Monday, February 24, 2020

Review: Just One Year by Penelope Ward




SYNOPSIS
The beginning of my sophomore year in college was off to a rough start.
On the first day of orientation, I had an altercation with an infuriating British dude in a campus bathroom.
(The ladies’ room was out of order. So, I used the men’s room. Don’t judge.)
I got home later that night and realized that the foreign student we were expecting to rent a room in my parents’ house was allergic to our cat.
So, the spare room went to someone else: Caleb—the British guy from the men’s room.
And so it began…my love-hate story with Caleb Yates. Or was it hate-love in that order?

The guy knew how to push every one of my buttons.
Sometimes I’d email him to express my aggravation and disdain.
He’d actually rewrite my own words and send them back to me.
That was the type of infuriating person Caleb was.
So frustrating.
And…
Sometimes incredibly funny and endearingly sweet.
And hot.

He eventually grew on me, and Caleb soon became one of my best friends that year.
Too bad he was headed back to England soon, so nothing could happen between us—for so many reasons.
I definitely couldn't fall in love with him, especially since all we had was just one year.




4 stars
Review by Lisa Kane

Sometimes I need a romance where the characters are not fully adult, but not teenagers. Teagan is an introvert, keeping to herself even while living with her dad, stepmom and half sister. But she's always felt like the outsider, never quite part of the family. Her stepmother, Maura, has a tendency to host students to live in their rambling, very large house. At the last minute, the Chinese exchange student scheduled to live with them for the next year, is out due to his allergy to the family cat and is replaced by Caleb, a hot British student.

Caleb and Teagan's first encounter really stinks. (in more ways than one!) When they meet again, Teagan's guard is up and she's rather chilly in her reception of Caleb. Eventually the two find they have things in common. (one being a love for S'mores-who doesn't love the gooey sweet treat?)

But Caleb is close mouthed about his private life. It's obvious he has a less than ideal personal life, but what else is he hiding? Now this is Penelope Ward so expect some heart shattering. Especially when it seems that things may be getting serious with these two. Hear that sound? That's the plop of the other shoe dropping.

I wouldn't say Just One Year is dripping with angst. There's enough to make you catch your breath a few times, but not enough to throw your Kindle.

The story develops at a nice, even pace. There are just the right amount of secondary characters to add some color to the canvas, but not too many that things become a blur. Having both POV's keeps things interesting and their dual thoughts fill in the blanks. Just when I would be wondering what the motivation was for a particular action, the next chapter would be written from that character's POV. I might not always have agreed with their actions, but at the very least, I understood why they took the actions they did.

I wouldn't mind a future book featuring either Shelley or another female youngster (no spoilers here!) I think it would be fun to catch up with all the characters and these two are a hoot!



PURCHASE LINKS:
Apple Books https://fave.co/2S0THyq
Google Play  https://fave.co/2ONqJjN
Goodreads  https://fave.co/35S2B5Q



BIO:
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.
With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook
Facebook Private Fan Group:
Instagram
@penelopewardauthor
Twitter

BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD:
The Day He Came Back:
When August Ends:
Amazon Print: https://fave.co/2x37hWQ
Love Online:
Gentleman Nine:
Drunk Dial:
Mack Daddy:
RoomHate:
Stepbrother Dearest:
Neighbor Dearest:
Jaded and Tyed (A novelette):
Amazon Print only: https://fave.co/2wZo9h7
Sins of Sevin:
Jake Undone (Jake #1):
Jake Understood (Jake #2):
My Skylar:
Gemini:
BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD AND VI KEELAND:
Hate Notes:
THE RUSH DUET:
Rebel Heir (Rush, Book 1):
Rebel Heart (Rush, Book 2):
Cocky Bastard:
Amazon: https://fave.co/2RmKjmE
Stuck-Up Suit:
Playboy Pilot:
Mister Moneybags:

British Bedmate:
Park Avenue Player:

Friday, February 21, 2020

Release Blitz: Slow Dancing by Style Fantome





Title: Slow Dancing
Author: Stylo Fantôme
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 21, 2020





Blurb


A rising pop star who can't let go of her
emotional baggage, and a cocky dance partner who doesn't know what monogamy is.

She's inhibited.

He's free-spirited.

She doesn't want a relationship.

He doesn't believe in them.

She can't believe that anyone would love her.

He can't seem to stop himself from loving her.

When their differences collide and sparks
start to fly, he's sure it's the start of something amazing.

And she's sure it's the end of her career.

Who will be right?



4 stars
Review by Lisa Kane

I adore this author's writing. The Kane Series remains one of my top reads of all time. Each of her books is unique. Dark themes are explored and often times, comfort zones are pushed.

Expect that to happen more than once in this story.

Logan Cassidy is an upcoming pop star with a talent for dancing. She's managed by Bob March, a friend of her family. There's something creepy about this guy. I didn't like him; didn't trust him. Logan has far too much talent for the measure of success she's had to date, and I suspected it's because this slimy toad holds her back.

