Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Release Day Review: HOME RUN by Heidi McLaughlin





HOME RUN
The Boys of Summer #2
by Heidi McLaughlin
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Published in Trade Paperback by Forever
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher










Synopsis

LOVE ISN'T A GAME . . . 

I've given up everything for the chance to play major league baseball. Everything. Now I'm so close I can practically hear the crowd chanting my name. There's nothing that could take my dream away from me . . . 

Unless I lose focus. And Ainsley Burke is the most beautiful, distracting woman I've ever met. When I'm with her, I can't think of anything else.

But no matter how much I want Ainsley, there's no room for love in my game plan. I can give her a quick tour of the bases, but that's it. Then I have to let her go. If she wants to think I'm a love 'em and leave 'em player, fine. 

All dreams require sacrifice. I just wish this one didn't mean tearing out my own heart.


My Thoughts

Heidi McLaughlin writes the type of books that keep me coming back for more. HOME RUN, is now available in paperback and it is a real page-turner. You don't have to be a baseball fan to be a fan of this story. I loved it.

It was fun to read Cooper's efforts to woo Ainsley. It all happened at a friendly pace that she didn't even know it was happening and it made it easy to fall for his character too. He is attentive and considerate - just the kind of good guy that I like to read. But, of course, not everything can be perfect. The pressures of baseball and Ainsley's own real-life pressures make their connection difficult to keep intact.  But it is the ups and downs, the angst and the struggles, and then the LOVE that brings them back together that makes HOME RUN an enjoyable read.

I loved the return of the alternating perspectives and knowing the thoughts of Cooper and Ainsley. I just adored Ainsley and her interactions with her best friend Stella. I enjoy reading the scenes between the best friends just as much as the scenes between of the romantic characters because I get to see more of Ainsley's personality.

I loved the return of the BoRe Blogger and getting a recap of the players, the game, and all of the dirty details told through the Gossip Wire. It was a fun way to transition the chapters and move the story along all while letting us know what is going on with the minor characters.

I was happy to read more about Ethan and Daisy from THIRD BASE and it made me miss them enough that I may even go back and read their story. And then there is Travis Kidd, this guy needs his own comedy show, thank goodness he now has his own book!

HOME RUN is a wonderful continuation of the Boys of Summer Series and I'm loved getting to read more books about the men of the Boston Renegades.




Disclaimer:  I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the ARC provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.




BUY THE BOOK HERE


THE BOYS OF SUMMER SERIES



THIRD BASE, #1
HOME RUN, #2
GRAND SLAM, #3






ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, Jill.

When she isn't writing one of the many stories planned for release, you'll find her sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.

Find Heidi Online

FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE



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Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Review and Giveaway: GIRL ON THE VERGE by Pintip Dunn








GIRL ON THE VERGE
by Pintip Dunn 
Publication date: June 27th 2017
Published by: Kensington
Pages: 256
Sources: XPresso Book Tours
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult
Purchase:  Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo






Synopsis:

From the author of The Darkest Lie comes a compelling, provocative story for fans of I Was Here and Vanishing Girls, about a high school senior straddling two worlds, unsure how she fits in either—and the journey of self-discovery that leads her to surprising truths.

In her small Kansas town, at her predominantly white school, Kanchana doesn’t look like anyone else. But at home, her Thai grandmother chides her for being too westernized. Only through the clothing Kan designs in secret can she find a way to fuse both cultures into something distinctly her own.

When her mother agrees to provide a home for a teenage girl named Shelly, Kan sees a chance to prove herself useful. Making Shelly feel comfortable is easy at first—her new friend is eager to please, embraces the family’s Thai traditions, and clearly looks up to Kan. Perhaps too much. Shelly seems to want everything Kanchana has, even the blond, blue-eyed boy she has a crush on. As Kan’s growing discomfort compels her to investigate Shelly’s past, she’s shocked to find how much it intersects with her own—and just how far Shelly will go to belong…

My Thoughts

 "I want us to be blood sisters."  What a creepy first line to begin a book. I love it! It sets the perfect tone for GIRL ON THE VERGE.

There is something about books with "Girl" in the title that I am drawn too. It could be the idea of self-discovery, emotional growth, finding truths, and sometimes the underlying mysteriousness that I hope will be revealed.  It is one of the reasons I wanted to read Pintip Dunn's new book.

What I liked:
  • So many secrets! This book has so many secrets. I liked the mystery and the different paths taken to reveal the secrets. 
  • The portrayal of Kan's relationship with her grandmother.  As the oldest grandchild, there are expectations that Kan had to live up to.
  • Kan's love for designing and making clothes - she has something to be passionate about
  • Ethan's appreciation of Kan's creative passion and how he viewed her before he even really knew her.
  • Did I mention the secrets? What do they all mean?

GIRL ON THE VERGE is also about friendships in high school and taking chances to stand up for your friends and to stand up for your self.

One of my favorite quotes:

"Her opinion doesn't matter. You determine who you are. Not anyone else." - I just love this. We may not always believe it, but saying it enough times can eventually make you believe it. And it's true.

 I really enjoyed GIRL ON THE VERGE. It had a different feel than Dunn's novel THE DARKEST LIE, and wasn't what I expected, but liked it just as well. Dunn is an author who will grab your attention and take you on a journey . And like my experience after reading TDL, I wish I had someone to talk about the book with. So readers, take a chance on GIRL ON THE VERGE and then hit me up, so we can discuss!
AUTHOR BIO:

Pintip Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author of YA fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL.

Pintip is represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. Her debut novel, FORGET TOMORROW, won the RWA RITA® for Best First Book. Her other novels include THE DARKEST LIE, REMEMBER YESTERDAY, and the novella BEFORE TOMORROW.

 She lives with her husband and children in Maryland. You can learn more about Pintip and her books at www.pintipdunn.com



Author links:


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Thursday, May 25, 2017

Review: THE LINE by Amie Knight





THE LINE
by Amie Knight
Publication Date: May 23, 2017
Pages:
Purchase Amazon







Synopsis

I was a thief.
The invisible girl only he could see.
The woman who wanted to be more.

He was the mark.
The extraordinary cowboy who stole my sixteen-year-old heart.
The damaged man who still owned it, even four years later.
The Line was where we began.
Where fates collided.
Where truths derailed.
The place where our love story ends.

My Thoughts

THE LINE is a wonderful story about fate, love, and finding your truths.

 There is a great amount of tenderness in THE LINE that made my heart both ache and feel full. It stirred my emotions and kept me reading well into the night. I just had to know what was going to happen between Everly and Cole. 

 What I loved:

  • Getting the backstory of how Everly and Cole met - there was an authentic sadness that immediately made me want to read more and wish that Everly would receive her HEA
  • The imagery of the peach orchard and of Preston's farm (and an awesome description of eating a juicy peach)
  • The gradual progression of Everly and Cole's romantic relationship 
  • The many ways this story made me laugh - Everly helping to swim the horses is high on the list
  • Hot times with the cowboy - yes, this has to be acknowledged, LOL!
I do wish that the cover of THE LINE gave more context to the story. While a bare chested cowboy can be nice to look at, I may not have picked up this book based on the cover alone and I would have missed out on a wonderful story.

Favorite Quotes:

 "His voice. His stories. They were like listening to the deep timbre base of my favorite song. And I didn't want to miss a beat."

 This one is sad, but I still love it: "And I knew he wanted to hold me, but there weren't enough arms in the world to hold all of my pieces."

 I really enjoyed reading THE LINE. I loved it for the emotions, for the laughs, and for the friendships, and all of the love! I'm looking forward to going back and reading Knight's debut, SEE THROUGH HEART, and whatever else she writes next.



Disclaimer:  I received this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. Quotes are taken from the e-ARC and may differ from the final published version. Thoughts and opinions are my own.


About the Author:

Amie Knight has been a reader for as long as she could remember and a romance lover since she could get her hands on her momma's books. A dedicated wife and mother with a love of music and makeup, she won’t ever be seen leaving the house without her eyebrows and eyelashes done just right. When she isn't reading and writing, you can catch her jamming out in the car with her two kids to '90s R&B, country, and showtunes. Amie draws inspiration from her childhood in Columbia, South Carolina, and can't imagine living anywhere other than the South.

Connect with Amie:


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Tuesday, May 23, 2017

NORMAL by Danielle Pearl is FREE!! (May 23 - 29)



Don't miss this bestselling new adult romance, a raw, angst-filled story of trust and abuse, heartbreak and salvation, and if they're lucky . . . love. 

*This is not a flowery romance--not for the faint of heart.*


About NORMAL

It's the kind of situation most people would dread. Starting at a new high school, in the middle of my senior year, in a new town, in a new state. I know no one. No one knows me. That's what I'm counting on . . .

LINKS TO GET YOUR COPY OF NORMAL FOR FREE!!!


From my review of NORMAL


"Oh, how I fell in love with Sam and Rory and how they grew together as a couple. He wasn't always perfect, but he came pretty close. And Rory, I wanted her to find the healing that she needed. She went through traumatic experiences that no one should ever have to experience and my heart hurt for her over and over again.

I liked how the story focused on the various ideas of what is NORMAL. And ultimately the realization that there isn't such a thing as NORMAL. There is just BEING. LIVING."

You can read my full review HERE.




What other readers are saying about NORMAL

"Normal is a riveting and magnetic story of abuse, love, and hope. One of the most thought-provoking stories I've ever read." - @bibliobelles 

"Gritty, a little dark, beautifully heart-touching with a steamy #hotromance . I recommend Normal as a must, must read!" -I Heart YA Books

"Normal opens your heart and stomps all over it, only to put it back together again, better than before. It's #feels overload!" - Young Adult Book Madness

Check out daniellepearl.com for more info!

Follow Danielle at:
On Amazon at amzn.to/1WJQUqk 



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