Book Review and Giveaway for Tramp by Mary Elizabeth

TRAMP

by MARY ELIZABETH

Lydia Montgomery is a Tramp.

After fleeing a tragic past, Lydia’s determined never to go back to the life she left behind at any price. She lands in Grand Haven, California—a city booming with billion-dollar corporations and tech money—and everything changes.

Armed with the only lesson she learned from her mother, Lydia builds a life of routine, solitude, and success.

Nothing is out of reach when you’re beautiful.

Nearly a decade after her arrival, Lydia's the highest paid escort in the city, and only the most influential people in Grand Haven can get near her. She's a goddess among her clients, and out of reach to everyone else. Lydia's created the perfect illusion, and no one will take it from her again.

Until a misunderstanding lands her in the office of the city’s most eligible bachelor. 

Talent Ridge is Grand Haven royalty. Despite running in the same circles as Lydia’s clients, he’s scandal-free and on his way to being the most powerful man in the area.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but a relationship has the potential to destroy everything they’ve worked for. Especially when Lydia is running from her past, and Talent is running toward a future she can never be a part of.

Beauty and money can’t save them this time.

Are Lydia and Talent willing to give it all up for each other, or will their differences cost too much?

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS

"Talent Ridge is pure, unadulterated masculinity."

It's always fun being able to jump back into an old favorite. I have read many of Mary Elizabeth's books but she hasn't released in over two years, but if this is her comeback book, then watch out!! I will say, given the content of this book and the subject, it may turn off a few readers. If you are one of those readers, please understand that this book is more about the love between two people that is forbidden and very difficult to navigate given the circumstances. But with a strong willed man who is soooo good at being the alpha he is, and a very determined young lady that is very independent - almost stubbornly so, this was a story that I will happily and heartily recommend. 

Mary Elizabeth has always been a go-to for me for a very welcome dose of heavy angst. She can tear my heart out, mishandle it, but she gives it back forever altered because I'm not sure I ever leave her characters. I love that she not only tells a story, but she has a flow with her words that many don't have. She has an amazing ability to manipulate words and add more visual and depth to the storyline. 

"His enjoyment is my favorite sound."

These characters I was introduced to have definitely left a mark. Talent always paid attention to the little things, the almost unsaid truths that Lydia liked to hide and that is my favorite thing to see in a man. I also feel he had an unabused position of power, so he was strong in his own self and convictions - even though he may have had something to hide. I liked that he was who he was, because watching him saunter with serious swagger throughout this book was definitely a treat. Between his confidence, an attractive mind and serious sex appeal, he was delicious!!

Lydia, on the other hand; I wanted to hold her and love her, but knowing her - she would push me away. She was so strong and stubborn, so determined to take care of herself and not need anyone, but I also saw there was a little girl inside screaming to get out. I felt for her, but I admired her strength and her ability to maneuver life, given the hand she was dealt.

"Turning my gaze to him, my lips part and I exhale. He stops time."

I'm smiling just thinking about the dynamic between these two. While they both exude their own version of confidence, my favorite part was their chemistry. I know one of my favorite things to do is fall in love with the characters as they are falling in love....sounds trivial in the whole scheme of things being a romance novel and all, I know - but when I can FEEL the allure, the fascination these characters have with each other, and the fact that they can't stay away from each other no matter the odds stacked against them, that tells me all I need to know. This whole book was amazing. I loved every part of it. 

This will easily go down as one of my favorite books of the year. I loved the headiness and the desire that coursed through the characters. Lydia and Talent had my heart in a chokehold while watching them fight for what was one reality versus what was conceivable to the other. I loved that push and pull because going back and forth and grappling with a truth neither wanted to accept made this book go entirely too fast. I was completely swallowed up in their world. I was able to follow their emotions as everything was happening, so that certainly allowed me to connect on a more intimate level with them as well. I just loved their story.

And surprise!!! This is a standalone. I thought it was the first book in a trilogy - when in fact it is the first standalone in the series. So now, the next book in this series has me super excited to read it because the mystery alone is tantalizing!!! Gimme more, Mary Elizabeth!!

"You're the fucking devil."

~BEE

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~MEET MARY ELIZABETH~

Mary Elizabeth was born and raised in Southern California. She is a wife, mother of four beautiful children, and dog tamer to one enthusiastic Pit Bull and a prissy Chihuahua. She's a hairstylist by day but contemporary fiction, new adult author by night.

Mary can often be found finger twirling her hair and chewing on a stick of licorice while writing and rewriting a sentence over and over until it's perfect. She discovered her talent for tale-telling accidentally, but literature is in her chokehold. And she's not letting go until every story is told.

