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LONG WAY HOME - Tour banner    

The highly anticipated third book in Katie McGarry’s Thunder Road Series is being released on January 31st! LONG WAY HOME is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance being published by Harlequin Teen! Pre-order your copy of the next book in this emotionally charged series, and don’t miss Violet and Chevy’s story! Check out all of the stops on this awesome tour and be sure to pre-order your copy for the amazing bonus scenes!

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LONG WAY HOME Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Violet has always been expected to sit back and let the boys do all the saving.
 
It’s the code her father, a member of the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, raised her to live by. Yet when her dad is killed carrying out Terror business, Violet knows it’s up to her to do the saving. To protect herself, and her vulnerable younger brother, she needs to cut all ties with the club—including Chevy, the boy she’s known and loved her whole life.
But when a rival club comes after Violet, exposing old secrets and making new threats, she’s forced to question what she thought she knew about her father, the Reign of Terror, and what she thinks she wants. Which means re-evaluating everything: love, family, friends . . . and forgiveness.
Caught in the crosshairs between loyalty and freedom, Violet must decide whether old friends can be trusted—and if she’s strong enough to be the one person to save them all.

LONG WAY HOME Pre-Order Links:

Amazon | Kobo | BAM | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound

   
"An intoxicating and unforgettable story that kept me glued to the page."
—Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Walk the Edge
 

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

 
Excerpt:
 
CHEVY
                “Chevy,” Cyrus calls near the entrance, “We need to talk.”
                Damned knot in the tug-of-war-rope and I’m starting to feel frayed. Mom doesn’t blink as she waits for me to say something. To tell Cyrus he can wait. To tell her what she wants to hear. But as much as I love her, I’m also drawn to the club. She’s right, I do want both.
                “I’ll be back to pick you up later,” I say.
                Mom throws the towel she had expertly throttled into the sink behind her, walks to the other side of the bar and the strobe light casts a red haze around her. If I didn’t know her better, I’d buy the flirty smile and the way she giggles in happiness as she leans on the bar to take a drink order. But that’s not her real smile and that’s not her real laugh. It’s part of her job, part of her act, because that’s what working her requires—performing.
                With a kick to a barstool, I head for the exit. Cyrus walks out into the night and I follow. Once outside, Cyrus turns to me and his warm breath creates a cloud in the cool night. “We’ve had some trouble tonight with the Riot.”
                The Riot would be a motorcycle club north of us in Louisville. They’re pissed at the Terror for myriad reasons, the main one being we’re a legit club and they deal in illegal. They’re also angry at one of our main members, Eli. They feel he stole their daughter and granddaughter from them. Eli didn’t steal a thing. Can’t call someone’s free will in walking away from crazy a crime.
                Life sucks for the Riot and I’m fine with that. “Everything okay?”
                “Yeah. Everyone’s safe, but we’ve had word that they’ve ridden past the boundary lines we set with them a few months back. It’s all rumor and no one on our side has confirmed it. Could be someone’s overactive imagination, but I’ll feel better knowing you’re off the road.”
                I’m under eighteen, still a kid to him. Cyrus used to act this way with my two best friends, Oz and Razor, but both are eighteen and full members of the club now. The babysitting twists my gut, but then again, I’m not ready for the decision eighteen will bring. “How about Violet?”
                “I’m on my way now to look for her. She’s also not answering her cell.”
                Yeah. A lot of that going around. “If she took Stone to the game, she would have headed straight home. I’ll check on her on my way to Mom’s if you want.”
                This gives me the excuse I need to see Violet. Because I won’t be able to sleep without knowing she’s okay. So I can thank her for what she did for me with the note. To gauge whether or not Violet is waving the white flag.
                Cyrus lays a hand on my shoulder. “I’d appreciate that. I need to head back to the clubhouse to take care of some business. I’m serious about what I said though. Me and a lot of guys would love to hear about the game.”
                I know they would and I’d enjoy being with them, but Mom’s already sore that I walked out on her to talk to Cyrus. “I’m beat. After I check on Violet, I’m crashing.”
                Cyrus gives me a fast pat and a hug. We both mount our bikes and start our engines with a growl. My grandfather takes the lead and I follow him as long as I can before taking the path that leads away from him and toward where Violet lives.
 
