Review – Palm South University – Season 1, Episode 6

Title: Palm South University: Episode Six
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: Sept 29, 2015
Find on Goodreads

Drama. Lies. Sex.

Welcome to Palm South University.

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up in South Florida. At a school where fraternities and sororities don’t exactly play by the rules, relationships are bound to be tested. Parties and sex are definitely key ingredients in the Palm South recipe, but what happens when family issues, secret lives, and unrequited love get tossed in the mix?

Follow Cassie, Bear, Jess, Skyler, Erin, Ashlei, and Adam as they tackle college at a small, private beach town university. Written in television drama form, each episode of this serial will pull you deeper and deeper into the world of PSU.

Where the sun is hot and the clothes are scarce, anything can happen.

Amazon

BFF K’s Review

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The Season 1 Finale starts off with a BANG and builds from there! We follow each of the characters as we get a final glimpse into each story line. Skyler gets some unsettling family news and Bear is there to help her out. Jess and Jarret – well – they’re HOT as ever, but questioning what’s next for their fling. Cassie and Adam are breaking my heart with their friendship/could be more relationship. Ashlei is a HOT MESS! And, Erin…..well there’s a surprise or 2 here.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Palm South University Season 1 episodes. My Tuesdays are going to feel a little lonely without my quick and dirty, weekly check-in with these lively characters. Now that all of the episodes are released, you can binge-read the entire season without having to wait for the next episode.

Palm South is a smoking hot, drama-filled, reality show in book form. I anxiously awaited a new episode each week and now I’m impatiently waiting for Season 2! If you haven’t visited PSU yet, I encourage you to make a little time for your campus visit!

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

 

Excerpt

I can’t remember the last time I had a hangover, but my eyes aren’t even open yet and my head is hammering away in my skull. It’s safe to say I have one now. Groaning, I squeeze my eyes shut tighter and pull the fluffy, light blue covers up and over my head. When they’re jerked back, I bolt upright.

What the hell? Slowly craning my neck to the side, I squeak and scurry from the bed, taking the covers with me and quickly wrapping them around my chest.

“Fuck, Josh, stop messing around!” Clinton sprawls out, naked as the day he was born, stretching his legs and wiggling his toes. I swallow as the tight muscles of his abdomen ebb and flow with the movement. His dark skin is a vast contrast against my cream sheets and my eyes can’t help but fall to the cut V that leads right down to another part of his body coming to attention this morning. When his eyes open and he finds me cowering in the corner and staring at him wide-eyed, he blanches.

About the Author

Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband.

Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer. Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).

When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.

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Review – The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey

Title: The Allure of Dean Harper (Allure #2)
Author: R.S. Grey
Release Date: Sept 28, 2015
Find on Goodreads

 

 

From: LilyNBlack@Gmail.com
To: JosephineKeller@VogueMagazine.com
Subject: You’re a flippin’ idiot
Good morning my dear, naive friend, I hope you’re enjoying a breakfast of regret and sorrow.
Why?
Because you sent me to work for Dean Harper, aka a control freak in a tailor-made suit. Sure he owns the trendiest restaurants in NYC, but c’mon Jo, his ego makes Kanye West look like the Dalai Lama.
He’s the type of guy that only hears the word “no” when it’s followed by “don’t stop.
”Working for Dean Harper would be like selling my soul to the devil…and before you say anything, I don’t care if the devil has punch-you-in-the-gut brown eyes and an ass to match. My soul isn’t for sale.
Regretfully yours,
Lily

The Allure of Dean Harper is a full-length standalone romance with overlapping characters from The Allure of Julian Lefray. Both books can be read separately. Chronologically, The Allure of Julian Lefray happens first. 

BFF K’s Review

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The Allure of Dean Harper is a BFF K Top 10 Read for 2015

I LOVE this book! The Allure of Dean Harper is a fun, hilariously-funny, endearing, blood-pumping, outstanding read!

Lily Black and Dean Harper are like oil and vinegar. It takes a whole lot of shaking to bring them together, but when they combine, the result is delicious! Lily has moved to NYC with big dreams of staking her place in the culinary world. She’s prepared to bust her a$# and work her way to the top. Dean Harper is already at the pinnacle of success in the restaurant industry. His accomplishments are the result of hard work, complete control and virtually no personal life. Both Lily and Dean are impossibly head-strong, hot-tempered, prideful, passionate people. They come together as intensely as they pull apart.

