Tales of a bookworm 23

Showing posts with label new author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new author. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Takedown-Review and excerpt!

 What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas.

Takedown, an all-new accidental marriage romance by Evelyn Sola is available now! 

BLURB:

MELLIE

I was not a gambler. No way. I’ve built an existence free of risk and adventure. From my career to a small life with my closest family. I was not going to do anything to jeopardize my heart. But when my neighbor and number one menace to my safe plans showed up in Vegas, I did what every adventurous (not!) woman would do. I got drunk and married the man.

ADAM

Then, I went and married Mellie Dupree. That woman I’ve been chasing for two years is now my wife. She claims she doesn’t remember our wedding, but I was there, and I know she’s not telling the truth. Then again, neither am I.

Available Now!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2X1wUrs

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/takedownes


Add to Goodreads→  https://bit.ly/3n9JJuz

My Review:
My Rating: 3 Stars

Adam is living in the same duplex as Mellie and her brother's family. After going to Vegas for a friend's wedding the two end up married. Adam has been trying to get with Mellie for the last two years, however Mellie keeps telling him no so when she wakes up and realizes she's married to Adam she freaks out. The two then have to deal with this marriage and figure out if it is what they want and will fight for. When Mellie's mom comes to town Mellie needs to get out of her brother's house and decides to live with Adam until she can find her own place. As the two spend time together they can't fight their attraction and learn to live as together. 

Adam is definitely an alpha with a sweet spot for Mellie that at times is too much and other times is sweet. Mellie has some self esteem problems and her relationship with her mother and brother are difficult to deal with, but very realistic. Both Mellie and Adam did have secrets that were revealed as the book went on. I did enjoy watching their relationship grow and some of the parts of this book, but it felt too long with a lot of sex scenes as filler and not needed to move the plot along. This was a new to me author and I would be willing to read another book to see if I liked it better.

EXCERPT

    The color drains from her face and she takes a step closer to this Damien asshole. My wife actually takes a step closer to another man. As if it’s his right to protect her and not mine.

     “Your date, Mel?” I ask. Her eyes dart from me to Jason, as if she’s silently asking him for help. Jason answers. He steps between us and turns to me.

    “Don’t start any shit, Flynn. Goodnight.” He points towards the door, but I don’t move.

    “Forgive me, but I have a bit of a problem with my wife going out on a date with another man.” For the first time, I noticed Mel’s holding a single red rose, and it drops to the floor at my announcement.

      “What?” Jason says, confused.

       “Cutie,” the asshole says. He has the nerve to give my wife a nickname. That’s strike one. “You’re married? Your profile said single.” He raises both hands and takes a step back. Then, he looks at me again, perusing my body. He bites his bottom lip and looks me directly in the eyes. “Are you into getting cuckolded?” He takes a step closer to me, clearly liking what he sees. “Do you do more than watch? I hope so.” He lowers his voice to a husky whisper. Mel’s mouth opens in shock, and she takes a step back.

       That’s strike two.

       “I knew you didn’t invite me in here just to meet your brother.” He drops his voice and inches closer to Mel. The sly grin on his too thin lips make it clear what he’s thinking.

       That’s it. That’s strike three.

       I push off the wall and come to my full height. Damian steps back when I slowly approach him. “Damian, is it? That’s a no to your first question.” I smile when I see the fear in his eyes as I get closer to him. He steps away until his back hits the wall. Idiot.

    Now he has nowhere to run. I step closer, lift him off his feet by his neck and pin him to the wall.       

    Jason rushes over. “Let him go, Flynn.”

    I ignore him. In fact, I squeeze the fucker’s neck just a little bit.

    “Adam, stop!” It doesn’t help to calm my anger when I see my wife wringing her hands over this useless piece of shit.

    “If you ever so much as breathe the same air as my wife again, I will rip your fucking heart out of your chest. Got that?” When he doesn’t answer, I squeeze his neck again, lower my voice and say,“I asked you a question.”

    “Yes,” he croaks out.

     He starts to kick at me, but I look into his eyes and arch an eyebrow. He stops immediately.

