Confessions Of A Reading Freak

SYNOPSIS

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett comes a new story in her Arizona Vengeance series… 

I was living my dream until one phone call changed everything. 

As the second line center for the Arizona Vengeance, my mind has been on one thing—helping my team bring home a championship. But that all changed when I found out my dad had cancer and only months to live. In that moment, nothing mattered more than getting home to North Carolina to be by his side. That meant asking for the unthinkable—a trade to the Carolina Cold Fury. 

Now I’m home and when I’m not on the ice with my new team, I’m helping care for my dad. And in the midst of my grief, I find comfort from the one person I never expected. 

Calliope Ramirez stole my heart at a very young age. The beautiful, smart, headstrong girl next door, she was my first… everything. She has never forgiven me for leaving her, believing that I chose hockey over a future together. What she doesn’t understand is that every decision I made was for her, and I’ve never given up hope that one day we’d be together again. 

Watching my dad slip away is a harsh reminder of how short life can be, and having Callie by my side makes me realize I was a damn fool before. That changes starting right now. Calliope Ramirez is mine and I’m not going to waste the second chance that I’ve been given. 

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.** 

MY REVIEW

* * I HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANCE READERS COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW * *

I have always loved the franchise series that Sawyer Bennett puts out, and this one little tidbit of awesome is so packed full of everything I love about the full length books that you don’t feel like you are walking away missing things, and that’s how I feel about most, not all, novellas I read. 

The emotions portrait in this book are 100% real and raw and it will put tears in your eyes. It does not feel like the love of Rafe and Calliope is rushed out forced. That it feels like it is Intune with all the other emotions and factors that are going along in this book. 

It is heartfelt and there are some bigger lessons to learn in this one. You also get a small peek at a few characters from Cold Fury, so it makes we wonder if it should be a half and half series novella, but I digress. 

I do recommend if you want to read a love filled emotional tear jerker of a book!

-Ashton 💜📚

SYNOPSIS

Former firefighter Mason Cooper knows how it feels to be burned, both by life and by flame.

Still, nothing could have prepared him for life’s ultimate task—single fatherhood. As the sole provider for his little girl, there’s simply no room in his carefully constructed life for distractions.

When a stray dog lands him in the office of the new local vet, Mason comes face to face with a major complication. Because the new vet in town is none other than his childhood friend, Madeline Woods, the same girl who up and left him without a trace.

Gorgeous, smart, and thoughtful—the more time Mason spends with Maddy, the more he finds himself questioning whether she’s the thing he and his daughter have been missing all along.

But being with Maddy is like playing with fire, and while a little heat might be nice, can he trust her not to burn them both?

MY REVIEW

* * I HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANCE READERS COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW * *

Aha 2 of my favorite tropes 1st Responders and single parents. It makes my heart all a flutter with the sweet and steamy that can happen. 

While this was 80% more sweet and only 5% steamy with some awe thrown in there it was a great read. There were more ups and downs than a typical second chance romance but I love the dynamic that ran not only between Mason, Maddy and Hannah. But also the secondary characters, Cami, and Reese (who by the way I wanna see get their own story, and not just for in the Cooper family check in further down the road).

They were the same when the crazy seemed to over run their friendly counterparts brains. I also loved the true blue sass that came from Hannah little brain and mouth. As a mom of a 4 and 6 year old…. I am also to familiar with the sass…. The only thing missing was the squeal… Little girls squeal when they are happy, sad, mad, tired … You name it to happens. 

I love this book because it’s about growing and change and embracing that change. It’s about so much more than who you were 10+ years ago it about what those paths taken have brought you in growth and accepting that.

I do highly recommend!!
-Ashton 💜📚

SYNOPSIS

Cain Sinclair has a plan. In order to finally bring peace to his clan, he will wed the young female chief of their greatest enemy. Only problem: capturing her and forcing her back to Sinclair castle doesn’t exactly make her want to say yes. Ella Sutherland may be clever, passionate, and shockingly beautiful, but what she isn’t is willing.

Every attempt Cain makes to woo her seems to backfire on him. A gift? The kitten practically claws his eyes out. A competitive game of chess? Even when he wins, he loses. It seems the only time the two ever see eye to eye is when they’re heating up Cain’s bed. Still, the only thing Ella truly wants is the one thing he cannot offer her: freedom.

But when Cain discovers she’s been harboring a secret—one that could threaten both clans’ very existence—he’ll have to decide between peace for the Sinclairs or the woman who’s captured his heart.

MY REVIEW

* * I HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANCE READERS COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW * *

I have not been one for historical romance books in the past but this one seemed to catch my eye.

Strong women in history to me are normally dipicted that way because the men allow it. In this case Ella earned it. She is a strong female lead that I love because she is human and did not let he past or upbringing keep her down. 

There were many rumors passed between the two warring families and those are what keeps them at war once the two older men are dead. And watching those lies unravel and families pulling away for normal traditions was amazing. 

It was a bit of a slower burn, but once I started I could not put it down. If you love Outlander, or Diana Gabaldon in any way I recommend this. 