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Review:
 
I absolutely love the Thunder Road series by Katie McGarry. I have been hoping for Chevy and Violet's story ever since I first met them in Nowhere But Here. The two have so much history together and even through their anger and frustration, we could see that deeper feelings lingered there. I was so excited to jump in to their story and I loved seeing the two work to figure out how to overcome all that history and fear. There is a lot of fear surrounding Violet and I loved that Chevy was such a rock for her. Both are incredibly pragmatic when it comes to their relationship and the way it was handled just worked so well. I really liked how much of the book was spent of them being together and not fighting like in previous books. The two come together and are each other's support after a pretty traumatic events occurs and revelations are thrown at them from every angle. Everything they thought they knew about their families, the Terror, and themselves will be questioned in this book, so it was a breath of fresh air to see them tackle it together.
 
Overall, I could not be more pleased with how their story concluded—it was such a fitting end for them and this was one of those books I instantly wanted to reread after it was over.
 

Don’t Miss the First Two Titles in the Thunder Road Series! Grab your copies today!

NOWHERE BUT HERE

WALK THE EDGE

     

long-way-home-preorder-deal-graphic

Pre-order LONG WAY HOME by Katie McGarry, and fill out THIS FORM, to receive three previously unreleased bonus scenes featuring important “firsts” in the lives of your favorite characters from the world of Katie McGarry! Complete the form to register your pre-order at https://wyng.com/campaign/820152. Offer Ends 1/31/17 at 11:59pm EST.

     
Katie McGarry’s LONG WAY HOME – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:
January 23rd
Aaly and The Books – Review & Excerpt
Angel Reads – Review
Books,Dreams,Life – Excerpt
Feed Your Fiction Addiction – Review & Excerpt
Girl Plus Books – Review & Excerpt
Letter Shelves Blog – Review & Excerpt
The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt
January 24th
Book Boyfriend Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Ficwishes – Review
Lovin' Los Libros – Review
Zach's YA Reviews – Review & Excerpt
January 25th
Always YA at Heart – Review & Excerpt
Bridget's Book Bungalow – Review & Excerpt
Mythical Books – Excerpt
Swoony Boys Podcast – Review & Excerpt
January 26th
A Bookish Escape – Review & Excerpt
Book Sojourner – Review & Excerpt
Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Dark Faerie Tales – Review & Excerpt
January 27th
Bookshelf Adventures – Review & Excerpt
Little Read Riding Hood – Review & Excerpt
Nerdy Soul – Review & Excerpt
Random Book Muses – Review & Excerpt
Writing My Own Fairy Tale – Review & Excerpt
January 28th
Zili in the Sky – Review & Excerpt
Greyland Reviews – Excerpt
Chasing Faerytales – Review
January 29th
Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt
BookWorm221 – Review & Excerpt
Confessions of 2 Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
Milky Way of Books – Review & Excerpt
January 30th
Margie's Must Reads – Review & Excerpt
Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt
Readers Live A Thousand Lives – Review & Excerpt
So Bookalicious – Review & Excerpt
January 31st
Desert Divas Book Addiction – Review & Excerpt
Little Bookworm Reviews – Review & Excerpt
With Love for Books – Review & Excerpt
The Cover Contessa – Review & Excerpt
February 1st
A Leisure Moment – Review
Book Bite Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Never Judge a Book by its Cover – Review & Excerpt
Pages to Explore – Excerpt
Red Hot + Blue Reads – review & Excerpt
Stuck In Books – Review & Excerpt
February 2nd
Actin' Up with Books – Review & Excerpt
Contagious Reads – Review & Excerpt
Go Read A Book – Review
The Book Maven – Review & Excerpt
February 3rd
A Gingerly Review – Review & Excerpt
Bookish Hollow – Review & Excerpt
G & T's Indie Café – Excerpt
Lovely Reads Publishing – Review & Excerpt
Vera is Reading – Excerpt
I Heart YA Books – Review & Excerpt
   
LONG WAY HOME - teaser 3 Fotolia update
   
 
 
Katie McGarry - author pic    Katie McGarry Bio: Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, NOWHERE BUT HERE and WALK THE EDGE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine’s 2012 Reviewer’s Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.  

