Release & Review - Saving It by Monica Murphy

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Saving It

Author: Monica Murphy

Release Date: November 6th, 2017

Age Category/ Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled Teen (Crush)

Eden: Josh Evans and I have been best friends forever. He knows all my secrets, and I know all of his. So when he randomly asks me to help him lose his virginity, I sort of flip out. That’s a question that sends your mind to places you’ve seriously never considered before. Like, you know. Having sex. With your best friend. Except Josh doesn’t want to have sex with me—he wants me to help him find a girl. A nice girl who’s funny and smart and cute. Except he already knows a girl just like that…

Josh: Eden Sumner is my best friend. So of course she’d be the person to help me find my perfect match, so I can drop my V card before I head off to college. Except the more we search, the more I realize that maybe the right girl has been by my side all along. I don’t need Eden’s help in finding me a girl to love. I’m pretty sure I’m already in love with Eden. But now she thinks I’m only after one thing…with anyone but her.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book is what happens when American Pie meets Friends with Benefits. It contains two best friends, plenty of angst, and lots and lots of sex talk. Reading this might have you looking at your best friend in a different light!

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Buy Links: Amazon

3 “Virgins & BFFs” Stars

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you, Entangled Teen (Crush)!

As a huge fan of the BFFs falling in love trope, I was eager to read this book from the moment I saw the ARC. It didn't wow me as much as I'd hoped, and I ended up having similar problems with the story as I did with Monica Murphy's other book, but it was an enjoyable read.

One of the things I liked most about Saving It was how real Eden and Josh's friendship was. I truly felt like they knew each other and had been close friends for a long time, which made the scenes between them much more enjoyable.

As it happened with Daring the Bad Boy (another book by this author I read recently), the male POV worked better than the female for me, but I still liked Eden enough. She was fun and I enjoyed how worried she was about not coming out as a pimp while she helped Josh find the perfect candidate to lose his virginity with.

Eden and Josh took their time figuring out their feelings for each other, and most of their scenes were super cute. I also liked how realistic the portrayal of first time was here.

My biggest complain is probably the repetition. Eden and Josh's chapters could get really repetitive, which took me out of the story from time to time. And even though the romance was cute, I still wanted to see more chemistry between the two of them.

Overall, Saving It is a nice read for fans of the BFFs falling in love trope.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Book Blitz with Giveaway - Long Valley Romances

**All books are standalone and have a sexy version and a “sweet” (clean) version!!

Accounting For Love

Long Valley Romances 1

by Erin Wright

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Is she the answer to his dreams … or the person who will be forced to destroy them?

He’s a farmer, dammit, not a bookkeeper

When Stetson Miller inherits his father’s farm in Idaho, he’s too focused on crops and yields to pay attention to the financial side of things. The next thing he knows, he’s got a stack of unpaid bills, the bank is threatening to foreclose … and the auditor who’s come to examine his accounts is the sexiest thing he’s ever laid eyes on. 

But she’s a city girl, just like the last one who left him at the altar. He’ll guard his heart – but he can’t help wanting her.

She’s checking him out … in more ways than one

Jennifer Kendall doesn’t mind a tough job, but the handsome Stetson is trouble of a different kind. When he isn’t making her mad, he’s filling her head with all sorts of forbidden fantasies. 

The sparks between them fly even faster when the road washes out and Jennifer has to spend the night on the farm. But passion alone won’t pay the bills. Can Jennifer find a way for Stetson to save his farm? 

And if she can’t, will he ever forgive her?

Accounting for Love is the first novel in the Long Valley world, although all books in the Long Valley world can be read as standalones. It has some strong language, and oh my, sexy times. If you would prefer the sweet version, it is also available on Amazon. Either way, enjoy!

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Blizzard of Love

Long Valley Romances Book 2

A country boy who hates Christmas for a reason, dammit …

When Luke Nash runs into Stetson Miller down at the feed store, he never expects his friend to strong-arm him into spending Christmas at the Miller farm. Luke has no patience for Christmas cheer or Yuletide song. And the rugged cowboy definitely has no desire to kiss a girl under the mistletoe. No matter how infuriatingly pretty she might be.

A city girl who loves Christmas …

Bonnie Patterson adores Christmas, so when her best friend Jennifer invites her to spend Christmas at the Miller farm, she jumps at the chance. When she sets out for the snowy country town, she has visions dancing in her head of cozy nights by a crackling fire, not of a hot cowboy with an ice-cold heart.

The Storm of the Century…

Instead of a peaceful holiday in the country, Bonnie gets stranded at the Miller farm by a blizzard. Even worse, she’s snowed-in with Luke, an arrogant, impossible, but damn sexy cowboy. 

