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Latest Author News Roundup – November 6th 2016

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AUTHOR NEWS TIME!!! Not a ton of news tidbits today but some great news, nonetheless. So I must share!

P.S. In case you missed it, this one is still bargain priced, and I just received it yesterday ➔ Book Review – Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

AND! Now I’m also reading How to Date a Douchebag: The Studying Hours <— and there were quite a few here that REALLY enjoyed this one, saying it was reminiscent of “Beautiful Disaster” and “The Deal” and I must say, I get that too (especially Elle Kennedy’s series). So far so good, and I’m halfway in. He thinks she’s a total nerd (one of his friends even called her a DUFF), and he’s the college stud, soon-to-be Olympic hero. And he’s driving her nuts. And it’s funny!!!!!

Cara McKenna‘s upcoming book, Brutal Game (Flynn and Laurel Book 2), is up for preorder and GOING LIVE this month! *squeeeeee!!!*  It’s the sequel (follow-up) to “Willing Victim” that shocked many of us, yet we couldn’t help but love it! Remember that one? The rough, bad-ass construction worker by day, underground fighter by night… and he umm… catered to certain… fetishes and needs, by late night. I was all… WHOA. 😉 Here’s my review of WILLING VICTIM. The author announced it saying:

“Big, big, BIG news! I’ve been coyly repeating “never say never” for like five years when people ask about it, but now the time has come to let you all know that YES, there IS going to be a WILLING VICTIM SEQUEL!

I couldn’t imagine such a thing until I had my rights back, and I couldn’t dream up a storyline that felt right until recently, but now that I’ve started writing it I’m totally infatuated! Anyhow, it’s going to be another novella all about Flynn and Laurel, called BRUTAL GAME, and it’ll hopefully be out on November 22, barring some unforeseen life crisis. Happy Thanksgiving!”

Blood Kiss: Black Dagger Legacy by J.R. Ward <— J.R. WARD BDB ALERT!!! Lauren just found us this recently released super-bargain!!!

Theresa: Yep Blood Kiss was great. The plot interwrined the two couples. …More a romance, with secondary story of one of the brothers. Very little focus on the lessors. Less complicated then the Shadows.

MichelleS: yup, total old BDB feel for Blood Kiss. Seems like more Butch & Marissa than Psaradise & Craeg though. Lassiter was a bit over the top. I’m almost done, but for BDB fans, it’s a must read!

Ela: I’m reading Blood Kiss and loving it! I must agree it doesn’t feel like a spin off at all.

Ginger Scott‘s latest, Hold My Breath <— will also be going live this month and is now available for preorder!! Two brothers (Olympic swimmers?) and the girl that loves them. One brother always letting his other brother (her man) shine but… “My future was as crystal clear as the lane I dominated in the pool—swim hard, win big, love a Hollister. My life with Evan burned bright. He gave me arms to come home to, and a smile that fooled the world into believing everything was perfect. But it was Will who pushed me. Will…who really knew me. And when all of the pieces fell, it was Will who started to pick them up.” This one sounds SO GOOD!!!! And I LOVED another one of this author’s other books (Bully book and SO well told). Here’s my review of Wild Reckless.

Fall Into Me (A British Rockstar Romance) by Nikki Wild <— LIVE!!! PREGNANT FROM A ONE NIGHT STAND WITH A ROCK STAR ALERT!! This one just went live a few days ago, and is super-bargain priced, and looks like it might be fun. “I’m the good girl. the over-achiever, the voice of reason. But all that gets thrown out the window the second I wake up in Julian Bastille’s hotel room, married… and pregnant. He’s a British rock god. The sexiest man on the planet, even before he starts to sing. He’s also the biggest prick on the planet, an alcoholic, and bad to the bone...”

Vampire Girl 3: Silver Flame by Karpov Kinrade <— VAMPIRE GIRL SERIES ALERT!!! I know there’s a hugely addicted following for this series amongst our group, and book #3 (Silver Flame) JUST WENT LIVE a few days ago! AND book #4 (Vampire Girl 4: Moonlight Prince) is up for PREORDER! If you want to catch up, here’s the series reading order.

