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Author & Book News Roundup – March 5th 2017

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New releases are a little slow today (I think we only have a couple) but the book news is plentiful and awesome. Plus, Tuesday is gonna be crazy enough with the releases, I think we can settle in and enjoy some from our TBR list before it hits!! 😛

<— But! First… LOOKIT WHAT’S LIVE!!!! What I Need (Alabama Summer Book 5)!! It can be read as a standalone and oh yesssssss it sounds like a love triangle, all angsty and kind of forbiddeny and such. She has a one night stand with someone when she thought she was single (and they totally connect) but…

“But when she comes home to the boyfriend she no longer thought she had, Riley buries her secret and begs CJ to do the same. Forget about each other. It was a mistake. That’s all it was… right?

Desires are hidden. Distance is kept. Until one night CJ makes the ultimate sacrifice, and Riley can no longer avoid the man she can’t stop thinking about.

Not with him sleeping down the hall…”

Karina Halle just revealed the cover, blurb AND preorder (coming out this month) of book #2 (Dirty Souls (Sins Duet Book 2) in her “Sins” duet!!! Wow that was quick, and this cover is as awesome as #1 (Black Hearts (Sins Duet Book 1) <— Javier’s son!!!

Tracey Garvis-Graves just announced an upcoming second-chance romance/women’s fiction entitled “The Girl He Used to Know”. It’s still in the works (just a first draft so far) but she’s excited!! She wrote a blog post about it and describes it:

“…it follows two people who meet via the campus chess club and fall in love during their senior year of college The second-chance part comes into play when they run into each other at a Chicago grocery store ten years after they broke up.”

Leisa Rayven has also announced an upcoming new release called “Mister Romance (Masters of Love Book 1)” (and it’s already up for preorder!!). HE’S an escort, and she wants to expose him!

“…Having caught wind of the urban legend of Mister Romance from a lovestruck client, Eden is determined to publish a scathing expose on Max and his ability to swindle lonely society women out of their fortunes.

Desperate to protect his anonymity and his clients, Max challenges Eden to give him three dates. If she doesn’t fall in love with him, she can run her story with his blessing…”

Lauren Blakely revealed the cover of her upcoming sexy book The Wild One. Oh MY what a premise. She wants to get pregnant and she’s focused on her player co-worker to get the job done…

There are three little words most guys don’t want to hear on the first date.
Not those…
I mean these… “knock me up.”
This single gal has had enough of the games, the BS and the endless chase. I know what I want most, and it’s not true love. It’s a bun in the oven, and I’m not afraid to hit up my sex-on-a-stick co-worker to do the job

T. Gephart just revealed the cover of her upcoming release called “Train Wreck” (OMG THAT COVER IS GORGEOUS!!!) about a socialite that received terrible reviews for her art exhibition, and a tattoo artist. I just read a great, hilarious book by her (#1 Crush <— my review) just last week! YAY MORE!!! Although I don’t think this new one has anything to do with that one.

Stephanie: Totally love the colorful font! Very eye-catching! I can’t wait to read it!

Robin: That’s a cover!

Saffron: Gosh! So gorgeous!

Rebecca Donovan is looking for funding to turn her HUGE HIT “The Breathing Trilogy” into a TV film series. She says:

“…to adapt the entire series into ten movie-length episodes. I’m the screenwriter and a producer. I’ll be involved throughout the entire process. So it will truly be my books come to life!”

Jasinda Wilder is releasing a new healthy living book called “Big Girls Do It Stronger” (the sister book to her Big Girls Do It Running)!! It’s coming out in just a week or so.

Eden Butler is also releasing a series bundle (for her “Thin Love” series)!! She revealed the cover and announced:

Ohana Legacy: The Thin Love Series Bundle. Launching March 14th, this bundle begins with Keira Riley and Kona Hale’s long journey to their HEA to Ransom and Aly’s struggle to keep their family intact. This bundle includes all three full-length Thin Love novels, the My Beloved novella, and My Always, a deleted scene story, all of which encompass the Thin Love series.

Jeannine Colette is expanding a short story that she wrote for an anthology, that readers fell in love with and wanted to read more. She says:

“Their story was called “Talking To The Moon” and debuted in November 2016 in the Because Beards anthology. Readers fell in-love with these characters. So much so that they asked for more. And more is what you are getting!