Thanks 
-Ashton 💜📚 

Release Date: April 21

BUZZ WHEEL PRESS RELEASE: 

Don’t drink the Lake Starlight water! 

Bailey babies are busy growing in their mommies tummies and the Baileys are having a triple baby shower to celebrate. 

If you want in on the pool on who pops first and when contact me. 😉

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2ITmwr9
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3b0Y4jJ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/33p0s1b
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2TV5XBv
Amazon DE: https://amzn.to/2xDQLQv
Nook: http://bit.ly/2x6QDsM
Apple: https://apple.co/33sBWfn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2U0VLHT
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2vsUAY6

Goodreads Link:

http://bit.ly/2IWdidH

About the Author:

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have “Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle” (okay…you caught us, that’s our tagline). A little about us… We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We’re both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We’re both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

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SYNOPSIS

It was a three-week fling. Nothing more than a couple of college kids having some fun, but then I did the stupid thing and fell for Jude Taylor quicker than he can score a goal on the ice. And after one beautiful night together, he left for the pros before I could make my first cup of coffee. 

I thought I’d put him behind me. I thought I’d moved on. Then he hobbles into my physical therapy office and I realize how absolutely wrong I’ve been—there’s no getting over Jude Taylor. 

But now things are complicated. Jude lives half a country away and his career is in direct opposition to my need for stability. Most of all, getting involved with him could mean losing my job and everything I’ve worked so hard for. 

Jude doesn’t seem to mind one bit and he’s all in. He might be a patient in my office, but he’s no longer the patient guy I remember. 

This time, he’s playing to win, and the prize he’s looking to score is me. 

MY REVIEW

* * I HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANCE READERS COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW * * 

You can classify this is many different tropes I guess, Hockey Romance, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance, or even Forbidden Romance. Any way you slice it or put it you are in for a great read.

This is great at just giving you enough to know where the story of Jude and Kate starts, and how we got to where the real meant and potatoes starts in this wonderful world. I love how Jude is in touch with who he is as not only a hockey player, but a person as well, how even when he feels like he down he is not out.

I also like how them rekindling their romance didn’t fit in the normal second-chance box either. Because really there was no really first chance to let things go and grow into the first time around. But they did, and then when the so called second time comes around there is so much more fire in there from both sides that it just works when they do come together.

I love the realism of how Jude is basically pushed away from his team to heal, and how it portraits the emotions he feels during that time and how he finds new and easier ways to cope with those feelings while working as hard as he can.

I am a hockey fan for the real and I love how this was done and portrait!

– Ashton <3

SYNOPSIS

I can’t borrow him. 
He’s not a sweater or a skirt. 
He’s not even her favorite dress—the lucky one she wears on first dates. The one she probably wore on her first date with him. 

In my defense, I didn’t know who he was. To me, he was a cool, calm, confident stranger. He was perfection for the entire hour and a half train ride while the concrete jungle turned into a rolling green landscape. 

To an outsider, we probably appeared more friends than hopeful lovers. But my blush came quickly, and his dimples indented with every smile. We definitely shared a spark of what could be. 

Too bad I didn’t know who he was before I fell for him, because he can’t be mine. 

MY REVIEW

* * I HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANCE READERS COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW * *

Not going to lie, I went into this with a completely different story in my head, because lets face it, when you see stories about friends dating ex’s of friends they all seem to be like the line of “Something Borrowed”. The good friend pines over the bad friends current main squeeze, then things happen and the bad friend loses the guy, or the guy sees the light and all those variation.

This to me was a fresh take on a trope that I am normally vary wary of, for many reasons. I love that the theme of loyalty was very big in this book, and that there was a lot of friends sticking with friends and making sure there were open an honest communication going on, on so many different levels.

There were risks and one big arc that sealed where this was going and I loved how it was so rounded and amazingly put together. I have been reading a lot of Samantha Whiskey Hockey Romance books lately, so I was use to extra dirty semi pornographic intimate scenes so the soft way they go about those scenes were nice and relaxing for me to read, but none the less steamy.

I am also very PRO on this book for a really big Italian Reason, and its name is Dominic Mancini. HE is #3 on my book boyfriends list and the side you see him in this book is amazing, no matter how small.

I do recommend this book to those who are even wary about the theme of friends taking their friends ex’s you really won’t be disappointed, its a whole new turn and amazing to read.

– Ashton <3

SYNOPSIS

Someone should have warned me about falling in love with my best friend.

Carolina 
Little did I know when Rex came to my locker attempting to bribe me, that he’d turn into my everything.
We’d become best friends. I’d steal his heart. He’d steal mine.
Nothing has changed in the years of our friendship. 
Not our connection, not our feelings, or that we still hold each other’s hearts. 
But his heart isn’t the only thing I’ve kept.
The secret I’m hiding could shatter the only man I’ve ever loved.

Rex 
I’ve loved Carolina since the day she called my bluff. 
Our friendship always came first. 
She believed in me when no one else did. 
I tucked away my feelings because I couldn’t survive a life without her. 
We crossed the line once, and I swore it’d never happen again. 
As time passes, the harder it becomes to live up to that promise. 
Until finally, there’s no holding back. 

