The Coaching Hours by Sara Ney….Blog Tour & Review

 

 

 

THERE ARE NO DOUCHEBAGS IN THIS STORY.

Well, there are, but they’re not who this story is about.

This story is about me—the coach’s daughter.

When I moved to Iowa to live with my dad, the university’s take-no-prisoners wrestling coach, I thought transferring would be easy as pie—living with my father would be temporary, and he’d make sure his douchebag wrestlers left me alone.

Wrong on both counts.

ASSHOLES ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

A bet is placed, and I’m on the table. After one humiliating night and too much alcohol, I find the last nice guy on campus. And when he offers to rent me his spare bedroom, I go all in. It’s time for the nice guy to finish first.

Midnight chats and spilling my problems turn to lingering touches. Lingering touches turn to more.

And the ultimate good guy has the potential do more damage than any douchebags ever could.

 

AMAZON | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU

 

 

 

She perks up. “Wait, you’ve never had a back massage?”

 

“No?”

 

“Ever?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“Well, what the hell? How can I, in good conscience, lie here letting you rub my back when you’ve never had anyone rub yours?” She scoots over, pointing to the mattress. “Lie on your stomach, I’ll do you first.”

 

I wave my hands in front of me in protest. The last thing I need is her warm hands roaming my body. “No, no, you don’t have to. It’s not a big deal.”

 

“Are you crazy? Back massages are the best—like, better than an orgasm. You’re first, so lie down.”

 

“And you call me the bossy one?”

 

“Quit stalling and get on the bed.”

 

Obediently, I climb to the middle of my bed in nothing but a pair of gym shorts, legs hanging off the side. Next to me, the mattress dips, Anabelle on her knees, approaching my side.

 

A finger glides down my spine. “It will be easier for me to do this if I’m sitting on you. Hope that’s okay.”

 

“Is that the approved method?”

 

“No, but my arms will get tired if I have to lean over you the whole time.”

 

“Do whatever then, I don’t care.”

 

I stiffen when Anabelle swings one leg over my body, straddling my ass. Warm palms at my lower back.

 

“You’re so tense. Try to relax,” she coos, making it worse. “Tilt your head to the side, that’s it.”

 

I hear the lotion bottle snap open. Click closed. My roommate’s palms rubbing together, warming it up. “Sorry, I don’t have any actual massage oil. This will have to do.”

 

When her hands make contact with my back, I almost groan it feels so fucking good. Warm. Smooth. Pressure in all the right places, pushing gently into my muscles.

 

Slowly.

 

Slower still, caressing along my shoulders, thumbs and fingers working together to soothe the burning on my right side.

 

“Doesn’t this feel great?” Her soft voice cuts into the silence. “You’re loosening up. That’s good.”

 

I feel her leaning as her hands move up and down my spine until they stop, hovering at the base of my neck. Thumbs stroking the skin below my hairline, back and forth.

 

Kneading.

 

Her torso dips, hands maneuvering my arms, placing them at my sides. Palms slide up and down my biceps.

 

For several minutes, she rubs my arms and shoulders. Then she skims down my ribcage unhurriedly, in no rush, making little humming sounds inside her throat.

 

I know I’m not imagining the feather-light way her hands drift down my spine. I remain still, letting her touch me, basking in it.

 

Remain still when her lips kiss the tender spot of my shoulder where it meets my neck, nose nuzzling behind my ear, her breasts rubbing against my back and what the fuck was that all about? What does she think she’s doing, trying to drive me insane?

 

 

 

I am sure that I am one of the very few who have not read this series at all. Don’t ask me why, I just never did. And I’ve now read the last one in the series and I have to say, I don’t think I should have started with this one. LOL But let me explain before I have a million trolls bearing down on me.

The Coaching Hours is apparently much sweeter and more subdued than the other books in this series. Don’t get me wrong, there are some pretty major douche canoes in this book, but they are not the main characters and their d-bag ways were a subplot to the whole thing. And for me, that was sort of a letdown since I had been expecting something more angsty.

Anyway, I still did enjoy this book. I found myself laughing a lot and enjoying the banter and connections with Elliot and Anabelle. Sara wrote very mature characters in Elliot and Anabelle, which added a lot more to this story line. I love that Ana still had her insecurities, but did not whine about shit – she acted like a mature junior college student. That’s one thing I truly enjoyed the most – the maturity and how everything was handled.

I enjoyed Sara’s writing. Aside from reading short novella of hers in an anthology, this is the first book I have read by her and really connected to her writing. It flows easily and seems so natural. I have to point out that I love the chapter titles – those had me dying – so damn creative. There were not any surprises for me and it all played as I expected. I do enjoy books that have more suspense in them, but I enjoyed these characters so I wasn’t overly annoyed by the lack of angst.

Overall, if you are like me and have not read this series, don’t expect a lot of doucheness in this story. If you want that, like I do, we need to start from the beginning and will probably appreciate this book a bit more. I was able to read this without any confusion as to who the other characters were but I am curious as to how they all play a part. It’s a series I find myself wanting to go back to the beginning and reading now.

 

 

Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte’s, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.

She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog.

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Love Between Enemies by Molly E Lee…Blog Tour & Review

 

Link to Tour Schedule:
http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-love-between-enemies-by-molly-e-lee/

 

Link to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36560371-love-between-enemies

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Love Between Enemies (Grad Night #2)
by Molly E. Lee
Publication Date: January 8, 2018
Publisher: Entangled: Crus

Zoey Handler is ready to put an end to her decade-long rivalry with Gordon Meyers. They’ve traded top spot between valedictorian and salutatorian for years, but all that’s over now. Right? But after a crazy graduation speech prank gets out of hand, suddenly their rivalry turns into all-out war. Time to make peace with a little friendly payback.

Step one? Make him believe they’re now friends.

Step two? Show him the time of his life at an epic graduation party.

Step three? Don’t fall for his tricks.

Step four? Absolutely, positively, do not kiss him again.

