Review – Trailer Park Heart by Rachel Higginson

Trailer park born and raised. It’s my legacy. That’s how my mama lived. And that’s how her mama lived. It’s the life I was born into and it’s the life I swore I would leave the second I was old enough to make it out.

Only legacies have a funny way of sneaking up on you. An innocent decision the night of high school graduation led to a series of complications in my plans to escape.

Seven years later, I’ve resigned myself to this small town and the roots I’m tied to. Nothing could make me leave. And nothing could make me spill the secrets that keep me here.

Until he walks back into town with a chip on his shoulder and a stupid hunch nobody else in town has been smart enough to follow.

Levi Cole is my opposite. Born on the right side of the tracks with family money to spare, he’s the kind of black sheep that can afford to be rebellious—because his family will always pay for his mistakes. He’s also the only living heir to Cole Family Farms, after his brother Logan was killed in duty seven years ago.

He sees something in my life that he thinks he has a right to. But he’s wrong. And obnoxious. And he needs to take his stubborn good looks and that intense way he looks at me and go back to wherever it was he came from.

I know better than to trust men like him. I was born and raised in a trailer park, I know nothing good happens to girls like me—girls with trailer park lives and trailer park hearts. Especially from gorgeous, kind, pigheaded men like him.

 

Buy Trailer Park Heart today!

Amazon      Barnes & Noble      iBooks

BFF K’s Review of Trailer Park Heart

Last night I finished a book that won’t stop bouncing around in my brain. It is the best book I’ve read in 2018 and that’s saying something….I’ve read 90+ books this year. This book is sweet and tender, full of angst and emotion, heartbreaking and soul affirming, complex and beautifully written. I want everyone to read this book.

Part of the reason that I’m so in love with this story is that it is set in Nebraska. I understand the critical role that small-town-Nebraska plays in this story. There is a level of poverty that exists alongside material wealth that is staggering. There can be a tremendous sense of hometown pride mixed with a clear desire to move beyond what you’ve always known. Nebraska is its own character in this book and I love it!

Ruby is a perplexing character. She is strong and fierce at the same time that she is insecure and withdrawn. She can’t shake the aura of trailer park that follows her everywhere. Ruby knows that no one looks past her former-stripper-mother and the poverty in which she was raised. She believes that her upbringing defines her in the eyes of the small town residents and busy bodies. Her only goal is to get out, go to college, move on. But her plans are derailed on graduation night. The emotional barriers she has built continue to rise.

Levi was Ruby’s nemesis in high school. Constantly in her orbit. Prodding and poking and urging her on. He was both friend and foe. And now he’s back. And he’s even more than he was before. He’s smarter and more persistent, more handsome, more clever and more irresistible. Levi has his sights set on Ruby and showing her that there is more to life and Clark City than she believes. Until he learns her most closely guarded secret. Will it destroy the way that he looks at her?

Perhaps Ruby didn’t understand Levi and his motivations as much as she thought. Or, perhaps she was attempting to protect herself. Maybe, just maybe, Ruby’s walls and defenses extend beyond just Levi. His return makes her question everything she’s believed about her life. Maybe someone can love her because of her trailer park heart and not in spite of it?

This book is just everything. Like Levi, it is just MORE. It is a stunning, emotional, fulfilling story that you need to read. It will make you think and force you to feel and in the end it will just live in a corner of your brain with a piece of your heart, trailer park included.

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

 

Excerpt from Trailer Park Heart

He stared at me, unspeaking, unmoving. The hurt in his eyes and the frown on his face devastated my already broken spirit.

“And I don’t even know what to tell you,” I cried some more. “Because my mistake led me to Max and for that reason I can never really regret it. But I hate how I hurt you. I hate that my mistakes meant pushing you away. I hate that I finally know how I feel about you and it’s too late.”

His eyes flashed with something so intense I gasped for breath. “How do you feel about me?” How could he ask me that now? How did he not know? How had he not always known? “Don’t make me say it,” I whispered, my voice dragged over gravel. “It hurts too much.” “Ruby,” he pleaded, his voice just as fragmented. “Say it. Please.”

I didn’t bother brushing away the tears, there were too many of them, my grief was too heavy. “I love you,” I whispered. “I’ve always loved you. I’ve just been too afraid to say it.”

To admit it.

 

About the Author

Rachel Higginson is the best-selling author of The Opposite of You, The Five Stages of Falling in Love, Every Wrong Reason, Bet on Us and The Star-Crossed Series.

She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising five amazing kids.

 

 

You can visit Rachel:
Instagram @mywritesdntbite
rachelhigginson.com
facebook.com/rachelhigginsonauthor
Twitter @mywritesdntbite

 

Review – The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

City girl Calla Fletcher attempts to reconnect with her estranged father, and unwittingly finds herself torn between her desire to return to the bustle of Toronto and a budding relationship with a rugged Alaskan pilot in this masterful new romance from acclaimed author K.A. Tucker.

