Articles

COVER REVEAL: All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

 

Read an excerpt at USWeekly.com

PRE-ORDER NOW:


ABOUT THE BOOK: The #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us—whose writing is “emotionally wrenching and utterly original” (Sarah Shepard, New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series)—delivers a tour de force novel about a troubled marriage and the one old forgotten promise that might be able to save it. 

Quinn and Graham’s perfect love is threatened by their imperfect marriage. The memories, mistakes, and secrets that they have built up over the years are now tearing them apart. The one thing that could save them might also be the very thing that pushes their marriage beyond the point of repair. 

All Your Perfects is a profound novel about a damaged couple whose potential future hinges on promises made in the past. This is a heartbreaking page-turner that asks: Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people?

 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
COLLEEN HOOVER is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of SlammedPoint of RetreatThis GirlHopelessLosing HopeFinding CinderellaMaybe SomedayMaybe NotUgly LoveConfessNovember 9It Ends with Us, and Without Merit. Colleen has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance twice—for Confess in 2015 and It Ends with Us in 2016. Confess was adapted into a seven-episode online series. In 2015, Colleen and her family founded The Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly subscription service offering signed novels donated by authors. All profits are given to various charities each month to help those in need. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Visit ColleenHoover.com 

 

FIND COLLEEN ONLINE:
Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram

ALL YOUR PERFECTS by Colleen Hoover
Atria Books | 320 pages | ISBN 9781501171598 | July 17, 2018 | Hardcover: $24.99 (price may vary by retailer) | eBook ISBN: ISBN 9781501171604

Blog Tour: WITHOUT MERIT by Colleen Hoover

 

WITHOUT MERIT

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

 

  

Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing a mistake deserves is forgiveness.
 
Visit www.WithoutMeritbook.com for teasers, tour dates and more.

 

ABOUT WITHOUT MERIT:
The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines, when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.
Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.
Poignant and powerful, WITHOUT MERIT explores the layers of lies that tie a family together and the power of love.


 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, This Girl, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, Maybe Not, Confess, November 9, and It Ends with Us. She has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance twice – for Confess in 2015 and It Ends with Us in 2016. Confess was adapted into a seven-episode online series. In 2015, Colleen and her family founded The Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly subscription service offering signed novels donated by authors. All profits are given to various charities each month to help those in need. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

 

FIND COLLEEN ONLINE:
Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram

 


Book Review

Without Merit is one of the quirkiest yet one of the most human/compassion filled stories I have ever had the privilege of reading. Colleen Hoover has a wonderful way of shifting perspective and allowing readers to critically think about a range of issues. It allows the reader to step into the shoes of not only the protagonist, but also all of the characters you come to know and love in her novels. Without Merit tells the incredible story of a young woman who struggles to come to grips with her reality and all that has impacted her way of being. In true CoHo fashion I saw a lot of layers and complexities which is something I love most about her writing. I texted my sister immediately after I finished reading this book because I was in complete awe and needed to share it with someone. Her response was, “Colleen Hoover…geez man” she knew, she understood. That’s all the response you ever need reading her novels.  You don’t quite realize the depth of the experience you will have when you commit to reading a Colleen Hoover novel, but I’d say you always know you will be in for one hell of a ride. 
This novel comprised of one of the most peculiar dynamics I’ve ever encountered yet it fit and made sense. I laughed, I cried, I reflected and I devoured every word. One thing I love about her writing is she never fails to impress me with her ability to not only look at an individual in their context, but to get the reader to do the same. She discusses a few heavy and extremely relevant issues. Her worldview doesn’t stay in one frame of reference, she takes a very human approach to what’s happening in the world of each individual character and how their experiences have impacted and shaped them. She uses real world experiences and topics that I don’t see many authors acknowledge. I admire that about this author and it was nice seeing someone who could have taken a stereotypical approach about topics use her platform to shed light on numerous issues.  
On a serious note, this book is worth the read (as are all her novels). This one is unique and challenges the reader to look beyond the surface…to see a new perspective. I feel as though every book I read by this author turns into “my new favorite book.” While I’ll probably say the same for this one Colleen Hoover takes a very different turn with this novel, one that addresses serious topics, but also one that makes you reflect on your own family dynamics. This is 100000000% hands down a top recommendation as I believe everyone can benefit from reading this novel. I’d say the best way to describe the feelings I had after reading Without Merit is connected. I felt connected to every member of that quirky family in an unusual yet gratifying way. I craved more and while the reader will feel completely satiated by the end, it allowed me to hope for a future sequel. Wishful thinking, I know…please make it happen CoHo 😉 

 


WITHOUT MERIT

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

http://www.withoutmeritbook.com

Atria Books Paperback | 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501170621 | October 3, 2017 | $16.00
eBook: 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501170638 | $7.99

 

ORDER WITHOUT MERIT:
Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble   |   Books-a-Million   |   iBooks   |   Indiebound   |   Kobo   |   Google   |   Nook

 


Now for the fun….the #WithoutMerit Contest!
Enter the Rafflecopter  to win a limited edition signed hardcover copy of WITHOUT MERIT! (5 winners in total) Contest is open until October 30th!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 


Don’t miss Colleen on tour for WITHOUT MERIT:
SEATTLE, WA
Monday, October 2nd
THIRD PLACE BOOKS
7:00 PM    
17171 Bothell Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA  98155
https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/colleen-hoover-without-merit
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/137295906877328/

 

LOS ANGELES, CA
Tuesday, October 3rd
CHEVALIER’S BOOKS
7:00 PM    
126 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90004
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-talk-and-signing-with-colleen-hoover-for-her-new-book-without-merit-tickets-37139282594
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1911946199130358

 

KANSAS CITY, KS
Wednesday, October 4th
WOODNEATH LIBRARY CENTER
7:00 PM    
8900 NE Flintlock Rd
Kansas City, MO  64157
http://www.mymcpl.org/events/calendar/story-center-speaker-series-colleen-hoover
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/174560183089713

 

CHICAGO, IL
Thursday, October 5th
ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP – LA GRANGE
7:00 PM    
26 S La Grange Rd
La Grange, IL  60525
http://hooverandersons.brownpapertickets.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/264445024062577
CINCINNATI, OH
Friday, October 6th
JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS
7:00 PM    
2692 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH  45208
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3081217
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/113057092698266
 
POTTSTOWN, PA
Saturday, October 7th
BOOKS-A-MILLION
6:00 PM    
Coventry Mall
351 W. Schuylkill Road Ste G16
Pottstown, PA  19465
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-colleen-hoover-at-books-a-million-pottstown-pa-tickets-37311651153
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/352249878530498
NEW YORK, NY
Sunday, October 8th
NEW YORK COMIC CON
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM   
500 West 36th Street
Hudson Mercantile
New York, NY  10018
https://www.showclix.com/event/ColleenHoover5yf6nuy
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1979991848924145
DALLAS, TX
Tuesday, October 10
SMU BOOKSTORE
7:00 PM    
B&N College
Southern Methodist University Bookstore
3060 Mockingbird Lane
Dallas, TX  75205
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colleen-hoover-book-launch-for-without-merit-tickets-37360492238?ref=elink
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/746877452165014

 

Book Tour: Nudes by Sarah Robinson

 

NUDES: A Hollywood romance standalone

from bestselling author Sarah Robinson!