~CONNECT WITH MARY~

 

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Book Review and Giveaway for Out of Love by Jewel E Ann

OUT OF LOVE

by JEWEL E ANN

Conspiracies. Corruption. Serial killers.

You name it—I'm fascinated by it. My mom always blamed my overly curious and highly suspicious mind on my dad.

My incredibly overbearing dad.

Mr. No One Is Good Enough For My Daughter has been terrifying my dates since I turned fifteen.

College is my chance to be free from his control and date any guy I want.

I'm absolutely certain he would hate Slade Wylder—almost as certain as I am that I do too.

Since when have I shied away from trouble?

Slade fascinates me. He lives in a house I'm certain is haunted. His dog is trained as well as any guard I've ever seen. Rumor on campus is that he deals drugs. It would explain a lot.

But it doesn't explain why he saves me from my darkest moment.

It doesn't explain why I can't stop thinking about him.

And the explanation I finally discover is far more dangerous than any rumor.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS

"I just needed one breath to realize that without him I would ever take another one."

Kiss the fingers. Throw the kiss. Blah blah blah. Magnifique.

I am in LOVE!!!! I know...I say this every time I read a Jewel E Ann book, but I'm to the point that I honestly have to blame her. Can you blame me?? I mean, she should either stop writing these amazingly flawed characters, or she should come with a warning on every book. Just saying. Wylder was everything I needed in a broody, focused guy that had one goal, one job, one task with a coat of armor - and yet, for some reason, Livy got under his skin still. And let me tell ya, it was brilliant! HAHAHA!! If I thought I already had a favorite female character of JEA's, it's since changed. Livy was strength personified. She was Jackson Knight's daughter, so she was obviously strong and witty, and very smart. But there was a certain shoulder-shrug of 'yeah, whatever' that ran through her. She was easy and laid back, but curious and determined - if that makes any sense. Kind of like an enigma - but not really, but kinda sorta. I know I'm not making sense, but she really kept me on my toes and I loved who she was deep down. She was amazing. 

When being a smartass is second nature, and it’s written well and not forced, it makes the characters that much more relatable and lovable. Wylder and Livy epitomized smartassery. There really is no other way to put it. They had an easy and yet quite erratic relationship, and I loved that dynamic because I feel like they are the only ones able to pull it off. 

I realize that I am sharing the funny side of their love story, but there is a much more emotional side to it that is almost impossible to put into to words. Not only do I want you to discover the amazing love these two shared, but I don't want you to miss out on that journey. They had an angering love, but an all consuming love. It outlined a push-pull mentality, but one where the give and take was equally matched. I loved the heaviness of the meaning behind everything Wylder said to Livy, but I loved how she took it all in and shared herself with him with equal abandon. Their emotions varied wildly, and with that adding another layer to dig through, knowing the strength of Wylder's love was heart-melting perfection. Literal weak in the knees moment for me.

"My love for him ran to the center of the earth and infinitely into space; it never failed to bring tears to my eyes. My lover. My protector. My world. My monster."

I love that JEA hides little tidbits in her stories only to then find out they’re part of the realization of the entire story. Something seemingly inconsequential ends up being important to the emotional aspect of it all. I love finding those!! She ties everything in so well. I'm always enamored with her writing.

It’s crazy to think that JEA could write this book after the original trilogy being written so long ago - with many books in between. But to turn around and write another book in that vein, and it all flows the same? Sounds different. Feels different. Packaged different. But feels the same. Amazing.

I haven't ever hidden my love for Jewel E Ann - and it's not likely to subside anytime soon. To put her amazing brain into perspective, she wrote the Jack & Jill Series starting back in August of 2015. So five years after she started that series, she added yet another spinoff to it and it flowed marvelously. Now, I will be the first to admit I met Jewel in a roundabout way. I started with ONE as my first book, which was also a spinoff of her Jack & Jill Series and while some of it was spoilerish, it wasn't too terribly bad because I recently went back to read J&J and enjoyed it immensely. Of course, I had to read J&J before I read Out of Love because I didn't want to ruin the original story....silly me! While this was a spinoff, it does stand alone. Having said that, I will say that if you haven't read J&J, you are going to miss out on the significance of the connections between the characters and the meaning behind those connections. But, if you're brave like me, you can read it because it does stand alone with slight spoilers.

It’s always so fun to sit down and write a review when I’m amped up after an amazing read. Jewel is a regular in that arena for me....but it's also daunting because I never feel like my review will accurately capture my feelings. She's so good and always a one-click author for me, and one I will happily share anytime. This one, again, was no different. 

“Because I love you” will forever mean everything.