Calla Fletcher was two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when her father reaches out to inform her that his days are numbered, Calla knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.

She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this new subarctic environment, Jonah—the quiet, brooding, and proud Alaskan pilot who keeps her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.

Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. As time passes, she unexpectedly finds herself forming a bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago.

It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.

 

The Simple Wild Buy Links

Amazon    iBooks    B&N     Indigo    BAM    Kobo     Other
Audible    iTunes    Play    Audiobook

BFF K’s Review of The Simple Wild

Here’s a little something different for my review of The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker! I was invited to appear on an episode of All About Books on our local public radio station! How much fun is that? The interview included a review of one of my favorite books of 2018! If you have a few minutes, take a listen and learn all about The Simple Wild and why I absolutely LOVE this story!

I began by listening to this book on Audible, but loved it so much I also purchased the Kindle copy so I could finish reading it and highlighting my favorite parts. The story is beautiful and you’ll love it no matter how you read it.

Listen to it here on the blog or go directly to the NET All About Books Archives!

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 17 books, including the Causal Enchantment, Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, and The Simple Wild. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, First for Women, and Publisher’s Weekly. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for TEN TINY BREATHS and Best Romance 2018 for THE SIMPLE WILD. KEEP HER SAFE made Suspense Magazine’s Best of 2018 list for Romantic Suspense. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her family.

Keep up with K.A. on all platforms:

Website ➜ http://www.katuckerbooks.com/
Newsletter Sign up ➜ http://bit.ly/2iYqxMT
Facebook➜ http://bit.ly/2iM2HEe
Twitter➜ http://bit.ly/2iPYYIe
Goodreads ➜ http://bit.ly/2jjdSrr
Instagram➜ http://bit.ly/2ijIjJN

Series Review – Cake A Love Story by J. Bengtsson


I happened upon Cake: A Love Story by J. Bengtsson via some recommendations in my most favorite audiobook lovers Facebook group. Shout out to Aural Fixation! I listened to Book 1, and immediately to book 2 and then book 3. It was 33 hours of audiobooks in 8 days. Don’t judge – I drove a lot, my house was spotless and all the laundry got folded! I’m in love with this series and I can’t wait to see what this author delivers next! If you’re an audiobook lover, you have got to get this series! If you’re a romance lover, you’ve got to get this series! I’m going to feature brief reviews below for each book, but you’ve just got to get them!!! This post contains: Amazon buy links, reviews, author bio and then book descriptions!

Buy this series TODAY on Amazon

All of the books are also available on Kindle Unlimited!

Cake: A Love Story

The Theory of Second Best: Cake Series Book Two

Fiercely Emma: Cake Series Book Three

 

BFF K’s Series Review for Cake: A Love Story

BFF K’s Quick Review for Cake: A Love Story

This is a Rockstar Love Story that is ANYTHING but a typical Rockstar Love Story! There is a backstory combined with supporting characters that make this book something truly special.

I fell in love with Jake. He’s deep and broody, sweet and funny, moody and swoony and everything that a romance Hero should be! Casey is witty and charming, laid back, young and sweet. She is also Jake’s perfect match. No one else brings out the best in Jake. Casey doesn’t worship or coddle Jake, but she listens and supports and loves him unconditionally. There are powerful demons and unbelievable experiences in Jake’s past, but Casey proves woman enough to handle them and him.

Their romance is a wave that’s swift and powerful and an absolute joy to ride. Andi Arndt and Joe Arden deliver an engrossing and enthralling audiobook performance. Beware – once you start this series, you’ll be consumed until it’s over! But, it’s worth every minute, I know you’ll fall in love with Cake!

 

BFF K’s Quick Review for The Theory of Second Best: Cake Series Book Two

Kyle has lived his life in the shadow of his talented and sometimes troubled older brother. He’s spent his life being second to Jake. But, it’s a role he’s grown weary of playing and Kyle wants to see what else is out there. Is there anything else he can be good at or can he be content filling this role forever. In an attempt to figure out the answer to that question, Kyle signs up for a Survivor-esque reality show. He discovers a great deal about himself and finds the girl who lights up his world.

Kenzie has been sister, mother, daughter, and manager for her entire family. She’s worked harder than anyone her age should have to. Her efforts have kept her father and siblings going. But, she wants to see what life looks like outside of the tiny town she calls home. This reality game show will provide her with the perfect opportunity.

Kyle and Kenzie come together under the craziest of circumstances, but learn so much about each other and themselves. They’re not perfect. They’re flawed and damaged, naive and reckless. But, they’re also sweet and silly, charming and funny and absolutely perfect for each other! The cast of quirky characters makes this book a humorous tale of self-discovery and sweet love. Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber deliver engaging performances that drive the story. This book is second in the series, but holds its own in all the very best ways!