BUY IT NOW

ONLY $0.99! for a **limited time**

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon Paperback  |  iBooks  |  Nook  |  Kobo  |  GooglePlay

Blurb
Ben Lawson is making a comeback…
After a few tabloid headlines, they think they know me. They don’t know a damn thing.  As CEO of a movie production company, I’ll show them who I really am when we hit it big at the box office. My ex thought her smear tactics would ruin me, but I’m unbreakable. Rising from the debris, I swore I’d never let a woman distract me like that again. But then, my leading actress walked on the set and changed everything.
Seductive, sexy, and unapologetic, Aria Rose could break me. I wanted to help her, protect her…love her. Instead, I destroyed her.
Aria Rose is baring it all….
I knew better.  I knew not to trust another Hollywood heartthrob with a reputation like his. He was my boss and became my ruin. I should have stayed far away from him. Ben Lawson promised me the world.  He even promised me his heart.
But he destroyed everything–my heart, my career, us.

 


Excerpt

 
“Aria?” A deep voice cut through the crisp nighttime air.
She turned to see Ben approaching her, the shadows from the upper deck of the yacht moving across his face as he came closer. “Oh. Hi, Mr. Lawson.”
“Please, like I said, call me Ben,” he reiterated, leaning against the railing next to her.
“Right. Ben. Sorry, the last exec wasn’t quite so…”
His lips curved into a smile. “So, what?”
She wasn’t sure what to say, because her honest answer was sexy. That didn’t seem like the best thing to a man who now funded and controlled her film. “Approachable?”
Ben laughed—a deep chuckle that she felt vibrate through her bones. “I hope that’s a good thing.”
“It definitely is,” she assured him, placing a hand on his arm. The moment she touched him, she pulled back, immediately embarrassed.
He. Is. My. Boss. Get it together, Aria.
He didn’t chide her, or look uncomfortable, which she took as a good sign.
Aria returned to her original position beside him, and they stared out at the darkened water lapping the sides of all the boats docked around.
“Want to hear something funny?” Aria finally broke the silence, but kept her voice low. So low, he had to lean in to hear her.
“Tell me.”
“My parents met in this very marina. She was a caterer and he was a deckhand—still teenagers. Barely old enough to know who they were, let alone what they wanted out of life. Still, they knew what love was when they stumbled upon it, and they knew enough to never let go.” Aria’s heart beat a little faster, warming at the memories.
“Wow. Are they still together?”
Aria nodded. “Barely spent a day apart since. My mother is actually my manager, and she works insanely hard for me, but my father always comes first. He’s the love of her life.”
“Love like that is special. Rare.”
“Is it?” Aria tilted her head to the side. “I’m not sure it’s as rare as it is a choice, a commitment, and the strength to follow through each and every day. There were times they could have given up—maybe lived an easier life with someone else—but they made a decision that this was the love they wanted, this was the life they wanted, and in that choice comes a confidence, a happiness, that most people deny themselves.”
Ben was quiet for a minute. Finally, he inhaled loudly, then blew it out in one long breath. “That’s really beautiful, Aria. Hits a bit close to home, I have to admit.”
“I’m sorry.” Aria frowned, turning to face him and just leaving one elbow on the railing. “I didn’t mean—”
He shook his head. “No, it’s fine. I just finished going through a divorce about six months ago, though we’d separated the year before that. I think you’re right—love is a choice. Making love work is a choice. And yet…if it’s not with the right person, then it’s the wrong choice.”
“Soul mates.” Aria raised one brow. “You believe in that?”
Ben stared at her for a moment…a long moment. The kind of moment that made her shift her weight from one leg to the other, her skin heating under his gaze. “Yes. I believe in soul mates.”
She tilted her chin up ever so slightly, going for lightheartedness. “Well, we all have our flaws. You couldn’t be entirely perfect.”
Ben laughed again. “Believing in soul mates is a flaw?”
“Buying what you’re selling is definitely a flaw. You’re a movie producer, so you sell fantasy to the world.”
“I think we can have the fantasy.” His eyes danced, but his smile was gone. “Don’t you want the fantasy?”
Aria turned back to the ocean, looking out at the waves. This was too much, too real, too soon with a man she barely knew. A man who was pretty much her boss. “Who wouldn’t want the fantasy?” she said dismissively. “Some would say I’m already living it.”
“That’s certainly true. Everyone on this yacht, everyone in this city…Hollywood. It’s all a fantasy of some sort.” Something in his tone sounded so…sad? A small ache pulled at her heart, and she felt like they’d opened the door to something different. Something different than studio exec and actress. Something more than strangers who just met today.
Her humanity connected to his, and they were just two people standing on a boat wishing it could float them away from their picture-perfect lives.
“Do you know why I love Scarlet’s Letters?” she said softly, her voice barely above the whistle of the wind around them.
He stepped closer, his elbow pressed against hers on the railing now. “Why?”
“It’s something I can be proud of. A story I’m proud to tell. The strength of a woman in wartime, a French woman saving innocent people during the Holocaust…a woman picking her truth over a man, over love. Have you read the script?”
Ben nodded. “I have. Two years ago, when it was making the rounds. It’s powerful, and from what I’ve seen, you do an amazing job in it.”
“Thank you. When I first saw this script—or rather, read the book it’s based on—I knew I had to play this part. No matter what I had to give up. This was mine.”
She’d never connected to anything more than she had this script. It was empowering, and taught courage in the toughest of circumstances. It was a tiny snapshot of a much larger scale event, showing the decisions and atrocities suffered at such a human, personal level. It was a woman denying her own privilege and luxury to help fellow humans who didn’t have that reach.
“The way you talk about it…I’m jealous,” Ben admitted.
That got Aria’s attention, and she turned to face him. “Jealous? Of what?”
He pushed off the railing, looking up at the stars before settling on her gaze. “Passion. Excitement. Purpose. You know what you want. You know who you are and what your goals are.”
“And you don’t?” He had to be nearly thirty, if not over. Striking and fresh faced, but his features still said experience. Aria was only in her twenties, but at times she felt decades older.
Ben shook his head. “I thought I did. I built a life. Got married. Worked my way up in Maguire Industries. Everything was mapped out. Everything was…easy.”
The ache from earlier was back, the sadness in his voice. Aria placed her hand on his forearm, a comforting gesture. Partly for him, but mostly for her. She needed a physical connection when they were connecting on so much more.
“What happened?” she pried, squeezing his arm ever so slightly.
Ben looked down at her hand, his eyes lingering. He didn’t move or pull away, and when he lifted his head to face her again, there was a need in his eyes that made her insides heat. “The woman I trusted with all my secrets? She sold them to the highest bidder the moment I wasn’t able to be a stepping stone for her career.”
Aria didn’t reply, sensing there was more.
“She used every connection she had to get me blacklisted. Took everything. Now Maguire Industries acquired Shepherd Films, expecting me to fail. Pushing me out.”
“Not many would call being the CEO of a film studio a demotion,” Aria pointed out.
“When you’re used to being the landscaper, it’s hard to become the rose.”
Aria laughed, letting go of his arm. “First, soul mates. Now, roses. You’re a poetic man, Ben Lawson. A true romantic.”
Suddenly, his fingers intertwined with hers, pulling her to him. Pressing her body to his, chest to chest, heartbeat to heartbeat. His eyes never left hers, and she watched him wrestle with something…doubt, uncertainty. As if he didn’t know why he’d just hugged her to him, but then need. Pure need darkened his eyes as something deeper pushed the rest away.
Her breath was lost as she concentrated on standing, her knees already threatening to buckle. She’d taken every second of the journey with him, and now she wanted more. Something about the way he smelled ignited every nerve ending in her body. The way he held her, one arm wrapped around her back, was so secure, so comfortable, so protective, so intimately. No one had ever held her like that in her entire life.
She didn’t want him to let go.
He was fire. She wanted to leap into his flames.
“And what are you, Aria Rose?” Ben’s fingers tipped her chin upward, her eyes finding his. “Who are you?”
The words rumbled in his chest, vibrating against him as he spoke. There was a genuineness to it that terrified her, unnerved her, and completely overwhelmed her. Their souls were laid bare and he was asking for more.
A perfect stranger. A moment of truth. An absolute mistake.
She couldn’t do it. Her walls shot up and she let go of him, fear coursing through her. “I’m an actress, Mr. Lawson. Just an actress.”
And just so much more.