MY REVIEW

* I HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANCE READERS COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW * *

I have not always been partial to the friends to lovers trope for the fact that I grew up with nothing but boys around and me and this kind of awesome crap NEVER happened to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved my boys and without them I wouldn’t be who I am and I am also very happy with my husband and the life we have built together, but that’s the point of these romance books to allow you some level of fantasy in your normal day to day life.

Rex is the best friend, you want, he was the popular kid with a semblance of a heart of gold, even if it was only for his bestie. But really he should have known that things change when you cross that line from friend to friendlier. They sure did step in it at that point….

Carolina is a sweet, shy and gives no fucks kind of girl that I love to the moon and back and really could see us being friends if she were a real person and I wasn’t a crazy person making friends with fictional characters.

I love that the story arced more than once in a way and there were many levels to this as well as a few twist and turns, there was also a nice check in with a few other from the other Blue Beech crew, even though I am not 100% sure how many there were, as I am still trying to read the books that have been released. But I love Charitys writing style and it does hold you for the whole book and doesn’t leave you with questions at the end.

– Ashton <3

SYNOPSIS

When a famous music producer moves to Lake Starlight it can’t just be a coincidence. It’s the universe helping to move things along in the right direction so that Griffin Thorne can discover me.

I have to confess—I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Confession #1: I may have overhead that he was in search of a nanny. What can I say? My brother has a big mouth.

Confession #2: It’s possible I helped along the assumption that I had nanny experience. Hey, babysitting my nieces and nephew counts, right?

Confession #3: There’s a good chance I oversold my qualifications. But my Grandma Dori backed me up, so it’s not completely my fault.

And it worked. He hired me. Only for me to find out that he left the business.
I guess it’s on to Plan B.

When he accidentally overhears me singing, I expect nothing from him. Then he asks to work with me on a song for our town’s Founder’s Day Parade and it feels like a dream come true. Until…

Confession #4: I’ve fallen for him.

MY REVIEW

** I RECEIVED AN ARC COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **

This is another case of I was excited to read this book but was unsure of how I would feel because the lead up to Phoenix was hard for me to relate to her and her spoiled attitude, but there was something that changed between Denver’s story and hers. She grew up and honestly I loved her story!

I have this sever love of the single parent tropes, and Griffin and his son honestly remind me of \a mixture of all the best qualities of al the single dads in the “Single Dads Club” Series (I know that because I am listening to the audiobooks again at work). Maverick brings out all the best of Phoenix and the growing she did in a short amount of time really did resignate with me because when I was 22/23 I was also lost and unsure of where I should be going in life and a chance job set me on a path that has made me happy.

I love the insight on what the family has been going through and the slight peeks into past couples and what they are going through currently. \my heart went through so many emotions I can’t even put into words. Because they are dead giveaways and clues that would ruin the book. But I do recommend this book o so many people!

-Ashton <3

SYNOPSIS

Samantha never saw Enzo coming.

As the dust settles from her divorce, her life is full. She doesn’t have time for distractions. She’s too busy running her own company and checking off numerous items from her kids’ demanding schedule to have a life of her own.

Then he walks into her kitchen with his breathtaking green eyes and a mischievous grin. He’s there to surprise his father – her contractor, but his presence makes everything off kilter.

Enzo’s perfectly content with his adventurous life as an elite rescue pilot, until a harmless prank turns on him. Instead of surprising his father, he finds his world thrown off course by the beautiful woman with a sexy smile, wicked sass and the mouthwatering ability to keep him on his toes.

With his limited time on leave, is she worth the risk to his heart? 

MY REVIEW

** I WAS GIVEN AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW**

I love Single parent tropes and I love realistic but not stale interpretation on those relationships and how they grow. 

This is my first Amanda Shelley book and I fell in love!! This book is sweet, instalove, and amazingly steamy! He had his heart broken and never felt that connection again.

She was still recovering and finding herself after a marriage that created 3 beautiful and funny kiddos! 

Then the decision to add more chaos to her life and renovate her kitchen, was one of the best she ever made. 

Sam is who I wish I could be as a single mom (I am a mom just not a single one), she is strong balanced and generous. She does have a mildly shaky relationship with her ex, but is strong enough to rise above all their issues and pettiness so her kids can have an amazing relationship with their dad. 

Enzo is in his late 30s and just discovering who is he is after 20 years of bachelorhood and military life stationed so far away over seas disconnected from family and hometown friends. His time is coming to a close should he choose, but will that help him find himself, or settle down like his Mom and Dad want, or will he find adjusting to civilian life to hard to manage. 

Enzo is slowing overtaking all other boyfriends in my Book Boyfriend List, and I really want to be mommy friends with Samantha so she can teach me the balance she has found. 

This is my very first 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review of 2020!! 

I cannot wait to see what book two of this duet hold in store!!!

Seriously…. I cannot wait! Lol
-Ashton 💜🦄