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Review: Too Beautiful To Break by Tessa Bailey #excerpt #top5
I’ve been reading Tessa Bailey’s books for so many years and this is the book that I always felt like she was destined to write.
I fell in love with her dirty talking, alpha heroes and I’ve watched those kinds of characters evolve and I’ve wanted that. I’ve also wanted her to write books with a larger word count so she would have more room to stretch her “writing wings”. I wished for this years ago and here we are, with Belmont, one of Bailey’s most (if not the most so far) complex characters that she has ever created.
There is a danger in saving a character like Belmont for last. Will he live up to the build-up? The short answer for me is YES. Is it an easy journey? No, not at all. There are so many layers to Belmont and why he is the way he is and the reader needs to be patient with him.
As for Sage, she has her own journey to take and I wasn’t exactly prepared for the depth of that journey either and how it influences her relationship with Belmont.
The relationship between Sage and Belmont has also been built up. Readers always knew that their relationship was super intense and their connection runs deep. But how would that relationship be impacted when it finally reached a physical connection? Personally, I enjoyed the exploration into the physical part of their relationship and how it created another level of connection and depth. It was extremely intense and SEXY. Good lord.
Too Beautiful to Break is the bookend to the Clarkson’s New Year’s Day journey to the Polar Plunge that was laid at their feet by their mother, Miriam. While it was hard for her children to understand on a deeper level why she sent them on this pilgrimage, at first, when you look at it as a whole and with Belmont’s role in it, it makes sense.
TBtB highlights just how much Bailey’s writing has developed and how far she has come since those first Line of Duty books.
Tessa stopped by and shared a Clarkson centric playlist. Check it out!
Hello! Thank you so much for having me! There are so many songs that remind me of the Clarksons—I’m excited to share some of them with you!
- Marathon by the Heartless Bastards. This song and its slow buildup just capture the feeling of this dysfunctional family road trip. It’s about all of us running and running, trying to keep up—and sometimes we need help to make it to the finish line.
- Too Hot to Handle by Michael Shea. My brother actually wrote a song for the first book in the series! I cried when he played it for me, because it was Rita and Jasper to a T.
- Colours by Skinny Lister. There were some scenes in the series where everyone was just quiet in the rumbling Suburban and this song reminds me of those times. Just everyone lost in their thoughts, eating up road under the massive American sky.
- Sometime Around Midnight by Airborne Toxic Event. This song reminds me of Peggy and Elliott. It’s about a man in a bar who sees a woman he used to love …and everything comes rushing back. How she smelled, dresses she wore when they were together. And he’s suddenly going out of his mind to see her, to touch her. It’s a glorious song.
- Your Hand in Mine by Explosions in the Sky. Whenever I needed to get in the mood to write this series, I put on this song and I would see the final scene in my head. I would see the ending and it would motivate me to write the story. There are no words, just this beautiful buildup and it’s so happy, it leaves you hopeful.
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Review: Dirty Boxing by Tara Wyatt and Harper St. George #Giveaway
I am a fan of Tara Wyatt and Harper St. George, so you can imagine that I was a very happy camper when it was announced that they were working on a series together! Dirty Boxing is a solid start to the Blood and Glory series and an intense and ridiculously sexy second chance romance.
If you’re an MMA fan, I think you’ll be quite pleased as the competition action is extremely detailed, more so than many MMA romances I’ve read in recent memory. I appreciated that, as it gives you a truly real and in-depth look into these fighter’s lives. Their training and its results are evident and it showcases how difficult it can be to create and maintain a relationship amid the demands of the job.
Jules and Nick had out of this world chemistry. Nick was easy to like. He was truly a good guy from a loving family and after he understands a little bit more about the situation, he opens himself up to another chance with Jules.
