Friday, July 22, 2022

BOOK REVIEW and SIGNED PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY for REVERSE by Kate Stewart



Thirty years ago, my father became the other half of a broken love story.

A relationship he’s kept hidden for decades.

Upon unearthing his secret through a series of emails in our paper’s archives, I began my search for the truth. Haunted by my father’s love story, and in my quest for answers, I never imagined I would discover a love of my own. Or that my love for Easton Crowne would be key in discovering the reason behind what split our parents up.

Doomed from the start and knowing the havoc our relationship would inevitably wreak on our families, I could never have prepared for the toll it would take or the cost of the truth.

But in order to find our ending, we had to go back to their beginning.

My name is Natalie Butler, and this is my star-crossed love story.


* * * SPOILER FREE REVIEW * * *

REVIEW: Off the charts emotional damage...
"Their story doesn't change the significance of ours."

A few years ago, I picked up a book titled DRIVE. I had never read Kate Stewart, and I was super leery at the time trying new authors - but this one proved to be a win in more ways than one. Not only did I find a triangle that had me physically feeling the words (my favorite kind), but I found an author that I was willing to follow blindly into any circumstance she doled out. And boy, did I hit the jackpot! She knew how to obliterate my heart - but she did it with grace and poise. She has since written so many of my favorite books that have topped many of my charts. This one will sit amongst the highest on my favorites shelf.

I. CRIED. Ok? I cried!!! I rarely get to say that, but every now and then I get lucky enough to find a book that pushes my emotional boundaries and gives me something to feel and think about, and this book was just that. It's no secret I love her writing. Stewart is such a heavy writer and one that pushes me every single time I read her. I also love that she makes me work for the answers that I am seeking while reading. With a little "read between the lines" writing and a whole lot of LOVE to sift through, she never lets me down when it comes to the characters, their defining moment, their love, and their meaning. So, needless to say - this one hit me square in the jaw. Took me down.

This book is also the exact reason why I love a rockstar romances. Artists always have a deeper, more meaningful connection when it comes to the very definition of true love. So the roller coaster of emotions is never foreign and always welcome and Easton and Natalie have a romance worthy of the pages of this book...but I want to watch it in on the big screen. This one will be melting hearts for a long while. Someone, anyone - please make this happen. 

"Every time I look at him, my insides light fire, and I am every bit a moth to his flame."

I've been asked multiple times if reading DRIVE is necessary in order to read this book and while I can confidently say no - I have to pull back and reiterate that it is INTEGRAL to reading, understanding, and feeling Reverse in the manner in which it was meant to be enjoyed. The baseline for the emotions that are already swirling. The understanding of why this whole situation is forbidden. The reality behind the ending of this book is encased in the beginning of the entire story: DRIVE. Go read it, and then jump into REVERSE. So while I can easily say that Kate Stewart is an all encompassing writer and she does a great job filling in the blanks, I feel like you would do yourself a huge, massive, ginormous disservice to go into this one without reading Drive first because it quite honestly begins there. In order to experience this emotional rollercoaster in all its glory, I feel like it's my duty to SUGGEST HEAVILY that you read the first book. Also, as a fellow reading friend - why have you not read it already?? I feel like I may have failed you...

After going through everything they did in this book, I questioned a few things - merely because they affected me in a way that made it more personal. They were plenty of times that I questioned why Natalie was not throwing up or not physically ill seeing what was going on. If I am sitting on the outside looking in while reading her story, and it was affecting me physically? I have no clue how it did not affect her. I’m asking myself this constantly. Stewart's words are masterfully used in a way to elicit the utmost pain imaginable. I am fairly positive she revels in that knowledge, too. But, if there’s one thing I know, it's that she personally lives, eats, breathes her stories because you can feel how emotionally invested she is every time you read one. My heart is always put through the wringer every time  – and this one is no exception. This one, I had to crawl on my hands and knees out of a dark, emotional place to accept how it all went down, but for entirely different reasons than you would be used to from me. Pure brilliance.

