Character Development Archives - Page 17 of 22

Review – Darken the Stars by Amy A. Bartol

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

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!

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 – Palm South University – Season 1- Episode 1 by Kandi Steiner

Title: Palm South University: Episode One

Author: Kandi Steiner

Release Date: Aug 25, 2015

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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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It seems a little silly to state the obvious, but I’ll do it anyway! It’s very easy to picture this serial story as a television series! Palm South University – Season 1 – Episode 1 gives a glimpse into several of the characters in little snippets. The story is set on a college campus in a fictional greed system. As a sorority member during my college days, I find some of the comments familiar and some a bit over-the-top. But, the familiarity will keep me coming back for the next episodes!

You can get an even more in-depth look at Skyler in Black Number 4. After reading Black Number 4, I was curious about all of the other characters at PSU and excited for this unique and clever way to develop the story. I flew through Season 1 – Episode 1 in about an hour. I am intrigued by Bear and his family drama and I’m dying to know what is up with Jess! I’m anxiously looking forward to seeing what happens in the next episode.

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

After I finish my first drink and order another, I wander up to the group of guys at the pool table. We play for a little over an hour, drawing an even larger crowd because – clearly – we’re the most fun this joint has seen in a while. I’m cozied up and working on one of the hottest guys in the group when he informs me he has a fiancé.

Wow.

Buzz Killington, ladies and gentlemen.

I hang out with the group a little longer, hoping to move on to a new prospect, but they all head out before I have a chance to seal the deal with any of Mr. I’m-Engaged-But-You-Don’t-Need-To-Know-That-Until-It’s-Clear-You-Expect-To-Sleep-With-Me’s friends. Sighing, I take my place in the same barstool as before and Jarrett slides a fifth drink my way.

I hold up my hands. “I should probably say no this time. It’s almost closing time and I need to drive.”

“Not necessarily,” he offers. I eye him curiously and the corner of his mouth pulls up mischievously. He finishes wiping down a glass and hangs it above his head before leaning across the bar, his minty breath tickling my drunken senses. “You’ve been trying all night to get with that douchebag when I could have told you from the beginning that he wasn’t available. And now, you’re left with an ache between your legs that you don’t want to take care of on your own. So yes, you could drive home, get up and go to work tomorrow and just try again another night. Or,” he pauses, licking his bottom lip and dragging his teeth across the top as his eyes fall to my mouth. “You could give me your keys, jump in my truck, and let me take you back to my place so I can cure you of your current situation.”

Oh hell to the fucking yes.

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 – Red Blooded by Caitlin Sinead

Instead of eating ramen and meeting frat guys like most college freshmen, Peyton Arthur is on the campaign trail. Traveling with her mother, the Democratic pick for vice president, she’s ordering room service, sneaking glances at cute campaign intern Dylan and deflecting interview questions about the tragic loss of her father. But when a reporter questions her paternity, her world goes into a tailspin.

Dylan left Yale and joined the campaign to make a difference, not keep tabs on some girl. But with the paternity scandal blowing up and Peyton asking questions, he’s been tasked to watch her every move. As he gets to know the real Peyton, he finds it harder and harder to keep a professional distance.

When the media demands a story, Peyton and Dylan give them one—a fake relationship. As they work together to investigate the rumors about her real father and Peyton gets closer to learning the truth, she’s also getting closer to Dylan. And suddenly, it’s not just her past on the line anymore. It’s her heart.

BFF K’s Review

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I love a good political plot and Red Blooded by Caitlin Sinead delivered loads of happiness! This is a coming of age story set with the backdrop of a political campaign. Peyton’s mother is the United States Vice Presidential Candidate in the middle of a contentious campaign. Peyton’s father was a best selling author who wrote a book about life and death as he was dying of cancer. The whole world feels as though they know Peyton even as she’s trying to figure out who she is.

Most chapters in Red Blooded begin with what is supposed to be an excerpt from Peyton’s father’s book. It’s typically an anecdote about something funny or poignant from their lives. I LOVED this part. These snippets perfectly set the scene for each chapter and kept the book moving along. And, I really felt as though these insights were critical to the story, the plot and the characters. I found them clever and moving and insightful. And, FYI (Caitlyn Sinead, I’m talking to you) – if that was actually a book written about life and dying, I would totally read it! Well done!

