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2016 Besties

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This is always one of the most challenging posts of the entire year! How to narrow down an entire year of great reads into just one post featuring the best of the besties? We’ll do our best (see what we did there?) to highlight our favorite reads from 2016. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and enter our 2016 Besties, Rafflecopter Giveaway!

BFF K’s 2016 Besties

I just couldn’t narrow the list any further, so I present the Top 16 in 2016!

#1 – Maybe In Another Life & One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

                 

Unique, smart, emotional, fantastic!

#2 – The Lost Codex by Heather Lyons

A wonderful end to one of my most favorite series of all time!

#3 – A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner

Kandi Steiner blew me away, an absolute page-turner!

#4 – The Royals Series by Erin Watt


Paper Princess     Broken Prince     Twisted Palace

My guilty pleasure of 2016 – way crazy and crazy good!

#5 – Beard Science by Penny Reid

Anyone who can turn a quirky, odd-ball character named Cletus into a love interest deserves to be on this list!

#6 – The Year of Meghan March

In 2016, I read or listened to nearly every book that Meghan March has written and I LOVE them all! She is a go-to, always one-click author for me now. She writes great stories, steamy scenes, strong heroines and the best alpha males EVER! If you want to check out my reviews, just enter Meghan March in the search tab on the right side of this page.

#7 – Endurance by Georgia Cates

I loved this book so much, the entire Sin series too! In addition to Endurance, Georgia Cates also brought us the Lovibond Series in 2016!

#8 – Franco by Kim Holden

My final book boyfriend of 2016 and he was worth the wait!

#9 – Better Love by Daisy Prescott

This silver fox was everything! I LOVE this book and this entire series!

#10 – Whiskey & Honey by Andrea Johnston

#TeamBiper #TeamAndreaJohnston #SmartGirlsWriteRomance

#11 – First & Goal: Queen of the League by Laura Chapman

LOL-funny and one of my most fun reads of the year.

#12 – Royally Screwed by Emma Chase

I loved this world and these characters. Royally Matched is one of my most anticipated reads for 2017!

#13 – A Place in the Sun by R.S. Grey

This book will make you want to travel to Italy and eat Gelato with Gianluca.

#14 – Moonshot & Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre

              

Moonshot introduced me to Alessandra Torre and her terrific writing style. And, I adored the audio for Hollywood Dirt. GREAT books!

#15 – Managed by Kristen Callihan

Witty dialogue and great characters, just an all ’round great read!

#16 – Reilly O’Brien & Co. Series by Jenna Sutton

I read every book in this series in 2016 and I can’t wait for more in 2017. Good stories and great characters!

BFF A’s 2016 Besties

#1 – It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

 

#2 – F*uck Love by Tarryn Fisher

 

#3 – So Much More by Kim Holden

 

#4 – Franco by Kim Holden

 

#5 – Cunning, Deception, Entrapment (Infidelity Series books 2, 3 and 4)  by Aleatha Romig

 

#6 – Into the Light and Away from the Dark (The Light Series) by Aleatha Romig

              

 

#7 – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

#8 – Whiskey and Honey by Andrea Johnston

#9 – Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

#10 – The Angels’ Share by J.R. Ward

#11 – Too Late by Colleen Hoover


All of the images above are buy links for Amazon.com. And, you can click on many of the headings to find our reviews. We are so grateful to all of you for joining us on our incredible book journey in 2016! We’re looking forward to all that’s in store for 2017!

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2016 Besties Giveaway

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Duo Review – Franco by Kim Holden

Franco Genovese is the drummer for world renowned American rock band, Rook. He’s got it all. A killer smile. Tattoos. Talent. Razor sharp wit and humor. And a heart as big, and generous, as they come.
Life is good. Steady. Uncomplicated. Just the way he likes things.
Until one night at an unassuming L.A. bar changes everything.
Enter Gemma Hendricks.
She’s a successful young architect from Northern England with an adorable smile, sarcasm for days, and an unparalleled trusting heart.
The attraction is instant.
So is their friendship.
It’s also temporary because they’ll both be heading home, thousands of miles apart from each other, in a few days.
Or is it?
There’s something Gemma wants more than anything else.
And when Franco propositions her to provide what she’s looking for, everything changes.
Will it transform friendship into love, or will it be their ruin?
Note from the author: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is recommended for mature audiences.