Logan is best friends with Jeremy. He brings out the playful Logan. The one that can forget for a little while how broken she really feels. Jeremy is currently fascinated by Woods, one of the dancers in Logan's show. Now this is where your reading comfort may cause some squirming in your chair. Logan is a little fascinated by Woods too. Woods is definitely interested in Logan.

Slow Dancing goes outside the usual threesome trope.  Things are complicated and secret and messy. Each one of them acts like an idiot at some time, yes, I wish I could throw a few slaps their way. More than once they made me so mad I didn't care who ended up with who or if they all ended up alone. But they all have so many issues. People are bound to mess up when they think they aren't worthy of love.

Slow Dancing is different from the other books I've read by this author. I love how she can create the most F'uped characters and make them whole!

ADD TO GOODREADS





Purchase Links

99c for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited





Excerpt

This was it. Their one-night-stand was about to officially become an
affair. Was Logan really ready for this? There would be no going back. It was
all casual to him, but she knew from experience that when all was said and
done, he would own a piece of her. Snatch it right away as he ran off to the
next person.
“You're thinking something,” Woods whispered, lips brushing hers, and his
hands moved up to her head, holding her close to him. “Something bad.”
She swallowed thickly.
“I want to know if you've slept with Jeremy again.”
“Seriously, Logan, as much as you talk about him when we're together, I'm
beginning to think he's the one you should be fucking,” he chuckled. She shook
her head.
“Okay, then, I want to know if you've slept with Lucas. Or Becca. Or the
roadie with the cigarette.”
“The who?”
Woods.
“Do you want me to lie?”
Logan went still. Licked her lips and squeezed her eyes shut.
“No.”
No, I haven't slept with anybody since you,” he said, and she
sighed as he started kissing down the side of her jaw. “But that doesn't mean I
haven't wanted to.”
“Oh?”
“I haven't because I knew it would bother you,” Woods breathed, his
tongue trailing down her neck. She let her head drop back.
“Very generous of you, sir.”
“I'm like the Santa Claus of sex.”
“Disgusting analogy, never use it again.”
Would it bother you if I did?” he asked. She opened her eyes and
stared at the ceiling.
“I don't know,” she was honest. “Yes? I wish I was as sexually open and
free and cool as you are, but I'm just … boring. I wouldn't stop you, though. I
understand. Just … maybe not do anything in front of me, please.”
He shocked her then by bursting out laughing. He stepped back and draped
his arms around her waist.
“Did you just politely ask me not to fuck around with other people in
front of you?” Woods double checked. Logan felt her cheeks go up in flames.
“I'm just trying to be nice.”
“Fuck being nice,” he shook his head. “Be honest – with me, and yourself.
If you want to cut my nuts off every time I hit on someone, tell me. If
you want to watch while I fuck Lucas on the tour bus, definitely tell
me. Why do you make everything about everyone else?”
That brought her up short.
“I … I don't,” she tried to argue, but he shook his head.
“That first night together, you were so concerned about Jeremy, about
what people would think. Same thing when we talked the other day. And just now,
it's like you don't give a shit about what you really want – so long as I'm
comfortable. I mean, sure, it's nice of you. It's too nice. Who
taught you that you shouldn't ask for the things you want?” he asked.
She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down so hard, she
whimpered. Woods noticed, his eyes dropping to her mouth. Then he leaned down
to kiss the sting.
“I don't know,” she breathed. “I don't know what I want. I don't want to
think about you sleeping with other people. But I don't want to stop you, I don't.
I … it …” she searched for the words.
“Poor lost little Logan,” he whispered, pulling at the draw string on her
shorts. “But not really lost, are you? I think I get it. People are always
treating you like this delicate little doll. Like you're breakable. But you're
not.”
“I'm not,” she groaned, pressing her forehead to his and running her
hands over his shoulders.
“People handle you like you're glass,” he kept going, and she started to
shiver.
“They do,” she agreed.
“What do you want to be handled like?”
She took a deep breath.
Barbed wire.
His hands were suddenly clenching her biceps so hard, she cried out in
pain. Pressed her palms against his chest as she stared up at him. His eyes
blazed down at her, so full of desire and danger, finally taking on a mossy
green hue.
They'd barely touched, and she was already panting.
“You better watch what you ask for. I'm not like all these other fucking
guys in your life,” he growled. “I have no fucking problem with treating you as
roughly as you can handle.”
“You think you can really do that?” she gasped, pushing him.






Author Bio


Crazy woman
from a remote location in Alaska (where the need for a creative mind is a
necessity!), I have been writing since ... forever? Yeah, that sounds about
right. I have been told that I remind people of Lucille Ball - I also see
shades of Jennifer Saunders, and Denis Leary. So basically, I laugh a lot, I'm
clumsy a lot, and I say the F-word A LOT.

I like dogs
more than I like most people, and I don't trust anyone who doesn't drink. No, I
do not live in an igloo, and no, the sun does not set for six months out of the
year, there's your Alaska lesson for the day. I have mermaid hair - both a
curse and a blessing - and most of the time I talk so fast, even I can't
understand me.

Yeah. I
think that about sums me up.


Author Links

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