When the fly sparks, will two people who are oh-so-different find their own Christmas miracle?

Blizzard of Love is the second novella in the Long Valley world, although all books in the Long Valley world can be read as standalones. Blizzard of Love is a sweeter romance with minimal sex and mild language … If you would prefer the completely clean version, it is also available on this storefront. Either way, enjoy!

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Arrested By Love

Long Valley Romances 3

He’s a fighter, not a lover …

Two years ago, Wyatt Miller lost his family to a drunk driver. His heart broken, he slowly put the pieces of his shattered life back together. Running his thousand-acre ranch from dawn till dusk helps him forget about his broken heart. When he stops a drunk from getting behind the wheel one night, he ends up in a bloody fight … and then behind bars.

She keeps men in line, but has a soft heart …

Abby Connelly takes her work at the Long Valley Jail seriously. She has no dreams of marriage, children, or white-picket fences. All she wants is to do her job and please the only family she has left, her father. But the moment rugged and wounded Wyatt Miller walks into her jail, Abby realizes her heart might just have a change of plans …

But small towns have a way of holding onto big grudges. Wyatt and Abby have an uphill fight to overcome the bad blood between the Miller and Connelly families.

Because redemption never comes easy …

Arrested by Love is the third novel in the Long Valley world, although all books in the Long Valley world can be read as standalones. It has some strong language, and oh my, sexy times. If you would prefer the sweet version, it is also available on Amazon. Either way, enjoy!

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Overdue for Love

Long Valley Romances 6

Can true love prevail against prejudice and deceit?

After a bitter betrayal, Dawson Blackhorse won’t allow anyone to run roughshod over his heart again … especially not the woman he was once foolish enough to trust.

The rodeo circuit gave Dawson an escape after his racist boss ran him off. Hank Bartell made it clear no man who was part-Navajo, would buy his ranch or court his daughter. In a single moment, the man destroyed every one of Dawson’s dreams.

But when the rodeo brings him to the tiny mountain town of Sawyer, Idaho, he comes face to face with everything he lost.

For nine years, Chloe Bartell hasn’t been able to forget the man who abandoned her. Especially not when she looks into the eyes of their son.

The quiet life Chloe leads in the small town of Sawyer is shattered the day Dawson comes to compete in the rodeo. He’s everything she remembers and more. Gorgeous. Muscular. Six foot and change of sexy cowboy. She watches helplessly as he comes face to face with the son he never knew he had. Dawson demands answers but Chloe is determined to keep her distance. When sparks fly, the fire they ignite threatens to burn down the walls she’s built around her broken heart.

Will the pain and loss of their past drive them apart for good? Or can they forgive each other and build a new life, a life they always dreamed of…

Overdue for Love is the sixth novella in the Long Valley world, although all books in the Long Valley world can be read as standalones. It has some strong language, and oh my, sexy times. If you would prefer the sweet version, please check out the other listing for this book. Either way, enjoy!

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USA Today Bestselling author Erin Wright has worked every job under the sun, including library director, barista, teacher, website designer, and ranch hand helping brand cattle, before settling into the career she’s always dreamed about: Author.

She still loves coffee, doesn’t love the smell of cow flesh burning, and is quite happily ensconced with her handsome hubby in a small, charming town in rural Idaho.

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Book Blitz with Giveaway - Daddy Defender (Omega Sector: Under Siege #1) by Janie Crouch

Daddy Defender

Omega Sector: Under Siege- Book 1

by Janie Crouch

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

He was a man on a mission, one that included a beautiful woman and a little girl he'd die defending… 

What a serious case of mistaken identity. Ashton Fitzgerald is no unassuming handyman but a highly trained sharpshooter intent on protecting Summer Worrall and her baby daughter. The Omega SWAT member has a debt to pay and he isn't about to let Summer out of his sights. 

For someone else has set their own sights on the lovely widow. Her unexpected relationship with Ashton has put Summer and her child straight into a madman's line of fire. Suddenly a mission to make amends becomes Ashton's quest to defend this little family with his very life. 

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USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: romantic suspense, heavy on the romance.

Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband's job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she's not listening to the voices in her head (and even when she is), she enjoys traveling, long-distance running, and movies of all kinds. 

Her favorite quote: "Life is a daring adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller. 

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*Grabby Hands* Release & Review - The Last Namsara (Iskari #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: The Last Namsara
(Iskari #1)
Author: Kristen Ciccarelli
Category/Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017

Publisher: HarperTeen

In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be darkness—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death-bringer.