 

 Buy Franco today at Amazon Also Available on Kindle Unlimited

 

BFF A & BFF K – DUO REVIEW of Franco

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BFF A’s Review

Bright Side breaks your heart.

Gus heals your soul.

Franco makes you smile.

I love Franco so much!  Meeting him in Bright Side and Gus, I knew a little bit about him, but I have a whole new appreciation for him now.  He and Gus have an amazing friendship.  Seriously, they are the relationship everyone needs to have with at least one person in their life. Unconditional, no questions, laugh, cry, shenanigan creating friend. #goals  #dudebestfriends

Franco meets Gemma.  I like her right away and know she is my kind of girl because she doesn’t like beans and guacamole. (I know, seems really weird from a taco loving person.) She is an independent girl who knows exactly what she wants and has a plan in place that fits her style, life and timeline.  Gemma and Franco fit perfectly together.  They are real, they are a perfect compliment to one another.

“There are some people in life that you can vent to, or pour out sadness to, or voice frustrations to, and they readily and willingly absorb it for the sole purpose of ridding you of it.  They’re the same people who can immediately replace that negativity with their light. Their presence gives you the power to purge the bad and embrace the good.  It’s rare.  I’ve only known a few people in my life who are that way.”

Franco is unconditional in all of his relationships, he is so easy to love, to want what is best for him, because he is always puts others first.

“I’m just going to hold her because sometimes touch is the only way to tell someone that you care unconditionally.  It doesn’t require complemented, deep explanation- it only requires effort.  Effort is who I am, I can give her effort all night long.”

Seriously, how can you not love a guy like this?

And this is the absolute truth, favorite words spoken by Franco, a perfect summary to the entire series.

“We all have issues and we all do our best to overcome them.  Hold close the peeps you love while you’re going through your shit, that’s all any of us can do.”

Kim Holden does not disappoint.  She has such a magical way of making everything seem right in the world, even when your heart is breaking, you feel her love and support through Kate, Gus and definitely Franco. This is such a perfect ending to such a soul touching series.  It makes me smile.

 

BFF K’s Review

This is one of those books that you just want to read with your BFF, so you can text/talk to each other as soon as it’s over (See the Instagram post below.)

There’s still time for you to add one more book boyfriend to your 2016 list, and Franco is the one!!!

 

All of the characters in Franco are so calm and reasonable. They must all have major $$$ invested in therapy, and it’s such a wonderful, inspiring, refreshing, change from sometimes needless character dramas. This whole crew is a perfectly-imperfect cast of rational, well-adjusted, thoughtful, kind, caring, people. And to really blow your mind, they’re mostly men!

 

Franco is like the cherry on top of the Bright Side Sundae. (If sundaes made you cry.) It is so good to see Gus doing so well in this book. After the heartbreak for Gus (and everyone else) in Bright Side, it’s heart-warming to see Gus not just surviving, but thriving. And the relationship he has with Franco is something else! #SquadGoals #DecoratingWithDouchebags #FrancoCrush

 

Gemma meets Franco in a bar in LA and there is an instant connection. While the connection is partly physical, it’s predominantly a friendship born of affection and a shared sense of humor and snark.  She’s facing some tough, emotional stuff, but it doesn’t change who she is at the core. And, the fact that she loves Edward Cullen just sealed the deal for me. #AlwaysandForever #Sparkly

 

But, the very best of the part of the book is Franco and Gemma together. They are sweet and kind and funny and crazy-in-love and perfect for each other. God bless the wankers.
 

 

I’m sad to see the Bright Side world come to an end, but it is an incredibly satisfying conclusion. While I believe that you will most enjoy this book if you’ve read Bright Side and Gus, I think the quality of the writing and the relationships will allow this book stand on its own.

