Articles

Unraveled Book Review

unraveled woodland

Release Date: January 20th

BUY NOW:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  iBooks  |  Smashwords  |  ARE

Synopsis

Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier.  His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind.  He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment.  So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.

Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?

Note: Although these books are part of a series, they do not need to be read in order.

 62435-addtogoodreads

********

unravled teaser 4 

Excerpt 

 “I’ve been watching you all night.” His mouth was right above the tip of my ear and I felt something crack inside me, a fissure was forming in the mask I’d donned earlier today or perhaps his breath, his touch, his words were simply hastening the demise of the barriers I’d held between myself and everyone else for two years. Because inside my body, it felt like there was an awakening and every fiber of my being reached toward him, upward and outward as if I was a flower on the first day of a spring rain. I lifted my head to gaze up, wide-eyed and anxious with anticipation. 

Some part of my brain was telling me that the storage closet was just two steps to my right at the end of the hallway and the exit door was just beyond that. My Rover was outside and all three were safer than standing here almost in his embrace but I couldn’t hear the warning over the pounding of my heartbeat. He bent toward me, his face serious and even in the low light of the corner I could see the gold flecks feathering out from the center of his eyes.

“I’m going to kiss you now.” His voice was deep, rough and matched the rest of his thoroughly masculine body. 

“I know,” I whispered back. And I wanted that kiss from Gray who ordinarily wouldn’t be my type at all. I wanted it more than I wanted to breath. When his mouth molded against mine, it felt like bliss as if my whole cold body had been submerged into a warm bath. If I thought I was engulfed before it was nothing like I felt at that moment. My entire world—my thoughts, my feelings, my senses—were full of him. I tasted the mint and hops on his tongue. I inhaled the cinnamon, bergamot, ocean of his faint cologne into my airways. I felt the calloused palm on my waist and then lower against the exposed skin of my thigh. His dense muscles were drawn tight under his skin and the fabric of his t-shirt and he felt as strong as a citadel. The moan that had been building since he first backed me into the wall escaped. It had been so long since I’d had the touch of a man’s hand on any part of me and I nearly wept at the pleasure of it. 

 

Review 

Fan-fuckin-tastic. Five stars. Two thumbs up and a blush!
I seriously loved Unraveled
I was kind of smitten with Gray in Unspoken and this book only made my love for him grow. When Jen Frederick announced the release of Unraveled I couldn’t wait and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. 

Fan-fuckin-tastic. Five stars. Two thumbs up and a blush…or two!
I seriously loved Unraveled
I was kind of smitten with Gray in Unspoken and this book only made my love for him grow. When Jen Frederick announced the release of Unraveled I couldn’t wait and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. 

Sam is a girl who has grown up quickly. Married and widowed before the age of twenty, she’s experienced the kind of loss that makes her feel unable to move forward. She doesn’t notice men, sexual feelings barely register and she mindlessly knits to pass the time. She’s numb and trying to find her way. Still reeling from the loss of her deceased husband, she meets the mysterious Gray. Their first encounter is pretty steamy, but ends abruptly. Their intimate encounter leaves a lasting impression for not only Sam but the untouchable Gray.

Gray is at a crossroads, he’s been a marine for eight years. He isn’t sure if he should re-enlist. He loves his job, he loves the marines, but he’s unsure if he should make a career of it or get out and find something else to occupy his time. He takes a 45 day leave and visits his old buddies Noah and Bo to clear his head and figure things out. One thing Gray never wanted was to be in a relationship while being a marine. He is adamantly against anything beyond sex preferably with women who understand his situation and aren’t looking for anything serious. Gray is extremely selective when it comes to the women he dates, rather has sex with. Past experience and a terrible breakup have caused him to exhibit caution when dealing with women. He doesn’t trust most women. When he arrives to town he never imagined he’d find someone like Sam. Now that he’s found her and they’ve connected he’s afraid to let her go. The rules are clear and this situation has to be temporary…or does it?

All I can say is holy hell! I think this book was actually steamier, dirtier and hotter than Undeclared and Unspoken combined. Jen Frederick got pretty naughty with this one…and…I loved every minute of it!!! I could not put it down I started reading after midnight and finished by 2:30am…yeah I was pretty hooked. This is a great read for new adult fans who like steamy scenes. Gray and Sam’s chemistry is scorching. I think Gray and Sam may have actually given Bo and AM a run for their money!!! I had to cover my eyes while reading…shame on you Jen, you made me blush hehe!