The Allure of Dean Harper is FUNNY! It is absolutely hysterical. I laughed until I cried. There were a couple of times where I teared up a bit; then I laughed some more. This is by far my favorite R.S. Grey book to date. (I love The Duet & Scoring Wilder, so that’s saying something!) There are 2 particular scenes – 1 on the yacht and 1 in the club – that had me howling with laughter. These are legitimate LOL moments!

This story is sublime. The Allure of Dean Harper reminds me of the perfect margarita – sweet and sour, sugary and salty, tasty and refreshing, and just one will never be enough. I can’t wait to read this again and I am so excited for everyone to have the chance to devour Dean and Lily’s story!

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An ARC was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things…everyday.
​
I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors are Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m a comedy geek and love all things funny. Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

 

Review – Screwball by Linda Morris

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Passion dominates the diamond in the second novel in this fun and flirty baseball romance series by the author of High Heat. Paul Dudley, president of the Plainview Thrashers, is spinning out of control. Preserving his family’s baseball legacy in these tough times takes everything he’s got, and constant clashes with his father have left him struggling for authority over the team and even his own future. So when sports reporter Willow Bourne, a one-night-stand from a year ago, walks back into his life, he knows he can’t give into his feelings for her—no matter how strong they are. Willow never expected to see Paul again, and she’s got her reasons for keeping her distance. Except the more time she spends around Paul, the harder it is to hide her secrets—or stop herself from falling head over heels. As the sparks between them fly, Paul discovers what Willow has been concealing from him, leaving him with a difficult choice—keep the team his top priority or make his own legacy by following his heart…

Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Kobo     iTunes

BFF K’s Review

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Willow Bourne and Paul Dudley have a history. A super-steamy, one night stand changes both of their lives forever. But, only one of them fully realizes that change until they meet by chance a year later. Both Paul and Willow are struggling with significant career issues and major life issues. I thought that their professional issues were believable and added depth and interest to the story. Those details also impacted their personal lives and decisions they made.

I liked Willow and Paul and was definitely invested to see what happened in their story. However, I have a limited amount of patience for problems that are created because characters refuse to communicate openly and honestly. There were times in this story that I wanted to pull my hair out. I wanted to grab both of these characters, shake them and yell, “Just tell him/her the truth! Talk about your issues. End this discomfort!” I wouldn’t consider it angst, but it’s definitely tension filled.

The times that Paul and Willow were together, sharing, getting to know one another and collaborating were really really good. I had butterflies and Paul said some of the sweetest things. (He’s a really good man.) I wish there had been a few more of those times and less communication-induced confusion.

I liked the backdrop of the baseball setting. The scenes and scenarios were interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed the main characters and the supporting characters as well. If you’re looking for a sports-themed, quick read, with interesting characters and some good tension, I can recommend Screwball.

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway

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About the Author:

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Linda Morris is a writer of contemporary romance, including High Heat, the first book in the Hard Hitters series; Melting the Millionaire’s Heart; The Mason Dixon Line; and Nice Work If You Can Get It. She writes stories with heart and heat, along with a joke or two thrown in. Her years of Cubs fandom prove she has a soft spot for a lost cause.

 

 

 

 

Website: www.lindamorrisbooks.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindamorrisbooks

Twitter: @LDMorrisWriter Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ldkmorris/

Review – Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow

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Skylar Nixon is a twenty-seven year old failed actress with no Plan B. After a humiliating stint on a reality TV show crushes what’s left of her childhood dream, she finds herself back in her hometown with no money saved, no college degree, and no confidence she’s anything but a joke—a small town starlet who couldn’t hack it in the big city.
When she runs into former classmate Sebastian Pryce, she can’t believe the hot body and chiseled jaw belong to the shy, troubled loner she knew ten years before. He’s not exactly friendly at first, and she’s heard the rumors about his tragic past, but something in his sad eyes intrigues her. She only wants to get to know him better.
Until the night she wants more—and takes it. (Hard and deep. Twice.)
Are they just two lonely people seeking solace? Or can a disgraced beauty queen and flawed, frustrated man find some sort of happy ever after?
**SOME SORT OF HAPPY is a full-length, dual POV novel, complete with a happy ending.**

 

BFF K’s Review

rating_4.5 I absolutely adored Skyler and Sebastian’s story; I have a feeling this is a book that will stay with me for awhile. The story is romantic and sweet, funny and poignant. I had butterflies and all the feels!

Skyler has had a rough go. She finds herself back in her hometown feeling more than a little beat up and lost. She’s struggling to find herself and determine what the future should hold for her. Skyler encounters a super-hot, somewhat mysterious man who she discovers is a former classmate all grown-up. I loved Skyler and her search for herself was honest and relate-able. Her compassion and love for Sebastian are heart-warming and endearing.

And, Sebastian….He deserves all of the good things. He’s this incredible mix of vulnerable and strong, dominant and bashful, demanding and needy. He has a challenging life and his personal demons threaten his happiness and his life with Skyler. There was a fair amount of angst involved with learning his story and watching the ups and downs his character experienced. I have so much love for Sebastian. He’s one of the most wonderful, complex characters I’ve encountered in recent reads.

Some Sort of Happy is another solid work from this author. Melanie Harlow consistently delivers great characters, interesting stories, heartfelt emotion and more than a few scenes that steam things up!  I really had no idea what to expect from the plot of this story and I found that it exceed all my hopes. (The cameo appearances of Mia and Lucas from Frenched were a fun surprise!) I love the story and these characters. This book ended on such a happy note for the pair and I can’t wait to see what the next book brings about for their lives and love!

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

 

Goodreads

Amazon

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About the Author

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her lipstick red, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not reading good books, she gets her kicks from TV series like Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Masters of Sex, Deadwood, Mad Men, and Downtown Abbey (although she wishes it were more HBO and less PBS). Melanie is the author of the FRENCHED contemporary romance series (FRENCHED, YANKED, FORKED) and the sexy historical series SPEAK EASY (SPEAK EASY, SPEAK LOW), set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.
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Palm South University – Season 1 – Episode 5

Title: Palm South University: Episode Five
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: Sept 22, 2015
Find on Goodreads

Drama. Lies. Sex. 

Welcome to Palm South University.

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up in South Florida. At a school where fraternities and sororities don’t exactly play by the rules, relationships are bound to be tested. Parties and sex are definitely key ingredients in the Palm South recipe, but what happens when family issues, secret lives, and unrequited love get tossed in the mix?

Follow Cassie, Bear, Jess, Skyler, Erin, Ashlei, and Adam as they tackle college at a small, private beach town university. Written in television drama form, each episode of this serial will pull you deeper and deeper into the world of PSU.

Where the sun is hot and the clothes are scarce, anything can happen.

Amazon

BFF K’s Review

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Episode 5 sets up just like the next to last episode of a good TV show. I have a feeling the groundwork is laid for an explosive season finale! In this episode, I LOVED the interactions of Bear and Skyler. They’re my favorite non-couple-couple! And, I continue to be frustrated with Adam and Skyler. They like each other and might be a fine pairing. But Skyler and Adam aren’t willing to commit to each other and Adam just won’t leave Cassie alone. He’s messing with her head whether he means to or not. But, there were great advancements in the stories for both Ashlei and Jess and Jarrett. I’m anxious to see how this season ends – just one more week to go until the final episode of season 1!

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Excerpt

“Are you okay?”

“Peachy,” I remark, snatching my board from the ground. The quick motion of bending over and standing upright again sends me spinning and Jarrett’s hands find my waist to steady me again. “My phone on the other hand, not so much.”

At that, Jarrett’s lips twitch into a devilish smirk. “It was a necessary casualty.”

My heartbeat quickens and my mouth feels like I swallowed cotton. I know Jarrett can sense it. He feels my nerves. He can feel me trembling. I know, because he’s smirking wider now, his dark eyes hooded in a mixture of lust and amusement. When he bites his lower lip and drags his teeth along the tender flesh, my eyes flutter closed before I realize what I’m doing.

“I can buy you a replacement, if you’d like,” he adds, but he says it huskily and I know it’s on purpose. “We could go to the mobile store on campus after class Wednesday.”

“It’s fine,” I say, snapping out of my trance. “It’s already being fixed.” Why is my voice shaking? Why am I staring at him like he’s stark ass naked instead of fully clothed in a tight gray t-shirt and basketball shorts? Wait… he’s wearing basketball shorts? My eyes fall lower and I can clearly see the outline of him straining beneath them.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

Really? Like really?