     

Book Review – Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

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Everything, Everything <— GREAT STORY & it’s going to be a movie!! YAY US!!! 😀
Yep… this one was pretty much everything everyone said it would be. I one-clicked it on bev’s recommendation/bargain-price-alert and the subsequent blurb-jolt it gave me. How could I resist THAT trifecta of book awesomeness? A reader-friend that loved it, an awesome price, and a synopsis that SCREAMS “my kind of book”!!!! MINE!! And I must insist. It should be YOURS too.

bev: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon… Seriously good price and a really good read.

Alissa: Loved this book! Such an emotional ride

Arwen: Loved this one…a bit of a twist late in the story, very well done! Loved the characters. Hope you enjoy!

Jean: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon…..another bev rec… It’s YA which I sometimes have a problem with, but this book is so uniquely written and is totally reminding me of Eleanor & Park! I am flying through it…

Kelley: Loved this book! Such an emotional ride

Paula: It’s an amazing book. I read it recently and found it mind-blowing.

Jaime: This was a very sweet, heartwarming story. While there was a twist i saw it coming from the first chapter. Still an amazing book though!

Heather: I loved the book, but really that’s how it ends. Kinda want to flip someone off right now!

YIKES!! I admit I was nervous after Heather’s comment, but honestly…? I thought it was perfect. I won’t tell you if it has an HEA or not (you need to experience the main character in all of her present, her life experience, and her personal growth to really appreciate the journey…), but I will say, this book felt complete to me.

It delivered the sweet romance angst amongst an almost impossible situation. Such a unique story, sort of forbidden love, but mostly only because of circumstance, laden in impending doom, threatening heartache. For them (the two main characters)… and for the reader. Because of this, it was a story that felt totally new to me, and because I was able to experience the entire journey through the heroine’s eyes (her POV, plentiful in fun, sweet, yet apprehensive detail). I was HOOKED!

Maryse: I Just finished Everything, Everything!!!!! WOW SO GOOOOOOD!!! I’m so happy! Loved it!!!!!!!!!!! *happy dances and twirls around*

Jean: Yay Maryse! Wasn’t it great! Maybe we all should listen to bev more often!

bev: Really? I was concerned for the same reason as I was with Jean. Don’t want to say too much cause spoilers.

Leslie: Gotta go check out this Everything, Everything that you all are so excited about. It’s not a depressing Marmy right?

*snickers* My lips are sealed, Leslie. 😉 But I promise no matter what you like as an “ending” this one is so worth it!

So what’s it about?

Madeline is house bound due to illness.

MY DISEASE IS as rare as it is famous. It’s a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but you know it as “bubble baby disease.”

Basically, I’m allergic to the world. Anything can trigger a bout of sickness.

She’s deadly allergic to… pretty much everything.

“It turns out that Mother Nature is a lousy mom.”

So she lives in a completely contained house, with an entrance “air sterilization” center and everything. Homeschooled all her life, with a permanent nurse since she was a child (she’s just turned 18 years old) that has become one of her most trusted confidantes, she’s resigned to her life.

I blow the candle out.

“What did you wish for?” she asks as soon as I open my eyes.

Really there’s only one thing to wish for— a magical cure that will allow me to run free outside like a wild animal. But I never make that wish because it’s impossible. It’s like wishing that mermaids and dragons and unicorns were real. Instead I wish for something more likely than a cure. Something less likely to make us both sad.

“World peace,” I say.

She doesn’t know anything else. Taking online courses in architecture, Skyping to stay connected with her teachers, and having a mom that is an actual doctor (and her other absolute best friend), she’s in good hands.

I guess if you’re going to be born with an illness that requires constant care, then it’s good to have your mom as your doctor.

She’s safe, she’s preparing for a career (even if she can never actually go out into society), she has game and movie nights with her mom, she reads (and explores the world that way), and she’s… happy.

And then she sees her new neighbors move in. Enamored by their athletic son, and spying on them from the privacy of her bedroom window,

He doesn’t smile. He doesn’t wave. Instead, he reaches his arm overhead and pulls the blind closed.

she watches them… “live” and experiences a whole other version of “family” life. Not so good one, in fact, when she notices the abusive father towards his cowering wife. And overtime, she develops a friendship with their son (at first, with notes and pantomiming via their windows), and then eventually via email and messenger. And they become incredibly close. Best friends… and yet, she experiences something she’s never felt before.