     “Does that make me sound like a man who will watch as another man fucks his wife?” My voice is so low that only he can hear me. He swallows and shakes his head, unable to form a single syllable. “Good. I guess that answers your second question.” I lower my voice further. “Now, get the fuck out of here before I snap your neck.” His eyes bulge right before I let him go. He starts to cough, but before Jason can reach for him, he runs to the door. I follow and shove him out.

     After I close and lock the door, I turn back to Jason and my wayward wife. She stands there, mouth and eyes wide open. I make sure to squash the rose given to her by that other man. I hear a shriek before she runs across the room. I grab her wrist before her hand connects with my face, but she pushes out of my hold and starts to pummel my chest with punches. I grab both wrists, turn her around and hold her back against my chest.

   “Let her go,” Jason orders, coming closer. “Right now, Flynn.” So, I do, and as soon as she’s able, she turns and attacks me again.

   “You bastard,” she yells. “You fucking bastard. I’m going to chop you up into pieces and throw your worthless body parts into the Charles.” She punches and kicks until Jason grabs her and stands between the two of us.

    Jason holds a hand towards Mel, a silent gesture to ask her to shut up. She stops talking, but she’s like a cornered animal, ready to strike again at any moment.

   “Why do you keep calling Mellie your wife?” His brown eyes are shrewd as he looks at me and waits for my answer. I pull the marriage certificate out of my pocket and hand it to him.

  His eyes widen as he looks at it. When he’s done, he hands the piece of paper to his sister, not saying a word. He crosses his arms and waits for her to talk.

  The instant she gets her hands on the marriage certificate, she rips it to pieces, walks over, and throws the pieces of paper in my face.

  “I don’t know what he’s talking about. That’s a fake,” she says to Jason. “Please do what I asked you to do this morning and evict him. He’s turned into a full on stalker.” She glares at me before turning back to him. “He scares me.”

   I snort so loud, it turns into a laugh.

  “You attacked me twice, and you’re scared of me? Since when?”

  “You think a few punches was an attack? Just wait. I’m going to slice your face when you sleep tonight, just like I should have done the other night.” She lunges for me again, but Jason wraps an arm around her waist, lifts her off her feet, and pulls her away.

   “What the hell is going on in here? Jason, are you coming back to bed?” Jason’s wife, Alex, stops short when she sees me. She looks around the room, sighs, and walks towards Mel.

   “Did he chase your date away again?” She shakes her head and says, “This has got to stop. She is not your property, Adam.”

    “Never said that, but she is my wife. I’m sure you’d have stopped it too if Jason brought home another woman.”

    Alex stands still and looks around the room. She turns to Mellie,  runs a hand through her curly, dark hair. “What the hell did he just say?”

     “I’m waiting to hear Mellie’s take on that,” Jason says.

     “I already told you he’s lying.” My wife crosses her arms. I’m not sure if she’s defiant or deep in denial.

    “I’m lying?” I ask her. “Out of the two of us, you’re saying I’m the liar?”

         “As if I would ever marry you.” Mel scoffs and like a petulant child, she turns her head away from me.

     “I’m disappointed in you, wife,” I say to Mel. “You’ve always been a pathological liar, but this is low even for you.”

    “So, just so we’re clear, you did not marry Adam in Vegas?” Jason asks his sister.

    “As if I would ever,” she scoffs. “I’m not attracted to him.”

    She doesn’t disappoint. I knew she’d fight me, but the outright denial is unexpected. It hurts that someone who promised to love, honor and cherish is now denying those sacred vows.

    “Well, this marriage certificate says otherwise. And that kiss we shared on New Year’s Eve? That wasn’t a kiss from someone who isn’t attracted to me.” I pull out another marriage certificate and hand it to Alex. She puts a hand to her mouth in shock as she reads it. “And you put this on my finger." I hold up my left hand and show them the platinum wedding band. She tries to reach for that certificate too, probably to rip it, but Jason holds her back.

    “Go ahead, rip it. I have more. But you can rip them all, and it won’t erase one fact. We’re married.” I pull out my phone and hand it to Jason. “Press play,” I tell him.