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The Last Harvest
   by: Kim Liggett

Publication Date: Jan. 10, 2017
Publisher: Tor Teen
Genre: Horror
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Physical ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N

“I plead the blood.”

Those were the last words seventeen-year-old golden boy quarterback Clay Tate heard rattling from his dad's throat when he discovered him dying on the barn floor of the Neely Cattle Ranch, clutching a crucifix to his chest.

Now, on the first anniversary of the Midland, Oklahoma slaughter, the whole town's looking at Clay like he might be next to go over the edge. Clay wants to forget the past, but the sons and daughters of the Preservation Society—a group of prominent farmers his dad accused of devil worship—won't leave him alone. Including Ali, his longtime crush, who suddenly wants to reignite their romance after a year of silence, and hated rival Tyler Neely, who’s behaving like they’re old friends.

Even as Clay tries to reassure himself, creepy glances turn to sinister stares and strange coincidences build to gruesome rituals—but when he can never prove that any of it happened, Clay worries he might be following his dad down the path to insanity...or that something far more terrifying lies in wait around the corner.

 
Kim's Top Five Creepiest Dolls in Horror
 
Poltergeist

Who could forget this terrifying clown? This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s scary, funny, surprising, and such a fun ride.

http://giphy.com/gifs/poltergeist-RJPgWH4AweWPK

 
 
The Conjuring

Oh, Annabelle, you creep me out so hard and I love you.

http://giphy.com/gifs/the-conjuring-gHRLlYjl1arny

 
 

Child’s Play

Chucky has made us laugh, made us cry, and possibly pee our pants a little

http://giphy.com/gifs/absurdnoise-absurdnoise-chucky-childs-play-2-Tn4JQLe2G1plK

 

The Twilight Zone- Living Doll

My name is Talky Tina and I’m going to KILL YOU

http://giphy.com/gifs/tina-talky-k5LZHbJnNLBVC

 

Magic

This film starring a young Anthony Hopkins is a doll cult classic. Fats, the ventriloquist dummy is as creepy as it gets.

http://giphy.com/gifs/anthony-hopkins-B0CXqiviDmT7O


About the Author:
 
At sixteen, Kim Liggett left her rural midwestern town for New York City, where she pursued a career in music and acting. While attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Kim sang backup for some of the biggest rock bands of the 80s. After settling down to have a family, she became an entrepreneur, creating a children's art education program and a travel company specializing in tours for musicians. She's married to jazz musician Ken Peplowski, and has two beautiful teenagers. www.kimliggett.com  @Kim_Liggett
 
My Review:
 
When I first heard Kim talking about this book at Books of Wonder last fall, I knew I had to get my hands on it. She pitched it as Friday Night Lights meets Rosemary's Baby, which is both awesome and creepy at the same time. I definitely saw the similarities to both, and how she tied the two together was pretty neat. I really enjoyed reading through this one and I loved that I didn't want to put it down—except sometimes I did, because I got creeped out and was a bit afraid a creepy doll would be in my face if I woke up in the middle of the night.
 
I really enjoyed Clay's character and my heart definitely felt for him. Having tragically lost his dad the previous year to extraneous conditions, he is the man of the house and has to take care of his two younger sisters and his disconnected mother. All the while, he has to take care of the farm and make sure the harvest is ready before the first frost comes. As if that isn't enough, Clay is getting some pressure from the weird founding fathers society the town has going on and they want him to take his rightful place along with 5 others—one of which is a girl he desperately loves. It's a lot for a guy! His voice felt realistic and I felt I was right there in Midland with him.
 
