Review: Fumbled Hearts by Meagan Brandy

Fumbled Hearts

Author: Meagan Brandy
Series: Tender Hearts #1
Pages: Paperback, 588 pages
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: September 21st 2017

Summary:

He’s the persistent playboy who refuses to walk away. I'm the impassive new girl with nothing left to give.
Things are about to get complicated...

After months of refusing, I finally agreed to make the move to Alrick Falls. My family thought it was best - that a new scene would be good for me—and I was sick of having the same conversation.
So here I am, and the plan is simple. Smile through each day and avoid her at all costs.
It's perfect.

Until the cocksure quarterback comes into play.

The last thing I want is his crooked grin and dark brown eyes focused on me.
Yet here he is, constantly in my space, pushing me, daring me to care. Telling me what I think and feel, as if he knows.
He doesn't know anything. And  I plan to keep it that way

Review:

Yeah so this.. is just not for me

First up, I don’t like the writing style. It’s too.. something. Not exactly terrible- but it feels to meditated, too simplistic and woody
The worst for me, however, were the dialogues, honestly who talks like that?
Really who?
I know not a single person who does -except the ones in series, maybe...
in fact, talking TV series this kinda reminds me of them- like A mix between Beverly Hills and the OC

The second problem I had: these are kids who are supposed to be 17/18... but they behave like 20+yr old
Then throw in the whole rich kids thing and every other cliche out there and we have what is supposed to be the backdrop of Fumbled Hearts
So unrealistic. As I struggled through read this I actually kept rolling my eyes and kept muttering: “yeah right “
I mean I like fantasy, just not this kind

Let look at the character building. I think actually this was not completely terrible. There are even some good moments - but they are few and far between
Most of it is again, just cliche, so many overused cliches

The storyline was predictable with a capital P - and frankly, I wouldn’t have minded that at all, but it also feels so long wound. The whole book felt way too long- though I am not sure if it is just because I didn’t like it or if actually is long. Actually its 500+pages... it IS too long. 500pages, really?
So this makes me wonder that maybe with some harsh editing this would be better?
But then again, I still would have the problem of the rich kids behaving like adults thing.
Again this is just not my cup of tea.

Bottom line, this too melodramatic, too cliche, too unrealistic for me but there are a couple of sweet moments - so 1.5 Stars


Rating: 


Review: Deniz

ARC Review: The Map To You by Lindy Zart

The Map to You

Author: Lindy Zart
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Pages: Kindle Edition, 198 pages
Genre: NA
Release Date: November 28th 2017

Summary:

They both had secrets that could drive people apart—or bring them together forever . . .

Keeping his inner demons at bay means Blake Malone has more than enough trouble on his plate. He doesn’t need any extra complications. But that’s exactly what he gets when, on his way to North Dakota, he leaves his truck unattended—and returns to find a beautiful woman sleeping in the front seat.

Opal Allen seems to have a knack for attracting trouble. Which is why she isn’t about to tell her new road trip companion the real reason she needs to hightail it out of town. But Blake has a way of seeing right through her, which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Now her biggest problem is figuring out how to resist their undeniable attraction. Because once this road trip is over, she plans on never seeing Blake again.

But the best adventures don’t go according to plan.

Review:
OMG! This was so amazing! Heart breaking, shattering really but so so beautiful!

Zart slowly sneaked her way into my heart, then bit by bit dismantled it until it was a shattered mess on the floor. Then she went about to put it back together again, she added a little joy, quirk and a whole lot of hope to it. My heart sores.

I think this is one of the most touching books I read in 2017. Even if at first glance it just looks like a quirky, off-beat romance, somehow it was much more, for me at least.