Dylan is a good guy, pulled from the hustle and bustle of the campaign trail (which he loves) to assist Peyton with her media and campaign related tasks. He has a heck of a time keeping her and her inquisitive nature out of trouble. He struggles with his need to be a professional political operative and his growing care for Peyton. The bulk of the story centers around a mystery over the true identity of Peyton’s father. Her curiosity is peaked and she spends the majority of the book on a journey to discover the truth. Peyton is a strong, new adult, female character with poise and grace and intelligence. Her humanity and authenticity made the book come alive.

Red Blooded is a quick read, but it doesn’t skimp on the character development. If you enjoy political plot lines, you’ll definitely delight in this well crafted story!

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An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review

Add it to Goodreads HERE!

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About Caitlin Sinead

Caitlin Sinead is represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger, Inc. and her debut novel, Heartsick, is available now from Carina Press. Her writing has earned accolades from Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Glimmer Train, and Writers & Artists, and her stories have appeared in multiple publications, including The Alarmist, The Binnacle, Crunchable, Jersey Devil Press, and Northern Virginia Magazine. She earned a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University.

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Review – Truth or Beard by Penny Reid

Truth or Beard
by Penny Reid
Winston Brothers #1
Publication Date: July 23, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Humor, Romance

Beards, brothers, and bikers! Oh my!

Identical twins Beau and Duane Winston might share the same devastatingly handsome face, but where Beau is outgoing and sociable, Duane is broody and reserved. This is why Jessica James, recent college graduate and perpetual level headed good girl, has been in naïve and unhealthy infatuation with Beau Winston for most of her life.

His friendly smiles make her tongue-tied and weak-kneed, and she’s never been able to move beyond her childhood crush. Whereas Duane and Jessica have always been adversaries. She can’t stand him, and she’s pretty sure he can’t stand the sight of her…

But after a case of mistaken identity, Jessica finds herself in a massive confusion kerfuffle. Jessica James has spent her whole life paralyzed by the fantasy of Beau and her assumptions of Duane’s disdain; therefore she’s unprepared for the reality that is Duane’s insatiable interest, as well as his hot hands and hot mouth and hotter looks. Not helping Jessica’s muddled mind and good girl sensibilities, Duane seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the local biker gang, the Iron Order.
Certainly, Beau’s magic spell is broken. Yet when Jessica finds herself drawn to the man who was always her adversary, now more dangerous than ever, how much of her level-head heart is she willing to risk?

Series Description:
Everyone in Green Valley, Tennessee knows that the six bearded Winston brothers have been imbued with an unfair share of charm and charisma… and are prone to mischief.

Truth or Beard is book #1 in the Winston Brother’s series. Each book is a standalone, full length (110k words), contemporary romantic comedy novel, and follows the romantic exploits and adventures of one of the six Winston Brothers.

BFF K’s Review

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I want a Winston Brother! Please! There are 6 5 of them! I’m not terribly picky, any of them will do. They’re all tall, bearded, beautiful, bright, caring, conflicted, complicated, sensitive, manly-MEN and I can’t get enough!

I was first introduced to the Winston Brothers in Beauty and the Mustache, book 4 in Penny Reid’s fantastic Knitting in the City Series. The entire Winston family took on a life of its own in that book. And, I was thrilled to know that we would be exploring the Great Smokey Mountains with this crew for a whole new series. Book #1 is amazing, incredible, fantastic and kicks off this series in the best possible ways. The ways that leave you craving more and more and more! NOW!

SIDE NOTE – I have a girl crush/author crush on Penny Reid. I would read absolutely anything she writes, and so far, I think I almost have. She is hilarious and fun. Her books are witty and give me ALL the feels. She writes SMART characters and books that are on a whole ‘nother level. The characters are all intelligent and INDIVIDUAL, unique and mature, clean cut and a little bad-ass. There is depth and substance. If you are on Facebook, be sure to follow Penny Reid and if you really want in on the fun, her reader group, Sharks of Awesome is just that – awesome-ly fabulous!