I think Liggett did a great job of piecing everything together and keeping us guessing. I can easily envision this as a horror movie, in fact, it reminded me a bit of that Demi Moore movie The Seventh Sign. Religious things creep me out the most, so I was definitely a bit freaked out during this one. To say I would scream in a theater is this were a movie, would be an understatement!




An Indecent Proposal (The O'Malleys #3)
   by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: Aug. 30, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Barclay Publicity and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 352 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes
My Rating: 4/5 stars

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about the O'Malleys-wealthy, powerful, and full of scandalous family secrets.

Greed. Ambition. Violence. Those are the "values" Olivia Rashidi learned from her Russian mob family-and the values she must leave behind for the sake of her daughter. When she meets Cillian O'Malley, she recognizes the red flag of his family name . . . yet she still can't stop herself from seeing the smoldering, tortured man. To save her family, Olivia sets out to discover Cillian's own secrets, but the real revelation is how fast-and how hard-she's falling for him.

Plagued by a violent past, Cillian is more vulnerable than anyone realizes. Anyone except Olivia, whose beauty, compassion, and pride have him at "hello," even if she's more inclined to say good-bye to an O'Malley. While his proposal of sex with no strings seems simple, what he feels for her isn't, especially after he learns that she belongs to a rival crime family. Cillian knows that there is no escape from the life, but Olivia may be worth trying-and dying-for . . .

 
 
 
 
I just can't get enough of the O'Malley family. Seriously. Their stories are not only addicting and super sexy, but I am FASCINATED by their lives. The O'Malleys are one of the three most powerful families in Boston and after tragedy struck their family in book one, they are all handling their grief in different ways.
 
Perhaps one of the hardest hit is Cillian. He feels responsible for what happened and it killed me to see him carry so much of that weight on his shoulders. He is trying to be better and doesn't want to be known as the screw up of the family. Meeting Olivia ends up changing a lot for him and not just because he falls for her. He shows how selfless he really is by putting her needs first and working to protect her and I just loved him for that. He was such a swoonworthy hero and I am so happy with how his story turned out!
 
Olivia is my girl! She was fierce, didn't take crap from anyone and is an amazing mom to her adorable daughter. I loved the dynamic there and it just felt right for this particular story. Olivia has a past and while she isn't proud of it, she wouldn't trade it for the world because of the outcome: Hadley, her daughter. While she is tough, she does have a vulnerable side too. She doesn't want to be chained to her family and just wants to be free to live her life without constantly looking over her shoulder to see if her ex is going to drag her back to where she 'belongs'. Cillian may have started out as a way of releasing tension, but I really liked how she let him in and allowed herself to fall for him.
 
They have steaming chemistry together and like all of Robert's couples, are not lacking in sexy times together. This book is definitely intense and I liked that the story drove itself. There was no unnecessary drama or angst and I think that says a lot.
 
I am beyond excited for Sloan's book. That girl has quite the story to tell and after the preview we got I am SO ready. It's going to be scorching hot and I can already feel the tension oozing off the pages!
I can't recommend this series enough guys. I love the mob element and the characters are so well written and developed. I am going to be devastated when I have to say to goodbye to these characters.



“Hey, stop!”

She ran after him, thankful she’d put on her badass studded boots instead of the pair of heels she’d been jonesing after. An eight-hour shift on her feet would have her hating herself if she’d gone with the pretty shoes—and they would have made it impossible to catch up with the O’Malley.

She grabbed his arm and froze at the feel of his muscles flexing in her grip. Holy wow.

He finally turned to face her and it struck her that, without the bar between them, he was so much larger than she was. Not large like her ex, Sergei—this man was built lean instead of for brute strength—but he still dwarfed her. And he smelled good, like some kind of spicy men’s cologne that instantly had her thinking thoughts she had no business entertaining.

Like what it would be like to bury her nose in his neck and inhale deeply. The insane desire to do so almost overwhelmed her.

Everything about him was overwhelming, from his beautiful face, to his impeccably styled dark hair, to the tattoos peeking out of his clothes at neck and wrists. The ink creeping up the side of his neck was like a wild thing trying to escape from his insanely expensive suit, a strange combination of brutal strength and poised polish that she should have known better than to be attracted to.