 

BFF K’s Quick Review for Fiercely Emma: Cake Series Book Three

 

Emma feels as if she was denied a childhood. Her family’s trauma (particularly her brother Jake’s) impacted her in ways that she never disclosed or dealt with. Emma is cautious and careful. She prescribes to specific plans and ideas for the best ways to live her life and she has no intention or desire to deviate. Until she meets Finn.

Finn blows into her life like the hot winds that whip up a wild fire. He is unlike anyone she’s ever met and absolutely the last thing she thinks she needs. Finn dances to the beat of his own drummer. He takes life as it comes and rolls with the punches. He doesn’t realize that Emma’s brand of structure and organization is just what he’s been searching for.

Apart, Finn and Emma are pretty much a mess in completely opposite ways. But together, they’re pretty much perfect! They bring out the best in one another, each smoothing the other’s rough edges. Are they just too different to make life work together for the long run? Or, can their differences become the glue that binds them together? This book is a stellar opposites attract love story and the perfect continuation to the Cake Series!

 

About the Author

J. Bengtsson lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. Her favorite things to do are laugh, go for walks, and hang out with family.

Twitter: @CakeALoveStory

jbengtssonauthor@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/jbengtssonauthor

Join the Cake series email list for updates on new books http://eepurl.com/chhhbX

 

Cake: A Love Story

-A reclusive rock star going through the motions-

Jake McKallister might have been a rock star, but he was no ordinary one. Surviving an unspeakable crime as a young teen had shaped him into a guarded workaholic, and he now lived his life trying to forget. If it hadn’t been for music and the redemption he found through it, he might not have survived. Career success came easily for him. Personal connections did not.

-A vivacious college student embracing life-

When outspoken and fun-loving Casey Caldwell was paired with the famously reserved musician for a friend’s wedding, she was prepared for the worst. What could they possibly have in common? She was a bubbly talker; he was a media-shy loner. His life was filled with music; she couldn’t carry a tune. She’d enjoyed a happy childhood; his was a well-publicized nightmare.

-Their worlds are about to collide-

Despite their obvious differences, Jake and Casey found each other, and her light balanced out his darkness. Would their love be strong enough to survive the weight of his tragic past?

 

The Theory of Second Best: Cake Series Book Two

 

-A brother who lives his life in the shadows of greatness-
Kyle McKallister is the younger brother to one of the world’s most elusive and embattled celebrities. He has carved out a comfortable existence touring with his famous brother and living in the lap of luxury with no commitments or plans of his own, only a deep, haunting loyalty to his brother. But Kyle’s life is about to be shaken up when the opportunity comes to compete on a popular reality show.

-A sister who sets aside her dreams for the ones she loves-

Small town girl Kenzie Williams has come on the show for one thing only: to win. But when a disastrous start forces her to rely on an eclectic band of misfits, she finds herself immediately smitten with a handsome and mysterious cast mate.

-Pushed together by circumstance, two outcasts find love-

But life on the island is just a game. Can Kyle and Kenzie’s fragile spark survive the pressures of the real world?

 

Fiercely Emma: Cake Series Book Three

Emma, older sister of renowned rock star Jake McKallister, has crafted a quiet existence for herself. Fiercely independent, scorned at work, and indifferent to relationships, she’s spent the past decade trying to move on from the crime that shook her family to the core. Living by a promise she made to herself as a distraught sixteen-year-old, Emma has sworn off marriage and children… until a chance encounter with a scruffy hitchhiker throws her orderly world into chaos.

A wild child raised in mayhem by a teenage mother, fearless Finn Perry cruises through life as the perennial nice guy. Now a struggling actor, he supports himself by performing daredevil stunts. At a crossroads in his life, one thing has always remained constant in his world: Finn’s desire to start the family he never had. The mystery woman who rescues him from the side of the road sure seems like the perfect person for the job.

But unfinished business from Emma’s troubled past looms heavy, threatening to destroy the fledging love she’s found with the only man to ever jump-start her wounded heart.

 

Buy them all TODAY on Amazon

All of the books are also available on Kindle Unlimited!

Cake: A Love Story

The Theory of Second Best: Cake Series Book Two

Fiercely Emma: Cake Series Book Three

 

Review – Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

 

Fangirl meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this funny and poignant coming-of-age novel from New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren about two boys who fall in love in a writing class—one from a progressive family and the other from a conservative religious community.

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

BFF K’s Review of Autoboyography

Autoboyography is my most thought about and talked about book of the year! I absolutely can’t stop raving about it! Christina Lauren has delivered another incredible story. But, this one rises above even their usual brilliance. It is a sweet, smart, heartwarming and heartbreaking story of young love. But, it is also a captivating social commentary and thought provoking look into the lives and struggles of two not-straight young men growing up in areas where they can not truly be themselves.