About the Author
Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in clinical and forensic psychology. She is married to a wonderful man who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiast as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescues, as well as volunteering and fostering for multiple animal shelters.
Stalk Her:  Website   Facebook   Author Group   Twitter   Goodreads   Amazon   Pinterest   Instagram   Tumblr

 

GIVEAWAY
Enter to Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL: Nudes (A Hollywood Romance) by Sarah Robinson

 
 

 
NUDES: A Hollywood romance standalone from bestselling author Sarah Robinson!
Release Date: May 22nd
*Preorder & Release Week Special Pricing on Ebook of $0.99! Will be $4.99 Later!*

 
 

iBooks   |   Nook   |   Kobo    |   GooglePlay    |   Amazon – will be available on release day!    

 


 

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Blurb
Ben Lawson is making a comeback…
After a few tabloid headlines, they think they know me. They don’t know a damn thing.  As CEO of a movie production company, I’ll show them who I really am when we hit it big at the box office. My ex thought her smear tactics would ruin me, but I’m unbreakable. Rising from the debris, I swore I’d never let a woman distract me like that again. But then, my leading actress walked on the set and changed everything.
Seductive, sexy, and unapologetic, Aria Rose could break me. I wanted to help her, protect her…love her. Instead, I destroyed her.
Aria Rose is baring it all….
I knew better.  I knew not to trust another Hollywood heartthrob with a reputation like his. He was my boss and became my ruin. I should have stayed far away from him. Ben Lawson promised me the world.  He even promised me his heart.
But he destroyed everything–my heart, my career, us.

 

 


About the Author
Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in clinical and forensic psychology. She is married to a wonderful man who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiast as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescues, as well as volunteering and fostering for multiple animal shelters.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Stalk Her:
 Website  |  Facebook  |  Author Group  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Pinterest  |  Instagram  |  Tumblr   

 


Cover Reveal: CHASER (Dive Bar #3) by Kylie Scott

 

 New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Kylie Scott brings you the next Dive Bar Novel. We are excited to reveal the cover for CHASER releasing APRIL 2018!

 

Chaser (1)
 


Chaser (1)Given his well-earned bad boy reputation, Eric is having a tough time scoring.. When single Jean moves to town, she seems heaven sent by the sex gods. Only problem is, she not only wants nothing to do with him, but it turns out that she’s pregnant.
Starting over in a small town, Jean is determined to turn her wild lifestyle around and be the kind of mother she always wished she’d had. Since local bar owner and all round hottie, Eric Collins, is now determined to steer clear of her pregnant self, it should be easy. When she goes into labour during a snow storm and her car slides on some ice, it’s Eric who comes to the rescue.
There seems to be a bond between them now, but is it enough? And can Eric give up his manwhore ways to be the man Jean needs?

 
 
 
 
 

 

PRE-ORDER NOW

AMAZON    AMAZON CA    AMAZON UK   |   B-A-M   |   Indiebound

 


 

kyliescottimageKylie 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 at her website.

 

FACEBOOK  |     |  FACEBOOK FAN GROUP  |  INSTAGRAM  |  GOODREADS

 

Book Review: It Happens All The Time by Amy Hatvany

ABOUT THE BOOK:
From master storyteller Amy Hatvany—whose writing has been hailed as “gripping and emotionally honest” (Stephanie Evanovich, New York Times bestselling author)—comes a provocative and compelling novel about two friends whose lives are changed by a drunken kiss.
I want to rewind the clock, take back the night when the world shattered. I want to erase everything that went wrong.
Amber Bryant and Tyler Hicks have been best friends since they were teenagers—trusting and depending on each other through some of the darkest periods of their young lives. And while Amber has always felt that their relationship is strictly platonic, Tyler has long harbored the secret desire that they might one day become more than friends.
Returning home for the summer after her college graduation, Amber begins spending more time with Tyler than she has in years. Despite the fact that Amber is engaged to her college sweetheart, a flirtation begins to grow between them. One night, fueled by alcohol and concerns about whether she’s getting married too young, Amber kisses Tyler.
What happens next will change them forever.
In alternating points of view, It Happens All the Time examines the complexity of sexual dynamics between men and women and offers an incisive exploration of gender roles, expectations, and the ever-timely issue of consent.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amy Hatvany is the author of Best Kept SecretOutside the LinesThe Language of SistersHeart Like Mine, and Safe with Me. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her family.

 

FIND AMY ONLINE:
Website   |    Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram   

 

 


 

Book Review 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Without sharing too much of the content, I will give a trigger warning that it deeply explores the process of consent and rape culture. The author does provide a very solid and meaningful warning at the beginning of the book, but I felt it necessary to provide another.

 

Wow. Talk about intense. This weighed on my heart, but I respect Amy Hatvany’s initiative for writing a book about such a sensitive topic, but also in such a unique way. It is powerful.  I have a vested interest in this topic as my background is in crisis and trauma counseling and I work with college students who have had similar experiences. Believe it or not understanding consent is one of the most difficult things to convey to college students. While everyone knows the word, a true understanding without casting doubt, self-blame or understanding drug facilitated assault and what that means for consent is incredibly relevant – not only to college aged individuals, but for anyone who has had an experience invalidated by another or questioned. Obviously with fiction there are elements that are inaccurate or biased. This book not only paints a very real picture of ones experience and the complexity of opposing viewpoints, but it also acknowledges several facets of the societal norms and constraints that box in or compartmentalize individuals experiences. Gender roles and expectations play an integral role in the content of this book, but there are so many layers to what Hatvany is trying to convey. 
 
While I applaud Amy Hatvany for her understanding and portrayal of a very difficult topic, there were moments where I felt individuals in the characters lives violated that sense of consent and empowerment. So I’m extremely torn on my thoughts about the language used at times. Keeping in mind that anyone who has a support system in place would likely have individuals in their lives that want them to tell. For me, there were situations in the book that produced feelings of anger as I felt the language used at times was a bit less supportive and more coercive. I did remind myself that this is a work of fiction and that in real life, family and friends often feel helpless and want to support, without always knowing how. The author did a great job creating those dynamics while allowing the main characters the space to grow and their own stories to develop.  I believe it is crucial for someone who has been through a trauma to reclaim power and autonomy. Their decisions should be their own and not influenced by the thoughts or views of others. You will experience that in this book, there is a sort of reclaiming and redemption aspect that make this a significant yet heartbreaking experience for the reader.

 

This is a heavy read, I cried at several points, but I will say the depth of these experiences is well worth exploring. It Happens All the Time is a book that is truly necessary as it accurately captures thoughts, feelings and behaviors of individuals who have experienced trauma. It may be triggering for some, but cathartic for others. I would highly suggest knowing your limit before reading, but perhaps leaning into your discomfort to understand a view you may have never considered. It may also make you connect to thoughts, feelings or views you’ve experienced or shared. While I can’t say the author intended to have the reader sympathize with individuals in the book, what she did was humanize them and that to me was incredibly powerful despite my very strong beliefs about consent and victim blaming. I was affected and I know any reader who picks this book up will have a strong reaction to the content. I appreciate the way she built the foundation of the relationships of everyone involved and how anyone can relate to having individuals like this in their lives without ever knowing they might be the victim or even worse a perpetrator. This is a book I’d recommend to all readers, not just women!

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME by Amy Hatvany
Atria Books Hardcover | ISBN: 9781476704456 | On sale: March 28, 2017 | 320 pages | $26.00
Atria Books eBook | ISBN: 9781476704463 | On sale: March 28, 2017 | 320 pages | $11.99
ORDER NOW ON:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books-a-Million  |  IndieBound
|  Walmart  |  Apple  |  Google  |  Kobo

 


Resources for Survivors or Loved Ones

RAINN Online Hotline – Free & Confidential – Available 24 hours/7 days a week
National Sexual Assault Hotline  –  Call 1-800-656-4673 – Available 24 hours/7 days a week
1 in 6 (Support for Men who have experienced sexual abuse)
Darkness to Light (Service for Child Sexual Abuse)
Understanding Consent
How to Help a Loved One

 

CONFESS, is coming to a screen near you in early 2017!

Goodreads Choice Award winner for best romance of 2015, CONFESS, is coming to a screen near you in early 2017!
Awesomeness TV’s Awestruck platform announced today that production has begun on the CONFESS series, based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover. Lead character Auburn will be played by Katie Leclerc, known for her role in Freeform’s Switched at Birth, and love interest Owen (OMG!) will be played by Ryan Cooper, known for his role in MTV’s Eye Candy (he will also appear in the comedy Rock That Bodywith Scarlett Johansson and Kate McKinnon in 2017). The show will be available via the go90 platform.

 


CONFESS

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

  

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a  novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.
Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.
For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is keeping some major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.
The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

 


CONFESS by Colleen Hoover

Atria Books | Paperback On-Sale Now

Paperback ISBN: 9781476791456, $16.00

eBook ISBN: 9781476791463, $7.99  |  320 pages

 

Find Colleen online:
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SHERILYN FENN AND KATIE LECLERC JOIN CAST OF CONFESS, AWESTRUCK’S FIRST SCRIPTED SERIES FOR go90™
Production Has Begun on the Series Based On the Romance Novel by New York Times Best Selling Author, Colleen Hoover

 

Los Angeles, CA—December 7, 2016— Awestruck, the fastest growing digital entertainment brand for millennial moms, is proud to announce that production on their first ever scripted series has begun. The series for go90 is based on Colleen Hoover’s novel, Confess, which won the Goodreads® Choice Award for Best Romance Novel of 2015.
Based upon the novel from bestselling author Colleen Hoover, Confess is a modern love story about the secrets we keep to protect the ones we love. Auburn Reed, played by Katie Leclerc known for her role in Freeform’s Switched at Birth, is determined to put her challenging past behind her and get her future on track. Now in her mid-twenties and struggling to fund her custody battle for her only son, she stumbles upon the art studio of the talented and charming artist, Owen Gentry, played by Ryan Cooper, known for his role in MTV’s Eye Candy, and who will be appearing in the comedy Rock That Body with Scarlett Johansson and Kate McKinnon, in 2017. The two wrestle with their developing romance and the secrets they’re both keeping until they realize they may risk their future if they don’t reveal their pasts to each other. Will they confess, and can their love survive the truth?
Acclaimed actress Sherilyn Fenn, known for Shameless, Ray Donovan, and her iconic role as Audrey Horne in the original Twin Peaks and the upcoming 2017 reboothas joined the cast as Lydia, a figure from Auburn’s past. Rounding out the cast is prominent DJ & influencer Amy Pham as Emory, Auburn’s best friend; Brittany Furlan, actress and notable social media influencer, as Hannah, Owen’s ex-girlfriend, and Rocky Myers, appearing in Bloodline: Now or Never in 2017, as Trey, another man vying for Auburn’s heart.
Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels and five novellas. Hoover published her first novel, Slammed, in January 2012. Since then, all of her full-length novels have become New York Times bestsellers. This year, Colleen was awarded the Goodreads Choice Award in the romance category for the second year in a row for her novel It Ends With Us
“I’m excited that my partners at Awestruck are transforming my novel, Confess, into a scripted series,” says author Colleen Hoover. “I’ve poured my heart and soul into the romance genre and am honored that my work will now be visually represented for readers everywhere. I can’t wait for you to experience the story of Auburn and Owen, two strangers that take a huge risk on their growing love, and find their hearts caught between truth and lies.”
“Developing Confess, our first scripted series, is the next step in the Awestruck evolution and we are thrilled to bring Colleen’s characters to life,” said Lisa Berger, Executive Producer. “Colleen is one of the most respected romance writers working today, and we are honored to partner with her and seize this opportunity to tap into this underserved market. We’re committed to making the type of content women want to watch, and there’s nothing like a good romance.”
Confess is adapted for the screen and directed by Elissa Down. Executive producers include Lauren Levine, Colleen Hoover, Amy Kim and Jamie Burke (Lifeboat Productions), Brian Robbins, Brett Bouttier, and Lisa Berger. The series will premiere in early 2017 exclusively on go90.
go90 is currently delivering over 250 hours of exclusive original series from some of the industry’s most talented and interesting studios and creators.

 


ABOUT AWESTRUCK
Awestruck is a digital entertainment brand for millennial moms with original programming on YouTube, Facebook and go90 that covers Docu-reality, Scripted, Comedy, DIY and Lifestyle. Awestruck creates content featuring its community of celebrity talent and everyday moms to deliver entertainment, information and conversation tailored for today’s time-pressed mom. Awestruck is part of AwesomenessTV, a multi-platform media company owned by Comcast, Hearst, and Verizon. Visit Awestruck at awestruck.com.

 

ABOUT LIFEBOAT 
Lifeboat Productions is a leading full-service production company, combining innovative ideas and creative experience to develop and make unique, high-quality and narrative-driven content – from conception to project completion – independent of budget or platform. With in-house development, production and post-production capabilities, Lifeboat Productions focuses on film, television, commercials, branded entertainment and interactive projects. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Lifeboat Productions was founded in 2012 by award-winning producers Amy Kim and Jaime Burke, and has collaborated with companies such as Sony Crackle, Netflix, Fullscreen, Microsoft, Hulu, Viacom, Yahoo!, YouTube, Happy Madison, Nickelodeon and Bad Hat Harry, to name a few. 

 

ABOUT GO90
go90 is a free, mobile-first, social entertainment platform that makes it easy to discover, view and share content from the most beloved networks, distributors, creators, audiences and brands in digital entertainment. Available on the web, iOS and Android, go90 brings together and delivers premiere entertainment experiences across every screen. go90 is part of the Communications family of companies. Start watching now on go90.com.

Excerpt Reveal: Blow (Virtuous Paradox #1) by Heidi McLaughlin

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“Oh yeah? What’s that?” Her tone is playful and gives me hope. And I need hope. Not to score with her, but to get through my days.

“You should join me in the shower.” I waggle my eyebrows at her and rub my hand over my abs, pushing up my shirt a little so she can see what’s underneath.

Kim shakes her head, but her smile tells me that she likes the idea. She covers her mouth to stifle a laugh, and I chuckle.”

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In Blow, the start of an emotionally charged series from bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin, an insatiable heartthrob gets blinded by the spotlight—and learns to fight for love.
Meet the complicated men behind the sexiest boy band in America!  Releasing November 8th!

 

Pre-Order NOW!
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blow

Blurb
Bodhi McKnight has always had everything handed to him on a silver platter: fame, success, money, girls. The raven-haired, blue-eyed hottie is the son of Hollywood A-listers, and when he’s asked to join the boy band Virtuous Paradox, his star shoots even higher. But so do expectations, leading Bodhi down a destructive path of addiction—until a drop-dead gorgeous guardian angel shows him her sizzling brand of tough love.
When Bodhi ends up in rehab, he doesn’t expect to meet someone as cool and down-to-earth as Kimberly Gordon. Although he’s enjoyed the company of beautiful, charming women before, none of them have tried to get to know the “real” Bodhi. But Kimberly isn’t fazed by his stardom. She’d rather go horseback riding, teach Bodhi to play guitar, or ask him about his feelings. Soon Bodhi realizes he’s fallen head over heels for her. He just hopes that he’s strong enough to protect what they have from all the pressures and temptations of the outside world.
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

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About the Author 

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Heidi McLaughlin
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.
When she isn’t writing one of the many stories planned for release, you’ll find her sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, is currently in production to be a major motion picture.

 

NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author

 

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Book Review: SWEAR ON THIS LIFE by Renée Carlino

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ABOUT SWEAR ON THIS LIFE:

 

From USA TODAY bestselling author Renée Carlino (Before We Were Strangers), a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she’s the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel.

 

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J. Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

 

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

 

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

 

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction? 

 

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12969_439936488_hrABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Renée Carlino
 is the author of Sweet Thing, Nowhere But Here, After the Rain, and Before We Were Strangers. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. 

 

 

 

FIND RENÉE ONLINE:
Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram 

 

 


Book Review  

 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

 

This week I’ve had the pleasure of featuring not one, but two upcoming/new releases that are sure to be EPIC reads of 2016. Swear on This Life is definitely a top 5 contender. I could not put it down. From the first line to the very last this book consumed me. I devoured every single word. Readers will be captivated by this beautifully creative and unforgettable journey. You will hang on to every word eagerly awaiting the outcome…tearful and hopeful. Honestly every time I read a Renée Carlino book she manages to capture my attention and completely own it.  This book was no different, but this may have been her absolute best work to date. 

 

Emiline, now an adult living in San Diego has struggled to come to grips with her past, but when she picks up a new bestseller she realizes how eerily similar the story of Emerson and Jackson seem to mirror her own upbringing with Jase, her best friend and first love. Written in her perspective Emiline is pissed that Jase would have the audacity to write her own story, but she can’t put it down. Em has been struggling to face what she’s been through and has never really opened up to anyone about her past, but as she reads Jase’s novel it forces her to start chasing some of those demons, but not before she finds and confronts Jase for what he’s done. 
Cleverly crafted, raw, and intense.  This book is all-consuming. It will grab hold of you and nothing else in the world will exist. Five stars for this emotionally addictive ride.

 

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

 

SWEAR ON THIS LIFE by Renée Carlino
Atria Trade Paperback | ISBN: 9781501105791 | On sale: August 9, 2016 | 320 pages | $15.00
eBook: Atria Books | ISBN: 9781501105807 | On sale: August 9, 2016 | 320 pages | $7.99

 

ORDER (US)

 

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ORDER (UK)

 

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Teaser Excerpt Blitz – FURIOUS RUSH by S.C. Stephens

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ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: FURIOUS RUSH
Author: S.C. Stephens
On Sale: August 23, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Format: Trade Paperback & eBook
Price: $12.99 USD (TP) / $4.99 USD (eBook) 

 

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The first in an emotion-fueled, New Adult series from the #1 bestselling author of the Thoughtless novels!

 

Too fast, too furious—and way too hot to handle… 
Mackenzie Cox has a lot to prove. Daughter of a racing legend, she is eager to show the world that she has inherited her father’s talent in the male-dominated sport of professional motorcycle racing. The last thing Kenzie needs is to be antagonized by her rival team’s newest rider, Hayden Hayes. Plucked from the world of illegal street racing, Hayden immediately gets under Kenzie’s skin. His insinuations that Kenzie is a spoiled princess who was handed her career fuels her desire to win, and much to her surprise, Kenzie soon learns she performs better when she’s racing against Hayden.
As Kenzie and Hayden push each other on the track, the electric energy between them off the track shifts into an intense—and strictly forbidden—attraction. The only rule between their two ultra-competitive teams is zero contact. Kenzie always does her best to play by the rules, but when her team slips into a financial crisis, she has no choice but to turn to Hayden for help. The tension simmers during their secret, late-night rendezvous, but Kenzie has too much to lose to give in to her desires. Especially when she begins to doubt that Hayden has completely left his street life behind…

EXCERPT 

Honda Boy was holding his helmet under an arm while he flirted with the girls surrounding him. He was blond, with a short, shaggy hairstyle that probably took a lot more effort to create than it looked like. I could tell from the way the girls around him were tittering like teenagers that he was charming; with seemingly little effort on his part, he had all of them eating out of his hand. When a break in the crowd gave me a clear view of his face, I realized another thing: He was smokin’, someone-hold-on-to-my-ovaries- before-they-explode hot.
There was a perfect symmetry to his rugged features that made it seem unreal that he was standing just a few feet away from me. He should be plastered on a billboard somewhere, half-naked, selling overpriced cologne to men who wanted just a fraction of his sex appeal. As if he could feel my eyes on him, he turned his gaze my way. Our eyes met and locked, and I was helpless to turn away. There was something carnal about him, primal and dangerous. Exotic. I was instantly captivated, and I hated that I was. This guy was neck-deep in a world that twisted my stomach, a world that spat in the face of my sport. My career.
As his light-colored eyes bored holes into mine, one edge of his lip curved up in a devilish crooked grin that was both playful and promising. He was practically shouting, with just that one deadly smile, that he would satisfy my every desire, satiate every craving I could possibly have. My heart started thudding in my chest as sensations that had been dormant for far too long swirled to life in- side me. Luckily for me, the big man taking the guy’s bets clapped him on the shoulder, breaking our stare down. Once I was free of his steamy gaze, I instantly turned around so my back was to him.  Jesus, was I breathing harder? Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I was twenty-two, not twelve.
“Damn,” I heard Nikki say. “You were right. I should have bet on him from the get-go. I didn’t really get a good look at him before, but he is freaking hot!”
Inhaling a deep breath, I attempted to force my body back in line with my brain. “This guy is undefeated?” I asked Nikki. “Really?” She nodded in answer and I had to close my eyes for a second. A face like that with racing skills to boot? Jesus.
Clearing my throat, I nonchalantly asked, “What did you say his name was again?” I could at least label the guy in the fantasy I was surely going to have later.
“Hayden… something. He’s been around for a while, from what I gathered.”
I risked a glance over my shoulder at… Hayden. He’d slipped his helmet on, thankfully, although his visor was popped up. The big guy taking bets had been joined by a skinny Hispanic guy who seemed to be giving Hayden instructions. Or maybe a pep talk. The little guy was acting out the race that was about to happen with his hands, complete with swerving and explosions. God, I hoped there weren’t going to be explosions. While he was going through his dramatic highlights, the big guy looped a camera over Hayden’s helmet.
When the two competitors were ready, they backed their motor- cycles onto the street. A cheer ripped up and down the sidewalk as the hopeful gamblers prepared for another round of racing. I didn’t want to feel anything but contempt for what I was witnessing, yet the energy of the spectators, the roar of the bikes—I couldn’t help the zing of excitement that raced up my spine. Against my will, my mouth twisted into a wide grin, and a yell of encouragement left my lips. Hayden’s helmet swiveled my way as he revved his engine. My pulse quickened as our eyes met. Then he winked at me and slammed his visor shut.
As the riders moved into position, Nikki grabbed my arm. “Come on. We can watch the action from the van.”
I had no idea what she was talking about. Before I could ask her, though, she yanked me toward a black van parked on the sidewalk. The back doors were open, and a giant monitor attached to a swinging metal arm was sticking out above the hovering crowd. The screen was split in two, each half showing the footage from one racer’s helmet cam. Hayden and his opponent were both looking straight ahead, and the dual feeds showed similar stretches of barren road. Looking down the street, I saw that the pair were stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change.
Returning my eyes to the monitor, I found myself holding my breath as I waited for the signal to change colors. When it turned green and the bikes surged forward, I stepped closer to the van, like that would somehow release my pent-up energy. In unison, the crowd around me started hooting and hollering. Swept up in the moment, I bounced on my toes and prayed for speed. But after watching the screen for just a few seconds, I was struck with the harsh reality of the situation I was watching. This was no closed-off track with well-defined paths. This was down and dirty, anything goes, just get to the finish line first racing.
The bikes blew through red lights like they meant absolutely nothing. The streets were fairly empty at this early hour, but they blurred past the few vehicles on the road like they were standing still; they had to be going 100 miles per hour, easy. They dodged obstacles by hopping onto the sidewalk, they fishtailed around slick corners, and they came close to colliding with oncoming traffic more than once.
I turned to Nikki with shock clear on my face. “This is insane! Someone’s going to get hurt. Maybe killed!”
Nikki’s face was pure elation as she watched the screens. Her expression changed as my words sunk in, then she looked at me like I had a foot sticking out of my head. I supposed it was odd to hear that type of statement coming from someone who routinely hovered around the 150 mark on the speedometer while riding, but that was a completely different kind of environment. Believe it or not, what I did was safe, relatively speaking. Millions of dollars were spent to make it that way. This was not safe. At all.
“They’re breaking every traffic law there is,” I added, feeling like a giant stick in the mud. Someone needed to be the voice of reason here, though, because everyone was clearly out of their ever loving minds.
Nikki smirked at my comment. “It’s a race, Kenzie. They can’t exactly drive cautiously. Why do you think this happens so late at night?”
“Because it’s illegal,” I deadpanned. I got a couple of odd looks from the crowd after saying that, including a particularly nasty glare from Hayden’s bet collector. Maybe this wasn’t the best place to be talking about the law. Shutting my mouth, I quickly refocused on the screen.
Just as I noticed a familiar section of street come into view on the monitor, one side of the screen started wobbling, then the camera showed asphalt, sparks, spinning scenery, and a rapidly approaching telephone pole. The crowd around me hushed as it became clear that Hayden’s competition wasn’t going to finish this race. I heard Hayden’s bike rounding the corner seconds later, then Nikki was once again pulling me along like a rag doll. She shoved us into a good position to see the finish line right as Hayden’s Honda whizzed past. He was alone. Cheers erupted mixed with a few groans from the people who’d bet on the other guy.
Just as I was wondering if anyone was going to go check on the Ninja rider, Nikki grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me with uncontainable joy. “We won, Kenzie! We frickin’ won!”
“Great,” I said, clenching my teeth so I wouldn’t bite my tongue. 
Releasing me, Nikki let out a squeal of excitement. “I just made enough money to pay you back and cover my loss. See, aren’t you glad you came?”
I narrowed my eyes into poisonous daggers that would hopefully drill some sense into her. “I hate you,” I murmured.  Nikki held a hand over her heart. “I know by hate you mean love, and I love you too, Kenzie. Now let’s collect my winnings and go home so you can rest up. Big year this year!”
I opened my mouth to scold her with some biting remark about how I’d wanted to leave ages ago, but she turned on her heel and left me there, gaping. Just as I was forcing the muscles in my jaw to relax enough to contract, Hayden pulled up next to where I was standing on the sidewalk. It felt like the world suddenly shifted into slow motion as I turned my head to look at him.
He was still hunched over his bike, hands on the grip and throttle; the only indication that he was looking at me was the direction of his dark helmet. Then, like some freaking Prince Charming in a fairy tale, he slowly removed his helmet and tucked it under his arm. I swear the air around me condensed as his tilted smile came into view. Jesus Christ, this guy was sex on a stick.
Reaching up, he roughly ran a hand through his sweaty dirty- blond hair. The short, sexy shag he’d had going on earlier was destroyed from the helmet, but somehow after just a few scruffs of his hand, the carefree style was back to utter perfection. I kind of wanted to mess it up again, run my hands through the strands, grab a handful and clench it tight while I outlined those incredibly kissable lips with my tongue.
Whoa. No. I didn’t want that.
His penetrating gaze studied my face for a moment. There was something there in his eyes that I couldn’t quite grasp. Interest, sure, but almost… sadness too. Then he smiled, and the look vanished so fast, I was sure I’d imagined it. “Haven’t seen you here before,” he said, his voice low and easy, like he hadn’t just risked his life. “I hope you bet on me. It would be a shame to see someone as beautiful as you… lose.”
His grin turned suggestive, and warning signs started flashing in front of my eyes. Danger! Do not proceed! Rocky road ahead! Turn back now! The warnings flared even brighter when he stood from his motorcycle and began approaching me.
When he was directly in front of me, so close that I could smell the subtle spicy aroma of his cologne, my heart was hammering so hard, I was positive he could hear it, positive he could see my T-shirt lifting and releasing like a frantic hummingbird was hiding under the fabric. What the hell was he doing to me? Was I nervous or excited? Because the sensation was so similar to both, I honestly couldn’t tell.
Extending a hand, he smoothly said, “Name’s Hayden. Hayden Hayes.” I was just about to lift my hand and touch him—my fingers even twitched in response—when he added, “And what should I call you, sweetheart?”
Sweetheart? With those two simple syllables he had just dumped a bucket of ice water over my head and killed any fantasy I might have had about him. I lived, worked, and breathed in a world where men looked at me like I was a second-class citizen. To prove my worth, I had to work harder, longer, and with everything I had inside me, all the fucking time. I felt like he’d just tried to take all of that hard work away from me with that one demeaning word.
“Leaving,” I said, walking away.

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PREORDER THE BOOK HERE 

 

Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble   |   B-A-M   |   GooglePlay   |   iBooks   |   IndieBound   |  Kobo    

S.C. Stephens CREDIT Tara Ellis PhotographyABOUT THE AUTHOR
S. C. Stephens is a #1 bestselling author who spends her every free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family. She and her two children reside in the Pacific Northwest.
Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Goodreads   

 


 

YOU’RE INVITED!
It’s a virtual-party!!! Please join S.C. Stephens (and some pretty awesome authors) on Facebook for a pre-release celebration of Furious Rush on August 22nd! There will be prizes! There will be fun!
RSVP Here!

 


 

FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE 
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Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

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IT ENDS WITH US

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

 

“Colleen Hoover reminds readers that love is a fragile thing, built from courage, hope, and tears. Every person with a heartbeat should read this book.”
– Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling author

 

Visit www.ItEndsWithUsBook.com for teasers, tour dates and more.

ABOUT IT ENDS WITH US:
Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.
Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.
As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened. 
With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of SlammedThis GirlPoint of RetreatHopelessLosing HopeFinding CinderellaMaybe SomedayUgly LoveMaybe Not, and Confess. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com

 

 

FIND COLLEEN ONLINE: 
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Book Review

 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Wow. I feel like I preface every Colleen Hoover review with that simple word yet it’s generally the best way I can describe how I feel immediately following my “CoHoma” (aka the Colleen Hoover induced haze/shock that immediately follows reading one of her books). This was super complex and deeply personal. I cried a lot of ugly tears…mostly toward the latter part of the book, but definitely not surprising because her books always get to me somehow. I don’t know this woman, I’ve never met her, I know her the way most readers do, through her words and let me tell you if you follow anything about her, you’ll know just how kind and generous she seems. Reading this book made me feel as though I knew a deeper part of her and it may sound weird, but I saw some of the best in her through this one book. She manages to make you question everything you ever think you knew by simply making her characters so human. You fall in love with them, you take journeys with them, your heart is sometimes broken by their actions, but in the end you have a better understanding of not only them, but yourself. This is what It Ends With Us does to the reader, it allows you to not only engage in a wonderfully complex journey, but it also makes you do some soul searching.

 

I’ve followed her work since Slammed and have been an avid fan ever since, I go through the same process with every release…asking questions like, “is this my new Colleen favorite?” and then grunting or sighing because I know rating or ranking any of her work is pointless because everything she writes is golden. There has never been a bad Colleen Hoover book and I’m convinced there never will be. Her books are generally very poignant, thought provoking, usually witty and always ; her characters are perfectly flawed, they have depth and their stories generally shock you into a “CoHoma” (this is my new word and I’m sticking to it because her books are spellbinding). It Ends With Us is different in that it pushes limits, makes you question yourself and what decisions you would make if you were any of these characters. This isn’t very different from most of her books because she always shocks me, but her voice and the plot twists combined are completely unparalleled. This was a tough read in so many ways for me because it was so relatable. For many who pick this book up you might have been through something similar or chances are you know someone that has. You may have even judged, commented or witnessed something similar, regardless of the how, I’m betting that you will relate in some way. When you realize how easily black and white can turn to grey it is then that you will understand what it truly means to unravel the mystery that is a Colleen Hoover read. She finds a way to make even the most difficult situations real and creates a challenge for the reader by daring them to confront ugly truths or in this case naked truths.