Except, apparently, her body hadn’t gotten the memo.

She realized she was still clutching his arm and made herself let go so she could offer back the cash. Right, because that’s why you chased him down a dark street. “I don’t want your money.”

“It’s called a tip, sweetheart. It’s just good manners.”

“I don’t want it.” Even as she said it, she wondered why she was being so damn stubborn about this. He hadn’t asked anything of her. All he’d done was throw too much money at a bartender, which was something plenty of drunks did from time to time. Except he wasn’t drunk. She should be elated at having the extra cash—God knew she needed it. Instead, there was a growing recklessness in her chest, one she’d thought she’d outgrown a long time ago. “Just take it, okay?”

“No.” His gaze narrowed on her face, giving her the sudden thought that he saw too much. Before she could decide what to do with that, he moved closer, giving her another whiff of that cologne that made her whole body break out in goose bumps. Or maybe it was the man himself, the streetlights creating a skeleton’s mask of his face, turning his eyes into dark pits of shadows. “Why do you care so much?”

“Oh my God, just take it back.” She should drop the cash and head for home. Or, hell, at least take a few steps away so that she wasn’t in danger of brushing against him if she took a deep breath.

But she couldn’t force her hand to unclench or her feet to create any distance between them. She cleared her throat, trying to get her thoughts back on track. “I didn’t ask for your charity.”

“Yeah, I got it. You win. I’m an asshole.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Not in so many words, no.” His gaze raked her body much the same way it had back at the bar, making every alarm in her head go off. Spending any more time in this man’s presence was dangerous, though she couldn’t say for sure what she was most afraid of. She lifted her chin in challenge, demanding…She wasn’t sure what she was demanding. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and she licked her lips. What am I doing? Walk away. Walk away right now.

No. Not yet.

He murmured, “If the shoe fits…”

And then he gripped her jaw and kissed her.
 
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. She found romance novels at age twelve and it changed her life. When not writing sexy contemporary and speculative fiction romance novels, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her wee ones, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.  Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram

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His Royal Secret (His Royal Secret #1)
   by: Lilah Pace

Publication Date: July 19, 2016
Publisher: InterMix
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 185 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The first in an enchanting new male/male romantic duology from Lilah Pace, author of Asking for More and Begging for It ....

James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.

He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.

While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.

But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...

 
 
When I first saw the synopsis for this book, I knew I wanted to give it a try. I am such a sucker for books with royalty- no matter if it's a real country or a fake one. I also love some forbidden romance, and His Royal Secret definitely had that going for it!
 
I absolutely adored James. He was such a sweetheart and I wanted him to be happy so incredibly much. I can't imagine having to hide who you truly are because you are constantly under a microscope and the world is constantly watching and scrutinizing... He handles it with such grace though. Even when the media is bashing people he cares deeply for, he still manages to keep his emotions in check and remember that he has to consider every angle before moving forward. It's such a lonely life to lead -being both a gay man and heir to throne. When he meets Ben Dahan, the two have instant chemistry and after a chance meeting in Kenya, the two reconnect months later and begin a 'casual' secret relationship.
 
I liked Ben ok, but not nearly as much as James. Ben was harder to read and I wasn't sure of his true emotions. James wears his heart on his sleeve, where Ben is much more guarded. Considering his past, I get it, but I had trouble discerning whether or not he truly cared for James.
 
My one issue with this book was how quickly Ben decided he was all in. We literally have him going on about how he has to protect himself and that he wouldn't let himself be vulnerable to anyone ever again one minute and the next he's professing his love to James. It felt like whiplash and I was a bit skeptical that he could have changed his mind so quickly. Still, James loves him and wants to be with him, so that's good enough for me.
 
I also really enjoyed James's sister, Indigo. My heart ached for the girl and I wanted nothing more than to see her healthy and happy. I don't agree with the way James sheltered her. She needs professional help and I hope we see her get that in the second book.
 
Overall, I did enjoy this one! It was one sexy book and I have to caution you not to read it on a train like I did where nosy people can read over your shoulder!
 