Tanner is smart and sensitive. He is surrounded by a loving family and supported by good friends, but there are still parts of himself that he keeps hidden. Sebastian is also smart and caring, and similarly, he has grown up with a great deal of love and support. But, Sebastian is also prohibited from revealing who he truly is. The push and pull and angst-filled journey is exposed in a book within a book. It will grab your heart in a vice and squeeze it so so tightly!

I can’t describe how much I LOVE this book. I have told everyone who will listen how great it is. I’ve bought copies for friends and family. I love the written copy and the audio version. I warn you…I don’t believe you can not read this book and come out unscathed. It will carve it’s lines in your head and your heart and you’ll look at the world just a little differently when you’re done. Without a doubt, this is one of my Besties of 2017, worthy of a 6-rated review and you won’t regret a minute you spend with this compelling novel.

 

About the Authors

NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY AND #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHORS

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 30+ languages.

You can find them online at ChristinaLaurenBooks.com or at @seeCwrite (Christina), @LolaShoes (Lauren), or @ChristinaLauren on Twitter.

Review – The Devil’s Cut by J.R. Ward

 

In #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward’s thrilling finale to her Bourbon Kings series, the Bradford family dynasty teeters on the edge of collapse after the murder of their patriarch—and a shocking arrest.

At first, the death of William Baldwine, the head of the Bradford family, was ruled a suicide. But then his eldest son and sworn enemy, Edward, came forward and confessed to what was, in fact, a murder. Now in police custody, Edward mourns not the disintegration of his family or his loss of freedom . . . but the woman he left behind. His love, Sutton Smythe, is the only person he has ever truly cared about, but as she is the CEO of the Bradford Bourbon Company’s biggest competitor, any relationship between them is impossible. And then there’s the reality of the jail time that Edward is facing.

Lane Baldwine was supposed to remain in his role of playboy, forever in his big brother Edward’s shadow. Instead he has become the new head of the family and the company. Convinced that Edward is covering for someone else, Lane and his true love, Lizzie King, go on the trail of a killer—only to discover a secret that is as devastating as it is game-changing.

As Lane rushes to discover the truth, and Sutton finds herself irresistibly drawn to Edward in spite of his circumstances, the lives of everyone at Easterly will never be the same again. For some, this is good; for others, it could be a tragedy beyond imagining. Only one thing is for certain: Love survives all things. Even murder.

Praise for J. R. Ward’s Bourbon Kings series

“A most sinful indulgence . . . The gorgeous Kentucky backdrop will sweep you away.”—Susan Wiggs

“Breathless fun!”—Lisa Gardner

Buy The Devil’s Cut TODAY on Amazon

 

BFF K’s Review of The Devil’s Cut

 

The Bourbon Kings is one of my all-time favorite series. The three book set will go down as one of my most beloved, most re-read and most recommended series. Every book is filled with incredible characters, fantastic settings, mind twisting surprises, heart stopping revelations, and plenty of romance!

The Bourbon Kings series follows the dramatic lives and loves of the Bradford family, owners of the Bradford Bourbon Company. There is murder, espionage, love, betrayal, secrets and so much more! The entire series is reminiscent of old school, evening soap operas like Dallas and Dynasty. It is full of all the wonderful things that make a series addictive and enthralling.

I don’t want to spoil any of the fantastic storylines or plot twists. But, I will say that this is one of my FAVORITE reads in 2017 and this series sits high in my list of all-time favorites. It is absolutely not to be missed. All of the books in this series have a higher price-point than I usually recommend, but the stories are worth every penny.

In The Devil’s Cut, many mysteries are solved, all of the relationships are tested and love wins in the end…..at least for now. I would be heartbroken about the end of this series, except, I have high hopes that the Bradford’s will be coming to my TV screen VERY soon! In the meantime, I will have to satisfy my cravings with a stiff drink and yet another re-read (or re-listen) of this fantastic series! I hope you’ll join me!

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Read Our Reviews for the Bourbon Kings Series

The Bourbon Kings

The Angel’s Share

 

Buy The Devil’s Cut TODAY on Amazon

 

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.

6-Rated Review – Dating-ish by Penny Reid

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Dating-ish, an all new standalone from the USA Today bestselling Knitting in the City romantic comedy series by Penny Reid is available now!

 

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‘Dating-ish’ can be read as a standalone, is a full length 100k word novel, and is book #6 in the Knitting in the City Series.

There are three things you need to know about Marie Harris: 1) She’s fed up with online dating, 2) She’s so fed up, she’s willing to forego the annoyance and consider more creative alternatives, and 3) She knows how to knit.

After the most bizarre and irritating first date in the history of humankind, Marie is looking for an alternative to men. With the help of her friends, she quickly identifies a few possibilities:

Need a cuddle? Use a professional cuddler. Need affirmation? Get yourself a life coach. Need an orgasm? Try orgasm meditation! Why does she need the hassle of a romantic partner when she can meet all her needs with paid services?