I highly recommend the entire series. I can’t even quantify an order of which I love more, but I really, really loved this book. 

Happy Reading!!!

 

More Books by Jen Frederick

Woodlands Series (Book 1 & 2)

undeclared new  

62435-addtogoodreads 

Synopsis

For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson — or any man — ever going to break her heart again.

Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way — literally — through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet. 

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo

 

unspoken cover 

  62435-addtogoodreads 

Synopsis

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.

I’ve been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me? 

He’s everything I shouldn’t want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren’t the danger to me, though, it’s his charm. He’s sliding his way into my heart and I’m afraid that he’s going to be the one to break me. 

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I’ll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I’ve got fighting and I’ve got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.

She’s everything I didn’t realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she’s been hurt too much in the past and I don’t want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can’t.

Bonus Content: Upon reaching the USA Today Bestselling milestone, I wrote a 10,000 word epilogue as a thank you to the readers who loved and supported Unspoken.  I posted it for free on my blog but at the urging of readers, I have added it to the original version. 

Note: This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance with mature content and sexually explicit scenes. 91,000+ words. Standalone novel.

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo

 

 

unraveled teaser 1 

Author Bio

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog.  She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at the email link below.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Email

Giveaway

$200 GC to retailer of your choice

Full set of Woodlands print books (5) with dog tags.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Love Waltzes In

Book1 Love Waltzes

Synopsis
To her millions of fans, ballroom champion Selena Marcil seems to have the perfect life: a great dance partner, a hit reality show, and celebrity perks. But underneath the glamorous ball gowns, Selena longs to find someone to share her life with when the stage lights dim.
Selena’s childhood sweetheart, Bret Lord, hung up his dance shoes after winning two national titles with her as a teenager, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He never saw his former fiancée again, except on television and on the cover of men’s magazines. Ten years and three deployments later, Bret gets an offer to audition for Selena’s dance show. When the Marine Corps gives him temporary leave to appear on the series, Bret can’t refuse the quick cash that will enable him to provide financially for the widow of his buddy, even if it does mean coming face to face with his past.
When Bret shows up at her national championship, Selena is shocked. For years she searched for him to no avail. After spending time with Bret, Selena realizes despite their past romance, they have no future. He has no desire to live under a spotlight and she has no desire to leave it. Can Selena and Bret recognize when Love Waltzes In?

62435-addtogoodreads 
 Excerpt 

Staff Sergeant Bret Lord sat on the dirty floor of his tent, going through the day’s mail: the latest Men’s Fitness magazine from his sister, a care package from his mom. He ripped open the package—socks, lip balm, sunflower seeds, and a thin letter that contained an old magazine clipping.

Dear Bret,

I miss you very much. Benny asked me to send you this article. I really wish you would consider his offer. Please stay safe.

Love, Mom

He swallowed hard. A neon sticky pressed on the wrinkled page had a note scrawled on it from his former master dance coach.

Bret, m’boy,

We’ll make it worth your time.

Cheers, Benny.

Thumbing the edge of the article, Bret stared at the sixteen-year-old boy in the picture and could barely recognize himself. His shoulder length, wavy blond hair was slicked back, not shorn in a “high and tight” like his current haircut. No signs of the tattoos or muscles that currently defined his body. Golden skin stained from a bottle, not the harsh sun of Iraq. His arms were wrapped around a gorgeous, curvy young girl with long jet-black hair. The jade Latin gown she wore matched the color of her almond-shaped eyes.

Bret tossed the article aside and removed his nine-mil pistol from his holster to clean it.

Lance Corporal Hernandez walked by Bret and snatched the article off his cot. After staring at it, Hernandez’s face brightened.

“Hey, Staff Sergeant, this you?”

“No, it’s my clone who’s also named Bret Lord.” Bret slid the rail back on his weapon and began disassembling it.

“Staff Sergeant, you know Selena Marcil? Did you hit that?”

“Shut up, Hernandez, or the one getting hit will be you—with the butt stock of my rifle.” Bret grabbed the paper out of Hernandez’s hands, and smacked him on the side of the head. The kid didn’t flinch.