Duane Winston is……so hard to describe because he gives me all the feels. He and Jessica come together in an awkward case of mistaken twin. But, this occurrence causes Jessica to come to terms with her feelings for both Duane and his brother Beau. She quickly realizes that it’s Duane she wants. But, does Jessica want Duane more than her dreams to travel the world or can she reconcile those two desires? Duane has been pining for Jessica since childhood and has plans and ideas for their coming together and their future. This is a story of reconciling expectations with reality to find something better than you ever imagined.

The entire book is fantastic! Full of butterflies and fun. I was up until all hours of the night and sneaking in page turns wherever possible. You won’t want to put it down, but you won’t want it to end. The only thing I can say is BUY THIS BOOK! And, if you haven’t already read them all, start saving your money to purchase the entire Penny Reid library!

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

Links to buy Truth or Beard

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About Penny Reid

SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

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Review – Every Other Saturday by MJ Pullen

BFF Book Blog is pleased to bring you our review for the upcoming release of Every Other Saturday by M.J. Pullen! This is an absolutely wonderful book that I can’t recommend enough!

From romantic comedy author M.J. Pullen comes a unique story about finding help when you need it most, and love where you expect it least.

Even though their daughters have been in the same Jewish preschool class for three years, struggling store owner Julia Mendel and sports blogger Dave “from the Man Cave” Bernstein have never gotten along. She sees him as a definitely arrogant, possibly misogynist symbol of everything that’s wrong with the men in her life. He sees her as the odd, short-tempered PTA president, out to make his life more difficult at every opportunity.

As part of his job, Dave accepts an on-air challenge: go out with a different woman from a Jewish dating site every Saturday for the next four months, and blog the results. He quickly secures his daughter’s favorite preschool teacher (and super-nanny) Ms. Elizabeth to make the experiment possible. Little does he know Julia is in desperate need of the same sitter for the same schedule, so that she can take a part-time job while pacifying her son, who has severe OCD.

A confrontation in the carpool lane leads to an uneasy compromise: they will pool their resources to share Ms. Elizabeth’s services every-other Saturday night. After a while, Dave finds himself sharing his dating stories with non-Jewish Julia across her kitchen table; while she reluctantly turns to him for the masculine perspective – especially for her son – she’s been missing since her divorce. As the Saturdays wear on, however, they may discover they have more in common than car seats and custody schedules.

BFF K’s Review

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I love that this is not an NA story, which seems weird to say, because I love the coming of age stories. But this is a book about already-adults. Real grown-ups dealing with intense and sometimes confusing emotional issues. But, they’re grow-ups and I can relate to them in a way that I can relate to very few other characters.

The characters are really well written and developed and I loved jumping into their lives and situations. Their circumstances are so real. Life is messy and complicated. The characters and story lines are full of self-confidence and insecurities, success and failures, love and loss, and friendship and rivalries. It mirrors the highs and lows that we experience in real life.

This story felt so familiar, not in a “this is my boring life” kind-of-way, but in a way that I could relate to and understand the settings and emotions. As a child with divorced parents and a wife and mom, I just felt a connection to these characters and a deep desire to see them reach gratifying conclusions.

The ending of this story didn’t disappoint. It is true to the storyline and the characters; it is real and raw and a little messy, but it also has an HEA (ending and epilogue) that is incredibly fulfilling. I believe that each of the characters I have come to care about achieve a realistic, but incredibly satisfying resolution!

If you’re looking for a break from angsty NA novels, but still want a delicious story with great characters discovering who they are and what they want and need in life, I encourage you to read Every Other Saturday. You’ll be so glad you did!

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

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About the Author

MANDA (M.J.) PULLEN, former therapist and marketer, is the author of complex, funny contemporary romances. She was raised in the suburbs of Atlanta by a physicist and a flower child, who taught her that life is tragic and funny, and real love is anything but simple. She studied English Literature and Business at the University of Georgia, and Professional Counseling at Georgia State University.

Manda has a weakness for sappy movies, juicy gossip, craft beer and boys who talk baseball. After traveling around Europe and living in cities like Austin and Portland, she returned to Atlanta where she lives with her family.

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Review – Discovering Delilah by Melissa Foster

In DISCOVERING DELILAH…

After the death of her parents on the day of her college graduation, Delilah Armstrong thought she could finally follow her heart and come out to her closest friends, but the guilt of going against her parents’ beliefs haunts her. The feelings she has for her best friend, Ashley, are stronger than anything she’s felt before, but Delilah has never even kissed a girl, and fear stops her at every turn.