But then her irritating date resurfaces. And he’s not at all the person she thought he was. And he suggests a different–and crazier–solution to her dilemma . . .

As everyone knows (or will soon come to realize), traditional relations between humans are a thing of the past. Robots are our future. And if robots are our future, then why do we need other people at all?

Read Today!

Amazon US     Amazon UK     iBooks     Nook     Kobo

Google Play     Amazon AU     Smashwords

Add to GoodReads

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BFF K’s Review of Dating-ish

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Dating-ish is everything! It is clever, unique, funny, emotional, heart-felt, romantic, inspiring, educational….it’s perfect! Stop whatever book you’re reading right now and download this immediately! (Or purchase the audio!) But do it NOW!

Penny Reid writes the thinking girls’ romance novels. Dating-ish is the perfect example of her unique talent, and is the most exceptional book that I’ve read in 2017. I loved everything about it! If you’ve followed the BFF Book Blog much, you know that I love Penny Reid. 2015 was actually declared “the Year of Penny Reid” where I read everything she’d written to date. It’s no surprise that I follow her on social media and am a proud member of her fan club/reader group The Sharks of Awesome.

I’ll tell you, I went into Dating-ish with some apprehension. Penny had described this book as “weird.” The synopsis mentions robots. I didn’t know what to expect. I was confident she would deliver a great story, but I just didn’t know what it was all about. In fact, I let it sit on my Kindle for longer than I will publicly admit, before I finally gave it a read. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I put everything else aside and flipped page after page. When the audio released soon after the regular release, I bought the audio so I could read it that much faster! (And the audiobook is incredible too.) Dating-ish is NOT weird, it is wonderful!

Marie is what I expect from a Penny Reid heroine. She’s smart, capable, kind, compassionate, honest and brave. She’s the kind of friend that anyone would be honored to have. There are many scenes with the Knitting group and it is so heartwarming for fans of this series to see them all continue to interact and support one another. BUT, you don’t have to read the series to love this story! Matt is also what I expect from a Penny Reid hero. He’s clever, quirky, a little mysterious and worthy of the heroine’s love.

While I found many things that I expected to find in this book, it all combined together  with the unexpected to create something truly exceptional and worthy of my rare 6-rating. This book is just so smart. I feel like I learned so much and it caused me to think about love and relationships in the modern age in ways that I’ve never considered before. But, it isn’t preachy or boring, it is fun and flirty and fantastic!

I repeat: Dating-ish is everything! It is clever, unique, funny, emotional, heart-felt, romantic, inspiring, educational….it’s perfect! Stop whatever book you’re reading right now and download this immediately! (Or purchase the audio!) But do it NOW!

 

 

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An advance copy of this book was received. The reviewer purchased an audiobook copy. Receipt of the advance copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.
female point of view

 

 

 

Excerpt

He was quiet for bit, we both were, and I felt myself relax more and more. His palm took a detour every so often, dutifully skipping my hip and sliding along my side, and then back to my leg. Soon, I was so relaxed I felt drowsy.

I felt fingers in my hair, moving the mass away from my neck with treasuring strokes just before Matt nuzzled the back of my neck, causing goosebumps to scatter over my skin.

“Mmm.” I smiled. “Hey. Jared said no tickling.” My voice sounded sleepy.

“Does this tickle?” Matt asked softly, nuzzling me again. I felt the brush of his lips—not a kiss, a brush—paired with hot breath against the bare skin of my neck and a zing shot straight down my spine, making my toes curl and a sudden hot ache twist in my lower belly.

Oh no.

I knew that ache. I hadn’t felt it because of another person’s touch in quite a long time. Nevertheless, no one ever forgets that ache.

My back arched instinctively, my bottom pressing back against his crotch, and I stiffened. I felt my nipples harden, strain beneath the cotton of my bra. I was now fully awake. No longer drowsy.

Nope.

Not even a little.

Matt stiffened, too. His movements abruptly ceasing.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” he asked, alarm coating his words, and in the next moment his hand was suspended in the air above me. “Did I touch something I shouldn’t?”

I exhaled a short, nervous laugh, gripped by the urge to sit up.

“No. No. You didn’t.” I moved to the edge of the bed, righting myself, away from Matt, needing distance. “I’m good.” I gathered a silent breath and released it slowly because my pulse was racing.

Crap, Marie. Get a grip. It’s Matt Simmons. Professor Matt. The big kid. Why are you reacting this way?

“Did I . . .” These initial words were hesitant, and a moment of silence stretched before he continued, his tone comically teasing as he finished his thought. “Did I arouse you?”

I snorted, shaking my head, laughing at his silly tone. Turning at the waist to peer at him over my shoulder, Matt was grinning at me, twisting a make-believe mustache between his thumb and forefinger.

But then he stopped.

“I did, didn’t I?” he pushed, his hand dropping. He looked pleased, if not a little amazed.