“Do you really want to lose the only friend you’ve ever had over a little bit of heartache?”

I’ve read many, many books involving heartache. Not one has ever described it as little. Soul-shattering and world-destroying, yes. Little, no.

Yep. She’s got it bad, and she doesn’t know how to handle herself. Him. And their friendship is changing.

Intense infatuation… longing… she’s falling in love.

So she makes a request.

“He’d get decontaminated and sit across the room, far, far away from me and only for fifteen minutes. Thirty minutes at the most.”

She shakes her head, but it’s not a firm shake. “It’s too risky. And your mother would never allow it.”

“We won’t tell her,” I say instantly.

And that’s where I’ll leave this. Because how can they possibly ever get together, when she can’t even leave the house, let alone… properly receive visitors? But she’s feeling a need for life that she’s been deprived of, and now, having just reached adulthood, this new emotion is consuming her. Is it truly living, if she’s living just to stay alive?

I was happy before I met him. But I’m alive now, and those are not the same thing.

I HIGHLY recommend this for those looking for a fulfilling, fascinating read! While, at first I found the tone of her voice slightly… “peppy” and “cute” and “quirky” (I was expecting a more sullen “adult” tone after reading that blurb), I quickly settled into the writing style (which is awesome, by the way), and really dug in and savored this exploration of “life” via a different version of someone’s existence.

P.S. The twist was GREAT!!

4.5 stars of overall awesomeness!

Friday Finds! New book-bargains and five-star reader recommendations!

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I’m reading TWO new books at the same time (one is a bargain one below that I one-clicked and supposedly has a HUGE twist: Everything, Everything), and one is a psych-thriller that’s going live in just a few days (Imposter: A Gripping Thriller by K. Larsen!!!) <— You guys know I love her! Eeeeeep!

This weekend promises HUGE reading potential, and well, of course, to get your weekend started right, we’ve rounded up some last minute new releases and bargains and 5-star reader recommendations that will please us all! 😀

Oh. P.S. I know a few here are wondering how to change their avatars in the comment section to be your own personal constant one. So…

In case any of you missed the “how to change your avatar” instructions, here they are again:

————

how to control your Avatar (for example – mine is always the same and it’s actually my face) this is where and how I did it:

if you go to gravatar.com (which means globally recognized avatar), you can set one of your own (your pet, your face, something that pertains to you).

As long as you use the same email address that you used to comment on here, the same gravatar that you’ve chosen, will always show up (on maryse.net, AND other sites using the gravatar system)

—————-

:D !!!

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!):

  • Forfeiting Decency by Rachel Schneider <— LIVE!!! SHE HAS SEX FOR MONEY… “It’s not until Kip Foster is released from prison that her life starts to feel complicated. Somehow, Kip unearths desires in Kaley that she never knew she had. A desire to be more, to feel more, and…to be loved more. However, lies by omission are the most dangerous secrets, and they refuse to remain hidden...”
  • Bed wrecker by Kim Karr <—LIVE!!!! ONE NIGHT STAND ALERT! *giggle* I LOVE waking up to this cover and title!!! Kim Karr’s latest AND WHAT. A. TITLE. IT. IS!!! *waggles eyebrows* (quite clever) Oh!! And I LOVE the name Maggie May… “…Something changed the moment our eyes met. It wasn’t insta-lust or insta-love, it was simply him and me, and the dance floor at our feet. The problem is our story ended three days after it started. But now he’s back. And he says he’s sorry…“
  • Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon <— SUPER-BARGAIN TODAY!! SHE CAN’T LEAVE THE HOUSE & HE MOVES IN NEXT DOOR ALERT!!! I’ve started it!!! 😀

Arwen: Loved this one…a bit of a twist late in the story, very well done! Loved the characters. Hope you enjoy!

Paula: It’s an amazing book. I read it recently and found it mind-blowing.

