Jessica Samuelsen's Blog, page 7

Review – Merger to Marriage by Addison Fox

Merger to Marriage by Addison Fox
Series: ,
Published by Entangled Publishing on May 13, 2013
Pages: 166
Source: Publisher

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

One night of passion... Mayson McBride has spent the last decade restoring her family’s magazine empire with her two sisters. She loves what she does, but she can’t shake the feeling something’s missing. Which is why she jumps at the chance–incognito–for a single night of no-strings-attached sex with Holt Turner.

A once in a lifetime connection...Holt’s been unable to forget the woman he shared one night of explosive passion, and he’s thrilled to get reacquainted with her at a weekend house party. What he doesn’t expect are the immediate feelings of need and desire–emotions he keeps firmly in check–upon their reunion.

A forever commitment...When Mayson and Holt’s single night together leads to unexpected consequences, both must decide what matters most. Especially when a threat from Holt’s past promises to ruin their relationship before it’s barely begun.

Mayson McBride works hard on her family’s magazine with her sister. When her sister gets married she takes a chance on Holt Turner. One night of passion is all she needs to get him out of her system. Neither of them is really looking at forever though Mayson is starting to want that something more. When a surprise from there night happens things change. Mayson will get to be the mother she always wanted but Holt sees it as an opportunity to make a merger with marriage. There is an important deal he is trying to land to make amends of the past and being married to Mayson would seal the deal. Mayson wants more than a merger in her marriage.

In an Oyster Shell – It is a creative romance that has tantalizing conflict and strong-headed characters that make for a relationship full of sparks.

The Pearls – I like the strong female character that we find in Mayson. She sets the tone of the book with the help of her sisters. She’s creative and beautiful and stands her own against Holt’s all business ways. Holt has an interesting past that really ties the story together. The two characters together make a beautiful story.

The story premise is a good one. Two people coming together for longer than they planned. A one night fling turns to something more. Overcoming the past to get something better.

The romance is sweet though catalyzed into a steamy romance. They go back an forth as they figure things out and learn from each other. Each challenging the other to something more.

The Sand –  Not a clean romance.

3.5 Pearls

About Addison Fox

Addison Fox can’t remember a time when words weren’t a part of her life. In addition to being an avid reader, she loves writing novels about strong-willed and exciting heroes and heroines – individuals who are meant for each other and who deserve their happy ever after. After she makes them work for it, of course!

First published in 2010, Addison has written across romance genres including paranormal, contemporary and romantic suspense. A romantic at heart, she’ll take her heroes any way she can get them – from ancient warriors to computer geeks to sexy cowboys. She’s not picky – but she is deeply grateful her readers are willing to come along for the ride.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Review – Baby on The Bad Boy’s Doorstep by Victoria James

Baby on the Bad Boy's Doorstep by Victoria James
Series: , ,
Published by Entangled: Bliss on February 12th 2018
Pages: 143
Source: Publisher

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

Connor O'Leary knows nothing about babies, families, or good women, yet he's up to his ears in all three. Coming to Shadow Creek, Montana was meant to be a new start for this former oil rigger, but he had no idea that fresh beginning would include a baby on his doorstep and a hot nanny he can't stop thinking about. Diapers, feedings, and late nights soothing his little bundle of surprise were definitely not on his itinerary.

The last thing Haley Thomson expected to see is the reclusive Connor with a baby in his arms. Before she knows it, she's volunteered as nanny—temporarily. Helping out with baby Rosie is a dream come true and fills a space in her heart she believed will never be filled. But falling for Rosie's hot and sexy bachelor daddy is not on her to-do list…but boy would she ever like it to be...

Connor O’Leary feels like an outsider looking in at the weekly family gatherings in Shadow Creek. He watches Haley Thomson from a distance knowing he will never be good enough for her. One night he goes home and finds a baby on his doorstep. He is at a loss for what to do never having thought of family. Haley comes to the rescue as his nanny. It’s hard not to pretend that they are not like a family. Their pasts threaten the harmony in the home Haley is making for Connor and baby Rosie.