So what if he’s cute? (Okay, hot.) So what if he’s charming? (Heaven help her, tempting.) So what if he apologizes? (That has to be fake.) She knows the real Gordon. And no matter how much her heart begs her to stop, there’s no turning back.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one epic party, complete with every high-schoolers-gone-bad shenanigan, and two rivals who discover maybe they could be something much more…if only they’d stop fighting long enough to notice it.

 

 

Love Between Enemies is the second book in Molly’s Grad Night series. Every book is standalone within the series. You do not need to read any of the others to follow along as there is no subplot throughout the books.

I am a huge fan of YA books – I enjoy reading them and I usually breeze through them within a day or two (depending on my schedule). But this one, I actually struggled to read and continue on with it. I ended up reading two books before I went back to finish this one and still had a hard time getting through it. It was just ok for me.

I think the biggest issue for me was the entire book was 24hrs – and lord, was it a LONG 24hrs. A lot happened and things between Gordon and Zoey changed, but I wish everything took place over a long period of time. I felt myself getting extremely bored and just wanted to get to the end. I did end up skimming a lot of the book because the angst just wasn’t there for me.

The storyline was cute and I enjoyed that it was about 2 students who are super ambitious and competitive. But the situation felt dragged out and I just felt it all tied up too perfectly in the end, especially for everything happening in 24hrs.

I enjoyed Molly’s writing and her characters which is why I didn’t DNF the book. I just think the whole timeline is what killed the overall vibe for me.

If you don’t mind a storyline being all of 24hrs and enjoy a sweet sort of enemies to lovers YA romance, this book might be for you.

 

 

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35683226-love-in-the-friend-zone

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Molly E. Lee is an author best known for her debut novel EDGE OF CHAOS, and as a mentor at Pitch Wars – a program which connects promising writers to established authors in the community. Molly writes New Adult and Young Adult contemporary featuring strong female heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. In addition to being a military spouse and mother of two + one stubborn English Bulldog, Molly loves watching storms from her back porch at her Midwest home, and digging for treasures in antique stores.

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Dirt by Cassia Leo..Review

Today we have the blog tour for DIRT by Cassia Leo! Check it out and grab your copy today!

 

Title: DIRT
Author: Cassia Leo
Series: Evergreen Series
Release: January 12, 2018

 

About Dirt

A hard-hitting, emotional new series from New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo.

Jack and I had everything. Then, in one brutal instant, the universe tilted on its side, discarding us into black nothingness.

Now, I have a cocky a**hole for a husband.

The only way we communicate anymore is when we’re fighting or f**king.

With nothing left to lose, I write Jack a goodbye letter and head for Portland, where I quickly meet a neighbor who helps me find a job.

My new neighbor—broody, tattooed ex-soldier Isaac Evans—is complicated. Nevertheless, we form a fast friendship, bonding over our mutual desire to create something beautiful from the wreckage of our lives.

But despite the distance between us, Jack and I are still trying to make things work—fighting and f**king dirtier than ever. And he doesn’t appreciate my new friendship with Isaac. Not one f**king bit.

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So this book took me way longer to read than I had anticipated. :/

My review is definitely more on the unpopular side, so please remember it’s my take on the book. And parts of it may seem like I am being an asshole, but it’s these instances that hurt the book for me.

I had no expectaions going into this book. I know who Cassia is but have never read of any of her books before. Her writing technique was difficult for me to grasp on to; it felt sort of all over the place. Her writing style is new to me and one that I think will need to grow on me.

This book is told from 3 POV’s where two of them are the main characters, Jack and Laurel. The third is Isaac and I am still trying to figure out how he’s play an intricate enough part in this book that requires chapters from his POV at this point in the story. He’s apparently suppose to cause apprehension between Jack and Laurel, but I found the friendship between Laurel and Isaac very lacking and just not believable. There was a 3 week time span that was skipped and we are to assume that this where Laurel and Isaac became closer. Since there is only one time mentioned about their interactions, it was hard to believe anything was there.

Laurel and Jack are an interesting couple. They seem to have this intense love for another and one hell of sex life. But after suffering their great losses, they both have a really tough time dealing with how to move on. Jack delves into finding out the culprits and ignores his wife completely. Laurel isn’t able to talk about that night and pretty much wants to start anew and move forward with her life.

Without going into too much detail about the story, Laurel is very indecisive on her thoughts and actions. One minute she’s needs space and time from Jack and the next she can’t stand being away from him. And yes, I get that she’s suppose to be missing her husband, but she has no backbone with sticking to her guns. She drove me nuts – Jack would want something and she’d initially say no but he’d come back with stipulations and she’d give in. Hell, she went from stating she needed another two weeks before moving back home because she wanted to properly quick her job to the very next day stating that she would be moving back home that the weekend. WTF?!?!

Then there’s Jack and his obsession to find the killer. I found this whole part lacking the intensity it needed til the end. There was no sense of urgency from him on this. He just came across as obsessed and used his abilities to try and find the killer. I was just annoyed with Jack and thought he saw his wife as no more than a piece of property and just his fuck toy to avoid dealing with talking things out. I didn’t feel any love from him towards Laurel at all.

So yea, had this story not picked up in the last 15-20%, I am not sure I could have rated it a 3 star. The majority of the book played out like a couple who was separated and needed to work on things. There was no drama or angst and definitely hardly any suspense. There were very few sex scenes that were hot, but most that were mentioned were glazed over, however you got the idea that there sex life was pretty off the charts, smoking hot.

Overall, it is fairly well written. The majority of the book was about a couple going through separation. For me, the part was pretty boring. Had it not been for the curiosity of where Jack’s obessions was going and how Isaac played into this whole thing, I would not have finished the book. The last 15% definitely had me interests more piqued and had me turning the pages and helped move the book to 3 stars.

Let’s hope we don’t have to wait long for the next book!

 

 

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About Cassia Leo

New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time re-watching Game of Thrones and Sex and the City. When she’s not binge watching, she’s usually enjoying the Oregon rain with a hot cup of coffee and a book.

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Between The Blade and The Heart by Amanda Hocking…Blog Tour & Review

SUMMARY:

When the fate of the world is at stake
Loyalties will be tested

Game of Thrones meets Blade Runner in this commanding new YA fantasy inspired by Norse Mythology from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

As one of Odin’s Valkyries, Malin’s greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk—to the world and her heart.

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EXCERPT

ONE

The air reeked of fermented fish and rotten fruit, thanks to the overflowing dumpster from the restaurant behind us. The polluted alley felt narrow and claustrophobic, sandwiched between skyscrapers.

In the city, it was never quiet or peaceful, even at three in the morning. There were more than thirty million humans and supernatural beings coexisting, living on top of each other. It was the only life I’d ever really known, but the noise of the congestion grated on me tonight.

My eyes were locked on the flickering neon lights of the gambling parlor across the street. The u in Shibuya had gone out, so the sign flashed SHIB YA at me.

The sword sheathed at my side felt heavy, and my body felt restless and electric. I couldn’t keep from fidgeting and cracked my knuckles.

“He’ll be here soon,” my mother, Marlow, assured me. She leaned back against the brick wall beside me, casually eating large jackfruit seeds from a brown paper sack. Always bring a snack on a stakeout was one of her first lessons, but I was far too nervous and excited to eat.

The thick cowl of her frayed black sweater had been pulled up like a hood, covering her cropped blond hair from the icy mist that fell on us. Her tall leather boots only went to her calf, thanks to her long legs. Her style tended to be monochromatic—black on black on black—aside from the shock of dark red lipstick.

My mother was only a few years shy of her fiftieth birthday, with almost thirty years of experience working as a Valkyrie, and she was still as strong and vital as ever. On her hip, her sword Mördare glowed a dull red through its sheath.

The sword of the Valkyries was one that appeared as if it had been broken in half—its blade only a foot long before stopping at a sharp angle. Mördare’s blade was several thousand years old, forged in fires to look like red glass that would glow when the time was nigh.

My sword was called Sigrún, a present on my eighteenth birthday from Marlow. It was a bit shorter than Mördare, with a thicker blade, so it appeared stubby and fat. The handle was black utilitarian, a replacement that my mom had had custom-made from an army supply store, to match her own.

The ancient blade appeared almost black, but as it grew closer to its target, it would glow a vibrant purple. For the past hour that we’d been waiting on our stakeout, Sigrún had been glowing dully on my hip.

The mist grew heavier, soaking my long black hair. I kept the left side of my head shaved, parting my hair over to the right, and my scalp should’ve been freezing from the cold, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t feel anything.

It had begun—the instinct of the Valkyrie, pushing aside my humanity to become a weapon. When the Valkyrie in me took over, I was little more than a scythe for the Grim Reaper of the gods.

“He’s coming,” Marlow said behind me, but I already knew.

The world fell into hyperfocus, and I could see every droplet of rain as it splashed toward the ground. Every sound echoed through me, from the bird flapping its wings a block away, to the club door as it groaned open.

Eleazar Bélanger stumbled out, his heavy feet clomping in the puddles. He was chubby and short, barely over four feet tall, and he would’ve appeared to be an average middle-aged man if it wasn’t for the two knobby horns that stuck out on either side of his forehead. Graying tufts of black hair stuck out from under a bright red cap, and as he walked ahead, he had a noticeable limp favoring his right leg.

He was a Trasgu, a troublemaking goblin, and his appearance belied the strength and cunning that lurked within him. He was over three hundred years old, and today would be the day he died.

I waited in the shadows of the alley for him to cross the street. A coughing fit caused him to double over, and he braced himself against the brick wall.

I approached him quietly—this all went easier when they didn’t have time to prepare. He took off his hat to use it to wipe the snot from his nose, and when he looked up at me, his green eyes flashed with understanding.

“It’s you,” Eleazar said in a weak, craggy voice. We’d never met, and I doubt he’d ever seen me before, but he recognized me, the way they all did when their time was up.

“Eleazar Bélanger, you have been chosen to die,” I said, reciting my script, the words automatic and cold on my lips. “It is my duty to return you to the darkness from whence you came.”

“No, wait!” He held up his pudgy hands at me. “I have money. I can pay you. We can work this out.”

“This is not my decision to make,” I said as I pulled the sword from my sheath.

His eyes widened as he realized I couldn’t be bargained with. For a moment I thought he might just accept his fate, but they rarely did. He bowed his head and ran at me like a goat. He was stronger than he looked and caused me to stumble back a step, but he didn’t have anywhere to go.

My mother stood blocking the mouth of the alley, in case I needed her. Eleazar tried to run toward the other end, but his leg slowed him, and I easily overtook him. Using the handle of my sword, I cracked him on the back of the skull, and he fell to the ground on his knees.

Sigrún glowed brightly, with light shining out from it and causing the air to glow purple around us. Eleazar mumbled a prayer to the Vanir gods. I held the sword with both hands, and I struck it across his neck, decapitating him.

And then, finally, the electricity that had filled my body, making my muscles quiver and my bones ache, left me, and I breathed in deeply. The corpse of an immortal goblin lay in a puddle at my feet, and I felt nothing but relief.

“It was a good return,” my mother said, and put her hand on my shoulder. “You did well, Malin.”

Copyright © 2018 by Amanda Hocking in Between the Blade and the Heart and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Griffin.

 

I was really looking forward to this new series as am I a huge fan of Amanda’s, but this one fell short. And it’s for various reasons, and most of them are just more of a personal thing.

Between the Blade and the Heart is a new series from Amanda. It’s based on Norse Mythology and more precisely, the Valkyrie. The Valkyries are mortal women with supernatural strength that the Gods had created to destroy the immortals and return them to the Underworld. The blurb tells you the main plot of the story, so I won’t repeat all that.

Let me tell you what I enjoyed most about this book – the world itself. Amanda has always done a great job of describing the world in which everything is to set forth. I loved the different backgrounds on the characters and that there was no biases on their sexual preferences (Malin is bi-sexual). The diversity in this book is what kept me interested in this book.

Where I had a hard time connecting was the characters and the love triangle aspect. Outside of the diversity of the characters, I really didn’t connect to any of them. I have no qualms about love triangles, but I had hard time really understanding this one. Again, I truly believe it’s because I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, so anything beyond that was hard for me to grasp onto.

The story felt a bit slow too for me. I found myself glazing over parts and not feeling completely immersed in the story, like I was hoping. There was something lacking from the character development that kept me from really enjoying this book more.

Overall, it was an ok start to the series. I am still up in the air on if I will continue. A part of me wants to know what happens next, but another part of me is afraid I will be wasting my time if I don’t feel any connections to the characters.

If you love YA books that are set in different worlds, I would give this book a go. It’s definitely one where you have to see for yourself if it’s the book for you.

 

 

 

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Q&A with Amanda Hocking

 

Q: What or who was the inspiration behind Between the Blade and the Heart

A: I have already written several books inspired by Scandinavian folklore, and I was always fascinated by Valkyries. But because I had already done in Scandinavian fantasy, I wanted to come at this one from a different angle. I imagined the Valkyries helping to police a gritty, diverse, cyberpunk metropolis, in a world filled with not just Norse figures but from many mythologies.

Q: What are the life lessons that you want readers to glean from your book? 

A: That love is a strength, not a weakness.

Q: If you were given the chance to go on a date with one of your characters, who would you choose and what would you do together? 

A: Oona. She doesn’t swing that way, but since I’m married anyway, it would be a friendship date. I think it would be fun to go to an apothecary with her and have her show me around the magic. Or maybe just veg out and watch bad movies.

Q: Would the essence of your novel change if the main protagonist were male?

A: Yes, it would be changed dramatically. For one, Valkyries are women. But I also think the book explores the relationships between mothers and daughters, and friendships between young women.

Q: What is your definition of true love in YA literature? 

A: There has to be passion and desire – not necessarily anything physical, but so much of young love is about yearning. But I also think that true love is based on mutual respect and selflessness.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to be an author/start writing?

A: My biggest piece of advice is to just write. It’s so easy to get caught up in self-doubt or procrastination. There are lot of great books and blogs about the art of writing, but the most important thing is really to just do it. The best way to get better at writing is by doing it.

Q: What’s one book you would have no trouble rereading for the rest of your life?

A: It would be a toss up between Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli and Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. I’ve read both of those books a dozen times already, at least, and I never get sick of them.

Q: How did you name your characters? Are they based on people you know in real life?

A: It’s combination of names I like and taking inspiration from the world itself. With Between the Blade and the Heart, the names were inspired both by the mythology they come from – many Valkyries have Norse names like Malin, Teodora, and Freya, for example – and the futuristic setting of the book, so I wanted names that seemed a bit cooler and just slightly different than the ones we use now.

Q: Alright, Amanda, I know you’re a movie buff. What are some movies your characters would pick as their all-time favorites?

A: That’s a tough one. Malin – The Crow, Oona – Pan’s Labyrinth, Quinn – Wonder Woman, Asher – Inception, and Marlow – Twelve Monkeys.

Q: Which mythological character is the most like you?

A: Demeter, because she’s pretty dramatic – she basically kills all the plants in the world when her daughter goes missing – but she’s also determined, and will stop at nothing to protect those she cares about.

Q: Who is your favorite character in this book and why?

A: Oona or Bowie. Oona because she’s so practical, supportive, and determined, and Bowie because he’s adorable.

Q: What is your favorite scene and why?

A: I don’t know if there is one particular scene that I loved more than the others, but I really enjoyed writing about the city that Malin lives in and all the creatures that inhabit it.

Q: What cities inspired the urban haven where the Valkyries live?

A: I was really obsessed with this idea of an overpopulated metropolis, and so I took a lot of inspiration from some of the biggest cities in the world, particularly Tokyo, Mexico City, Mumbai, and Manila. The city itself is actually a sort of futuristic, alternate reality of Chicago (one of my favorite cities in the world), and I wanted to incorporate that into it as well.

Q: What came first: The world, the mythology, or the characters?

A: I usually say the characters come first, and the world builds around it. But for this one, it really was the world that drew me into it. I knew I was writing about a young woman who was a Valkyrie, but that about all when I began building up the world and the mythology.

Q: I love that these characters are in college. What inspired this choice?

A: Because of the complex relationship Malin has with her mother, I knew I wanted some distance between them, so I thought putting her in college, living away from her mom, was a good way to do it. Plus, I thought it would be fun to explore the all the supernatural training that would be needed to do these specialized jobs that come up in a world where every mythological creature exists.

Q: What songs would you include if you were to make a soundtrack for the book?

A: This is my favorite question! I love creating soundtracks that I listen to while writing a book, and here are some of my favorite tracks from my Between the Blade and the Heart playlist: Annie Lennox – “I Put a Spell on You,” Daniel Johns – “Preach,” Halsey – “Trouble (stripped),” Meg Myers – “Sorry (EthniKids Remix),” and MYYRA – “Human Nature.”

Q: Was this book always planned as a series or did that develop afterwards?

A: It was always planned as a duology. I don’t want to go into too much or risk spoiling the second book, but I had this idea that one book would be above, and the other below.

Q: Your novels and characters are so layered. How do you stay organized while plotting/writing? Do you outline, use post-it notes, make charts, or something else?

A: All of the above! This one was the most intensive as far as research and note taking goes, and I also had maps, glossaries, and extensive lists of various mythologies. I think I ended up with thirteen pages of just Places and Things. I do a lot of typed notes, but I also do handwritten scribbles (which can sometimes be confusing to me later on when I try to figure out what they mean. I once left myself a note that just said “What are jelly beans?”) For this one, I really did have to have lots of print outs on hand that I could look to when writing.

Q: You’ve said that pop culture and the paranormal both influence your writing. How do these things intersect for you? 

A: In a way, I think they’re both about how humans choose to interpret and define the world that surrounds us. So many mythologies come from humans trying to make sense of the seasons and the chaos of existence, and even though we’ve moved past a lot of the scientific questions, pop culture is still tackling our existence. Even when looking at shows made for kids, like Pixar, they handle a lot of difficult concepts, like what it means to love someone else, how to be a good friend, facing your fears, and overcoming loss. These are things that mythologies and stories have been going over for centuries.

Q: Did you choose the title first, or write the book then choose the title?

A: It depends on the book, but I will say with this one that it took a very, very long time to come up with a title. It was already written and edited, and we were still bouncing around different names.

Q: How many more books can we expect in “Between the Blade and the Heart” series?

A: One more! From the Earth to the Shadows will be out in April 2018.

Q: What scene from the book are you most proud of (because of how you handled the atmosphere, characters, dialogue, etc)?

A: I don’t want to say too much or risk spoiling it, but there’s a scene near the end of the book where a confrontation leaves Malin reeling. I wrote it in an almost present tense, stream-of-consciousness way because I thought that was the best way to capture the raw intensity of her emotions.

AUTHOR BIO:

Amanda Hocking is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.

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My Week with the Bad Boy by Brooke Cumberland and Lyra Parish…Release Day Blitz & Review

Title: My Week with the Bad Boy

Series: My Week, #1

Authors: Brooke Cumberland & Lyra Parish

Cover Photographer: FuriousFotog

Cover Model: Joey Berry

Cover Designer: RBA Designs

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 2, 2017

Never trust a man who answers the front door wearing nothing more than a pair of low-cut jeans and a panty-melting smirk.

That should’ve been my first sign.

I write about guys just like him for a living—sexy and charming, yet reluctant to get into a serious relationship. His body screams sex appeal, but his condescending personality makes him a classic fuckboy. 

And I want nothing to do with that.

Writing romance novels comes with its perks—traveling, meeting new people, creating characters from the voices in my head—but Ethan Rochester enters my life and rearranges all my preconceived notions about writing what inspires you. 

One week is all it took. One week to realize that not everything is as it seems.

One week with the bad boy, and I wanted more.

 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2idoG7r

Amazon International: http://myBook.to/mwwtbb

 

 

My Week With The Bad Boy is another one of those books that has me at the “it was just OK” for me. I love both these authors and was really hoping to love this book so much more. But I am tough sell on the whole “insta-love” thing and this book definitely didn’t do that, which is why it was just ok for me.

I really enjoyed the characters a lot. Vada and Ethan are both strong characters but have some baggage that leaves them a few weaknesses. But on the outside, these two are feisty and have no problems throwing jabs at the other. I have to say that I really enjoyed the whit and humor in this book. It added a lot to the chemistry between these two and made their interactions all the more entertaining.

But I had real difficult time seeing how they fell in love with another quickly and not just confuse that with lust or sheer attraction because they didn’t get to know either really well at all. Most of their interactions were just exchanged barbs between each other then after a few days added in some really hot sex. Vada knew what to expect from him when he set the precedent on nothing beyond sex. Yet he was the one throwing mix signals around with cuddling, staying over, etc.

Once Ethan made it clear that he did want more, Vada was thrown a curve ball and she immediately went into her “shut down” mode and flew home, never to talk with Ethan again. This is where for me I had a really, really, really hard time seeing how neither moved on or even so much as started dating someone else. They had only known each other for a few days, aside from knowing about Ethan’s past, there really was nothing that kept these tied to the other for so long. I have to give to Ethan a lot of credit for truly doing what he could to win Vada over, but damn, even I know when to quit after some time has passes.

I know, I know. It sounds like I am tearing this book down. I swear that’s not what I am doing or trying to do. I did enjoy reading how everything played out. I am just pointing out what has me giving this book only three stars instead of more. The characters were great – I loved them both together and separate. I loved how everything finally came together, BUT I hard a really hard time connecting to that insta-love thing. Crazy, I know. They are a cute couple, I just don’t see how they feel so hard so quickly.

Ethan is a saint for hanging in there for as long as he did. Vada, she’s one hell of a lucky lady to have found Ethan and was able to keep him. Most will love this story. I, am sadly in the minority and just felt overall is was just ok.

But give the book a try – it’s a cute story.

 

 

 

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My Week with the Bad Boy Release Day Giveaway

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Brooke Cumberland is a USA Today Bestselling author who wears many hats on any given day. She also co-writes under the USA TodayBestselling Duo pseudonym, Kennedy Fox with her literary soul mate. She lives in the frozen tundra of Packer Nation with her husband, 6-year-old wild child, and two teenage stepsons. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading love stories, listening to music that inspires her, and laughing with her family. Brooke is addicted to Starbucks coffee, leggings, and naps. She found her passion for telling stories during winter break one year in grad school–and she hasn’t stopped since.

 

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Twitter @blcumberland
➞Instagram – brookecumberland_xo
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➞Email – brookecumberland@gmail.com

 

Lyra Parish loves to write, glamp, and sing obnoxiously loud at the top of her lungs in the shower. Sweet love stories (along with the dirty ones) make her gush. She is a firm believer that a person can never have too many cups of coffee, cats, or happily ever afters. When she isn’t busy writing with Brooke as Kennedy Fox, she can be found sipping various beverages from her non-alcoholic drink buffet, pimp slapping excel spreadsheets, or riding her bike. Lyra lives in Texas with her glassblowing, guitar-playing hubby and black cat named Nibbler.

 

Connect with Lyra:
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Twitter @lyraparish
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➞Email – lyraparish@gmail.com

 

Visit Brooke & Lyra here: brookeandlyrabooks.com

Fault Lines by Rebecca Shea….Release Day Blitz & Review

 

 

From USA Today bestselling author, Rebecca Shea, comes a new, heartbreakingly beautiful standalone romance, FAULT LINES. Don’t miss the stunning and captivating new release, and grab your copy today!

 

About FAULT LINES:

At eleven he was my first crush. At sixteen he became mine. At nineteen he broke my heart and destroyed me. That was ten years ago and the last time I saw Cole Ryan.

They say you never get over your first love…I beg to differ. I left my shattered heart buried in a town I never expected to return to. I erased every thought of him and buried the memories never to be found.

I moved on…now ten years later I have the perfect life, the perfect fiancé, the perfect career. Everything I ever wanted until I’m forced to go back and face my past and the man that destroyed me.

He won’t stop until I know the truth no matter how hard I fight it. In the end, lies will be uncovered, hearts will be broken, and my life as I’ve come to know it destroyed.

