Aestas Book Blog

LATEST NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — WEEK OF June 19, 2017

June 19, 2017 by Aestas · 2 Comments

NEW RECOMMENDATION: Stay by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen (Read my Review)
AWWWW!!! I read this great newly released book the other day and really enjoyed it! It was a SWEET, SEXY, SWOONY romance between a divorced sports star who was father to two adorable little daughters and a divorced heroine who had given up on love and had been hired to be his virtual assistant… little did she know at first that her client was in fact one of her favorite hockey players! It was so heart-melting to watch this big huge sports star hero be such a loving, caring dad to his little kids!!! I also loved seeing him fall for the heroine. This was such a FUN and LIGHT-HEARTED book!! If you’re looking for something new to read and you love sexy sports romances and single dad heroes, grab a copy!!! It can standalone.

KRISTEN ASHLEY BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Time In Between by Kristen Ashley was just announced and has a gorgeous new cover!!! This is the third standalone in the Magdalene series and I’m sooooo excited for it!! — “After a painful loss, she is coming to Magdalene to start the next chapter of her life. A chapter that began eighteen years ago but had a heartbreaking ending. The time in between was full of family and friendship, but she could never get the man she fell in love with all those years ago out of her heart… He has learned to live without the girl who entered his life right when she shouldn’t and exited delivering a crippling blow he never would have suspected. The time in between was full of failing to find what he was missing…and life-altering betrayal. But when that girl shows up in Magdalene and buys the town’s beloved lighthouse, even if he wants to avoid her, he can’t. A fire in town sparks a different kind of flame that won’t be ignored…” Be sure to pre-order this new book and you can also start reading the first 2 that are currently available: The Will (my review) and Soaring (my review)!

MORE BOOK ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Dear Bridget, I Want You by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland was just announced! It’s a sexy standalone that is currently only available for pre-order on iBooks and paperback! — “Dear Bridget, I’m writing this letter because it’s highly doubtful I’ll ever garner the courage to say this to your face. So, here goes. We’re totally wrong for each other. You’re the proper single mum with a good head on your shoulders. I’m just the carefree British doctor passing through town and temporarily living in your converted garage until I head back to England. But here’s the thing… for some bloody reason, I can’t stop thinking about you…”

The Long Way Home by Jasinda Wilder was just announced! It’s the story of a married couple, both writers, as they cope with the loss of their son and the damage that loss causes to their marriage. This moving story is alternately heartbreaking and heartwarming… — “I need you, Ava. I am desperate. For you. For touch. For a kiss… I am mad with need. Wild with it. I cannot have you. I have lost you, as I have lost myself. And so I go in search. Of myself, and thus the man who might return to you… I am taking the long way home, Ava.”

Most of All You by Mia Sheridan‘s blurb was just announced! This is a standalone! — “She guards her wounded heart behind a hard exterior, and carries within her a deep mistrust of men who… 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, she finds herself drawn to him. His quiet strength is wearing down her defenses and his gentle patience is causing her to question everything she thought she knew…”

Cocky Client: A Novella by Whitney G. was just announced! It’s a standalone! — “Today is officially the worst day of my life… I woke up five hours late after a reckless one-night stand with the sexiest, cockiest, and most arrogant man I’ve ever met… Still, none of those things dimmed my excitement for what was supposed to be the best four o’clock signing session of my career… But at four o’clock, that sexy, arrogant one-night stand stepped into my office with a familiar smirk and introduced himself as my new, cocky client…”

The Sound of Light by Claire Wallis was just announced! It’s a standalone! — “My littlest girl has always been a bit peculiar. It was nothing I could ever put a finger on, but I always knew there was something inside her that made her a different kind of special. A deeper kind… She’s got a hell of a secret, yes, but she does what she’s got to do to make it one worth having. She takes care of people. She changes their stories… I saw the way she looked at that boy on the day they met, and I knew right then that things were going to change…”

WEEKLY NEW RELEASES RECAP

HOT NEW RELEASES (NOW LIVE):

Stay by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy (she falls for her hockey hero/single dad client, can standalone)
The Knocked Up Plan by Lauren Blakely (sexy standalone romance)
Salvaged by Jay Crownover (sexy mechanic/single dad romance, standalone in Saints of Denver series)
Tycoon by Katy Evans (childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance, businessman hero, sexy standalone)
The Gamble by Kristen Ashley (TOP FAVORITE: special trade paperback edition, can standalone)
Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley (TOP FAVORITE: special trade paperback edition, can standalone)
Lady Luck by Kristen Ashley (TOP FAVORITE: special trade paperback edition, can standalone)
Vanishing Act by A. M. Madden (Hollywood romance standalone)
Deklan by Shay Savage (mafia arranged marriage romance)
At His Mercy by Shelly Bell (student/teacher romance, can standalone)
Talk British to Me by Robin Bielman (fun sexy romantic comedy, can standalone)
Lost Without You by Molly O’Keefe (he saves her life, book 1 in The Debt Duet)
Trusting You & Other Lies by Nicole Williams (YA summer romance standalone)
Revenge by Lexi Blake (romantic suspense in Lawless series)
Hyde’s Absolution by Nina Levine (biker romance in Sydney Storm MC series)
Gone to Dust by Liliana Hart (military suspense/romance in Gravediggers series)
Girl Last Seen by Nina Laurin (suspense thriller standalone)
Dangerous Minds: A Knight and Moon by Janet Evanovich (mystery, can standalone)
All I Am: Drew’s Story by Jodi Ellen Malpas (a novella spin-off of the This Man series)
Unforgiven by Willow Winters (book 3 in the Sins and Secrets Duet)
Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis (friendship, love, family, and sisterhood, Women’s Fiction standalone)

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Book Review — Love My Way by Kate Sterritt

June 15, 2017 by Aestas · 12 Comments

I’ll never say goodbye to you.

WOW!! What a UNIQUE book!! It has a seriously HUGE TWIST to the story that just changes everything you think you know about it. Actually, I’m just going to be really honest with you guys, when I first read the blurb, it seemed like a love triangle (which I don’t like and rarely read) and so I just moved on assuming that this book wasn’t for me. But then a friend emailed me telling me she thought I’d love this book and she told me the entire twist and as soon as I found out what the twist was, I immediately bought the book and bumped it to the top of my reading list.

Today, I read it in one sitting and even though I knew the twist, I still fell in love with the beautiful writing and the characters and really enjoyed the story so so much. The story drew me right in and by the end of the epilogue, I had happy tears in my eyes and my heart was overflowing with feels.

So… what’s the book about? Hmm… well… I understand why the blurb is so short. Because honestly there’s almost no way to properly describe this book’s story in a way that isn’t either misleading or full of spoilers. The story captures the beautiful intensity of love and friendship, there’s also the all-consuming shadow of loss, there’s a mixture of happiness and grief, and a lot of healing. This isn’t a love triangle. But if I try and classify the story by saying something like “friends to lovers” or “bad boy” or whatever, I feel like it would be again either misleading or full of spoilers so I’m scared to tell you more because I don’t want to give away the story’s secrets.

This is the prologue…

Even without seeing her face, I know that the woman standing at the water’s edge is desperately sad. Her back is to me and her shoulders are slumped, perhaps heavy with regret. It kills me to know I am partly to blame, and for that reason alone, it’s impossible to look at her. Leaning against the rough trunk of the tree, I close my eyes. My life will forever begin and end with her, and I’m unable to witness her heart breaking.

Standing still is no longer an option, so I begin to pace. Is she still waiting for him or has he already left? Fear pools in my veins at the uncertainty. Above all else, I want her to be happy. If this is too hard, I’ll have to walk away again. I let out a long breath, frustrated by the whole situation.

Emerson Hart is the love of my life. Unfortunately, I’m not the only love of hers. And therein lies the problem.

Intriguing, right?? And it’s totally not what it seems either.

My personal recommendation is to go into this book BLIND. Yes, I realize that’s ironic since I refused to read this book without knowing the spoilers first, however, for anyone feeling nervous maybe you can draw comfort in knowing that knowing the twist was what made me want to read the book so it’s likely going to be something you can handle. However, I also know that some of you will simply need to know and so I’ve written out spoilers below. Again, I DO NOT RECOMMEND READING THE SPOILERS unless you really desperately need them.

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LAST WARNING. DON’T READ THESE UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. This is not a love triangle — at least not the way you think it might be. And there’s no cheating. The heroine’s childhood best friend who she fell in love with in high school and with whom she’d planned to spend the rest of her life was killed. But she went on with her life holding on to his memory so strongly that it was as though he was still with her in person. She sees him, talks to him, and as the reader you do think he’s genuinely there. But he’s not. So, five years later when she meets the hero and falls in love again, she feels like she’s cheating a little and/or certainly betraying his memory in a way that is very hard for her to handle. It’s heart-breaking, but ultimately incredibly healing to see her find a way to accept the past and move on to find happiness. The epilogue especially is so beautiful!

Spoiler Inside

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If I hadn’t known the twist, I do not think I would have guessed it on my own. A part of me wishes I could have had the reading experience of being surprised by the twist. However, I know that I personally really did need to know. And even though I knew, I still fully enjoyed the book and it was actually fun to instead watch for all the subtle clues that the author laid along the way.

The writing was beautiful and I read the book in one non-stop sitting. It’s told from the heroine’s POV partly in present day and partly in the past with a very smooth transition between the two. If you examine the story too closely there are some unbelievable elements or things that don’t quite line up but if you just sort of open your heart and accept it as it is, it really works.

I love the book world. I love blogging about it, I love reading, I live and breath the stories I read. But admittedly, sometimes they do seem a little similar. And as such, I whole-heartedly commend this author for daring to step outside the lines and tell such a unique story. If you’re in the mood for a really different love story, give this a try!!

Rating: 4+ stars. Contemporary Romance Standalone

PS: I wrote this review super fast so I apologize for any potential typos.

LATEST NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — WEEK OF June 12, 2017

June 12, 2017 by Aestas · 2 Comments

BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Time In Between by Kristen Ashley was just announced!!! This is the third standalone in the Magdalene series and I’m sooooo excited for it!! More details will be announced soon but for now you can pre-order the new book and if you want you can also start reading the first 2 that are currently available: The Will (my review) and Soaring (my review)!

RECOMMENDATION: Love My Way by Kate Sterritt (Read my Review)
WOW!!! This was an incredibly UNIQUE book with HUGE TWIST that changes everything!! I’ll be honest, when I first read the blurb, it seemed like a story I wouldn’t like. BUT a friend told me the twist and as soon as I heard it, I immediately one clicked the book and it was SO GOOD!!!! By the end of the epilogue, my heart overflowed with FEELS!!! Even though I wish I hadn’t known the twist so I could have experienced the SURPRISE of the reveal, I’m personally glad I knew it because knowing it allowed me to read the book and love it!!!! (NOTE: I’ve included a HIDDEN spoiler link in my review for anyone who needs it. I recommend going in blind but this option is available if you need it.) If you’re in the mood for a really DIFFERENT love story, definitely give this book a try!! It’s a complete standalone.

RECOMMENDATION: The Story of Us by Tara Sivec (Read my Review)
This second chance romance was BEAUTIFUL, HEART-WRENCHING, and HEALING! The hero was a Marine on deployment who was captured and taken prisoner. For five long, painful years, the only thing that kept him alive was his memory of the girl he loved back home and his determination to make his way back to her. But they’re finally reunited, he finds that she’s the one in need of rescuing and he makes it his mission to bring her back to life. I read it in one sitting and LOVED IT!! If you’re looking for an EMOTIONAL LOVE STORY to fall in love with, grab a copy of this!! — “How much can a man take before he breaks? 1,843 days. That’s how long I survived in that hellhole. They tried to break me, but I resisted… Now, I’ll do anything to get back to her… I won’t give up on her. On us. I may be broken, and scarred, and not the man I used to be, but I will do whatever it takes to remind her of the story of us.”

WEEKLY NEW RELEASES RECAP

The Story of Us by Tara Sivec (MY FAVORITE: heart-breaking and healing military romance standalone)
Preservation by Kate Canterbary (fun sexy pretend relationship romance standalone in The Walsh Series)
Hot Cop by Laurelin Paige and Sierra Simone (she wants a baby, he’s willing to help, standalone romance)
More Than Need You by Shayla Black (secret baby/single mom/millionaire romance, standalone in More Than Words series)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (standalone novel about one classic film actress’s relentless rise to the top—the risks she took, the loves she lost, and long-held secrets)
Hard Stick by L.P. Dover (hockey star falls for a girl with a secret, can standalone)
I Knew You Were Trouble by Lauren Layne (fun sexy love triangle romance standalone in Oxford series)
Too Close to Call by Tessa Bailey (football star/second chance romance with high school sweetheart, standalone in Romancing the Clarksons series)
Dangerous Rush by S.C. Stephens (angsty racer romance sequel to Furious Rush)
My Roommate’s Girl by Julianne Keyes (forbidden college bad boy romance standalone)
Royal Treatment by Parker Swift (final book in the Royal Scandal series, contemporary royals romance)
The Rancher and the City Girl by Joya Ryan (single dad cowboy romance standalone)
Anarchy Chained: Alpha Thomas by JA Huss (superhero romance in the Anarchy series)
Roar by Cora Carmack (YA fantasy romance, new series)
Silver Silence by Nalini Singh (sci-fi romance spin-off of Psy-Changeling series)
Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab (YA dark urban fantasy sequel to This Savage Song)
Obsisian and Stars by Julie Eshbaugh (YA prehistorical romance sequel to Ivory and Bone)
The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne (psychological suspense standalone)
The Ultimatum: An International Spy Thriller by Karen Robards
The Salt House by Lisa Duffy (‘heartbreaking, yet hopeful’ Women’s Fiction standalone)
The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand (Women’s Fiction standalone)

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Book Review — The Story of Us by Tara Sivec

June 9, 2017 by Aestas · 7 Comments

I’m standing here in this room, alive and breathing and fighting because of YOU! Because in between the torture and the beatings and the fucking hell, year after year, I couldn’t get you out of my head. I didn’t WANT to get you out of my head. Your smell, your smile, your laugh, your taste, your touch… it’s the only fucking thing that made me want to wake up every damn day and to go through that shit again and again. Thinking about you and fighting to get back to you is the only I could fucking survive.

AHHH!! I loved this book!!

The Story of Us was a beautiful, heart-wrenching, and healing second chance romance about a Marine who made it back home to save the woman whose memory had kept him alive through hell. I’ve loved Tara Sivec’s writing for years and I was so excited when I heard about this book. I read it in one sitting and it’s definitely a new favorite!

How much can a man take before he breaks?

1,843 days. That’s how long I survived in that hellhole. They tried to break me, but I resisted. And I owe it all to the memory of warm summer nights, the scent of peaches, and the one woman who loved me more than I ever deserved to be loved. Now, I’ll do anything to get back to her.

Only Shelby Eubanks isn’t the girl I left behind all those years ago. She’s someone else, a stranger. My Shelby would never give up her dreams, would never disappear into her mother’s ambitions. But I won’t give up on her. On us. I may be broken, and scarred, and not the man I used to be, but I will do whatever it takes to remind her of the story of us.

Five years ago, Elijah James was on a military mission overseas when he was taken prisoner. Each day, he was tortured at the hands of people desperate to break him, and each day he didn’t break because the one thing he held onto was the memory of the woman he left behind — who he still loved with all his heart, and who never knew the true story behind why he’d vanished from her life so suddenly.

How many people lose someone they love, knowing they’ll never see them again, never touch them again, never hear their voice again, only to find out it was all a mistake? How many people wish they could turn back the clock in time os they could look into their loved one’s eyes, run their hands down the side of their loved one’s face, and hear them speak? It’s a dream that everyone who’s lost someone has. A dream that slowly turns into a nightmare you feel like you’ll never wake up from. Something you know is impossible, but you can’t stop obsessing about. I’ve prayed and I’ve screamed and I’ve cried, wanting the impossible, and now I have it.
He’s alive.

When he was finally rescued and returned back to his hometown, the only thing that mattered to him was finding her and telling her the truth about how much he loved her. However, the woman he’d left behind was not the same woman he came back to. The spark of life and light was gone from her and he was determined to do everything he could to bring her back… To save her as she’d saved him.

I’ve become this numb shell of a woman I don’t even recognize anymore for a man who probably only used me, but I don’t know how to stop. He left this town without saying good-bye and then he left this earth without giving me closure. He left me to pick up the pieces and protect his family and his name and I hate him for that. I’ve allowed someone else to make all my decisions, rule my life and crush my dreams because I don’t know how to stop loving him more than I hate him.

You guys — there were FEEELS!!! This man had sacrificed everything — his happiness, health, safety, freedom, and almost his life — for a girl he loved more than anything. And yet she’d never known why the only boy who’d ever made her heart race and made her dream of a future together had left her. And yet she sacrificed everything to keep his reputation untarnished. And when he came back into her life, everything came flooding back — the intense longing, the magnetic pull she felt towards him, the relief, the heart-break, the love, and so many questions. Why did he leave her? Why did he betray her trust? Had he ever truly loved her? And now it was up to him to tell her the true story and prove to her that no matter what, everything he’d done had been for her and that she was the only thing that had ever mattered to him.

As they found their way back together, he made it his mission to bring happiness back into her life. And as they reconnected through lost letters and stolen nights, all the secrets of their past were brought into the light…

And OMG!!! There is a gut-wrenching little twist towards the end (not romance related, don’t worry) that seriously made my heart break for Eli. This book really highlights how real and painful the effects of PTSD are in a way that managed to bring both sad and happy tears to my eyes at the same time. It was equally heartbreaking and healing and I thought this aspect of the book was incredibly well done. I love it when books can take my by surprise and I absolutely didn’t see this coming and this whole element really brought so much strength to the story.

This is a story of an undying, unending love that was strong enough to heal even the deepest of scars. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for beautifully written, heart-wrenching and healing romance to fall in love with.

“I meant everything I said in my first few letters. I love you. Only you. Always you…”

Rating: 4.5 stars. Standalone contemporary romance.

LATEST NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — WEEK OF June 5, 2017

June 5, 2017 by Aestas · 2 Comments

BOOK ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan (one of my all-time FAVORITE BOOKS EVER) just got a gorgeous new paperback cover!!!! It’s so beautiful and I can’t wait to have this edition on my shelf!!! Also, in case you didn’t know, this book has a MOVIE DEAL!! If you want to read it right now though, you can grab an eBook copy. And, if you’re a Mia Sheridan fan, be sure to pre-order ‘Most Of All You’ which is her next standalone love story!

Beneath The Truth by Meghan March was just announced! This is the final sexy standalone in the Beneath series! — “I used to believe there were lines in life you don’t cross. Don’t lie. Don’t cheat. Don’t steal. Until I learned people don’t always practice what they preach. I turned in my badge and gun and walked away from everything. Then I got the call no one wants, and I’m back in New Orleans. Then I got the call no one wants, and I’m back. What I don’t expect is for her to be here too. Another line you don’t cross? Don’t touch your best friend’s little sister. She’s always been off-limits. Too bad I don’t follow the rules anymore.”

Sin by Emma Hart was just announced! This is the first standalone in the Vegas Nights series! — He was cunning, sly, and dangerous, fifty percent of Vegas’ strip clubs were his. Whatever he wanted, money, attention, women, he got. And now he wanted to buy my bar, no matter the cost. I wanted him to go to hell … He played a dirty game, and I followed his rules. I let him think he would win. Despite our differences, it was clear to see that we were no more than two broken hearts colliding in the darkness. Closed off, sexy, and holding a pain that would crush a lesser man, he was the ultimate sin. One I couldn’t deny myself…

Eye Candy by Tijan, J. Daniels, Helena Hunting, Bella Jewel and Tara Sivec was just announced! — A frightfully good time! Dive into these Halloween novellas from these bestselling authors. Featuring stories set in the worlds of their popular series. Tijan’s Fallen Crest crew are back for a weekend of mischief that takes a sinister turn; all four couples from J. Daniels’ Alabama Summer series gear up for Halloween in their own sexy ways, with a special surprise at the end; Helena Hunting’s characters from Shacking Up plan a Halloween gala that features a few ghouls and witches; Bella Jewel brings the chills and thrills in her suspenseful take on Halloween night; and Tara Sivec gathers the Holiday family together one last time as they try to make this ghostly holiday one to remember—or one they’d rather forget…

BOOK-TO-MOVIE DEALS! Read the books before the movies release!

Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin (my review) is coming to theaters this October 27th!! — I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after. I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile. And now I’m going back. After ten years. I hope I can explain that after all this time. I still want her to be my forever girl.

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty (my review) is being made into a movie starring Blake Lively! — Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive…

Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre (my review) has already been filmed and the movie will be released this September! — Cole Masten. Abandoned by his superstar wife, Hollywood’s Perfect Husband is now Hollywood’s Sexiest Bachelor. Watch out Los Angeles, there’s a new bad boy in town… Summer Jenkins. That’s me, a small town girl stuck in Quincy, Georgia. I cook some mean chicken and dumplins, can bluff a grown man out of his savings in poker, and was voted Most Friendly my senior year. We were from different worlds. Our lives shouldn’t have collided. But then Cole Masten read a book about my small town. And six months later, his jet landed on our dusty airstrip, and he brought Hollywood with him. From the start, I knew he was trouble. For our town. And for me. Sometimes, opposites just aren’t meant to attract.

Royally Screwed by Emma Chase(my review) is going to be filmed soon! —
Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, Crowned Prince of Wessco, aka “His Royal Hotness,” is wickedly charming, devastatingly handsome, and unabashedly arrogant―hard not to be when people are constantly bowing down to you. Then, one snowy night in Manhattan, the prince meets a dark haired beauty who doesn’t bow down. Instead, she throws a pie in his face. Nicholas wants to find out if she tastes as good as her pie, and this heir apparent is used to getting what he wants. Dating a prince isn’t what waitress Olivia Hammond ever imagined it would be. There’s a disapproving queen, a wildly inappropriate spare heir, relentless paparazzi, and brutal public scrutiny…. In the end, Nicholas has to decide who he is and, more importantly, who he wants to be: a King or the man who gets to love Olivia forever.

The Driven Series by K. Bromberg are going to be made into movies next year! All three books will be made into movies: Driven (my review), Fueled (my review), and Crashed (my review)! —Our paths should never have crossed. Colton Donavan was arrogant, exuded that bad boy vibe, and embodied everything I never wanted. And yet all it took was one chance meeting, one mistaken identity, and one stolen kiss for me to know I hated him and desired him instantly… And even though he wouldn’t let me in, I couldn’t walk away. This is our story. Our fight. Our perfectly imperfect love.

NEW REVIEW: Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren (Read my Review)
HELLLS YEAAAAH!!!!!!! This was a fantastically written book that I read in one non-stop sitting!!!! Seriously, every few pages, I’d stop and make a note of how genuinely WELL WRITTEN this book was! It seems like a fun, sexy “enemies-to-lovers” office romance where the career-driven hero and heroine begin dating only to find that their companies have merged and they’re now in competition for the same coveted job position and their romance turns to a sabotage war… but there are some VERY strong, important, and incredibly relevant themes explored too that seriously just MADE THIS STORY in my eyes!!!! It had SMART writing, SEXY romance and an ADDICTIVE story so be sure to grab a copy!!

WEEKLY NEW RELEASES RECAP

Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren ( enemies-to-lovers office romance standalone)
The Farthest Edge by Kristen Ashley (erotic BDSM romance standalone in The Honey Series)
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley (a beautiful love story: two teens find their way back to each other in a bookstore full of secrets and crushes, grief and hope—and letters hidden between the pages, standalone)
Inked Expressions by Carrie Ann Montgomery (widowed single mom of twins falls for late husband’s best friend, standalone in Montgomery Ink series
Roommates With Benefits by Nicole Williams (roommates fall in love, standalone romance)
Wicked Favor by Sawyer Bennett (she’s the sister of his sworn enemy, erotic romance, can standalone)
A Sky Full of Stars by Samantha Chase (scientist falls for his assistant, The Shaughnessy Brothers standalone)
One is a Promise by Pam Godwin (sexy love triangle, first book in Tangled Lies trilogy)
EASY by H.M. Ward (musician falls for her conductor, first book in The Ferro Family spin-off Easy series)
Lucky Charm by Carly Phillips (single dad hero, second chance romance standalone in Lucky Series)
Lucky Streak by Carly Phillips (enemies-to-lovers romance standalone in Lucky Series)
Lucky Break by Carly Phillips (accidental marriage in Vegas, standalone in Lucky Series)
Imperfect Love: Cheeky by Natasha Madison (enemies to lovers romance novella, can standalone)
Imperfect Love: Battle of the Sexes by Adriana Locke (office romance novella, can standalone)
Imperfect Love: The Run In by Kelly Elliot (office romance novella, can standalone)
Imperfect Love: Tied by Kim Karr (unexpected wedding romance novella, can standalone)
Imperfect Love: Twisted by Mandi Beck (fake relationship romance novella, can standalone)
Imperfect Love: One-Night Stand-In by T Gephart (accidental marriage in Vegas novella, can standalone)
Imperfect Love: Famed by Magan Vernon (famous heroine romance novella, can standalone)
Imperfect Love: Unsupervised by Cora Kenborn (single dad romance novella, can standalone)
Camino Island by John Grisham (conspiracies/thriller standalone)
Do Not Become Alarmed: A Novel by Maile Meloy (moving and suspenseful story on a cuise, standalone)
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (inspired by a true story of a notorious real-life scandal)
The Tutor by K. Larsen (dark romantic suspense standalone)
Sworn To Protect by Diana Gardin (second chance romance/suspense standalone in Rescue Ops series)
Shameful by M. Malone & Nana Malone (book 2 in Shameless trilogy)
Seducing Allie by Shelli Stevens (friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, can standalone)
The Owl Always Hunts at Night by Samuel Bjork (murder mystery thriller follow up to I’m Traveling Alone)
Juma by Madhuri Pavamani (urban fantasy book 2 in The Keeper Series)

LATER WEEK RELEASES (PRE-ORDER NOW):

Can’t Buy Me Love by Marie Force (small town romance standalone in Butler, Vermont Series)

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Book Review — Dating You Hating You by Christina Lauren

June 4, 2017 by Aestas · 5 Comments

“Evie’s in denial, trying to convince herself that she hates Carter.”
“Ohhhh. I like Carter…”
“You realize he’s my nemesis, right?”

This book started out as a light-hearted romantic comedy, before taking a turn into seriously angsty territory, and then rolling out incredibly important themes that made it such an relevant story to be told today. I was so impressed with this story — not only was it entertaining and enjoyable, it also sent a strong message. A truly fantastic read!

The writing was absolutely outstanding. Every few pages, I’d literally make these little notes to myself commenting on how amazing and strong the writing was. The words flowed, the characterizations and descriptions were vivid, and it all rounded out by great editing. The pacing was on point, and the story was structured in such a way where I felt like I could see everything playing in my mind like a movie. It was snappy, witty, intelligent, and addictive!

Carter and Evie were both very strong, career-driven character and I loved their chemistry. I could feel it and my heart pitter-pattered through most of their scenes together. Their draw towards each other was palatable and I really loved their romance. Plus, I felt that the story gave a really fresh, modern portrayal of adulthood.

“Hey, Evil,” he says, walking toward me.
It doesn’t feel weird to reach up and hug him.
He wraps his arms all the way around me, and I shiver a little when I feel the solidness of his body against mine.
“It’s so good to see you.”
“You too,” I say.
… I know how relationships work. My mom reminds me of this all the time, and of the balance it takes for two people to combine their lives into one. But I’ve always felt like it shouldn’t be work right away. Over time, yeah, I can see some effort needing to come into play when the honeymoon phase wears off… But initially, being with someone should feel like the best and most natural thing in the world.
I’ve never felt that chemistry before, but I definitely feel it with Carter. My blood hums just being near him, and I can’t stop grinning. He smells amazing and holds me so tight, squeezing a little more just before letting go.
Straightening, he gazes down at my face. “I think I forgot how pretty you are.”

So the story itself is about these two rival Hollywood agents who are both single — married to their work if anything. They’ve both sacrificed and worked hard to get to where they are and their respective reputations within their industry have been well earned. They’re introduced at a party one night through a mutual friend and hit it off strong.

“You know I’m hoping to kiss you later, no matter how many dorky pictures you show me.”
My heart takes off, a beating drum in the wild jungle beneath my ribs. “I’m older than you,” I blurt.
He just shrugs, like this was a completely normal thing to say. “So?”
“We’re in the same business.”
I watch him process this for a breath, and he chews on his lip before saying, “Maybe it’s not ideal, but it’s not worth staying away from you because of it.”
… “I’m notoriously married to my job.”
“That’s super convenient because so am I. It’ll be like we’re cheating on our jobs with each other.” He says this as if he’s just discovered some brilliant loophole.

After their first date confirms that their sizzling chemistry is something they both want to pursue, they’re happily and dreamily heading into dating-ville when an unexpected and shocking change uproots their lives.

Their rival agencies merge overnight and suddenly they’re being forced to compete for the same coveted position. They both need this job, they’ve both dedicated their lives to get this far, and they both have everything to lose and are determined not to give up. So their budding romance quickly turns into a competitive sabotage driven war…

“Simply put, Evelyn Abbey is my former almost-girlfriend-turned-archnemesis-turned-tentative-ally whom I would now very much like to permanently seduce…”

So… I kind of went into this book expecting the whole thing to be a light-hearted, sexy enemies-to-lovers romp — almost more of a fun, fluffy read. And yes, many parts of it were that. But there was a really cleverly-written undertone that really MADE this book in my eyes — and that was tackling the issue of sexism in the workplace. I don’t think there’s a woman alive who won’t relate on some level to what Evie went through in this book.

There is an unspoken pecking order in agenting, defined primarily by who brings in the most publicity and money — and this year, that is likely to be me.
But there are other factors, too. Such as: having a penis. Apparently that’s a big one.

At first, before I realized it to be one of the book’s themes, I was just annoyed with how her boss was treating her — I thought his misogynist treatment of her was being used as a way to stir up drama. But the more I read, the more I realized just how IMPORTANT that element of this story was. How relevant. How incredibly fucking real it was. I was MAD. ANGRY. The way her boss treated her made my blood boil. In part, my drive to keep reading was just as much a visceral desire to see him get his comeuppance as it was my investment in the romance. And I was so impressed with the way this storyline was used to bringing attention to workplace sexism. And the reason its portrayal was so well done was because of how SUBTLE it was. There were no over-the-top outrageousl things her boss did — it was aaaaaall about the subtleties and little comments, little actions. So seeing Carter come to realize what was happening and seeing him choose how to handle it was incredible satisfying as a female reader.

“Carter, look at this from my side. No one ever told a guy he needs to be nicer at work to get ahead… I tried nice, Carter,” she says, “and here I am, fighting to keep my job — a job I’m more qualified for, if we’re being honest.”

And on a lighter note, there was a lot more to this book than that theme (even though for me, that was the standout part of the story) and overall it was a really great read. I didn’t want to put it down. I was rooting for the romance and found myself strangely invested in even their work lives (which is rare for me, since usually I only really care about the romance) but I definitely credit the writing for the fact that all aspects of this story were interesting. The writing was easily 5 STARS. However, I did find both the ending and the ‘reveal’ to be predictable so while nothing really came as a surprise to me, I still have to give major kudos to the authors for making this book addictive even though I knew what was going to happen. In a perfect world, I would have wanted the ending to have a bit more of a triumphant ‘oooomph’ and to surprise me a little, but even still, it delivered a satisfying and solid ending!

This was a complete standalone told in alternating POVs in first person perspective. It had both a fun, flirty, light-hearted, and sexy side to it, as well as a much more serious and raw undertone. I really enjoyed it!

This book delivered the perfect blend of smart writing, sexy romance, and an addictive story! Whether you’re a long-time fan of these authors or you’re new to them, I’d definitely recommend trying this out!

Rating: 4.5 stars! Standalone Contemporary Romance

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