In an Oyster Shell – A sweet romance with an adorable baby that encourages me with a positive message of two people overcoming hard pasts.

The Pearls – A bad boy and a baby sign me up! I was so excited for this novel it had an intriguing premise and I was not disappointed. The small town setting added even more appeal. I would like to read more books in this series.

I liked that Connor and Haley are troubled. They have pasts to overcome and they challenge each other. They are flawed which makes them easy to relate to. The supporting characters were distinctive and added depth to the stories. I believe they are from previous books in the series and I would like to go back and read their stories. That is a rarity for me.

The romance was sweet and it was fairly clean. There was a lot of turmoil between the two which made the love relationship more interesting. The conflict at the end was intense and I enjoyed it. It added complexity to the story raising the bar on this romance.

The Sand – It was a good book.

About Victoria James

Victoria James is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Victoria always knew she wanted to be a writer and in grade five, she penned her first story, bound it (with staples and a cardboard cover) and did all the illustrations herself. Luckily, this book will never see the light of day again.

In high school she fell in love with historical romance and then contemporary romance. After graduating University with an English Literature degree, Victoria pursued a degree in Interior Design and then opened her own business. After her first child, Victoria knew it was time to fulfill her dream of writing romantic fiction.

Victoria is a hopeless romantic who is living her dream, penning happily-ever-after’s for her characters in between managing kids and the family business. Writing on a laptop in the middle of the country in a rambling old Victorian house would be ideal, but she’s quite content living in suburbia with her husband, their two young children, and very bad cat.

Website | Twitter | Amazon

Blog Tour with Review – The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon

The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon
Series: ,
on February 5th 2018
Pages: 242
Source: Publisher

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

Nina Barnes thinks Valentine’s Day should be optional. That way single people like her wouldn’t be subjected to kissy Cupids all over the place. That is, until her mom moves them next door to the brooding hottie of Greenbrier High, West Smith. He’s funny, looks amazing in a black leather jacket, and he’s fluent in Harry Potter, but she’s not sure he’s boyfriend material.

West isn’t sure what to make of Nina. She’s cute and loves to read as much as he does, but she seems to need to debate everything and she has a pathological insistence on telling the truth. And West doesn’t exactly know how to handle that, since his entire life is a carefully constructed secret. Dating the girl next door could be a ton of fun, but only if Nina never finds out the truth about his home life. It’s one secret that could bring them together or rip them apart.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book is not for anyone who has to get in the last word, but it is for all book nerds, especially those who live next door to so called unapproachable gorgeous guys. There’s no debating the chemistry.

Nina Barnes is disgruntled that Valentine’s is coming up and her brother is trying to get her a date. She gets out of the date by being tricked into agreeing to go to the dance with her neighbor West Smith. West Smith is not looking for any complications and a relationship with Nina would be just that. He is surprised when he finds her cute bookish ways interesting along with her incessant need to debate. West has secrets to keep getting closer to Nina could reveal them.

In An Oyster Shell –  It was a cute romance that starred a bookworm a character that is sure to worm her way right into the reader’s heart.

The Pearls – The book is well crafted from the title to the last sentence. There was thoughtful humor with a touch of real-life problems that made this a well-balanced book.  

The characters were easy to love. Nina was an adorable bookworm and Wes her compliment the broody guy next door who could share her love of Harry Potter. The supporting characters added a nice depth to the story. I especially liked Nina’s mom. She balanced out the story nicely.

The romance was great. I liked that it commenced halfway through the book and they had to work the rest of the story to figure things out. I like that they had an element of friendship and camaraderie that made for a great foundation of the romance.

The Sand – It was a good book!