  • Dirty Mother (The Uncertain Saints MC Book 5) by Lani Lynn Vale <— LIVE!!! LANI LYNN VALE’S LATEST BIKER-COP ALERT! She loses her brother (who’s her best friend) and is devastated… “She always knew it was a possibility that he might get hurt while on shift, but she never entertains the thought of him dying. Not until it’s too late. She literally has nothing else to lose. Until she meets him. Ridley Walker. A biker with The Uncertain Saints MC and a local sheriff’s deputy. The man responsible for taking away her best friend…“
  • Lucky Chase by Milly Taiden <— LIVE!! This is a re-release. “Never has he wanted to keep a woman like he does her. He will make her his wife and mother of his children. There’s only one problem: his past is trying to kill his future…”
  • Penny in London by Fisher Amelie <— Tasha LOVED this one!!
“…did you read Penny in London by Fisher Amelie yet? …It’s quick, will suck you in in the first few chapters. Lighthearted with some angst, some humor. Hot male lead, a bit of steam…give it a try if you haven’t yet! :)“
  • Priceless by Winter Renshaw <— LIVE!!! STRANGERS ARE FORCED TO SHARE A HOTEL ROOM ALERT!!! “…as soon as morning broke, I set my sights on getting home. I rented a car, mapped out my 2,749 mile journey, and packed my bags. Only Cristiano insisted on joining me. He needed to get home, too. His best friend was getting married on Saturday. And he refused to let me go it alone. It wasn’t safe, he said…“
  • Adam’s Obsession (Wired Series Book 1) by Sabrina York <— LIVE!! CO-WORKERS ALERT! ANONYMOUS STRANGERS ONLINE & HE DOMINATES HER, but… “When Adam Trillo—aka Savage—discovers the shameless, erotic woman he’s been tangling with online is actually his demure coworker, he’s determined to seduce her in real life…”
  • Until Friday Night (A Field Party Book 1) by Abbi Glines <— ABBI GLINES SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!!! This is the one where he tells her all of his secrets because she doesn’t speak… The blurb has me, and Cristina LOVED it (one of her BEST OF 2015 reads):

Cristina: “Abbi is one of my all-time favorite authors! This book was another testament to her awesome writing skills. Our h becomes mute after witnessing a horrendous tragedy and comes to live with her Aunt and Uncle. Enter the popular, good looking football player, with a secret of his own. One drunkennight, he relays this secret to the one girl whom he knows won’t repeat it to anyone. It was such a beautiful story!”

  • Torque (The Underground Book 6) by Becca Jameson <— LIVE!!! UNDERGROUND MMA FIGHTERS! “The final explosive installment of bestselling author Becca Jameson’s The Underground MMA series!”
  • The Turning Point by Freya North <—  RIP YOUR HEART OUT ALERT!!! Jan LOVED it!!

Jan: The Turning Point by Freya North tore my heart out of my chest. And y’all know I’m not into marmee books, but that one, just wow. You have to read to THE VERY LAST PAGE. That final ending was one of the most beautifully written I have ever read (as I sobbed and wiped away the tears).

Amy: And dang if I didn’t just click The Turning Point after Jan’s comment…

Jan: Hey Amy, I hope you love The Turning Point as much as I did. I went in completely blind, and it just blew me away. All those beautifully written details build up and converge so the characters become real, like people you actually know and really care about. Then, boom! goes the dynamite (not literally!) as they like to say in Dannika Dark’s Seven series. OMG I’ve got twisty tummy just remembering. And if I compare it with the countless books I’ve read with so-so characters I’ve long ago forgotten……… nup…… there’s no comparison. Freya North can WRITE.

  • Groupie (Juked Book 2) by ME Carter <— LIVE!!! SHE’S A SOCCER GROUPIE ALERT! “Whore. Slut. Cleat Chaser. I’m used to the names so they don’t bother me. These are my boys. My friends. So what if I like to have dirty sex with them? My body is no one’s business but mine. Why is Rowen Flanigan making me re-think how I live my life? Making me question my choices? He’s only a rookie…”
  • Behind Closed Doors: The most emotional and intriguing psychological suspense thriller you can’t put down by B. A. Paris <— PSYCH-THRILLER SUPER-SALE and I LOVED this one!! I read it, and it messed me up but I could barely put it down. Kept me up LATE!!! She pretty much married a monster… (even though to everyone else, it looks like they’re so happy). My review!

Jeanie: I’m 34% into it and ohmygod!!!

Maryse: I KNOW IT!!!!!! It made me want to ROAR!!!!!