As for Jules, I’m going to admit that she frustrated the snot out of me. She’s very hung up on her own upbringing and how her parent’s relationship was so dysfunctional that she doesn’t see how she could have a healthy relationship. Normally, that kind of thing turns me off in characters. The whole, I love him but I’m not worthy because of my parent’s issues is usually a big no go for me. Otherwise, Jules was a kickass character! She was smart, funny and truly cared for Nick.
I kept reading for a couple of reasons.
- I loved Nick. He was sex on a stick with a heart of gold. (How’s that for a visual?)
- I wanted to learn more about the secondary characters.
- I wanted to know how the heck Jules was going to get passed her hangups. While I was reading, I recognized the importance of character growth. It’s important and I think readers can lose sight of that, especially when reading a character they are having a hard time connecting with.
I saw that growth with Jules. How she was able to experience Nick’s no limit love and devotion for her and his own family. That can be hard, trying to figure out how you fit into a family when you’re not used to a supportive and healthy one, yourself.
So, for me, this was all about Jules’s journey and development as a character and in her relationship with Nick and her own father.
While I had a few bumps with this one, I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to more in the Blood and Glory series.
The team working on the photo shoot had converted a corner of the WFC gym so they’d have access to punching bags and other training accessories they might need, which meant they were shooting at night when everyone was gone. Which was fine, except Jules wished there were more people around to keep her attention off Nick. But then she thought of what had happened at the club and realized a room full of people couldn’t save her from wanting him.
The music that had been playing while they were shooting changed from a dance beat to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” With a sigh of frustration at herself for still being hung up on him, she plastered on a smile and walked to where Nick stood, determined to face her demon head-on. He adjusted one of the giant wind machines an assistant had set up at the beginning of the shoot, fiddling with the dial on top. Krista, the make-up artist, had gone back to her table of supplies.
“You’re doing great. Enrique is very happy with what we’re getting. Thanks again for doing this,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest, trying not to think of where her hands had been a week ago.
His trademark cocky smile appeared, the one where one side of his mouth tipped up higher than the other, but he didn’t look at her. She swallowed hard when her tummy fluttered in response. “Did you doubt me?” he asked, and turned the fan on.
“No . . .” She automatically started to reassure him, but stopped when he tossed his hair dramatically, the thick dark strands catching the wind and blowing out behind him. She caught a faint whiff of the citrus scent of his shampoo. It was the same scent she’d worn on her skin after spending the night with him back in Chicago.
He moved his shoulders and hips in time with the music as he tossed his head again. She couldn’t help teasing him, laughing a little. “Are you pretending to be Beyoncé?”
Looking over his shoulder at her, he winked. “Everyone secretly wants to be Beyoncé.”
She laughed harder, not even bothering to restrain it. As she watched him toss his hair like Beyoncé, bare chested with his hands still in fight wraps, she realized just how much she’d missed him. Missed this playfulness. Missed the way he could make her laugh when she was stressed. After that disastrous dinner with her dad last week, things had been very tense between them. He only spoke to her when he had to, and avoided her the rest of the time. Laughing with Nick was nice and made her forget that for a few minutes.
“I wouldn’t mind being Beyoncé,” she agreed when she finally stopped laughing. “But you should stop playing with the wind machine. It looks expensive.”
“Nuh-uh.” He grabbed her hand when she reached for the dial and pulled her in front of him, facing the wind. “Just try it.”
“What? No.” But she’d started laughing again.
“Just try. Here.” He gently nudged her feet apart. “Power stance,” he explained. “Now close your eyes and toss your head.” His hands went to her shoulders to pull them back before sliding down her arms to take her hands, leaving her skin tingling. She couldn’t stop her fingers from curling around his, craving more of his touch.
Spreading her arms out, he made her dance while singing, “All the single ladies,” softly in her ear. His lips brushed the shell of her ear, and his breath sent prickles of heat down her neck. The hard muscles of his chest were solid and warm against her back.