Mel lunges for the phone, so Jason hands it to Alex. She touches the screen, and my wife’s voice fills the room.

    “I, Melanie Elyse Dupree, take you, Adam Finnegan Flynn, to be my lawfully wedded husband.” Mel lets out a loud scream, and she breaks free of Jason’s hold. He tries to grab her arm, but she runs across the room, jumps on me, and goes for my neck. Jason grabs her waist, but she manages to wrap her hands around my throat and squeeze. It takes no effort for me to pull her hands off. Jason lifts her away, but she’s like a crazed animal, doing her best to get away from him and come after me again.

About Evelyn 

A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she's not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she's been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come.

Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion and humor.

She currently lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters.


Connect with Evelyn

Facebook: https://bit.ly/32Eg2q7

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ehZd9G

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dKgmKp

Friday, January 10, 2020

Marrying My Billionaire Boss- Review!!


Marrying My Billionaire Boss by Nadia Lee
Release Date: January 10, 2020

BLURB

A bachelor auction, a wedding we don't remember, and a baby we don't recall making. FML.

I had a plan: move to LA, get a job, find the love of my life. Live happily ever after.

I was on track for this when being an assistant to gorgeous billionaire philanthropist Nate Sterling suddenly gets a whole lot more complicated. It's a dream job…until he asks me to save him from a fur-bikini-wearing, totally psycho ex-girlfriend who is determined to win him at a charity bachelor auction.

All I have to do is outbid her at the auction. Easy, right? But nobody told me Nate and I had to go on an extravagant Las Vegas date afterward. Everything goes off as planned…until Nate and I wake up the next day, hung-over, wearing identical golden wedding bands and with no memory of what happened the night before.

Cue major hyperventilation.

But it's okay. Nothing that a quick marriage dissolution can't solve… Until the pregnancy test stick comes back with two pink lines.

Marrying My Billionaire Boss is a standalone romantic comedy with a sexy billionaire, his sassy assistant, a bachelor auction, a Vegas wedding and a surprise baby. Oh, and the most hilarious and sweet proposal scene ever. No cheating, no cliffhanger. Just lots of heat, heart and humor. Grab it today!


GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50246867-marrying-my-billionaire-boss


PURCHASE LINKS

US: https://amzn.to/36DgchN
UK: https://amzn.to/306UAI7
CA: https://amzn.to/37TZpHH
AU: https://amzn.to/37S08ZT

Free in Kindle Unlimited

My Review:
My Rating: 4.5 stars


Nate enters a bachelor auction to help one of his friends out, after all it should be okay right? The money is going to a good cause. Until he runs into his crazy ex who tells him she will bid whatever it takes to win him. Nate begs his assistant Evie to buy him, no matter what the cost he will pay for it. The only issue is that now they have to take the date to Las Vegas. The next morning they wake up married with no memory of how it happened.

I adored Nate. He was the perfect example of sweet and alpha. He has always liked Evie and tries his hardest to get her to notice him as more than just his boss. Evie is oblivious to how Nate feels about her, especially after a bad relationship she left before she started working for Nate so she definitely tries everything in her power to keep herself professional around him. That all starts to fly out the window when they wake up married to each other.

This was just a well written romantic comedy. It had great dialogue, some sexy scenes, and a dash of craziness. I loved how Nate treated Evie and did everything he could to make her happy. The side characters also added their own charm. This was my first book by Nadia Lee and it definitely won't be my last.

AUTHOR BIO

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nadia Lee writes sexy, emotional contemporary romance. Born with a love for excellent food, travel and adventure, she has lived in four different countries, kissed stingrays, been bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.

Currently, she shares a condo overlooking a small river and sakura trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading books by her favorite authors or planning another trip.

Stay in touch with her via her website, http://www.nadialee.net, or her blog http://www.nadialee.net/blog


AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://www.nadialee.net
Newsletter: http://www.nadialee.net/vip
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nadialeewrites
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/nadialee
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nadialee
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/nadialee
Bookbub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/nadia-lee
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/nadialee



Monday, September 9, 2019

Tap Out-Review and Giveaway!!

