X

Maryse's Book Blog

Following my heart, one book at a time...

You are here: Home / Home

Reader Question – The book about the Hero that runs a company that makes "gadgets" out of metal… ;)

By 3 Comments

Carly has one and it makes her laugh! Makes me laugh too, ’cause I’m imagining just what kind of “gadgets” she’s referring to. 😉

She asks:

Hi!

I have a reader question…. I’ve read a book from one of your lists a while back and can’t remember what it was at all!

All I remember is the H runs a company that makes..gadgets..out of metal and he visits his clients homes when they have parties to see how the goods are working out haha.

The h is employed to work on the marketing side of the business and at first I think she assumes they make clocks (I might be wrong with that but I’m pretty sure it’s in this book)

Oh! And she sends a Snapchat to a friend from one of the parties and it ends up being public (it was made extra clear from the beginning no photos at these things)

She also hides what she does from her family for a while because she’s embarrassed.

And that’s it! I need to find this book and I’m sure someone will know what I’m trying to describe and help

I have no doubt, Carly! This sounds hilarious!!!

Francesca: It’s Friction by Emily Snow! Loved it!

Carly: Francesca you are an absolute star!!!!

Kristen: It sounds like Friction by Emily Snow.

Emily Snow: It’s my book. I lol’d at the gadget bit!

Maryse: LOL!!! Thanks so much guys for solving another one, and how fun that the author herself has joined us!! 😀

Reader Question – The book about the heroine that runs into the guy she left behind, and they hate each other now…

By 3 Comments

Mary comes to us with this one! I love books when they hate each other (and they have badddd history). 😉

She asks:

So, I’ve searched your site in the hopes of finding the name of this book (I get most of my TBRs from your lists) but can’t find it anywhere.

It’s about a girl who comes home for her sister’s wedding…to her ex-boyfriend. On her way to her family home, she stops in a bar and runs into ‘the man’ she’d left behind (they now hate each other).

He was from the wrong side of the tracks and she decides to bring him as her plus one to the wedding.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks so much.

Anyone know this one?

Jessica: Following. 🙂 I love a second chance romance!

Rebecca: Sounds like “The Fable of Us” by Nicole Williams

Nicole: Is it The Fable of Us by Nicole Williams?

Rhona: The Fable of Us by Nicole Williams?

Mary: That’s it! Thank you people who have way better memories than me, but thankfully, the same taste in books!

Maryse: YAY!!! Thank you everyone!!! 😀 Another one solved!

Latest Paranormal & Contemporary Romance Book Releases – August 22nd 2017

By 135 Comments

Happy TUESDAY NEW RELEASE DAY!!!!! 65+ books on today’s list, and there are a few that made my own TBR list, too! Including a few from the bargain finds. 🙂 YAY ME!!! YAY US!!!
Which ones gave me a blurb jolt? EASILY Frayed Silk (super-angsty recommendation from R., about serious marital discord – eeeeeep!!! That blurb HURTS!), Second Shot (hockey star’s one night stand, with the coach’s daughter that he can’t stand ends up in a pregnancy. Whoops! 😉 ) Toxic (prison nurse falls in love with a prisoner and helps him escape. YIKES!!! But that blurb… OMG. Defininite blurb jolt for me!), Mercy (Debra Anastasia’s latest & he’s the monster that has to protect her from his even more monstrous father), His Mafioso Princess (he’s in love with a mafia princess… and she’s the daugher of the most feared Cosa Nostra godfather).
AND!!! Don’t forget to check out yesterday’s earlybirds. It was a GREAT list of surprises!! ➔ 25 Earlybird Book Releases
AND AND!!! If you missed my latest book release, this one was SO good, and I’m starting book #2 tonight. ➔ Book Review – Something in the Way by Jessica Hawkins
P.S. How was your version of the eclipse yesterday? *sigh* Mine looked like it would be a plentiful “coverage” but it didn’t even get dark. Full sunny the entire time. I wanted night time darkness during the day!!! I wanted to be outside, in the mid-afternoon and feel like it was night. Alas, it was not to be. Even the lizards continued basking, at “maximum-eclipse”. 😉
P.P.S. Let me know if I’m missing any or if you loved any (from this list or elsewhere).

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 books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! <— This thing is so cool (Amazon calls it “Matchmaker“)! It’s an Amazon feature, that scans all of 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. VERY COOL!
  1. The Beauty of Us: A Fusion Novel by Kristen Proby
  2. Pack Enforcer: Cascadia Wolves, Book 2 by Lauren Dane
  3. Easy Fortune: The Boudreaux Series by Kristen Proby
  4. Jake: Immortals of New Orleans, Book 8 by Kym Grosso
  5. Preservation: The Walsh Series, Book 7 by Kate Canterbary
  6. Before I Ever Met You by Karina Halle
  7. Reluctant Mate: Cascadia Wolves, Book 1 by Lauren Dane
     

 

BARGAINS & READER RECOMMENDATIONS (NOTE: 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!)

Jan: I just finished The Butterfly Project and had a little cry at the sweet ending.
Leslie: Another recent book I enjoyed is The Butterfly Project. The theme of book (two broken people come together to heal each other) isn’t anything new, but the way story was told, their backgrounds, etc. was interesting and captivated me.
  • Kian by Tijan <— TIJAN SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!!

Tessa: Kian was really good. I was expecting it to be darker, but honestly, Kian is so sweet, you can’t help but like him.
Marcie: Read Kian in less than 24 hours an loved it, I am a HUGE Tijan fan and have read everything and anything she has provided.

Jan: Wrecking Ball was GOOD! Had that Wall of Winnipeg feel, but it was still its own book. Bit of a slow burn but really enjoyable. Get it while it’s a bargain! And I see that a second book in the series will be out in a few weeks – Sledgehammer. The author warns that the h has a potty mouth, though. :-/ That’s not usually my fav – either in h or H. Oh well, I’ll keep an open mind cos Wrecking Ball was so good. We’ll see! *rubs hands together in anticipation*
  • Frayed Silk by Ella Fields <— SUPER-ANGST & MARITAL STRIFE ALERT!!! R is loving it as we speak!!!
R: Maryse. Frayed Silk by Ella Fields. It’s gutting me marmy style. It’s not TJR’s writing style, but it has the same feel her books have–the way your stomach rises in your throat and just sits there. Ugh the angst. It’s awesome. I’m at 55% but so far, I think it’s right up your alley.
  • Amazon Echo – Black <— AND LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST!!! eek eek eek HEAR YE!! HEAR YE!!!! MY BELOVED ECHO (“Alexa”) is on sale today!!!!! !!

Cristie: Dang that’s a good price!! I know I love my ECHO too!!
Kim: What do you love about it?
Maryse: She wakes me up, she plays music for me (awesome music, too!!) she answers my questions, helps me with recipes, and BEST YET?? She plays audiobooks for me AND AND AND!!!! She’ll read many of my books to me (that I don’t have in audiobook format). When I’m done listening, and want to get back to reading that very book, my Kindle app will pick right back up where she left off for me to read… 😀
Kim: very cool. Thanks for letting me know what the fuss is all about. I have the kindle keyboard that will speak the book, but it’s terrible compared to audiobooks.
Melanie: I’ve got the ECHO dot and love the thing (even if my 6 year old son drives me up the wall asking Alexa questions all day)

    

 

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SCI-FI/DYSTOPIAN

  1. Devil’s Gate: A Novella of the Elder Races by Thea Harrison
  2. Desires, Known by Lilith Saintcrow
  3. Dragon Burn: A Dark Kings Novella by Donna Grant
  4. Dragon Foretold (Dragon Point Book 4) by Eve Langlais
  5. Bound by Fire (Cauld Ane Series Book 2) by Piper Davenport
  6. Silence Of The Ghost (Murder By Design Book 2) by Erin McCarthy
  7. Magic Blaze: an Urban Fantasy Novel (Shifting Magic Book 3) by Catherine Vale
  8. Marked by Darkness: Dark Fae Hollow 8 (Dark Fae Hollows) by Lia Davis
  9. Love in Another Dimension by Anette Darbyshire <— SHE DIES IN AN ACCIDENT & BECOMES A GHOST… “…Jemma meets Tom, an attractive but elusive ghost who explains that she in trapped in a dimension for people who weren’t supposed to die. She vows to find a way out, but is torn when she develops feelings for Tom, whose own reasons for being there are darker than she could ever have imagined…”
  10. Alaskan Tigers Box Set Volume Two by Marissa Dobson
  11. Escape from Heartland: A Contemporary Paranormal Romance, Ghost Story: A Heartland Cove County Romance by Jacquie Gee
  12. Silverthorn by Raymond Feist
  13. By Blood Sworn (The Dagger Chronicles) by Janice Jones
  14. No More Pocket Change by Sydney Presley
  15. Resurgence (Blood Of The Custodians Book 1) by Sharonlee Holder
              

 

