Snowed Over by Angie Stanton

Title:  Snowed Over

Author: Angie Stanton

My Rating: 4 Stars

Purchase: Amazon Kindle  B&N Nook

To college student, Katie Brandt, ‘Home for the Holidays’ sounds like hell. When her parents separated, their holiday traditions shattered like a dropped ornament. What could be worse than celebrating Christmas with her suddenly single mom and mom’s new boyfriend?

Alex Walker, an engaged 20-year-old, dreads going home for his own reasons. He has a daunting task ahead of him and wishes he could skip the holidays altogether. So when a friend of a friend needs a ride north, Alex finds that having beautiful Katie seated by his side proves to be just the distraction he needs.

A simple ride home for Christmas turns into a nightmare when light snow rages into a full-scale blizzard. Katie and Alex find themselves stranded, and a vacant cabin becomes a haven from the storm. Under different circumstances, time alone with Alex would be the ultimate Christmas gift, but Katie knows Alex is engaged and she must hide her growing attraction.

However, Alex harbors a secret that just might change this holiday from the worst Christmas ever, to the best.

My thoughts:

I love Angie Stanton's books. Being from WI, I love that she writes about places in WI and that I not only know where they are and how to pronounce them, but it helps me relate to the story more.

Snowed Over was no exception. Not only could I relate in terms of location but also weather. In WI is gets pretty cold and as I read this book, I could literally feel the cold as they experienced it.

Snowed Over was a very cute novella. I loved the story. I loved the characters. And I loved the ending. I would definitely be interested in hearing more of Alex and Katie's adventures.

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The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

Title:  The Perfect Game

Author: J. Sterling

My Rating: 5 Stars

Purchase: Amazon Kindle   B&N Nook

 

He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

My thoughts:

I live and breathe baseball. 99% of my free time in the spring, summer and fall is spent watching my boys either play or practice baseball. So when J. Sterling said she was writing a book where one of the main characters was a baseball player, I about jumped out of my seat in anticipation. Then when she asked me to read an advanced copy, I about peed my pants. I am honored, elated, and nervous that this review will not do it justice.

In short, I LOVED it! I devoured it. It provided a rollercoaster of emotions that brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face.

First, we have Jack Carter, the infamous baseball player. Egotistical, cocky, a typical player...I hate him. No, I love him. No, no...I REALLY hate him. No wait...I love him.  Ack! I couldn't make up my mind. His actions and choices had me swooning one minute and then the next I wanted to punch him in the face. In the end, he won me over, but it was quite the ride.

Next we have Cassie Andrews. Fiesty, fun, and a talented photographer...she's been hurt in the past by people she loves and when Jack shows a liking to her, she has a hard time letting him in.

I think that where J. Sterling really shined was in her ability to create side characters you could love and and characters you could hate. Melissa (besides having an awesome name) was supportive, caring, and critical to the story line. She was everything a best friend should be. And then there is Chrystle. I think Chrystle can be added to my list of favorite characters to hate. From the minute she was introduced in the story, she made my skin crawl. I wanted to punch her, I wanted to scream at her, and she was the reason that I almost threw my Kindle against the wall.

I really think that Miss Sterling has grown in her writing in The Perfect Game. She allowed characteristics of herself to shine through the characters, she stepped out of the box with a couple sex scenes, and her level of writing has matured.

I gave this book 5 stars for it's ability to grab my attention, hold my attention, and keep me entertained. It was in J. Sterling's ability to physically make me cry that the 5th star was awarded. The fact that I could relate to the characters in such a way to hurt when they hurt and cry when they cry was the turning point for me.

I recommend this book to anyone that wants a love story with character, a little bit a angst, emotion, and an ending that will leave you satisfied.

And if you are interested in winning prizes for the release of this book, head on over to
http://www.j-sterling.com/ and check out the party Jenn has going on.

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Cover Reveal: The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

I am so excited to be a part of the cover reveal for J. Sterling's newest book The Perfect Game, coming out in early October!  And because I can't contain my excitement, I am just going to jump right in and show you the cover:

 

Holy sweet mother of pearl!!  Isn't is gorgeous?  I can't quit staring at it.  And it is about BASEBALL!!!  Anyone who knows me well, knows that this book will be right up my alley as I spend 99% of my free time in the spring, summer, and fall watching my own boys play baseball. 

"Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful..."

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.