Blake , who we met in Roomies, is a perfectly flawed male lead. He seems like a tough, difficult guy at first, but quickly we get to discover he is really generous. I could totally relate to Blake and loved his POV. Not because I had any kind of issues that he faced growing up, but because I got his bond with his grandfather and I can relate to the feeling down. Also let's face it I am "mrs. sunshine" lol. Grumpy and scary to approach at first, but a big old marshmallow if you dare to overlook it. I got his fears and his struggles, felt his worries and hopes. One of the best male leads I had the pleasure to read in a long long time
Opal is quirky and off beat. Again extremely well written. It took me a bit longer to relate to her. Partly because she was so mysterious about stuff, partly because she is rather opposite to me. A beautifully strong female lead, with passion and talent I could only dream of. I was awed by her braveness and heartbroken over her lostness. (is that even a word?) Her tendencies to spin stories was kinda off putting - as a character trait- but I found it beyond entertaining.
The support cast is brilliant. Vibrant characters that set off the lead. It was really fun to see Graham and Kennedy from Blakes POV. And let me tell you, they so different from how I remember them. I love how Zart made them look fluffy and slightly wacko in Blake's eyes. I love even more how he ends up admitting, that they are quirky but not completly insane. With that one gets to see the Graham and Kennedy I grew to love in Roomies.
Now let me assure you, while this is a spin-off from Roomies, you don't have to read it. This works perfectly as a stand-alone. If you however read Roomies; this isn't another take of it. It is much darker and has little to do with Roomies- other than, the writing style and humor.

This is written beautifully. So many interesting moments of insight. So many moments that made me laugh, plenty of moments that seared themselves into my heart. All wrapped up in Zart's fun to the point writing style. I am definitely a fan of Zart's prose. So poignant yet easy going. I can't wait for her next book!

About 3/4 of the plot is set only over a few days. So this is kinda super fast. But funny enough it's not totally insta. I got the connection between Opal and Blake, it made sense. Perfectly so. Though I wish Zart would have explored their chemistry a little more.
I absolutely love the end. L.O.V.E it. It's kinda open-ended, but not. It is at a point of beginning, the end of a chapter. Just.. sigh. Love it.
The banter between Blake and Opal is another favorite about the book.

All of this is fun. But the thing I loved most? The underlying message.
The characters are flawed. They are even pretty broken. They have a terrible past. But they make peace with it. Even more they work towards who they want to be. They hope.
And that's what growing up is for me. Letting go of the past, letting go of what everyone expects from you and decided what or who you want to be. Moving towards that step by step, driven by hope and helped by loved ones.
It is the most exciting view of life if you ask me. The most hopeful. To be who you want to be, for yourself. Taking that leap and that responsibility that's adulting, if you ask me, not paying your bills.
It gives one an unlimited amount of possibilities and the acceptance of who you are. Facing yourself, will make you face, what you were in your past. Examining your demons- whatever they are and most importantly gives us the power to letting go of them. It has been one of the most crucial discovery in my adulthood and Zart putting it into novel form, touched my heart.



Rating: 

Review: I See London, I See France by Sarah Mlynowski

I See London, I See France

Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: I See London, I See France #1
Pages: Hardcover, 336 pages
Genre: YA
Release Date: July 11th 2017

Summary:

I see London, I see France
I see Sydney’s underpants.

Nineteen-year-old Sydney has the perfect summer mapped out. She’s spending the next four and half weeks traveling through Europe with her childhood best friend, Leela. Their plans include Eiffel-Tower selfies, eating cocco gelato, and making out with très hot strangers. Her plans do not include Leela’s cheating ex-boyfriend showing up on the flight to London, falling for the cheating ex-boyfriend’s très hot friend, monitoring her mother’s spiraling mental health via texts, or feeling like the rope in a friendship tug-of-war.

In this hilarious and unforgettable adventure, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski tells the story of a girl learning to navigate secret romances, thorny relationships, and the London Tube. As Sydney zigzags through Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, and France, she must learn when to hold on, when to keep moving, and when to jump into the Riviera… wearing only her polka dot underpants.

Review:

I see London, I see France was extremely well written and it has aspects I totally adored and then there are things I found not so great.
Let me first warn you this is a more mature young adult. They do drink, they do make out and behave like a lot of 19year old do. In fact, I probably would rather call this New Adult. Not that I minded it, it's just that I somehow expected this to be for a younger audience, which is why I mention it.
My biggest issue is a kind of odd on actually. I wanted this to be more cute & fluffy. It was at times way more realistic than I bargained for. It hurt my heart to see Syd in her dilemmas and I was at times rather annoyed with the cast. Yet, on the other hand, I do like Mlynowski added some heavier themes to what would have been possibly something way to fluffy.