Anastasia: I finished! There was a particular moment in the book that I almost folded not wanting to continue. It was that difficult to take, to believe, to witness. I’m glad I stuck with it and was moved by the very gratuitous ending will making a silent prayer for those who are at going through even a fraction of Grace’s nightmare.

Jean:  …yes, hyperventilating and totally inside her head the whole time. I will not be forgetting this book.

Carol: Absolutely loved this! Blazed through all three books!

Anne: I am reading The Royals series by Erin Watt and freaking loving it!! I am almost done with Paper Princess and I love those Royals! Yes they can be total jerks but deep inside they are just suffering. I can’t wait to get off work today so I can keep reading. I am glad I waited till all 3 books were out 😀

  • Smut: A Standalone Romantic Comedy by Karina Halle <— YOU GUYS!!! KARINA HALLE SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!!! I LOVED this one, too! Wow today is the super-sale day of my favorites. What’s going on??? Is it my birthday again? YAYYYYY!!! (my review)

Cheryl: Loved this book! Such a great feel good, laugh out loud read. …Loving the poking fun of what Karina Halle essentially writes. So many laugh out loud moments- Fluffy, makeup by her roommate Ana, the suggested storylines, the pen names, the emails with their innuendo email names; but I agree Blake & Amanda need a kick in the a$$.

Grace: Yiiipppppeeeeee!!! *Squeals with excitement* SMUT! SMUT! SMUT! It’s soooooo funny! And sexy too!

Renee: Loved it! Lots of funny banter and sexy times!

Jan130: Yep, Grace. There are definitely moments in Smut where we laugh because it cuts uncomfortably(?) close to the bone about what we love to read. And yeah, there are books snobs out there like the bookstore guy in Smut. But we don’t care. We love what we love.

  • 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!

              

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

  1. Living Without (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 4) by Lila Rose – November 7th 2016
  2. Last Ride (Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club) by Chantal Fernando – November 7th 2016
  3. Night School: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child – November 7th 2016
  4. Living Without (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 4) by Lila Rose – November 7th 2016
  5. Blow: A Virtuous Paradox Novel by Heidi McLaughlin – November 8th 2016
  6. Creed by M Robinson – November 8th 2016
  7. Dirty Wicked: A Wicked Lovers Novella by Shayla Black – November 8th 2016
  8. Top Shelf: An Aces Hockey Novel by Kelly Jamieson – November 8th 2016
  9. Made for You by Kelly Elliott  – November 8th 2016
  10. Trust by Jana Aston – November 8th 2016
  11. Love Between the Lines: An Adult Coloring Book for Book Lovers by Christina Collie – November 8th 2016
  12. Unapologetic by Pamela Ann – November 11th 2016
  13. Endurance : A Sin Series Novel (The Sin Trilogy Book 4) by Georgia Cates – November 11th 2016

           

Book Review – A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner

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A Love Letter to Whiskey

<— BLURB-JOLT ALERT! Yep. This one had an excellent, intriguing blurb (I could just feel the addiction in her voice, and knew I was in for trouble) but I one-clicked it as soon as I started seeing comments about how incredibly romantically angsty this one was. To the levels of Thoughtless, even (<— I already “got” what that meant) and I could NOT resist.

My fellow readers were discussing amongst themselves (on the blog, and in my newsfeed) how they were in an ultimate fog after this one, and could not put it down, and how it twisted their insides the whole time. Oooooh yes. I was prepared for the book-heartache-ride of my life, and so excited!

Danielle: Maryse!!! You must absolutely stop what you are reading (or as soon as you are done reading your current book) and start a Love Letter to Whiskey. I have been in the biggest book slump, and this book has totally brought me out of it in the best way. It stole my whole life away, I literally ignored my child and boyfriend

Lisa: I’m about 45% into A Love Letter To Whiskey. I had to force myself to stop reading, cuz I was having major angst issues. I really really really like this book!!! If only people would use their damn words and communicate – but that would wipe out about 80% of the books I love!!!

Nay: My favorite October read was also “A Love Letter to Whiskey” by Kandi Steiner. I think it’ll also end of being one of my top 5 for 2016. Major tummy-twisting angst! … The gut-wrenching feelings it gave me reminded me of what I felt when I read Thoughtless, and I haven’t had a book do that to me in a long time. So if you enjoyed the angst of Thoughtless, you might want to give it a try!