CONTEMPORARY

  1. After the Game (Field Party Book 3) by Abbi Glines <— ABBI GLINES ALERT!!! “The third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Field Party series—a southern soap opera with football, cute boys, and pick-up trucks—from USA TODAY bestselling author Abbi Glines…”
  2. The Healing Touch (A Manwhore Series Book 3) by Apryl Baker
  3. Cold Blooded by Anne Patrick
  4. SEALs of Coronado: Books 1 – 3 (SEALs of Coronado Boxed Set) by Paige Tyler
  5. Second Shot: A Men With Wood Novel by C.M. Seabrook <— HOCKEY STAR HAS A SURPRISE BABY W/ A ONE NIGHT STAND ALERT! “...I knew the cardinal rule. Don’t touch the coach’s daughter. And for years, I kept my hands to myself. It wasn’t difficult considering Brynne Jacobs hates my guts. She can’t stand being in the same room as me – except for that one night. A night that left me hell bent on having more. Having all of her. But she took off. No text. No explanation. Not even a goodbye. Now she’s back, but she’s not alone. She’s got a kid. A kid with all-too-familiar blue eyes and dimples…“
  6. Daddy: An Older Man, Younger Woman Romance (Penthouse Pleasures Book 2) by Opal Carew and Jayne Rylon
  7. The Scotch Royals by Penelope Sky
  8. Singing Montana Sky (The Montana Sky Series Book 7) by Debra Holland
  9. Austin (American Extreme Bull Riders Tour Book 7) by Jeannie Watt
  10. Deadly Secrets: SCVC Taskforce Series, Book 7 (SCVC Taskforce Romantic Suspense Series) by Misty Evans
  11. Before I Knew (The Cabots Book 1) by Jamie Beck
  12. Turo’s Fated Mate, Iron Wolves MC by Elle Boon
  13. Sometimes Love by Victoria Kennedy
  14. All I Want is You by Cassie Cross
  15. The Duchess Deal: Girl Meets Duke by Tessa Dare
  16. In the Crease (Assassins Book 11) by Toni Aleo <— HOCKEY PLAYER ALERT! HIS BEST FRIEND’S SISTER IS PREGNANT & NEEDS HIS HELP… “…In need of a fake husband and baby daddy for her unexpected bundle of joy, Wren finally accepts Jensen is the logical one to ask for help. Except he has a counteroffer…one with so many strings attached, they may just find themselves wrapped up in ties that bind. Forever...”
  17. Love Another Day (Masters and Mercenaries Book 14) by Lexi Blake
  18. Dark Devotion: Dangerous Desire Book 2 by Samantha Wolfe
  19. Royally Mine: 22 All-New Bad Boy Romance Novellas by Susan Stoker, Annabel Joseph, Katy Regnery, Nikki Sloane, Renee Rose, Molly O’Keefe, Alta Hensley, Nora Flite, Natasha Knight, Sue Lyndon, Jenika Snow, Maggie Ryan, Celeste Jones, Lee Savino, Livia Grant, Alexis Alvarez, Rayanna James, Ava Sinclair, Addison Cain, Jennifer Bene, Becca Jameson, Mikey Lee
  20. Written in the Stars (Backroads Book 1) by Christina Coryell
  21. Pretty Reckless by Jane Anthony
  22. Ready to Run (I Do, I Don’t) by Lauren Layne <— THE FIREFIGHTER THAT LEFT THREE BRIDES AT THE ALTAR ALERT!! “...Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: firefighter Luke Elliott, a known player who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person...”
  23. The One That Got Away: A Novel by Melissa Pimentel
  24. So Bad It Must Be Good by Nicole Helm
  25. Chasing a Legend: A Kavanagh Legends Novel by Sarah Robinson <— MMA FIGHTER NEEDS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST ALERT!! “…after a nearly fatal motorcycle accident, he’s struggling just to walk again, let alone get back to the studio—and it doesn’t help that the doctor in charge of his physical therapy is his childhood crush. Quinn’s always ready for a fight, but the bittersweet sting of unrequited love has him begging for mercy…”
  26. Save Me by Alexandra Page
  27. The Dating Bender by Christina Julian
  28. Always Rocking: A Heavy Metal Romance (Slava Pasha series Book 4) by A. D. Herrick
  29. The Beauty of Us: A Fusion Novel by Kristen Proby <— HER RESTAURANT IS GETTING A REALITY COOKING SHOW ALERT! “…convincing Mia, her best friend and head chef of Seduction, that having cameras in her kitchen every day is a good idea is daunting. Still, Riley knows it’s an opportunity she can’t afford to pass on. And when she meets Trevor Cooper, the show’s executive producer, she’s stunned by their intense chemistry…“
  30. The Way You Look Tonight (Harmony Springs Book 3) by Mindy Klasky
  31. Starting Over: The Broken Hearts Club by Michele Barlow
  32. Temptation (Shadows of the Heart Book 1) by Sandy Sullivan
  33. A Million Reasons (Romantic Comedy Novel): A Brenner Family Romance – Book 1 (Billionaire Romance Trilogy) by AJ Nuest
  34. Big Skye Littleton by Elisa Lorello