Please note: This is a MATURE YOUNG ADULT / NEW ADULT novel suitable for ages 17+
Contains strong language and sexual situations & references

Add The Perfect Game to your Goodreads

Read a Teaser from The Perfect Game

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Crash by Nicole Williams

Title:  Crash

Author: Nicole Williams

My Rating: 5 Stars

Purchase for Amazon Kindle

 

Summary (from Goodreads.com):

Southpointe High is the last place Lucy wanted to wind up her senior year of school. Right up until she stumbles into Jude Ryder, a guy whose name has become its own verb, and synonymous with trouble. He's got a rap sheet that runs longer than a senior thesis, has had his name sighed, shouted, and cursed by more women than Lucy dares to ask, and lives at the local boys home where disturbed seems to be the status quo for the residents. Lucy had a stable at best, quirky at worst, upbringing. She lives for wearing the satin down on her ballet shoes, has her sights set on Juilliard, and has been careful to keep trouble out of her life. Up until now.

Jude's everything she needs to stay away from if she wants to separate her past from her future. Staying away, she's about to find out, is the only thing she's incapable of.

For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love's about to become the thing that tears them apart.

My Review:

Nicole Williams has done it again! Each and every book she writes, she manages to pull at my emotions and make me fall in love with the characters. CRASH and Jude Ryder are no exception to this!

Nicole Williams hooked me as a fan for life with her Eden series so I jumped the second this book came out. Unfortunately, life kept me from devouring it right away. It was excruciating seeing all the reviews come in about it being so great and there I sat only at 16% with no time to go any further. So the first weekend I had free of baseball, I designated as "sit on my a$$" weekend and I was able to delve into the book and immerse myself in the world of Jude and Lucy.

And what a world it was! I loved Jude, I hated Jude. I felt sorry for Lucy, I wanted to slap Lucy. I loved Sawyer, I hated Sawyer. My emotions were all over the place and I wasn't sure which way I wanted them to go. The minute I thought I knew, a wrench was thrown in and I changed my mind.

This book was pure perfection to me. Bad boy, good girl, sketchy pasts, frustration, angst, love, and an ending that pulls it all together in a satisfying way.

If you love Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire or Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, I highly recommend you read this book. If you like a story with a bad boy/good girl combination, I highly recommend this book. Heck, if you like a book that will grab you and keep you entertained until the end, I highly recommend this book.

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Book Synopsis: Don't Panic by Lindsay Paige

Young author, Lindsey Paige has just released the synopsis of her new book, DON'T PANIC that is due out in ebook form this October.

Samantha Branson is having severe anxiety attacks. Her heart beats unusually fast, her breath quickens and her hands sweat. Every detail screams in the head that she is the center of unwanted attention. Everyone can hear her thoughts, her heart and her breathing. The silence of the classroom is so loud that focus is impossible. 

After an attack lands her in the wrong bathroom, Sam meets Eli who offers to provide help. Faced with the return of her possessive ex-boyfriend and the blossoming of a new romance, Sam must find the strength inside herself to face her anxieties head on.

Be sure to add this one to your Goodreads shelf so you can jump on it when it is released!  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13224625-don-t-panic

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Chance Encounters by J. Sterling

Title:  Chance Enounters

Author: J. Sterling

My Rating: 4 Stars

Purchase for Amazon Kindle

 

 

Summary (from Goodreads.com):

Caroline Weber was a normal girl who thought she had her life figured out. After graduating from college in New York, she moved to San Francisco with her boyfriend, Clay. Everything in her life felt perfect. There wasn't anything she would change...

...until she met Jackson Parks.

Is it possible that a chance meeting with a stranger can make you question EVERYTHING you thought you wanted? Caroline tries to carry on with her life as if nothing has changed...but the truth is, nothing can ever be the same.

Chance Encounters is an emotional love story about trusting and following your heart, even when it's leading you down a difficult path.

Sometimes other hearts have to break in order to keep yours intact.

My Review:

I love YA and I love contemporary romance - this book is like getting both in one. It is written in a YA style but the characters are older than your typical YA book. a.k.a This book is right up my alley.

Chance Encounters is about love at first site, it's about wondering if you are with the right person, it is about taking chances, and it is about breaking hearts. I think my favorite line from the book was "Sometimes other hearts have to break in order to keep yours intact."

I have been in a bit of a book slump lately, with it taking me far too long to get through a book. I started this book and finished it within 24 hrs. The story was sweet, emotional, and entertaining - the perfect mix to break my reading slump.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves a love triangle, love at first sight, and a happily ever after. Can't wait to read more from Miss Sterling!

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Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title:  Obsidian

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

My Rating: 4 Stars

Purchase for Amazon Kindle

 

 

Summary (from Goodreads.com):

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

My Review:

This was the first book I have read by Jennifer Armentrout, and it did not disappoint. It had hot guys, aliens, sexual frustration...wait, did I say aliens? Yep, but not the little green slimy ones. These are the hot, hot, hot ones, and boy do they have an attitude!

I loved this book, the characters, the story line, everything kept me glued to my Kindle and laughing out loud more than once.

I recommend this to anyone and everyone!

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