Tap Out by Alley Ciz
BTU Alumni #2


Blurb:

What would you do if you came face-to-face with your celebrity crush?

Rocky Steele is surrounded by professional athletes.
It’s her job.
As a physical therapist in a world renowned gym, she works with the best of the best, from hockey players to MMA fighters. Celebrity status does not impress her. Nor do big, strong men in peak physical condition.
Nope.
When it comes to her job, she’s one hundred percent professional.

Enter Gage James.
Her celebrity crush.
And the newest fighter to train in her gym.
Where it will be her job to put her hands on every inch of the six foot seven two hundred and sixty pounds of utter Alpha male perfection.
She’s got this....Maybe.

Gage ‘The Kraken’ James is the reigning MMA Heavyweight Champion.
When he walks into The Steele Maker for the first time, it’s like he’s hit with a one-two punch to the chest in the form of a certain raven haired firecracker.
His coach’s daughter.
His physical therapist.
His every waking thought.

He’s in for the fight of his life.
The stakes are higher... outside the octagon.
Time to release The Kraken.


GAME ON.

TAP OUT is the second book in the BTU Alumni Series and can be read as a stand-alone. All your favourites return as a new cast of characters joins in on the fun. Prepare for major #squadgoals as you get your first peek inside The Coven. This book features a hella sexy UFC champ, feisty besties, the most awesome coffee house ever, and a heroine who can fight her own battles thank you very much. Time to touch gloves, HEA guaranteed.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44671695-tap-out



My Review:
My Rating: 4 stars


This is the second book in the BTU Alumni series and the second book by this author I've read. I felt the author did a better job this time going back and forth between the two main characters P.O.V's. Rocky is a physical therapist at her dad's gym where her celebrity crush has just joined as a fighter. I don't normally read fighter romances, but I enjoyed the this one. Rocky is a kick butt woman, who can handle herself in any situation. Gage knows this and doesn't try to stop Rocky from doing her thing. He's also someone who knows what or who they want and goes for it. The chemistry and friendship between the Gage and Rocky is awesome. This relationship isn't just based on looks, but they really get to know each other. Jake and Jordan from the previous book are in this book too so you still get a glimpse into their lives, while introducing more characters of various backgrounds. This series seems like it will have a sports trope for anyone.



PURCHASE LINKS

US: http://1click.bz/TapOutAMZNUS
UK: http://1click.bz/TapOutAMZNUK
CA: http://1click.bz/TapOutAMZNCA
AU: http://1click.bz/TapOutAMZNAU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE

#1 Power Play

US: https://amzn.to/30TOQki
UK: https://amzn.to/2MjBHwR
CA: https://amzn.to/2LN8ef6
AU: https://amzn.to/2yhwi12



Free in Kindle Unlimited


Author Bio

Alley Ciz is an indie author of Contemporary/New Adult, Rom-Com, Sports Romances.

She's a stay at home mom to 3 amazing and crazy mini royals, a 95lb lab, and let's face it on some days her hubby is her 4th kid... But to be fair she totally loves him a a lot.

When she's not corralling her crazy mini royals she can be found writing the stories the voices in her head tell her. Caffeine is a staple in her daily diet since she does most of her writing late at night when the rest of her house is asleep, usually with her trusty dog Buke (short for Beukeboom reluctantly named after a NY Ranger even though she's a NJ Devils fan all the way. Is it any surprise she writes sports romances?

Pizza and mac-n-cheese are major food groups and she is a proud Potterhead and superhero buff.

She is a complete romance junkie and can always be found reading or listening to a book.


Author Links

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1175876972562082

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18869714.Alley_Ciz

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2CAMr4h

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alley.ciz

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alleyciz

Website: https://www.alleyciz.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrYmkHmQqOJ45FAmMvSgLCQ

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alley-Ciz/e/B07SKQMM1B

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alley-ciz





GIVEAWAY 

There is a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift + a signed paperback of Tap Out (1 winner, open internationally)


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba3ffd552335


Saturday, August 24, 2019

Power Play Review

Power Play by Alley Ciz
BTU Alumni #1


Synopsis: 

Hockey players are off limits especially ... if they’re on your brothers’ team.