"Love was supposed to heal all wounds, not rip apart souls."

~BEE

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The series and spinoffs - if you'd like a starting point. The spinoffs are all standalones.

JACK & JILL SERIES is the original starting point for this entire series. We meet Jessica and Luke, as well as Jackson and Ryn here. You can grab it from AMAZON HERE. 

~ Review coming soon

ONE is Lake Jones' story. She is Luke Jones' sister. You can grab it from AMAZON HERE.

~ My review is HERE

LOOK THE PART is Flint Hopkin's story. We met him in ONE. You can grab it from AMAZON HERE.

~ My review is HERE

OUT OF LOVE is Livy Knight's story. She is Jackson's daughter. You can grab it from AMAZON HERE.

~MEET JEWEL E ANN~

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree a a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course . . .heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

~CONNECT WITH JEWEL~

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Book Review and (*SIGNED BOOKS*) Giveaway for Exodus by Kate Stewart

EXODUS
by KATE STEWART

Can you live a lie?

It’s a ghost town, this place that haunts me, the one that made me.

It’s clear to me that I’ll never outgrow Triple Falls or outlive the time I spent here.

I can still feel them all, my boys of summer.

Even when I’d sensed the danger, I gave in.

I didn’t heed a single warning. I let my sickness, my love, both rule and ruin me. I played my part, eyes wide open, tempting fate until it delivered.

There was never going to be an escape.

All of us are to blame for what happened. All of us serving our own sentences. We were careless and reckless, thinking our youth made us indestructible, exempt from our sins, and it cost us all.

I’m done pretending I didn’t leave the largest part of me between these hills and valleys, between the sea of trees that hold my secrets.

It’s the reason I’m back. To make peace with my fate.

And if I can’t grieve enough to cure myself in my time here, I’ll remain sick. That will be my curse.

But it’s time to confess, to myself more so than any other, that I’d hindered my chances because of the way I was built, and because of the men who built me.

At this point, I just want to make peace with who I am, no matter what ending I get.

Because I can no longer live a lie

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REVIEW: 5 STARS

"Because...how can love be a mistake?"

WARNING: You can't go into this book with a closed off heart....or mind. This book tested me and my rational side to the point of questioning what was going on. Shame on me, but I'm here to warn you. This duet in and of itself is one of the best duets I've read in a long time - if ever. This one will sit well with those of us that read for the excitement and the journey; the true discovery of the story unfolding right before our very eyes. This one will ruffle feathers for those that want a scripted, Point A to Point B, safe kind of romance - this isn't for you. Walk away. 

Last review, I was pacing - I was that person trying to tell you how much you needed this story. How much you would miss out had you not checked it out. So, after running head first into this one with eager eyes and an engaged heart - I need to sit you down, rub your shoulders {{or your knee}} and tell you, "I'll be here for you. I will hold your hand and my messenger is open." Because this was not a clean, unemotional read. This was a gritty, dirty, raw and unconventional (there's that word again) read and one that will sit with me for a long time. Things I never saw came in hot. Things I never would have imagined or guessed - threw me for a loop. Kate Stewart was very articulate in her storytelling and this whole story was nothing short of jaw-dropping. The questions, the twists, the head-turning/heart-stopping/breath-catching moments that rendered me speechless or had me opening my eyes with shock - those were not few and far between in this one. This book had all the answers. 

"My heart is weary, and I will not fault it for being cautious."

It was amazing to witness these subtle changes, and the not so subtle changes, the characters in this duet made. The growth was astonishing to watch and the twists were head shaking to discover. This inevitable shift in devotion, this need to do right, but knowing it’s wrong? Ugh! So hard to watch, but so necessary to witness. It was truly captivating. There was a definite intimate anger that went hand in hand with Cecelia and her love. I couldn't look away as she fought her moral and mental side yet again. It was a volatile, but necessary love, whether she realized it or not. Definitely not one to deny because their chemistry was tangible on every level. Visceral. 

I didn’t love it for just the story, or just the writing - I loved it for the grip it had on my heart the entire time I was reading it. It was the gnarliest, most painful, greatest love story I’ve recently read. It'll sit high on my list of recommendations. The little nuances that were thrown in there that you had to pay attention to, and look into the {{perceived}} depth of said notion - those were amazing. I loved anytime He whispered in her ear because that intimacy was special to them, even though on the outside it was all wrong. It was the inside that was special. It was the one thing I couldn’t get enough of. It melted me. The French tongue alone leveled me. The love and anger, the need and lust - it worked in tandem with the story to show the volatile relationship, but the single most important one they couldn’t walk away from. I can't stop thinking about this book....