At one time she would’ve turned and kissed him, but that part of their relationship had to stay in the past. With his chest pressing into her back, though, it was hard to remember exactly why. Before Jules realized it, she was playing his game, swaying and shaking her hips to the music. She had to resist the urge to press herself against him every time her butt brushed his hips, reminding herself for the hundredth time that they were just coworkers.
Blood and Glory Giveaway:
To celebrate the first in the Blood and Glory Series, we’re giving away one promo code for a download of DIRTY BOXING! Please check the following participating sites to enter to win, but keep in mind you can only win once!
Blog Tour Schedule:
September 15
USA Today’s Happy Ever After – EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
September 17
Ramblings from this Chick – GUEST POST
September 18
The Reading Frenzy – INTERVIEW
BookPage October Digital Dalliance – REVIEW
Mrs. Leif’s Two Fangs About It
September 19
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
September 20
Straight Shootin’ Book Reviews
September 21
September 22
September 25
September 26
September 27
An Asian chick & her cat walk into a book blog
September 28
September 29
“St. George (A Marriage Deal with the Outlaw) and Wyatt (Necessary Work) have written a fast-paced romance filled with sizzling chemistry, which will have readers rooting for Jules and Nick to find their way back to each other. Verdict: This novel will have broad appeal for readers of sexy contemporary romance, not just those who have an interest in MMA.”
—Library Journal
“A heartfelt story of second chances set in the high stakes world of MMA fighting…a satisfying blend of emotional drama and sizzling love scenes…Dirty Boxing embraces the swirl of confusing emotions that inundate its leads, using the turmoil to deepen their characters and complicate their relationship…Wyatt and St. George also devote considerable space to Nick’s close-knit family and Jules’ strained relationship with her father, ensuring that the leads’ families are complex figures with their own biases and flaws. The result is a romance with a happy ending that, in allowing for the work still to be done, feels all the more rewarding.”
—BookPage
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Review: Untold by Shannon Richard
I’m in complete denial over the end of this series and I really wish it would just keep going and going and going.
I fell in love with this small town series in 2015 after reading a book in the middle of the series. I immediately went back to the beginning of the series, binge read the hell out of it and eagerly awaited each new book. Now, I’m faced with no more new Country Roads books and I just…cannot.
Richard always manages to craft main characters with loads of chemistry. Brie and Finn are no exception, from the moment they meet, there are fireworks. She also weaves the history of Mirabelle and some of its long time residents all the way through this series and that history comes home to roost in this last chapter of the Country Roads book. When I say come home, I really mean it. Brie visits Mirabelle with a very specific purpose, for the funeral of a very significant resident and her own birth mother. The Mirabell resident in question is not loved and therefore, casts quite a shadow on Brie.
Finn is an interesting guy. He’s a veterinarian and bartender and quite the cynical dater. He’s not after a commitment and he assumes that his time with Brie will consist of one and done. I was very frustrated with Finn in the beginning, he was a jerk and Brie had every reason to want to punch him in the face. Leave to the lovely ladies of Mirabelle to gallop in and pull her under their wing and in turn, straighten out some of the men of Mirabelle. Soon, Finn sees the error of his ways and realizes that he and Brie have a lot more between them than just a one-time thing.
I was absolutely fascinated as Brie navigated getting to know her deceased birth mother and understanding why she (her mother) was such an unhappy person. I found myself holding my breath and getting teary eyed as Brie peeled back the layers of her own family history. Which, in turn, made me even sadder that I won’t be visiting Mirabelle again with new characters. This series is definitely on my re-read shelf, so I’ll have to be satisfied with that. Untold and the Country Road series is equal parts sexy, romantic, funny, and undeniably heartfelt.
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“Are you leaving soon?”
“In a bit. I want to see the end of the game.”
“Really now?” He leaned in close to her again. And for what was probably the fiftieth time that night she could smell the clean masculine scent that clung to him. Soap and maybe a little aftershave combined with him. He smelled incredible.
So. Damn. Good.
“Yeah, I’m a Stampede fan now. I’m in it to win it.” She couldn’t stop herself from leaning in a bit closer herself.