I sighed, feeling a smidge embarrassed, and nodded. “Actually, yes. That’s a sensitive spot for most women.”

“The back of your neck?” He lifted himself to one elbow, his eyes darting to my neck with keen interest.

“My neck in general, actually.”

“Huh.” Matt frowned thoughtfully. “Where else?”

I pressed my lips together and gave him an incredulous look. “I’m not telling you that.”

“Why not?”

“Matt.”

“What if I needed it for research reasons?”

“Matt.”

“What if I told you it was part of our questionnaire?” He tossed his legs over the side of the bed and stood, walking around to my side and offering me his hand. “You should give me a schematic of your body with the erogenous zones circled and rated.”

“Let me guess, you want them rated on a ten-point scale,” I deadpanned as I accepted his hand, stood, and stepped away to gain some distance and straighten my shirt.

He shrugged, crossing his arms, stalking after me. “Or exponential. I was going to say a Likert scale, but a logarithmic scale works, too.”

Chuckling, appreciative of his attempt to diffuse my embarrassment and awkwardness with the joke, I realized Matt Simmons wasn’t a bad guy. He might even be a good guy, just a little . . . peculiar.

And wants to replace romantic relationships with robots. Best not forget that detail.

Yeah, he’d make an interesting friend.

“Thanks.” I gave him a small smile.

“For what?” His eyes moved between mine.

“For the cuddle. Thanks for the cuddle, Matt.”

“Anytime, Marie.” He grinned down at me, his eyes dancing as he leaned forward and whispered, “Anytime.”

 

 

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About the Author

Penny Reid is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

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Connect with Penny:

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

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Twitter: @ReidRomance

Newsletter: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/

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Review – Royally Matched by Emma Chase

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Royally-Matched-3D-bookSome men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry Charles Albert Edgar Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap.

He’s not handling it well.

Hoping to force her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora goes on a much-needed safari holiday—and when the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world’s most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara, only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart.

While Henry revels in the sexy, raunchy antics of the contestants as they fight, literally, for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner—with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint—who catches his eye.

The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit…and her naughty sense of humor.

But Rome wasn’t built in a day—and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight.

As he endeavors to right his wrongs, old words take on whole new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like, Duty, Honor and most of all—Love.

 

Kindle | Amazon Paperback | iBooks | Nook | B&N Paperback | Kobo | BAM | IndieBound

 

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BFF K’s Review of Royally Matched

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Sweet, surprising and spit-out-your-soda-FUNNY! I adored EVERYTHING about Royally Matched.

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for a royal romance. I also loved Royally Screwed, the first book in this series. Royally Matched takes this series and my “royal standards” to a whole new level.

Henry is a rogue. He’s mischievous, impulsive and unsettled. His new position as next-in-line to be the King of Wessco hasn’t really changed him all that much; unless you count the additional insomnia and stress. In an effort to reclaim a bit of his life before he received the weight of the crown; he signs up to star in a reality dating show. Enter sweet and studious Sarah. She’s the epitome of the shy and sexy librarian. And, Henry can’t help falling in love with her.

Their romance is tender and charming, born of mutual attraction and heart-felt respect. They are a perfect match each bringing out the best in the other. Henry and Sarah create a motion-picture-perfect love story that will have you up all night and sneaking reads during the day. I enjoyed a combo – Kindle/Audiobook read of the story and it was a fantastic complete experience. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is terrific! Royally Matched is one royal romance it would be treasonous to miss!

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An digital advance copy of this book was received. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review. The reviewer purchased a copy of the audiobook.

 

 

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About the Author

Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

WEBSITE |  FACEBOOK | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER  | GOODREADS 

 

 

Review – Real Good Love by Meghan March

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real-good-love-amazonFrom USA Today bestselling author Meghan March comes a sexy new duet with a hero you won’t want to miss.

I’ve had my fair share of bad boys, but nothing prepared me for what it was like to be with a real good man.

Logan Brantley changed everything.

Somewhere along the way, what started as a fling became the best part of my life.

He makes me want all the things I’ve never had, like forever and happily ever after, but nothing worth having comes easily.

Everyone is betting on us to fail, but I’m ready to fight for this real good love.

 

Real Good Love is the conclusion of the Real Duet and should be read following Real Good Man.

 

iBooks | Amazon US | Amazon UK |

Amazon AU | Amazon CA | BN | Kobo

 

BFF K’s Review of Real Good Love

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Real Good Love is…..REALLY GOOD! I am absolutely loving everything about this Duet. I LOVE the characters, the story, the writing, the plot-twists, the steamy scenes, and the overall romance of the book(s).

Logan and Banner are sensational – great individual characters and an even better couple. Their dialogue and banter are crisp, witty and funny. I would love an entire book full of nothing but their text messages. Logan is pretty much the PERFECT book boyfriend – all alpha, protective, passionate, hard-working, sweet and charming.  Banner is sharp and sarcastic, bold and vulnerable, smart, successful and sweet. They’re opposites who are made for each other.