I know I have mentioned 1001 times how much I loathe with every particle of my being the “miscommunication” between lovers - and for the record, I’m not saying this is what happens, only that I loathe miscommunication in a romance book because it never comes with the right emotions or a valid reason. BUT, when the reasons and the...validity? reality? collide, that’s when the whirlwind of anxiety ramps up and gives me that pang of terror that has me clinging to my kindle while I read. The anger, the vitriol, the pain - I didn’t want to have to understand it but I understood every single minute of it and why it had to happen. Not because the story needed it, but because of the personal growth that needed to happen. I could understand the stubbornness and the truth behind it. I didn’t want to accept it - hell, I refused to accept it, but it was very much so a reality. So yeah, maybe I clenched a bit. Maybe. But, I loved it the entire time I wasn’t breathing right. 

With that, I loved how many people had Easton’s back. I also loved how many people had Nat’s back. But what I loved more than anything else was knowing a slice of humble pie will never taste as good as it should. As a reader, I reveled in that....it sure caught me up in a smile or two.

It's official: I’m a glutton for punishment. I continually, willingly, and happily give my heart over to Stewart and she inevitably has her evil, twisted, and oh-so-amazing way with it. My heart is in shambles. The pain is palpable in this book. The hurt is heartbreaking. The anger is soul-crushing. The reality is...truth. There's nothing I love more than a love worth fighting for, a story that embodies the pain and emotion in real life drama - all without the BS. This one has it in spades. It's angering. It's heartbreaking. It's soul-crushing. But it's REAL. 

This book is not meant to be safe. It's meant to be emotional, harrowing, heartbreaking....you're supposed to feel it. 

The depth. The emotions. The quality storytelling. It's all there...no order, just all there. I was emotionally connected on every level to ALL the characters in this duet and I feel like I left a part of me within the pages of this book. I will forever hold them near and dear to my heart. So, to reiterate: GO. READ. DRIVE. And then pick up Reverse and continue the love story that will live with you for quite some afterwards. Easily, happily, most definitely a 6 star, "best of the year" read for me. I highly recommend this duet and I cannot wait to have this signed on my favorites shelf.

"We can't apologize for loving each other, or we'll give others the power to condemn us."



 

Read Drive, the first book in the series: 

From the bestselling author of The Ravenhood Trilogy, comes an angsty, steamy, white-knuckle ride full of love, loss, and self-discovery.

Music . . . the heart’s greatest librarian.

The average song is three and a half minutes long; those three and a half minutes could lead to a slow blink, a glimpse of the past, or catapult the soul into heart-shattering nostalgia.

At the height of my career, I had the life I wanted, the life I’d always envisioned. I’d found my tempo, my rhythm. Then I received a phone call that left me off key. You see, my favorite songs had a way of playing simultaneously. I was in love with one man’s beats and another’s lyrics. But when it came to the soundtrack of a life, how could anyone choose a favorite song? So, to erase any doubt, I ditched my first-class ticket and decided to take a drive, fixed on the rearview.

Two days.
One playlist.
And the long road home to the man who was waiting for 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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Monday, July 18, 2022

BOOK REVIEW and GIVEAWAY for BEYOND MY DARKNESS by RC Boldt


USA Today bestselling author RC Boldt delivers a seductively unique romantic suspense with a paranormal twist in Beyond My Darkness...

Twelve years ago, I fled, vowing to never again use my power. But everything changes when I break that vow and bring two bodies back to life in the morgue.

It sends me spinning directly into his orbit.

Arrogant. Menacing. Enigmatic. That’s Bronson Cortez, the notoriously violent gang leader who remains elusive to authorities.

He breaks the law at every turn and answers to no one. But when he offers me an alluring glimpse of what lies beneath that iron-clad exterior, I realize there’s more to him than meets the eye.

The man who fiercely guards his heart somehow manages to claim mine.

But he doesn’t know the truth about me.

I wonder if he could be the first to accept me for who I am—what I am.

I wonder if he’ll be the first to see beyond my darkness.

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REVIEW: 3.5 EERIE STARS
"A knight in shinin' armor is fuckin' useless."