Ashley Carver promised herself that she would never again date another girl who wasn’t out, but that was before she met intoxicatingly sweet and sexy Delilah.

When another girl offers to teach Delilah the ropes, it changes Delilah’s whole world and gives her the courage to go after the only girl she really wants. But coming out isn’t as easy as Delilah imagined, and moving past her parents’ death and the feelings of guilt she is left with is even harder. The intense passion between Ashley and Delilah is too strong to deny, but coming together means risking everything.

Discovering Delilah is an edgy, evocative, romantic story of friendship, family, and the courage to love.

BFF K’s Review

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One of the things that I have loved most about the past year as a blogger is discovering new authors, new series and new genres that I would NEVER have picked up before. The second book in the Harborside Nights Series by Melissa Foster is the perfect example of this occurrence. I’m not sure I would have been lucky enough to bump into this series AND I’m not sure I would have picked up this book on my own. This is the first F/F love story that I have read.

I loved Delilah and Ashley. Their story is full of tension and self-discovery. It is romantic and butterfly-inducing and you’ll want very much for them to find a happily ever after with one another.

Discovering Delilah is a love story. But, as much as it is a love story, it is a story about loving yourself, accepting who you are and living your truth. It is sweet and there’s a little bit of steam, but it is really the story-arc for the series and the characters that I love most! When I read Catching Cassidy, the first story in this series, I was hooked on this cast of characters. I am invested in just 2 books and I’m anxious to know all of their stories.

This book, the entire series really, is unique and fresh and worth a read! I’m looking forward to more diverse and heart-felt stories coming in the series.

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**An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Link to Follow Tour

Goodreads Link

Goodreads Series Link

Discovering Delilah Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

BFF K also loved Catching Cassidy – the first book in the Harborside Nights Series. Read her review here.

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About the Author

Melissa Foster is an award-winning, International bestselling author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

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Review – Release Me by Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers

RELEASE ME

Chasing Fire #2

Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers

Releasing July 21st, 2015

Berkley/Intermix

The second in the “seriously sexy and sinfully steamy”* Chasing Fire series, about a pain too deep to forgive and a passion too hot to forget…

Alessandra Sinclair knows that Hudson Chase is the last man she should want. The boy from the wrong side of the tracks has grown into a man who would do anything to get ahead, even if it means breaking Allie’s heart. But whenever she’s near him, the attraction between them is undeniable. And now that they’re working together, keeping her distance from Hudson is almost as impossible as keeping her feelings in check…

Hudson already lost Allie once and he refuses to lose her again. He’s determined to use their new business partnership to rekindle the spark he knows is still there. Only the closer he gets to winning her over, the clearer it becomes there are still secrets that could tear them apart for good…

BFF K’s Review

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I am pretty much gushing about this series to anyone who will listen! I’ve emailed, texted, Facebooked, Tweeted and raved to anyone who seems even remotely interested. The Chasing Fire Series is absolutely FANTASTIC! Release Me sort-of starts where Remind Me left off, but with a twist! Allie had plans to regain control of her life at the end of Book #1, but those plans are quickly blown apart in a terrible discovery that rocks her world. With this shocking turn of events, Allie finds herself face to face with Hudson once again. And, though she tries desperately to stay away, the overwhelming pull to him is just too much.

Allie continues to struggle in this book, but you can understand her stress and frustrations with all she has been/is going through. There are portions of the book where Allie shows fantastic flashes of resilience and gritty determination. I think she’s going to need these in the final book. (Plus, resilience is one of my favorite traits for a heroine!) Hudson is just as swoony as ever! <3 He is absolutely consumed by Allie, while at the same time, managing multiple companies and looking after his younger brother. Hudson is going through so much in his present life while still dealing with some slowly uncovered issues in his past that you can’t help but love him. I don’t remember the last time I wished so hard for a book couple to find their Happily Ever After.