  35. Toxic by Nicole Blanchard <— THE PRISONER & THE PRISON NURSE ALERT!! “…I risked my entire life so we could be together. I thought helping him escape from prison would be the hard part. It turns out when you fall in love with a villain, you also turn into one...”
  36. Let’s Start With Forever by June Kramin
  37. Break Me (Truth in Lies Book 1) by Lena Maye
  38. Forbidden Crown (The Avce Royals) by Victoria Pinder
  39. Holding on to Home: Prequel to Finding Home by Erin Mahoney
  40. Fate (A Trinity Novel Book 5) by Audrey Carlan <— AFTER A TRAGIC FIRE BURNED HER… she pushed him away. “…Now I’ve healed a bit on the outside, and on the inside, but I still crave the one I let go. To this day he looks at me with fire in his eyes, a heat so bright in his being he glows with it. I fear the light, the flames that could consume me whole. The problem now is, he’s not mine anymore...”
  41. Mercy by Debra Anastasia <— DEBRA ANASTASIA’S LATEST IS LIVE!!! And it’s a standalone!! :D OMG it sounds so delightfully DARK!!! “…My street name is Mercy, but I never show any. Except for her. I watch Becca, though she doesn’t know. She saved me a long time ago; the day my father killed my mother. Her bravery turned her into a target. My father holds a grudge and knife with the same proficiency, and Becca is the focus of his hatred. And I’m the only monster who can save her…”
  42. Dangerous in Love (Aegis Group Alpha Team Book 1) by Sidney Bristol
  43. Let Me Be Your Hope (Music and Letters Series Book 2) by Lynsey M. Stewart
  44. No Prince Charming (Grimm’s Circle Book 2) by J.C. Daniels and Shiloh Walker
  45. His Mafioso Princess (The Vitucci Mafiosos Book 2) by Terri Anne Browning <— MAFIA PRINCESS ALERT!!! “…She’s forbidden, but so am I. I’m not free to be with her, but I want her more than anything. My secrets will shatter her. But I underestimated my little Mafioso Princess. There is a reason she is the daughter of the most feared Cosa Nostra godfather...”
  46. Jewell (The Kings of Guardian Book 8) by by Kris Michaels
  47. His Treasure Hunting Billionaire by Vanessa Mulberry <— M/M ROMANCE
  48. Hush Money: A Novel (Hush Money Mystery) by T. E. Woods <— PSYCH THRILLER ALERT!
  49. This Devil is Crazy (The Devil’s Prophets Book 1) by Pauline Hornsby <— BIKER BOOK ALERT! “First love at thirty-two seems unlikely, yet Jenna can’t help falling for the sexy, dirty-mouthed biker. But it’s not all MC parties and off-the-chain hot sex for this interloper. When the man that wants you demands your secrets too, it’s only a matter of time before he will find them out...”
  50. Getting Tricky by Scarlett Finn
  51. Strike (Gentry Generations #1) by Cora Brent <— CORA BRENT ALERT! SHE HAS A FLING WITH HER BOSS...”He was too old for me, too complicated, too distracting. On the surface we had almost nothing in common except the draw of an overpowering physical connection. The seasonal job at a local resort was going to be temporary. He was going to be temporary. But insufferably sexy, arrogant Dalton Tremaine has other ideas.” Theresa says: “Marsye, Cora Brent – Strike went live. Gentry boys spinoff”
  52. A Hero to Love (Changing Tides) y Gail Chianese <— THE VETERINARIAN & THE MILITARY HERO ALERT!! “…As the Navy base veterinarian, town local Risa Reynolds is right where she belongs: close to her parents in a farmhouse full of animals—with room to grow. She’s seen enough to put military men are on her “not happening” list, because they always leave. But when a tall, hazel-eyed sailor arrives in her clinic with his dog in his arms, Risa finds herself falling hard...”
  53. Hollywood Scandal by Louise Bay <— HE’S A HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR. SHE’S LITERALLY THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. She’s his next door neighbor and she doesn’t recognize who he is!!! YAY!! I love those! “She doesn’t recognize me, she’s never heard of Matt Easton and my million dollar smile doesn’t work on her. Ego shredded, I know I should keep my distance, but when I realize she’s my neighbor I know I’m toast. There’s no way I can resist temptation when it’s ten yards away…”
  54. Raw: Book 1 by Michelle Maris <— SHE HAS AN EXCLUSIVE FANTASY CLUB…  “After Bevy Mitchel’s fourth husband had passed away, she decided to turn her mansion into an exclusive club where women could unleash their most private fantasies. She hired the hottest looking men that would cater to the member’s every desire...”
                                               