Ana:  I finished this days ago and I still can’t stop thinking about it! Loved it!

Sasha: I loved this book so hard! I couldn’t read anything else for days.

And it had much (and even plenty of!!) what I was expecting in regards to those comments (oh… YOU know). The ultimate “falling head-over-heels” moment that would forever change these two main characters, and the subsequent (and constant!!) push and pull keeping these two potential soulmates out of arms reach, simply due to “circumstance”. Oh sure, the circumstances were *mostly* of their own doing, and had they just buckled down and communicated WITH each other at any time in this journey, and definitely with themselves, the angst may not have been as heavy, but… where’s the fun in that? 😉

I knew it was a bad idea. There wasn’t just a red flag, there was a warning bell and alarms and whistles and neon lights with DON’T DO IT in all capital letters. But sometimes, even when we know something is bad for us, we do it anyway. Maybe for the thrill, maybe to cure our curiosity, or maybe just to lie to ourselves a little longer.

In fact, no matter the valid reason for “circumstance” (and sometimes… not so valid <— yes I eyerolled) their desire for each other was a blazing force, scorching everything (and everyone) in their way. One was fuel to the other’s fire, and together, they were a searing mess. Adulting was hard for these two. 😉 LOL!! I love using the word adulting. Not so sure I love actual “adulting” though, sometimes, so I got them. For the most part.

What’s it about?

Jamie and B meet in high school (by accident). He ran into her and she falls. Quite literally. Just LOOKING at him has her heart racing, while her best friend yells at him for not being more careful… and then he looks at her friend.

Oh no.

I didn’t even have time to call dibs, I couldn’t even think the word, let alone say it, before it was too late. I watched it, in slow motion, as Whiskey fell for my best friend before I even had the chance to say a single word to him.

And the lifetime of emotional turmoil starts!

Because even as the two settle into an amazing, true (and maybe even BEST) friendship, while he dates her best friend, the attraction is always there, simmering on the back burner. Threatening to spill over. And spill (and burn!) it does.

…as we all learn at a young age, what goes up, must come down. And oh how we crashed.

From teenagers, to college students, to adulthood, these two are constantly connected, and yet tearing each other apart. That’s where I’m going to leave this. The rest of their love story is yours to discover.

“…When does the timing line up for you to stop fighting what we have between us and just let me in?”

Well written, quite clever in its whiskey and addiction analogies, and loaded in gut-punching moments that will infuriate you. Selfish decisions, life events, and lack of communication (<— and at times, the lack of communication was over the top) is what keeps these two main characters in constant confusion.

..sometimes we say things we don’t mean. We may mean them in the moment the words leave our lips, but as time goes on, good intentions get rubbed raw by failed expectations. Those on the promising end forget why they promised at all, hearts jaded — for good reason.

I enjoyed it, however a few situations that kept these two apart, to me? Were a stretch. A stretch enough that by the last quarter, I was exasperated and ready for this tale to come to an end (happy ending be damned!). LOL!!!

I was selfish. I was so f**king selfish.

Does it have an HEA? My lips are sealed. 😉 You know me. The fun is in the anxiety of not knowing WHERE it’s going. The unpredictability of it all. And while some parts of the story were a bit predictable and excessive, for the most part, this one kept me on my toes!

And yes, I agree with many reviews… the ending could have used a bit more oomph, and emotional detail, considering everything we had just been through.

Cheryl: I read A Love Letter to Whiskey. I didn’t love it, think I gave it 3 stars, although I can’t remember a lot about it. Wanted to strangle the h-young and stupid and yes they consistently had poor communication.

Great writing, and I loved that it was just ONE POV (and that of the heroine’s, no less, which is my favorite). I LOVE being the main character, because I can feel it all that much more. AND I really appreciated that this author did not pull any punches (YIKES!!!!!) however some of the miscommunication (and consequences due to that) could have had better… “reasoning”.

At one point I was just so furious (wondering how the author could expect us to “go with it”) and that may have been where I gave up a little. I also didn’t find myself as “in love” with the hero as I like to be, when reading this genre. Perhaps not enough time spent through her eyes, falling so uncontrollably in love with him? I dunno, but I didn’t feel that ache the way I wanted to. I just wasn’t that attached.