 

Join us in the J.O.G Club – Jealous of Gemma or Jealous of Gus. You will all want Franco to be your BF or BFF!

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AND – there’s an awesome shout-out to a couple of our FAVORITE Colleen Hoover characters!

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Advance copies of this book were received from the author. Receipt of these copies did not impact the content or independence of these reviews.

 

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 Join the J.O.G. Club

About the Author

I (Kim Holden) live in the greatest city in the world: Denver, Colorado. Some of my favorite things: reading, writing, the two coolest guys on the planet (my husband and son), my bicycle, Facebook, iced coffee, and music. I also love dreaming. And speaking of dreaming, I have a bit of advice for anyone reading this … follow your dreams. It’s never too late. Get started today … heck get started RIGHT NOW! Make your dreams reality.
I love to hear from fellow readers. Love. It. Please come find me. We’ll hang out. It’ll be fun:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KimHoldenAuthor
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7445352.Kim_Holden
My Website https://kimholdenbooks.com

Coming Soon – Any Time, Any Place by Jennifer Probst

 

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Today the BFF’s are showing off some teasers from ANY TIME, ANY PLACE by Jennifer Probst. This is the second title in the Billionaire Builders series. The book will be released on January 24th and it is currently up for pre-order everywhere.

 

Read BFF K’s Review of Every Where And Every Way

 

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Purchase in Paperback

 

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ANY TIME, ANY PLACE by Jennifer Probst

Billionaire Builders, #2 – Coming January 24, 2017

 

HGTV’s Property Brothers meets The Marriage Bargain in this second volume in the Billionaire Builders series, an all-new heart-wrenching and sexy contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

When she was a teen, Raven Bella Stratton’s father was killed in a horrible car crash. The bigger shock was the discovery of a woman with him—Diana Pierce—and their two fully packed suitcases with airline tickets to Paris. Devastated by her father’s betrayal, Raven went to live with her aunt, never truly overcoming the traumatic event. When she discovers that the mysterious woman had a family with a husband and three boys, Raven vows to leave the memory of her father behind.

Until Dalton Pierce visits one night and suddenly her past challenges her future…

Leaving his life in California behind to run Pierce Construction with his two older brothers, Dalton Pierce has enjoyed returning home and studying his passion of woodworking. But when he visits the local bar with his brothers one evening, he’s immediately drawn to the smart-mouthed, badass, sexy bartender who sets his body on fire. Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem as intrigued by him, and his multiple advances are met with rejection. When he offers to restore the bar back to its original glory, he begins to work with her on a daily basis, and falls harder. His plan of seduction slowly weaves a web around them both, until they are caught up in the spell. But Dalton doesn’t know the secret that can either destroy them both…or finally mend two broken hearts.

 

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PRE-ORDER IT NOW

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Purchase in Paperback

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PURCHASE THE PREVIOUS BOOK IN THE SERIES

Everywhere and Every Way

PURCHASE EVERYWHERE AND EVERY WAY NOW

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About the Author

Jennifer ProbstJennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

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Cover Reveal – The Do-Over by Julie A. Richman

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Title: The Do-Over

Author: Julie A. Richman

Publication Date: January 26th, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Cover Model: Forrest Harrison

Cover Designer: Jena Brignola

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~ Sometimes, one degree is all that separates you from the one you were meant to be with ~

Wes Bergman was sex on a stick.

We’d been circling one another our entire lives, mingling at the same clubs… attending the same events…sharing mutual acquaintances…yet we’d never actually met.

Until . . . we both boarded a Windjammer Cruise in the Caribbean. And it was like meeting my long, lost best friend for the first time. I hadn’t ever connected with a guy that way before.

But Wes had a girlfriend. So, when the week was over, he walked off the ship, unknowingly taking a piece of my heart with him.

Now, over a decade later, newly divorced, I’m the proverbial fish out of water. Dating has totally changed. Apps. Swipe left. Swipe right. Catfishing. Men my age want two things: twenty-five-year-olds—like my ex’s new child bride of a wife—or just a quick hook-up.