“Staff Sergeant Twinkle Toes. Hey—can you hook me up with Selena? I’ll be her boy toy. I love her. Man, she’s smoking. Has the nicest ass. Not like all those skinny, Russian chicks on that show.” He nodded to himself with an eyebrow dancing. “Selena’s on my list. She’s Latina, too. We’d be perfect together. What was she doing with a gringo like you?”

“Hernandez, you’re way out of line.” Bret reassembled his pistol.

“My bad, Staff Sergeant.”

Bret grabbed the article, his pack, and his rifle. It was impossible to get some privacy in the tent. His only option was to sit outside in a sandstorm but even that sounded like a welcome retreat from his immature men. He walked about five hundred feet, then plopped down in the hot sand.

The red sky hung above him, thick from smoke from the nearby town. Bret struggled to catch a glimpse of the distant mountains. Sand seemed to pelt down from the heavens, blinding him and settling into every crevice in his body. He closed his eyes against the sting of the sand, and turned his thoughts to Selena. Was she the diva the tabloids made her out to be? Even after ten years, he could almost smell her buttery-coconut scent. A welcome change from the overflowing shitters, toxic diesel, and stench of his fellow Marines who hadn’t bathed in three weeks.  

 

Review

Love Waltzes In is a great read about first love and second chances. It shadows the lives of both Selena Marcil and Bret Lord two ballroom dancers and former flames. The story covers a bit of their past,  their present and a hopeful yet uncertain future.

The story begins with Bret who is deployed as a marine in Iraq. He is currently a staff sergeant and has been requested to appear on a reality show by a former dance coach. Bret loves his job and doesn’t want to get back into the world he hated. He doesn’t want fame or money, but when he loses a buddy in battle he begins to consider the offer. He promised his friend if anything ever happened to him that he’d look after his family. Bret is a man of his word and he intends to do everything in his power to help. While he has no desire to reenter the world of ballroom dancing, he agrees knowing the financial support he’d gain by dancing on the show would significantly help his friend’s family.  He vows to do one season, in and out, but as simple as he believes it will be he has no idea what awaits him. He knows being on the show will bring him in contact with his first love and former flame, Selena Marcil.

Selena called off their engagement nearly ten years ago and while he has been haunted by her decision Bret has never fully understood what caused her to pull back and leave him. Selena has a secret one she knows might change the way Bret sees her and although she fears his reaction, she never got a chance to explain. Although she sought him out he didn’t want to be found. He threw himself into his job and was proud to serve as a Marine, but her decisions have haunted her and she wants an opportunity to discuss the past while Bret is looking forward to moving on and leaving the past behind. Will it be that simple or will the past and present collide?

This book is a beautiful story, but I found that some moments moved a bit too fast paced and some things were abrupt leaving me little chance to react. The book is a quicker read, so I also think this is why some moments were a bit rushed, however, I found the book to be an overall good read. I found myself entranced by the story, the characters, the competition, the build up and rooting for these two. Selena’s decisions at times made me want to shake some sense into her and while I do love her character, I felt she is a bit naive at times. 

As I neared the final chapters I felt as though I were actually watching a reality show. I wanted to know who would win and what would happen. I wasn’t disappointed, this story is everything you look for in a good romance novel. It has love, loss, a touch of drama and even some funny moments. The relationships between the characters is an interesting blend and although I expected a lot more competition and hatred, the dancers all seemed like one big (dysfunctional at times) family ℓσℓ 

I highly recommend this book to romance/contemporary romance readers especially those who appreciate dancing, It’s fun, fresh and you’ll fall in love…especially with Bret! 

Purchase Love Waltzes In:

buylinkamazonbuylinkbnitunes-store-logo

Follow the Tour

 

Author Pic

About the Author
Alana Albertson is the former President of both Romance Writers of Americas’s Young Adult and Chick Lit chapters and the founder of Academe Advantage, a college admissions & test preparation company. Alana Albertson holds a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University. A recovering professional ballroom dancer, Alana currently writes contemporary romance and young adult fiction. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two young sons, and four dogs. When she’s not spending her time needlepointing, dancing, or saving dogs from high kill shelters through Pugs N Roses, the rescue she founded, she can be found watching episodes of House Hunters, Homeland, or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  

 

Giveaway ($25.00 Amazon or B&N Gift Card)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
%d bloggers like this: