Release Day: A Very Married Christmas by Samantha Chase

 Happy Release day to A Very Married Christmas by Samantha Chase. Check out a excerp below and get the book now!

About A VERY MARRIED CHRISTMAS

She’s ready to deck the halls…
But not with wedding decorations.

For the most part, Melanie Harper has made her peace with her negative feelings toward Christmas. Thanks to her fiancé, she’s even learned to enjoy the holiday. But that doesn’t mean she wants to share it with her wedding day!

He’s dreaming of a white Christmas…
Complete with a wedding!

Ever since they first met, Josiah Stone has done his best to show Melanie how magical Christmas can be. He’s gotten her to participate in parades, decorate trees and even celebrate the holiday, but asking her to marry him on Christmas Eve just might be more than she’s ready for.

Will this be a very Merry or very Married Christmas?

Add A VERY MARRIED CHRISTMAS to your Goodreads shelf HERE!



Read an excerpt of A VERY MARRIED CHRISTMAS;

“What?” she cried.

Josiah knew he was taking a big risk in presenting this to her—after all, Melanie had grown up hating Christmas. Hell, he’d only gotten her to have some good feelings toward the holiday in the last two years! But he knew if she’d just give him a chance, he’d be able to prove to her how a Christmas wedding would be amazing.

Jumping to his feet, he looked down at her shocked expression and did his best to keep his tone light and encouraging.

“Just…hear me out, okay?”

The look on her face said she would, but she certainly wasn’t happy about it.

“What could be better than getting married during such a festive time of the year?” he began but didn’t give her a chance to reply. “Think about it—everything, everywhere is already beautifully decorated. Any place we go won’t require much from us because it will already be decorated! The Poinsettias, Christmas trees, the lights…all that work will be done for us.”

“Josiah…”

“And everyone will be in town already so there won’t be a need for them to make a separate trip.”

“Who’s everyone? My dad is already here; he’s the only family I have and your family doesn’t live that far away. It’s hardly like they’d be making a huge sacrifice to come to town,” she countered.

“But all of our friends will be here too. You know how most people we know tend to travel either before Christmas or after the new year because they love all the festivities here in town Christmas week.”

Melanie let out a small sigh. “Look, I get what you’re saying. I really do. But…you know my feelings on Christmas.”

He immediately sat back down at her side. “And we’ve come such a long way, Mel! When we first met, you hated the holidays and everything about them. But after that first Christmas here, you changed. You saw how it all wasn’t so bad and—admit it—you even enjoyed it.”

She gave him a sour look. “I know that first Christmas was amazing but only because you made it that way for me. You went out of your way to make up for every single crappy Christmas I’d had since I was five!”

“And what about last year?” he prodded.

Another sigh. “You proposed last Christmas so of course that’s going to make for a great memory.”

“So you see…”

“But,” she quickly interrupted, “that doesn’t mean I want to get married during the month of December or anywhere near Christmas!”

He silently admitted to himself that he knew there were going to be some challenges in getting Melanie to see his way of thinking, but he was kind of hopeful that she wouldn’t be quite this hostile toward the idea. How was he supposed to convince her that this could be good for them? Great, even? What could he possibly do to show her how wonderful a Christmas wedding could be?

About SAMANTHA CHASE:

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter / BookBub




#Review Boston Underground Series by A.Zavarelli

Today I have a series review of the Underground Series by A.Zavarelli. A dark contemporary romance. Check out my review below and let me know your thoughts.

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Add To GoodreadsBuy The Book (Note this series is free on kindle unlimited)


In the summer I binge read the first four books in the Boston Underground Series by A. Zaverlli back to back after seeing it over in Geybie's Book Blog. They are just so addictive! They are the type of books that aren't perfect but you just can't stop reading them.

The Boston Underground Series is a dark contemporary romance set in the world of the mafia. They are dark, violent, have a ton of sex and are just so ADDICTIVE. The character's are morally grey, the men are alphas and dominating and I just had a good time reading them. 

Each book can be read as standalone as it follows a different couple but personally I like reading series in order even if you don't have to. Now the books aren't perfect, the plot was OK, I liked some characters and disliked others and sometimes I was reading and thinking WTF but guys they where so worth it for a fun time.

Overall I would give the series overall a 3.75 rating! Check them out of you just want a series to binge and don't mind everything mentioned in the review!

Note: The series isn't finished yet.


Sunday Post #48 - Its been a while


The Sunday post was created by Caffeinated Book Reviewer this is a post where we recap on the going on's on the blog the week previous and the week coming up as well as the awesome books we have received, bought or been gifted for review!

Hello, it's been a few months since I did a Sunday Post, so I thought I would check in. I am already excited for Christmas, I have been Christmas shopping like a crazy person, I just love buying my friends and family gifts! I also signed up for a secret Santa over on #bookstagram and am really excited to get my partner so I can start looking for some bookish goodies for them. Talking of Bookstagram I have been more active in my Instagram account over the last few months. You can follow me here if you aren't already.


Posts this past week:







That's all folks :) Anyone else as excited for Christmas as me?


Book Blitz: When Dawn Breaks by Melissa Toppen #Giveaway



Today I have a book blitz for When Dawn Breaks by Melissa Toppen, a adult contemporary romance which is available now. Check out all about the book below and don't forget to Enter the giveaway at the end.




Life is hard.
There’s no secret in that statement.
Life. Is. Hard.
Simple enough.
But my life hasn’t just been hard…

I’ve gotten used to it over the years—come to expect it really. So when fate hands me yet another big f*ck you, I’m not even a little bit surprised. Why should I be? I mean, after everything I’ve been through, why not throw my best friend’s ex-boyfriend into the mix and see how royally I can screw this up too.
It doesn’t matter that he loved her first.
It doesn’t matter that he’s wrong for me in every way possible.
It doesn’t matter that being with him could ruin everything.
One touch and I already know it’s too late.

When Dawn Breaks is a standalone Contemporary Romance.


Author Bio


Melissa Toppen is a Reader's Choice Award Winning and Bestselling Romance Author of New Adult, Contemporary, Erotic and Romantic Suspense. She is a lover of books and enjoys nothing more than losing herself in a good novel. She has a soft spot for Romance and focuses her writing in that direction; writing what she loves to read. 


Melissa resides in Cincinnati Ohio with her husband and two children, where she writes full time.


Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

Giveaway Not sponsored by Reading away the days
Win a $10 Amazon Gift card
International
Ends 16th November 2017
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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#Review Most Of All You by Mia Sheridan

Today I have a review of Most All You by Mia Sheridan which is beautifully heartbreaking adult contemporary. I highly recommend it, check out my review and let me know your thoughts below.


Photo taken from my Instagram


Synopsis

A broken woman . . .

Crystal learned long ago that love brings only pain. Feeling nothing at all is far better than being hurt again. She guards her wounded heart behind a hard exterior, and carries within her a deep mistrust of men who, in her experience, have only ever used and taken.

A man in need of help . . .

Then Gabriel Dalton walks into her life. Despite the terrible darkness of his past, there’s an undeniable goodness about him. And even though she knows the cost, Crystal finds herself drawn to Gabriel. His quiet strength is wearing down her defenses and his gentle patience is causing her to question everything she thought she knew.

Only love can mend a shattered heart . . .

Crystal and Gabriel never imagined that the world that had stolen everything from them would bring them a deep love like this. Except fate will only take them so far and now the choice is theirs: Harden their hearts once again or find the courage to shed their painful pasts.


Received paperback for an honest review VIA Pitakus Books

Most Of All You was such an emotionally powerful read. It was a beautifully heartbreaking story that I really enjoyed.

Most Of All You was not like any contemporary romance book I have read. It was powerful with its themes and so heartbreaking with it. Its told in duel POV between Crystal and Gabriel. Both have horrible pasts which I don't want to talk about them too much as they are central to the story. But I just have to say both have went through so much and are a credit to themselves. The endurance Gabriel went though and Crystal who starts to deal with her issue's where written wonderfully. 

Mia Sherdian's writing is so stunning. I was immersed in the story from start to finish. At times it was hard to read the emotions felt so raw and real. 

Gabriel and Crystal as characters where wonderful. Gabriel was so sweet even with all he had been though. He was just such a sweet, genuine guy and so easy to love. Crystal had an outer and inner wall of I dont give a shit but underneath her vulnerabilities where so real and fragile and seeing her open up and be vulnerable was so beautiful to see.

Overall I really enjoyed Most Of All You. I loved seeing the characters journeys the most and I can't wait to read some more books by Mia Sherdian. 4 stars.

#Review Risky Redemption (Rogue Security #1) by Marissa Garner

Happy Release Day to Risky Redemption by Marissa Garner. Risky Redemption is an adult contemporary romantic thriller which I really enjoyed. Check out my review below and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.


Photo from my Instagram

Synopsis VIA Goodreads

Four years ago, Angela Reardon was brutally attacked, and she still bears the physical scars and traumatic memories. While she's worked hard to overcome her fears and build a successful business, she's still haunted by her inability to identify her assailant. Now Angela only wants to be left alone-until a shadowy stranger reignites her desire to be loved. But their time together may be brief...because someone wants her dead.

CIA assassin Jake Stone's targets deserved to die. Until now. Until he falls in love with the innocent woman he's been hired to kill. Jake can't fight his attraction to Angela, and he knows that someone else will be sent to finish the job. So can he save Angela and redeem himself by uncovering who wants her killed? When the trail leads him into the carnal underbelly of L.A., the truth is more shocking than even he could ever imagine.
 



Thank you to Forever Yours for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Risky Redemption is a adult contemporary romance which was really not what I was expecting, it really surprised me in a good way.

So the story involves an ex seal/CIA agent who is an assassin for hire. His latest target is our leading lady. The book opens with a punch and your thrown into a mystery, investigating a crime that has happened involving Jake's latest target. Along with Jake, you go back and forth between past and present slowly putting the pieces together. Its told in duel POV between Jake and our leading lady but mostly from Jakes POV.

The plot is what really had me intrigued and kept me on the edge of my seat. Even though its sold as a contemporary romance, I got a thriller and mystery vibe from it. There is romance of course but I think the main theme in this book is in the title, its a book about redemption. 

What I loved is I couldn't figure out who had done the crime, I released part of what was happening exactly when the character did. I loved not having a clue. I am giving a warning for Risky Redemption however as it was hard to read at times with the topic of rape being a theme in the book.

Overall I couldn't put it down and was intrigued throughout. I highly recommend Risky Redemption if your not looking for your typical straight forward contemporary romance. 3.75 Stars!

#Review It Only Happens In The Movies by Holly Bourne

Today I when a review of It Only Happens In The Movies by Holly Bourne. This was a fantastic upper YA and one I highly recommend. Check out my review and let me know your thoughts below.


Photo taken from my Instagram


Synopsis

Audrey is over romance. Since her parents' relationship imploded her mother's been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. But there she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn't mean things are easy. Because real love isn't like the movies...

The greatest love story ever told doesn't feature kissing in the snow or racing to airports. It features pain and confusion and hope and wonder and a ban on cheesy clichés. Oh, and zombies... YA star Holly Bourne tackles real love in this hugely funny and poignant novel.


Brought my own copy

It Only Happens in the movies was my first Holly Bourne book and it won't be my last. Going in to this I was expecting a cute contemporary romance, guys I didn't get that I got something more amazing, I got a story with real character's. Holly Bourne is not behind the doors in saying what she thinks and I love her for that. 

Audrey is any female or male teenager trying to work out romantic relationships and sex. I am going to say it again it was real. I loved Holly showing the highs and lows of relationships. Audrey has had her heart broken, her family is in disarray, she hates love and romance. So much so that in her media class she undertakes the project to show how romantic movie cliches give people unrealistic expectations of real life romances. At the start of each chapter we get a piece from her project and all the cliches are so true. This book is so much more than the characters, it's a open letter to teenagers. 

The journey Audrey goes on was so real (theres that word again) and its not easy and like the movies. Its hard and scary and life and people can disappoint you and sex isn't all fireworks and butterflies. 

Not like the movies also has some of the funniest and best dialogue I have read in a long time. I had so many emotions reading this book and I enjoyed it so much.

I highly reccommend you check this out. Its an upper YA with feelings. The main protagonist is A+, the concept of the story was fantastic and I just cant recommend it highly enough. 4 stars!

Book Haul: The longest book haul in existence (Stacking The Shelves)


Stacking The Shelves is weekly meme where we share all the books we have added to our shelves whether it's physically or digitally. For more info check out the awesome host Tynga's Reviews 

So I haven't done a book haul since September 9th! Needless to say I have alot of books to haul, 22 to be exact and some bookish goodies. Lets get started.


*Swan Song by Charlotte Wilson- Released this past September- Received ebook VIA author for review, review coming later this month. "A coming-of-age novel about family and first love, in the city of hopes and dreams." Taken from Goodreads

*The Truth and Lies of by Ella Black by Emily Barr- Releases January 11th 2018 VIA Penguin. Received e-arc VIA Netgalley - YA Contemporary mystery 

*The Hating Game by Sally Throne - Already released this past summer- Received paperback VIA Piatkus for review- Adult contemporary romance - I did start this book and was enjoying it but got distracted by another book. I do want to go back to it and finish it this fall as I was enjoying it.

*Hot & Sinful Nights: A Hot Boxed Romance anthology- I was gifted this box set VIA amazon ebook as a special surprise in an email subscription to one of the authors in the box set. There is 21 lustful stories and I have already read one and really enjoyed it. With anthologies I like to dip in and out of them. I am excited to have this box set to read throughout the winter months. 


*This Mortal Coil (This Mortal Coil #1) by Emily Suvada - Releases November 7th VIA Penguin- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley -YA Sci Fi

*Alpha Mail by Brenda Rothert- Released this past October- Received e-arc VIA Inkslinger for a blog tour- I have already read and reviewed this book. Check out my review here

I tend to read only a few YA books now. And I tend to be drawn to contemporary books, either with romance or a subject that interests me. 2018 has some great YA releases and I managed to get a few early copies of ones I am looking forward to.

*The Upside Of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane- Releases January 30th 2018 VIA Skyscape- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley- YA Contempoary

*Love Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed- Releases January 16th 2018 VIA Soho Teen- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley - YA coming of age debut, own voices

*Secrets of a teenage Heiress by Katy Birchall- Releases January 2018 VIA  Egmont- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley- middle grade/YA- I have read previous books by Katy Birchall and they are always fun and hilarious, I can't wait to pick up this one.


*A Taxonomy Of Love by Rachael Allen- Releases January 2018 VIA Amulet Books- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley - YA Contemporary Romance

*The Love Experiment (Stubborn Hearts #1) by Ainslie Paton- Already released this past October- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley- Adult Contemporary Romance

*Hold Her Again by Shannon Stacey- Released this past October- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley- I have already read and reviewed this book. Check out my review here

*Risky Redemption (Rogue Security #1) by Marissa Garner- Released November 7th VIA Forever Yours- Adult Romance Thriller- I really enjoyed this, my review is coming this week.

All photos are taken from my Instagram, I love taking bookish photos. You can follow me here


*Christmas At Two Love Lane (Two Love Lane #1) by Kieran Kramer- Released this past October - Adult Contemporary Romance (Christmas Holiday story)- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley- I am looking forward to reading this soon, as one of my holiday reads.


*Ivy and the Inky Butterfly: A Magical Tale to Color by Johanna Basford- Released this past October- Received physical copy VIA Penguin Books- I love Johanna's adult colouring books so much. I will have a post all about my love of Johanna's books this week so be on the look out for that.


*Hope At Christmas by Nancy Naigle- Released this past October- Received e-arc VIA Netgalley- Adult Contemporary Romance (Christmas Holiday Story)- Another book I am excited to read soon.


*Grave Matter by Juno Dawson- Released this past October- YA Horror- Received physical copy VIA Barrington Stoke


*Most Of All You by Mia Sheridan- Released this past October- Received physical copy VIA Piatkus for review - Adult Contemporary- Trigger for rape-  I have already read and really enjoyed this book. Review to come soon.


*Winter Wishes Anthology- Already Released this past October- Gifted physical copy VIA author Leah Marie Brown- Another holiday book I am excited to read.


*Bonfire by Krysten Ritter- Releases November 7th VIA Random House- Received proof for review- mystery, thriller


It was my birthday this past October and I brought myself a few books, including the ones above. I also had some fun birthday posts on my blog, which you can check out here

*It Only Happens In The Movies by Holly Bourne- YA Contemporary- I am nearly finished this book and am really enjoying it. I plan to finish it today and review it next week.

*Why Mummy Drinks by Gill Sims- This just sounds so fun. To be honest am not sure if its a fiction or non-fiction book. I highly recommend you check out the synopsis. 

 

This past October I purchased a Peter Pan themed candle bookish box and I loved it. I did a whole review on my blog, so you can check it out here

Phew that was a long haul! Have you read any of these books? Plan to? Let me know in the comments below.

Blog Tour: Totally His By Erin Nicholas #Review & #Giveaway



Today I have an awesome post for you. I have a review of Totally His, author Erin Nicholas top 5 favourite romances and a giveaway. Grab a cuppa and check out the post!


TOTALLY HIS by Erin Nicholas


Part of the Opposites Attract series

will be published on October 31, 2017 from Forever.


Goodreads | Mass Market Paperback: $7.99 | eBook: $3.99 | ISBN: 9781455539727

About the book: Sophia Birch loves nothing more than the spotlight--as long as she's playing a part. A theater geek from an early age, Sophia now runs a little hole-in-the-wall playhouse that feeds her passion... even if it sometimes makes it hard to feed herself! And then one night it all nearly goes up in smoke. Desperate to save the only copy of an irreplaceable script, Sophia rushes back into the burning building.Police officer Finn Kelly knows crazy when he sees it. And a woman running back into a burning building definitely qualifies as crazy. She also happens to be incredibly sexy. But when he finally finds her ruffling through drawers and refusing to leave, his only option is to carry her out over his shoulder....and then decide whether to arrest her.



Top 5 Favorite Romances by Erin Nicholas


These are just five of my favorites!  I have way too many to truly narrow it down, so these are ones that just came to mind! 

1.  Heiress for Hire, Erin McCarthy
2.  First Star I See Tonight, Susan Elizabeth Phillips
3. Heaven, Texas, Susan Elizabeth Phillips
4. Big Rock, Lauren Blakely
5. Fire Me Up, Kimberly Kincaid


Thank you to Forever for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review


Totally His by Erin Nicholas is the third book in the opposites attract series, a adult contemporary romance series that can be read as a standalone as each book follows a different couple. 

In Totally His we follow Finn and Sophie. Finn is a cop, a sweet guy, the rock of his family and is instantly drawn to Sophie. Sophie runs a amateur theatre and has a small close net of a few whereas Finn's family is big and loud and in everyone's face. For someone like Sophie who doesn't do family, this may be a big problem. 

Apart from the romance in Totally His what I enjoyed most was the family dynamics. Finns family is really big and really close, when something happens they all know and they all have an opinion and I really liked seeing this in the story. 

It was a story that dealt with compromise, letting go, giving in and following your heart. Add in a hot cop, some of hot friends, oh and a few sexy fireman and you have Totally His.

I really enjoyed the writing it was duel POV throughout and I liked seeing both characters perspectives and each internally figuring out their own personal growth barriers. I did find however that I felt it slowed a little about half way through but picked back up after a few chapters.

Overall I enjoyed Totally His. I enjoyed the romance, the characters and the theme of family throughout. 3.5 stars to Totally His.

About the author:


 Erin Nicholas is the New York Times bestselling author of sexy contemporary romances. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say they're shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).


Giveaway

Win 1 of 10 copies of Totally His.
 Giveaway sponsored by Forever
Open to US/ Canada only
Ends 15 November

Enter here

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