That said, if you’re in the mood for a stormy love affair, can suspend belief for some of the “crazy”, and don’t mind it “going there” (by way of OH NO THEY DIDN’T!!!), then this one might be for you!!!

3.5 stars

Latest Author News Roundup – November 3rd 2016

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BIG NEWS!!! TONS OF NEWS!!! And not just news, but I found a plethora of extremely highly anticipated books now up for pre-order by our absolute FAVORITE authors. *thud* I swear I squeed and started bouncing in my chair ’cause OMG. No. The news today. SO SO SOOOOOOOO GOOD!! And I’m not done posting it (there’s TONS) so stick with me as I add more on today’s “news” list for the next hour or so. Click around and check out the goodies. 😀

Fisher Amelie just posted a Spotify “mixed tape” for her latest book, The True Story of Atticus and Hazel. 😉 SO FUN!!! I love when authors let us into their book “soundtracks”.

Madeline Sheehan updates us on her highly anticipated upcoming novel Undeserving (from her raw and gritty biker series, “Undeniable“). Here’s a snippet of what she says:

“YES. UnDeserving is still coming. Of course it’s coming! And yes, I’m still hoping to have it out by the end of this year. And yes, I’m still planning on having UnDying out at some point in 2017.”

The Goodreads Choice Awards 2016 are up and ready for voting!!! I can’t wait to play in the categories and choose my favorites!!! Quite a few that I’ve read and LOVED! YAY MY FAVORITES!!!

Judith McNaught‘s entire backlist is now finally available in ebook format!!! I created a post featuring some of the MOST READER RECOMMENDED books to start you off. I hear she is AWE-SOME!!!!!!

Alessandra Torre updates us with the latest “Hollywood Dirt” movie news!! Here’s a snippet of what she says:

“PassionFlix is a studio dedicated to the romance market, and bringing your favorite romance novels to life. They have already optioned a ton of great novels, and Hollywood Dirt is the first adaptation they are filming. What’s great about PassionFlix is that they are 100% committed to staying true to the novels…”

C.D. Reiss also has an announcement to make, ’cause of Alessandra’s announcement up there. Tee hee! *whoops* I’m not sure if she was ready to let this fun secret out, but it’s out now, and she deserves a celebration, too! ‘Cause one of HER books has ALSO been optioned by that movie production company.  She says:

“…if you follow her links, you’re going to happen to see Hardball on the list of movies being made by Passionflix studios.

This is amazing and I’m as proud as you could imagine to have Dash come to life with this fantastic team. Our hope is for a Spring 2018 release for Hardball….”

J.D. Robb announced her pre-order AND cover reveal of her upcoming “In Death” book ➔ Secrets in Death: An Eve Dallas Novel (In Death, Book 45)

Jamie McGuire has some Christmas “Maddox” hoodies for sale on her website!! I must agree with it (although I have a specific one in mind. 😉 TRAVIS!!!!)

“All I want for Christmas is my very own Maddox.” <— :D!!!!! YES PLEASE!

Harper Sloan just announced that she did a “thing”. *snort* Her blog post title made me giggle. Here’s a snippet of what she says:

“…while I promise that Jaded Hearts is coming VERY SOON, I wanted to do something special to say thank you for all that patience. Thank you to you all and thank you to the characters that I love immensely.

The best way that I know how to do that is to give in to their demanding voices and give them – and you – a little taste of … more.

So, in that mindset came this little surprise. The first three Hope Town Books are bundled with almost 10K words of bonus material between the three. Also, the family tree to keep the group clear on which siblings and parents belong to each other has FINALLY be added. See, I listen!

Let me stress that this series is far from over. Every three books I will bundle them…”

Lisa Renee Jones is having an EPIC GIVEAWAY on her website!!! Signed paperbacks by various authors, and a Kindle Fire!!!

Cherise Sinclair has revealed the cover (and blurb!!) for the latest book on her “Masters of the Shadowlands” series, entitled “Mischief and the Masters”!

Now for some news that will make us just LOSE IT… with excitement. 😉

LOOK AT THESE PRE-ORDERS I JUST FOUND!!!!!!

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

                        

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