“Commitment, I like it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” His smile grew and his eyes got more intense, the blue getting deeper. “It’s not the only thing I like either.”
“What else do you like?” Her voice dropped low as she spoke. Oh God, the more time she spent with him, the more he affected her. The closer he got to her, the more he affected her. The more he looked at her, the more he affected her.
He just affected her.
“About you? The list keeps growing, and growing. Give me twenty minutes and I’d be happy to tell you about it. In great detail.”
Her stomach flipped and the air in her lungs caught. This time her inability to breath had nothing to do with suffocating pressure. “What happens in twenty minutes?” She somehow managed to ask.
“The game is over.” He turned just a little bit so he could incline his head toward the TV, not taking his eyes off of her while he did it.
“You don’t need to stay here? Until closing?”
“Nope, just came in to help with the rush during the game. I’m free after that.”
“Right,” she nodded slowly, her stomach doing a summersault. “And if I said yes? What happens then?”
He moved back so that he was standing directly in front of her again, leaning in close. The nearness of him combined with the way he was looking at her and the topic of conversation—that she was 99.9% sure was one about them having sex—was making her pulse race. And that wasn’t the only thing he was doing to her. It was taking everything in her not to squirm in her seat. She somehow managed to subtly press her thighs together. It was all she could do to combat the swelling ache.
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Review: Disorderly Conduct by Tessa Bailey
I attempted to read a book that is releasing this week. I got about 10% in and I knew that while it was going to a very steamy book, I knew that the heart, the soul, the relationship was not going to be properly developed. Needless to say, I DNF’d and moved on.
Not long after that, I started Disorderly Orderly Conduct and I thought, “YES! This is how you do it!” And that reminded me once again, how good Bailey is at combining passion, sexy times and an actual relationship.
Ever and Charlie are in utter and complete denial as far as the status of their “relationship”. Neither one thinks they want a relationship or want to settle down and fall in love. Things do change for Ever and she goes on a hunt for a man to settle down with, which thank goodness, spurs Charlie into action. And let’s face it, he is a GONER for Ever. Oh, and did I mention that he calls her “Cutie” and she calls him “Big Man”? Good LAWD.
Not only does Bailey combine passion and relationship development, she’s so freaking funny. I found myself laughing out loud one minute and swooning the next. I know that I’m talking about how much I love this book, but I really do love it. If you’ve read Bailey, it reminds me of her first series, Line of Duty, which was EXCELLENT. Charlie is alpha and ridiculously sexy like the LoD men were. Plus, he is not afraid to pour his heart out to Ever.
“I’ve been writing my name on every part of you. Knew it and couldn’t stop it. Couldn’t help it since day one. Mine. Mine. Mine.”
Uh yeah.
As for the rest of the series? To say that it is promising is a giant understatement. Jack and Danika, Charlie’s roommate and fellow academy trainees, books are on deck. Jack is up next and I’m very intrigued by him and how his story will unfold. Charlie has a broody and quiet older brother, Greer, also a police officer and I CANNOT wait for his book. Bailey always manages to create a character who she makes wait for their book. She introduces them early in the series, builds their story a bit in each book and then whomps you over the head with an incredible book.
What is there left to say about Disorderly Conduct? It was excellent and highly recommend it. Bailey, once again, gracefully combines whip-smart humor, through the roof chemistry and passion, into one hot and smokin’ package.
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Review: Beard in Mind by Penny Reid #excerpt #giveaway
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Ohhhh my. I’ve just spent the last two weeks in Tennessee with the Winston Brothers. I binge read the last three books in the series and once again, Penny Reid is my hero.
I’ll admit that in the first few chapters, I wasn’t sure if this book was going to work for me because of Shelly. But knowing Penny Reid, I resolved to hang on because Reid always makes her books worth the time. Shelly is harsh and difficult to handle at times, her personality, the way she relates to others is detached and sullen at times.