The plot is a string of locations, lots of drinking, lots of boy talk, lots of planning and traveling...it's quite quirky and fast paced on first glance. Under it all lies the theme of Syd and her family problems.
Traveling does change things somewhat for them, it is interesting to see how it does and how they all react to it. One aspect that Mlynoski did masterfully in my opinion.
The end is a bit abrupt. It is open, not in a bad way. But I would have liked more closure for all the character. It seems there will be a second book, though I am not sure about whom it will and if it is about Syd at all. I guess we will have to wait and see. I do want more closure for Jack though.

As someone who has been in all the locations Syd and Leela visit, I found it was clear Mlynowski has done her fair share of backpacking and she has been in Europe. It's funny how certain situations do happen to all of us. LOL. This is not a description of travelers, who go and discover places with fresh eyes... it is a story about backpacking teens and tweens. And in that Mlynowski gets it right. They go in search of adventure, love and with a list of rather cliche things, on a shoestring budget. I can say that because we all did it to some degree in our teens. It's an odd kind of traveling, I think you learn less about where you are and more about who you are. Though traveling does always essentially teach you about yourself. This reminded me why I have no interest in backpacking ever again and why I did so little of it. But I also think everyone should do one trip like it. I am not speaking about the fling or drinking aspect, I mean going out with a friend into the unknown and just discover a completely new place.
A note to the tips at the beginning of the locations. It was a bit oddly formatted in my copy. I am aware that it can still change, I actually do hope it does, because as it is, I found it a bit unclear and very confusing at first. The tips themselves are quite hilarious, they are so firs time tourist. I kinda love it!

I would say this is completely character driven. Mlynowski shines in character building usually. I see London, I see France is no exception.
Did I like the characters? Not really, or not always. Most of them seemed shallow, self-involved and so immature. Then again we talking 19year olds. And if I think back, well I was a bit like that.. a lot immature, a little shallow at times and sadly a bit self-involved as well. ( I hope I am a bit better on all those fronts)
While I liked Syd, her martyr act, annoyed me a lot! And I am aware, that she couldn't help it. I just wanted to smack her. Syd, in my opinion, is the best-written character in the novel, she felt the most real and I honestly feel like I know her, it's like I went traveling with her.
Jack is my favorite character. Though he is still a bit of an enigma. He was always straight with Syd and I am still not happy with the ending he got. I wanted more for him, especially since he did put himself out there on several occasions.
Leela, on the other hand, was my least favorite character. She is beyond self-involved and selfish, though she does redeem herself a bit in the end. Her behavior throughout the book was irritating, more so because I know women like her and I traveled with someone like her. So I guess Mlynowski did a great job at this character.
I liked Kat but I feel like I don't really know her, other than she is nice and she is wealthy.
The same can be said about Matt. He is a bit of an asshat, I kinda don't know anything about him. I feel similar about the rest of the traveling support cast. I think this is in part because Syd actually has no other relationship with them. They have fun together and that's that. Retrospectively I found it a bit odd that we know so little about Kat to be honest.
I did enjoy the dynamic between Syd and her family. It was heavier than I bargained for somehow, but I also think that it is incredibly well done. Mlynowski put it out there, without any judgment, which left me pondering about the situation. I also understand Syd and where she is coming from. While I was reading the book it was not my favorite aspect, yet at the end it definitely is. It added depth and realism and it shed light on a situation, that many of us are unaware of. But mostly I love how Syd has to somehow let go.
The romance was a bit insta, yet very cute. As I said in the beginning, not quite enough of it for me.


An interesting novel, that was more thought provoking that expected. It is well written with a great sense of humor and I am looking forward to the next installment!

Rating: 

Excerpt Reveal : Twist By Kylie Scott

Twist

By Kylie Scott

A Dive Bar Novel

From New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott comes the second sizzling stand-alone novel in the Dive Bar series!

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot bearded bartender Joe Collins only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, fascinating, and pretty much everything he's been looking for in a woman—except that she lives across the country. Soon they're emailing up a storm and telling each other their deepest, darkest secrets...except the one that really matters.