The last time Jordan did that, it ended in disaster. It was easy to promise her brothers she'd never date another one of their teammates again.
Until she meets Jake.
The spark she feels when she spends time with him makes her promise harder and harder to keep.
Surely her brothers would understand breaking this promise if it means following her heart.
Wouldn't they?

Never sleep with a teammate’s sister.

This is the universal rule of athletes everywhere.
Until he meets Jordan.
As soon as Jake sets eyes on her, he wants her.
The goalie's job is to see missed shots and failed opportunities on the ice.
This is one shot he's not going to miss, no matter what obstacles get in his way.

POWER PLAY is a flirty, swoon worthy sexy rom-com and the first book in the BTU Alumni series. It can be read as a stand alone. If you like hockey boys, sarcastic friends, matchmaking K9’s, too-cute-to-handle kindergarteners, fierce heroines and swoony hot as puck Alpha heroes, then you want to get to know these cast of characters. One puck head and a HEA guaranteed.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43925870-power-play



My Review

My Rating: 3.5 stars


I received an arc in exchange for an honest review before I read the second one for a review. Jordan is transferring colleges to the one that her brother's play hockey for. When she meets up with her brother's at a bar and meets Jake there is instant attraction. Too bad Jordan promised her brothers she would never date another one of their teammates again. As Jake gets to know Jordan the more he likes her. Jordan stands her own against her protective brothers. This felt like a slow burn hockey romance with a little bit of humor from Jake and Jordan's younger siblings and a dash of mystery. The one thing I didn't care for and took a bit of time for me is the way this was written. It was dual P.O.V. which normally I love, but the author tended to repeat bits to get both Jordan and Jake's P.O.V and sometimes it would switch P.O.V between a chapter. I look forward to reading the second one because it was a light read with a HEA. This was the author's debut book so I am sure her writing will only grow better.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

The Truth About Us- Review and Excerpt



The Truth About Us by R.C. Stephens
Series: Bryant Family #1
Synopsis:

Jolie
Griffin Campbell was the typical bad boy. My father warned me not to get too close. But he’s handsome as hell with eyes the color of the ocean, and he’s fiercely loyal and loves unconditionally. I couldn’t stay away when he was the only boy to ever claim my heart. I gave him all my firsts . . . and he left me behind.
Ten years later, he’s returned home offering answers as to why he left because he wants me back—only I’m not the broken-hearted teenager he once fell for. His pretty eyes and killer muscles aren’t enough to mend the hurt that rages inside me.

Griffin
Jolie Bryant was my best friend’s little sister. She’s sexy as hell, sweet as sin, and very forbidden—my favorite memory and my biggest regret.
I should stay away. I’m harboring secrets that will shatter her world.
The thing about secrets is that they always find a way to come out. I just hope that when mine do, she won’t turn away from me . . .
I want my second chance with the only girl I’ve ever loved, but it seems that fate has other plans.


Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45487137-the-truth-about-us


PURCHASE LINKS – $2.99 for a limited time!!

US: https://amzn.to/2Y1jOZR
UK: https://amzn.to/32mKy6m
CA: https://amzn.to/30tjgcP
AU: https://amzn.to/2XN35FL

Free in Kindle Unlimited

My Review:Rating: 3 stars

Griffin was Jolie's brothers best friend growing up. Jolie and Griffin were friends until their feelings grew into something more. Griffin did not have the best home life and because of that he was at Jolie's house quite a bit. After a tragedy strikes both Jolie and Griffin return home, but will Jolie understand why Griffin had to leave and will Griffin even tell her why he left? This is a second chance romance book with a lot of drama. I felt the author did a lot of telling about their relationship instead of showing until later on in the book. Jolie has gone through a lot in the 10 years since they parted and both Jolie and Griffin are broken. There were a few parts I was surprised happened, but most of it felt predictable. I did like that this was dual P.O.V. so we saw both sides to the story. I also enjoyed the epilogue and it hints the next story will be Jolie's brother.
This is an angsty second chance romance book.



EXCERPT

I throw my head back, laughing and happy that playful Jojo is back. “I remember the first time we kissed,” I say, looking into her eyes. She swallows. Her earlier playfulness falls away and is replaced with a serious, heated stare. “I remember the first time we danced.” My finger caresses the bare skin of her shoulder, and her green eyes go from shining emerald to a dark forest green.

“Griff,” she whispers a warning.

“I want to kiss you so bad.” My voice is gruff and filled with a need that far outweighs any craving for gelato. I don’t wait for her answer because the way she watches me has me undone.

My lips press to hers slowly, a soft caress, a begging for permission. Her fingers come up and rake through my hair, tugging me closer. My tongue peeks from my mouth, begging entrance to hers as she opens willingly.

The kiss is slow and testing at first. I’m scared of pushing too hard and having her pull away. She says she doesn’t want more, but the chemistry between us beats alive and strong. Her taste sets my body on fire as a million memories come crashing through my mind. Electricity sparks inside me, making me feel alive for the first time in what feels like forever. And now, with a simple kiss, I have come undone. My lonely heart beats in time with hers. My thumb brushes over the pulse point in her neck, and it thumps wild like mine.

“Jolie,” I say her name like a prayer.

“What are we doing?” she murmurs into my mouth.

“What feels right,” I answer into hers. Primal instinct begs me to take her on this kitchen counter and make her mine. My fingers pull at her scalp and she moans into my mouth, and my hard-on pulses to her sweet noises. The kiss intensifies until we are both breathless and panting when suddenly, she pulls away from me, pressing her hands to my shoulders.


Author Bio

R.C. Stephens is a top 100 Amazon best selling author. She has written ten romance novels and plans to continue to write many more.

When she isn't in her writing cave she is raising three lovely children with her adoring husband.

Her books are filled with humor, heartbreak, emotion and true love.

Born and raised in Toronto, she loves the winter, but Spring and Fall are her favorite seasons.

Keep up with R.C. by signing up to her newsletter - http://rcstephens.com/newsletter


Author Links

Website: http://www.rcstephens.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rc.stephens.8
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rcstephensbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1508701.R_C_Stephens
Newsletter: http://rcstephens.com/newsletter

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Stealing Home Review

Stealing Home by Harlow Cole
Book 2 in the St. Michaels Duet


Synopsis:

Ashley
I’ve given up. On my childish dreams.
On getting out of this town. On love. On him.
On everything.

I’m barely treading water.

Brayden
I’m the man with it all.

The pinstriped jersey covering my back garners easy cash, flashy cars and fast women. My gilded name drapes over the city in neon. I have everything. Everything, except the thing I crave most. Ashley Foster.

There’s one addiction I never tried to beat.

They say you can never go home again. I’m out to prove them wrong. But what if returning requires facing all the things you destroyed? To what lengths would you go to earn forgiveness?

Would you beg? Would you borrow? Would you steal?

Stealing home is the riskiest move in baseball. But the reward... If it works? Winning her back is a chance I’m finally ready to take.

My pockets are filled with stars.
It’s time to follow them home.

This time, I don’t want to steal her firsts,
I want to lay claim on all her lasts.


Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45006743-stealing-home


Purchase Links

US: https://amzn.to/2lbrwim
UK: https://amzn.to/2k9AAUE
CA: https://amzn.to/2lHN6vc
AU: https://amzn.to/2LmZts7