About the Author

Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer. Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).
When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.
Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Review – Drowning to Breathe by A.L. Jackson

Drowning to Breathe
A Bleeding Stars Novel, Book 2

The danger in pretending is it becoming real…

Sebastian Stone, Sunder front man and guitarist with a rap sheet about ten miles long, escaped to Savannah, Georgia, to get away from the trouble he’d caused.

Not find more of it.

The moment he saw Shea Bentley, he saw beneath all her sweet and innocence to something that went deeper.

Darker.

Their relationship was built on secrets; their love built on lies.

Sebastian never imagined how deep her secrets went.

When the past and present collide, Sebastian and Shea find themselves fighting for a future neither believed they deserved. Their passion is consuming and their need unending.

Now, holding the truth in his hands, Sebastian is faced with sacrificing everything he’s come to love to protect Shea and his family.

Two pasts intertwined.

Two lives bound.

Will their demons drown them or will Shea and Sebastian finally learn to breathe?

 

BFF K’s Review

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Drowning to Breathe is the heart-stopping conclusion of Sabastian and Shea’s story that started in A Stone in the Sea. If you haven’t met Baz and Shea, you should buy book #1 immediately; I couldn’t read it fast enough! Book #2 did not disappoint.

Drowning to Breathe picks up right where the previous book left off. And, the cliffhanger from book #1 broke my heart all over again! But, I was soon racing through the pages uncovering layer after layer of this complex story. The lives of these characters are intertwined in ways you can’t even imagine. Their pasts have caused them to build walls that take herculean efforts to tear down. But, the love they have for one another and their commitment to re-building a future together is enough to do it.

Sabastian and Shea are incredible. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I have to say “the Las Vegas weekend” is one of the sweetest, most romantic, perfect book moments ever! Throughout the book, I loved how Shea peeled away the shame and fears from her past to fight for Baz. Their love, the hope of a life together with Kallie, and a future together gives both Shea and Baz the strength to face difficult situations and fight for one another.

The cast of supporting characters in this book is so terrific! I don’t usually highlight the bad guy – but this one was just particularly vile! Martin was an absolute slime-ball, disgusting, horrible villain! I wanted nothing more than to see him loose his holds on Baz and Shea in a fall of epic proportions. I <3 Lyrik, Ash, Zee, Austin, April, Charlie…..I’m anxious for future books in the Bleeding Stars series so that we can check back in and discover more about the lives and loves of all these characters!

A.L. Jackson’s writing style is absolutely poetic. I often found myself stopping mid-page and re-reading because the words and sentences flowed together so beautifully. Drowning to Breathe is a brilliantly crafted love story that delivers an HEA to characters who deserve all the love and happiness imaginable!

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

 Amazon      iBooks

Excerpt

My heart slammed around in my chest and my sight narrowed on one singular goal.

Her.

It felt like a lifetime to get to her house, and there was nothing stopping me now. Unlocking her front door, I charged up the stairs. I didn’t pause at her bedroom door. I threw it open. I needed to get to her.

With her back to me, Shea was curled around a pillow on the center of her bed. She startled with the sudden intrusion and jerked up to sitting. Caramel eyes blinked at me through the dim light, confusion and hurt and sorrow.

Motionless, I stood in the doorway as the silence hovered over all our uncertainties.

On all the questions.

But Shea was right.

None of that mattered.

And this was enough.

“Shea.” My voice broke on her name.

I took a step inside and latched the door shut behind me.

Shea’s chin quivered, and she lifted it because I knew this girl wanted to be brave. I knew she was playing through a million scenarios. Mentally going through all the ways I was going to let her go. How I was going to let her down. I knew the words she expected to spill from my mouth because for too long I’d been a coward and a fool, thinking sacrifice was the only way to make this right.

Because every time I turned around, I lost someone I loved.

Not this time.

I swallowed hard. “You want to know what I see when I look at you?”

When the intensity in my voice hit her, Shea choked out a tiny sob.

I took one step closer as I began to speak. “I see someone who’s so fucking sweet and kind that every time I look at her it just about knocks me from my feet, because I’ve had so much bad in my life I don’t know how to stand in her presence. I see someone who I know I don’t deserve, so every time I turn around, I’m runnin’ scared because I’m terrified of ruining everything she is.”