 

Lily is an incredibly strong character that will both inspire and transform you. I’m afraid to say this was Colleen Hoover’s best work yet, but because of how personal it is I have to applaud her for sharing such a difficult yet brilliant story with her readers. There are a handful of books I’ve read with similar storylines and they’ve never gotten to me to this degree. I hate to be so vague, but this story is worth withholding the plot, the summary does not begin to explain what you will go through reading this, but it is worth every second. Although the end seems final and complete (and totally perfect) somehow I hope she somehow is inspired to continue this as a series or at least a novella. I hope you all will take a chance on this one it is probably on my top 5 best reads of all time and might be my favorite book published in 2016. This book is heavy at times, but if you pick up one book this year please please please let it be It Ends With Us. I promise you won’t regret it.

 

It Ends With Us releases Tuesday, August 2, 2016 (that’s right less than 24 hours) get your pre-orders in now and be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy!
~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

 

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Grab your copy of IT ENDS WITH US:

 

Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble   |   B-A-M   |   iBooks   |   IndieBound   |   Kobo   |   GooglePlay   |   Nook

 

IT ENDS WITH US

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

http://www.itendswithusbook.com/

Atria Books Paperback | 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501110368 | August 2, 2016 | $16.00

eBook: 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501110375 | $7.99

 


Now for the fun….the #ItEndsWithUs Contest!

Enter the Rafflecopter  to win a signed copy of IT ENDS WITH US and a limited edition Everything’s Better in Boston magnet (trust us, you’ll get it after you read the book)! (3 prize bundles in total) Contest is open until August 26th

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Don’t miss Colleen on tour for IT ENDS WITH US

 

 

BOSTON, MA
Tuesday, August 2nd
BROOKLINE BOOKSMITH
7:00 PM
279 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02446
www.brooklinebooksmith.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1765869680321385/

 

MADISON, NJ
Wednesday, August 3rd
SHORT STORIES COMMUNITY BOOK HUB
7:00 PM
23 Main Street
Madison, NJ 07940
www.shortstoriesnj.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1816436548588340/

 

NEW YORK, NY
Thursday, August 4th
STRAND BOOK STORE
7:00 PM
828 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
www.strandbooks.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1266828406680888/

 

CINCINNATI, OH
Friday, August 5th
JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS
7:00 PM
2692 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45208
www.josephbeth.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/277088292641430/

 

CHICAGO, IL
Saturday, August 6th
ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP
2:00 PM
Meiley-Swallow Hall
On the campus of North
Central College 31 S Ellsworth Street
Naperville, IL  60540
http://www.andersonsbookshop.com/
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/260878437616737/

 

LOS ANGELES, CA
Sunday, August 7th
CHEVALIER’S BOOKS
6:30 PM
126 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
www.chevaliersbooks.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/260712770964176/

 

PHOENIX, AZ
Monday, August 8th
CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE
7:00 PM
6428 S. McClintock Drive
Tempe, AZ 85283
www.changinghands.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1188482081195713/

 

HOUSTON, TX
Tuesday, August 9th
BARNES & NOBLE – Town & Country
7:00 PM
12850 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77024
www.barnesandnoble.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1755063464713808/

 

DALLAS, TX
Wednesday, August 10th 
HALF PRICE BOOKS
7:00 PM
5803 E. Northwest Hwy
Dallas, TX 75231
www.halfpricebooks.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1714556692137769/

 


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Book Review: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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ABOUT ONE TRUE LOVES:
In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.
On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever. Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.
That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.
Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly? Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying. 

 

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408067962_hrABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. She is the author of Forever, Interrupted, After I Do and Maybe In Another Life. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and her dog, Rabbit. You can follow her on Twitter @TJenkinsReid.

 


FIND TAYLOR ONLINE:
Website   |    Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram  

Book Review 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Once upon a time I hated romance novels. I hate love triangles, drama and most of all the mushy often cliché writing. I can’t stand to sit and read about flawless, imperfect people and people who don’t struggle or grow. In any novel these are things I still look for. Obviously, you all can tell my opinion of romance novels has changed. I do still have moments where I find a book too cheesy for my liking, but as I’ve grown older, my appreciation for the art of romance/adult fiction has evolved and I do love a good romance novel. Although I wouldn’t classify Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing as simply romance, I’d say it could be categorized as contemporary adult/women’s fiction with romantic elements — with a lesson or two thrown into the mix. Definitely more along the lines of what I love to read. 
I discovered Taylor Jenkins Reid after reading Maybe in Another Life. I fell in love with her writing style and knew I had found a new author to follow. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on One True Loves. Her writing with Maybe in Another Life was quite profound and evoked pensive thoughts. I found this also to be true while reading One True Loves.  I’ve found her books have strong heroines that are faced with tough decisions, but they grow a great deal throughout the course of her novels. The lessons they learn and the experiences they endure are often difficult, but meaningful. Her writing generally has important life lessons that people neglect to really sit and ponder, but while reading you seem to find yourself thinking like you’ve never thought before. It’s actually one of the things I love most about her books. 
One True Loves is the type of book that will gut you and leave you an emotional wreck. The writing is beautiful, the emotions palpable leaving you with no choice but to keep reading, to keep devouring all that Taylor Jenkins Reid has to offer. This was an incredible read. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I sighed. Emma experienced an unimaginable tragedy, one that left her unsure of how she’d continue on each day, but somehow she managed, somehow she dug herself out and started to rebuild. Life seemed better, it didn’t seem as painful, as hard to continue moving forward, that is until Jesse resurfaces only complicating and confusing her about what she thought she wanted and who she thought she was. 
I read One True Loves in one sitting The author does an incredible job building the story up and she will keep you guessing. I felt as though I experienced all the pain and loss that each of these characters were faced with. I empathized with each of them and even I had a difficult time figuring out who Emma would ultimately end up with. The funny thing is you will fall in love with all of them, so much so that the who matters less in the end than the journey that led them there. Her characters are perfectly flawed, they are complex, well developed, genuine and lovable. Just a fair warning, you may need a tissue or two while reading, this one will definitely gut you, but the angst is completely worth it. And as always with a Reid book, you may also learn a thing or two about yourself. Raw, poignant and completely heartfelt, One True Loves is an definite 5 star must read perfect for contemporary romance readers and the quintessential summer read. 

 

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

 


ONE TRUE LOVES by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Atria/Washington Square Press Paperback | ISBN: 9781476776903 | On sale: June 7, 2016 | 352 pages | $16.00

eBook: Atria/Washington Square Press | ISBN: 9781476776910 | On sale: June 7, 2016 | 352 pages | $11.99

 

ORDER:

 

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books-a-Million  |  IndieBound  |  Apple  |  Blio  |  Google  |  Kobo

 

 


 

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY:

2 COMPLETE SETS OF SIGNED TJR BOOKS
5 SIGNED COPIES OF ONE TRUE LOVES 

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