When Alex pays Joe a surprise visit, however, they both discover that when it comes to love, it's always better with a twist.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AUS | Amazon CA | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Google Play

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/ 

Links:

FACEBOOK | FACEBOOK FAN GROUP | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM  | GOODREADS

EXCERPT

I watched the streetlights cast shadows on the angle of his
cheekbone, the furrow of his brow. Strange how his manly beauty
had grown on me, redefining or rather stretching my usual boundaries.
Perhaps some people’s allure came from the inside out. A good thing. Their ways and their words did the wooing instead of their physical appeal. Not to diss Joe’s impressive physique. As
nice as a pretty face was, though, the personality, the person beneath
the skin, should matter more. Anything else was pretty
shallow and unlikely to last. Guess that was the difference between
my scratching an itch with a stranger and the way this
man had me tied up in knots. And not even neat, sea-worthy
knots. I’m talking, haven’t washed or brushed your hair in forever
and there’s a big old mess back there.
Shit.
At the bar, he’d flirted with me. Full-on flirted with me, his
supposed platonic friend who was not his type. No way did I
know what to do. Normally Valerie would be first on my hit list of
people to call. But she’d just tell me to jump him, regardless of
what else was going on, or any possible consequences. Plus, with
him beside me it would be kind of uncool. But a couple of whisky
sours or no, I was pretty certain I hadn’t imagined his interest.
As Mom had always said, however, best to be sure.
“What are the renovating plans for tomorrow?” I asked.
“Rip out the old fittings and prepare the space for new.”

I nodded. “So we’ll be doing some pounding and screwing?”
“Ah, yeah.” The man cast me a look out of the corner of his
eye. “Sound okay?”
“Absolutely. Can’t wait to get my hands back on that big hard
hammer.”
“Great,” he said, throwing me another questioning look.
I gave a nice bland smile.
Yeah, pal. Two could play at the what-the-fuck-is-going-on
flirting game. I turned in my seat, all the better to face him. “Did
you want to bang, Joe?”
“What did you say?” Wide eyes flashed my way.
“Like I did on that wall today. That was fun,” I said with all
due sincerity. “Will we be doing more of that?”
A pause. “Sure.”
“Awesome.”
Another quizzical look.
“Something wrong?” I inquired politely.
“No.” His Adam’s apple dipped as he swallowed hard, shifting
in his seat, gaze decidedly unsure. The poor fool couldn’t begin to
understand the crazy he’d unleashed with his little taunt. Get
rough with the man? My starved libido was well beyond the
rough-and-tumble stage. No more hiding or denying, sticking
to the sidelines of life. It was my time to step forward and be
brave. When it came to Joe Collins, I was more than ready to
say yes.
“I just . . .” he started. “Never mind.”
Neither of us spoke as he pulled into a parking space a short
walk down from the hotel. I leaned over, placing my hand on his
denim-covered thigh. The muscle tensed beneath my fingers.
Shame on me for straying a little close to his loins.
“Thanks so much for tonight, Joe. I’m so glad we decided to be
friends. Because you, sir, make a great friend.”
“Right. Good.” A frown. “How much did you have to drink
again?”
“Not nearly enough. Quick, let’s get to my hotel room so I can
have more!” I threw open my door.
“Okay.” Hands stuffed in his pockets, he followed me inside,
lingering a step or two behind. Guess he didn’t like it when
people’s moods got all mixed up and mercurial either. Funny, that.
I nodded to the dude at the front desk and pressed the button
on the elevator. It opened immediately. Mirrors and old-timeylooking
wooden framing decorated the small space. We both
leaned against the back wall as it slowly ascended.
“Yeah, sure can’t wait to do some banging, and pounding, and
screwing around with you, Joe.” I smiled. “Sound good?”
He just gave me a dry look from his superior height. All confusion
gone from his handsome face. Confined spaces only made
him seem bigger, even more imposing than usual. No way, no day,
however, was I crawling back into my shell or turning into a
shadow. We’d agreed to work on our issues, so fine, I was putting
it out there.
Still, my bravado was fading, I could barely meet his eyes. The
man affected me in all the ways.
“It’s hard, no pun intended this time, because sometimes it
feels like you want to be just friends,” I said. “But then other times
you flirt with me and I honestly don’t know what’s going on. No
huge surprise there, I know. Social awkwardness is my jam. But I
thought I mostly understood where you were coming from.”
A ding from the elevator and the doors opened at our stop. I
walked out, his bearded hotness following slowly behind, stalking
me almost. For certain his usual cool, easy-going-guy persona was
missing in action. The man radiated tension, intensity, even.
And if he didn’t, I definitely did.
Inside the hotel room I went for mood lighting, only turning
on the table and bedside lamps. I rubbed sweaty hands against the
sides of my pants. “What you said back at the bar about me getting
rough with you, however. Now, that almost sounded like a dare.”
“Did it?”
“It did.”
Arms hanging loose at his sides, he just watched me, saying
nothing. Jerk.
“So tell me.” I stood at the foot of the bed, facing him. Every
part of me was wired, wide awake. “What’s going on, Joe?”
His shoulders rose and fell on a deep breath. “I realized something
tonight.”
“What?”
“That I was falling into old habits. Doing what was easy instead
of doing what I wanted.”
“Huh?”
“It was just before you spilled ice on that guy’s pants.”
“Sure. I can see how you’d be seduced by my smooth moves,”
I said, voice filled with much doubt. My insides were ready to
spontaneously combust. I swear I could feel sweat breaking out all
over me, the man was just that hot. Also, my nerves were on high
alert.
One corner of his lips tipped up. “You know how you said you
weren’t jealous?”
“Yes?”
“Well, I was.”
Wow. I had nothing.
“This is the part where you’re supposed to admit you were
jealous too,” he supplied.
“I didn’t think it needed to be said. I’m not that good a liar.”
“True,” he said. “Anyway, I made the pass at you and then I
was leaving it up to you to figure out what you want. To be brave
and make the next move.”
Softly, I laughed and shook my head. Men were such idiots.
“Make the first move? This isn’t a game. As I said last time the subject
of sex came up, previous hurt feelings, etc. It’s going to get
complicated.”
“Yeah, probably,” he said, voice deeper than I’d ever heard it.