 

 

FAULT LINES is now available! Grab your copy today!

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Add to your Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Once again – another book that I enjoyed while reading, but it’s one that I don’t find myself remembering in a short time or wanting to go back and re-read because it was that damn good. And it’s these reviews that I hate the most writing.

I love Rebecca and her books – she writes beautiful stories. And while I am reading, I am so into the story and the characters and how everything pans out. But once it’s over, I move on and forget about it in a few weeks. :/ UGH

Rebecca gives us a story on second chances. Frankie moved out of town after her freshman year of college and hasn’t looked back since. She’s forced to return back 10 years later when her mom’s health is failing. And she hopes that while she is back in town she doesn’t run into the one person who made her flee all those years ago.

Cole made the hardest decision when he had Frankie believe a lie that forced her to leave their hometown. He has not been the same man since but has chosen to try and forget Frankie in booze and women. But he’s also tried to become a better man by rebuilding his small hometown in the process along with expanding his father’s business.

Cole knows that Frankie is returning home but doesn’t expect to be able to make any amends for their past. But they both are holding and hiding so much back from one another that tension between them is bound to snap. And snap it does.

As I said, I really enjoyed this story as I read it. The story line is sort of played out but Rebecca brings it some fresh air but adding in her own style and letting things play out naturally. Cole and Frankie were inseparable growing up and you can tell that time hasn’t changed that connection. I truly loved that it wasn’t these two apart for like 90% of the book and then poof, HEA. No, Rebecca has them easing into the start of something new about 60% and building that strong foundation they once had. Yes, there are still some road blocks thrown up I loved that we got to see them slowly achieve that HEA, like life normally is.

As I said before, I liked the book. There wasn’t anything that wow’d me but it wasn’t a bad book either. It was just a really nice and enjoyable read. There were some small angsty parts but nothing overly dramatic and it all worked out in the end.

 

 

 

 

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DIRECT LINK: https://youtu.be/2K729a6hyig

 

 

About Rebecca Shea:

Rebecca Shea is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Unbreakable series (Unbreakable, Undone, and Unforgiven) and the Bound and Broken series (Broken by Lies and Bound by Lies). She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family. From the time Rebecca could read she has had a passion for books. Rebecca spends her days working and her nights writing, bringing stories to life. Born and raised in Minnesota, Rebecca moved to Arizona in 1999 to escape the bitter winters. When not working or writing, she can be found on the sidelines of her sons’ football games, or watching her daughter at ballet class. Rebecca is fueled by insane amounts of coffee, margaritas, Laffy Taffy (except the banana ones), and happily ever afters.

 

 

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Dirty Little Secret by Kendall Ryan….Release Day Blitz & Review

 

The start to a sexy new series from New York Times bestselling author, Kendall Ryan…

 

She’s much too innocent for me, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting the sweet, young librarian. I’m dominating and possessive, and my control streak runs a mile wide.

 

The way she looks at me—like I’m one of the heroes in the books she loves, like I’m broken, and she wants to be the one to piece me back together—it only complicates things further. I’m nobody’s hero.

 

But there’s no denying my tragic past reads like one of her favorite literary classics. It’s raw. Visceral. Captivating. And together, we’re a perfect mess.

How am I expected to resist when the sexual sparks zap between us and set me on fire? The need to control, and claim her force my walls to come tumbling down, but when she learns my dirty little secret, will my world come crashing down with it?

 

The story continues in Dirty Little Promise, releasing October 9th.

 

 

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

 

 

 

 

 

Dirty Little Secret is definitely a different genre than what we have been getting from Kendall recently – it’s like she’s getting back to her old roots.  Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed her previous releases, but Dirty Little Secret is the exact style and genre of book that put Kendall on my radar years ago.  So I am more than excited she is writing in this genre again.

I know some people may be confused why I didn’t rate this book higher if it’s what I love about Kendall.  Yes, the genre and story line is exactly what I love, but there were a few things that bothered me while reading this book.  And I hate to say it, but I felt really let down reading this.

Everything started off great for me.  I loved the story behind how Emma comes to know who Gavin is and their actual first meeting between them.  I loved how things moved along from there between Emma, Gavin and his brothers.  However, at about the halfway point or shortly after that, I got aggravated with Emma and how things transpired from there.  Gavin was not an alpha but more of an asshole. 

I won’t spoil the book for anyone because there are MANY who loved this book, I just, unfortunately and sadly, am not one of them.  In my review on goodreads, I have hidden in my review, spoilers that explain the parts that hurt this book for me an didn’t earn a 4 or 5 star rating for me.

While this book had some problems for me, there are portions I did enjoy.  I love that Kendall is going back to her roots with this series.  I love the brothers (minus Gavin’s asshole tendencies) and I am looking forward to their books in the future.

Please note that this book was loved by many others.  My opinion is just one of many and don’t let my feelings or opinions sway you from giving this book a go.  Even though it’s not a 4 or 5 star read for me, I will urge others to read it.

I am looking forward to see where Kendall takes this series and getting to know the other brothers more.

I will state that the cliffhanger also didn’t leave me really hanging to know what happens next (mentioned in spoiler section) and I felt this book and the next could have been combined into one book (they are duet within the series and need to be read in order).

However, I am looking forward to see where Kendall takes this series and getting to know the other brothers more.

 

 

 

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

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The Playboy Bachelor by Rachel Van Dyken….Paperback Release & Review

THE PLAYBOY BACHELOR by Rachel Van Dyken (August 29, 2017; Forever Mass Market; $7.99; The Bachelors of Arizona Book 2)

NOW IN MASS MARKET PAPERBACK!

She’s no Sleeping Beauty. And he’s definitely no prince . . .

Margot McCleery could have lived her whole life without seeing Bentley Wellington again-her ex-best friend and the poster boy for Hot, Rich Man-Whores everywhere. But Margot’s whiskey-augmented grandmother “buys” Bentley at a charity bachelor auction, and now suddenly he’s at her door. Impossibly charming. Impossibly sexy. And still a complete and utter jackass.

Bentley’s just been coerced by his grandfather to spend the next thirty days charming and romancing the reclusive red-haired beauty who hates him. The woman he abandoned when she needed him the most. Bentley knows just as much about romance as he knows about love-nothing. But the more time he spends with Margot, the more he realizes that “just friends” will never be enough. Now all he has to do is convince her to trust him with her heart . . .

Buy the Book!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qrchyJ

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2s3LZUt

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2nEqOZQ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2pmuzB8

Google: http://bit.ly/2mTqMyo

Sooooooo….I hate to say this, but I quite torn on this book. And I really think it’s just bad timing on my part because I am finding myself completely bored lately with anything I read. Yes- it’s a fucking tragedy for this book nerd and I hate it. Get me out this hellish place where I can’t find myself getting totally enamored by any books!!!

Oh right, back to the back. As I said, I am torn on this one. I love the first book in this series. So I was excited to see what would happen to the next brother, Bentley in The Playboy Bachelor.

Margot and Bentley used to best friends. Then a horrible event happens, followed immediately by another horrific event, which leaves these two to abandon their friendship and never talk again. Fast forward to now, where Bentley is auctioned off at Bachelor Charity and is bought by Margot’s grandmother. Unbeknownst to either of them, Grandma Nadine has a few things up her sleeve.

Margot has been a recluse and shut-in since the life changing event. But she has still been able to move forward in ways with her life. She has become a best-selling author with her romance books and seems to be fine with life as is. Until she learns that Bentley will be coming to her home for an entire weekend.

But once the weekend fun starts, Bentley finds out it’s for more and accidentally drops that new tidbit on Margot. After that – it’s these two getting along one minute and the next minute ready to tear the other one in half. This is where I found myself going, “can you just fuck and get it over with already.” And they do, finally, but damn it took too long (for this reader) for them to get there. They both came across as annoying with their issues (yes, I know they both went through some huge shit), but after that many years, you’d think they’d have grown up a bit and be able to talk about there issues like adults and move on.

Overall, it was just ok for me. And I hate to say that because I love RVD and I will read anything she writes. Again, it mosts likely bad timing and all that horse shit, so if the book sounds interesting to you, I say go for it. Because more than likely, you’ll love it.

EXCERPT

 

“I’m writing a kissing scene!” she blurted, mentally kicking herself for screaming it in his face. “And the guy’s a complete jackass. Since my only experience with jackasses is you…” Her voice was shaky, just like her body. Could he tell how much she wanted him? How much she hated that her response was this—raw. “I-I figured you were the only one who could show me what it’s like.” Good one, Margot. Do you really have to sound so…desperate? 

“What what’s like?” 

“A kiss. From a jackass.” 

“Got the jackass part.” He treaded water and then grabbed her by the arm and pulled her deeper into the pool until they were on the opposite end, his body pressed against hers. At least his eyes were still locked on her face. “And you’ve never been kissed?” 

She rolled her eyes. “Not by someone like—” 

“If you keep insulting me, this kiss won’t ever happen, Red.” 

“Don’t call me that,” Margot whispered. Was she so weak that she’d forgive his abandonment for one kiss? “Please?” 

“This kiss.” His calculated gaze didn’t make her feel any better about the situation. “How long does it need to be? How deep? Where do you want my hands?” 

Margot’s mouth dropped open. “That’s not how kisses work! You can’t just map out the kiss. That takes all the romance out of it!” 

“Oh, so you want romance?” 

“Yes! No! I mean. I didn’t say that!” Her face flamed, and she sagged in defeat. Admitting she wanted romance kind of felt like she was on the losing end of the little battles they’d been having, like she was giving him an in. And if he got in, he’d only hurt her again. 

“I was joking,” he said, just before his lips brushed hers. His tongue slid across her bottom lip and then sucked it for a few seconds before he slid it into her mouth and deepened the kiss. 

Her lips softened beneath his gentle coaxing, and his hard thighs pressed against hers as a deep hunger awakened within her. 

Oh, this was bad. 

So bad. 

And very, very good at the same time. 

 

About the Author

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult, Regency, and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her husband, son, and their snoring boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers!

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Giveaway

Enter to win 1 of 10 copies of the paperback of The Playboy Bachelor!  http://bit.ly/2r5G2Je

The Wright Boss by K.A. Linde…Review

 

TWBoss iBooksA new stand alone office romance from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…

I’ve always had one rule:

Don’t mix business and pleasure.

But then Landon Wright comes home to his family’s construction company with a broken back and a beaten heart and ends up as my new sexy boss. As the office gets heated, I’m thinking about throwing the rulebook out the window.

If only there weren’t a million reasons this could never work.

We may have shared a single perfect kiss, but I can’t let our intense connection cloud my judgment. Not with everything I’ve worked for on the line.

Dating your boss is so very, very wrong…even if he feels so Wright.

 

 

AmazoniBooksB&NKoboGoogle Play

 

 

 

I am just throwing it out there that I will be in the minority on this book. And I believe it’s more of a “it’s me, not you” thing. So please take my review for what it is – just my opinion.

I read the first book in this series and wasn’t really wow’d by it but thought it was ok. I wanted to read this book because Landon’s story felt like it was going to be more intense and angst-filled. But I felt a bit letdown with how everything played out.

Landon and Heidi have known each other for a very long time. Landon dated Heidi’s best friend back in high school. They were mutual friends. Fast forward many years later, Landon is in a miserable marriage and yet he can’t fight the attraction he feels toward Heidi. Heidi feels it too but refuses to be that woman until she knew he was truly leaving his wife.

There is one issue that prevents them from being together publicly – he’s her boss now. So they have to not only tiptoe around his family but they can’t be seen together in public either. And then add in that his wife refuses to sign the divorce papers. Sounds exciting – but it felt like it all dragged out way too long with very little excitement happening.

Again, this is where it’s more of this book just wasn’t for me or just bad timing. I felt myself skimming, ALOT. I got bored with their interactions and them learning more about each other. And that is not good. I felt nothing for either of these characters, which sucks. I sped through the last half of this book, knowing how things would end, but hoping to maybe come across something more exciting. To my dismay, that did not happen.

As I said, I am in minority on this book. I just couldn’t connect to any of the characters, nor get behind their story. I wanted more – hell, I was hoping Miranda (Landon’s crazy wife) would have caused more of scene than she did to at least spice things up. But no dice.

I’m not trying to bash the book because it is written well.  It just wasn’t for me and/or bad timing too.  If you enjoy a nice contemporary romance with not alot of angst and drama, this is a good read for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KylaK.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

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The House Mate by Kendall Ryan….Release Blitz & Review

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house mate_amazonWhat’s sexier than a bad boy? A bad ass man who’s got his shit together.

Max Alexander is nearing thirty-five. He’s built a successful company, and he’s conquered the professional world, but he’s never been lucky in love. Focusing so much time on his business and raising his daughter, adulting has come at the expense of his personal life.

His social skills are shit, his patience is shot, and at times, his temper runs hot.

The last thing he has time for is the recently single, too gorgeous for her own good young woman he hires to take care of his little girl. She’s a distraction he doesn’t need, and besides, there’s no way she’d be interested. But you know what they say about assumptions?

 

This is book 3 in the Roommates series, but each book can be read as a complete standalone as they all feature new couples to fall in love with.

 

 

 

Amazon | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

 

Teaser1_WEB

 

 

Another cute and sweet read from Kendall Ryan. I was hoping to be more wow’d by this book but for me it was just ok. I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it. It was just right down the middle of the road for me.

Max is a single father to a one year old – a one year he just learned about having. His life is sort of turned upside down and he needs to find a nanny to help him out with his little one.

Addison recently lost her job, house and boyfriend all in one day – at one time – if you want to learn about all that, you need to read the book. Anyway, she’s in desperate need of a house and job immediately and Max’s ad for a live-in nanny is perfect.

Max is immediately won over by Addison and how easily she makes herself a part of Max and Dylan’s life. They both feel an attraction to one another but Addison has sworn off men and Max has never been in committed relationship. Plus she’s the nanny. HA! You can see where this is going.

I enjoyed the plot line, but everything just played out exactly how I thought it would. And that’s ok. There isn’t much angst or drama in the book for either of them to handle. I felt everything sort of happened a little too fast for my taste. I wanted them both to get to know one another a little more – meet each other friends, family, etc. It just felt rushed and I was hoping for a bit more depth to the story.

Overall, it’s a cute story that you will read fairly quickly. I would call this a great beach read. If you want something that has no angst and is just light and fluffy with very little depth in it, this is the prefect book for you.

 

 

 

Teaser3_WEB

 

 

 

 

Kendall Ryan author picA New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

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Bleed the Water Red by R.L. Griffin…Release Day Blitz & Review

Bleed the Water Red by R.L. Griffin

Release date: March 23, 2017

Blurb:

When Kate Tennison returns to the low country of South Carolina it’s with her tail tucked between her legs. She doesn’t want to be there and face the love of her life, who’s now married with a child. Distance has not broken the spell of fear that surrounds why she ran from her home in the first place.

Her story is a tragic one.

Mom in rehab.

Father dead.

Career annihilated.

When we run from something looking back over our shoulder, we miss the scars on the arms that now hold us.

Can the magic of the water heal her wounded heart or does something dangerous lurk underneath the perfect features of the new man she’s decided to take a chance on?

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lN6Riu

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2lrLcJT

Amazon CA: http://a.co/2DNy2aF

First off, let me tell you that I enjoy reading R.L.’s stories. Her book, Quiet Lies is one of my favorite books and my favorite by her. And I was so hoping that this book would rank right up there with it. But somewhere along the lines, things fell short for me.

Bleed The Water Red is not a bad book by any means. I know a lot will enjoy this book more than I. And I do hate that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. But let me explain myself.

The plot line was amazing. I love how we were given small snippets throughout the story and were able to piece together our own thoughts. What I didn’t like was how things felt disjointed at times. It’s hard to explain without giving away parts of the story, but things are left out it seems or overlooked. It makes the writing come across as scattered. And that’s what hurt the story and pace for me. I felt all over the place at times. And I do understand that part of a psychological thriller is to have pieces left out, but in this particular scenario, the pieces were obvious but at the same killed the vibe for me. I knew what would happen in the end because of this. And for me, that really sucked.

Like I said, this book is good. I love R.L. and her writing. However, her writing in this book was not what I have to come expect from her. I know that this story came to her fast and I get that you just need to get it out. However, as a beta reader, proofreader and editor, there are a lot of things that I personally would have changed/edited. I am in no way knocking any of the proofreaders or editors on this, there is nothing wrong in that aspect. But for me, certain things were not working and made it plainly obvious what the outcome was going to be.

The characters are very well written. I love their backgrounds and where they are from. The amazing friendship between Layla, Poppy and Austin is awesome – I love these three so much. I enjoyed learning about Layla’s past with Gent and how all that comes together in the end. This part of the story was beautiful and heart-wrenching to watch unfold. Layla has some growing struggles to deal with it and does come in to her own eventually. It’s a really good story with different avenues that all come together in the end.

With that being said, please give the book a chance. It’s a great story line. I loved how this is tied to Quiet Lies. If you have read it before, you will like the tie-in. If you haven’t, it won’t hurt the story at all. I gave this book 3.5 stars because my only gripe was the disjointedness that I felt and how I was able to figure the ending immediately but the overall story line was what kept me moving forward and not stopping.

Will I continue to read R.L.’s books – hell yes! She’s writes amazing stories. This one just want for me and that sometimes happens. But it won’t stop me from reading any of her books.

About R.L. Griffin

 

R.L. resides in the Atlanta area with some cool dudes: her husband, son and two crazy dogs.  She was born and raised in the South.  She attended Georgia Southern University and moved to Washington, D.C. to intern in the United States Senate during the impeachment trial.  Falling in love with the city, she went to law school at American University, Washington College of Law.  By A Thread is R.L.’s second book, but is the first in a series that got her back into writing after a ten year hiatus.  She writes anything from romantic suspense to psychological thriller to romantic comedy. One of the things that readers always say is they never know what kind of story they will get from R.L.

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1254833.R_L_Griffin