Jules and Jameson’s story will be told in seven acts, published in random order as short stories featured in anthologies. I don’t know when or where the next installment will be released…

…Until then, here is the list of where the confirmed stories are featured. Go to https://jeanninecolette.com/2016/12/12/jules-jameson/ to click on the link to read.”

MORE preorders that were just added to the main upcoming “Book Releases” page:

           

Kate Canterbary – The Walsh Series Reading Order

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Each book in this series has a TON (and I mean a TON) of reviews and the reviews are SO GOOD!!! Barely any negatives, so I’m thinking this one just might be a marathon binge read of awesomeness.

Katherine: I really, really liked this entire series. I think that there is the perfect amount of “angst” – no ugly cry, but enough to feel for the characters. And of course, there is good sexy fun to be had in these books. Book #4 is Shannon’s book – she is an over-achiever and he is a Navy Seal and sounds like a love-hate (seriously, read that blurb!) and I really want the book now. … it has some angst, is sexy and has characters that I want to be hang around. Shannon has been a favorite of mine in the series and I am looking forward to her getting her own HEA.

Sexyreader: This series by Kate Canterbury is fabulous! I read hundreds of romance books a year. I can honestly say that EVERY one of her books in this series is amazing. I do not get it how she can create a fresh viewpoint of human personality in each book. She does not “type cast”, is forgiving of her characters’ many faults, and has the best emotion building sex scenes ever. Wish there were more writers like Kate Canterbury!

Ashley: The Cornerstone by Kate Canterbury… It’s another one that is whispersynched so you can get the audiobook at a discounted rate. It’s one of my favorite audiobooks.

About book #1:

“…She wasn’t looking for me and I sure as sh!t wasn’t looking for her, but we found each other anyway and now we were locked in a battle of wills, waiting for the other to blink.

Sometimes the universe conspires to bring people together. Other times, it throws them down a flight of stairs and leaves them in a bruised and bloodied heap.”

     

Friday Finds and Reader Recommendations – March 3rd 2017 + an audiobook giveaway!!

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Yep. You guessed it. Today’s Friday Finds are awesome (I received some great-sounding recommendations this week). We’ve been on a reading roll! Plus, some new releases by authors we LOVE (like Ginger Scott and Katie Ashley and Georgia Cates just to name a few) and some super-bargains by authors we LOVE (like the latest by Amy Harmons and a psych-thriller that I just read a few weeks ago and went crazy for at it’s regular price). LOL!! At this price? JUMP ON IT!!!

I’m still adding onto this list, as I will be for the next few hours (including some feedback on a few recent releases that I was sure would be awesome, and turns out, they are)!

Plus, don’t forget to check put my latest review (famous actor and a regular girl that goes out of her way to meet him – tee hee!!!)

AND!!! If you missed it, don’t forget to check out part #1 and part #2 of our 8th birthday blog celebration (where we reminisce and I answer reader and blog-type questions!!) SO. MUCH. FUN this week, and there will be a final part three (the conclusion of this week’s birthday bash) in just a day or so. LOL! I wrote a trilogy. A birthday blog post trilogy. *snort* 😛 I crack myself up!!

Now… take a look at what we found! (NOTE: some are bargain priced when I added them, but prices can change on Amazon, so make sure to check before you finalize your order. Sales listed are for Amazon U.S., however some of the Amazon UK links also reflect the sale!):

  • A Boy Like You by Ginger Scott <— LIVE!!! GINGER SCOTT’S LATEST (and we LOVE her here)!!! Sounds like it will be angsty and deep. The blurb is hard to wrap my head around, but I am intrigued! A boy once saved her life… and then he disappeared. Years later, a new boy shows up. “...From the moment I first saw him standing there on the baseball field, he pushed me—his eyes constantly questioning, doubting…daring. Still, something about him—it feels…familiar. He says his name is Wes. But I can’t help but feel like he’s someone else. Someone from my past. Someone who’s come back to save me. This time, though, he’s too late…“
  • The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis <— HOLY MOLY CRAZY BLURB-ALERT!!! HER OLDER SISTER WAS MURDERED AND SHE LOST IT… AND HER KILLER-DARK SIDE CAME OUT & SHE CAN’T TRUST HERSELF AROUND OTHERS… “As their senior year unfolds, Alex’s darker nature breaks out, setting these three teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.” Amy, the other half of our “Marmy” twins (we like ’em angsty and gasp-worthy, and jaw-dropping and unpredictable, and infuriating, and tear-jerking and daring!!) Anyway, I digress… look what AMY found us!!!! *squeeeee*

Amy: MARYSE!! I haven’t gushed much about it (don’t want to be accused of peddling a death book *side-eyes bev*  ) but…YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO READ THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES!!!!!!