BUT, if Hudson Chase can’t find his HEA with Allie Sinclair, could he please take a chance with me? #HudsonChaser

I LOVE this story. It reminds me so much of the feels I had reading Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James. The Chasing Fire series is full of romance, steam, a great hero and heroine, bad guys, suspense, great characters and a wonderful storyline. I sped through this book in record time. The suspense builds with each chapter until the end left me with sweaty palms and a racing heart. I have a feeling that pasts and present are about to collide in a massive explosion. The question is who will make it out alive and what price will they pay to survive? The thought of waiting until October 20 to finish this story makes me anxious: the calendar is already marked!

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Be AWARE : cliffhanger

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

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Exclusive Tour Excerpt

In the distance Allie could see the black limo waiting at the bottom of the hill. She paused, her hand reaching out to rest on the gleaming wood of her father’s casket, before turning to leave. She and Harper had nearly reached the car when she heard someone call her name.

“Alessandra,” Benjamin Weiss said, hurrying to catch up to her. “A word, please.”

“I’ll wait for you in the car,” Harper said. She slid into the limo and Clayton closed the door behind her before assuming his post a few feet away. Allie knew that behind those dark sunglasses his razor-sharp gaze was scanning the crowd, and that beneath that well-tailored suit a loaded gun was holstered. She tried not to think about why, focusing her attention instead on Mr. Weiss.

“I’m sorry to bring this up now,” he said, “but the board has called for an emergency meeting at Ingram headquarters. I’d hoped to put this off until at least next week, but between your parents’ passing and the revelation of Mr. Chase’s acquisitions . . . Well, I’m sure you can understand their concern.”

Allie nodded. Of course the other board members were concerned. Richard and Victoria Sinclair were gone, and now their daughter, a relative stranger to them, was at the helm alongside a man who’d spent the past few months covertly acquiring a substantial portion of their stock. When he wasn’t fucking her on every available surface, that is. At least the last part wasn’t general knowledge. It was going to be hard enough to face that room with Hudson sitting across the table from her. Thankfully no one on the board knew about their personal involvement.

“When?” she asked.

“Tomorrow morning.” Mr. Weiss gave her a quick rundown of the proposed agenda before ducking into the back of a waiting town car.

Allie pulled her coat closed and crossed her arms over her chest, holding the pieces of herself together as she stared out across the top of the limo at row after row of headstones. When she’d walked out of Hudson’s penthouse two weeks prior, she hadn’t planned on ever seeing him again. Now she had a little less than twenty-four hours to prepare for her first board meeting with him. She had no idea how she would react once they were in the same room, but one thing was certain: she had to keep her distance. And never, under any circumstances, allow herself to be alone with him.

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About the Authors

Though thousands of miles apart, Ann Marie Walker and Amy K. Rogers are in constant contact, plotting story lines
and chatting about their love of alpha males, lemon drop martinis and British supermodel, David Gandy. You can find them on twitter as @AnnMarie_Walker and @Amy_KRogers.

Amy K. Rogers

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Ann Marie Walker

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Review – Scoring Wilder by R.S. Grey

What started out as a joke– seduce Coach Wilder–soon became a goal she had to score.

With Olympic tryouts on the horizon, the last thing nineteen-year-old Kinsley Bryant needs to add to her plate is Liam Wilder. He’s a professional soccer player, America’s favorite bad-boy, and has all the qualities of a skilled panty-dropper.

* A face that makes girls weep – check.
* Abs that can shred Parmesan cheese (the expensive kind) – check.
* Enough confidence to shift the earth’s gravitational pull – double check.

Not to mention Liam is strictly off limits. Forbidden. Her coaches have made that perfectly clear. (i.e. “Score with Coach Wilder anywhere other than the field and you’ll be cut from the team faster than you can count his tattoos.”) But that just makes him all the more enticing…Besides, Kinsley’s already counted the visible ones, and she is not one to leave a project unfinished.

Kinsley tries to play the game her way as they navigate through forbidden territory, but Liam is determined to teach her a whole new definition for the term “team bonding.”

BFF K’s Review

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Liam Wilder is the ultimate soccer fantasy! He’s all bad boy and muscled athletic hotness. But, he’s also sweet, kind and a little misunderstood. Enter Kinsley Bryant, female soccer phenom and the person to rock Wilder’s world! Put them together and it’s the dream team combo! The book is fun and silly and fast-paced. I loved the story lines and both Liam and Kinsley are fun characters. They’re surrounded by a pretty good cast of supporting characters as well and those side stories add to the overall enjoyment of the book.

I read Scoring Wilder awhile ago, but hadn’t gotten around to my review. Two recent happenings have me thinking about this book. 1 – the 2015 US Women’s World Cup Soccer Victory…. I like to think (pretend) that Kinsley and Becca are on that team of champions! 2 – the ESPN Magazine Body Issue was released last week and I have this crazy thought that both Liam and Kinsley could be featured in this issue!

If you’re looking for a lively book with great characters, laugh out loud moments and some super hot athletes – this is a MUST read!

**Note – I did a combo read and listen for this book. The written version is terrific and the audio version is entertaining. I was a bit put off by the female announcer on the audio. The pacing was incredibly fast, in fact, I slowed the audio down in order to make it more enjoyable. Though it was a little annoying, I do think the narration was true to the authenticity/age of the character!

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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 include 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.

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Review – Searching for Always by Jennifer Probst

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New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Probst sparks a blissful mind-body connection as her “sexy, satisfying” (Kirkus Reviews) new series continues!

She’s an expert in helping others de-stress, but Arilyn Meadows is running on fumes. Along with her job counseling singles seeking soul mates at the Kinnections agency in Verily, New York, she’s a yoga teacher, animal shelter volunteer, anger management therapist, and helping hand to her beloved grandfather. No time to find Mr. Right—but after discovering her yogi boyfriend in a compromising asana, Arilyn would rather dog-sit for her honeymooning friend Kate than risk her heart on another downward dog. And when police officer Stone Petty—radiating masculinity and bad-boy attitude—is sent to her for mandatory lessons in cooling off when the job gets too hot, Arilyn vows to ignore his seductive glances and sexy grin. But there’s no halting their sizzling flirtation—a red-hot, high-speed chase that’s breaking all the limits.

BFF K’s Review

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Officer Stone Petty. The name alone is super sexy, but the name has nothing on the MAN! Stone is holy-hotness, uniform-wearing, muscle-flexing, dominating, alpha-male with a soft-side even he didn’t know about! When he meets tree-hugging, dog-rescuing, vegetarian Arilyn in an anger management class (she’s the teacher) – the sparks FLY! And, it is so much FUN!

I LOVED Stone Petty. He is just the kind of fabulous, alpha male character that I love to read. Arilyn is a terrific heroine and I really liked the fact that she wasn’t all drama and self-pity. Her character is enjoyable mostly because she’s real and authentic. Arilyn is a good communicator. That skill enhances their relationship and is gratifying to read. There’s a definite ‘steam-factor’ and some of the scenes are hot, hot, HOT! But, it’s just the right amount of hot and sweet.

AND, wait until you meet Pinky! Stone’s relationship with this rescued chihuahua is precious. Stone is a stellar Book Boyfriend for lots of reasons, but his love and care for Pinky seals the deal!

I loved Searching for Beautiful, but Searching for Always is even better! I will absolutely be going back to read the first two books in this series. Searching for Always has solidified Jennifer Probsts’ spot on my must-read author list!

I enjoyed Searching for Always in both Kindle and Audiobook formats. This was fantastic because it allowed me to fly through the story twice as fast. [I’m talking – read until 2a, listen in the shower, listen in car, headphones to walk from car to the office, listen in car, home to read!] The audio version has great narration and fantastic pacing. If you’re an audiobook fan, you really need to check this one out!

No matter how you tackle this book, it needs to be on your To Be Read List – immediately! <3

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Be sure to check out my review for book #3 in the Series – Searching for Beautiful. All of the books in this series can be read as stand-alones.

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An ARC of this book was received via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The audio book was purchased by the reviewer.

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About the Author

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

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.
She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

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Review – Last First Kiss by Lia Riley

New to Avon author Lia Riley makes a splash with her first sexy, hilarious book in the sizzling Brightwater series!

A kiss is just the beginning…

Pinterest Perfect. Or so Annie Carson’s life appears on her popular blog. Reality is… messier. Especially when it lands her back in one-cow town, Brightwater, California, and back in the path of the gorgeous six-foot-four reason she left. Sawyer Kane may fill out those wranglers, but she won’t be distracted from her task. Annie just needs the summer to spruce up and sell her family’s farm so she and her young son can start a new life in the big city. Simple, easy, perfect.