Real Good Love is the flawless conclusion to a superb story! I’m jealous of anyone who gets to read this duet for the first time because it’s so much fun!  I did a combo read/listen of Real Good Love with the Kindle Version and the Audiobook. Both are stellar, but the audio is my most favorite narrating team of Sebastian York and Elena Wolfe and it is a treat for the ears!

While both Real Good Man and Real Good Love received 5-Ratings, I’m giving the duet a rare 6-Rating because the two together are just that….GOOD!

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An advance copy of this book was received from the author, the reviewer purchased the audio version. Receipt of the advance copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.

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BFF K’s Overall Rating for The Real Duet

Real Good Man and Real Good Love are REALLY good, this duet is romance perfection!

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Excerpt

I’m a woman on a mission when I step off my last flight at six o’clock at night, annoyed it took me an entire freaking day to get here since I made my plans at the last minute. As soon as I leave the rental car desk, I’m headed for my first destination. Logan’s shop.

He’s never going to know what hit him. My skirt is short, my heels are tall, and my hair, skin, and nails are perfect from the pampering I managed to sneak in this week.

I pull into the parking lot an hour and a half later, mostly because I was so busy singing along to every kick-ass female anthem on my playlist that I missed the turn and went fifteen miles in the wrong direction.

But no one needs to know that little detail.

The lights are still on, and Logan’s truck is parked in its normal spot alongside the building. No other cars remain in the lot.

I pull out my phone and switch it out of airplane mode. I told myself I kept it there all day because I was worried about the safety of my flights and obviously because of the FAA regulations, but that’s total bull.

I didn’t trust myself not to answer what must be at least a few messages from Logan. I wanted this to be a surprise. Like when Logan thought I might be pregnant, this is a discussion that needs to happen in person.

A few text messages pop up from him immediately, and they’re progressively more . . . let’s call it assertive.

My Sexy Man: Bruce, call me.

My Sexy Man: Seriously, babe. Call me.

My Sexy Man: CALL ME.

My Sexy Man: This radio silence shit will not fly. Call me, Bruce.

My Sexy Man: Banner Regent, don’t even try to dodge me. I know where you are, and I will come to you and show you how a real man handles this situation.

A smile spreads over my face. I’ve come to terms with a few things in the last twenty-four hours, and one of them is that I don’t care if I’m the first one to say those words I’ve been holding back. I love Logan Brantley, and I’m not going to let another day go by without telling him. To his face.

After I park, I slide out of the car, careful not to pull a Britney and flash anyone my vag because I’m going commando under this skirt, and strut my ass up to the entrance.

I push on the door that opens into the waiting room, but it doesn’t budge. Locked. Well, dammit, that’s not part of my plan. I bang on it, but no one comes. The beat of whatever rock song he’s listening to is thumping through the walls.

I pull my phone out of my wristlet and text him back.

Banner: Open the damn door.

A response pops up in seconds.

My Sexy Man: What door?

Banner: I’m waiting.

 

 

Check out Book #1 in the Duet, Real Good Man

Read BFF K’s 5 Rated Review

 

real-good-man-amazonFrom USA Today bestselling author Meghan March comes a sexy new duet. We’ve all had the bad boys, now it’s time for a Real Good Man.

Fall for a woman over text messages? No way in hell.

Reality can never be as good at the fantasy, right?

Wrong. It’s better.

Banner Regent is smart, funny, and she’s so far out of my league, she might as well be royalty.

I’m a mechanic from Kentucky. She’s a New York City party girl.

We were never supposed to meet, but one text started something neither of us saw coming.

How do you seduce the woman who already has everything?

Show her what it’s like to be with a real good man.

 

Real Good Man is book one of the Real Duet. Logan and Banner’s story will conclude in Real Good Love, releasing January 17, 2017.

iBooks | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Kobo | Google Play | Audible | Paperback

 

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About the Author

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Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.

FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | TWITTER | PINTEREST

Review – The Lost Codex by Heather Lyons

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THE LOST CODEX by Heather Lyons

(The Collectors’ Society, #4)

PURCHASE NOW

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks

 

Allies, once inseparable, splinter until they break apart.

An insidiousness carves its way through Wonderland, challenging the land’s very existence.

Battle lines will be drawn as pages, long languishing in darkness, are finally illuminated.

Swords will clash, blood will be spilled, and lives will be lost.

For what is written can still be erased.

 

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BFF K’s Review of The Lost Codex

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I just finished reading The Lost Codex. This book left my head and my heart in a tangled mess. I’m so in love with this series. I’m so happy with the way it has ended, but I’m so, so sad that it is over.