Slowly, I approached her, and she watched me in the shadows. Her hands trembled in her lap as I neared.

“I see someone who deserves the greatest kind of joy.”

Another step closer, and Shea crept toward the side of the bed. She drew a single leg up to her chest. Clinging to it as if it could protect her from any more pain. Everything she felt and wanted and feared was exposed in the expression on her face.

I stopped at the edge of the bed and dropped to my knees.

A small cry escaped her mouth.

Reaching out, I gripped her face in my hands, my fingers burrowing in soft, soft hair.

“I see someone, who even though there’s not a chance in this world I could ever be good enough to have her…good enough to hold her…that’s all I want to do. I see someone I want to protect and love and fight for.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. She edged even closer and let her legs slip over the side.

I settled myself between her knees and met the storm in her eyes.

“I see beauty and light.”

Those eyes flashed, and emotion crushed my ribs. This girl had me twisted up in every way possible.

Shea gasped when I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to me. I shifted so I sat on the floor with my back propped against the bed.

Shea was straddling my lap.

Warmth enveloped me. Her heart was pounding, all tucked up against me, right where she belonged.

Her skin felt so soft. Mine lit on fire.

She searched my face and I kept on.

“I see the most fucking gorgeous girl I’ve ever had the pleasure to lay my eyes on.” My voice dropped as I leaned up so I could brush my mouth across her ear. “The pleasure to touch.”

A shiver rolled through her, and I gathered one of her hands between us, threading our fingers. I studied them as I struggled to form the words.

I lifted my gaze and spoke with the most honesty I’d ever allowed myself.

“When I look at you, I see a future I never thought existed, Shea.”

Check out BFF K’s Review for A Stone in the Sea, Book #1 in the Bleeding Stars Series

He wanted nothing at all…

Until he found she had everything to give…

Sunder lead singer and guitarist Sebastian Stone has everything—fans, fame, and fortune. He also has a heart full of bitterness and a reputation for a short-fused temper. But an outward reputation rarely reveals the true man inside. Facing assault charges after trying to protect his younger brother, Sebastian is sent to Savannah, Georgia to lie low until the dust settles in L.A.

Shea Bentley is beautiful, kind, and hiding from the very lifestyle Sebastian has always embraced.

When the mysterious, tattooed stranger begins hanging out at the bar where she works, Shea is quick to recognize he is nothing but trouble, but she’s helpless to the way her body lights up every time his intense gray eyes tangle with hers.

They both soon find themselves drowning in a sea of desire and passion that won’t let them up for air.

Sebastian knows firsthand secrets never die, and he’s not the only one who’s hiding them.

Loving someone always comes with a price. But will it be Shea’s past that costs them everything?

 

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About the Author


A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college
student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends
and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

 

Connect with A.L. Jackson online:www.aljacksonauthor.com

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and
excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!

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Review – Palm South University – Season 1- Episode 4

Title: Palm South University: Episode Four
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: Sept 15, 2015
Find on Goodreads

Drama. Lies. Sex.

Welcome to Palm South University.

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up in South Florida. At a school where fraternities and sororities don’t exactly play by the rules, relationships are bound to be tested. Parties and sex are definitely key ingredients in the Palm South recipe, but what happens when family issues, secret lives, and unrequited love get tossed in the mix?

Follow Cassie, Bear, Jess, Skyler, Erin, Ashlei, and Adam as they tackle college at a small, private beach town university. Written in television drama form, each episode of this serial will pull you deeper and deeper into the world of PSU.

Where the sun is hot and the clothes are scarce, anything can happen.

BFF K’s Review

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Welcome to my Tuesday obsession! I’m kind of getting addicted to the Palm South University stories. I’m loving these characters and their over the top college experiences. The Palm South University series is a fast-paced character driven read that’s like devouring your favorite reality TV episode – in book format! I was thrilled that this week’s episode focused on some of my most favorites. Cassie and Skyler each have their own take on Adam and I love the way this is playing out as the episodes build. But, Jessica and Jarrett! Holy hotness – I LOVE this couple. I want to read a whole book just about them. This week’s episode is Halloween, so you know it’s full of some fun, steamy surprises and it’s my favorite episode so far in the season!