Beau, on the other hand, is Mister Charm. He’s easy on the eyes and knows he can charm his way into or out of any situation. He and Shelly are complete polar opposites so of course, he cannot stand her.
The tipping point is that we learn why Shelly is the way she is. Seeing how Beau handles it is the heart and soul of this book. As funny and entertaining as the Winston family is, Beau’s care and understanding of Shelly and her needs are why I loved it so much. Once he figured her out and how to help her, he knew he wanted her in his life and he didn’t budge on his devotion to her. Shelly in her own right, helped Beau work through his issues and she too was just as devoted to him.
Penny Reid’s books are not meant to read fast or skimmed, they are meant to be savored. They are dense and layered and every book possesses unforgettable characters and storylines. So, I implore you, if you haven’t read this series, please don’t miss it. It’s intelligent, hilarious, swoon worthy and completely unique in its own lovely way. (Especially Beard in Mind!)
Enter the Giveaway!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ee2f7e8636/?
She’d taken the sofa, in her own house, and given me the bed. That didn’t make a lick of sense.
I crouched next to her, threading my fingers into the silky hair at her temples. “Honey.”
“Mmm.”
I bent to whisper, “Shelly.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m going to carry you to your bed. I’ll take the sofa.”
“Mmm.”
I grinned at her soft noises, at the untroubled expression on her face, and how her brow—even in sleep—still looked regal and stern.
Sliding my arms under her legs and shoulder, I picked her up. And, unfortunately, that woke her up.
She jerked in my arms. “What are you doing?”
“I’m taking you to the bed.”
“Don’t do that.”
“I don’t mind, I’ll take the sofa.” Our mouths were just inches apart, and hers was distracting.
She squirmed. “Put me down.”
Sighing unhappily, I did. I set her on her feet next to the couch. The blanket pooled at her feet and I stepped back to give her some space. It was dark, but I could see her just fine, and that meant I had to force my eyes to remain above her neck. The woman was wearing two pathetic scraps of fabric as pajamas. A thin little tank top and shorts. That’s it.
I set my jaw and turned to the side, waiting for her to walk past.
“Where are you?”
I glanced at her and realized she couldn’t see at all. She didn’t have a hand out, but the way her eyes were moving about the room gave away her blindness.
“I’m here.” I didn’t touch her, because if I did, I wouldn’t want to stop.
Shelly turned her head in my direction and took a deep breath. Still she didn’t reach for me. I didn’t know the specifics of what to expect after her Friday session, but I recalled Dr. West saying something about Shelly doing self-guided ERP exercises over this week.
“Can you see?” She licked her lips, her voice sandpapery. “Because I can’t see at all. It’s so dark.”
“I can see.” Unbidden, my eyes dropped to her body, to the swell of her breasts, the panel of bare stomach, the curve of her hips. Pinpricks of heat raised over my skin and I curled my hands into fists.
She shuffled forward and I caught her before she bumped into me, setting my hands gently at her waist.
“Let me take you to your room.” My voice was rough, for obvious reasons.
Saying nothing, she brought her hand to my forearm, her body gently colliding with mine. And then her hand on my arm slid up my bicep to my shoulder.
“Shelly.” I was running out of breath.
“I like this.”
“What?”
“Touching you.”
Oh fuck.
I held still and endured her hands moving over my body, down the front of my shirt, stopping at the hem, then pushing it up.
“Take this off.”
I did. I pulled the T-shirt over my head and let it drop to the floor.
We stood there, facing each other in the dark, not touching. Despite the session on Friday and the progress that had been made, I realized she wasn’t quite there yet. Dr. West was right, Friday was just a step, the first step. Shelly wasn’t able to initiate contact. Not yet.
Her hands balled into fists and she swayed forward, her breath struggling little puffs.
If anything was going to happen tonight, I had to initiate it. I had to be the one to touch first.
God, how I wanted her. How I wanted her above me, beneath me, surrounding me. But how could I?