4.5 Pearls!

 

Blog Tour With Review What The Valley Knows by Heather Christie

What The Valley Knows

Heather Christie

Publication date: January 25th 2018

Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Millington Valley is a quintessential small Pennsylvania town: families go back generations. Football rules. Kids drink while adults look the other way. High school is a whirlwind of aspiration and rivalry, friendship and jealousy.

When smart and pretty Molly Hanover moves to town and attracts the attention of the football team’s hero, Wade Thornton—a nice guy with a bad drinking habit—longtime friendships are threatened and a popular cheerleader tries to turn the school against Molly.

The young couple’s future is shattered when Wade, drunk, wrecks his truck and Molly is thrown through the windshield. She wakes from a coma to find her beauty marred and her memory full of holes. As she struggles to heal, she becomes sure that something terrible happened before the accident. And there is somebody in the valley who doesn’t want her to remember.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Review: 

In an Oyster Shell –  This is a really good book. I would not reccomend this book to everyone because it does have some disturbing content that may be a trigger for some. I feel like the content was handled really well and served a greater purpose beyond just being put in for entertainment value. For others that would not be triggered, I highly reccomend this book for it was really well done.

The Pearls – The title and the book blurb were so ominous it intruiged me. What The Valley Knows is just gripping and spooky in it self. I like that this book had an element of suspense along with a trace of romance. It was everything I had hoped for and more.

There are multiple themes in the books which I really enjoyed. Some are disturbing some are not as much. I feel like the author brought to light some very touchy subjects that need to be talked about more. I commend her for doing such a good job on handling hard subject matter so elequontly.

The characters were outstanding. My favorite character was Molly’s mom. She emulated all the real emotions of what a mother would go through like with what happened in the book. I liked that Wade was a star football player that has some major issues addressed in the book. The characters are deeply flawed but relatable. It makes you turn the pages faster cheering for them while you try to find how their story ends.

The Sand – There was some language that I did not care for. The end was not my favorite.

Author Bio:

Heather Christie grew up in rural Pennsylvania and, at age seventeen, took off for New York City in hopes of becoming a movie star. Flash forward several decades, a couple degrees, a bunch of cats, two kids and one husband later, she’s back in Pennsylvania writing her heart out and chasing dreams again. She loves to read, run, drink tea, and make Sunday dinner. Follow her blog at www.HeatherChristieBooks.com and say “hello” on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour with Review – Right Kiss Wrong Guy by Natalie Decker

Right Kiss Wrong Guy by Natalie Decker
on January 23, 2018
Genres: YA, Romance
Pages: 313
Source: Chapter by Chapter

I received this book for free from Chapter by Chapter in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

You'd think a girl with the most romantic name in the world would have her pick of boyfriends.

But Valentine's Day sucks when you're single. Just ask Juliet Valentine, whose last name happens to also be the name of the most dreaded made-up holiday ever.

A romantic at heart, this year is especially hard on Juliet. Her sister, Layla, is in a new relationship, her mom's match-making business is doing great, and her school's new fundraiser is "Love-Grams."

Juliet's miserable, a little jealous, and lonely.

Quarterback Jared Black is the most popular guy in school. A star athlete, Jared tops the most-eligible bachelor list year after year. But to Juliet Valentine, he's all but invisible. She isn't impressed.

Jared's never had to work hard to get the attention of a girl before. Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and he's determined to ask Juliet out. After all, if Tyler can win over Layla, Jared ought to have a shot with Layla's sister.

Unlike Tyler and Layla, charm, flattery and good looks won't work on Juliet. So with the V-Day dance coming up, Jared uses the school’s Love-Grams to let Juliet know how he feels. Should be simple enough, right?

Wrong. Each attempt ends up either in the trash or thrown in someone's face. Juliet won't play his game.

Now, without a date to the dance Jared realizes it’s going to take a Hail Mary to win the girl of his dreams.

Juliet Valentine is reeling from having her heart broken by a football player who kissed someone else at the last school dance. Jared Black has had his eyes on Juliet forever. He is kicking himself that he let someone else get to Juliet first. She has sworn off football players for good. Jared is the star quarterback. When Jared uses the school fundraiser for sending Love grams to her. She thinks they are from her ex and she is infuriated. Jared is finding winning her heart hard to do.

In an Oyster Shell – A fun romance with great characters.

The Pearls – I love a good romance and this book fits the bill. I love a character with the last name of Valentine and the theme of Valentine’s day throughout the book. The concept was what drew me to the book and I was not disappointed.

There was a lot of inner conflicts that made for the compelling story. Jared was always fighting something. Whether it was for Juliet’s attention or his dad’s approval. I felt for the guy but it made for an entertaining read.

The romance was sweet. Jared had it bad for Juliet and he fought hard for her. Juliet was a tough cookie to crack. There were lots of little side romances that open up to the next book. I can’t wait to read it.

The Sand –  Juliet was a little too stubborn and it stilted the story. She was unreasonable more often than not.

4 Pearls!

About Natalie Decker

Natalie Decker is the Author of Rival Love. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Review – Blade of The Destroyer by Andy Peloquin

Blade of the Destroyer by Andy Peloquin
Published by J. Ellington Ashton Press on July 11th 2015
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 298
Source: Author

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

The Hunter of Voramis is the perfect assassin: ruthless, unrelenting, immortal. Haunted by lost memories, he is bonded to a cursed dagger that feeds him power but denies him peace of mind. Within him rages an unquenchable need for blood and death.When he accepts a contract to avenge the stolen innocence of a girl, the Hunter becomes the prey. The death of a seemingly random target sends him hurtling toward destruction, yet could his path also lead to the truth of his buried past?

The hunter is constantly trying to appease the voice of his blade that urges him to kill and feed it with the lives he takes. He does not know where he comes from but he is a killer for hire. When a certain assignment puts the city in upheaval he finds more about himself and has to decide if he is going to feed the demon within or help save humanity.

In an Oyster shell – This was a good story a little violent for my taste but it kept my attention and I want to read the next book.

The Pearls – The world building was on point and believable.  I liked the multi-layered political structure that the city was founded on. The hierarchy in the city and Hunter’s interaction with it made for a compelling story.

I’ve heard the term Anti-Hero but I’ve never seen it in action until now. Hunter was well developed. He was intriguing to follow. The struggle between killing and his humanity was compelling. It was heart wrenching some things that he went through but it made me more empathetic to his character.

The Sand – It was a bit more violent than I’m used to but I am looking forward to the next book.

4 Pearls!

About Andy Peloquin

I am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist–words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I’m also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.

Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle–it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Review – His Best Mistake by Lucy King

His Best Mistake by Lucy King
on January 22, 2018
Pages: 145
Source: Netgalley

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

Is it too much to ask for a relationship that works?

When Stella Grant realises her perfect romance is a lie and that she's the other woman, she flees to her remote cottage in the Highlands to lick her wounds.

Billionaire currency trader Jack Maclean has nothing but contempt for the woman who stole not only his sister’s fiancé but quite possibly a family heirloom to boot. Nonetheless, he wants answers and he intends to get them. A quick trip north should do the trick. Never in a million years could he have predicted a kamikaze sheep and inclement weather would leave him stranded.

Jack might be gorgeous but Stella isn’t in the market for a man, especially one who hates her. No matter how attractive he finds her Stella is the very last person Jack should want. The trouble is, they’re all alone and the chemistry is irresistible, and, well, what happens in Scotland stays in Scotland, right?

Stella Grant escapes to the high lands to hide from her humiliation of being duped by a guy who had a fiance.  Jack Maclean is furious with Stella and hunts her down to face her for breaking his sister’s heart. Stella holds her ground and informs Jack that she was lied too just as much as his sister was. Jack is not expecting to be so attracted to Stella. They have a torrid affair that results in her pregnancy. Jack is haunted by the past of losing his wife in her pregnancy and is doing his best to guard his heart while supporting Stella. Jack will do anything to make sure history does not repeat itself.

In an Oyster Shell –It was a brief story that I really enjoyed it was a unique storyline that kept my interest.

The Pearls – I really enjoyed the unique storyline. I read a lot of romances and this one stands out from them all. I liked the European setting. I enjoyed the concept of an unplanned pregnancy and that bringing the two characters together.

I really liked Jack. He was stormy not expecting to have his feelings stirred up by Stella. Stella helps Jack break down his walls with presenting him with challenges. The couple was well paired.  It made for a good story.

The romance was good. I wanted more of it. Jack had a lot to overcome. Stella had to stand her ground. It made for a great story.

The Sand –  I wish it was longer.

3.5 Pearls!

Review – Final Siege by Scarlett Cole

Final Siege by Scarlett Cole
Series: ,
Published by St. Martin's Press on January 30th 2018
Pages: 300
Source: Publisher

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

IN THE LINE OF FIRE…

Former SEAL Malachai “Mac” MacCarrick is all about the future he’s created with his Navy brothers in Eagle Securities, taking assignments in the most dangerous places, and doing things no one but ex-military would attempt. But when an urgent phone call brings his troubled past—and the woman he once loved—into the present, it’s a chance to redeem himself that he can’t refuse.

STRAIGHT TO THE HEART…

An investigative journalist researching an explosive story, Delaney Shapiro tells herself she got over Mac—and his role in her brother’s death—a long time ago. But the first moment she sees him at her bedside in an overseas hospital, she knows it’s not true. Every moment together rekindles the desire that once burned between them, and now that she’s a target for an emerging Russian arms dealer, Mac won’t let her out of his sight. To protect her, he’ll risk it all—including his life…

Malachai “Mac” MacCarrick is all about working with his brother in arms at Eagle Securities. He takes a few days off to go help investigative reporter Delaney Shapiro who was kidnaped by terrorists trying to stop her from getting to the bottom of her current story. Mac has been in love with Delaney forever. Delaney hates Mac as she blames him for the death of her brother. Mac will do anything to convince Delaney the truth of what happened while keeping her safe. There are those who will stop at anything from Delaney getting the scoop on her story. Mac will die trying to help her and keep her safe.

In an Oyster Shell – It was a steamy romance that was a great addition to the series.

The Pearls – I like this series. I love stories about the former military. These Navy Seals stories are compelling. I like that the previous characters in this stories have a great supporting role in this story.

The characters were well developed and intriguing. Delaney was strong and often stubborn but Mac was a good match for her. The supporting characters were good and I hope to follow them in other books in the series.

The romance was fun and challenging. It wasn’t an easy task for Mac to get Delaney to trust him again. The journey of following the story kept me turning the pages.

The Sand – It was not a clean romance.

3.5 Pearls

About Scarlett Cole

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada were I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Review – Wedding Day Erin Bevan

Wedding Day by Erin Bevan
Published by Soul Mate Publishing on April 13th 2016
Pages: 236
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon

Famous Bull Rider Dallas Day met Cassie Bailey briefly in high school, but her plain looks and quiet personality left no lasting impression on him. Cassie, however, couldn’t say the same about Dallas.

Their paths cross again ten years later when Dallas is home recovering from an injury, and Cassie is the only veterinarian who volunteers her services at the home-town rodeo. She’s jump-starting her new practice, and every eligible man within a ten-mile radius is trying to land a date with the attractive vet.

Dallas’ older brother bets him that, even with all his charm and fame, Dallas can’t land a date with the reserved lady vet. Not one to turn down a challenge, Dallas makes it his mission to win a date with Cassie. After seeing her, he realizes they’ve met before, but he doesn’t remember her being so pretty. His persistence pays off, but when Cassie finds out about the bet, their new love is put to the test.

Determined to win her back, Dallas meets his biggest challenge yet: saving her life when a casual admirer turns into a deadly stalker.

Cassie Bailey is settling down to be the towns new vet. Dallas Day is home to recover from a bull riding injury. Dallas’s brother makes a bet with him that he won’t be able to land a date with the lovely new vet. Dallas, not one to back down from a challenge does his best. Little does he remember that she was the shy one in high school. Cassie is weary to get her heart broken by Dallas whom she has had a crush on since high school. He paid little attention to her then and she doesn’t trust the attention he’s given them now. Will Dallas be able to convince her to go out with him?

In an Oystery Shell –  It was a well-crafted really sweet story that puts this author’s other books straight on my TBR.

The Pearls – I met this author at a conference and she was really sweet. I was really happy when I was able to see her personality come out in this well-written story. It was sweet and clean my favorite kind of romance.

The characters were well developed and easy to follow. I thought Dallas was a fun character he was very confident and it was fun to see him try to win over Cassie. Cassie was sweet with a bit of sass. Her daughter was a fun addition and had a moving backstory.

The romance was sweet. I liked that Dallas really had to work to get Cassie’s attention. It was fun that Cassie had a boyfriend at the beginning of the story which threw a wrench into Dallas’s plan.

I liked that this story had some suspense woven into it. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

The Sand – This was a good story.

 

About Erin Bevan

I’m a wife, mother slash little bit of writer on the side. I spend most of my days shuffling three kids around, rocking our newest screaming addition to the family, cleaning the house and writing whenever I get the opportunity.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour with Review – Breaking The Ice by Julie Cross

Breaking the Ice by Julie Cross
Series: Juniper Falls,
on December 26th 2017
Pages: 300
Source: Chapter by Chapter

I received this book for free from Chapter by Chapter in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Goodreads
Amazon

The second book in the Juniper Falls series from NY Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Cross, perfect for fans of Miranda Kenneally and Abbi Glines.

Haley Stevenson seems like she’s got it all together: cheer captain, “Princess” of Juniper Falls, and voted Most Likely to Get Things Done. But below the surface, she’s struggling with a less-than-stellar GPA and still reeling from the loss of her first love. Repeating her Civics class during summer school is her chance to Get Things Done, not angst over boys. In fact, she’s sworn them off completely until college.

Fletcher Scott is happy to keep a low profile around Juniper Falls. He’s always been the invisible guy, warming the bench on the hockey team and moonlighting at a job that would make his grandma blush. Suddenly, though, he’s finding he wants more: more time on the ice, and more time with his infuriatingly perfect summer-school study partner.

But leave it to a girl who requires perfection to shake up a boy who’s ready to break all the rules.

Haley Stevenson is stuck in Civics class for the summer. She is struggling to keep her GPA up. Determined to succeed she asks Fletcher Scott to be her study partner. He is less than thrilled to be paired up with the Juniper Falls princess but agrees. Working with her opens up doors to get in with some of the Hockey players Fletcher’s first love. Haley is thrilled to work with Fletcher but wants to break through his walls and uncover his many secrets.

In an Oyster Shell –  It was a really good romance, I really like this series and can’t wait for it to continue.

The Pearls – I don’t like sports but I like sports novels. I really liked the first book in this series that features Hockey players so I gave this one a whirl. I was not disappointed. Fletcher is not your typical athlete and that made the story interesting.

Fletcher was a great character. He had lots of layers that the author expertly peeled back in the narrative. Haley was a good compliment to him and was a great component to uncovering the layers.

The romance was sweet. Taking the wallflower with the princess made for a classic storyline that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked that Fletcher was a mystery that was fun to see unravel.

The Sand – It was a good book.

4 Pearls!

[image error]

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Julie Cross

Julie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin’s Press).

She’s also the author of the Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more to come!

Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA.

She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres.

Outside of her reading and writing cred, Julie Cross is a committed–but not talented–long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads