56658887-caution-to-the-wind">Caution to the Wind</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14901102.Giana_Darling">Giana Darling</a><br /><br />
<b>4.25 stars</b><br /><br /><i>Caution to the Wind</i> has been my most anticipated read for so long so when it hit my kindle, I started it right away. I was so happy to be back into ‘The Fallen’ world and read Mei and Axe-Man’s story. <br /><br />Mei and Henning (Axe-Man) meet when Mei is young. She’s Cleo’s best friend, and Henning is Cleo’s stepdad. Cleo and Mei have always been close friends, but when Cleo loses her mom, the trauma of that bonds the three of them forever. Then, something else big happens that tears them apart when Cleo and Mei are 17. <br /><br />Fast forward 8 years later, and though Mei and Cleo have remained as close as they can from afar, Mei and Henning reconnect for the first time. It’s not pleasant, and even though he wants nothing to do with Mei, for Cleo’s sake he endures. I think he was a little too hard on Mei for her past. She was a teen and knew her parents and that situation and I’m guessing he could have figured out the why if he really thought about it, but either way the 8 years has past and now they are in each others lives for good. <br /><br />I love a good age gap romance and the last 20ish percent was an epic love story. I think the only reason for me personally it’s not a 5 star read is because I wanted more romance throughout the book. My favorite part of this story wasn’t Axe-Man and Mei’s romance, it was Mei and Cleo’s relationship and bond. Found family is everything and theirs was top tier. <br /><br />Overall this book was fantastic. Giana’s writing is always captivating and her characters and stories are so engaging. After finishing this I’m craving even more Fallen books. I don’t even care who the next one is about, you know I’ll be reading it the moment it releases!
<br /><br /><br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-49983457353988504912023-11-19T16:17:00.005-05:002023-11-19T16:17:40.759-05:00Review: After the Storm by Laura Pavlov <p> </p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122948351-after-the-storm" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="After the Storm (Cottonwood Cove, #5)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1696432068l/122948351._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122948351-after-the-storm">After the Storm</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6569734.Laura_Pavlov">Laura Pavlov</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5969799072">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br /><i>After the Storm</i> was THE BOOK in this series I was waiting for. I mean, a grumpy single dad who's a vet and loves his daughter more than anything? Sign me up! I'm happy to report this one didn't disappoint. I loved it so much! <br /><br />Cage has had one focus since the moment he found out he was going to be a dad. His daughter, Gracie. He hasn't been interested in relationships, that is, until the one that got away, Presley Duncan, comes back into town. <br /><br />Presley and Cage were so in love when they were younger, but time and distance made things complicated between them and they ended up going their separate ways. But their love never died. The longing of this second chance romance... sigh. I adored these two together. <br /><br />My favorite thing about this series is the Reynolds family bond, banter, and text thread. I had so much fun any time any of these scenes came up. Cage always makes me laugh the hardest. I loved that even though this book was emotional at times, it felt light too. <br /><br />Though Georgia and Maddox's book still can't be topped for me, this one was a close second. Cage and Presley belong together and Gracie is the absolute sweetest. I loved her relationship with Presley. This entire series has been such a win for me. I can't recommend these books enough! <br /><u>
<blockquote>Audio book source: Book Funnel (ALC)<br />Story Rating: 5 stars<br />Narrators: Emma Wilder & Jacob Morgan <br />Narration Rating: 4.5 stars<br />Genre: Contemporary Romance <br />Length: 8h 40m</blockquote>
</u><br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-79113902546475047102023-10-10T09:00:00.001-04:002023-10-10T09:00:00.143-04:00I'm Your Guy by Sarina Bowen: Audio Review <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY_DkMc_DXnWxWCBpHco-ddJJcFotBP8NJkbsXiJ1CQPVtUsI7wQQQeIFgKuw9zNj363n9WOru46ZcXoNPr4tWSO99gM-AvzILRkvDjpoGFnmN0JHikgbBIBIxP6HKhIlOUbotYwfSkR0bTKkYH-MGc1CKDnOUvug0EnmqCGmW5BY7mkQciaqotLwxYw/s1080/38.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY_DkMc_DXnWxWCBpHco-ddJJcFotBP8NJkbsXiJ1CQPVtUsI7wQQQeIFgKuw9zNj363n9WOru46ZcXoNPr4tWSO99gM-AvzILRkvDjpoGFnmN0JHikgbBIBIxP6HKhIlOUbotYwfSkR0bTKkYH-MGc1CKDnOUvug0EnmqCGmW5BY7mkQciaqotLwxYw/w640-h640/38.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">TOMMASO</strong><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />The furniture district is my personal hell. I don’t know my ass from an ottoman. But when a hot designer comes to my rescue, I realize my problems are bigger than the house I’m trying to furnish.<br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">A scorching kiss over fabric samples makes me question all my choices. But is it too late to change my entire life to get more of them?<br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">CARTER</strong><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />I need this gig, but my cocky new client leaves out a couple crucial details:<br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />He doesn’t mention that he's a famous hockey player. And he doesn’t own up to the way he’s always trying to undress me with his dark, broody eyes.<br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />The man throws out more mixed signals than a broken traffic light. I've never been more sexually frustrated in my entire life. I need to back away before I do something stupid, like lose my heart.<br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />Oops. Too late.</p><h2 style="color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.4em; margin-top: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">VENDOR LINKS</span></h2><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: <a href="https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Amazon" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(203, 11, 123, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cb0b7b; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out, color 0.15s ease-out;" target="_blank">https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Amazon</a><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span>Apple Books: <a href="https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Apple" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(203, 11, 123, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cb0b7b; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out, color 0.15s ease-out;" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Apple</span></a><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span>Kobo: <a href="https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Kobo" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(203, 11, 123, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cb0b7b; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out, color 0.15s ease-out;" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Kobo</span></a><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span>Nook: <a href="https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Nook" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(203, 11, 123, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cb0b7b; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out, color 0.15s ease-out;" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Nook</span></a><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span>Audio: <a href="https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Audio" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(203, 11, 123, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cb0b7b; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out, color 0.15s ease-out;" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/Im-Your-Guy-Audio</span></a></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paperback: <a href="https://bit.ly/44T2GnJ" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(203, 11, 123, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cb0b7b; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out, color 0.15s ease-out;" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/44T2GnJ</a><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">All links in one place: <a href="https://shor.by/HockeyGuys" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(203, 11, 123, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cb0b7b; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out, color 0.15s ease-out;" target="_blank">https://shor.by/HockeyGuys</a><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />ADD TO GOODREADS: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122753552-i-m-your-guy" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(203, 11, 123, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cb0b7b; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out, color 0.15s ease-out;" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122753552-i-m-your-guy</a></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodreads Giveaway: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/373772-i-m-your-guy</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJJVXvI46AvSNGwM5mP1rSSerPfb1OjpPsmd079j-6I19foSaNJZqUy_67pmufzVhxrcnmgGOSUupHafUNp3WZF5wPk9G5U9-8-f6mV-9cSB8zITRD86YoFHVzGd43WGSae4QgycNHNTOGNDkSuhRIc7VqzwDCr_i4BLGg-AbV_ExQ7GIJQnfVKG86aQ/s1080/32.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJJVXvI46AvSNGwM5mP1rSSerPfb1OjpPsmd079j-6I19foSaNJZqUy_67pmufzVhxrcnmgGOSUupHafUNp3WZF5wPk9G5U9-8-f6mV-9cSB8zITRD86YoFHVzGd43WGSae4QgycNHNTOGNDkSuhRIc7VqzwDCr_i4BLGg-AbV_ExQ7GIJQnfVKG86aQ/w640-h640/32.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: sofia-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>CHRISTY'S REVIEW: </b></p><br />I love Sarina Bowen’s hockey books and I’m really enjoying her ‘Hockey Guys’ series. <br /><br />We are back in Colorado with the Cougars, this time with defenseman T0mmaso DiCosta. Tom has recently bought a new place and it needs to be furnished and decorated, and quickly. With his mom visiting for the holidays he wants it to be perfect for her. Here enters Carter Flynn. <br /><br />Carter is down on his luck after getting burned on a bad business deal as well as a bad breakup. When he gets this job working on Tom’s home it feels almost too good to be true but Tom hates shopping and really needs his house together. Carter is bound and determined to do a good job and get things back on track. <br /><br />What neither one of them expects is for there to be sparks between the two of them. These two seem like they don’t have much in common, but they actually are more alike than one would think. I loved them both and seeing them fall in love was beautiful. <br /><br />This was a lovely slow burn romance that was heartwarming and fun. If you’re a sports romance fan I highly recommend! <br /><u>
<blockquote>Audio book source: Soundwise (arc)<br />Story Rating: 4.5 stars<br />Narrators: Teddy Hamilton & Jacob Morgan <br />Narration Rating: 4.5 stars<br />Genre: Sports Romance<br />Length: 9h 55m</blockquote>
</u><br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-62135110661888389262023-08-29T08:00:00.002-04:002023-08-29T08:00:00.176-04:00Blog Tour: The Love Plot by Samantha Young<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDNJolkQaTSPSIRAKAwsdp0HZsb0UwLpR-GA1Fegi8MEItb7KJLNL7VADir0CR2QO_RsECG4mq9xmI-prxyAC2JP1C86xyQLUmkriyJnRnbGI-v-ce7ottN4VlFzHAxjvj5tegJuX0TyCouASZ2Ewj9OnlVpDqDzUPF5n9weiWrkkJwvqg5BvIVmlxZs/s4800/9780593438633.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="3113" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDNJolkQaTSPSIRAKAwsdp0HZsb0UwLpR-GA1Fegi8MEItb7KJLNL7VADir0CR2QO_RsECG4mq9xmI-prxyAC2JP1C86xyQLUmkriyJnRnbGI-v-ce7ottN4VlFzHAxjvj5tegJuX0TyCouASZ2Ewj9OnlVpDqDzUPF5n9weiWrkkJwvqg5BvIVmlxZs/w416-h640/9780593438633.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="yiv0398472516MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none;"><b style="outline: none;"><span style="color: black; outline: none;">There’s a magnetic attraction when a happy-go-lucky gig worker agrees to a fake relationship with a rich, uptight New Yorker in this steamy romantic comedy from <i style="outline: none;">New York Times</i> bestselling author Samantha Young.<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="yiv0398472516MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none;">Star Shine Meadows is all about freedom, thanks to the hippie parents who raised her. Juggling her jobs as a professional costume character actor and a line sitter, she believes in no expectations, no stressful ambitions, and no-strings-attached relationships. So when she meets a birthday girl’s grumpy uncle while working a princess party, she can’t help but needle him. She’ll never see him again, and honestly, he's pretty hot.<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" /></span></p><p class="yiv0398472516MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none;">Rafe Whitman may be a veterinarian with a great bedside manner, but that doesn’t mean his patience extends to anyone with opposable thumbs. His family will not stop nagging him about finding “the one,” so when he runs into obnoxiously cheery Star again, he makes her an offer: He’ll pay her more than she would make doing her odd jobs if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend at family gatherings. She can stop sitting in line waiting for someone else’s new phone, and he’ll get his family off his back.<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" /></span></p><p class="yiv0398472516MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none;">When the tension between them heats to a breaking point, Star’s desire for "no strings" is tested against Rafe’s staunch stability. They say opposites attract, after all....</span></p><p class="yiv0398472516MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv0398472516MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Christy's Review: </b></span></p><p class="yiv0398472516MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; outline: none; text-align: center;"><br /></p></div><i>
<b>
<blockquote> "I've always believed every human being belongs to themself, and in all the important ways that matter, I still believe that. But I also think it's bull. Because I've never felt like I belonged more than when I'm with you."</blockquote>
</b>
</i><br />I don't think there is another troupe I love as much as the 'grumpy/sunshine' troupe, and add in fake dating and I was sold on reading <i>The Love Plot</i>. This story was so much fun, but it also had it's emotional moments and frustrating moments. Overall, I enjoyed it so much. And that's mainly because of how much I loved both Star and Rafe. <br /><br />When Star and Rafe first meet, it's clear that they are complete opposites. And we all know that opposites attract... Rafe is a veterinarian who comes from a wealthy family. He decided to go his own way and not follow the family business. Star is a professional line sitter and also a character actor for parties etc. In fact, she's playing a Disney princess at Rafe's niece's birthday party the first time they meet. Star may not know what she wants to do for a future career, but the most important thing to her is that she's happy and she genuinely is. Being just herself. <br /><i>
<b>
<blockquote> "...My ambition is to live a life that makes me truly happy. And I reckon that's probably the most ambitious anyone can be in this world."</blockquote>
</b>
</i>Rafe needs his meddling family off his back and decides fake dating Star would be the key to do that. He never dreams he would fall for someone so different for him, but that's exactly what he does. Even though there were some things on Star's part that made her hesitant to commit and truly give in to Rafe, he was patient with her. I loved that Rafe loved her for her and never tried to dull her sparkle. <br /><br /><i>The Love Plot</i> is a fantastic romantic comedy and one I highly recommend. I love Samantha Young's writing and this was such a win for me!
<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EXCERPT:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">I was shocked to find Rafe striding determinedly in my direction again. His broody face was more brooding than usual, so I braced myself.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Rafe Whitman drew to a stop before me and blurted out, “You’ll literally do anything for money?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Anger flared in an instant from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair, so I didn’t hear the <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>tone</i></span> in which the question was asked. I threw back my shoulders. Taller than average height at five-seven, I was still a good seven or eight inches shorter than this arrogant Manhattanite, but I was prepared to take him. Anyone who knew me knew I was a patient, laid-back kind of person . . . but Rafferty Whitman had crossed the line!</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“What the hell does that mean?” I seethed. “Are you suggesting I charge money for sex?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Rafe’s blue eyes flashed with indignation. “No, I am not,” he hissed at me, eyes darting around. “And lower your voice.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“I will not lower my voice.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I like most people, but you sure do make it difficult, Whitman. It’s like you get off on being as insulting as possible.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">He mirrored me, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not insulting you. If you’d paid attention, you’d realize the question was not meant to be untoward.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Untoward?” I grimaced. “What, are you from the nineteenth century? Is that why you hate phones? Because if the technology is difficult for you to grasp, I can teach you how to use a phone.” I was being a little shit now, but he brought it out in a person.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Rafe sneered. “How much will that cost me?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Argghhh! I narrowed my eyes but smiled. “Oh, for you . . . twice as much as I’d charge anyone else.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“I see. Well.” Rafe uncrossed his arms to reach into his back pocket. He removed his wallet and then a business card from that. Holding it out to me, he continued, “I guess you stand to make a lot of money for doing very little. If you’re interested, call me.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Flummoxed, I took the card. “Um . . . doing what?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">But he was already walking away.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Doing what, Whitman?” I yelled after him.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">He didn’t answer, just casually strolled off. His suit pants molded perfectly to his sculpted ass. So unfairly physically perfect.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Are you going to call him?”</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">I looked up from the business card that read </span><i>Whitman Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Rafferty Whitman.</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">His vet clinic was on the busy, tree-lined Columbus Avenue. <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>Nice location, Dr. Rafe.</i></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">There was his phone number right beneath the address.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Yvonne grinned at me, and I answered her question. “Nah.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Her eyes bugged out of her head as her friends gaped at me in shock. “Uh, Clark Kent just asked you to call him, Star. You don’t turn down Clark Kent.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“You do if he’s an asshole. Life lesson, girls: an attractive face should not sway you if a pompous, arrogant, insulting, offensive turd lurks behind it.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Yvonne chuckled. “You did yell at him and try to embarrass him with the peanut butter and jelly stuff. That’s not true, is it?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">I rolled my eyes. “No, it’s not true.” But she was right. I had antagonized him.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“You should make it true. I’d roll in a bathtub of jelly with that man.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">Slipping the card into my purse, I shrugged. “Impossible. His ego would take up the whole tub. No room for jelly. Or me—I mean you.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“You’re not the least bit curious to find out what he wants to pay you to do?”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">“Considering how that sounds, nope. Not at all. Ooh, look, the line is moving. Yay.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">But as the girls turned to move with the line, I knew I was lying.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22px;">I was so curious, my heart still raced from my encounter with Rafe.</p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Author: Samantha Young</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBIpTGqGF2gl3PPK0ey-gLfkiTept1NxxUIuZdkxtVn-FjpJHPk5eqhglxniNuOikFO6nxlQtRSWZGoOQVidc0dXTjwqwLZu2KwEEnPRusw2vVo8N2zoY_FE_W9cI-SXmTQBQ-3RnJV6paVEkiAEULu6wAwXOcNEY4ZnrsMzuJjexj2LOy3KYEyqFHig/s450/Samantha%20Young_Photo%20%C2%A9%20Mark%20Archibald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBIpTGqGF2gl3PPK0ey-gLfkiTept1NxxUIuZdkxtVn-FjpJHPk5eqhglxniNuOikFO6nxlQtRSWZGoOQVidc0dXTjwqwLZu2KwEEnPRusw2vVo8N2zoY_FE_W9cI-SXmTQBQ-3RnJV6paVEkiAEULu6wAwXOcNEY4ZnrsMzuJjexj2LOy3KYEyqFHig/s320/Samantha%20Young_Photo%20%C2%A9%20Mark%20Archibald.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; outline: none !important;">Samantha Young</span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"> is the <i style="outline: none !important;">New York Times</i> and <i style="outline: none !important;">USA Today</i> bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series, including <i style="outline: none !important;">Moonlight on Nightingale Way</i>, <i style="outline: none !important;">Echoes of Scotland Street</i>, and <i style="outline: none !important;">Fall from India Place</i>, and the Hart's Boardwalk series, including<i style="outline: none !important;"> Every Little Thing </i>and <i style="outline: none !important;">The One Real Thing</i>, as well as the standalone novels <i style="outline: none !important;">Fight or Flight</i> and <i style="outline: none !important;">Much Ado About You</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px;">*</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px; text-align: left;">author photo by Mark Archibald</span></i></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-46232744653825247872023-07-04T11:02:00.001-04:002023-07-05T11:05:28.666-04:00Blog Tour: Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphqB1r5opnLKztk7sisIjrc1oyKAxz7Z4UXTntDQCxDNUxGEm5aeOX4kGRJrkzICIAvJfkm-IPkAERkP4BLvXgxls14MNq0npH7hR79s8WuRDRL4AuOhqDbpFKAkVwwh8cE60MSDV8iUC0kl-0kgmo6FuqHFwMxJAlD6qukAUCrmYkZ3FoXK_BjnmTy4/s550/image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="356" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphqB1r5opnLKztk7sisIjrc1oyKAxz7Z4UXTntDQCxDNUxGEm5aeOX4kGRJrkzICIAvJfkm-IPkAERkP4BLvXgxls14MNq0npH7hR79s8WuRDRL4AuOhqDbpFKAkVwwh8cE60MSDV8iUC0kl-0kgmo6FuqHFwMxJAlD6qukAUCrmYkZ3FoXK_BjnmTy4/w414-h640/image003.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;">Chandler Cohen realizes </span>there is nothing glamorous about being a ghostwriter<span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"> when the author she wrote a book for fails to recognize her. Nothing screams success like being ignored. But her evening improves when she meets an attractive, charming stranger at a bar. The sparks are instant and the chemistry is undeniable. But the sexy stranger is <i style="outline: none !important;">really</i> <i style="outline: none !important;">bad</i> in bed. Like, the worst non-orgasm she’s ever experienced <i style="outline: none !important;">bad</i>. </span><b style="outline: none !important;"><span style="color: purple; outline: none !important; text-transform: uppercase;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="outline: none !important;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><br style="outline: none !important;" /></span></b><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;">Clearly, it’s very awkward several days later when she finds herself sitting across the table from said stranger, with a large paycheck hanging in the balance.</span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Once known as the lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show, Finn Walsh’s career has looked better. Now a C-list actor, his full-time job involves appearing at fan conventions across the country. What better way to kick start his career than with a memoir? All is needs is a great ghostwriter. </span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Chandler can’t pass up this opportunity and resolves to remain as professional as possible. How hard can it be? As Chandler and Finn spend time together traveling from one convention to the next while working on his memoir, they start to become friends. When Chandler reveals that their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as Finn thinks it was, she doesn’t think it will be a big deal. But Finn is shocked and distraught.</span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The two strike a deal: when they are not working on the memoir, Chandler will teach Finn how to satisfy a woman. As they grow closer, both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure—and is there a way for them to have both?</span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Christy's Review </span></b></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The premise of this book was really fun and interesting and I looked forward to finding out more about Finn and Chandler. While I really loved Finn and some parts of the book, I never felt a connection with the characters I wanted to feel, and some parts were just slow for me. I think overall Rachel Lynn Solomon's writing is great. </span></span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="yiv4812113880MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; outline: none !important; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; outline: none !important;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><p><br /></p>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-53456708896308191862023-06-27T08:24:00.002-04:002023-06-27T08:24:31.684-04:00Blog Tour: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd56vktrHuFUktKfCHGDCbbIZr9UFFtXfNrzjExvYd6eb0g-Gocj0rDKvKJ3S7xWpbv2ZK9T86Kqk5CoNfvSuG07BOgg8IX8-R15kgzkOC0EKCvQKqOjdOAWMWq4hKucb0x2xmQm53obrOZjelEsfCKgk8iY0_2pqSHZXdHjZ28QD23HKgEoO1zXdyfQ/s450/9780593638842.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="292" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd56vktrHuFUktKfCHGDCbbIZr9UFFtXfNrzjExvYd6eb0g-Gocj0rDKvKJ3S7xWpbv2ZK9T86Kqk5CoNfvSuG07BOgg8IX8-R15kgzkOC0EKCvQKqOjdOAWMWq4hKucb0x2xmQm53obrOZjelEsfCKgk8iY0_2pqSHZXdHjZ28QD23HKgEoO1zXdyfQ/w416-h640/9780593638842.jpeg" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/44hFi3a" target="_blank">Buy on Amazon</a></span></b><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><b>Christy's Review: </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-align: start;">The Seven Year Slip</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> had such an facinating premise. It started out a little slow for me, but once it picked up I got really into. The ending felt a little rushed, but I enjoyed so much about this book! </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Clementine 'Lemon' is moving in to her recently passed Aunt's apartment and this apartment has some magic. That is where she meets Iwan. Iwan is an aspiring chef and present Clementine meets Iwan from 7 years ago. That's how the apartment works. Then, in the present, things start to collide. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: Proxima Nova, Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21);">I did enjoy the concept of this one, but I also found it a tad bit predictable and rushed at the end. Still, I really enjoy Ashley Poston's writing and would recommend this to anyone who's looking for an out of the box romance. </span></span></span></div><br /><p></p>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-57329131814867905672023-06-13T09:00:00.001-04:002023-06-13T16:51:16.497-04:00Blog Tour: 5 stars to LOVE THEORETICALLY by Ali Hazelwood<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigg2rktBjGV7zaT4tWyc3dWaxouKEs2wJ1xAgliaEQPUnrJBVn_DvLcdnX9nq7P7LZRvfgXey88hXtCC0N1OFT6zWGX9sbpDtLogJ7KgaNVE3i30q5wdOt-wrcnPQ-glhJhYOskTjX77kmF5UkIIf_P-V7iHsAG-0zI-xs1k4ml7Sj9YlpLc1wf9Xt/s600/63098427.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigg2rktBjGV7zaT4tWyc3dWaxouKEs2wJ1xAgliaEQPUnrJBVn_DvLcdnX9nq7P7LZRvfgXey88hXtCC0N1OFT6zWGX9sbpDtLogJ7KgaNVE3i30q5wdOt-wrcnPQ-glhJhYOskTjX77kmF5UkIIf_P-V7iHsAG-0zI-xs1k4ml7Sj9YlpLc1wf9Xt/w266-h400/63098427.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none;">It’s a rivalry that runs as old and as deep as the feuds between the Capulets and the Montagues, the Yankees and the Red Sox, Batman and the Joker, Tom and Jerry: <i style="outline: none;">theoretical</i> versus <i style="outline: none;">experimental</i> physicists. Elsie Hannaway is firmly in the camp of theoretical physics—an adjunct professor by day, she toils long and hard to teach students about the laws of thermodynamics in hopes of landing tenure. But to make ends meet, Elsie takes on another role in her (very) limited spare time: fake girlfriend. In this career, Elsie can pretend to be anyone her client needs her to be… and while she’s not supposed to go on more than one date with a guy, she develops a soft spot for one who really needs her help in front of his family. What could possibly go wrong?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">Here is what can go wrong: her client has an older brother. A very</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><i style="font-size: 11pt; outline: none;">hot </i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">older brother. And, on an interview for her dream tenure-track position in MIT’s physics department, Elsie learns that said older brother is a member of the hiring committee. And he also just so happens to be the very same experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and is the reason why the entire science field views theoretical physicists as wastes of space. Did we mention that he happens to be terribly sexy? And he thinks that Elsie is a librarian who has been dating his brother?</span></p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: left;">Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage when her physics nemesis realizes that Elsie isn’t who she had claimed to be. But…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?</p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3NrHC1Z" target="_blank">ONE CLICK on Amazon </a></span></b><br /></p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: center;"><b>Christy's 5 star Review </b></p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">"You could be my entire world," he whispers in my ear before moving to my collarbone. "If you let me"</span></p><p class="yiv7816658188MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; outline: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">I stroke his hair. "I think I will."</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><i>
</i> <br /><i>Love, Theoretically</i> is Ali Hazelwood's third full length novel and I can't decide if it's my favorite, or if 'The Love Hypothesis' has that honor. What I can say with full and total confidence is that Jack Smith is the absolute best character she's ever written. Sigh. <br /><br />Elsie Hannaway is a theoretical physicist who is barely making ends meet by being an adjunct professor so she has a little side hustle if you will. That is how she meets Jack Smith. The first time. When she is interviewing for her dream job at MIT she meets him again. <br /><br />This is what I like to call a one sided enemies to lovers. Because lets be honest. This amazing hero is completely gone for the heroine from the start. Whether he wants to be or not. Seriously, I just adored Jack. He was the best. I love how much he cared about Elsie and she became a better version of herself just by being with him. <br /><br />This book had a lot of science. Ali Hazelwood is so much smarter than I am, and I'm not going to lie, some of the physics stuff went right over my head, but that's okay. I love reading books about smart women. I imagine it can be so challenging being a female in this field and I love that Ali gives a voice to that. <br /><br /><i>Love, Theoretically</i> is a book I didn't want to put down. It gave me butterflies, all the happy feels, and had just enough angst to keep me on my toes.
<br /><br /><br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-90299122362767377342023-06-09T08:00:00.001-04:002023-06-09T08:00:00.148-04:005+ Stars to RECKLESS by Elsie Silver<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It's Release Day - RECKLESS by Elsie Silver is NOW LIVE!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ✨</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNIExZZfXRcLviBQ79gfEP97nKwUIIOzHphio3DPMkYmXMC0ni0Y1MpqHqpK3XBgVSe7qzooLV3fLut_rpDX-yKRidU_E_cJwKP8pFpYKKBKv4zeqZ0dOq6qSwBVKdAsTiJd-Fz6F5QXKbO1oSsRd4mQUdyfgoE6JRTQRX5RsuuPLI7UVkmzauRCt/s1080/1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNIExZZfXRcLviBQ79gfEP97nKwUIIOzHphio3DPMkYmXMC0ni0Y1MpqHqpK3XBgVSe7qzooLV3fLut_rpDX-yKRidU_E_cJwKP8pFpYKKBKv4zeqZ0dOq6qSwBVKdAsTiJd-Fz6F5QXKbO1oSsRd4mQUdyfgoE6JRTQRX5RsuuPLI7UVkmzauRCt/w640-h640/1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Theo is the Daddiest Daddy of them all" - ARC Reviewer</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Available now! Read RECKLESS >>> </span><a href="https://geni.us/getpowerless" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://geni.us/getreckless</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨ Spicy small town romance</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨ Grumpy Sunshine</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨ Single Mom/Secret Baby</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨ He Falls First</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨ One Night Stand</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨ All the spice and banter</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Theo Silva. Rowdy bull rider. Notorious ladies’ man. Scorching hot trouble wrapped up in a drool-worthy package.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he’s looking at me like I might be his next meal.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I’m almost free of my toxic marriage and have sworn off men entirely. So all I see when I look back is temptation served up with a heaping side of heartbreak.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The man is hard to trust—and even harder to resist.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make that impossible. Because Theo is persistent. And no matter how hard I try to freeze him out, he melts my icy exterior and pulls apart all my defenses.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over a drink in a small town bar, I blurt out my deepest, darkest secrets. Then I spend the singular hottest night of my life with him.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He worships my body. He makes me blush. I come alive beneath his hands.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I tell him to forget it ever happened. I want simple, and with him it all feels complicated.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was supposed to be a one-time thing.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A secret.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But that little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#ElsieSilver #ChestnutSprings #SingleMom #SecretBaby #GrumpySunshine #CloseProximity #OneNightStand #HeFallsFirst #SmallTownRomance #SportsRomance #SlowBurn #GreatBanter #SpicyRomance #ContemporaryRomance #RomanceReader #Romance #Bookstagram #Booktok #RomanceRecommendation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Christy's 5 star review</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">✨</span></span></p><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/2ea03547-1066-475c-bec0-44ded14a1d99?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_7561" class="gr-hostedUserImg" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1685509665i/34306399._SY540_.png" />
</a></div><br />When I read 'Heartless' last year, I thought no Elsie Silver book could top that. Honestly, this one was just as good. I loved <i>Reckless</i> so much. Winter was fantastic, and Theo was absolutely perfect. This is a troupe I'm not a fan of, but she did it just right. There was nothing I didn't love about this book! <br /><br />When Winter and Theo meet, they have a lot of chemistry. It's obvious right away there is an attraction there, and though neither are in a place for anything serious, they act on it. One night together changes everything. Theo is a professional bull rider, a protégé, and on his way to wining titles. Winter is a doctor, in the middle of a divorce, and finding herself again as well as developing a relationship with her sister, Summer. <br /><br />Winter is such a strong heroine. She doesn't have a good example of what it is to be a good and loving mom, but when she finds herself in that position, she does the dang thing and she does it so well. She's an overcomer and though it takes people a while to get in there with her, once they do she's kind, loyal, and loving. <br /><br />And let me tell you about Theo. This man is perfection. How much love, care, and attention he gives to both of his girls. Swoon. I just adored him so much. He jumped right in there and took the role he was always meant to fill. I loved Theo and Winter together. This has a bit of an opposites attract vibe and I am here for it. <br /><br />Now to the troupe we all know and <s>love</s> loathe... if you know me at all you know this is one of my least favorite things in books, so if it worked for me, it will work for anyone lol. Don't let it scare you from reading this epic book! I won't give any spoilers, but ya'll are just going to have to trust me. <br /><br />I've read almost all of Elsie Silver's books and the more she writes, the more she solidifies herself as a new favorite for me. This book had the perfect amount of angst, steam, and heart. I know <i>Reckless</i> will be making my top 2023 list and I can't recommend it enough!
<br /><br /><br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-26487091309136870622023-04-13T12:08:00.000-04:002023-04-13T12:08:01.325-04:00Review: 5 stars for The Coldest Winter by Brittainy Cherry <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzXSRWfYQo_dYIAVW1Y_R_W-8eRu68yyHBjL_hw9ZjD7WcHZ2tj_gH9E06IhjiouTOVYmcCQQaoho18cwmoqSrnPcajWXviEKmHMTp1-Hhntn2eqDMKKnDwYua3ibBMcHdGsuPQjYlAu73DtscWKhji9EZ1RTDphtXEiy7XI9qMGlItsT33WtZ87T/s1080/Release%20Day%20BC%20Static.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzXSRWfYQo_dYIAVW1Y_R_W-8eRu68yyHBjL_hw9ZjD7WcHZ2tj_gH9E06IhjiouTOVYmcCQQaoho18cwmoqSrnPcajWXviEKmHMTp1-Hhntn2eqDMKKnDwYua3ibBMcHdGsuPQjYlAu73DtscWKhji9EZ1RTDphtXEiy7XI9qMGlItsT33WtZ87T/w640-h640/Release%20Day%20BC%20Static.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(228, 230, 235); display: inline-flex; font-size: 15px; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; text-align: start; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><img alt="✨" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t75/2/16/2728.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(228, 230, 235); display: inline-flex; font-size: 15px; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; text-align: start; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><img alt="🤍" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t64/2/16/1f90d.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(228, 230, 235); font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝘿𝙀𝙎𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙄𝙎 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 + 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝙄𝙉 𝙆𝙐</span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(228, 230, 235); display: inline-flex; font-size: 15px; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; text-align: start; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><img alt="🤍" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t64/2/16/1f90d.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(228, 230, 235); display: inline-flex; font-size: 15px; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; text-align: start; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><img alt="✨" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t75/2/16/2728.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(228, 230, 235); font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span></div><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(228, 230, 235); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">If you love….</span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #e4e6eb; font-family: inherit;"></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="✔" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/td2/2/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>𝘎𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘺/𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="✔" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/td2/2/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>𝘏𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 *𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘯*</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="✔" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/td2/2/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘺</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="✔" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/td2/2/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="✔" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/td2/2/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="✔" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/td2/2/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>𝘈𝘓𝘓 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘍𝘌𝘌𝘓𝘚</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Then this new release is definitely for you! </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(228, 230, 235); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Grab your copy today, available now in Kindle Unlimited: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://mybook.to/thecoldestwinter?fbclid=IwAR0Pr_Egrpw3Mo8GV74IezwK_mA998KOxNoNCWEdE27j82OeWiugah3H0KE" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://mybook.to/thecoldestwinter</a></span> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;">CHRISTY'S 5 STAR REVIEW </span></b></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/09d60609-2c68-4124-8a14-08fb70b7f7c5?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_7166" class="gr-hostedUserImg" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1680076805i/34085951._SY540_.png" />
</a></div><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br />This is my favorite kind of Brittainy Cherry book. It had all the feels (no one does emotional books like her) but was also sweet, steamy, and forbidden. It had so much heart and left me in happy tears. Perfect perfect perfect!<br /><br />Milo and Star meet at a frat party on her twenty first birthday and Star does something impulsive that's not like her. She gets together with Milo. She figures she'll never see him again, so no big deal, right? When she shows up to her student-teaching and finds him sitting in class she figures out it's a very big deal. <br /><br />This book was a bit forbidden, but let me tell you about the emotions. When I tell you this one hit me so hard. Something came into play later in the book that was so unexpected, but brought such depth to the story and made it stand out far beyond any student teacher romance. Starlet and Milo both needed each other in different ways and had something big in common that not many people truly understood. <br /><i>
<blockquote> "I realize that it's you," I whispered. <br />"What's me?" <br />"You're the something that makes me feel better, even on the worst days."</blockquote>
</i><br /><i>The Coldest Winter</i> is Brittainy Cherry at her best. It gave me the same kind of vibes as some of my older favorites of hers and I honestly couldn't have loved it more. Milo and Starlet are very much the grumpy/sunshine couple I needed and I highly recommend reading this one!
</span><br /><br /><br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-92200636340110950722023-02-28T08:07:00.000-05:002023-02-28T08:07:17.969-05:00Review+New Release: The New Guy by Sarina Bowen <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgcGQ2O8ZKjJXao5PUmRWbSXUJE2QjrR3zI9qWUk-vnF6xDSABZVHd0S2rozTr-pkE3ZMUwkUByn69iozxQpiy-QmYKMR5jMPwgBlCBz5YjQokfvdq9KNeRjqa6GiZZ95lbn5Q3BzZdW0BwQuMSz_2mTwyTSmN-Nt-CZoi2HCh67As_MmeuJV7igM/s1600/Sarina+Bowen+The+New+Guy+ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgcGQ2O8ZKjJXao5PUmRWbSXUJE2QjrR3zI9qWUk-vnF6xDSABZVHd0S2rozTr-pkE3ZMUwkUByn69iozxQpiy-QmYKMR5jMPwgBlCBz5YjQokfvdq9KNeRjqa6GiZZ95lbn5Q3BzZdW0BwQuMSz_2mTwyTSmN-Nt-CZoi2HCh67As_MmeuJV7igM/w400-h640/Sarina+Bowen+The+New+Guy+ebook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1677589400768_838" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Alice; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">My name is Hudson Newgate, but my teammates call me New Guy.</p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Alice; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was my nickname in Chicago, too. And Vancouver. That’s what happens when you keep getting traded. Brooklyn is my last chance, especially after my poor performance last season.</p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Alice; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I can make this work. The new guy knows to keep his head down and shoot the puck. The new guy puts the game first.</p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Alice; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">What he doesn’t do is hook up with the <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">other</em> new guy—a hot athletic trainer who lives in my building. Gavin needs this job with my team. He’s a single dad with responsibilities.</p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can’t be a couple. My arrogant agent–who’s also my father–will lose his mind if I’m dating a dude. And my team needs me t</span><span style="font-family: Alice;">o score goals, not whip up a media circus.</span></p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Alice; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Too bad Gavin and I are terrible at resisting each other…</p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Alice; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: <a href="https://geni.us/New-Guy-Amzn" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(250, 5, 103, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #fa0567; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/New-Guy-Amzn</span></a><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span>Apple Books: <a href="https://geni.us/New-Guy-Appl" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(250, 5, 103, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #fa0567; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/New-Guy-Appl</span></a><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span>Kobo: <a href="https://geni.us/New-Guy-Kobo" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(250, 5, 103, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #fa0567; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/New-Guy-Kobo</span></a><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span>Nook: <a href="https://geni.us/New-Guy-BandN" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(250, 5, 103, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #fa0567; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/New-Guy-BandN</span></a><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span>Audio: <a href="https://geni.us/New-Guy-Audible" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(250, 5, 103, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #fa0567; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration: underline;">https://geni.us/New-Guy-Audible</span></a><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Alice; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">All links in one place: <a href="https://shor.by/NewGuy" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(250, 5, 103, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #fa0567; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" tabindex="0">https://shor.by/NewGuy</a><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />ADD TO GOODREADS: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63355404-the-new-guy" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(250, 5, 103, 0.3); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #fa0567; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63355404-the-new-guy</a></p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Alice; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Christy's Review:</b></p><p class="" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Sarina Bowen is one of the best when it comes to hockey romances and though this is the start to a new series for her (Hockey Guys) I was thrilled to see some of my Brooklyn guys in this one! </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Hudson Newgate is perpetually the ‘new guy’. He is constantly getting traded but he just wants to settle down and be able to live his life without the fear of being moved again. Maybe… just maybe Brooklyn will be the place this will happen. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Gavin is a single dad and widower who just moved to Brooklyn for a job. He’s an athletic trainer and happens to be working for Brooklyn’s hockey team. But when these two meet in a bar they have no idea. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Gavin and Hudson’s story was fantastic, though frustrating at times (Hudson’s dad… ugh) and I absolutely adored Jordan- Gavin’s daughter. Some authors do a really great job putting kids in books and this was one of those times. I’m not always a fan of the secret relationships, but by the end I was so happy with how this turned out! </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-style: italic; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">The New Guy</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> is a strong start to Bowen’s newest hockey series and I for one can’t wait to read more! </span></span></p>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-12354456616909310532023-02-21T07:38:00.001-05:002023-02-21T07:38:22.123-05:00Blog Tour: Best Served Hot by Amanda Elliot <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZKZomAgG429qGOfWQB_glSJrNNRJPqO1KtNDB8aWz_apyqe6wnE6PR02OUOKhdOZKpWWbCntyRdHrGzMg7peygh601R7giKdMBxJuLJ_AnxcHqQq57GHFn8NMj_dBAkpaKiB2OVeq8c8OziSee8xSKRmKSLwlNy8wEFssv_7zxp-jj1KkVvxNYuD/s3300/Best%20served%20hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZKZomAgG429qGOfWQB_glSJrNNRJPqO1KtNDB8aWz_apyqe6wnE6PR02OUOKhdOZKpWWbCntyRdHrGzMg7peygh601R7giKdMBxJuLJ_AnxcHqQq57GHFn8NMj_dBAkpaKiB2OVeq8c8OziSee8xSKRmKSLwlNy8wEFssv_7zxp-jj1KkVvxNYuD/s320/Best%20served%20hot.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p class="yiv1367655872MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;">Two restaurant critics learn their opposing tastes might make for a five-star relationship in the next foodie romantic comedy from the author of <i>Sadie on a Plate.</i><br /><br /></span></b></p><p class="yiv1367655872MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">By day, Julie Zimmerman works as an executive assistant. After hours, she’s @JulieZeeEatsNYC, a social media restaurant reviewer with over fifty thousand followers. As much as she loves her self-employed side gig, what Julie really wants is to be a critic at a major newspaper, like the </span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">New York Scroll</i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">. The only thing worse than the </span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Scroll</i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">’s rejection of her application is the fact that smarmy, social-media-averse society boy Bennett Richard Macalester Wright snagged her dream job.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">While at the Central Park Food Festival, Julie confronts the annoyingly handsome Bennett about his </span><span style="font-family: arial;">outdated opinions on social media and posts the resulting video footage. Julie's follower count soars—and so does the <i>Scroll</i>’s. Julie and Bennett grudgingly agree to partner up for a few reviews to further their buzz. Online buzz, obviously.<br /> <br />Over tapas, burgers, and more, Julie and Bennett connect over their shared love of food. But when the competitive fire between them turns extra </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">spicy, they'll have to decide how much heat their relationship can take.</span></span></p><p class="yiv1367655872MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="yiv1367655872MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Amanda Elliot</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"> is the author of several young adult and middle grade books as Amanda Panitch.<i> </i>She lives in New York City, where she owns way too many cookbooks for her tiny kitchen.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Christy's Review: </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Last year I read </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">Sadie on a Plate</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, which was Amanda Elliot’s debut novel, and I was so impressed. I was excited to jump into her sophomore novel, </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">Best Served Hot</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> when given the chance. I love books with food in them, and this was another great read by this author. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Julie is a food critic/influencer who would love to make it her full time job. She has aspirations to do just that. She applies to be a critic for ‘The Scroll’. It would be the dream for her. But Bennett Richard Macalester Wright is the guy that gets the job over her. The guy with connections, of course. When she runs into Bennett at a food festival, she confronts him. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Julie may know who Bennett is, but Bennett doesn’t know who Julie is. Their banter was great and I loved watching them get to know each other. It’s very much more of a rivals turned friends to lovers story. I loved seeing them try new things together and even though this wasn’t super heavy on the romance, I enjoyed watching them start to fall. The conflict was fairly predictable, but I was happy it was resolved quickly and enjoyed the end of the book!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Excerpt: </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">New York Scroll names new restaurant critic, Bennett Richard Macalester Wright.</span></i></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i>Suddenly none of the food looked all that appetizing anymore.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What is it?" asked Alice.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I sat back down with a thump. "I didn't get it," I said dully. And it wasn't like I'd expected them to read my passionate cover letter and resume and social media stats and immediately roll out the heirloom-tomato-red carpet. But they hadn't even bothered sending me a rejection email. Or any kind of acknowledgment at all. Maybe my application had been one of a million, even though the job hadn't been listed online for the general peasantry to apply for (I'd been tipped off about the opening through an email my boss had gotten and I'd read).</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or maybe they hadn't taken my resume seriously. Laughed about it in the office. <i>Who does this girl think she is? She thinks some followers and some videos make her suited for us? </i>The <i>New York Scroll </i>had never hired a critic who wasn't a white dude over fifty. They had social media, of course, but they still published trend pieces where they gaped at it and how it worked like it was a zoo exhibit. <i>And over here we have people—wait for it—actually getting their news on social media. Thank goodness the protective bars are here, or they might attack </i>us.<i> </i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not unlike my boss, come to think of it. I still didn't think he knew about my second "job," but I'd heard the way he snorted as he watched his daughters take selfies or the older one herd her kids into the perfect light for a family snap.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Alice made a sympathetic <i>mmm </i>in response. "Who'd they name? Is it at least someone good?"</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The name sounded vaguely familiar, but I was already frantically googling to learn more, leaving the food to cool before us. "He went to Dartmouth," I reported. Which, if I judged by the alumni I knew—my boss and his daughters—was stereotypically rich and fratty. "And he played on the squash team." Which was basically code for "has an enormous trust fund." I scowled down at my screen. "Hobbies include boating and collecting ancient coins." </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bennett Richard Macalester Wright had almost certainly never misbudgeted and run out of food money his freshman year of college and had to subsist on ramen and scrounged-up free pizza from various club meetings to get by. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"And then it looks like he was a food reporter at the <i>Times </i>for the last five years," I said. I scrolled through a few of his past headlines. A profile on a chef semi-famous for his cooking and very famous for his string of ever-younger actress wives. A report on why high-end restaurants were trending toward smaller but more expensive wine lists. A few reviews of pricey restaurants—it looked like he'd filled in for their regular critic while she was out on maternity leave.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"At least he seems like he's qualified," Alice said. I scowled at her. I didn't want to hear that he was qualified. I wanted to hear that he sucked and that they should've hired me. But I didn't say that. I continued my googling, but turned up nothing except dead ends. Like most major food reviewers, he'd clearly done his best to take down as much as he possibly could about himself, especially photographs. No serious food reviewer wanted to tip off a restaurant that they were there, since that might lead the owner or the kitchen to offer them special treatment that would bias their review. It was why I never made a reservation under my own name, though I couldn't do much about my face. Sometimes, if I got recognized on one visit, I'd go back with a wig or glasses the next time.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Excuse me, ladies?" Our waiter smiled down on us. "How are we doing?"</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Not great, but the food is delicious," I told him. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>His smile wavered, not quite sure what to do with that. "Would you like anything more to drink? We have some lovely wines on offer tonight."</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No thanks," Alice said. "She doesn't like wine."</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Alice!" I hissed. Which was always fun. Alice had a particularly hissable name. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The waiter nodded and went off to bring our check. Alice turned to me, blinking. "What?"</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"We've had this discussion before," I said. "Don't tell anyone I don't like wine."</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"But you <i>don't </i>like wine," Alice said. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was true. Wine tasted like literal sour grapes to me, whether it was the cheap boxed stuff our roommates used to bring home in college or the ultra-fancy kind my boss gave me last year for the holidays. It literally made my lips pucker and my cheeks suck in. I'd never been able to understand why people actually enjoyed drinking it.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But my followers wouldn't agree. Again, they were mostly young women around my age or a bit older. There was a whole meme industry around wine. The wine moms. Giant wine glasses. Social media love turned on a dime. Not like I was hiding it hardcore. It was just that I'd rather the truth not be known, because I didn't want to do anything that might alienate me from my followers. Sometimes being loved on social media meant being loved as someone who isn't really you.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You know who I bet loooves wine?" I said, rather than continuing my lecture. "Bennett…" I couldn't remember his two middle names, so I made some up. "Bennett Rigatoni Mushroom Wright." Alice giggled, which made me go on. "The <i>Scroll </i>always includes a wine list in their reviews, and the wines they choose always cost a fortune."</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Excerpted from <b>Best Served Hot</b> by Amanda Elliot Copyright © 2023 by Amanda Elliot. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.</span></span></p></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-43115185813664246412023-02-14T08:00:00.001-05:002023-02-14T08:00:00.223-05:00End of Story by Kylie Scott Blog Tour <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDC9ihoin-RLXQoXWdZpHgxTlyXUdPudQzQHk04qDcWjAhqWa5UThmbnQ8RljvvDH3shhwNbSeX-IajFAJF2Z6cUjsyXJRRVO2g-ekooqZbHk9nhL6KL2zyE5e5LvNfnaH9mgeuoXp4pp5BceJNhFh5PR3awTVyRT4PC123cnOijc3hDuy1UyeQhj/s1600/673-HTP-Banner---ROM-COM-for-Google-Form.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDC9ihoin-RLXQoXWdZpHgxTlyXUdPudQzQHk04qDcWjAhqWa5UThmbnQ8RljvvDH3shhwNbSeX-IajFAJF2Z6cUjsyXJRRVO2g-ekooqZbHk9nhL6KL2zyE5e5LvNfnaH9mgeuoXp4pp5BceJNhFh5PR3awTVyRT4PC123cnOijc3hDuy1UyeQhj/w640-h160/673-HTP-Banner---ROM-COM-for-Google-Form.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 11pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fans of bestsellers like </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Five Years </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will fall for this unexpected love story about a woman and her contractor who discover a divorce decree with their names on it … dated ten years in the future.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Susie inherits a charming fixer-upper from her aunt, she’s excited to start living her best HGTV-life. But when she opens the door to find that her contractor is none other than her ex’s (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">very</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> good looking) best friend Lars—the same man who witnessed their humiliating public break-up 6 months ago—she isn’t exactly eager to have him around. But, beggars can't be choosers and the sooner the repairs are done, the sooner she can get back to grudgingly accepting the single life.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 18pt; margin-top: 11pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Things go from awkward to unbelievable when Lars knocks down a bedroom wall and finds a divorce certificate dated ten years from now…with both their names on it. It couldn’t possibly be real...could it? As Susie and Lars try to unravel the document’s origins, the impossibility of a spark between them suddenly doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But is any kind of relationship between them doomed before it’s ever begun?</span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ba6acb54-7fff-894d-57cd-ede46d94e58a"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M74rKtZuNh9uCl6F6vMdydAqIQuU6P2YWXb2xPlBVE_3R7RMcjnTYFQ_HkXBRIiU7GoOyPaNsRCNm74LCoWoe-HMjvcUjSFQSpqYn-4M5mSc6Wu09GFimgbT8n9sKGUqdjEvDAl-a1NW7kJpO1alIKNV0GnG0XiYS3Z5ssBo_zc2qF5yLNTrcRnW/s400/61155406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M74rKtZuNh9uCl6F6vMdydAqIQuU6P2YWXb2xPlBVE_3R7RMcjnTYFQ_HkXBRIiU7GoOyPaNsRCNm74LCoWoe-HMjvcUjSFQSpqYn-4M5mSc6Wu09GFimgbT8n9sKGUqdjEvDAl-a1NW7kJpO1alIKNV0GnG0XiYS3Z5ssBo_zc2qF5yLNTrcRnW/s320/61155406.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4f677570-7fff-1e7f-43a9-2b4c08e43874" style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/End-Story-Kylie-Scott-ebook/dp/B0B1JGCT5T/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OG2BMV9N0O28&keywords=end+of+story+kylie+scott&qid=1673448079&s=books&sprefix=end+of+story%2Cstripbooks%2C110&sr=1-1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon</span></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Christy's Review: </b></div><br /><i>End of Story</i> felt different than Kylie Scott’s books I’ve read before, but it was enjoyable. It was a fun read, and kept my attention throughout the book. It only took me a day or two to finish it. <br /><br />Susie is fixing up a home that was left to her by her aunt that passed away and hires her ex-boyfriend’s best friend. They end up finding something in the wall of the house that makes them more connected. Lars is the best friend. He’s always liked Susie, but now things are different between them. <br /><br />Lars and Susie spend a lot of time together. They become closer friends and of course it leads to more, but things are complicated. I adored Lars. He was such a great guy and even though it took him a minute to come around his friend, I get it. Susie was great too. She was a fun character and I loved watching her let her guard down with Lars. <br /><br />I love a good friends to lovers romance. The little things in this book made it special, Lars and Susie sharing their food (adorable) and the caretaking scenes. It did have something a little odd where you have to suspend your belief a bit, but if you can get past it or you like those elements in a book definitely give this one a try. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0feHwKQ5QUZ7CplkFO97-sW0Z4c1_5lmZNyE-Uwp3RDJABTPhKY12F4VPte6m8Zwh3Ac210YmtkxLHExCmSc2BxvW13GDw29-uRBOH23FIt8QO7bXDchDD3pZViLY9XOlehX6GfcI4R53tE8aMotuDn2e_BK3biJlVkgsoUnMUNUmb42Bof9Dlzn/s6020/Kylie%20Scott%20Author%20Photo_Credit%20Annie%20Ray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4085" data-original-width="6020" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0feHwKQ5QUZ7CplkFO97-sW0Z4c1_5lmZNyE-Uwp3RDJABTPhKY12F4VPte6m8Zwh3Ac210YmtkxLHExCmSc2BxvW13GDw29-uRBOH23FIt8QO7bXDchDD3pZViLY9XOlehX6GfcI4R53tE8aMotuDn2e_BK3biJlVkgsoUnMUNUmb42Bof9Dlzn/s320/Kylie%20Scott%20Author%20Photo_Credit%20Annie%20Ray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-e93fa8b3-7fff-0972-552a-2384ed38a51d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Bio:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="0"></col><col width="597"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 27pt;"><td style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td><td style="overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kylie Scott</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">USA Today</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wall Street Journal</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and international bestselling author of 19 novels including the Stage Dive series, the Dive Bar series, the Larsen Brothers series, and West Hollywood series. Her most recent release, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pause</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, debuted on the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">USA Today</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> bestseller list. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages, and she has sold over 2 million copies worldwide.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span></div>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-85933724651997363202023-02-10T21:57:00.005-05:002023-02-10T21:57:58.880-05:005 Stars for Powerless by Elsie Silver! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHpZD1nYW7V8JjutjcrU1xOcYSWm2KvD9XeEhogRNe1U7Wf7uzc8DxaHskX4J6hgHNqHYegdIZsZi2tlcRDb2V-wVHv0BYgdsKAEc5nvhK2yyG0Ek5VAm3BnVWHGc83HTYA2whV6GNPKa4dfyjDS66MJJsRQEqumUfoldJ5nei4-EV-yRxdbJ2z0Q/s1080/mail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHpZD1nYW7V8JjutjcrU1xOcYSWm2KvD9XeEhogRNe1U7Wf7uzc8DxaHskX4J6hgHNqHYegdIZsZi2tlcRDb2V-wVHv0BYgdsKAEc5nvhK2yyG0Ek5VAm3BnVWHGc83HTYA2whV6GNPKa4dfyjDS66MJJsRQEqumUfoldJ5nei4-EV-yRxdbJ2z0Q/w640-h640/mail.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv6551424627mlContentTable" role="presentation" style="border-radius: 2px; border-spacing: 0px; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; width: 560px;"><tbody style="direction: ltr;"><tr style="direction: ltr;"><td align="center" bgcolor="#FCFCFC" class="yiv6551424627mlContentOuter" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgb(230, 230, 230); direction: ltr; padding: 0px 40px; word-break: normal;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="direction: ltr;"><tr style="direction: ltr;"><td class="yiv6551424627spacingHeight-40" height="30" style="border-collapse: collapse; direction: ltr; word-break: normal;"></td></tr><tr style="direction: ltr;"><td class="yiv6551424627bodyTitle" id="yiv6551424627bodyText-8" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #6f6f6f; direction: ltr; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; word-break: normal;"><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="direction: ltr;"></em><strong style="direction: ltr;">It's Release Day - POWERLESS by Elsie Silver is NOW LIVE! </strong></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Fall for the mysterious tortured hero & the woman who’s loved him forever. Unrequited, or was it?</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="direction: ltr;">“Elsie Silver is the queen of banter and small town spice. In Powerless she takes that crown and builds on it with a depth of emotion that held me captive from the very first pages. A must read for romance fans.” </em>- Catherine Cowles, USA Today Bestselling Author</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Available now! Read POWERLESS for FREE in Kindle unlimited. >>> <span style="direction: ltr;"><a href="https://click.mlsend.com/link/c/YT0yMTQ2NjAyNzgxNTk3NzY3OTQ2JmM9ejF2MSZlPTAmYj0xMDgwNTA3ODEwJmQ9djZ0M3UzcQ==.NiyqYEaKaK-PkNTtS-vqOZe0ekZaNGAZqe4eIhpjp3M" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #09c269; direction: ltr;" target="_blank">https://geni.us/getpowerless</a></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">✨ Spicy small town romance<br style="direction: ltr;" />✨ Age Gap<br style="direction: ltr;" />✨ Hockey player + Ballerina <br style="direction: ltr;" />✨ Only One bed<br style="direction: ltr;" />✨ Road Trip/Runaway Bride <br style="direction: ltr;" />✨ Secret Pining/Unrequited Love</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Two childhood friends. Two broken hearts. One impromptu road trip to get away from everything. That’s all this was supposed to be. Afterall, I’ve been living in the friend zone for years now.</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">But hockey heartthrob Jasper Gervais isn’t looking at me like a friend anymore. And he isn’t touching me like one either.</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">To his fans, he’s the handsome, talented athlete on TV. But to me he’s still the lost boy with sad eyes and a heart of gold.</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">The man I’ve loved in secret for years.</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">So when my life falls apart on my wedding day, it only makes sense that he’s the one to swoop in and save me. And when his world comes crashing down around him, I’m there to return the favor.</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">But the more time we spend alone, the more Jasper doesn’t feel like a friend at all. He feels like everything I’ve ever wanted and thought I could never have.</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Our feelings aren’t straight forward though. They twist and turn around the pain of his past and the reality of my present.</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Jasper Gervais acts like he wants me.</p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">But after years of turning me away, he’s going to need to prove it.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Christy's 5 star review</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/9fb4341e-b904-4f59-8f4e-1aa777be30d1?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6890" class="gr-hostedUserImg" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1676003796i/33926434._SY540_.png" />
</a></div>
<br /><i>Powerless</i> is the third book in Elsie Silver’s ‘Chestnut Springs’ series and I am obsessed! Seriously, every book in this series is incredible! Friends to lovers, age gap, unrequited love, sports romance and forced proximity. So many troupes I love! <br /><br />Jasper and Sloane have known each other since they were kids. Sloane is a cousin to the Eaton’s, and Jasper is an honorary Eaton. Sloane has always had it bad for Jasper but with Jasper being older than her, as well as Sloane being related to the Eaton’s, nothing ever happens between them. Until Sloane is about to get married. Then everything changes. <br /><br />While Sloane is hiding out at the ranch, she and Jasper take a road trip to Ruby Creek. While on the road, feelings are made known and there’s ‘only one bed’ ;). I loved watching these two come out with their feelings. It was such a beautiful romance.<br /><br />I’m in love with this entire series and I can’t wait to read more!!! <br /><u>
<blockquote><br /></blockquote></u>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-78802857829519157172023-01-10T05:00:00.001-05:002023-01-10T05:00:00.218-05:00Blog Tour: Exes and O's by Amy Lea<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmhYC3cDCBSHERgoMtcwENWndWVaY-4DHlA37kBwdKpSOoAL2zOzkyV0o1JUD6ZK26Gvmzy3RfK5tUVBje-Osc_M26dwMUyUtip0HktOQJ8Lu4ImxKyd_iWEGuVrKnybC8xL7T5R4g_4qeKudYFlRDdQpnZfzMQ6-cDiZ_db5R9eh5Qiku9IPFdI0/s2888/9780593336595%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2888" data-original-width="1925" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmhYC3cDCBSHERgoMtcwENWndWVaY-4DHlA37kBwdKpSOoAL2zOzkyV0o1JUD6ZK26Gvmzy3RfK5tUVBje-Osc_M26dwMUyUtip0HktOQJ8Lu4ImxKyd_iWEGuVrKnybC8xL7T5R4g_4qeKudYFlRDdQpnZfzMQ6-cDiZ_db5R9eh5Qiku9IPFdI0/w426-h640/9780593336595%20(1).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="yiv3924903063MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><b><span style="color: black;">A romance novel-obsessed social media influencer revisits her exes on her hunt for true love in this romantic comedy from the author of <i>Set On You.</i></span></b></p><p class="yiv3924903063MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Romance book connoisseur Tara Chen has had her heart broken ten times by ten different men—all of whom dumped her because of her “stage-five clinger” tendencies. Nevertheless, Tara is determined to find The One. The only problem? Classic meet-cutes are dead, thanks to modern dating apps. So Tara decides to revisit her exes in hopes of securing her very own trope-worthy second-chance romance.<br /> <br />Boston firefighter Trevor Metcalfe will be the first to rush into a burning building but the last to rush into a relationship. Love just isn’t his thing. When his new roommate Tara enlists him to help her reconnect with her exes, he reluctantly agrees. But Tara’s journey is leading him to discover his own new chapter.<br /> <br />The more time they spend together, the more Tara realizes Trevor seems to be the only one who appreciates her authentic, dramatic self. To claim their happily ever after, can Tara and Trevor read between the lines of their growing connection?</span></p><p class="yiv3924903063MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv3924903063MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Christy's Review: </u></span></b></span></p><p class="yiv3924903063MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="yiv3924903063MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">This book was so much fun! </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Exes and O’s</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> is Amy Lea’s second book and I loved it even more than the first. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Tara Chen is a book lover and hopeless romantic. She’s looking for the one and not having the best luck. After being inspired by her grandmother’s second chance romance (plus, it’s her favorite romance troupe) she decides to find some of her exes and see if maybe one of the ones who got away were the actual ‘one’. And she enlists the help of her roommate, Trevor. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Trevor Metcalfe is a firefighter and opposite of Tara in a lot of ways. He’s much more quiet and stand-offish, but Tara slowly wears him down and gets him to open up to her. These two go from roommates to friends to more than friends and I couldn’t have loved these two together more. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I’ll be honest, it was a bit predictable but I absolutely didn’t mind one bit. I had a blast reading it and I adored both Tara and Trevor. Tara is a lot, but Trevor loved that about her. I love characters that are ‘too much’ for most people but find that they can 100% be themselves with their person. It makes me so happy.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Charming, a good time, sweet and delightful- this book left me with a huge smile on my face. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author and I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance.</span></p><blockquote><b><i>“I’ve never wanted someone so bad in my entire life. You’ve wrecked me.”</i></b></blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>About the Author</b> </span></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8BHRSDRcesLOjCplpOdBHzMDgEg98oQun9GirZ-W884RF-jvusFJ4kVO3wE3BZSX67Wczgd4scBLVN5I0G82ealQlUPJkw05VMljIQwKbQm2-bJ3cXmQSIPvX7RP--AKrvujJ4nQ1jpPNOKJ94NeQjhHqacDHzTfWRUxE1AHCXXignfw5-SJ4JXv/s1103/Amy%20Lea_c%20Amy%20Lea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8BHRSDRcesLOjCplpOdBHzMDgEg98oQun9GirZ-W884RF-jvusFJ4kVO3wE3BZSX67Wczgd4scBLVN5I0G82ealQlUPJkw05VMljIQwKbQm2-bJ3cXmQSIPvX7RP--AKrvujJ4nQ1jpPNOKJ94NeQjhHqacDHzTfWRUxE1AHCXXignfw5-SJ4JXv/s320/Amy%20Lea_c%20Amy%20Lea.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">*photo credit: Amy Lea</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Amy Lea</span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666667px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> is an Asian Canadian government analyst who runs the Bookstagram account @amyleabooks, where she promotes and reviews contemporary romance novels. <i>Set on You</i> is her debut novel. Learn more online at <a href="http://www.amyleabooks.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">www.amyleabooks.com</a>. </span></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><p></p>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-27346048552524434722022-11-15T08:15:00.007-05:002022-11-15T08:15:48.949-05:00LIVE! Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXWg9NRcuJu69uNUIL9j2JdEwDzedVkDaDBbIFoMTTlnyr_2g1fFxewCiA_RKoxZRCIkC87JK5A8zcrtVEhnC7v2Xffo_6Ao6y3kC084Dm9P2JQsZHeU1N6vT6KplLwry6nM830PIFFojhjRBIvvC8p3Os5pMAi7YGNfRDrzniJryL0Uo7EZmbFyp/s1500/IMG_7597.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXWg9NRcuJu69uNUIL9j2JdEwDzedVkDaDBbIFoMTTlnyr_2g1fFxewCiA_RKoxZRCIkC87JK5A8zcrtVEhnC7v2Xffo_6Ao6y3kC084Dm9P2JQsZHeU1N6vT6KplLwry6nM830PIFFojhjRBIvvC8p3Os5pMAi7YGNfRDrzniJryL0Uo7EZmbFyp/w640-h640/IMG_7597.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.7417px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Breathtaking, gut-wrenching, viscerally romantic. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.7417px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div style="clear: both; direction: ltr; font-family: "UI Arial", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><p lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23.7417px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I want to curl up and live in this book.”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.7417px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></p></div><div style="clear: both; direction: ltr; font-family: "UI Arial", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><p lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">―</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Talia Hibbert, New York Times bestselling author</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.2667px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 17.2667px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></p></div><div style="clear: both; direction: ltr; font-family: "UI Arial", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><p lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></p></div><div style="clear: both; direction: ltr; font-family: "UI Arial", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Before I Let Go, an all-new </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">powerful</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">soul-</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">gripping</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> second chance romance</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> filled with </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">raw emotion </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sizzling steam </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">from </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">USA Today</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> bestselling author Kennedy Ryan, </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is now available!</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></p></div><div style="clear: both; direction: ltr; font-family: "UI Arial", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><p lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></p></div><div style="clear: both; direction: ltr; font-family: "UI Arial", Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;"><div style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">About the Book:</span></div></div><div style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 8px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="direction: ltr;"><div style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><div style="direction: ltr;">💔Divorced couple <br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><div style="direction: ltr;">🛏 Only 1 Bed
👨👩👧👦 Co-parents
🙌🏾 Grown folks
🍽 Restaurant biz partners
✌🏾 Atlanta!
🧘🏾♀️ Mental health/Therapy</div><div style="direction: ltr; font-size: 15px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 15px;"><b>Get It Now:</b></div><div><div style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><div style="direction: ltr;">US: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3QKLmKv" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3QKLmKv</a></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><div style="direction: ltr;">UK & Commonwealth: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3SaKr6J" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3SaKr6J</a></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><div style="direction: ltr;">Australia: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHiGl1" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3MHiGl1</a></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; font-size: 15px;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr;"><div style="clear: both; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: "UI Arial", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kennedy will be on tour in Raleigh, Atlanta, New York City & Los Angeles! </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></p></div><div style="clear: both; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: "UI Arial", Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Find all tour details</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> here:</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 21.85px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://kennedyryanwrites.com/events/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">https://kennedyryanwrites.com/events/</a></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">CHRISTY'S 5 STAR REVIEW </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/42cb6ab0-0235-4494-9fb2-a2ef99986313?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6090" class="gr-hostedUserImg" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1667851460i/33589856._SY540_.png" />
</a></div><br /><i>Before I Let Go</i> is a stunning second chance romance about a previously married couple finding love again. It’s an epic love story that shows how grief and loss can change a person, but also how time, patience, and love can heal them. <br /><br />Josiah and Yasmen were in love and then something happened. It’s not that they fell out of love, it’s that life wrecks their relationship. They have two children and a business together, so they’re always going to be in each others lives but they have been divorced for a few years and they’re trying to find their new normals now that some healing has happened. What they find is that just maybe they’re not as over one another as they thought.<br /><i>
<b>
<blockquote>“You have to decide if being afraid of losing Yasmen again is worth never having her again.”</blockquote>
</b>
</i><br />I loved both of these characters so much. They went through something that rocked them and they crumbled. I think we would all like to assume that if we went through that we would be strong and stay with our partners but I think until you’ve been through something like that you just don’t know. <br /><br />Finding each other and finding their way back to happy was such a beautiful thing. At times I was frustrated with both Yasmen and Josiah but I loved how much they truly cared about one another and respected each other. I rooted so hard for them to find a way back together. I loved the part therapy played into their story and of course I loved their children and seeing them both as parents. They always tried to stay on the same team even when they weren't together. <br /><br />This is a story that hit me all up in my feels. Kennedy Ryan has the sort of writing that really speaks to you. It’s beautiful and brilliant and I was moved by this story. It was extremely emotional at times, but it also had some light hearted moments and times that made me laugh. Yasmen and Josiah’s story will break your heart, but by the end it will be mended. This book was excellent and I highly recommend it! <br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-80123855648848989382022-11-01T08:00:00.001-04:002022-11-01T08:00:00.226-04:00A Very Merry Bromance- REVIEW! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHUONGMzmMHD0U04c5o4jQvGkUaGc69CreSrlfmvbOjoXGFPLtFvHADDGHcC9goC66Y5LVaSVNWzuxYQYERCvkmEHNDf-rh6JKD8V66bL1DSD-KeEFRkP0srVqXmNiRCG7c_EcpOQDrhNwdAMnrkQZ1xtzsaqIk8wjv-TwNsUN2AoJ8IxlhxhUA5e/s588/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHUONGMzmMHD0U04c5o4jQvGkUaGc69CreSrlfmvbOjoXGFPLtFvHADDGHcC9goC66Y5LVaSVNWzuxYQYERCvkmEHNDf-rh6JKD8V66bL1DSD-KeEFRkP0srVqXmNiRCG7c_EcpOQDrhNwdAMnrkQZ1xtzsaqIk8wjv-TwNsUN2AoJ8IxlhxhUA5e/s320/image001.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="BookPageMetadataSection__description" data-testid="description" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.37; margin-bottom: 1.6rem;"><div class="TruncatedContent" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;" tabindex="-1"><div class="TruncatedContent__text TruncatedContent__text--large TruncatedContent__text--expanded" data-testid="contentContainer" style="box-sizing: border-box; max-height: none; overflow: hidden visible; word-break: break-word;" tabindex="-1"><div class="DetailsLayoutRightParagraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 1.7%; display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(var(--num-right-col), minmax(0, 1fr)); margin-left: calc(-1 * var(--right-col-left-offset)); padding-left: var(--right-col-left-offset); row-gap: 1.7%;"><div class="DetailsLayoutRightParagraph__widthConstrained" style="box-sizing: border-box; grid-column-end: auto; grid-column-start: span 7;"><span class="Formatted" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">'Tis the season for a Bromance Book Club matchmaking mission! This time, they're pulling out the mistletoe for everyone's favorite country music star, Colton, and his second chance at love.</b><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" />Country music’s golden boy Colton Wheeler felt the most perfect harmony when he was with Gretchen Winthrop. But for her, it was a love him and leave him situation. A year later, Colton is struggling to push his music forward in a new direction. If it weren’t about to be the most magical time of year and the support of the Bromance Book Club, he’d be wallowing in self-pity. <br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" />It’s hard for immigration attorney Gretchen not to feel a little Scrooge-ish about the excess of Christmas when her clients are scrambling to afford their rent. So when her estranged, wealthy family reaches out with an offer that will allow her to better serve the community, she’s unable to say no. She just needs to convince Colton to be the new face of her family’s whiskey brand. No big deal…<br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" />Colton agrees to consider Gretchen’s offer in exchange for three dates before Christmas. With the help of the Bromance Book Club, Colton throws himself into the task of proving to her there’s a spark between them. But Gretchen and Colton will both need to overcome the ghosts of Christmas past to build a future together.</span></div><div class="DetailsLayoutRightParagraph__widthConstrained" style="box-sizing: border-box; grid-column-end: auto; grid-column-start: span 7;"><span class="Formatted" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div class="DetailsLayoutRightParagraph__widthConstrained" style="box-sizing: border-box; grid-column-end: auto; grid-column-start: span 7; text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christy's Review</span></b></span></div><div class="DetailsLayoutRightParagraph__widthConstrained" style="box-sizing: border-box; grid-column-end: auto; grid-column-start: span 7;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><blockquote style="border-left: 0.2rem solid var(--color-border-blockquote); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Copernicus, "Libre Baskerville", Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 2.4rem 0px 0px; padding-left: 2.4rem;">"The sunshiny one always falls for the grumpy one, honey. It's science."</blockquote></b></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I am always always here for a grumpy/sunshine romance and Gretchen and Colton's story hit the spot. This was a fun and sweet Christmasy romance that kept a smile on my face. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Colton is a famous country singer and Gretchen is a non-profit immigration attorney. They meet/get together at a wedding of one of the Bromance heroes and this story takes place a year after that meeting. Colton has had it bad for Gretchen ever since that night, but she wants nothing to do with him. She also doesn't like Christmas. Colton plans to change her mind about both things. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I seriously couldn't have loved Colton more. I love a good sunshiny cinnamon roll hero and he was pretty great. Gretchen... it took me sometime, but she also grew on me. She has a big heart deep down and a lot of family hurt/trauma that makes her the way she is. I adored this couple together. This was a feel good romance that could be read anytime of the year, but will be especially great to read around the holidays!</span></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-22408144951223278522022-10-18T16:34:00.001-04:002022-10-31T16:37:44.506-04:00Review: A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLdpYZ8r6nc_enCXmETNo7egTiL7KJF3CX8MIt_8HNBmZPdAT4L2IkfrlMF80nBRn3lTLBghbbHg29QvVQpd6lt7mRiVTwSz_M0ANU1v9ercvwmW2094B66TJBmCEtWTRifNKErwMeK5uSkd_T2zhjstjflBKHl-VaiVxe6WDfz1rCOHFOF03q9PD/s400/59773999.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLdpYZ8r6nc_enCXmETNo7egTiL7KJF3CX8MIt_8HNBmZPdAT4L2IkfrlMF80nBRn3lTLBghbbHg29QvVQpd6lt7mRiVTwSz_M0ANU1v9ercvwmW2094B66TJBmCEtWTRifNKErwMeK5uSkd_T2zhjstjflBKHl-VaiVxe6WDfz1rCOHFOF03q9PD/s320/59773999.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">When event planner Hallie Goodman receives party-inspiration material from the bride of her latest wedding project, the last thing she expects to find in the files are digital videos from Darcy’s ex-boyfriend. Hallie knows it’s wrong to keep watching these personal videos, but this guy is cute, funny, and an astronaut on the International Space Station to boot. She’s only human. And it’s not long until she starts sending e-mails and video diaries to his discontinued NASA address. Since they’re bouncing back, there’s no way anyone will ever be able to see them...right?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Christopher Ortiz is readjusting to life on earth and being constantly in the shadow of his deceased older brother. When a friend from NASA’s IT department forwards him the e-mails and video messages Hallie has sent, he can’t help but notice how much her sense of humor and pink hair make his heart race.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Separated by screens, Hallie and Chris are falling in love with each other, one transmission at a time. But can they make their star-crossed romance work when they each learn the other’s baggage?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(30, 25, 21); color: #1e1915; text-align: start;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3U7QTN8" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">One Click Here</span></a><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christy's Review</span></b></div><br /><i>A Cosmic Kind of Love</i> is Samantha Young’s newest release and it was a fantastic friends to lovers romance. I loved the way this couple met- so unique! And of course watching them become friends and fall in love. <br /><br />Hallie is an event planner who is never taken seriously by most of the people in her life. Her job is challenging and she’s great at it, but her parents and friends/family see her as a glorified party planner who doesn’t take anything series. Captain Christopher Ortiz is respected and taken very seriously. He’s an astronaut who’s getting used to being back on earth. <br /><br />These two are drawn to each other and feel comfortable with one another right away. They were so sweet together but you could feel the tension and the chemistry they had right under the surface. I especially loved how much Captain Chris accepted Hallie for who she was and showed her so much respect and care. She desperately needed someone like that in her life. <br /><br />This was sweet, fun, and charming and left me with a huge smile on my face. This is a romance I would definitely recommend!
<br /><br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-12301198486186237862022-10-07T02:12:00.000-04:002022-10-07T02:12:12.698-04:00AUDIO REVIEW: A LITTLE TOO LATE by SARINA BOWEN <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg85n2ArSakiHDmPGBz_TqoLKliPPFIlon1Afm6uFKnKk4KuqeZLVClzGvs7zdi0iVGWrrYT2flp_Ez9Fls22a0HRI-o2RrlbeWgRYKYvXjWDbQziCMjaN-_3iuvoyCi6iiVS3tLaOeA5NfhZ6oPo55l0NtnngD8K0k5n_Ail0mQ3_T8rJwPWVHZJv/s900/310662268_637975447684283_5890205592566057998_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg85n2ArSakiHDmPGBz_TqoLKliPPFIlon1Afm6uFKnKk4KuqeZLVClzGvs7zdi0iVGWrrYT2flp_Ez9Fls22a0HRI-o2RrlbeWgRYKYvXjWDbQziCMjaN-_3iuvoyCi6iiVS3tLaOeA5NfhZ6oPo55l0NtnngD8K0k5n_Ail0mQ3_T8rJwPWVHZJv/w640-h640/310662268_637975447684283_5890205592566057998_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3MflZQj" target="_blank">One-Click</a><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60374786-a-little-too-late" target="_blank">Add to your Goodreads TBR</a></span></b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">CHRISTY'S REVIEW: </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">A Little Too Late</i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"> is a sweet second chance romance by Sarina Bowen. Ava and Reed were college sweethearts and they haven’t seen one another since their breakup a decade ago. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">Reed hasn’t been to his hometown where Madigan Mountain in even longer than a decade, but his dad wanting to sell the family business has him coming home. Only to find out that his college ex/love of his life Ava is working for the family business he has nothing to do with. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">I loved seeing Reed and Ava work together to try to find a solution to the business problems. I also loved seeing Ava slowly start to fall for Reed again and decide to give him another chance. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">
Second chance romances can be so messy, but this was lower on the angst side. It had just enough romance and steam and was a fun listen! The narration was on point as always for Sebastian York and Andi Arndt. I highly recommend listening to this one! </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;" /><u style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"></u></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">Audio book source: Soundwise (audio arc)<br />Story Rating: 4 stars<br />Narrators: Sebastian York & Andi Arndt<br />Narration Rating: 5 stars<br />Genre: Contemporary Romance <br />Length: 7h 47m</span></blockquote>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-53100685681602148392022-09-06T09:00:00.001-04:002022-09-06T09:00:00.258-04:00Live + Review- The Boy with the Bookstore <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfm1rEINLwGdvd9DGagkGytVTkRgZ1H4-pYJouEWRj6e4PiJHbOQzrxxSdEr7uQOOpQ7PjIlV9YJskohbA4ZQdsd8IUEq1kMvjGbubC3c6MDPFwUnAqIcvrLzFLSjglkDndGso7wddLEnkwmzY5oHmnfrPnom8pDAguS4kqyzNv-tjcTYReQJJDH0/s386/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="257" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfm1rEINLwGdvd9DGagkGytVTkRgZ1H4-pYJouEWRj6e4PiJHbOQzrxxSdEr7uQOOpQ7PjIlV9YJskohbA4ZQdsd8IUEq1kMvjGbubC3c6MDPFwUnAqIcvrLzFLSjglkDndGso7wddLEnkwmzY5oHmnfrPnom8pDAguS4kqyzNv-tjcTYReQJJDH0/w266-h400/image002.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yiv3128159952titlemetaheader"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">After being forced to give up her dream of culinary school, Joelle Prime opened a </span></span><span style="color: #26282a;">Filipino bakery that just so happens to be neighboring a bookstore. A bookstore that is run by tattooed hottie Max Boyson. It is impossible not to have a crush on the mysterious bookseller, especially when he comes into the bakery daily for a pastry with a side of flirting.</span><span><span style="color: #26282a;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #26282a;"> </span><span style="color: #26282a;"></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">When their landlord informs them of the massive renovation to the building they share, Joelle imagines the forced proximity will be the perfect opening chapter to their happily ever after. </span><span style="color: #26282a;">I mean, who hasn’t daydreamed of feeding their sexy bookish neighbor bibingka and pandesal while discussing Jane Austen? Reality, though, is a different thing. Max’s sweet demeanor quickly changes and Joelle’s crush dissolves into something akin to annoyance.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"> Not only does Max snaps at her in front of customers, but he dries his sweaty gym clothes in her oven <i>and</i> routinely helps himself to the yummy pastries in her display case without asking.</span><span style="color: #26282a;"></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #26282a;"> </span><span style="color: #26282a;"></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #26282a;">Yet the spark between the two doesn’t go away. In fact, the tension beings to grow and the small space they are forced to share beings to feel a bit <i>too</i> small. And when they discover the real reason for the renovation, they’ll have to put their business and feelings for each other to the test.</span><span style="color: #26282a;"></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3QHvA3h" target="_blank">ONE CLICK on AMAZON </a><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59554666-the-boy-with-the-bookstore" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ADD to TBR on GOODREADS</span></b></a><br /></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #26282a;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Christy's Review</span></u></b></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;">A bookseller and a baker that are next-door and fall in love…. what could go wrong? First and foremost, I did like this book and I liked the authors writing. I loved Joelle’s family dynamic and overall I loved her as a character. Max though… I struggled with him. I understood he had a lot of family issues and I was sympathetic to that but he wasn’t the kindest more than once. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">I love a good friends to lovers and I love a good enemies to lovers, but this one gave me whiplash. Friends to enemies to friends to enemies to friends and finally- lovers. I'm so happy that by the end, this one left a smile on my face. Max truly did grow on me by the end! Sarah Echavrre Smith's writing is fantastic and this is one I know a lot of readers will love. </span></span></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #26282a;"><br /></span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Sarah Echavarre Smith</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"> is a copywriter turned author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie's stash of romance novels. She's been hooked ever since. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her <i>lumpia</i> recipe. She lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband and her adorable cat, Salem.</span><span style="color: #26282a;"></span></span></p><p class="yiv3128159952msonormal" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-77415490987328006412022-08-23T09:00:00.001-04:002022-08-24T23:45:30.048-04:00New Release + Review- LOVE ON THE BRAIN by Ali Hazelwood <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k2PoIBZ6_EHPQ1KCV_nkUyNUHUmnQ3m1eu3V9ZF38sFrbj9YLvqvd_j_LSzt3u3VDZ5ZAWekOv3Jre-thhUbvYVzaVPVqLMpo4yUVNlz9EWUXvJ90fTMETAIdpqG8JXlMFpri9Sr9umyz9C0gu3OaRYUwH2kYE_C9_whOCM3KkkVkW8UDy7krKUC/s690/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="460" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k2PoIBZ6_EHPQ1KCV_nkUyNUHUmnQ3m1eu3V9ZF38sFrbj9YLvqvd_j_LSzt3u3VDZ5ZAWekOv3Jre-thhUbvYVzaVPVqLMpo4yUVNlz9EWUXvJ90fTMETAIdpqG8JXlMFpri9Sr9umyz9C0gu3OaRYUwH2kYE_C9_whOCM3KkkVkW8UDy7krKUC/w266-h400/image001.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><b style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #ff0066;">ABOUT THE BOOK:</span></u></b><b style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff0066;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">From the </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">New York Times</i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> bestselling author of </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">The Love Hypothesis</i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> comes a new STEMinist rom-com that you </span><u style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">do not</u><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> want to miss.</span><b style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </b><a name="_Hlk112139782" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Bee </a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(29, 34, 40); color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Königswasser and Levi Ward are scientists and nemeses forced to work together on a project for NASA. The results are filled with the steamiest tension and the most explosive chemistry. Ali Hazelwood has outdone herself.</span><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project - a literal dream come true - Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span id="freeText2496394052038624638" style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;"><br />Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school - archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.<br /><br />But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas... devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.<br /><br />But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;"> </span></span><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3AkUxv0"><span style="color: #e6238e;">One Click on Amazon </span></a></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Christy's Review: </u></span></b></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>“You were always in my head. And I could never get you out.”</b></i></span></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;"><b></b></i><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;">Love on the Brain</i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;"> is Ali Hazelwood’s newest novel and it was one of my most anticipated reads this summer. I was so excited to read it and I’m happy to say I enjoyed it. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;">Bee is a woman in STEM who is passionate about other women in STEM. She’s going to work on an exciting new project with NASA and is thrilled. Until she realized she is co-leading the project with her college nemesis, Levi Ward. Levi never seemed to like Bee and she doesn’t know why, but she’s not going to let it dull her spark. She’s too thrilled to do this! </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;">Levi is the best thing about this book. The absolute best. I couldn’t have loved him more. True MVP, top tier book boy status. Who doesn’t love a grumpy hero who has had it bad for the heroine for so long. The LONGING in this book. It was my favorite thing. I also loved how Levi stood up for Bee and the other communication they had (though was completely unsurprising to me) was fantastic and sweet. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;">‘The Love Hypothesis’ was one of my favorite books last year, and while I liked this one in a lot of ways, it didn’t give me those love feels like that one did. Though it had one of the most amazing heroes, it was a bit predictable and felt disjointed to me at times. It could be that I don’t 100% understand all the science talk, but usually I’m fine with that. This was not a bad book at all, a 4 star rating is still great, I think I just expected it to be a new favorite and it wasn’t. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;">If you’re looking for a grumpy hero that deep down is a softy, a book with pining (sigh) and if you enjoy good banter and a You’ve Got Mail plot, pick this one up! I think so many will love this book and it had a lot of fun times!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #c42b89; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p>Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105137413024771329.post-82535293766964339102022-07-17T13:35:00.008-04:002022-07-17T13:35:46.664-04:00REVERSE by Kate Stewart is LIVE!<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrc3NxibERjWctVKgNpzSQjdEqflmBBD7je362lScn81LUuIbBOPB5fkArGMAvoHpmslYNXWKCZmNe_D_LigZNtmoaLK_lnCKjXe18wPoa-wPAi5a5cw2NcnCbs6EZtSIc6bYeVw6qOjwcE4lnb999D9TEDPbtcaUIMwbk0iX9E5NEaiJlQeDVYom/s1100/Reverse%20Live-IG2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1100" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrc3NxibERjWctVKgNpzSQjdEqflmBBD7je362lScn81LUuIbBOPB5fkArGMAvoHpmslYNXWKCZmNe_D_LigZNtmoaLK_lnCKjXe18wPoa-wPAi5a5cw2NcnCbs6EZtSIc6bYeVw6qOjwcE4lnb999D9TEDPbtcaUIMwbk0iX9E5NEaiJlQeDVYom/w640-h640/Reverse%20Live-IG2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">💜</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">🎵</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">🎼🎶</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">ℕ</span>𝕆𝕎<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝔸𝕍𝔸𝕀𝕃𝔸𝔹𝕃𝔼<span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">🎶</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">🎼</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">🎵</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">💜</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄</span> by USA Today Bestselling author Kate Stewart is LIVE! This is a steamy, star-crossed lovers, rockstar romance with all the feels!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #060606; font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #060606; font-size: large;">#FREE to read in #KindleUnlimited</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">Find the<span style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">𝐓𝐡𝐞</span> <span style="font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭</span> <span style="font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲</span> duet here: mybook.to/ksbittersweetduet</div></span><p></p><p style="color: #060606; font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Grab book #1 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄</span><span style="background-color: white;"> here: <a href="http://mybook.to/KSDrive?fbclid=IwAR3XOHGhrxcGipBzNDhZK7d35LSDTMeQ3yWu8cecu3wkJSi2a7Xw4YgqNZE"><span style="color: blue;">mybook.to/KSDrive</span></a></span></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grab book #2 <span style="font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄</span> here: mybook.to/ksreverse</span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">"</span>𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙞𝙨<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙩𝙝𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝘽𝙀𝙎𝙏<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙄<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">'</span>𝙫𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">. </span>𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙞𝙨<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙄<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙞𝙣<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙖<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">. </span>𝘼𝙡𝙡<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙩𝙝𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙩<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>𝙖𝙣𝙙<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">. </span>𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">'</span>𝙨<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙞𝙨<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙖𝙣𝙙<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙢𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙖𝙡𝙡<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙩𝙝𝙚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙬𝙖𝙮<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">." - </span>𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙮<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>𝘽𝘽𝙐<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙜</span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Blurb: </span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐚𝐠𝐨<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>𝐦𝐲<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐭𝐡𝐞<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐨𝐟<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐚<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A relationship he’s kept hidden for decades.</span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Upon unearthing his secret through a series of emails in our paper’s archives, I began my search for the truth. Haunted by my father’s love story, and in my quest for answers, I never imagined I would discover a love of my own. Or that my love for Easton Crowne would be key in discovering the reason behind what split our parents up. </span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Doomed from the start and knowing the havoc our relationship would inevitably wreak on our families, I could never have prepared for the toll it would take or the cost of the truth.</span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But in order to find our ending, we had to go back to <i>their</i> beginning. </span></p><p style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">𝐌𝐲<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐢𝐬<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐫<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>𝐚𝐧𝐝<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐢𝐬<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐦𝐲<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">-</span>𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">💙💜<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>🎵<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>🎼🎶<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>🎼<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>🎵<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>💜<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>💙</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Watch the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: STIXGeneral; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄</span><span style="color: black;"> trailer here: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdcYYm52/?k=1"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdcYYm52/?k=1</span></a></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Trailer produced by Bookshelf Productions</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“The Dance” cover and permission granted by Fist of Five </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by: Tony Arata </span></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">💙💜</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">🎵</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">🎼🎶</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">🎼</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">🎵</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">💜</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">💙</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>CHRISTY'S REVIEW </b></span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">💙💜</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">🎵</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">🎼🎶</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">🎼</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">🎵</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">💜</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-size: large;">💙</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/e6c93ee0-394a-4ca6-a280-1e8628156b9b?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_5347" class="gr-hostedUserImg" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1658019285i/33175594._SY540_.png" />
</a></div>
<i><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/e6c93ee0-394a-4ca6-a280-1e8628156b9b?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">
</a><b><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/e6c93ee0-394a-4ca6-a280-1e8628156b9b?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">
</a><blockquote style="text-align: center;">“Their story doesn’t change the significance of ours.”</blockquote>
</b>
</i><br />This is the absolute <b>BEST</b> thing I've read this year. Reverse is everything I want in a book. All the angst, emotion, steam, and romance. It was absolutely perfect for me. <br /><br />If you’ve read <i>Drive</i>, you know all about the Crownes and Butlers. If you haven’t read <i>Drive</i>, I encourage you to stop reading this review and pick up that epic book. <i>Reverse</i> is a second generation book and trust me when I say it will mean everything to those of us that have read and loved <i>Drive</i><br /><i>
<b>
<blockquote>“You’re a media princess.” Her eyes narrow. “And you’re rock royalty. We both have legacies to try and live up to.”</blockquote>
</b>
</i>
Natalie Butler and Easton Crowne meet in an interesting way. It starts with some emails, then an interview of sorts. They become friends but there is so much more there. Neither one of them have ever met another person that makes their soul sing like this. They are meant to be, fated. But it’s complicated with their families history. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/2e38e4e6-0b04-4c62-b5cc-c7b964fe14d8?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_5343" class="gr-hostedUserImg" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1658019285i/33175595._SY540_.png" />
</a></div><i>
<blockquote>I want to cling to his star as it burns the brightest- if only to be with him for a little longer. If what Easton said is true, and we live in echoes of defining moments, I want to remain in this one for as long as I possibly can.</blockquote>
</i><br />Natalie is a journalist, like father like daughter… and Easton is on the verge of something huge. He’s got even more talent than his father if you can believe it. They both are on a path the greatness, but taking that path together comes with so many challenges and difficulties. <br /><br />When I tell you this book will put you through the ringer, boy do I mean it. It was one of the most romantic books I’ve ever read with a hero that’s unparalleled. But the angst. When I tell you I cried over this angst, I mean it. I was so upset it brought me to tears. But those are the best books. The ones that truly make you feel. This story brought out all of those feels for me. <br /><br />Kate's writing is mesmerizing and this story captivated me all the way through. It was a long book, but it didn't feel long. Easton Crowne is everything and soooo romantic. I couldn’t love this book more if I tried. It’s such a special story to me and I know I’ll be re-reading it for years to come. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this one!<br /><i>
<b>
<blockquote style="text-align: center;">In this universe, only we exist. </blockquote>
</b>
</i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/2383384e-4903-40b6-8650-073cc0f0cd43/p/986fd0f1-7a39-4177-b48c-5866ae0fc026?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_5345" class="gr-hostedUserImg" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1658019285i/33175596._SY540_.png" />
</a></div>
<br />Christy Baldwin http://www.blogger.com/profile/05301171981322927066noreply@blogger.com0