 

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

  1. Fallen Heir: A Novel (The Royals Book 4) by Erin Watt – August 28th 2017
  2. The Lucky Ones by Kit Rocha – August 29th 2017
  3. So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced) by Kerrelyn Sparks – August 29th 2017
  4. Kiss My Boots (The Coming Home Series Book 2) by Harper Sloan – August 29th 2017
  5. Pretend You’re Safe by Alexandra Ivy – August 29th 2017
  6. Bring the Heat (Dragon Kin) by G.A. Aiken – August 29th 2017
  7. The Duchess Deal (Castles Ever After) by Tessa Dare – August 29th 2017
  8. The Right Time: A Novel by Danielle Steel – August 29th 2017
  9. Dr. NEURO (St. Luke’s Docuseries Book 3) by Max Monroe – August 29th 2017
  10. My Angel (Bewitched and Bewildered Book 9) by Alanea Alder – August 29th 2017
  11. Nineteen Letters by Jodi Perry – August 29th 2017
  12. The Time in Between (The Magdalene Series Book 3) by Kristen Ashley – August 29th 2017
➜ CHECK OUT ALL the upcoming BOOK RELEASES here (frequently updated and it goes all the way to 2018!)
       
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 – Something in the Way by Jessica Hawkins

By 8 Comments

Something in the Way (Something in the Way Series Book 1)
This one is the most asked about book in our weekly “reader question” sessions. Everyone is trying to find (or remember) the title of “that book with that crazy-angsty sounding blurb”.

Oh yes. It’s one of the best book-blurbs ever, and it made me GASP. It’s like it had it’s own little twist. 😉 Apparently, it had the same effect on so many of us.

Virginia: Was looking at your recommendations yesterday and found a book I want to read but going back can’t find it again. She is young and meets this guy. She is too young and they decide to wait. Then he meets her sister.

Dallas: The little bits and pieces that I can remember is that there are 2 sisters in their teens; the older sister has an attitude (of course); the younger sister meets a young man (maybe mid-to-late 20s, hot and muscular) who’s working on the construction site in their street; one day she loses her expensive bracelet, he finds it and gives it back to her. They strike up a friendship after that.

Bianca: I need your help! Yesterday I came across a book on amazon, for the life of me I can’t remember what it was about but I was interested!!

…Ok so I just emailed you asking about a book which I’ve just spent the last 40 minutes looking for….well guess what…it’s the booking I’m currently reading!!!!! The same book that I’m loving!!!  Something in the Way (Something in the Way Series Book 1) by Jessica Hawkins.

Marion: Guys this book is soooooo good!!! Everyone should read it, you’ll immediately want to dissect it with someone afterwards… just leave the judgement at the door lol!

Nay: Yes, Maryse! And you need to read it ASAP! This book is on my favorites shelf

Tracy: Oh, my gosh, Maryse, I DEVOURED these books. I cannot wait for the third.

Meagan: Omg!!!! I’m here if you need support!! Lol Without a doubt a top read of mine

Rebecca:  I am dying to know what your reaction is after the first two! I was walking around with my nose in my kindle for two days straight- I didn’t want to stop to eat or sleep. I cannot wait for book 3!

I couldn’t resist anymore. HOW COULD I POSSIBLY RESIST???

P.S. This was exactly the guilty pleasure I expected, considering the blurb-jolt I received from THAT book synopsis! Exciting, exhilarating, an butterfly inducing. 😉

So what’s it about?

Sixteen-year old Lake (beautiful, yet humble, scholarly and completely inexperienced when it comes to boys) is out with her nineteen-year old “wild child, California girl” sister (Tiffany), when they notice a construction crew near their home. Ever-the-flirt, attention-getter Tiffany struts her stuff while Lake remains anonymous in the background, and waits for her sister so they can return home.

When Lake realizes she’s lost her cherished bracelet, she returns to the construction site to look for it, and meets Manning (a gruff, brooding, yet sweet construction worker in his early twenties), that finds it for her.