Free in Kindle Unlimited

My Review:
Rating: 5 stars

Ashley and Brayden are not the same kids they used to be. Ashley is struggling to hold her life and her family together. Brayden is a big shot baseball player who has injured his shoulder and has come home to get back his girl. This book broke my heart and pieced it all back together. I couldn't blame Ashley for how she reacted after seeing Brayden again and I loved how Brayden fought for Ashley's forgiveness. This book hit a raw spot with me and something I am still coming to terms with. I won't give it away because it is a pretty big spoiler. Maybe that's why this book resonated so deep inside me. Harlow did a great job at writing her characters and you could feel the pain, heartbreak, anger, frustration, chemistry, and forgiveness throughout the various characters. I hope Harlow writes more books on these characters because I would love to read Nathan's story next. This book is angsy and real and at times you get frustrated with the characters, but that's the best thing when you are reading a book. That means the book means something to you. This was the perfect ending for Ashley and Brayden and that's all I could ask for from this author. Also, the fact that this is Harlow's debut duet I will definitely be checking out more of her work when she releases it. Read below for an excerpt.


Excerpt

I pumped the gas pedal a half-dozen times, trying to will the thing back to life, as I coasted to the gravel shoulder on the side of the road. I slumped forward, resting my forearms and brow against the oversized steering wheel, locked inside disbelief of the shittiest luck possible. I’d become one of those blow-up punching dolls with the sand in the bottom. The kind fists keep pummeling ’cause the stupid thing never has the sense to stay down.

Begrudgingly, I popped the hood release and hopped down out of the cab. I had no clue how to diagnose the problem, but broken-down suckers on the roadside always pretend to look at the engine.

I played along.

Stepping up onto the rusted front bumper, I stared at the pile of dirty metal while daydreaming about tossing a match inside and walking away. At least bending over under the hood shielded part of me from the rain.

The sound of tires crunching through the gravel behind the truck brought a sigh of sweet relief. I looked back up at the heavens and felt bad for not trusting my angel to send help. Jumping down from my perch on the bumper, I brushed my hands down the front of my khaki shorts as I rounded the front of the cab to call out to my hero. Cruel disbelief blossomed in the back of my throat.

“You’ve got to be shitting me. This is not happening.”

He’s still in town?

It had been almost a week. A week of trying to make myself believe our run-in at Foxy’s was just another bad dream. Six freaking days of convincing myself life couldn’t possibly be that cruel. I’d avoided the town gossip machine buzzing furiously about his sudden return. But no one else would drive that car. It looked like money on wheels. The black paint and sleek lines made my truck’s chipped blue exterior and scratched marina logo look even more pathetic. Some folks in St. Michaels had seen a Maserati.

Nobody in town drove one.
Certainly not one with New York plates.

I lifted my face to the rain, letting it wash away my urge to cry, as the driver’s side door popped open, and my worst day of the week took a turn for my worst day ever. He was dressed casually in a pair of shiny black athletic shorts and a plain gray sweatshirt, slightly frayed across the bottom hem by time and fondness. The hood bunched up around his neck, framing the sharp jawline that sported thick, dark scruff.

Brayden Ross turned gym-rat attire into the costume of a sex god.

He suffered from that strange anomaly that saddled people with fame and fortune. As a little girl, I’d seen it in his father and his father’s friends. They seemed crisper around the edges or something. Like brand-new bills freshly spit from the ATM instead of crumpled dollars that spent life stuffed in back pockets and sweaty bras.

He didn’t walk toward me; he prowled.
Slow and steady with this sexy gait that deserved its own theme music.
The rain didn’t even try to touch him.

This second sighting didn’t level the same sucker punch. More like a queasy dysphoria. A bad case of déjà vu that punctured skin and vein. Half of me wanted to run, throw my arms around his waist, and hold on for dear life. The other half wanted to put my hands around his neck and squeeze hard.


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Author Bio

Harlow Cole is a former journalism student, turned techie, turned mother, who finally decided at age forty-plus what she wants to be if she ever she grows up. Her writing journey first began in sixth grade, when she and her best friend penned boy band fanfiction in an old spiral notebook. Harlow is a connoisseur of peanut M&Ms, brand-new school supplies and angst-filled love stories that always end happy. At fifteen, she met her first love. They’ve now been married for twenty years. They reside in suburban Washington, DC, where Harlow moonlights as a taxi driver for their farting beagle and teenage twins. Interference and Stealing Home are her debut novels.


Author Links

Website: http://www.harlowcole.com
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