"I don't know how to measure love in totality."

So brutal, this love affair that an author can afford us for characters that have lived inside their head! I must admit that this one....it rocked me. It was a rough go for a little while, but after it was all said and done - it is going to sit on my shelf signed *mark my words* and it's on my favorites list for this year. I loved this so much. Because it wasn't just a girl finding her true love, it was so much more than that. It was the journey and the discovery of who she was and how she wanted to finally accept her world for what it was. 

I actually liked all the ups and downs that engulfed Cecelia's life. It was a very turbulent story, and it definitely made me feel the highs and lows. I will admit, I questioned things a few times - but if anything, this was a lesson to trust in the story unfolding before me because it wasn't my story to tell, but it was mine to witness and follow along and hopefully understand. I can say I walked away with a broader spectrum of an understanding of love as a whole, but also the ability to fall in love beyond your imagination's control. I freaking loved this one SO much.

With the ending of Flock so fresh in my head, jumping into this one was a huge change of pace. Not unwelcome, just a change. Be prepared to be a little uncomfortable... and maybe awkward a few times. But so so good. The story moved easily, gaining traction with each revelation. 

I will not walk away from this story unchanged.....I will forever be marred by the pain this caused, but forever changed emotionally because this duet hurt so good and was SO good for me - their love was everything I look forward to in reading a book. #BookHangover

"I've never met a woman so willing to brave her own destruction for just a little truth."

~BEE

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"It takes a queen to love and understand a king. Did you think this would break me? You made me!"

~MEET KATE STEWART~

Kate Stewart lives in Charleston, S.C. with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. A native of Dallas, Kate moved to Charleston three weeks after her first visit, dropping her career of 8 years, and declaring it her creative muse. Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it's what she loves as a reader. A lover of all things '80s and '90s, especially John Hughes films and rap, she dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity only and does a horrible job of playing the ukulele. Aside from running a mile without collapsing, traveling is the only other must on her bucket list. On occasion, she does very well at vodka.

~CONNECT WITH KATE~

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Book Review and Giveaway for Flock by Kate Stewart

FLOCK
by KATE STEWART

Can you keep a secret?⁣
I grew up sick.⁣
⁣
Let me clarify.⁣
⁣
I grew up believing that real love stories include a martyr or demand great sacrifice to be worthy.⁣
⁣
Because of that, I believed it, because I made myself believe it, and I bred the most masochistic of romantic hearts, which resulted in my illness.⁣
⁣
When I lived this story, my own twisted fairy tale, it was unbeknownst to me at the time because I was young and naïve. I gave into temptation and fed the beating beast, which grew thirstier with every slash, every strike, every blow.⁣
⁣
Triple Falls wasn’t at all what it seemed, nor were the men that swept me under their wing. But in order to keep them, I had to be in on their secrets.⁣
⁣
Secrets that cost us everything to keep.⁣
⁣
That’s the novelty of fiction versus reality. You can’t re-live your own love story, because by the time you’ve realized you’re living it, it’s over. At least that was the case for me and the men I trusted my foolish heart to.⁣
⁣
Looking back, I’m convinced I willed my story into existence due to my illness.⁣
⁣
And all were punished.

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REVIEW: 5 RIDDLE-FILLED STARS
"The fantasies of a masochistic heart are much better than any experience with the real thing."

WORD OF THE DAY: Unconventional
This is the kind of book that you need to go in blind - highly recommended. This is a book about discovery and you can't discover if you know anything. This is a SPOILER FREE review. Just know this is my favorite book of Kate Stewart's to date....and that's saying something. 

Here’s the scenario: You’re sitting on the couch, probably laughing at me because I’m pacing in front of you, trying to calm down enough to not scream at you to READ THIS BOOK. Ok? That’s how this is gonna go. I'll probably be scatterbrained and shooting from the hip because my mind is being pulled in so many different directions but SO MUCH happened but you can't discuss anything because it can potentially spoil things. So sooo good. 

With Flock, Stewart provided me a dose of clarity and confusion mixed with absolute confidence in a story I couldn't put down. To be able to spin a story like this...I can't even imagine where one's mind goes while writing things like this. Shrouded in mystery, with just enough stringing along that I couldn't look away. I felt like the morsels of information were the tastiest when accompanied with questions - and boy, did I have a ton of those!! I absolutely loved this journey I was on, all the while being confused AF discovering a whole new world right with Cecilia. 

"Maybe for now, I should just listen to the voice of reason in my head, instead of the addict in my heart."