Heather Lyons is an absolute master of words and characters and stories. This series is so rich and complex that I don’t even know where to begin in describing my affection. The book, really the entire series, is the best of all the reasons I read books:

1. The premise…our favorite characters live on both inside and beyond the stories where they’re created. Yes. I want to believe this happens.

2. The complex storyline. Characters from many stories band together to save one another. And, epic battles ensue where our heroes and heroines show their truest colors of bravery, loyalty and love.

3. The characters are so fantastic that I feel physical tugs and pulls on my heart just thinking about them. And not just the main characters, but all of the characters in the stories.

4. Alice. Heather Lyons’ version of Alice Liddell is my most favorite heroine in any story I’ve ever read. There will never be another Alice. She is flawed and perfect, needy and compassionate, distressed and heroic, fearful and brave. Alice is in a class of heroines all her own.

5. The Romance. Alice and Finn are….everything. perfect. perfect for each other. the epic romance that spans time and all improbabilities for loves to find each another. The love of Alice and Finn is the definition of Romance.

In The Lost Codex, Alice tells Finn, “Somebody ought to write a story about Alice Liddell and Huckleberry Finn falling in love and spending their lives together. It would be my favorite.”

Mine too, Alice, mine too.

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                                          (Because I’m so sad this series is over.)

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

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PURCHASE NOW

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks

 

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PURCHASE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

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THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY Buy Links:

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THE HIDDEN LIBRARY Buy Links:

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THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN Buy Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Nook

 

About the Author

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Heather Lyons is known for writing epic, heartfelt love stories often with a fantastical twist. From Young Adult to New Adult to Adult novels—one commonality in all her books is the touching, and sometimes heart-wrenching, romance. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.

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Review – One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid


From the author of Maybe in Another Life—named a People Magazine pick—comes a breathtaking new love story about a woman unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiancé who has finally brought her back to life.

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

 

BFF K’s Review of One True Loves

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I’ve found it hard to write a traditional review for this book. My thoughts and emotions are so raw and jumbled that I can’t do the more standard assessment. But, there are a few things that I know I want to say about One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid:

1. This book is extraordinary. I can’t even find the words adequate to explain the emotions and feelings I experienced through this book.

2. I HATE love triangles. There is typically something essentially disturbing to me about the tension involved in a love triangle. I seldom understand how a person is so evenly (or unevenly) torn between two different people. BUT….this book is one of the rare exceptions to that rule. This is a love triangle where no one is at fault, no one is to blame and the emotions are absolutely gut wrenching. Even thinking about it now my heart feels like it’s going to crack in two.

3. There is something about Taylor Jenkins Reid as an author that gives me the unique experience of immersing myself in another person’s journey. But, it’s beyond someone else’s story, I feel the emotions so intimately it is as if the story is happening to me. Or, I can clearly see how it could easily happen to me.  I have spent days, hours, minutes thinking about this story in relation to my own life. I think about how much I desperately love my husband and how wonderful he is. I weep over the thought that something could happen to him and he would be taken from me forever. The grief is absolutely palpable as Emma describes the thoughts and emotions of her complete desolation. I want to think I would be brave enough and love myself enough that I could eventually pull out of that hole to find love again. But, how does one do that? How does it change you? Who do you become once you survive, because you’re never again whole and certainly not the same. Then, what becomes of everyone when the miracle happens? Does it really seem all that miraculous?

4. Taylor Jenkins Reid is the master of the analogy! She tells stories and describes emotions with analogies that make the feelings or the settings so crystal clear. You immediately understand and pinpoint the emotion or the situation and you marvel at why you’ve never seen similar situations through that lens before.

5. This is a book about grief. The way that Reid writes about Emma’s grief gives the reader a physical and visceral reaction to the words and the emotions.

6. This is a book about finding life after loss. Emma must climb out of her grief for Jesse and find a way to continue to live.

7. This is a book about creating a life that brings you happiness and fulfillment even if it isn’t the life you once imagined or even created for yourself.

8. This is a book about change. Changing how you see the world, who you are, what you want, and what makes you happy.

9. This is a book about love. Romantic love. Family love. Love of home. Love of place. Love of self.

10. This is a book about hope.

Emma’s journey and her loves for both Jesse and Sam will leave their mark in your head and your heart. One True Loves will absolutely join Maybe In Another Life on my list of 2016’s Best Reads and it will be one that I recommend to anyone and everyone.

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The audio of this title is exceptional as well! I highly recommend a listen!

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An Advance Copy of this book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The audio version was purchased by the reviewer.

 

About the Author

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author, essayist, and TV writer from Acton, Massachusetts. Her debut novel, Forever, Interrupted, has been optioned with Dakota Johnson attached to star. Her second book, After I Do, was called a “must read” by Kirkus. Her most recent novel, Maybe In Another Life has been featured in People, Cosmo, Bustle, Good Housekeeping, PopSugar, USA Today and more.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Rabbit. You can follow her on Twitter @tjenkinsreid.