“I know why I hesitate,” her voice was breathless, “but why do you hesitate?”
“Lots of reasons.”
“Give me one.”
“I don’t want to you use you.”
“I wish you would.”
That pulled a laugh from me, just a small relief from the mounting tension. My eyes moved over her body, an undeniable impulse to devour the sight of her, her legs, stomach, chest, then up her neck to her lips.
“You asked me on Saturday if sex was a big deal for me, or if it was you. The answer is both.”
She held very still, and I got the sense she was holding her breath, straining to listen.
“You are a big deal to me. I don’t want a fling. I don’t want a flirtation. I want promises.”
“What can I promise you?”
That you’ll love me. That I’ll be your priority.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot. A spike of anxiety that she might leave me like this had me acting without forethought. I lifted my hands to her waist again and immediately, her fingertips skimmed over skin of my lower stomach in response, making my muscles tense in hot anticipation. She grew more assertive as she caressed my sides, abdomen, ribs, chest, shoulders, and then back down.
Shelly stepped closer, a hint of thrilling contact between her breasts and my torso, and all the words and worries melted from my mind, died on my tongue, suffocated by the feel of her body, and the possibility of this moment.
Her finger hooked in the waistband of my jeans. “Take these off.” Her hand turned, her fingers and palm cupping me over my zipper.
Instinctively, I pressed myself into her touch even as I grabbed her wrist.
“Beau, I promise—”
She didn’t get to speak, because I kissed her, hard and wild, unbuttoning and unzipping my fly with one hand and bringing her palm inside my boxers with the other.
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Review: So Good by Nicola Rendell
Nicola Rendell has become one of my new favorite authors of 2017. Pretty much every book I’ve read of hers, I’ve LOVED. In fact, I’ve purchased signed copies of every book she’s written and you can bet I’m getting a signed copy of So Good.
So Good is SOOOOO GOOD, I absolutely adored this book and its characters. Max and Rosie were such an incredible couple and I really enjoyed this friends to lovers romance.
Sometimes, a friends to lovers story can get bogged down in a lot of hemming and hawing by the MCs and frankly all we really want is to see the couple together. While there is some of that, it’s completely natural and not too OTT.
I really love the way Rendell writes her male MCs, especially, Max. He is definitely an alpha and he adores Rosie so very much, once they let loose on their feelings for each other, we really get to see Max go full alpha and I LOVED IT. (And HOLY CRAP, the sexytimes were CRAZY HOT.) Simply put, Rendell writes a perfectly charming and ridiculously sexy book.
Okay, so I’ve babbled on and on about how much I love Nicola Rendell but I simply cannot help myself. Rendell has a spot on my auto read and auto buy lists and I cannot wait to read more from her!
Max
As I unlocked the door to my houseboat, I heard it. At first, it sounded like a duck paddling, but then I heard something else—a panting, or a gasping. For a second, it died down. It didn’t worry me, really, because the docks were full of weird noises, and boats were noisy as fuck. But I turned the deadbolt turned, the sound got louder and more frantic. Whatever it was, it didn’t sound good and it sure as hell didn’t sound like a duck. I let my work belt slide off my shoulder onto the deck, and looked down in the water, gripping the taffrail. There in the shadows, gasping, paddling, and panicking, I saw something small and wet and terrified.
Holy fuck. It was a dog. A tiny, drowning dog.
