Book Release Blast for Textual Relations by Lauren Rowe (REVIEW)……

 Readers looking for a charming and steamy age-gap romance will get all that and more with this fleshed-out story of a past novella.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Textual Relations by Lauren Rowe, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf!

Grayson McKnight

I haven’t been having much luck on the dating scene lately, ever since my breakup with my longtime college girlfriend. I thought being twenty-five and single would be a blast, but dating apps are trash and I’ve managed to get nothing but three fake numbers at my favorite bar.
Thankfully, the actual owner of the third fake number was kind enough to reply to let me know I’d texted the wrong number. She was warm and open and expressed curiosity about the fake number I’d been given, so we got to texting. She gave me some flirting advice, so I can get a real number next time. But she was so hot when dispensing her advice, and also so kind, I saved her as Hot Teacher in my phone and mustered the courage to ask her for drinks tonight. Not to get more advice, but to persuade her to give me a shot herself. And she said yes. Well, actually, she said maybe. But I honestly think she’s coming.
Sight unseen, I’m already far more attracted to Hot Teacher than anyone I’ve met on the dating scene, so I’m going to pull out all the stops tonight, if she comes to the bar. The thing is, I might be shy and terrible at flirting, but if Hot Teacher gives me a shot, I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to surprise her behind closed doors. I’ve been studying up so diligently since my breakup, in fact, I’m pretty damned sure I’d be able to blow her beautiful mind, if only she’ll give me the chance.
Textual Relations is a steamy older woman/younger man romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud, fan yourself, and swoon your way to Grayson and Selena’s happily ever after.
NOTE: Portions of the full-length novel, Textual Relations, originally appeared in Lauren Rowe's much shorter novella, Wrong Number, Right Guy, that was only briefly available.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

An expansion of an earlier novella, Ms. Rowe has fleshed-out the characters while still retaining the charm of this older woman/younger man romance.  In a story with a theme that is one of my favorites, Ms. Rowe nicely balances a cute and clever beginning with a sensuous connection that slowly evolves with each turn of the page.  While some of the dialogue gets a bit cheesy in later parts of the story, I found the text messaging between the lead characters to be the real winner here.

Grayson McKnight is a decadently delightful hero, one who's having a hard time with the current single's scene as he's a bit of a dork and having trouble navigating today's dating scene.  I found him an endearing hero though and would've been content with just a relationship full of text messaging.  I enjoyed seeing the ease he and Selena texted with one another and enjoyed seeing Grayson become more confident as time went on.  Though some would say these two are opposites, it's clear they were meant to be together in a relationship that was a bit predictable and cheesy at times, but was still satisfying.

Readers looking for a sweet and sensual tale will get just that with this age-gap romance featuring a near-perfect hero and an engaging build-up for the main couple.  Ms. Rowe definitely did it up right with her expansion of a past novella, an expansion that will please long-time fans while gaining new ones!

My rating for this is a B.

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Lauren Rowe is the USA Today and international #1 best-selling author of bestselling Standalone Smitten, The Reed Rivers Trilogy, as well as The Club Trilogy, The Josh & Kat Trilogy, The

 Morgan Brothers Series, Countdown to Killing Kurtis, and select standalone Misadventures.

Lauren's books are full of feels, humor, heat, and heart. Besides writing novels, Lauren is the singer in a party/wedding band in her hometown of San Diego, an audiobook narrator, and award-winning songwriter. She is thrilled to connect with readers all over the world.

To find out about Lauren’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for Lauren’s emails HERE!

To learn more about Lauren Rowe & her books, visit HERE!

Email Lauren HERE.

Book Blast for Campus God by Jennifer Sucevic (REVIEW)…..

 An athlete adored by every woman on campus except for one, a woman he's always been at odds with, finds a sudden attraction bubbling up between them in this steamy New Adult romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Campus God by Jennifer Sucevic, along with my impressions of this fourth installment in the Campus series, then add it to your bookshelf!

Crosby Rhodes is considered a god when it comes to Western Wildcats football.And who knows, he might just be one. There’s certainly no shortage of girls on campus who agree with the sentiment. They swoon over his pretty face, dark messy hair, and hard body honed from years of lifting and two-a-day practices. That alone makes him catnip for the female species.Add a lip ring and surly disposition to the package and you can understand what all the fuss is about.

Would I be included in that majority?
Hell, no.
As far as I’m concerned, Crosby can eat shit and die. The guy is a major jerk. Not to mention, a pain in my assets. And that’s putting it nicely. For reasons I’ve never understood, he goes out of his way to humiliate and hurt me. His barbed comments are always a direct hit before exploding on impact.
I’d love to know what I did to elicit such hatred but that would involve conversing with him and I refuse to do that. There’s only one more semester before graduation. Surely, we can get through the next six months without coming to blows.
That’s the hope, anyway.
Which is exactly why I’m thrown off guard when my nemesis pulls me aside and suggests a truce. Do I necessarily trust him after everything he’s put me through?
Nope. For the time being, I’ll agree so there can once again be peace in the kingdom all the while keeping him at a firm distance. Except that turns out to be impossible. Everywhere I go, there he is. It’s like I can’t get away from him. More shocking than that, he’s actually being nice.
If stomping out the underlying attraction that constantly flared to life between us was difficult before, it’s all but impossible now. But that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’ve been burned by one athlete, I’ll be damned if I allow it to happen again.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Having read a previous installment in this series I was eager to read this one...and in many ways it didn't disappoint.  The best part of this story is its heroine, Brooke, a young woman who's immensely likable with a strong will but a bruised self-esteem from years of body shaming from her mother.  She's determined and focused, with big plans for the future that don't rely on her looks.  She's unlucky in love when readers first see her courtesy of a boyfriend who's been cheating on her the entire time they've been together.  All she wants is a committed relationship, somebody there just for her, but it's clearly not Andrew...the best friend/teammate to Crosby, the most wanted man on campus (and in the bedroom).  Theirs is ultimately a rocky break-up, but it leads to a charming and unexpected connection between Brooke and someone you'd never expect. She and Crosby may start out as enemies but their connection is sizzling from the very beginning as it progresses down a bumpy road to HEA.

This wasn't a perfect book though and that's because of Crosby and his actions that often left me feeling conflicted.  When readers first see him he seems like the proverbial playa, a womanizer who can have any woman he wants.  There's one woman he's never shown any flirtations towards however...and that's Brooke.  Even though he was often arrogant, his kindness still showed through as someone who's supportive and caring of those he claims as his.  That's why I was especially saddened by his nastiness towards Brooke. His words were cruel and felt unnecessary.  I understand he was trying to hide his real feelings for Brooke while she was with his friend, but his cruelty felt over-the-top.  As the two of them grew closer together he tried to prove himself worthy of her, tried to earn his forgiveness, but it never felt enough to me to make up for his years of bad behavior towards her.

Ultimately, the overall premise of this book was nothing new and had a familiar feel that made for a speedy read that left me wanting a bit more.  There was great banter while Crosby and Brooke were texting, sizzling exchanges, but for me the ending didn't quite equal the charm and feeling of love from early in their relationship.  Despite that this is still a satisfying read with an appealing heroine and a sexy hero who find HEA after an angsty journey that is a nice addition to the series!

My rating for this is a B.

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Jennifer is a USA Today bestselling author who has published seventeen New Adult and Mature Young Adult novels. Her novels have been translated into both German and Dutch. Audiobooks are also in the works. She has a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She spent five years working as a high school counselor before relocating with her family. Jennifer lives in the Midwest with her husband and four children.

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Book Release Blitz for Hers to Tame by Avery Samson (REVIEW)......

 Opposites attract in this charming tale of a playboy and a quiet literature teacher when he discovers that the way to her heart is through books.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Hers to Tame by Avery Samson, along with getting my impressions of this third installment in the Sideswiped series, which will have you wanting to add it to your bookshelf!

Maggie Emerson has known Colin Rhett since meeting him in her friend’s swimming pool her freshman year of college. Everyone knows the playboy with the movie star good looks. They also know he goes through women with barely a second thought. So what does she do when he appeals to the literature teacher in her? She gives him a book, of course. What about when he doesn’t stop at one? Maybe the Colin everyone thinks they know is really much deeper than anybody gives him credit for. If she looks, really looks at him, will she find the man of her dreams or that same playboy she thought he always was?

Colin is a successful attorney with a different woman every week, but what he really wants is the one woman he can’t have. All he has wanted since that fateful day in the swimming pool six years ago is to be her hero, but there was always a reason holding him back. Will this finally be his chance to prove to her that he can be the man she needs? If he has to read every damn book in the bookstore, he’s going to fight this time for that right.

BUY here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Though this is the third installment in the Sideswiped series that shouldn't stop readers who haven't read this series before from picking this one up.  Delightful dialogue, steamy interactions, and a connection teeming with sexual tension fuels this story and kept me fully engaged from the first page to the last.  By the turn of the final page I was ready to dive into more books by Ms. Samson, ready to be charmed even more by her crackling banter and sweet and sexy exchanges.

At the start of this story Colin Rhett doesn't make a good first impression as I found him to be an arrogant manwhore early on, a lawyer who's a bit quick to anger.  I couldn't picture a man like him paired up with the kind and likable Maggie, but once he committed to making her his he went above and beyond to win her over in a journey of text messages, heartfelt talks, and other endearing actions that put a smile on my face.  Throughout their time together Colin slowly won me over too.  He'd been attracted to Maggie for years, but with her being younger he held off in claiming her.  Once he sees her again though, after years apart, he commits to claiming her in an endearing journey of second chances that made for a charming romance.  It's a charming connection that brought out his protective side, brought out a flirty and playful nature that just felt right.

Maggie Emerson is best friend to Lily which means seeing Lily's brother (the sexy playboy Colin) from time to time.  From the moment she first laid eyes on Colin, Maggie has always been attracted to him, even though she knew he was not the commitment type and lived far away from her which made commitment even more difficult.  She can at least admire him from afar though and does so from the moment he decides to woo her in a journey of text messages and literary flirtations. Theirs is a romance full of sexual tension with their interactions growing ever steamier amidst their verbal foreplay. Through it all Maggie was an immensely appealing heroine, a straightforward young woman who brought out the best in Colin in a journey that warmed my heart.

This was a quick read, one with witty banter and sweet and sexy interactions.  It featured two apparent opposites who made an entertaining and endearing match in a romance that was decadently delightful and that still has me smiling long after the final page was turned.

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Avery Samson grew up on a ranch outside of a small west Texas town. Since she could remember, she’s had her face stuck in a book. She left ranch life to attend Texas Christian University where she studied History and English receiving her Bachelor’s degree.

After living all over the state of Texas, she now finds herself back on one of the family ranches near Dallas with her husband surrounded by cattle. When not traveling or reading, she spends her time writing.

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Book Tour for Wrong Text, Right Love by Claudia Burgoa.... (REVIEW)

After an unforgettable exchange, two people find a connection that they dance around every step of the way with witty banter and strong personalities.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Wrong Text, Right Love by Claudia Burgoa, along with my impressions of it, then add this rom-com to your bookshelf too!

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa presents an engaging love story full of mistaken identity, drunk texts, and hysterical mishaps.

Sex talk is my job. I’m an influencer. I run a popular blog where I give all kinds of dating tips, and girls all over the world thank me for helping them with their love lives.

I wish I could follow my own advice because my love life is totally dead. I just drunk texted my ex-boyfriend…except, I didn’t. That text ended up going to someone else.

Oops.

This new relationship is almost picture-perfect, just like my online life. I guess I give good…text.

He doesn’t have to put up with my colorful personality--as my hot next-door neighbor describes me. Or my messy schedule.

This long-distance relationship is the best thing that’s happened to me and I plan to keep it that way.

Until we agree to meet up, and I’m freaking out.

When he meets the real me, will he hate me forever?

Or will we be one day telling our grandkids about that wrong text, right love?

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (US)  |  BN  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO  |  AMAZON (UNIVERSAL)  |  GOOGLE PLAY

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

When I first started this book I was immediately caught up in the fun and flirty connection between two people full of doubts when it comes to love and commitment.  I was immediately caught up in their witty banter, their unforgettable early exchanges, and their slow burn in discovering where true love lies.  Not only is romantic love dealt with but so too is that of family and in the talented hands of Ms. Burgos it's a delightful tale.  From the first page to the last this story put a smile on my face, and a warmth to my heart, and I still get a chuckle or two when I think of it.

Ford Chadwick is a larger than life hero, a sexy yet brooding man who's views on love and relationships have him getting thrown out of a bedroom at the start of this story.  Seeing his parent's marriage implode as a child has him keeping far away from love and commitment as an adult.  For him, he just wants the honesty of sex and nothing more, but when he gets an unexpected text it will forever change his views on matters of the heart.  What starts out as a mistakenly sent text soon becomes a humorous back and forth between two guarded people who slowly reveal more and more about themselves under the guise of anonymity.  Add in an intriguing new neighbor next door and the sparks practically leap off the page as the push/pull between them slowly builds into a bonfire.  Ford's a bit of a jerk early on as someone who prefers being left alone, someone who barely tolerates his step-siblings, and someone who lives his life for himself.  As the story progresses though readers get to see a more caring side, an endearing side that had me aching over his trust issues and cheering him on to open his heart to the possibilities.  Opening his heart to romance also has him dealing more fully with his family in a secondary storyline that was satisfying and endeared him to me too.

Persephone "Persy" Brassard's a strong-willed heroine, a social media influencer who seems to have a perfect life as she travels the world while living life to the fullest.  She's bold, sassy, and good at helping others find their inner happiness.  Behind the larger than life image the world sees though is a woman recently left bruised by a break-up.  Two years of dating the same man put thoughts of love and marriage in her head, but instead she was left with a broken heart and a blow to her self-esteem as he disparaged her career on his way out the door.  To save that career, a career that has her addressing the issue of love both in a relationship and of yourself, Persy ends up in a complex juggling of the heart between the grumpy neighbor next door and the intriguing man who she's been texting.  Through each text, through all the funny banter, she reawakens her belief in herself and finds a true HEA from someone who looks to be her exact opposite...but who couldn't be more perfect for her.

This was a charming, heartwarming, and funny tale of romance between strangers, romance between friends, and love for family.  It's a beautiful balancing act that Ms. Burgoa undertakes here and it kept me glued to the pages, reading non-stop, and then wanting to go back and read it all over again.  The main couple is crackling in all of their scenes together, giving off heat that I was desperately waiting to see finally culminate.  The secondary characters were well-fleshed out too and helped readers discover other sides to the main couple and left me wanting to see more of them in the future.  From its clever banter, to its delightful main couple, to heartwarming depictions of love and HEA, this romance was wholeheartedly entertaining and I recommend it to all those wanting a fun and flirty story full of heart and soul!

My rating for this is an A.

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Colorado, working for a small IT. She has three children and manages a chaotic household of two confused dogs, and a wonderful husband who shares her love of all things geek. To survive she works continually to find purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she consumes high quantities of chocolate to keep the last threads of sanity intact.

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