Well then!!! I have been looking for something a little different in my reading repertoire and if this one didn't fit the bill, I don't know what will. As I have shared a few times on my Facebook page, I have been wanting to get into mafia/gang trope reads - but I have to ease in because I usually find myself going, "Well, this is so predictable." while I end up rolling my eyes or cringing because of "shock value" writing. Clearly, that is NOT what I want. Lo and behold, this comes across my feed and I knew I needed to check it out. I have read RC Boldt before, so I know her easy flow and her chill style of writing. I also enjoy her storytelling, so I knew jumping into this one with the magical side of a "demonic ability" coupled with the power of a strong man in charge of his own world, it would give me a little bit of excitement. 

I was not disappointed!! To be fair, this was a super light, super easy read with these elements so I do want to make sure people aren't wandering in for some super dark, twisted, horrifying read. The "dark" side of this book wasn't dark at all, so the step over to it was really fairly easy for me and it tittered on the side of paranormal - again, not a lot of reference to it, but enough to fit into that category. I was immediately intrigued based on the synopsis since my favorite show is Pushing Daisies - and this kind of skirts that line in a very loose way. It definitely held my interest from start to finish.

"I'll never be normal because I'd rather spend my time with dead bodies than real people."

Georgia is her own person - and I know I often talk about how I love a strong female, but I have to point them out when I see them, and Georgia is just that: strong. She was feisty and determined, given everything she had been through, so watching her make her way through this was rather interesting. She definitely took a few routes I wouldn't have taken, but "knowing her" made it understandable. I liked her sassy side, and loved the way she spoke to Bronson and his crew. She was young enough in some aspects to be naive to things, but experienced enough to back up her bravado she needed to traverse the different sides of her own city.

Bronson was this super abrupt, but completely entrancing man that not only ruffled feathers, he had that look that melted ice cold hearts: mine, especially. I liked his demeanor. He ran a tight ship but made sure he had his morals in check. Hard to believe, being he was a gang leader - but he did. I just liked who he was and how he handled things. Boldt gave him a mission and his need to fulfill it was evident. He was a little soft around the edges at times, but I feel like he was justified given everything going on around him. I loved the way he pursued Georgia and how they both taught each other about matters of the heart, as stubborn as they both were. Their dynamic was a fun one to watch. 

I just really liked the characters A LOT and I thoroughly enjoyed the dance they had during the entire book. I could have kept reading their story...

The step away from reality in my reading was a nice reprieve and I think it made this the fun read that it was supposed to be for me. The only issues I could really bring up were the transition from the suspense side of the book into the finale and wrap up of the story. I also didn't feel like I got the full extent of the whodunnit aspect because it was fed to me instead of figuring it out. Not bad, but the whodunnit bothered me a bit. The ending almost felt abrupt, but as I was explaining this to my husband, he asked the most simple question: do you think you just weren't ready for the story to end. I gave it a good think, and I can honestly say that was my biggest hangup, so maybe I wasn't done with them just yet. I could have kept reading about the ways that Bronson sought her out, touched her, loved her. I could have reveled in that a while longer. He was definitely the kind of man that made the heart beat a little faster. Again, I enjoyed the writing and the story as a whole, so I will most definitely read more stories/authors in this trope because I did enjoy the curiosity it allowed me.

END NOTE: This was such a fun read! I really, truly enjoyed it and think it's a fun 'tweener for those of us that haven't dallied in the dark part of the book world yet, as well as the 'magical powers' aspect of it. I liked being able to suspend belief and just go with the flow of the story, making it a super easy book to read. I definitely walked away knowing I had a smile on my face. RC Boldt is a lighter writer, so I know what I am getting into with her worlds and I always enjoy them. I don't have to overthink things and can usually power through them with a smile. OH!!! AND, there happened to be a link at the end....so, you know I clicked that so darn fast. So, now the countdown to October 25th officially begins because *I NEED* this next story something fierce. Kthxbye.

"They say history will repeat itself if one doesn't learn from the past."
~BEE

PURCHASE Beyond My Darkness 

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~MEET RC BOLDT~

RC Boldt is a USA Today bestselling author currently living in part of the 
Costa Rican jungle with the love of her life and her mini-me.

~CONNECT WITH RC~

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Friday, July 1, 2022

BOOK REVIEW and GIVEAWAY for UNEXPECTED by Elizabeth Aton

UNEXPECTED

I’m a waitress. He’s a Rockstar.

It was supposed to be simple.
He was the gorgeous mystery occupying a stool at the bar.
An anonymous one-night stand.
No names, no numbers, no regrets.

A temporary escape for us. Mine from the brutality of my life, his from a life in the spotlight. Both of us trying to ease the pain of unimaginable loss.

Unfortunately, nothing good ever stays secret for long, and the consequences of our tryst send our lives toppling over a cliff so steep, we may never be able to climb out.

Everything that happens after is unexpected.



REVIEW: 3 STARS
"This is life in all its ugly and dirty reality. Not one of us matters, and no amount of love will spare us from it. We are all alone and will always be alone."

That opening quote is kinda ominous, wouldn't you say? Well, it clearly set the tone for this book and it was a little rough at times, but summed up the heroine's situation quite well.

I love finding a new to me author. I especially love when it's a debut author because as long as they can keep me interested, I will continue to read and enjoy watching them grow in their craft. I feel like this is such an amazing storyline, and I really enjoyed the story for what it was, but was hoping for a little more strength in the words - a little more depth. Whit was a really good guy, and Ava was such an honest character. Aton really pulled their story together. 

I did not find this on my own. To be fair, this book description was originally sent to me by a friend that happened to see it in her IG feed. Once I saw it, I knew I needed to read it. I love a down and out heroine and a rockstar/heavy hitter/Mr. MoneyBags because I love the ability for personal emotions and lack of trust to play a pivotal role in the blossoming of the relationship at hand. Distrust and pain are hard ones to work through, and that was very obvious with this couple - so that was good to read and watch them work through. It added just the right amount of drive to give the push and pull that I love so much. I loved that she was able to describe the variables between these two characters. Obviously, we have a well to do, rich rockstar that has the world in the palm of his hands and a struggling waitress that has nothing to her name and is really feeling the pinch of the world - it was definitely what I signed up for. 

So once I did a little recon and found her and her signup, I was ready to read this one. For real, her ARC signup had me laughing with her sass and hilarity. She has a sense of humor that I loved, but was super sad to not actually see that part in her book, but that gives me something to look forward to. That obviously doesn't always transfer, but she is hilarious and I hope the next book has some more of her quick wit and personality in it. In all seriousness, I would love to read a RomCom by her. I don't usually like those - but she has the perfect wit to pull it off!

"I usually think smirks make for jerks, but Lord does this man make a smirk look like sex."

Whit was delicious in the sense that I loved his heart. He worked hard for what he had and was very protective of what was his - so very admirable and made me fall a little harder for him. Ava was determined and had a good, solid head on her shoulders and I couldn't help but be her cheerleader. As positive as I want to be about this book - because I feel like Aton has the ability to write that 5 star, emotionally gripping book, some things stood out that dropped this from high praise to a recommendation with reason.

I found myself enjoying the flow of the book pretty easily. Basic writing isn't the right description, but very laid back, chill writing - it had an easy flow to it. Some word usage had me quirking my eyebrows a few times because it almost felt as if it didn't fit the established tone. They felt gratuitous...cherry picking some words for added oomph. I understand using words that cause one to think, to kind of up the ante for brain power - I most certainly appreciate it. But when the writing is very easy going and smooth and you try to throw random words in that are a few levels higher than the actual storytelling vibe - that jostles the flow for me. I struggled with that, but it didn't ruin the overall enjoyment of the book as a whole. Just something that stuck out to me. 

However, not only were some words completely out of place, I cringed a few times when intimate descriptions were laid out. If you cannot adequately give me a good visual of how this is going down, you're going to ruin some of the "steaminess" of the story, which was an unfortunate side effect of some of her descriptions. Case in point: "His heavy length presses against the outside of my sopping folds." Ummm.....gross, ok? Sopping folds? Just no. I feel like she has some room to grow on the sensual side of her writing. I read it. I saw it. I know she has the ability to tell me a story. I just want to reeeead that part of their intimacy without cringing.

I did struggle with the amount of crap thrown Ava's way. I understand showing a character going through a really rough time so we can become emotionally entangled with the character, but it felt overly played out and the beatdown was ultimately hard to continue reading. By chapter 16, I found myself skimming at the first sign of MORE DRAMA than any one person should have to deal with. I understand having a period in your life that is down and out - don’t get me wrong, I’ve been there and I’ve done that, but the constant trepidation and downbeat of Ava‘s drum was very tiring and felt toxic to the overall story. Unfortunately, I also felt like we spent more time getting to know Francis, dealing with Ava‘s problems, and Whit as a single father, individually - but decidedly less time working on the actual reason for a romance book, which should've been the relationship between Whit and Ava. I wish we spent more time growing their relationship and less time building up other parts of the story that overall were nice but not the reason for the story.

I'm not an author, don't pretend to be - and most definitely don't know what goes into it but I know what I like and don't like to see in a book. I'm here for the romance aspect of it - the growing of a love that cannot be tamed, social aspects be damned. Needless to say, I liked what I read with a few minor exceptions. Overall - it was a positive experience with a few hiccups along the way. I'm looking forward to her next book, Undaunted, because it's going to be a couple that you could *feel* their sexual tension just from the interactions we got in this story. I am so going to check that one out!

Disclaimer: she has MANY raving 5 star reviews, so please take this with a grain of salt. This is only my personal opinion.

"This is me not wanting to live anywhere you're not because you feel like home."
~BEE







~MEET ELIZABETH ATON~

I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and too many tiny panthers. One day, they will likely eat me. They often stare at me with that look in their little predator eyes.

Until then, I will continue to read into the wee hours of the morning, try to write new stories that make readers feel all the things, weight train and meditate every morning to keep my head from exploding, watch cleaning and cash envelope stuffing videos on YouTube, and make outrageous gourmet meals in my massive kitchen with my husband, The Meat Master.

I have a degree in English Literature which, up until now, I’ve mainly used to write weird things on social media. I belonged to the English Honor Society, the Sigma Tau Deltas in Latin. Yes, that’s right. I was an STD. I’m a failure as a trophy wife since I refuse to spend my husband’s hard-earned money frivolously, I’ve committed to aging gracefully, and I don’t behave. Oh, and since I have the floor: Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice is an OG billionaire enemies-to-lovers romance. #fact

~CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH~

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Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Book Review and Giveaway for THE SINGLE DAD by Marni Mann


THE SINGLE DAD
by MARNI  MANN

A sexy single dad and nanny romance from USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann …

Most college-aged girls go to Europe to experience their sexual awakening.
All I had to do was come home.

Ford Dalton isn’t the kind of man I’d look at twice—because I can’t stop looking at him at all.

We can’t take our hands off each other in the bar.
Back at his house, it’s our lips.
And in his bed?
There isn’t a single part of us that’s not on fire.
One night would never be long enough for Ford to show me every delicious thing he can do to my body.

But there’s something he’s keeping from me: he’s already met the love of his life.

His daughter, Everly.

And there’s something I’m keeping from him: I just applied for the job of my dreams.

Everly’s new nanny.

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REVIEW: 4+ STARS
"The sound of her begging was fucking music to my ears."

Ooh, one of the easiest, sexy books I've read in a little bit!! I love that I have been able to pull aside something individually encompassing (nice contradiction - ha!) per story in this series. THIS story had to be the most sexy, yet laid back book in the series yet. The Lawyer gave me the NAUGHTY. The Billionaire gave me the LUST. The Single Dad....ooh my gosh, Ford gave me the LOVE. I am in love with all these guys, and Marni Mann has placed me in a weird predicament - so we will blame her, but I love Ford, but not as much as Jenner. HAHAHA!!! #MyHeartStaysWithJenner

You guys....this book was such a fun read. I smiled. I giggled. I sighed. Everything about this book was worthy of the time spent reading it, but now I am super sad it's over. I really could have read about Syd and Ford for a little while longer. Their meeting, their connection, their attraction - it was all heartfelt and palpable. Knowing it was going to have equal parts drama, sexy time, and a true love to match made it that much more entertaining. She built an obvious intensity - she gave a truth, a closeness, a surrender of their hearts. 

I know that when I read a book like this one, I like to look into the smaller actions....the little things that happen that give the story that much more depth, but don't necessarily stand out as a heavyweight action. For me, this one kind of hit home as someone who moved/traveled my entire life growing up. Mann gave a different meaning to Ford's travels. She gave intent and embellished it with the lavish side of Ford, but also gave a deeper meaning to his heart. I enjoyed seeing that side of it. It was always about Everly and her ability to grow with teachable moments and making learning fun - which I absolutely loved!! It was definitely a relatable feeling for me and it was a great reminder of how good I had it growing up. The culture and the experience alone makes for all the smiles. Nostalgia in book form. 😇

Funny side note: This book really worked well with Mann's very public world of travel and food. I love seeing her travels on Instagram and all the travel, wine, and foodie pics she posts – so the background on Mann gave me a few mental visuals for Ford and Sydney's journeys. It was really fun to envision her story coming to life remembering her posts.

Bee Disclaimer: I hate the forced proximity trope and usually find myself avoiding any book that uses that descriptor because I think it's a gateway for forced drama and an easy "in" for a relationship to grow, but every now and then I find a book that doesn't quite highlight that part so annoyingly loud - as in, it's not the sole focus, and this was definitely that one. I loved how Ford handled himself and how we got to see how hard he was fighting his desire for her, while trying to respect boundaries. It was also laughable because their chemistry leapt off the pages in leaps and bounds and there really was no such thing as holding back for them. 

BUT, that single daddy trope tickles my fancy! Every. Single. Time. I love that trope and seek it out regularly...so feel free to recommend me one ANYTIME!! 

Who doesn't like naughty and sexy times? I think we have all established that so far, so it's always fun when an author can include it in the story but not overdo it. I would like to say that Ford and Sydney definitely defined the "honeymoon phase" of a relationship side quite well. *wink*wink* They were so drawn to each other and it was easy to feel that heartfelt grasp they had on each other's soul. An intimacy that never fails and a closeness that never lacks is always a favorite part of a read for me and I feel that Mann nailed that. That drive to get deeper inside a soul, the desperation to feel that much more of a connection with your partner is very important. That's the emotional intensity I seek. I love how Mann's able to infuse deeper desire and need into her stories, even when circumstances dictate otherwise. The urgency, I could feel it growing exponentially - it climbed higher and higher with Ford's inability to control himself around her. It was absolutely delicious and I loved every single bit of it. 

We all love a protective father figure in our babies' lives, right? Ford's protectiveness took on a whole new meaning, and made so much more sense as to why he was so protective of her, especially after the twist played out. Oh my, it made Ford that much more perfect in my eyes because his heart was always in the right spot - no matter the circumstance. I did spring a few tears at a pivotal moment - but it was an overall very happy and entertaining read. 

Overall, the ease in which I read this book was great. It had a few mildly angsty moments, a few sweet and silly moments with Everly - and a few downright naughty moments with Ford and Syd. It all melded so perfectly, but the ending is what sealed the deal for me. It ended with a sigh for me. An easy going, shut the book and smile kind of sigh. It was a good reminder of a love so powerful and so deep that you couldn’t help but root for them. Sexy and sweet had me smiling! Easily and happily recommended. 

Aaaand finding out that THE INTERN is the next book made me smile. Hannah and Declan are going to be an explosive read because this one is going to encompass a man unwillingly falling to his knees and a strong woman being the one to enjoy putting him there. HAHAHA!

"An accidental encounter."
~BEE
 
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A sexy, billionaire, Hollywood, stand-alone romance from USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann …

I’m not the type of girl who picks up a man on a rooftop bar.
Not the kind of girl who lets a man’s hands roam my body, discovering I have no panties on.
Never the girl who has hours’ worth of o’s from a smoking-hot one-night stand.

But Dominick makes it so easy to say yes.
His body, his moves, and his oh-so-wicked tongue have me saying it over and over again.
Yes, please.
Yes, more.
Yes, right there.

He worships every inch of my body, and I’m still sore the next morning when I meet him again.

This time, he’s Mr. Dalton, my sister’s cutthroat entertainment lawyer.
And he has a proposition for me.

He wants to make me famous.

Of course, that means sharing a screen with my wildly jealous sister.
It means giving up my career.
It means the whole world will suddenly know everything about me.

Which presents one catastrophic problem—Dominick doesn’t date famous people.

So, do I take a chance at becoming a Hollywood star, or do I pass up the opportunity to be with the man who gave me a taste of forever?




THE BILLIONAIRE

I’ve always been a good girl.
But the second I walk into the hotel bar, I see temptation.

The man sitting there is delicious. Older. Experienced. Once our eyes meet, I know I’m not walking away unscathed. I’ve heard about men like Jenner Dalton—richer than God and hotter than sin. He’s got heartbreak written all over him.

But it only takes fifteen minutes before we’re headed up to his room.

I’ve never done anything like this before, but something tells me he’s worth it. Every swipe of his tongue feels electric, every kiss sets me on fire and his experience has me begging for more.

And more.

And more.

In one week, I’ll return to college in Miami.

He’ll go back to being LA’s most eligible billionaire.

The miles and years between us are just too many for this to mean anything.

So, between now and then, I plan to spend every moment being anything but good …




AMAZON     B&N     KOBO     APPLE

 ~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~

I would be remiss if I didn't share the cover for THE INTERN and the fact that she announced there would be another book added to this series as well. I am quite literally *stoked* to be able to stay in this world for as long as I can!!!!


December 27, 2022

AMAZON     B&N     KOBO     APPLE


The square jawline...
The stature and pride in a suit...
These covers all have it going on and I am here for every single one of their stories!!

~MEET MARNI MANN~

Bestselling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts sexy, titillating stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and their two dogs, who have been characters in her books. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, or devouring fabulous books.

~CONNECT WITH MARNI~

FACEBOOK     AMAZON     GOODREADS     TWITTER


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Friday, May 20, 2022

BOOK REVIEW and GIVEAWAY for June First by Jennifer Hartmann



Want to know what happens to a man who barely claws his way out of a tragedy, only to fall right into the arms of the one girl in the world he can never have?

Another tragedy, that's what.

When I was six years old, my father made a choice that altered the course of my entire life.
Because of what he did, the only girl I ever loved became the only girl I couldn’t have.

In a lot of ways, I did have her…
I had her first steps, her first words, her first smile. I had her milestones, her heartbreaks, her dreams. I had her heart so woven in with mine, I didn’t know where she ended, and I began.

Only, as the years pressed on, lines became blurred—and the blurrier the line, the easier it is to cross.

They say tragedy comes in threes.
For me, that was true.
The first one changed me, the second one broke me, and the third one healed me.

But at the center of all that tragedy… there is a love story.
And at the center of that love story,
There is June.


REVIEW: DNF with context...and explanation.
“It just...happened. Because that's what love does. It happens."

This is NOT a negative review, by any means. I loved this love story. Jennifer Hartmann has an amazing and beautiful writing style. To say I enjoyed Jennifer Hartmann's writing style would be an understatement. Her "voice" was so very easy to follow and understand and she has a great flow, and that is exactly what pushed me to continue reading. However, I didn't make it through without skimming a lot of it. A lot. 

"We're dancing with the Devil, yet she's the purest thing I've ever savored."

To be frank: this was a story that engaged my emotions from the onset and carried me through until the "end," never once letting up. "But, Bee...you skimmed it. How can you say that?" Well, because this book was extraordinarily wordy. Beyond normal. But I kept reading it for the love that I felt was worth the effort I could give it. This book had 7400+ locations, which is just over 560 pages. Not usually a bad thing as I like a well written book. This was well written, but again - so. many. words. The first half of the book was them when they were babies/children, and while I realize she was setting the tone for this undeniable love affair born from a lifelong relationship - it was detailed a lot more than it actually had to be, which in turn somewhat pulled me from the story. Once the start and growth was established, I feel it could have progressed better with a more natural push. Instead, I got 30 years of very detailed life....of which, I don't feel was necessary for the emotional, feel-good and forbidden love story that I wanted (and got!!). 