Fully clothed, boots on, I jumped into the water off the sternside. I plunged in deep, submerged in a world of shadowy barnacle-crusted dock pilings and chains holding anchors far below. Holding my breath and looking up toward the sunshine, through the bubbles that came down with me, I saw it. No bigger than a chicken, and kicking hard. I breaststroked toward the dog, aiming to come up right below it, but the salt water stung my eyes, and I closed them out of reflex. When I surfaced, it had gotten a few feet away. It was just a tiny thing, soaking wet, sucking in terrified breaths. It doggy-paddled in circles, slipping down into the water so that only its nose was above the surface. I did one strong breaststroke, but it was in full flight-or-fight mode, absolutely fucking petrified, and it paddled away from me, slipping out of my grasp. With one more big stroke, I had it, and I scooped it up into my arms to held her up out of the water, the way people do when the hold babies in the air. I saw it was a girl, her tummy soft and much less furry than the rest of her. Her big black eyes bugged out for an instant, and then…
She went limp in my hands. Lifeless, with her feet dangling down, her tongue hanging out. Her eyes were closed. On my palm, I couldn’t feel a heartbeat where I was sure there should have been one thrumming along.
Fuck. Fuck.
I gave her a shake, but she dangled like a rag doll.
I held her out of the water, keeping her in a tight bicep curl over my shoulder. Carefully, I maneuvered under the jetty that led to my boat. I got a toehold on the old dock ladder, rusty and unsteady. Using one hand to climb up, and using both boots like climbing picks, I emerged from my boat’s shadow and out into the sunshine of the dock. I laid her down on her back, supporting her lifeless body. With every passing millisecond, my heart fucking broke more and more. I could not let this happen. I could not let her die. I pulled myself up all the way and knelt beside her. She was flat on her back, with no signs of life at all. Her arms were limp at the wrists, and her paws dripped onto the dry wood beneath her. Still, her tongue hung out. Still, her eyes were shut. Still, she wasn’t breathing.
Somewhere, buried deep in my memory, I remembered learning the basics of canine CPR. I felt like maybe it was in my lifeguard class when I was in high school, but I didn’t fucking know and it didn’t fucking matter. All I knew was I had to do something, and fast. So I did. I wrapped my fingers around her tiny muzzle and brought my lips to her leathery nose. I blew gently, and as I did I felt her chest swell up. I held my own breath and prayed for anything, any sign of life, but there was nothing. Lightly, with the tips of my fingers, I did compressions on her soaking wet fur. One. Two. Three. And then I did another breath. One. Two. Three.
“Come on, little lady,” I whispered, and rolled her onto her side. I gave her a few pats, firm but not too hard. She was absolutely tiny—from scruff to tail, hardly bigger than the span of my hand. I rolled her over onto her back again and gave her one more breath, all the while going through the paces of what the fuck to do if this didn’t work. I had no goddamned idea whatsoever where the vet was. Did we even have a vet? Would she survive that long? What the fuck was I going to do?
But as I started the next set of compressions, she coughed. She actually coughed, like a tiny person, a gasping choking hack, accompanied by a few mouthfuls of water spilling out onto the wood planks.
Holy shit.
I froze with my hands just above her tiny body. Her strange, buggy eyes opened up and she started panting hard.
“Hey, hey!” I scooped her up in my arms, cradling her to my chest. I could tell by the way she was so limp against me that she was exhausted. Keeping her close to my body, to keep her warm and safe, I scratched the fur at the back of her neck, her tail started to wag. But she was also shivering hard, and I didn’t like that one bit. -
Review: Small Town Scandal by Daisy Prescott
So, I was little wary of this book because I was not a huge fan of Erik, Carter Kelso’s brother. I had some issues with his lack of maturity and how he treated his now girlfriend, Cari.
Fast forward to Carter and Ashley’s story. Finally. We’ve known Ashley for a while and she is quite a controversial character. In Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat, Ashley and Tom’s off and on, friends with benefits relationship hits the bricks because Tom meets Hailey, ground beef is thrown in a grocery store and the rest is Wingmen history.
Carter is Erik’s older brother and former high school boyfriend of Ashley. To say that she is jaded and cynical is a giant understatement but Carter has decided that he is going to get through the hard outer shell. Carter is single-minded in his goal and he is so very patient with Ashley. It’s refreshing to read a book where the relationship is taken very slowly. Ashley has to be handled with care and Carter is constantly mindful of that, no matter how much he wants her on a physical level. he has loved her for…well forever. Even through his own dalliance and relationships, he has always carried a torch for her. Carter really is a sweet guy and I LOVED him…and his goats.