ARC Review: Hooked on Trouble by Kelly Siskind

Hooked on Trouble

Author: Kelly Siskind
Publisher: Forever Yours
Series: Over the Top #3
Pages: Paperback, 336 pages
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: January 10th 2017

Summary:

Reality bites. Hard.

The last time Raven did “real” was sixteen months ago, when she spent one unforgettable night with the tattooed, impossibly sexy Nico, and then he disappeared the next day. Since then, she’s kept her guard up and her feelings to herself. She doesn’t have time for relationship drama when she’s busy searching for her long lost sister.

Nico hasn’t stopped thinking about Raven—her sultry curves, inked skin, and the fact that he ditched her after their night together. Now that they’re living in the same city, he knows this is his chance to make things right. What better way to prove to Raven he’s for real than helping her find her sister? But when the lines between right and wrong start to blur, putting his job on the line, Nico has to decide if the risk is worth the ultimate reward.

Review:

A fabulous ending to the series, in fact this is my favorite book of it.
I liked Raven right from book one. Her edgy ways, but also her tell it as it is, yet her loyalty were all reasons, I was looking forward to her book for.
And there there was big, dark, broody, handsome Nico... I kept wondering what really happened between them, another reason I was kinda desperate to get my hands on the book
And let's just say, when that was revealed I was a tad.. well... underwhelmed? I thought, is Raven for real? That was her reason???
But I got quickly distracted by wooing Nico, because, damn, wooing Nico is my favorite thing in the series, hands down.
The plot actually took a turn to much more serious topics. I kinda expected lots of cute & fluffy. And don't misunderstand me there is plenty of that. And it perfect and adorable and smoldering- well everything one wants (aka I want) from cute & fluffy. Totally swoony moments.
But Siskind dug deeper and somehow we discover Raven's secrets, her past, things that shape and formed her. The same for Nico. We see them overcome hurdles for each other. I totally and utterly fell for them. It's a really beautiful story, with all it's ugly past and everything. Siskind got it absolutely right.

The character building is what makes this shine. I could relate to both of them, I felt with them, understood them and their growth felt realistic and real. Add to that a great support cast, we got to know and love in the previous book, and it's a pleasure to read.

My only little issue? The epilogue.. And I got to say, don't ask me why. It was too *whispers* soppy for me. Now don't ask me why. It just didn't fly my boat. Though I found it amusing in some parts. Just wasn't my cup of tea.

So a brilliant ending to a wonderful series, Aa wonderful story about two people finding each other and growing together, oh let's not forget and lots of swoony, hotilicious Nico makes this a must read.