 
 

His Royal Favorite (His Royal Secret #2)
   by: Lilah Pace

Publication Date: Aug. 16, 2016
Publisher: InterMix
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 245 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

The conclusion of Lilah Pace’s racy, romantic male/male duology following His Royal Secret...

James, Prince of Wales, is making history. He's decided to come out to his subjects—and the world. However, telling the truth means exposing his relationship with lone-wolf reporter Benjamin Dahan. Although Ben never wanted commitment, the unexpected depth of his feelings leads him to join James in the media's harsh spotlight.

When the news story explodes across the globe, Ben can endure the mockery and dirty jokes. But after his tragic past is cruelly revealed, his life begins to implode. Can even his love for James be worth this?

James has it no easier. His revelation divides the country and sparks turmoil within the royal family. He must struggle to defend not only himself and Ben, but also his younger sister, who hovers on the brink of a breakdown that could endanger her life.

Is Ben strong enough to survive the onslaught and stand by James' side? And will James have to make a choice between Ben and the crown?

 
 
After finishing His Royal Secret, I immediately dove right into His Royal Favorite. It didn't end on a cliffhanger per se, but James and Ben's story was far from over. As you can see from the synopsis, James has officially come out as gay and now begins the whirlwind of media, speculation and slander. James is used to being in the spotlight, but Ben isn't. His life is about to become very different and I felt bad for the guy. He knew what he was signing up for, but knowing isn't the same as experiencing.
 
I hated seeing Ben's deterioration of spirit in this book. It hurt. He loves James and wants to be with him, but this life wears on a person. We see how much it has impacted James's sister and while not the sole reason for her illness, it does play a large role in her anxiety. I am glad we got to see that addressed and it will absolutely tug at your heartstrings to see how wrecked James is over her situation. It is certainly emotional and difficult to witness, but I felt Pace handled it very well and am so pleased with how Indigo's story was resolved.
 
James and Ben have made tremendous sacrifices for one another and their love, and they continue to do so. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak, so I was pleasantly surprised at how everything was handled. Again, I felt Pace handled their relationship and their issues so realistically. They do not live in a fairy tale world where love is a cure all. Instead, she really sheds light on the fact that love is NOT always enough. There has to be balance, feelings of worth and fulfillment, goals of their own.
 
While this book was a bit tamer on the sex scenes, it still had its fair share of steamy ones. (Again- DO NOT READ ON A CROWDED SUBWAY TRAIN!)
 
I highly enjoyed this dualogy by Lilah Pace! If you enjoy reading about royals as much as I do, definitely check these out!
Fool Me Once (Foolproof Love #2)
    by: Katee Robert

Publication Date: Aug. 1, 2016
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 170 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

They say opposites attract, but this is just ridiculous.

Aubry Kaiser doesn’t like people—actually, that’s not right. She loathes people. With her crippling anxiety, there’s no way she can demo her favorite video game at a convention with five thousand other people. Maybe if she brings someone to act as a shield…

But the only person available is the sexy cowboy she can’t stand.

Quinn Baldwyn is in a mess of his own. He’s been dodging his wealthy family’s matchmaking attempts—and life advice—for years, but with his sister’s wedding on the horizon, he needs of a shield of his own.

He and Aubry can barely hold down a civil conversation, but in bed…fireworks. And the closer they get to Quinn’s sister’s wedding, the more he realizes that he might actually like Aubry.

Now it’s up to him to convince her she might actually like him, too.
  
 
 
I had so much fun with this book! Enemies to lovers, road trips, fake dating trope... it's like the trifecta of awesome! Oh and Aubry is a freaking gamer and Quinn is a big, sexy cowboy, so yeah- I was won over from the start!
 
I LOVED these two together! They had such great banter and that hate to love relationship was super hot- their chemistry was just so undeniable. I liked seeing them progress from 'dealing with' one another to actually enjoying each other's company. These two might start off their relationship with just sex, but seeing it progress to more was everything.
 