I squinted up, and up, and up at him. I had only two concepts of men— ones my father’s age, like my teachers, and the boys I went to school with. This one didn’t fit into either category.

They chat, discussing school work, and future goals (his and hers) and become instant, yet tentative friends (considering the inappropriate age difference between the two).

Lake is secretly crushing hard, even though he’s bossy and big brother-like, yet Tiffany has dug her claws in, and claimed him for herself.

I willed him to acknowledge me. I was greedy. I’d spent a lot of time with him today, but I wanted more. He didn’t look up, though. Instead, he said something to Tiffany.

Whatever it was, it made her smile.

And the three forge a friendship that put them all (and us!!) through the angsty-forbidden romance ringer. 😉

To me, Manning seemed as untouchable as the glossy celebrities taped to Tiffany’s wall, so why did she get to touch him?

Eeeeeeep!!! SO fun!!!

And while, yes, I did put it down a few times to do “life-stuff” (it wasn’t sooooo intense that I couldn’t put it down), I was always thinking about it, and telling my sister how it was giving me goosebumps. We even discussed our own teen crushes, as we related to this main character.

“You want to come?” I asked.

He looked back at me. “Might be a good idea to meet your parents.”

He said it to me, not Tiffany. He wanted to meet my parents. And while I should’ve felt uneasy about it, the idea that Manning had any interest in my life had the opposite effect.

It made my heart soar.

Considering where it could possibly go (all those theories of mine = pure angsty trouble), and yep. It did NOT disappoint. Lucky me, book #2 is already out and I will be jumping right in, next. Unlucky me, book #3 will only be out in a couple of months, but I can’t help myself. I must continue!

So that intensity I was speaking of? It’s there, but actually more subtle than I was anticipating, considering the subject matter (a teen crushing HARD on a man), so you know this book, and these characters are headed for trouble.

But it was a nice slow burn, with all the bells & whistles of those desperate, need-to-be-near-each-other belly butterflies, that sweet, protective friendship (from both of them, in different ways)…

“Everyone should have someone looking out for them, and I am. For you.”

“Who do you have?” I asked.

He swallowed audibly, his long neck rippling. “I said everyone should— not everyone does.”

“I’ll be that someone, Manning,” I said.
He put his large hand on my head, making me feel about half his size.

“You’re going to protect me?”

I always wanted him to be safe. Cared for, fed, happy. Maybe it was naïve, but I felt I could do that for him, even if it had to be from afar for a while. “Maybe not physically. Protection comes in different forms.”

“That means a lot to me,” he said. “I’d rather you worry about yourself, though. And I’ll worry about you, too.”

…and yet knowing absolutely NOTHING could become of that closeness. Not even discussing potential feelings. No affection. No touching. No admitting, because all of that could lead to disaster (and the uncontrollable kind). And even with all that is “understood” the pining and cravings in this book (mostly via the eyes of the heroine, but also HIS POV every once in awhile) really sets the stage for that titillating forbidden love story that causes even the reader, all sorts of heartache.

Some invisible tether existed between us. Nobody could see it, not even us, but I felt it. I was sure Manning did, too. As long as we both knew it, that was enough for me. For now, at least.

My hiccups? I think I may have experienced more intensity, and emotional drama, and perhaps loved it even more if I didn’t actually know what HE was thinking (in regards to both sisters). Occasionally, we get his POV (which does serve to ease the reader’s stress in regards to what kind of man he is), but then again, considering the circumstances, I eeeeeeeeeped over some of his thoughts, too. 😉

And, I’m not 100% certain I’m “into” the ending and direction that this story just took (I didn’t see THAT coming at all, and I’m not feeling the realism in it so much), but I think I get why the author took it there, so I’m going with it.

After all, this is only book one (a titillating intro to a promisingly tumultuous love story trilogy), and there’s still so much more to come, I just KNOW it. Oh my, where is this going to go? I’ve got all sorts of ideas, and I’m diving back in! 😉

4 stars <— but maybe even more stars due to the fact that I’m DYING to start book #2 and will be reading that one next!

25 Earlybird Book Releases + some that are going live at midnight…

By 41 Comments

HAPPY EARLYBIRD + ECLIPSE MONDAY EVERYONE!! There are 25 on today’s list… and the eclipse is hitting my neck of the woods between 2 and 3pm EST!! How about you?
<— P.S. This one went live on Sunday but in case you missed it, I’m highlighting it again today. I LOVE THIS AUTHOR & her awesome stories! Drunk Dial is LIVE!!! MINE MINE MINE!!! And yes, I totally one-clicked it! 😀

“…anything sounds like a good idea when you’ve had a little too much wine before bed, right? It was supposed to be just a quick, meaningless, prank call. Instead, I went off on him—unloading thirteen years ofpent-up emotions.
I didn’t think he’d call me back…”

And we’re excited!

Leslie: Drunk Dial is mine, mine, mine too. I would like to state for the record that Stepbrother Dearest and RoomHate are also *BLEEPING* awesome!!!
Amy: Ooooooh!! Drunk Dial sounds like so much fun!
Gena: About 40% through the ebook version and loving it!

MORE EARLY BIRDS THAT JUST WENT LIVE RIGHT NOW!!!!! Take a look at these!!! 😀

  • Mercy by Debra Anastasia <— DEBRA ANASTASIA’S LATEST IS LIVE!!! And it’s a standalone!! 😀 OMG it sounds so delightfully DARK!!!

“…My street name is Mercy, but I never show any. Except for her. I watch Becca, though she doesn’t know. She saved me a long time ago; the day my father killed my mother. Her bravery turned her into a target.
My father holds a grudge and knife with the same proficiency, and Becca is the focus of his hatred. And I’m the only monster who can save her…”

  • If Ever by Angie Stanton <— SHE’S CAST IN A CELEBRITY DANCE-OFF ALERT!!! But she’s NOT a celebrity… “...Chelsea is coined ‘America’s Chance to Dance,’ but her partner planned on an A-lister, not a nobody. Clashing with her partner, she’s ready to go home; but during an emotional dance, her heart-breaking past as an abandoned, homeless teen is revealed. Not only do the viewers fall in love with her, so does the flirty British guest singer, Broadway star Thomas Evan Oliver...”
  • Lessons in Love (Royals and Rebels) by Kate Davies
  • Cracklin’ Rosie (Blue Jeans and Hard Hats) by Lissa Matthews
  • Stay With Me: Part 1 by Hensley Park
  • Deal with the Devil: (Paranormal Werewolf Vampire Shifter Romance) by Evangeline Anderson <— EVANGELINE ANDERSON ALERT!! A VAMPIRE AND A SHIFTER ALERT!!! “...Luz Velez is a shapeshifter who can’t shift. Every time she tries to summon her inner wolf, she has a massive panic attack. Worse, her anxiety extends to the rest of her life. At twenty-seven, she’s still a virgin because attempting to have sex sends her into lockdown mode. She’s miserable and stuck—until Jude Jacobson comes along. Tall, blond and dangerous, Jude is the most feared vampire in town and the minute he sees her, he wants Luz. Vampires and shapeshifters don’t date but he makes her an offer she can’t refuse—a blood exchange that will help her control her panic attacks and give her the life she’s always wanted...”
  • Never Let Go (Brothers From Money Book 9) by Shanade White
  • Life Plus One: A second chance Navy SEAL romance by Rachel Robinson <— RACHEL ROBINSON’S LATEST JUST WENT LIVE!!! NAVY SEAL ALERT!! She goes to college… “Always the geek, and always behind socially—especially with men, she blossoms. With her moral compass guiding her, she finds herself drawn back to San Diego and all she left behind. Him. With memories from their pasts haunting every interaction and decision in their present—and future, their timing never seems to be quite right. A marriage. A baby. Nothing.”
  • Simon Says (Order of the Black Swan, D.I.T. Book 1) by Victoria Danann <— EX-VAMPIRE HUNTER ALERT! HE FELL IN LOVE & SHE DISAPPEARED IN FRONT OF HIS EYES… “Simon channeled his sorrow and loneliness into work until he eventually rose to the most powerful position ever held by an ex Black Swan knight. With tireless dedication, he built a congregation of talented misfits, watching and waiting for the one who could find Sorcha…”
  • Exquisite Innocence (Iron Horse MC Book 5) by Ann Mayburn
  • Changing the Play (The Game Changer Series) by Julia Blake <— SHE’S A SUPERSTAR IN FOOTBALL SPORTS MANAGEMENT ALERT! “…Rachel Pollard has never been a push-over. That’s why she’s a superstar in the world of sports management, making a name for herself with a shrewd eye for overlooked talent. She certainly isn’t taking any chances with her latest NFL draft prospect, Kevin Loder, who’s poised to shake up the league. But when Nick Ruben, a tenacious sports reporter who also happens to be the crush who ignored her all through high school, picks up the scent of a long-buried story, Rachel suddenly finds herself playing defense for the first time in years...”
  • Commitment (Temptation Series Book 5) by K.M. Golland <— SHE’S QUESTIONING HER MARRIAGE… “Natasha Jones loves her life, her husband and their two young sons. She works hard both at home and as an Events Supervisor at City Towers. But when a relationship with her work colleague unexpectedly progresses, Tash begins to question whether or not her marriage has passed its ‘Use by’ date…” (can be read as a standalone)