Sawyer has always regretted letting the first girl he loved slip away. He won’t make the same mistake twice, but can he convince beautiful, wary Annie to trust her heart again when she’s been given every reason not to? And as a single kiss turns to so much more, can Annie give up her idea of perfect for a forever that’s blissfully real.

BFF K’s Review

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It had to be special, a moment that was theirs and theirs alone. After all, he wanted it to be her last first kiss.”

This quote completely epitomizes Sawyer Kane, the absolutely swoon-worthy hero of this book. (I highlighted several more delicious quotes!) Sawyer is something else – all rugged, hot, good-guy, handy, does-the-dishes, saves the day, keeps promises, knows what he wants COWBOY! Be still my heart! <3

Annie and Sawyer had a clandestine friendship/relationship in high school, but one rough night tore them apart and sent them in opposite directions. (Annie ran as far away from her hometown as she could get. Sawyer stayed and became the town Sheriff.) Add in a nasty, centuries-old, family feud and there are a few issues this couple will need to work through to re-establish their relationship and have a future together.

This book has a delightful, second-chance-romance storyline. The characters are terrific, well-developed and well-written. Annie and Sawyer share intimate moments reconnecting that are absolutely butterfly-inducing. The book has enough tension that you turn the pages, but it isn’t an over-wrought, angst-ridden read. It’s sweet and wonderful and enchanting! I highly recommend “Last First Kiss” and I can’t wait to read Book #2 in this series, “Right Wrong Guy”!

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

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BFF K’s Review coming VERY soon!

Excerpt

He tilted back his Stetson, running his intense gaze over her face. “You haven’t changed much.”

The simple statement threatened to fell her. He had no idea everything was different. The dreamy, hopeful girl she’d been, the one he’d known all those years ago, had her atoms obliterated and her soft underbelly refashioned, armored with titanium plates. She didn’t run barefoot through meadows or jump blindly into rivers.

Not anymore.

“Thanks for the repair job,” she said, stepping back, blinking rapidly. He’d fixed the coop, but no one could fix the cracks in her confidence and imploded self-esteem. She needed to do that—if only she knew how. Was there a Self-esteem for Dummies?

Then he moved. Close. Closer. Way too close. The old magnetic pull between them hadn’t lost any potency. The air charged. So much so that when he reached out, cradling her cheek, she expected a zap. “I missed you, Annie Girl.”

Her heart beat sideways at his use of the old nickname.

“I . . . ” missed you too. God. So much. “I have to go.” She took another step backward and then another. “And anyway, I’m not staying, at least not for long. My family’s decided it’s time to sell the farm.”

“Sell?” His body went rigid. “But this place has been in your family forever. All your history is here. How can you let it go to a stranger?”

Who was he to come around at an ungodly hour, in those tight faded jeans that showcased his . . . everything, touching her cheek, giving her unsolicited guidance? Her chest heated. Is that why he was here—being the good cop to Grandma Kane’s bad cop? “I appreciate your help with the coop, but let’s not pretend you’re giving impartial neighborly advice. Your family wants the property back. Trust me, I get the situation. I was raised with it, but we can get more for Five Diamonds than your grandmother could ever offer.”

He dropped his chin, leveling a penetrating stare. “That’s not what I meant, it’s not about the feud. You know I don’t care about any of that.”

She used to believe that, had once fooled herself into believing they were kindred spirits. “I don’t know anything about you anymore, Sawyer. Maybe I never did.”

She pivoted and strode toward the house, clenching the scotch bottle. Why did he come, force her to feel things better forgotten? She was almost at the stairs when a large, powerful hand closed on her upper arm, not a grip, but a gentle touch that halted her mid-step. Her heart pounded, her belly breaking into wild flutters.

Slowly, so slowly, she turned.

He held her gaze squarely, as if daring her to look away. “You know who I am,” he said.

She couldn’t reply, even if she knew what to say. She couldn’t blink or swallow or think. The only sound beside the wind came from their shallow breaths. She and Sawyer might be water under the bridge, but it looked like that water was churning, roiling whitewater.

About the Author

Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult and Contemporary Adult romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.

A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn’t mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c’mon, who doesn’t love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.

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