The writing is fantastic and oh my, the feels. Holy moly, I felt. FELT. So freaking much. It was 4.5 stars for me. Maybe closer to 5. The three POVs actually added to the emotional intensity instead of taking away, at least to me they did. *sigh* Wasn’t I just saying recently I wanted this kind of book??

…I’m tellin’ y’all…Female of the Species is just the kind of “different” we crave from time to time. No cookie cutter storyline there. No bada$$ h who seems to gloat about what a bada$$ she is. Just a messed up girl trying to make it through each day and the two imperfect people who grow to care about her. And the writing…good lord, the writing. LOVED it.

  • GRIP by Kennedy Ryan <— LIVE!!! ROCK STAR ALERT!!! She is his manager…”He’s on the verge of unimaginable fame, all his dreams poised to come true. I manage his career, but I can’t seem to manage my heart. It’s wild, reckless, disobedient. And it remembers all the things I want to forget...”
  • Speed Dating (Preston’s Mill Book 2) by Noelle Adams & Samantha Chase <— LIVE!!! BEST FRIENDS & UNREQUITED LOVE ALERT! He’s secretly developing feelings… and she’s wondering why he’s acting so weird. LOL!!! “Isabella has known Jace all her life, and she’s been best friends with him since high school, when she used to date his best friend. Now she’s ready to settle down and get married, and she’s decided that her sister’s wedding in three months is her deadline. She’s going to find the man of her dreams in time to take him to the wedding. Now if only Jace would stop acting strange and territorial so he could help her.“
  • The Memory Watcher – A Psychological Thriller <— PSYCH THRILLER SUPER-BARGAIN AND I LOVED IT!!! This is the one that I DEVOURED a few weeks ago, remember??!!! That one where, she’s secretly watching the daily lives of the family that adopted her daughter on the social media page… watching her daughter grow up. And then they close it. And she freaks out. (my review)

Jean: I want this one! I didn’t even read your review, just scrolled down to see you rating……That’s all I in need to know!

Maryse: Read it Jean!!! :D!!! Eeeeeeeep!

  • LEATHER PANTS: A Romantic Comedy (The Happy Pants Cafe Series Book 2) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff <— LIVE!! ROCK STAR ALERT!! She’s a judge and he’s a rock star, and she wants to put him in his place! “…when rock-n-roll’s most famous bad boy, the legendary Colton Young, enters her court, looking hotter than sin and smugger than hell, she’s just itching to serve a little justice. But Sarah’s about to make the biggest mistake of her life. And her fate will land squarely in the hands of the world’s most notorious rock star rebel...”
  • Something in the Way by Jessica Hawkins <— SUPER-BLURB JOLT ALERT!! This one is already at the top of my TBR list ’cause OMG it sounds angsty and tumultuous and forbidden in TWO different ways!!! “…even though I saw Manning first, that didn’t matter. My older sister saw him next...” and Marion and Susan both read it and loved it (5 stars!!!) OMG OMG I WANNA READ IT TONIGHT!!! (P.S. Book #2 is up for preorder: Somebody Else’s Sky (Something in the Way Book 2)

Marion: Ladies you HAVE to read Something in the Way by Jessica Hawkins……it’s book one of a trilogy but it will leave you reeling and wanting to find someone to discuss the ins and outs with. 5 star read!!!!!!!!

Susan: I just finished Something in the Way by Jessica Hawkins. I judge a book by whether or not I can put it down and I could not put it down. 5 stars for me. Now I have to wait until May for number 2.