  • Havoc (Deathstalkers Book 7) by Alexis Noelle
  • CRAZY LOVE – A New Adult Box Set: Dazzled, Summer of Seventeen, Playing in the Rain by Jane Harvey-Berrick <— JANE HARVEY-BERRICK STORY BUNDLE ALERT!! “Three stories of love and longing for New Adult readers by bestselling romance author Jane Harvey-Berrick”
  • Runner (The Runner Book 1) by Karma Kingsley <— M/M ROMANCE ALERT! “Alex Banez is a runner for a Los Angeles film set. When he has a chance encounter with executive producer Atwell Richards, he finds himself falling fast and hard…“
  • Anti-Nice Guy (Anti-Nice Guy Agency Book 1) by Kailin Gow
  • Second Chance Cowboy (Road to Romance Book 2) by Joanne Rock
  • Burning Up Memphis (Delta Fire) by Delilah Devlin
  • A Pinch of Salt (Three Sisters Catering Book 1) by Bethany Lopez <— SINGLE FATHER ALERT!!! “…For the past year, Jackson has been dealing with the fallout of his wife’s abandonment. He’s had to learn how to be a single father to their eight-year-old daughter, and will do anything to fill the void her mother left. It isn’t until he commissions Millie for his daughter’s birthday party that he realizes he’s forgotten that he’s not only a father, but a man…“
  • Darkness Series Collection: Volume 2 by Katie Reus <— BOOK BUNDLE ALERT!!
  • Fearless Love (Konigsburg) by Meg Benjamin
  • The Lady of Royale Street (NOLA Nights Book 3) by Thea de Salle
  • The Secrets Between Us by Jennifer Ann <— SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE ALERT! “…Seven years since she last saw him as the cops were taking him away. Seven years since he left her to become a Navy SEAL. When he suddenly comes back into her life, she’s forced to choose between following her heart, or sticking to a plan that would almost certainly destroy him...”
  • Unworthy Heart (The Donnellys) by Dorothy F. Shaw <— OFFICE ROMANCE ALERT!! He’s a single father and she’s a wild child... “...Maiya clawed her way out of her dysfunctional, trailer-park childhood to earn a college degree and establish a promising career. Her future dreams are big, bright and packed with full-throttle fun, but when it comes to matters of the heart and men—especially stuffy corporate types like Ryan—her past slams on the emotional brakes...”
  • Half of Me by J.M. Paul <— HER PERFECT LIFE IS SUDDENLY DEVASTATED & SHE MEETS A FORBIDDEN STRANGER… “...After a routine visit to the doctor, Joslyn’s life takes a downward spiral she never saw coming. As she contemplates her next move, she experiences a brief but deep connection with a handsome stranger she’s met in the park. Jacob Ancroft demands control in all things—his life, his business, his affairs. He has little time for distractions, but he finds himself captivated by the mysterious Joslyn.  When Joslyn and Jacob run into each other again in the most unlikely place, they discover the truth is often ugly. With her dreams shattered and a forbidden man refusing to leave her alone, Joslyn’s life is in disarray…“
                        

 

PREORDERS (going live at midnight!! :D )

  1. After the Game (Field Party Book 3) by Abbi Glines – August 22nd 2017
  2. Keep Her Safe: A Novel by K.A. Tucker – August 22nd 2017
  3. The Scotch Royals by Penelope Sky
  4. In the Crease (Assassins Book 11) by Toni Aleo
  5. Love Another Day (Masters and Mercenaries Book 14) by Lexi Blake
  6. Royally Mine: 22 All-New Bad Boy Romance Novellas
  7. Desires, Known by Lilith Saintcrow
  8. The Beauty of Us: A Fusion Novel by Kristen Proby – August 22nd 2017
  9. Fate (A Trinity Novel Book 5) by Audrey Carlan
  10. His Mafioso Princess (The Vitucci Mafiosos Book 2) by Terri Anne Browning
➜ CHECK OUT ALL the upcoming BOOK RELEASES here (frequently updated and it goes all the way to 2018!)
        
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).
Contact Me | About Maryse | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Policy | © 2025 Maryse.net – Maryse’s Book Blog |
I am part of the Amazon affiliate program, which is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Other than potential affiliate link commissions, I receive no compensation for reviews. All opinions I have expressed are my own.