Rating: 

ARC was provided by Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Review: Bad Judgment by Meghan March

Bad Judgment

Author: Meghan March
Pages: ebook, 350 pages
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: August 22nd 2016

Summary:


A deliciously sexy enemies-to-lovers STANDALONE from USA Today bestselling author Meghan March.


He’s arrogant.

She’s self-righteous.

I hate him.

I want her.

I’ve been turning him down for two years straight.

Every shut-down makes me work harder.

I’m not a one-night stand kind of girl.

She doesn’t realize I won’t settle for only one night.

He’s a distraction I don’t need.

She’ll say yes eventually because I’m not giving up.

Review:
I enjoyed Bad Judgment.
However I think the summary is misleading. I would at no point describe Justine and Ryker as enemies...
I got over that slight disappointment very quickly, because their chemistry is off the charts. And more importantly the character building is really great. It's one of the things I love about March's writing and I have come to expect interesting characters. Bad Judgment delivers on the front 100%. What looks at first glance like just the usual smutilicous cast, becomes an interesting group of people. I like both MCs with all their hangups and can totally relate to both of them.
The reason however that this is "only"3Stars rather than 4 is the storyline. I did enjoy all the dramas and ups and downs. I totally rooted for Justine. I really enjoyed the little twists March threw in, even if I saw them all coming a while ahead. However I am not satisfied with Rykers explanations of why he ended up behaving the way he did, when he found out. It makes no sense to me. At all. However you twist it or turn it, he knew yet he reacted like he didn't? So weird.
The other thing I found a huge let down, was the end. I mean, we got two strong characters with their own path and own dreams. And the end is basically one MCs just living the others dream. A huge let down for me.

Still it's cute, it's hot and very enjoyable. It's another great addition to March's body of works.
1 like


Rating: 

Release Day Blitz: More Than Friends By Monica Murphy

More than Friends by Monica Murphy

Release Date: November 14^th, 2016

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Synopsis:

He's not perfect, but he's all I want...

I’m your average girl at your average high school, trying to figure out my place in life. After catching my now ex-boyfriend messing around with my now ex-best friend, I’ve made some big changes. No more band, no more backstabbing friends and no more boring old life. Now I have new friends, a new job and new interests.

But there’s a certain someone who’s interested in me, and I don’t get it. Jordan Tuttle could have anyone he wants. He’s the most popular boy in school. Rich, gorgeous, smart and the star quarterback, he’s perfect. Yet he acts like he wants no one else but…me.

So despite my fears and doubt, I let him get close. Probably too close. I discover that he’s not so perfect after all, but it doesn’t matter. I’m falling for him, even though he runs so hot and cold. I know someday he’s going to break my heart.

And I’m going to let him.

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dFqLse

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2f4jdwJ

iBooks link: http://apple.co/2elBtCx

Nook: http://bit.ly/2e4sAPn

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fwwj9U

Amazon US (print): http://amzn.to/2e4tjAa

About the Author:

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she's not writing, she's reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She's a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

Connect with Monica:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2c9ViiI

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bRP5bR

Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com

Review: Dealing in Deception by Samantha Joyce

Dealing in Deception

Author: Samantha Joyce
Publisher: Pocket Star/Simon & Schuster
Series: Love in Disguise #2
Genre: Romance
Release Date: November 14th 2016

Summary:

In this companion to Samantha Joyce’s Flirting with Fame, Veronica Wilde finds that playing make-believe isn’t all it’s cracked up to be—especially when it’s keeping her from pursuing the one man who makes her heart go wild.

As an actress-for-hire, Veronica Wilde has made a living out of pretending to be other people. It’s the one thing at which she’s always excelled: taking on someone else’s personality and running with it. So after Elise Jameson, author of the bestselling Viking Moon series, decides she no longer requires Veronica’s services, she needs to find a new gig—and fast.

But when her newest client hires Veronica to help him make his small business look more successful than it actually is, the sparks that fly between them are definitely not part of the act. Suddenly, Veronica finds she’s tired of playing pretend for a living. She’s been acting for so long, she’s blindsided by the one man who sees her for who she really is. And the most terrifying part? She might actually like it.

Review:

I think I might like this even better than the first? Mmmmhhhh ...ok then again. Maybe not?
While I can't tell you which one of the two Love in Disguise novels I like better, I can tell you with certainty I like them both.
Dealing in Deception feature the villainess of the first book. It is set at a later time, we get a few glimpses of Gavin and Elise, but really DiD could easily be read as a standalone.

Like Flirting with Fame this is a slightly different kind of romance. With that I mostly mean the MCs.
The story line is cram-full of cliches, just like FwF was. But somehow Joyce takes an oldie theme (a goodie to be clear), throws in a bunch of well used cliches and makes it her own. There are beautiful insightful and inspiring moments here. And yet it is lighthearted and funny.

I think all of this shows Joyces talent as a storyteller. Her writing style is easy, simple and straightforward, yet she inspires with her descriptions and is on point with her insight. All of this is tied together with excellent character building.

And to be honest, while I like the story line, I absolutely and utterly adore the characters, with ALL the flaws. I mean some of them are a tad over the top, which makes them kinda cliche. Starting with Bax, who I completely adore btw. But he is your typical goody good doer. Well, at least half the time. Then Joyce shows sides and layers to him that make him so human and kinda real. It's actually kinda freaky, but I related to all the characters in both books so much, I honestly feel like I know them all. That goes for the support cast as well. I think, Joyce using the well known usuals, then adding her own twist to them, kinda makes one get to know them faster and relate better. As I said, brilliant.
Veronica is fabulous. I loved her in FiF and knew exactly where Joyce was taking her in this book. (especially with how things ended in FiF and Elise kinda spilling the beans.) BUT I didn't expect to love her this much. I totally related to her. I mean we all have the scared mean girl in us, at least to a degree. I love how Bax and her slowly change and fell for each other. The character growth of the MCs is inspiring.

Just like the first installment of the series, I was left to ponder over the deeper issues Joyce has touched on. Let's face it, the likelihood that Elise would have ended up where she does in the series, is small. The same goes for Bax and Veronica. But this is fiction! And more importantly I know there are people out there that are like Elise, Regina, Clint, Bax and co.
Bax with his ambitious goals and his great invention, might not exist in RL (does he? has the blanket been invented?) but people like him do. There are people who run shelters, volunteer and other who give to charity. Those are the kind of people I strive to emulate. I am touched that Joyce highlighted a reality we all too often forget. She did it with sweetness and kindness. Reminding us that there are wonderful people on this earth and that we have to help each other. All without being preachy or making a huge fuss about it.
THANK YOU!

Rating: 


ARC was provided by Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Chapter Reveal: More than Friends by Monica Murphy

Find out why everyone is falling in love with Jordan Tuttle from Monica Murphy's More than Friends!! Releasing Nov. 14th.
Wednesday

Chapter One

Amanda

I’m cruising on my bike, contemplating everything Livvy just told me. How her mom was so mad when she discovered Livvy had spent the night at Ryan’s house, she grounded her and took away her phone. Livvy is seriously going to lose her mind being grounded for so long, unable to see Ryan unless we’re at school. That won’t be enough for her. When it comes to Ryan, it feels like nothing is ever enough for her.

At least I’m not in trouble like she is.

Liv’s going to stress out over Ryan, though. Over those hours when she’s not with him and he could possibly be up to no good. She worries about him all the time. I get it—sort of. He seems to play games, and that must get exhausting.

Truthfully, I wouldn’t put up with that crap. But I’m not Livvy.

Thank goodness.

The wind blows through my hair as I make a right into my neighborhood, turning the wild strands into a tangled mess. Not that I care. There’s no one I’m hoping to impress. It’ll just be Sunday night dinner with the family, as usual. I’m not even sure if they’re home yet. Dad mentioned something about going to Home Depot to pick out fall flowers for the yard, and Mom said something about shower curtains and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Bleh. I’m glad I made my escape when I did.

My house slowly comes into view and I smile to myself. I might not live in a giant mansion in a fancy neighborhood like my new so-called friends, but our house is nice. Small and on the older side, but it’s cute, with a pretty front yard and a big porch with a white swing…

Oh. Crap. There’s someone sitting on the swing. His arms are spread out along the back of the wooden frame, his gaze locked directly on me, like he knew I was going to appear at any second.

It’s Jordan Tuttle.