  • Feyness (The Red Order Book 1) by E.S. Carter <— DARK ROMANCE READ SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!!! Kat just found us this awesome-sounding one that’s super-bargain priced today! “He was once darkness. An evil so pure that his very soul is black and yet I am drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Some days, I feel like I am drowning, the waves of my feelings stealing the very air from my lungs. Other days, I feel nothing at all. I’m unsure which is worse; gasping for air or dying from this thirst…“
  • Glacier Violet Blaze <— RECENT BIKER BOOK RELEASE and Laura one-clicked it and binge-read it!!
Laura: I one clicked Glacier by Violet Blaze on this list and was really surprised by how good the story was. I skipped making dinner and read the book in one binge sitting. The author wrote an interesting dark “hero”, Glacier, who is very different than the typical alpha males you normally see in MC romances. He definitely looked at life from a different perspective than his other MC members. Glacier reminded me a bit of Jack Hayden from Kati Wilde’s Hellfire Riders series. I liked how Violet Blaze had both the hero and heroine discuss their concerns about the large age difference them at different points in the story.
  • Running Mate by Katie Ashley <— LIVE!!! KATIE ASHLEY’S LATEST & SHE’S BEING PAID TO BE HIS FIANCEE ALERT!! She’s offered the job of a lifetime when she needs it most… HIS fake fiancée…“My latest relationship had gone down in flames, and I was drowning in a sea of student loans when in true Godfather status, James Callahan made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Seven figures for seven months on the campaign trail pretending to be the adoring fiancée of his son, Barrett. As soon as he won the election, our engagement would be dissolved amicably for the press….“
  • Taking Mine: (Breaking Habits Series, Book 1) by Rachel Schneider <— SHE’S STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET… “…When her scholarship is revoked, she resorts to desperate measures to pay for tuition, trying to keep her life on track—the same measures she promised herself she’d never take again—and fears the consequences. Things only get more complicated when a deal is offered that is almost too good to be true…” and Tasha loved it!

Tasha: I’m actually almost finished now. I’m at the climax *rubs hands, smiling manically.* This book hadn’t even been on my radar. I found it randomly and thought the premise sounded good. I figured it would be ok, hopefully good. But I’m actually really loving it! It was exactly what I needed. It’s NA, and it gives me the same feeling as a lot of my old favorites did. It’s like a mashup of a bunch I can’t put my finger on, but also had me thinking a little of Fast and the Furious. There’s no racing though, just sort of those feelings. Pleasantly surprised!

and then...

Tasha: Finished! I would totally recommend if you’re in the mood for a good NA with great characters, a good storyline and some action. I love finding little gems, I can’t believe there are so few ratings, but from what I’ve seen they’re all good! It says it was published in 2015.

  • Dear Agony: A Novel by Georgia Cates <— LIVE!!! THE LATEST BY GEORGIA CATES (TEARJERKER ALERT??) Sounds so good! They have a platonic relationship (contractual?) and she’s falling for him, but he’s planning his own demise. Eeeeeeeep!! “I traded homelessness on the streets of New Orleans for a luxurious bed covered by the finest linens. I traded dumpster diving for dinner in the finest restaurants. I traded myself to a stranger—Bastien Pascal.I have a good life within my platonic and mutually beneficial companionship with Bash. He’s my friend. My mentor. My roommate. Until everything changes...”
  • Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland <— JOHN GREEN/RAINBOW ROWELL FEEL ALERT!! Tasha also recommends this one!
Tasha: Our Chemical Hearts really gives u that feel of John Green/Rainbow Rowell.
  • Grappling for Position (Against the Cage Book 4) by Melynda Price <— MMA FIGHTER IS HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND ALERT! “Willow has loved Regan since she was in pigtails and braces. She’s all but given up hope of her brother’s friend returning her affection, but she never stopped praying he would see her as more than Kyle’s annoying little sister. If Willow has her way, that’s about to change. Regan must decide if he’s willing to lose his best friend and the Welterweight title for a woman he doesn’t deserve but cannot live without...” IT CAN be read as a standalone!!
  • Dangerous Royals Series by Annika Martin <— DARK MAFIA ROMANCE ALERT!! Raj recommends them!
Raj: The Dangerous Royals by Annika Martin are absolutely brilliant mafia books.

Tanya: Blink is fantastic I recommend it…

Jean: By the way guys, I also loved Blink by K.L. Slater…..could not put it down! Had to remind myself to “blink” in the last 30% because I couldn’t take my eyes off the page! Lol

  • After Me by Deborah Coonts <— PSYCH THRILLER ALERT! SHE’S A COP WITH EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER’S IN THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM, but now… “Her cover blown, Kate runs, the clock is ticking. People close to her are being killed.  Shadowy memories tease her. Some she recognizes. Others don’t seem familiar at all. Running from people she can’t remember, dogged by a past lost in the haze, Kate discovers no one is who they appear to be, perhaps not even herself…” and Tanya recommends this one, too! I think we’ve just found a fellow psych-thriller lover. A reader after my own heart!! 😀
“…my current read After Me by Deb Coonts… A great thriller, the characters are amazing, it’s very good!
  • Wait (Bleeding Stars Book 4) by A.L. Jackson <— ROCK STAR SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE ALERT!! “…He broke my heart and I refused to give him the chance to do it again. It’s been years since I’ve seen him, and now I can’t do anything but stare at the gorgeous, tattooed man playing onstage. I should run. I know I should. But like a fool, I run straight back to him…” It can be read as a standalone and Theresa 5-star loved it!! (P.S. Book #1 A Stone in the Sea (Bleeding Stars Book 1) is free today)
Theresa: I just read “Wait” and 5 starred it…absolute perfection…beautifully written and a powerful story of forgiveness, hope, and love…highly recommend! Enjoy!
  • From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon <— AMY HARMON’S LATEST EPIC LOVE STORY ALERT!!!!!! Nancy and Anna just found out it’s on super-sale today!!

Nancy: Wow!! From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon (One on my favorites of 2016)… Epic Story!!

Anna: Price Drop Alert From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon… This was on R’s top reads of 2016 list.

R: Amy Harmon finally got the mushy love letter I wrote her after From Sand and Ash :D

  • AUDIOBOOK L:DVERS ➜ For those going on a road trip soon, or maybe you’ve got some projects that require both hands this weekend but still allows you to “listen”… check out the free audible trial + 2 free audiobooks deal —>

  • AND! Here’s the fun-tool again! —> Find out which of YOUR Kindle ebooks are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! <— This thing is so cool (Amazon calls it “Matchmaker“)! It’s an Amazon feature, that scans your Kindle books and will list all of the ones you have that are also available as an audiobook at a discounted price (not normal audiobook prices). This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. :D !!! VERY COOL!
  • Imposter: A Blockbuster Suspense Thriller by K. Larsen <— AUDIOBOOK GIVEAWAY!!! I enjoyed this creepy thriller, and it kept me guessing big time (here’s my review), and now it’s an audiobook! And guess what? I have one “Audible” promotional code to giveaway to one lucky winner to get the audiobook version for free!
    How to enter for a chance to win it? Just leave a comment below (and/or better yet, tell me your MOST favorite audiobook so far) and by 10pm EST, Sunday March 5th 2017, I will randomly select one lucky commenter as the winner. Also, while not necessary to enter, it would be awesome if you’d share this giveaway on Twitter or Instagram, or Facebook. The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond to my email, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. Once the winner is confirmed, I will send you the code and instructions. Giveaway open to anyone that has access to Audible. 🙂
                    

 

PREORDERS (next few days, and next week’s!!! :D )

➜ CHECK OUT ALL the upcoming BOOK RELEASES here (frequently updated and it goes all the way to 2017!)

             

Get Maryse’s Book Blog updates delivered by email (you’ll get one daily email that will have each post from that day consolidated on it).

Book Review – #1 Crush by T. Gephart

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#1 Crush
<— Wheeeeeeee!!!!! :D!!! Famous actor fantasy come to life! Er… book-life, that is. It’s still a fantasy in the grand scheme of things, but that blurb had me excited ’cause I could already imagine all sorts of potential celebrity-stalking trouble that our heroine could encounter. And boy was it funny!!!

Maryse: This one sounds like SO MUCH FUN!! The ultimate “super-fan” fantasy gone wrong? (or right?!!) 😉 …I’m in the mood for a comedy romance, and the blurb is right up my goofy-heroine alley! She wants to meet him SO BAD (he’s her favorite actor), so I have a feeling she’s going to get herself in trouble in the process. YEP. This one’s for me RIGHT NOW!!!! I’m giving it a go!

Cristina: I’m currently reading #1 Crush and it is HILARIOUS!!! Holy hell I’m laughing so hard!!