By 8% in, I was hooked. Meeting Cecelia and her guys of summer was an adrenaline rush, and it felt as if I were in her shoes - her spot. I loved how she was written. Bad ass with a side of insecurity and innocence - but she had a moral side to her that I could very much appreciate. Not to mention a mouth that made me smile!! That girl had sass!!

I love that Cecelia fought her 'moral' side. I love that there was a mental block for her - one that she personally had to scale. There was a wave of critical thinking that encompassed this entire story, almost a shift from the ‘norm’ that one would automatically fall in step with. This was pivotal to the book, and I for one cannot wait to read the second book to see how it all plays out. Absolutely fantastic....I can't stop thinking about it.

I loved meeting the guys of Ravenhood. All of them. They all had very different personalities, and the lessons learned and the discussions had were all very insightful and had me nodding my head in agreement many times. I craved time with them and watching them all interact with not only each other, but with Cecelia as well, had me hungry for more in all aspects - and to top it off, it was all so very hot. No lie. There was so much mystery and so many secrets that I was confused - not gonna lie, but it all fell into place and left me with some aha! moments.

"I'm a psychiatrist's wet dream."

I found myself constantly looking to see how much time I had left in the book, because I didn’t want it to end. I was entranced the entire time I was reading and wanted nothing more than to sit here all day and get caught up in this world of intrigue and confusion that was coming to life all around me, but I am so glad I got to explore it right alongside to her. Confused as she was, I was too. As enamored as she was, I was too. As angry and heartbroken as she was, I was too. I was right there with her.

One of the things Stewart afforded me was simply applying a deeper meaning to seemingly inconsequential things, things to think about, actions to watch with a skeptical eye. Her words are always thought provoking with an implied possible meaning, but this time she took it a bit father than I've read from her before. I love that she keeps me looking beyond the norm and into possibility. So fucking good!!!!

I held my breath the entire time I read. I looked left and right, underneath clues and over them. She had me guessing and second guessing the whole time. I’m excited to see how the prologue plays into the story because while it did entice, it also caused confusion and curiosities to play out in my mind. All I know is Exodus is definitely a necessary and highly anticipated read!!

When your love can handle night and day, light and dark, rainy days and sunny days, broody....and loving? You know your heart has found its landing spot. This book showcased that perfectly. I love, love, love rainy days - this book proved that to me. But those days with sunshine are all the more brighter and sweeter. I just need....more.

"I played with fire, and now I'm singed beyond recognition."

~BEE

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~MEET KATE STEWART~

Kate Stewart lives in Charleston, S.C. with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. A native of Dallas, Kate moved to Charleston three weeks after her first visit, dropping her career of 8 years, and declaring it her creative muse. Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it's what she loves as a reader. A lover of all things '80s and '90s, especially John Hughes films and rap, she dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity only and does a horrible job of playing the ukulele. Aside from running a mile without collapsing, traveling is the only other must on her bucket list. On occasion, she does very well at vodka.

~CONNECT WITH KATE~

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Book Review and Giveaway for Am I the Only One by EK Blair

AM I THE ONLY ONE
by EK BLAIR

Desperation had a flavor.

It was all Emma could taste as her life in Washington DC started to crumble before her.

In a city filled with prestige and American dreams also lay political fallacy and corruption—corruption she would soon find herself indulging in.

Emma would have done anything to save herself from the downfall, gone to any length, sacrificed her soul if needed.

What she didn’t realize was that someone else was more desperate to save their own life and that the worst was yet to come.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"Image is everything, even if it's covered in lies."

WHAT. DID I. JUST READ??? Just kidding....I know what I read. It was a slice of the brilliant mind that is EK Blair.

Talk about an adrenaline rush!!! Holy cow, I'm on a high right now after reading this one and I must say that I loved it. LOVED IT. I have missed this depraved, creepy side of EK Blair for some time now. Her writing is glorious and has been for some time - I thoroughly enjoy it!! But this book, this storyline was fascinating!! I was hooked and on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it.

Having said that, I will admit that I kinda knew what the twists were as I could see them coming, but the way she wrote the inner depravity....the craziness.....the desperation, that hit the head on every nail. I loved that aspect of it because Blair writes it so well - delightfully so. At some point, I started to see the tables turning and what was going on and I honestly couldn't believe my eyes. I knew, I just knew that things were going to go a little haywire and I was literally sitting and waiting for it to happen.

"It seemed if you wrapped yourself in designer labels and surrounded yourself with the proper society, people were willing to turn a blind eye to live in their false reality of perfection."

It almost laid itself out and karma was a bigger enemy that one could possibly imagine, and I loved the way she ended it because it did everything to up the creep factor. The POVs were used cleverly. The first/third person voice was....creepy and scintillating. Who says that??? Who puts those two words together? HAHAHA!!! All I know is, Blair's take on a twisted mentality - female for sure -  is a special kind of madness. Brilliant, but madness. It's these kinds of books, the kind that make me giddy and excited to talk about, these are the ones that I love to share!!!