They also balance each other really well. They may be going on this trip together for their own selfish purposes, but it just works. Aubry is terrified of crowds and has social anxiety, where Quinn oozes confidence. He really does a great job helping distract and keep her wits about her. Quinn's reasons for taking Aubry to his sister's wedding may have started as a ruse to shock his parents and give them the proverbial finger, but he ends up really falling for her and it was hard to see him suffer through his parents' hoity toity behavior.
 
I really enjoyed their friends Adam, Jules, and Daniel too. I really hope Daniel's book is next because I just wanted to hug that man hard. He is stealing dealing with the ghosts of his past and I am looking forward to seeing him find peace and move forward.
 
I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a short, sexy, fun read filled with sexy banter and some very sexy scenes!
 
Worked Up (Made in Jersey #3)
   by: Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: Aug. 1, 2016
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 186 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Factory mechanic Duke Crawford just wants to watch SportsCenter in peace. Unfortunately, living with four divorcee sisters doesn’t provide much silence, nor does it change his stance on relationships. But when a fellow commitment-phobe stumbles into his life, getting him good and worked up, he can’t deny his protective instincts.

Samantha Waverly’s brother just put her in an impossible situation. The only way out? Marry huge, gruff, gladiator look-alike Duke—for show, of course. She doesn’t make promises—she knows too well how easily they can be broken—and this is no exception.

As the blistering attraction between them grows, the lines around the no-strings relationship blur. But Duke and Samantha’s marriage is only for show…or is it?

 
 
Aw yeah, Tessa Bailey bringing the SAWOON! I absolutely ADORED Duke! He was such a bear of a man but had the heart of a puppy. I am such a sucker for gruff, grumpy guys too. This was my first Made in Jersey novel and I really enjoyed it! It was sexy, fun, and sweet.
 
I also enjoyed Samantha's character too. She is only in Hook to meet up with her brother, but stumbles across Duke her first night in town. Duke, being the alpha caveman he is, lays eyes on her and bam! He's a goner. We do have your typical 'doesn't do relationships' in this story, as is the case for both Duke and Sam. Duke is too busy with work and taking care of his sisters to bother with them. His four sisters all live with him after they have divorced, so he has seen firsthand how love can wreck a person. Sam on the other hand, has not seen an example of love actually working, so she is pretty skeptical. Together, the two are a bit of a mess, but man did I love them together.
 
Duke's friends River and Vaughn are great too, and I definitely want to go back and read their story soon. I wasn't the biggest fan of Renner, Sam's stepbrother, but he did redeem himself in the end. I'm looking forward to seeing how his story plays out!
 
Overall, this was definitely a fun read for me. I really enjoyed the storyline, Duke and Sam's characters, their chemistry.... it had everything I could want in a Brazen!
 
Paper and Fire (The Great Library #2)
   by: Rachel Caine

Publication Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: NAL
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 357 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Ink and Bone introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now, the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history—continues. . . .

With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart.

Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control. . . .

 
 
This series! I can't get enough of it! I completely fell in love with the concept of this world, where the Library holds all the power and knowledge is censored and controlled. I also adore the characters Caine has created. Wolfe, Santi, Glain, Dario, Morgan, and Khalila... they all have roles to play and support Jess. After finding out some shocking information about their friend Thomas, the gang groups back up and I just loved seeing them work together. Things get quite crazy for them and they are caught up in a wild, dangerous ride to pursue the truth and do what's right. Just when they get out of one fix, they land in another. Alliances are formed, allegiances tested... major props to Jess for not freaking out and staying so level-headed.
 
Jess is one of my favorite heroes. He has so much thrown at him and is looked to as a leader amongst his peers. He has to make difficult decisions that ultimately hurt the people he loves. It's not an easy role to assume and he does it brilliantly. I love how he fights for Morgan, even when he knows she may never be able to forgive him. He refuses to let her fate lie in the Iron Tower and it just endeared him to me all the more.
 
This is definitely a great continuation to the Great Library series- full of action, adventure, betrayal, friendship, and love. I am so excited for the next book in the series, as Jess and the gang are transported to a completely new place.... with some new challenges to face.
 

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