Leslie: Cristina, you are really tempting me to click #1 Crush!!! This blog is very bad for my TBR’s waistline. ;)

Cristina: I cannot get over how freaking hilarious #1 Crush is!!!! Ok so confession… I sneak-read at work. I can’t help it. When I have down-time, I need something to fill it and reading via Kindle Cloud reader is my go-to, every single time. It’s my weakness, but I can’t get caught reading on company time. I even have my computer screen angled a certain way to keep people from seeing it so I can have that extra second to close the browser before they head my way. Anyways… Back to #1 Crush… the only issue with reading on company time is when I come across a book that literally has me busting a gut! You know what it’s like when you’re trying not to laugh? You laugh… much harder, and with no hope of stopping. Every single page in this book has me rolling on the floor *figuratively speaking of course, because I’m currently on the clock* laughing. Please make it stop!

Cheryl:  I just finished #1 Crush and I LOVED it!! Full-on laugh out loud belly laugh story. Did have a smidge of angst but great well-written story!! I’m gonna say 5 stars!!

Maryse: SO FUNNY & I’M DELIGHTFULLY WORRIED!!! …I’m almost done this one too (in fact I was reading it this morning upon waking up, and I didn’t want to stop – things are going to hit the fan, I JUST KNOW IT!!!!)

Chelli: Just finished…well more like devoured #1 crush…so funny, sweet and definitely swoon worthy. I could totally see myself and my friends (back when we were young and single) doing some of same things, you know if we were to stalk a hot movie star lol. A super fun, light read, thanks for the link on your page…

This is the one that all of us celebrity-crush havers have fantasized about, in pretty much the same way (for the most part). Not by accidentally meeting a celebrity, or encountering one in a normal life situations (which is a fantasy in its own right). But this is THAT story of trying to finding any way possible to be at THE event or place where your favorite celebrity will be, and find a way to talk to him. Bump into him. Have him notice you… whatever you can do, and the heroine of this story GOES there. She’s resourceful, and doesn’t mind telling a little white lie, or three to get an invite to his upcoming movie premiere. *snort*

And boy does she pile them on. But it’s okay ’cause she’s hilarious the whole way through, so you don’t mind her telling the lies, either. 😉 You just know you’re in for a wild ride. And that’s okay too. ‘Cause she’s only doing it to finally get him out of her system, so she can move on with “real men” and stop wishing they were all him.

…not only was Eric Larsson delicious in a way that made my girly parts tingle, he was a Hollywood movie star.

The famous kind.

Who was unattainable.

Oh, and we’d never met.

Yep, I know what you are thinking. I’m crazy. Wrap me up in a straight jacket and lock me away in a padded cell. Because I wasn’t sixteen anymore, and crushing on a guy I’d never been face-to-face with was tragic.

After all, she’s always been told that when it comes to a celebrity, meeting them in real life is never as good as what you’ve built them up to be. Disappointment usually follows, and she’s hoping he’ll turn out to be a real jerk.

There was also almost zero chance he was a nice guy. Nice guys didn’t look like that. And they sure as sh!t weren’t famous. No, I’d dated plenty of nice guys. And while it was pleasant and even enjoyable, I got bored quickly. Because obviously there was something wrong with me. Note my unhealthy attraction to a man who doesn’t know of my existence.

And if that laundry list of misdemeanors wasn’t enough to convince me this wasn’t going to be a happily-ever-after, there was also the fact he had a GIRLFRIEND.

😛 But you know how that goes…

It’s not like anyone knew what my purpose for flying there was going to be. And as long as I didn’t attract any attention to myself, I would be totally fine. I’d chalk it up to investigative journalism. I’d write a column about it— my covert operation— and kill two birds with one stone. It was a win/ win.

#FirstAmendment
#FreedomOfThePress
#PleaseDon’tArrestMeOfficer

But surprise, surprise!!! HOLY MOLY she manages to get in. And despite (or should I say… because of) her nervousness, she yells out his last name to get his attention… *snort*

Who the hell yells out his last name?

I panicked, unable to tear my eyes from him as his head lifted and his eyes settled on me. Dear. Lord. In. Heaven. And. All. The. Saints.

Eric Larsson was looking at me.

At me.

At ME!

and her absolute star-struck goofiness catches his eye, intriguing him enough to find her at the party and chat her up. Oomph!!! eek And he’s not a jerk at all.

I had been so wrong. There wasn’t a chance he was an a$$hole or rude or any other offensive stereotype I’d imagined. Hell, I was more of a diva than he was.

Goddamn it. Now I liked him even more.

Girlfriend, I reminded myself. A gorgeous one.

And I wasn’t her.

I’ll stop here and let you read the rest. Between her goofy antics and internal musings, HIS best friend’s wit and sweetness, and the hotness that is Alexander Skarsgård, er… I mean “Eric Larsson” (as he’s called in the book – but yes, Alexander Skarsgård was the inspiration for this, and the author has her own personal story about meeting him), you’ll have a fun, lighthearted romance read.

BUT!!! BEWARE. It does get somewhat angsty (which I was hoping for), ’cause I was certainly anticipating some sort of trouble considering… er… stuff.

STOP READING my review right here IF you want to go in blinder… ’cause I’m gonna have a reaction in…

3…

2…

1…

ROOOOAAAAAAR!!!!!! Yep. I was steaming, and I totally had an “OH NO HE DIDN’T” reaction. HARD!!!!!! TWICE!!!!!! I MEAN I WAS FURIOUS. I was furious the first time. And then I was even more furious the second. mad BUT I LOVED that visceral reaction. It meant I was RIGHT THERE, and the author wrote the heroine in this instance, perfectly. I’m not so sure I’m all that impressed with him, though (yes, I’m still pouting). *grumble grumble grumble bad words*

I won’t tell you what, ’cause that’s the fun in love stories. It’s not all romance and rose petals, and it makes “getting there” so much sweeter. That is… IF they get there. Again you know me. My lips are sealed. 😉

So I’ll say I only had two hiccups with this story as a whole.

One, how quickly he positively reacted to her, and his level of interest was pretty high, right off the bat. In this instance, I would have preferred a little “harder-to-get” in regards to getting close to him (for the realistic value). And as funny as this author (and heroine) is, I would have LOVED some of that “comedic trouble” to happen before it all started falling sweetly into place. Maybe if THAT had caught his attention, finally… then I could have believed it more.

And two… well. That furious part up there was good enough to get me truly, physically reacting, huffing and puffing and feeling my face get red (I expected an eventual mess… I was HOPING for an eventual mess). But to me it went a little too far, just too over-the-top for the sake of drama, and the story wraps up a little too quickly, considering. confused Although the drama was certainly unique. Not quite the same ol’ celebrity drama trope, so I do appreciate that.

But if you just go with it…

*spoilery-feelings time is over*

*spoilery-feelings time is over*

Okay y’all can come back now!!! Spoilery-feelings time is over!!

… it’s fun, you’ll laugh out loud, it’s like one of our very own celebrity-crush fantasies,  just written out loud, and we get to see where it all goes. At least this author’s version of our fantasy, anyway. 😉

My heart stopped.

Or maybe it skipped a beat.

I was still breathing, so I hadn’t died. That was good.

Tee hee!!!

4 stars!

P.S. Thank you to the author for sending me a review copy! 😀

Reader Question – The book about the girl that gets hurt while talking to a rock star…

By 4 Comments

Sri needs our book help again!!! It’s a rock star book, and she provides plenty of detail so I’m sure someone will know, however, I have “spoilered off” a section so those wanting to read it can go in blind… and the rest can scroll past the spoiler alerts and see if it’s the one they’re thinking of.

I love these reader questions, ’cause I either get to try and guess them, or I get a nice list of “guesses” that make me wanna read em!

Okay so Sri asks:

Hello Maryse,

I have a bad habit of forgetting book’s name… I have another book name finding request. These both are stuck in head and i can’t seem to find them anywhere. Hope you post these requests on your site and help me find them…I’ll be very grateful.

So here is story i remember…. he is a rock star and she attends his concert with her best friend. She has a very sheltered life… her mother prevents from having fun, so protective of her.

After her college she visits her friend and they goes to concert and she catches eye of lead singer. She gets hurt when she is talking to hero

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

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*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

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…when something glass i think in eyes and she become blind.. she couldn’t see for 2 or 3 days, doctor advises to take rest. hero takes care of her and they become close…

When she waiting for hero to come back from interview in cafe or hotel lobby an older couple asks her details such who her mother is, where is from. who her father is… turns out they her her grandparents from her father’s side.. her mother always said her father is bad person and she doesn’t has any relatives.. she meets her father and he tells her his side of story which i don’t remember…

Hero helps her through all this.

I think she is a photographer iam not sure.. something relating to social media… This is first book in series i think.

I hope you know this book name or can hep me find.. plz plz pz.. Thank you

Anyone?

Pamelia: This is “Blind Attraction (Reckless Beat Book 1)” by Eden Summers.

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