I don't read thrillers all that often and I know that I am trying to add new voices, as well as new genres and tropes to my 2020 reading list, but I can tell you this voice in this trope was perfection. It was a ride from the minute I opened the book until I closed it, looked around and told my husband how great it was. Being pulled in, being intrigued with a book the entire time I'm reading it is what does it for me, and this one held me captive the entire time I was reading. I liked the not knowing, the creepiness, the volatile side that desperation seeks. The vile side of crazy that no one should want to watch play out...

What a twisted story!!! I'm so glad I read this....so very glad. My favorite part was watching it unravel while watching these characters grasp for purchase on their own reality. It was SO good. Only EK Blair can get you in the emotions with such betrayal and craziness! I want to make a point to say how much I found this cover intensely fitting for the story that was told - this is a shelf-worthy book and cover!

"I'm furious that he remains solid and content while I'm losing my mind in a panic."

~BEE

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~MEET EK BLAIR~

New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling author, E.K. Blair, takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her books. A former first grade teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything dark and moody and has been noted as 'The Queen of Dark and Twisted'. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and spending time with her friends. She's a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and everything in between.

~CONNECT WITH EK~

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Book review and Signed Paperback Giveaway for Fortuity by Jewel E Ann

FORTUITY

by JEWEL E ANN

Forty-something Gracelyn Glock is living the dream.

No husband.

No retirement plan.

And since her self-imposed man-ban—no need to shave above her knees.

After a tragic accident, Gracelyn inherits her ten-year-old nephew. She signs a lease on a San Diego beach house and learns their neighbors for the summer are a sexy anatomy professor and his young daughter.

Professor Nathaniel Hunt has spent the last decade being a single dad … and not having sex.

So when he discovers Gracelyn has a peculiar outdoor stripping ritual, a million inappropriate thoughts fill his responsible mind.

When kisses are stolen, man-bans are broken, and summer comes to an end, will hearts stay in one piece and hope stay alive? Or will saying goodbye destroy everything?

ADD TO GOODREADS

REVIEW: 5 STARS

"Hope shouldn't shackle the heart, it should free it."

When the title of a book is absolute perfection in relation to the meaning of the story, one you know you can look back on after you've closed the book and pondered all the amazingness you just witnessed: you know it's going to be a book that sticks with you. I officially have a book hangover from this one and it will be added to my all time favorites list on the side bar of my blog. I loved this book. I loved Nate's HEA. I loved Jewel's words. Once again, she gives me the banter, the emotions, the reality....the truth behind a fated love. FATED because there is no other word for something that was written in the stars. Jewel E Ann's version of fate is my favorite one.

noun

for· tu· i· ty | \ fȯr-ˈtü-ə-tē , -ˈtyü-, fər- \

plural for tu i ties

1: the quality or state of being fortuitous

2: a chance event or occurrence

adjective

for· tu· itous | \ fȯr-ˈtü-ə-təs , -ˈtyü-, fər- \

1: occurring by chance

2a: FORTUNATE, LUCKY 

2b: coming or happening by a lucky chance

Understanding the meaning of Fortuity (I admit I had to look it up) enhanced my interpretation of this book. So, going in with this knowledge, I was seeking a higher truth....a higher meaning because I know Jewel's stories go deeper than just words. She incorporates feelings into her stories, ones that I couldn't have imagined myself feeling. She gave me allllll the stomach pangs. She gave me the heart palpitations. She gave me all the emotions and panic with this book. Those are what I've come to expect with her books. But the tears (what!!?) and the amount of giggles I got were two things I didn't see being combined in this book - and it made it all the more amazing. This story was literal perfection for me. It was down to earth, it was real, but at the crux of the story, it was conversational. The hidden meanings. The touches. The smiles. The hidden kisses....not being hidden. There was SO much to this story that above all made me smile. JEA nailed funny with a hint of serious - they were so relevant because the amount of truth to their situation, and their own worlds colliding like they did, it made them relatable. I felt so in tune with Nate and Gracelyn, to the point that I was looking in on and witnessing their relationship grow, first hand. I got to live it with them....vicariously through them. I had ALL the feels. This was SO good.

I hate admitting this, but going into this book, I was worried about how Nate's world was going to coincide with my mental picture of how it was going. HAHA! I know, I know....not right, but JEA built him up so well in her Transcend Duet that I already had this whole world set up for him. Not that I didn't trust her....but I didn't trust her. I will never NOT trust her ever again.

I love Nate's devotion to his daughter. Loved him before, but this just added more depth to his character. He loved Morgan so so much, and the way he was raising her just made the swoon factor incalculable. Looking at the way Morgan was,  it sure made for some giggle-worthy moments aside from the simmering love story of Nate's and Gracelyn's that was going on in her background. She had so much spunk and she was a character, all right. Gabe was her perfect counterpart - and their relationship was so funny to watch come to life. He was truly the 10 year old boy - and add in the world crushing circumstances he's living through. I think JEA nailed his personality so well. And for not being a mother, Gracelyn sure handled some serious parts extremely well, and I commend Jewel’s handling of that. Oh, I got tears when Gracelyn and Morgan had their first "talk." Heartfelt and pure. So innocent and mature. I got many a sentimental tear while going on this journey not just with Nate and Gracelyn, but Gracelyn and Morgan. It really was perfect and I loved that it was addressed and how it was addressed. Seriously, so good. No shock value, no stupid drama - it was just handled with composure and the hilarity the situation called for. 

"I'm not sure what brings me the most pleasure -- tasting her or watching her."

Their intimacy was delivered powerfully, yet with the perfect amount of restraint. I could've been reading a scene and laughing one minute, but finding myself getting the anxiety pangs to match the flirting they were doing the next. The capacity of Nate’s heart to love is tremendous. But to see him being able to give that emotional side of himself to Gracelyn was so special because it’s the Nate I remember meeting. The chin lifts and the lip rubs. The eyes that hold all his emotions and the touches that bring the chills. He gave me all the chills.

I love that she’s not a safe writer. I love that she gives me a story that’s emotional and unpredictable - and she makes me feel and live through it. She’s brilliant in that capacity. Absolutely brilliant.

You guys, to top it all off, the cover was perfection too!!! It matched perfectly with the first two books in the series - but it is the most fitting cover for this story. It fits Gracelyn and watching that cover actually play out in the book put a smile on my face. 

 

To sum it up, this was the: 

Perfect story of a father of a young woman growing up before his very eyes, despite his readiness to accept it.

Perfect story of a man finding love again after he never imagined he would.

Perfect story of an aunt and nephew navigating a whole new world that is now foreign to them.

Perfect story of a woman giving her heart another chance at beating.
Perfect story of love. 

This was truly the perfect story for me. A story of fate. A story of love. A story of growth. This is easily going on my Favorites List for 2020. I laughed, I cried, I fell harder in love with a man that had a heart that needed to be held. Unbeknownst to him and Gracelyn, she needed to hold that heart. Their story, their journey, wasn't without its hurdles, but those were what made it more.....fortuitous. 

Guardian angels and worthy opponents. Jewel will always make a believer out of me. 

"Letting go doesn't hurt as much as the fear of letting go."

~BEE

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~MEET JEWEL E ANN~

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree a a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course . . .heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

~CONNECT WITH JEWEL~

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Book Review and Giveaway for Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin

SEA OF RUIN

by PAM GODWIN

Bennett Sharp is on the run.

Wanted for piracy, she fears neither God nor death nor man.

Except Priest Farrell.

The unfaithful, stormy-eyed libertine hunts her with terrifying possessiveness. Nothing will stop him from coming for her. Not his unforgivable betrayal. Not when she’s captured by the ice-cold pirate hunter, Lord Ashley Cutler.

She must escape Ashley’s prison and Priest’s deceit. But can she walk away from their twisted desires?

Two gorgeous captains stand on opposite sides of the law. When they collide in a battle to protect her, the lines blur between enemies and lovers.

Passion heats, secrets unravel, and hearts entangle until they break.

Can love prevail in the sea of ruin?

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"He wanted to entangle our future. I wanted to undo our past."

It’s a brutal world! A pirates life is not for me, but this entire story had me consumed. Sea of Ruin was going to be a huge leap into unchartered territory for me with not only it being dark, but it also being historical and pirate. That combination alone gave me pause, but I also remember what reading Pam Godwin's Trails of Sin series did for me. That was my introduction to her voice and I enjoyed that series, so I knew that she could make something so cold and so dark into a read that I could recommend - so naturally, I needed to read more of her. So when I saw this new standalone coming out, I knew I needed to jump on board and trust her and not shy away from what she could bring to my kindle. I am SO glad I decided to read this one. 

This synopsis was a huge win for me. The minute I read it, I knew I needed to check it out. That cover, it was so different and what a story it gave me but while reading the book, it made so much sense. This was so so good. Imagine being this strong and independent thinking woman back when that was most certainly not allowed, and then having two men with their own ideas about how they fit in your life. Gosh, it was SO good. I loved her tenacity and her grit - and the fact that she was confident and knew who she was. Watching her move through her world was amazing. She was really cool!! I think I gleaned more from her character in regards to the story direction than anything. She wasn't a damsel in distress and she stood for everything she believed in, so watching her make her way through this story with these men and their strength next to hers? The dynamic alone made me turn the pages. 

My initial thought was to read the King of Libertines first - seeing that it was the prequel, but then I figured I'd try it without to see how much sense it made because I know not everyone purchased the limited time anthology it was in. This should stand alone since it was billed that way - and now I can assure you that the novella wasn't necessary to read before jumping into this book. It provides some background, but I felt like I got to discover more while reading this story instead of having a background to work off of. So for ME, I'm personally glad I didn't read King of Libertines before I read this one. 

"He tasted like the ocean, deep and turbulent, liberating and comforting, familiar and sacred."

I struggle with the labeling of "dark" reads in general because I have run into enough "shock and awe" just for the sake of drama that it has turned me off from many books under this genre, but this one was told with a cold, dark truth that seeped deep within the words. It affected me on so many different levels and I could appreciate how this story was delivered. I feel like Godwin is very unapologetic in her delivery of a dark story, but not at all frivolous when it comes to those scenes. She tells it, and she sells it, because while she may have made me gasp and recoil, she didn't take the easy way out and I could truly appreciate that. She brought me deep into the core of this story by selling the reality behind actions with her depictions and how she interpreted the scenes with her words. It made for a chilling read, but one I couldn't walk away from because the paradoxical aspect was the love story that was so thoroughly entrenched within the pages. I fell in love with the characters, the locations, the imagery of the travels. It all worked so well for me.

A few spots made me cringe and seriously feel....ill. This is, in the truest sense, DARK and given the fact that it's historical and pirate, she stayed true to the sense of that world and genre. I will admit that some of it had me struggling because of the brutality of it, but since the life of a pirate wasn't exactly easy, it all fit and worked within the storyline. But make NO mistake that it is dark. You HAVE to keep that in mind because of the content. It was intense. At one point, my heart was broken repeatedly, page after page after page. It was a sad reminder of how women were treated back in the day, especially when they weren’t valued. My heart hurt for a long while after reading this, but I felt that it was a stimulating read as well. So, it was hard, but well worth it in the end.

The language alone was a trip. It was fun to read of a lost language/dialect that isn't commonly used anymore. I will admit, I had to look up a TON of words and phrases because I had no clue what they were or meant. I found it actually added to the story for me because I was completely intoxicated by everything happening and it was just a little extra fun. Usually looking up so many new phrases or words is pretty tiring for me because I hate to feel like I am reading a thesaurus of words - but these phrases were fitting for the style of book I was reading. It added to the appeal. The atmosphere. SO GOOD.

Talk about toeing the line between love and hate, desperation and strength. I don’t understand how one love could seemingly betray her, but he would do anything and everything for her and to her. He loved her within an inch of his life, and he proved it time and time again that he loved her ever so desperately. Add to it, another love that defies manners and station, but with a certain proper element to it. This book also explored a sexual proclivity I’m not at all comfortable with....but it was done with a strength and knowledge that gave me a sort of comfort as I read it. I honestly loved seeing the powerful use of emotions and mental stimulation that went along with the story because it gave a deeper insight into "him." Godwin nailed these characters and gave them all something individual to add to the story, and I didn't feel like I was reading the same two alphas.

"To hold me at arm's length and deny me your love...it's the worst torture."

I was pretty shocked (and excited) that I was able to figure out the twist so early on but it only pushed me to keep reading to find out if I was correct in my assumption. That was honestly half the fun!! I loved the lead up, the build up, and the "end" up. It all fit together and I couldn't have been happier. It's usually quite frustrating if I figure things out ahead of time, but this one made me giddy the entire time I was reading it to see if I was spot on. I am just so glad I gave this one a chance - I'm still smiling about it. It's important to me to try new authors, new genres, and new tropes. I want to hear/read different things because I like to not only challenge myself with something new, but I also want to have a better understanding of the many possibilities in reading. 

There was this underlying current of sexual energy that was flowing throughout the entire story, and the thing was I couldn’t pick between two different people. I liked that there was this this off page chemistry that yes, while I read it, I was actually able to feel it growing to combustion. This was an all encompassing, time stealing, reality altering read. I absolutely loved this one and I want more!! Bravo!

"His touch transformed me into a willing victim."
~BEE

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~MEET PAM GODWIN~

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

~CONNECT WITH PAM~

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