My heart is racing as I press gently on the brakes, taking him in, my gaze roving over every single tiny feature that makes him Jordan. I want to slow down the moment, revel in the anticipation of finding him waiting for me. He rises to his feet, runs a hand over his thick, perfect hair almost nervously, and a shuddery breath leaves me.

The memory hits me, socks me in the stomach and leaves me aching. I remember what it felt like, having those hands on me just last night. His mouth on mine, the words he whispered in my ear. It wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t something I made up inside my head, because seriously, I was starting to wonder if I really was losing my mind when it came to Jordan Tuttle.

But no. Jordan is real. He’s in my life because he wants to be here for some crazy reason. And now he’s waiting for me, his hands on his hips, the faintest smile on his face as he continues to watch me.

“What are you doing here?” I ask as I make my approach, hopping off my bike so I can roll it up the front walkway.

We meet in the middle, Jordan stopping just in front of me. “Nice way to greet me.”

I frown, worried I was doing everything wrong. He had a way of making me feel like that. “How should I greet you?”

“Like this.” His hand is suddenly curled around my nape when he pulls me in for a too-quick yet somehow lingering kiss. My lips tingle when he pulls away, and by the smug expression on his face, I know he knows the effect he has on me.

“Jordan,” I chastise, stepping away from him and nearly tripping over my stupid bike. Luckily enough, he catches me by the elbow, steadying me before I fall over like an idiot. “What if my parents are inside?”

“They’re not.” He grabs the bike from me, nudges the kickstand down and sets it in place on the sidewalk a few feet away from us. “Where’ve you been?”

His confidence makes me crazy. He’s so sure of himself, and I wish I had even an ounce of his self-assuredness.

I don’t. Not even close. He lives in another realm. I’m just a lowly peon compared to His Majesty, Lord Jordan Tuttle.

“I went over to Livvy’s,” I tell him when I realize he’s waiting for my answer. As usual, my mind wanders when I’m in his presence. “I wanted to make sure she’s okay.”

Jordan frowns. “She is, right?”

“Oh yeah, her mom just grounded her for life.” When he sends me a come on face, I readjust. “Fine, she’s grounded for a couple weeks. No phone. No Ryan.”

“It might do her some good, the no Ryan thing,” he mutters.

I say nothing. I don’t understand the relationship he has with Ryan. They’re friends. Then they’re not. They’re teammates always, and that’s something Jordan has to deal with no matter what.

“What are you up to right now?” I ask, hoping to change the subject.

He smiles. Reaches out to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. I feel that innocent touch all the way down to my toes, which are currently curling in my battered white Converse. “I want to take you out.”

My mouth drops open. “In public?”

The frown is back. It’s not fair, how attractive he still is despite the scowl he’s currently wearing. “Of course in public. What the hell, Mandy.”

I shrug, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “We haven’t actually been seen together.”

He grabs my hand and pulls me in close. My body immediately goes hot and I wonder if he has some sort of powerful force field I can’t resist. “I want to change that.”

My gaze meets his and I can’t look away. He’s so sincere. So serious. “What happened between us last night was…”

“Real.” He kisses me again. Another brief brush of lips on lips, yet I’m decimated. Shaky all over when he pulls away. When my ex Thad kissed me, I never felt like this. Ever.

Never.

Ever.

Never.

“Maybe we were just caught up in a moment?” I ask tentatively. It’s like I’m always waiting for the bomb to drop. For the joke to be on me. No one in a million years would ever match me with Jordan Tuttle. Not even me. So what’s his deal? Why is he so persistent? I don’t get it.

I like it, but he also scares me. I don’t want to get hurt.

I don’t want my heart to be broken.

“Every time I’m near you, I get caught up in a moment.” One side of his perfect mouth tips up in this semi-smile that is absolutely adorable. I wish I had my phone out so I could snap a pic of him. “Maybe we need to give this a try and see if all we ever experience together is one giant moment.”

“That’s impossible.” The words are out before I can stop them and I slap my hand over my mouth, my eyes wide as I stare up at him.

Jordan actually laughs, shaking his head. It’s a rare sound, but wow, is it amazing. “Nothing’s impossible if you want it bad enough.”

I drop my hand, gaping up at him. “So are you saying that you want—me?”

“Yes.” He dips his head, his mouth hovering above mine. “I do.”





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