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon

Excerpt

The corners of his mouth curl into a devilish grin as my eyes wander across his skin. “You think a mermaid could dance with a lifeguard?” he asks, quirking a brow.

“Well, I did pass over the part where I have a tail and skipped straight to the legs.”

“And what incredible legs they are,” he husks, allowing his own eyes to devour my body now. Clay grabs my hand and pulls me out onto the dance floor before I have the chance to say anything further. As I turn away from him and we grind our bodies to the beat, I catch Adam staring at me from where Skyler and the girls are gathered. His brows are furrowed, his mouth pursed, and he looks like he wants to either kill me or save me.

Suddenly, the butterflies are back.

About the Author

Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer.

Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).

When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Duo Review – The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal….

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

BFF’s Duo Review

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BFF A’s Review

A summary of the text conversation between BFF K and myself.

BFF K: You HAVE to read The Bourbon Kings. It’s soooooo good.

Me: OK

BFF K: No, you have to download it NOW and start reading, I need to talk to someone about this book. I love it so much. (I think there may have been a little drooling on her part)

Me: Ookaay!!

So of course I buy the book. I mean, how can I not after that conversation? When your best friend insists you read a book, you do it, right?

Here’s the text after I finished reading:

Me: I did it! I started and finished reading The Bourbon Kings yesterday.

BFF K: OMG, I’ll call you when I’m on my way home! What did you think? I might cry if you didn’t love it.

Me: Please don’t cry. Of course I loved it, I read the whole thing in one day!

So, if you haven’t dropped everything you are doing and started reading The Bourbon Kings, you must do it now!

I was so caught up while reading; it felt like I was living through the story. I was upset when I didn’t find myself relaxing by my gorgeous outdoor pool, being delivered fresh lemonade by the butler while watching the gardener create fabulous floral arrangements and the maid cleaning the house. Reality check, I guess it’s up to me to get all of that accomplished, not the staff I have at the estate. I also found myself wanting to shop for large, fancy hats to wear to the derby while sipping on a glass of the family reserve of bourbon.

The story line is just like a soap opera; there are a lot of characters and so much going on, but once I got to know each of them and make connections, I couldn’t put it down. Start with the wealthy family trying to cover up deep down secrets and hide love affairs that are not supposed to happen. Mom is sick and bed ridden, unable to communicate with the family. Children have been kidnapped, lost and abused and end up with scars, both physically and mentally. Daddy is hiding many demons and always getting his way, even if that means cutting off all the family money when one of the children doesn’t do what he wants. A crazy wife married to one of the sons, she is so manipulative, you just want to reach in a slap her. But the best part is the love story. Love between two people that is so genuine and real, but not without broken hearts and obstacles to overcome to get to your true love. Death, manipulation, lies, tears, and secrets are exposed, but not all answered, which kept me hanging on, wanting to know more and find out the truth. I can’t wait until the next book comes out!

BFF K’s Review

I grew up watching Dallas, Knots Landing and Days of Our Lives. I’m a BIG fan of epic, sprawling, family-based, character driven stories; the seedier and steamier, the better! I remember my mom and my aunt’s gathering on Friday nights to watch a new episode of Dallas and then sitting around for hours discussing the characters and their predicaments. We would hypothesize for days anticipating the next episode and wondering what dastardly things would happen the next week. The Bourbon Kings is just like that, only BETTER. Think Dallas meets Downton Abbey, soaked in bourbon and deception!

I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version of The Bourbon Kings. I’ve listened to the audio TWICE in the last 6 weeks. I’ve got bookmarks and notes everywhere and keep replaying my favorite parts over and over! This narrator’s thick, deep, smooth, southern drawl has me swooning like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve been over to BFF A’s house to pet the hard copy because seriously, how beautiful is this cover?!?! I just bought the Kindle version. I LOVE everything about this book.

Lane and Lizzie…I adore this couple. Their re-connection and struggle to stay together despite all the drama in their lives is the steady heartbeat of this story. Lane is the playboy who runs away from adversity. His return to Charlemont, Kentucky, and Easterly, his family home, is fraught with emotions and entanglements. Lizzie King is the sweet, genuine, hard-working, love of his life that he left behind. This cast of characters is extensive and colorful. Everyone has a story, a secret (or 10) and a HUGE personality. Lane and Lizzie, Gin and Samuel T, Edward and Sutton/Edward and Shelby, Miss Aurora, William Baldwine, Chantal Baldwine, Rosalinda Freeland, Richard Pford….I can’t get enough of these characters! My heart soared and broke, and my anger flared with every drama-filled chapter!

I’m addicted to these characters and their stories. I have read/listened to parts over and over again. I’m dying to know what happens next and what the outcome will be for my favorites and the foes! I’ve badgered many of my BFFs into reading it, raved about it on Facebook, and talked with anyone who will listen about this amazing book! I know that the price point is higher than most of the books we recommend but, it is worth EVERY PENNY!

Please, please, please buy this book and then contact me so that we can chat because the only thing I like better than listening to/reading this book is talking about it with my BFF’s!

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BFF K’s Favorite Quote

“I’m prepared to be a very patient man when it comes to you. I will seduce you for how ever long it takes; give you space if you need it or follow you tight as sunshine on your shoulder if you’ll let me.”

His eyes locked on hers.

“I lost my chance with you once Lizzie King. That is not going to happen again.”

I’m not kidding – this quote gives me all the feels! And, you should hear it on the audio – OMG!!! Swoon!

Purchase The Bourbon Kings on Amazon

Purchase The Bourbon Kings on Audible

About the Author

 

J.R. Ward is the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series of vampire books. She is a winner of the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best Paranormal Romance and is a multiple RITA nominee. A graduate of Smith College, she was a double major in History and Art History with a medieval concentration in both and she still longs at times for a return to those days sitting in dark lecture halls, looking at slides of old triptychs and reliquaries. Prior to becoming a full time writer, she was a corporate attorney, serving for many years as the Chief of Staff of one of Harvard Medical Schools premier teaching sites. Her idea of absolute heaven is a day filled with nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot and the Brothers, of course.

 

 

 

 

 

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Review – Darken the Stars by Amy A. Bartol

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Darken the Stars is the heart-stopping, adrenaline-fueled, hangover-inducing conclusion to the Kricket Series by Amy A. Bartol.

Kyon Ensin finally has what he’s always wanted: possession of Kricket Hollowell, the priestess who foresees the future. Together, their combined power will be unrivaled. Kricket, however, doesn’t crave the crown of Ethar—she has an unbreakable desire to live life on her own terms, a life that she desperately wants to share with her love, Trey Allairis.

As conspiracies rage in the war for Ethar, Kricket’s so-called allies want to use her as a spy. Even those held closest cannot be trusted—including Astrid, her sister, and Giffen, a member of a mysterious order with a hidden agenda. But Kricket’s resolve will not allow her to be used as anyone’s pawn, even as the Brotherhood sharpens its plans to cut out her heart.

As the destiny prophesied by her mother approaches, Kricket will backtrack through her fiery future to reshape it. For she knows one thing above all else: the only person she can truly count on is herself.

Read BFF K’s reviews of: Under Different Stars and Sea of Stars.

BFF K’s Review

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I’m not sure how to write a review for a book that concludes (?) a series that I have dearly loved in a manner in which I’m still coming to terms. I’m a HUGE fan of Amy A. Bartol. I think she’s an absolute genius and her creation of worlds beyond my wildest imagination is exceptional. Darken the Stars blew me away, hence the rare 6-Rating!

If you’ve been following Amy Bartol or any of the social media hype surrounding this book, you will know that it has left many in a state of great unrest. The ending is not what many (including me) had hoped for these beloved characters.

While the conclusion to this story left me sobbing and bleeding; it’s honestly better than the worst case scenarios that ran through my head before and during my reading.  The ending is better than the countless horrific outcomes I had envisioned where all my favorite characters in the series, including Kricket, die unspeakably horrible deaths. This ending is NOT what I had expected or hoped for but, in retrospect, I can’t imagine being satisfied with something different at this point.

Kricket has a life on her own terms. She belongs to no one and is controlled by no one. She also knows the truth about who she is and what her abilities allow her to do. Kricket has true friendships and a true understanding of who she is, how brilliant she is and how many people love her to the point that they will kill for her.

It is sometimes easy to forget, but this series is about Kricket. This series is about her journey, her discoveries, her fights for love and acceptance and life as she chooses. All of the other characters and plots exist to highlight and develop Kricket. Darken the Stars emphasizes all of the amazing complexities and nuances of Kricket’s character; she has proven herself over and over again.

Throughout this series, it has been no secret that I LOVE Trey (still do.) He’s been one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends. I also had a strong dislike for Kyon. I have spouted in several forums on social media my dislike for Kyon and the assertion that I would never, could never like this character……When I’m wrong, I’ll say I’m wrong. After Darken the Stars, I see Kyon differently. I valiantly fought against liking him but, through this book, I understand him so clearly. I understand Kricket’s feelings for him and his feelings for her. It is a testament to Amy Bartol’s storytelling to take a character that was so despised and completely redeem and endear him to the reader. This character exploration alone makes Darken the Stars worth reading!

This book has always been billed as the final installment in the Kricket series. If it ends today, I can live with the conclusion. I will imagine in my head countless continuations for my favorite characters as the story will continue to play out in ways I envision. However, if we raise our voices together – rant, rave and beg, maybe the publisher #47North would consider a continuation to Kricket’s story. Like so many others, I’m just not ready for this story to end.

If you have read the first two books in the Kricket series, you absolutely MUST read Darken the Stars. If you haven’t started the series, I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it is. This series is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorites!

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An ARC of this book was received in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon Links to Purchase The Kricket Series

Under Different Stars – Book 1

Sea of Stars – Book 2

Sea of Stars: The Kricket Series, Book 2 – Book 2 on Audible

Darken the Stars – Book 3

About the Author

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: http://www.amyabartol.com

 

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Review – Throttled by Elizabeth Lee

THROTTLED (A Wild Riders Novel #1) by Elizabeth Lee
NA Contemporary Romance

Reid Travers knows how to win. Becoming Motocross royalty was always the plan, and he was willing to make sacrifices along the way to reach his goal. Sacrifices he thought he could live with until he returned to the small town where he grew up and learned to ride, and, more importantly, where he fell in love. When fate sends Nora Bennett back into his life, he takes one look at her and realizes that he made a huge mistake breaking up with her five years ago. Now, he’ll do whatever it takes to win her back. As Reid sets out to earn her forgiveness and convince her that the guy she’s dating is not the one for her, Nora finds herself torn between what her head is telling her and what her heart wants.

It’s a race he never expected to be in, for a girl he can’t stand to lose again.

BFF K’s Review

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Throttled is sweet, second-chance, NA, romance perfection! What an interesting setting for a romance novel…..the world of motocross. But, I’m totally on board! The pictures that Elizabeth Lee paints of hot hot men in tight racing pants and fitted t-shirts pulling helmets off of their sweaty heads with looks of adrenaline fueled lust had me wondering where is the closest motocross track! And, I really loved Nora and Reid’s story. They’re high school sweethearts who never quite got over the loss of their one true love! When they find themselves back in each others’ lives, ALL the old feelings come rushing back. Reid is absolutely determined to win Nora back and this time for good! The banter is strong and the story line is interesting. This is a quick read with great characters and a fun setting. Absolutely worth the one-click!

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS
AmazonAmazon UK
B&N, iTunes, and Kobo: Coming Soon!

Excerpt

Reid Travers had grown up. He had always been attractive, but time and professional racing had done something to his features and body that he should have thanked the good Lord every day for. His jawline and nose seemed more chiseled. His eyes wiser and brighter. Well-worn jeans hung around his hips, the waistband sitting just below a set of abs that had me thinking all kinds of things—none of which had anything to do with a real estate transaction. While my stomach was a knot of nervousness, below that something inside of me was coiling so tightly that the possibility of shooting straight into the sky seemed feasible. Especially if he kept looking at me the way he was. His brown eyes were locked on mine and I was helpless to look away. “Nora Bennett,” he said as he closed the distance between us. He ran his hand down his jawline, the days’ worth of stubble only adding to his new all-grown-up appeal. “How are you?”

“Fine,” I answered softly as he reached out. The second his hand touched my arm, I knew I was in trouble—his rough, calloused fingertips met my smooth skin and it was like striking a match.

Giveaway

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About the Author:

When I’m not writing or playing the part of wife and mom, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here’s the thing about being born and raised in a small town–you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!