These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up learning in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl.

Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.

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Buy Link: Amazon

4 “Dragons!!!” Stars

This book had a lot of what I look for in fantasy. The world was familiar, but still managed to feel fresh. The main character was likable. The romance had enough heat to make me anticipate every scene between them. And there was enough action to keep me entertained.

Plus, there were dragons.

Who doesn’t like dragons?

I believe the book’s strongest element is the world Kristen Ciccarelli created. I loved how the author integrated the old stories with what was happening with Asha and the people around her. Even the idea that dragons responded to stories told out loud felt fresh and unique. I felt the whole thing came full circle in the end in a beautiful way.

I will say, though, that the slavery element didn’t sit well with me because of Asha’s involvement in it. The way she felt about it was the main thing that kept me from rating this book even higher. I have a really hard time connecting with main characters that are okay with slavery. Sure Asha had been raised to think the slavery of a whole group of people was justifiable, but her relationship with her cousin should’ve given her a different perspective. I honestly believe she should’ve started the book as someone who was at least bothered by the notion of slavery, especially considering how it affected someone she loved.

 She got there eventually, but I’m also not happy with the fact it took her falling in love with a slave to get there. I’ll be fair and say it wasn’t the only element that made her change, but it still felt like it was the biggest one. Had she learned that lesson solely through her own experiences with the slaves (more than the boy she was falling for) or even because of her friendship with her cousin, maybe I would’ve been less annoyed with that aspect. Maybe….

Having said that, Asha still managed to be likable for me. Given the fact that not being anti-slavery usually makes me automatically hate characters (see my opinion on Marie Rutkoski's The Winner’s Curse), I have to say I’m truly surprised.

I think the main reason I was still able to connect with Asha was because of how much she struggled with being herself. Her misguided notion of her wickedness and her guilt over what had happened with the First Dragon made her relatable. I saw in her someone who was willing to sacrifice a lot to earn her people’s forgiveness, even marrying someone who was a lot worse than she could ever be.

The entire plot point involving the dragons also helped. And yeah, the romance and her chemistry with Torwin didn’t hurt, either. I really enjoyed watching the two of them together, especially when the dragons were involved. I don’t think I can go into details here because of spoilers, but every scene featuring Asha, Torwin, Kozu and Shadow were among my favorites.

Now, even though I could see the whole thing coming from a mile away, I still enjoyed Asha’s journey from who she thought she was to who she was always meant to be. There’s no denying the beauty of that message.

I’m truly happy The Last Namsara lived up to my expectations, and even though I thought the story read like a standalone and I can’t envision what a sequel would look like, I’m curious to see what else the author will do with this great world she created.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Book Blitz with Giveaway - Haven by Mary Lindsey

Haven
Mary Lindsey
Published by: Entangled Publishing
Publication date: November 7th 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

“We all hold a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes when freed.”
Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere. He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in, and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart.
Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls, though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth living for. Worth dying for.

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Author Bio:
Mary Lindsey is a multi award-winning, RITA® nominated author of romance for adults and teens. She lives on an island in the middle of a river. Seriously, she does. When not writing, she wrangles her rowdy pack of three teens, two Cairn Terriers, and one husband.
Inexplicably, her favorite animal is the giant anteater and at one point, she had over 200 "pet" Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. The roaches are a long story involving three science-crazed kids and a soft spot for rescue animals. The good news is, the "pet" roaches found a home... somewhere else.

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Book Blitz with Giveaway - Kai by Michelle Abbot

Title: Kai

Author: Michelle Abbot
Genre: Contemporary Romance

My name is Kai Okamoto. I deal drugs. Trade escapism for cold, hard cash.

Born to a British mother and a Japanese father, I grew up poor, hungry, and alone. Hiding from the monsters at our door. The debt collectors. 

I’ve worked hard to escape my past. I’m not that frightened little boy anymore. I’m wealthy, secure, and sure of myself. At least I was, until I met Lily. 

Lily is a good girl. The kind of girl I should stay away from. I should, but I can’t.

I hate lying to her, but if she finds out who I am, what I do. I won’t see her for dust.

A standalone, bad boy romance, set in England.

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Michelle Abbott lives in the UK and hates describing herself in 3rd person.

She loves to write new adult romance about heroes who begin as the underdog and are protective of their girl.

She's an avid reader of romance, is addicted to coffee and loves wine and chocolate, so yeah, not the most healthy eating and drinking habits :-) She spends way too much time online when she should be writing. She collects teddy bears and occasionally knits a couple of rows on a sweater she started years ago, which she may eventually finish in time to wear for her funeral :-)

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