After a string of bad dates, I finally did something I never thought I’d do. I had a hot one-night stand with a really handsome guy I met online who didn’t even know my real name.

Turned out Mr. Fling is a big shot for my company’s newest client. And just my luck, that client’s CEO is none other than . . . Wes Bergman.

Now I’m separated by one degree again from the man who stole my heart.

And Mr. Fling could destroy my chance of what I want most –

A Do-Over with Wes.

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About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an award winning nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau.

Connect with Julie:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieARichman

Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/ore7g3u

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JulieARichman

Website: http://juliearichman.com/

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Release Day Blitz – Bullies Like Me by Lindy Zart

Title: Bullies like Me

Genre: YA

Author: Lindy Zart

 

If you can make it out of Enid High School alive, you can make it through anything.

Alexis is the new girl at school, and she’s ruthlessly bullied. Hopeless, and drowning in her present reality, she takes pills—lots of pills. She’s sent to a mental health facility, where she meets a boy. Only the boy can’t save her, and no one can save her from herself.

Nick has secrets. He wants to open up to Alexis, but there’s the dead boy who haunts him. In his dreams. While he’s awake. He wants to be brave, but he can’t tell her about his past, and he can’t leave the facility.

Melanie rules over the school, until a nobody named Lexie tries to disrupt her reign. She won’t allow that. She also can’t stop it. She plummets into notoriety, but she’s determined to take them all with her. The girl, the boy, and their secrets.

 

Amazon

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Stop by www.facebook.com/lindyzart and check out the ongoing giveaways to win a signed paperback or an eBook of Bullies like Me

 

Excerpt from Bullies Like Me

Nick’s arm brushes against mine as we cross the street, and he flinches.

I grit my teeth, holding in my irritation until we reach the beginning of the path. Then I slam my hands on my hips and glare at him. “Okay, what is your deal? If you really didn’t want to be with me today, why didn’t you just say it?”

He opens his mouth.

My glower deepens.

“I don’t like being out in public. I don’t…like being around people,” he says after a pause. “I like to be alone.”

I throw my arms up in frustration. “Then why did you agree to this?”

Nick steps closer. “But I like to be with you more than I like to be alone, and even though I don’t like to be around people, I like to be around you—probably more than I should. How could I say no to being with you, even if it’s in a setting I despise?”

“That’s messed up,” I say, shaking my head, even as a warm glow fills my insides.

“I’m messed up.”

“You’re not, not really.”

He lowers his head, taking my hands in his. Examining them. It feels like fire and ice when we touch. Sparks and frost. “You have no idea, Alexis.” Nick threads our fingers together, lifting our hands between us, and looks at me.

“Tell me,” I whisper, feeling like I can’t breathe. My air is caught somewhere within the magnetic pull of blue-green seas. Who needs to breathe anyway?

“Someday,” he promises, and then, with our hands still entwined, he leans forward and kisses me.

His lips are soft, firm. Magic. Tasting of dreams and hope. And grief too. I’m kissing not only Nick, but his soul as well. I feel his heartbeat with my lips. I taste the feelings he has for me, and they are overwhelming. Catastrophically beautiful. The kiss lasts long enough to rearrange everything inside me, to steal my breath, to give it back. To let me know Nick has the power to ruin me. To let me know I’d probably let him.

 

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Lindy Zart writes in a multitude of fictional genres because, well, her brain requires it so she stays somewhat sane. She has been writing since she was a child, but luckily for readers, her writing has improved since then.

She lives in Wisconsin with her family. Lindy loves hearing from people who enjoy her work. She also has a completely healthy obsession with the following: coffee, wine, pizza, peanut butter, and bloody marys. ​

 

Website: www.lindyzart.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindyzart

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lindyzart | @LindyZart

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LindyZart

Zartian Reading Group: http://bit.ly/1VEHxrJ

Zartian Blogger Signup Form: http://bit.ly/1SmZrZG

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/lindyzart

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1RqPP3m

IG: https://www.instagram.com/zartlindy/  |@zartlindy

Youtube: http://bit.ly/1Qs6wXr

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+LindyZart/posts

 

 

 

 

Audiobook Review – First & Goal: Queen of the League by Laura Chapman

 

When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way).

Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool.

With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.

Amazon Kindle     Amazon Paperback     Audible     iBooks

 

BFF K’s Review of First & Goal: Queen of the League

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I loved this book! I was fortunate to receive a code for the audiobook version. And I was delighted and charmed from the beginning to the end.

Harper is positively irresistible! She is smart, hard-working, sassy, quirky, and absolutely hilarious. (Though I’m not sure she always intends to be so funny.) In an attempt to win over some of her coworkers and distract them from her super-organized, workaholic tendencies; she spontaneously agrees to join their fantasy football league. The trials and tribulations of her weekly fantasy match-ups are comical!

 

With the new league, her social circle expands significantly. Enter Brook. Multi-time league champion, high school football coach, and hunky, sweet, specimen-of-a-man; Brook is a dream! And Brooke and Harper soon find themselves in a budding relationship that exists both inside and outside of the league.

 

This book made me laugh out loud. There were several parts that had me in tears – and not the sad kind. First & Goal: Queen of the League is smart, sassy, funny and romantic. The book is set in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was so much fun reading about characters in a setting that I know so well. Lincoln is a sports town, especially for football. And it provided the perfect backdrop for this story. The football parts of the story are smartly written but can be enjoyed by a football pro or rookie. And, if you or anyone you know has ever participated in Fantasy Football, you will really get a kick out of this!

 

First & Goal: Queen of the League is one of my favorite books from this year. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing from start to finish. If you are looking for a sports romance, with great characters and LOL-moments, this one will definitely deliver.

 

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An advance copy of this book was received from the author via Audiobook Boom. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.
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Amazon Kindle Preview

About the Author

Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, Going for Two, Three & Out, and The Marrying Type. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.

 

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New Release – Drunk on Love by S.L. Scott

 

 

Title: Drunk on Love
Author: S.L. Scott
Genre: Sexy Romance Comedy Standalone
Release Date: December 21, 2016

 

From New York Times Bestselling Author, S.L. Scott, comes this downright delicious peek into the male anatomy… er, mind of Hardy Richard.
There are only two rules:
1. Don’t get too close.
2. Don’t fall in love.
Correction: Don’t ever fall in love. I don’t need the baggage of relationships. Life should be simple, easy, uncomplicated.
The problem I’m faced with is, if I really believe life should be that easy, that uncomplicated, and that simple, then why am I still thinking about a woman I met on a random Monday at the bar? A girl who was never a Gimlet, and always a Paloma. Yep, I called it all wrong last night and I’m starting to wonder if my heart will pay the price.
I might have broken rule number one, but rule number two remains firmly intact. For now. Sort of. Okay, maybe rule two hasn’t been broken, but it’s definitely been bent.

 

ADD Drunk On Love TO GOODREADS

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Only 99c for a limited time!!!

 

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Giveaway

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About the Author

 

 

Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling and avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She’s obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist. Her favorite color is blue, but she likens it more toward the sky than the emotion. Her home is filled with the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and finds surfing a challenge though she likes to think she’s a pro.

 

 

Audiobook Review – FU Cancer by Hilaria Alexander

Title: FU Cancer
Author: Hilaria Alexander
Narrator: Elizabeth Klett
Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
Release Date: Nov 24, 2016
 

Lucy has always been a good girl. The most hardcore thing she’s done in her life was falling for a divorced man 10 years her senior.

But he was the love of her life, and she married him. When her Peter Pan of a husband decided to divorce her, she thought it was her chance to start anew. That was until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Besides looking like Britney circa 2007, she is taking it well, real well. You might see her walk around the hospital during chemo sessions with bright colored wigs and outrageous t-shirts that seem to shock the most conservative employees. One of them reads FU CANCER.

 

 

 

BFF K’s Review of FU Cancer

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Who would have ever imagined that a book with the title, “FU Cancer” would be so funny and so full of hope? Because of my aversion to angst, I had avoided this book though it came highly recommended during its original release. When I was offered the opportunity to review the audio, I took it and I’m so glad I did. This book was nothing like I had imagined it might be.

I put myself in Lucy’s shoes quite often as I listened. I imagined what life would be like for me if I was in Lucy’s position. Would I handle a cancer diagnosis with the same grace and style (best wigs and t-shirts ever) that she did? (I hope that I would and I also hope that I never find out.) Lucy’s world is rocked as the recent divorcee begins treatment for breast cancer. But, she’s soon caught off guard by the most beautiful man who is drawn to her for reasons she can’t understand. Their relationship is tested by life and her disease. They must determine if what they feel for one another is real and strong enough to go the distance.

Cancer is essentially one of the main characters in the story, but it is not the sole defining element. Working through the diagnosis, treatment and life after cancer with Lucy is scary and a little sad, but it is also uplifting and joyful. I wondered how you could find romance in a story of a young cancer patient undergoing treatment. But, this book is full of romance and love. I think this is a storyline that will be in the back of my mind for quite some time. If you’re looking for an emotional read that packs a powerful, positive, thought-provoking punch, I highly recommend, FU Cancer.

AND, Elizabeth Klett does a commendable job as the narrator. I think this might be the first audio I’ve listened to with her narrations, but I will definitely seek out more! There are so many great reasons to read FU Cancer, be sure to add it to your TBR/TBL (To Be Listened to) today!

 

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An advance copy of this book was received. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.

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About the Author

 

Hello! I’m the author of Prude, This Love and FU Cancer.  I was born and raised in Italy but now I live in Oklahoma City with my husband and kids. I love traveling and I’m a self-proclaimed concert addict. If you have questions about me or my books, ask me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

 

 

Audiobook Review – Jed Had to Die by Tara Sivec

 

The happiest day of Payton Lambert’s life was the day she graduated high school and watched Bald Knob, Kentucky, get smaller and smaller in her rearview mirror. She wanted more for her life than a tiny town where everyone knows your business and you can’t find a decent cup of coffee for at least 40 miles. Twelve years later an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night has her packing up her life in Chicago and racing back home to the one person she ever regretted leaving behind.

Upon her return she sees that Leo Hudson, the scrawny boy who had followed Payton around like a puppy and could recite cow insemination facts in his sleep, is long gone. Leo is still hot on her heels, but now he’s wearing a sheriff badge and dead set on solving a murder that may or may not involve Payton, along with half the town. In a town where the biggest crime happened the day someone kicked a few of his cows, people are pointing fingers, rumors are spreading like wildfire, and Payton swears she’s only making out with the sweet-talking, studly sheriff to distract him from the secrets she’s keeping.

When you’ve been tased, peed on by a yippy dog named Bo Jangles, and can’t stop picturing what Sheriff Hudson looks like naked, it will be a tough job making everyone agree that Jed had to die.

 

Audible        Amazon Kindle        Amazon Paperback

 

BFF K’s Review of Jed Had To Die

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I LOVE Jed Had to Die so much! It is clever, unique, sarcastic and LOL-funny! And I don’t use LOL as a throw-away-term, this book honestly had me laughing so long and so loud that I would have to stop and rewind the audio!

When Payton Lambert comes to the aid of her childhood BFF Emma Jo, that means stepping back into the town she’s been avoiding for YEARS. It seems Emma Jo has been in a horrible marriage. Payton had no idea, but will now do everything in her power to make sure that it is over. The two have a heart-warming friendship. Then there’s super-sweet and swoony Leo….he’s charming and delightful. Bald Knob is full of quirky and kooky characters. They can judge their own folks, but you’d better not! They are a devoted bunch who come together to stand by one another.

I have long loved the Dixie Chicks song, Earl Had to Die. Imagine the premise behind that song (below in case you can’t remember) expanded to include full characters, backstory, a new romance and a little mystery. You’ll be humming this chorus for days, but soon find that “Jed” replaces “Earl”!

I think everyone needs bits of this story in their own lives: a friendship like Payton and Emma Jo, a love like Leo, a town like Bald Knob and a little Liquid Crack! If you want a story that is absolutely hilarious, engaging and delightful, Jed Had to Die is PERFECTION!

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This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.

 

female point of view

 

 

 

Earl Had to Die by the Dixie Chicks

(In case, like me, you’ve forgotten how truly awesome this is!)

About the Author

Tara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when all three of them become adults and move out.

After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. She writes in a wide range of genres including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader’s Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader’s Choice Awards 2014.

In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she’ll do and naps she’ll take when she ever gets spare time.

 

Exclusive Guest Post – Jenna Sutton Author of the Riley O’Brien & Company Series

 

Two All New, Sexy Riley O’Brien & Co. Novellas

A KICK IN THE PANTS
A Riley O’Brien & Co. Novella
Jenna Sutton
Released Nov 15th, 2016


Jake Lilliard has always been a gambling man. So far, all the risks he’s taken — like moving to San Francisco and joining Riley O’Brien & Co. — have paid off. Now he’s ready to take the biggest risk of all: acting on his feelings for Kyla Andrews. As a trainee in his department, she’s off limits. But as soon as Kyla moves on to another job, he is going to make her his. He’s waited long enough…
 
When tragedy struck Kyla’s family years ago, she started playing it safe. She doesn’t take risks with her job or her heart, and she refuses to be a cliché – the foolish woman who falls for her sexy boss. Yet Jake is everything she has ever wanted, and it’s impossible to resist him and his enticing kisses.  
Just when it seems that the gamble they took will pay off, Jake’s past threatens his future with Kyla. He knows lady luck is fickle, but she’s always had a soft spot for him. He’s hoping she won’t turn her back on him when he needs her the most…


WILL NEVER FADE
A Riley O’Brien & Co. Novella
Jenna Sutton
Releasing Dec 13th, 2016

 

For Phoebe Werner, the management trainee program at Riley O’Brien & Co. represents a new beginning. She’s finally healthy, and she is trying to enjoy life while she can. She never expects to run into Garrett Gale at a New Year’s Eve party. The handsome hotelier is the only man she wants… and a reminder of what she can never have.
Years ago, Garrett enjoyed one memorable night with Phoebe after months of fantasizing about her. And then, she disappeared. She ignored his efforts to contact her, and he did his best to forget her. Now fate has brought her back into his life and his bed. But who knows how long she’ll stay there?
With Phoebe’s fears threatening to ruin their chance at happiness, Garrett must convince her that they’re meant to be. He can’t let Phoebe walk away with his heart again.

Read BFF K Reviews for A Kick in the Pants & Will Never Fade

Catching Up with Old Friends

Part of the fun in reading (and writing) novellas that are part of a larger series is the chance to catch up with characters in previous books. Whenever I read or write a novella, I feel like I am sitting down with old friends. And if I get an opportunity to meet new people, that’s even better.

The heroes and heroines of A Kick in the Pants and Will Never Fade are new to the Riley O’Brien & Co. world, but some of the favorite characters from the full-length books show up in the novellas.

The hero of A Kick in the Pants is Jake Lilliard. He got a brief mention in the epilogue of All the Right Places, the first book in the Riley O’Brien & Co. series. It’s so brief, if you blink, you’ll miss it. He plays a larger role in the first Riley O’Brien & Co. novella, The Perfect Fit.  

Quinn O’Brien, the hero of All the Right Places and CEO of Riley O’Brien & Co., recruited Jake to work for the company. Quinn shows up in Jake’s novella, and he offers Jake an amazing opportunity. But it comes with strings attached.  

The heroine of A Kick in the Pants is Kyla Andrews. For those of you who’ve read the other books in the series, you’ve heard about Kyla, but you’ve never met her.

Kyla is the youngest daughter of Letty Andrews, the live-in housekeeper/surrogate mother for Nick Priest and Teagan O’Brien-Priest, the hero and heroine, respectively, of Coming Apart at the Seams, book two in the Riley O’Brien & Co. series. Both Nick and Teagan show up in A Kick in the Pants, and we get to find out what they’ve been up to (and they’ve definitely been up to something!).

Kyla’s older sister, Vanessa, also shows up in A Kick in the Pants. For those of you who read Nick and Teagan’s book, you’ve met Vanessa before. She’s a wise and wonderful big sister, and when you finish A Kick in the Pants, I think you’re going to want to see Vanessa get her own HEA. Drop me a line at jenna@jennasutton.com if you want to read about Vanessa.

We meet the hero and heroine of Will Never Fade in A Kick in the Pants. Both Garrett and Phoebe are waiting for their HEA, although Garrett is impatient.

Jake and Kyla play big roles in Will Never Fade. Without them, Garrett and Phoebe would never get together.

If you’ve never read any of the Riley O’Brien & Co. novels or novellas, you won’t be confused if you start with A Kick in the Pants or Will Never Fade. All the novellas can be read as standalones, and you don’t have to read them in order.

But if you want to start with the first novella, The Perfect Fit is FREE on Amazon and B&N right now. What are you waiting for? Dive into the world of Riley O’Brien & Co. I promise it’s sexy, smart, and not too sweet.

P.S. Have you noticed all the titles of the full-length books and novellas tie into jeans and/or denim in honor of Riley O’Brien & Co.? What titles would have you chosen?

Excerpt from A Kick In the Pants

Metal wall sconces illuminated the corridor, throwing pools of golden light on the dark wood plank floors. A door opened a few feet ahead of her, and Jake emerged from it. He froze when he saw her, his eyes widening before he ambled toward her.

The narrow corridor made her even more aware of his height and muscular physique, and her body reacted the way it always did when got close. Her heart began to pound, and her breathing grew shallow. Suddenly, her throat was dry, and she swallowed thickly.

            Stopping right in front of her, he looked down into her face. His eyes caught the light from the sconces, glimmering with a million shades of green and gold. They dropped to her mouth before jumping back to hers.

“You’ve got sugar on your lips,” he notified her, his voice low and gravelly. 

            Without thinking, she licked her upper lip. He moved closer, the front of his long-sleeved dress shirt brushing against her chest. She nervously stepped back, afraid that she might throw herself at him. He followed until her back was against the wall. She sucked in a shaky breath, trying not to let him see how much his nearness affected her.

            “Not there.” He touched his thumb to her lower lip, toward the corner. “Here.”

            Dropping his head, he licked the spot where his thumb had been. She gasped, certain that she was having yet another X-rated dream starring Jake. When his tongue flicked along the outer edge of her upper lip, she realized it wasn’t a dream.

            “And you’ve got some here,” he murmured, tracing her lower lip with his tongue.

            She gripped his upper arms, his biceps rock hard under her fingers. “What are you doing?” she breathed against his mouth.

            He drew back to stare into her eyes. “I’m not your boss anymore, Kyla. I’m just a guy who works for the same company you do, and lucky for me, that company doesn’t have any rules against co-workers dating, even if they’re in the same department.”

            She barely heard a word he said because her ears were roaring with her pulse. “What?”

            He smiled slowly, and she couldn’t tear her eyes from his mouth. She clutched his arms tighter, wanting those lips on every part of her body.           

            “I’m not your boss anymore,” he repeated. “I have been counting the days until … until I could …”

            “Until you could what?” she whispered.

            “Until I could be with you,” he answered hoarsely. “That’s all I want … a chance to be with you.”

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About the Author

Jenna Sutton is a former award-winning journalist who traded fact for fiction when she began writing novels. Surprisingly, the research she conducted for her articles provided a lot of inspiration for her books.

Jenna is the author of the Riley O’Brien & Co. romances. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.

Jenna and her husband live in Texas in a 105-year-old house affectionately known as “The Money Pit”. You can find out more about her and her books by visiting www.jennasutton.com