The emotions unraveled in this book weren’t simple. They weren’t easy to navigate, either - which is always a favorite of mine. It was a fascinating read but a very uncomfortable one for the first ~40% percent of it - and probably because I knew what was going to happen (they got together, obv), but it started out with them so young and continued that way for quite some time. I like when my emotions are challenged because I like to step out of my comfort zone to understand the POV of the characters lost in this quagmire of circumstance. So that? That much I got and loved.

"If there's anything in this world that can mess a man up inside and drive him to the brink of insanity, it's a blurred line."

Their love was the very definition of wrong, but with the added implication of the heart wanting a say in the matter. The validity of forbidden with a twinge of reality. It literally skirted the line between uncomfortable and silent cheerleading. Her innocence combined with his uncomfortable realization was definitely a delicious feeling. I liked that he remained the man she needed him to be, the protector, the big brother… But I also liked his struggle because it was real. How do you come to terms with that mentally and morally?? I liked that part A LOT.

There’s so much to unpack in this review, but I can only do so much without giving away a lot of the plot - so I'm sorry for being a little flighty with my words. I refuse to spoil anything beyond what the synopsis already gives, so my issues will be vague.

- It was emotional, but some of it felt manufactured - which is one of my absolute, most unfavorite things to feel while reading a book with very real actions and consequences. The first kiss felt manufactured and was not the warm fuzzy kind, which really took away from the impact it should have had and the true depth of their unfurling love. It just felt slimy, and that part sucked. It was not organic in any way....but it added that element of "drama" that was apparently needed to push for "more."

- Some of the "vivid visions" the characters had were....odd, to say the least. Those completely removed me from the story, felt manufactured for content and that irked me because they were unnecessary, again, to the outcome of the entire story.

- The future comments at the end of some of the chapters really bothered me. I wanted to stop reading them because I felt like they added more unnecessary words instead of letting me organically discover as I read, but I didn't want to miss something important. I can go back and forth on that as I'm sure this was how she wanted to tell their journey, but I don’t know. It just felt like lots of extra words for something we were about to learn.

I am not mad. This is not an angry review. This will NOT stop me from reading another book of hers. I desperately want to feel the emotions I know she can plant in a story, because I witnessed those first hand with this one. It was just over-written and extremely wordy with a few plot points that I could have done without. I loved the things Brant got to discover not only about himself, but his life growing up in a family that loved him unconditionally. It really was a great, emotional read.

I will still be giving away a copy of this because I did skim to the end to get their full story and epilogue, and I did enjoy her writing style, even though the execution wasn't my favorite. This book started as a 4, went to a 3 - and then I decided I didn't want to rate it because my rating wouldn't accurately depict how I felt about this journey (loved) but also didn't want to go lower and nitpick the layout of the story when I wasn't the one telling it. This book, this love affair, will appeal to so many. I just hope YOU love it as much as I did...with understanding.

"When you find the right person, there is no 'right time.' There's only right now because that's all we ever have."
~BEE






~MEET JENNIFER HARTMANN~
Jennifer Hartmann resides in northern Illinois with her devoted husband and three hooligans. When she is not writing angsty love stories, she is likely thinking about writing them. She enjoys sunsets (because mornings are hard), bike riding, traveling, binging Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and that time of day when coffee gets replaced by wine. Jennifer is a wedding photographer with her husband. She is also excellent at making puns and finding inappropriate humor in mundane situations. She loves tacos. She also really, really wants to pet your dog. Xoxo.

~CONNECT WITH JENNIFER~

FACEBOOK     AMAZON     GOODREADS      INSTAGRAM

Any links on this page may be affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you purchase anything by clicking on them. You will not be charged anything extra. I use these links as a way to fund my book giveaways.
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