Let’s talk about Ashley. To be honest, this was Ashley’s book more than Carter’s (for me, at least.) I enjoy a redemption story and normally we get the anti-hero or the bad boy gone good or whatever. Rarely, do we get a story with a hard to like/understand woman who owns her actions unapologetically. Ashley has been labeled the town slut, a label that in a way, she gave into. She grew up with a strict mother and grandmother and was preached to about remaining a virgin and finally rebelled against all of it. Ashley does not apologize for any of her relationships like I said, she owns all of her decisions and does not really care what anyone thinks of her.
What she doesn’t seem to realize is that she is hardly the only person in their small town that scandal revolves around and Carter helps her to see that. It’s lovely to see how she softens with him, lets him in…lets him care for her like only he can.
I guess that redemption isn’t quite the word for what happens with Ashley, it’s not like she did anything terrible…she lived her life on her terms with no apologies. Carter doesn’t want to change her, he loves her for exactly who she is, the woman she has become.
Small Town Scandal is a sweet and funny story of reunited lovers with a bit of redemption thrown in for good measure. Don’t miss it!
“Worried about history repeating itself?” Ashley meets my eyes.
“With you?” Yes, please.
She gives a slight nod in response.
“Never. I’m not some dumb eighteen-year-old kid with his head up his ass. I’m not my father. You’re not your parents. We’re adults now.”
She gazes out over the water for a moment. “I don’t see any, do you?”
“Any what?” I scan the sky.
“Flying pigs.” Her smile is shy and more vulnerable than I’ve seen in years.
I bump her shoulder again with mine. “Stranger things have happened.”
“Says you.” She returns the pressure with her arm against mine with a brief nudge.
“You mentioned dinner? Were you serious?” I circle back to her comment before my random business idea.
“We both gotta eat. Plus, the baristas can close up for me. It’s good responsibility for them to have.”
“You trust them?”
“I do. If they mess up, then it’s a learning lesson for all of us.”
“When did you get to be so wise?” I almost say smart, but she’s always been smart. Definitely has the brains along with the body and the looks. She’s the trifecta. With a cherry on top.
I pick up the stem and then toss it over to the other bench.
“Hey! I thought that was my present,” she protests.
“You want a cherry stem that I’ve tongued into a knot?”
“Your tongue’s been in my mouth, so it’s kind of the same thing.”
We both stare at the stem laying on the concrete in who knows what combination of fluids and dirt.
“I’ll make you another one.”
“I have a better use for your tongue.” She surprises me with a small hop to peck my lips.
We’re going to need some rules of engagement. A SWOT of our own.
First, we need to stick to well lit, public places.
Second, we shouldn’t be alone.
Ten minutes of sitting on a bench together and certain parts of my body are coiled and ready to spring into action, not caring it’s daylight and a few hundred bored people are sitting in their cars with nothing better to do than watch us.
Nah, they’re all on their phones. She could probably straddle me on this bench and no one would pay any attention.
Damn, if I’m not tempted to test this theory.
“Are you coming?” She’s halfway back to the coffee hut.
“I wish,” I mumble, dipping my head and mentally cursing myself for setting limits.
Ashley’s smile says she probably heard me and agrees.
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Review: Gansett Episode 1: Victoria and Shannon
Okay, so let’s be honest here, this isn’t going to be a review so much as a recommendation. I mean, it would be hard to go wrong with this book for me because I’m a huge McCarthy/Gansett Island fan. One of the reasons I enjoy this series so much is that in each book, with each new couple, the reader is updated on previous characters and couples. There are times where we’d like to learn more about a couple (but maybe they don’t have a full-length book sized story to tell) and Ms. Force has decided to tackle this by featuring some lesser known couples and a little more on previous couples and their (in this case) growing families.
I truly love this idea! I didn’t really know/remember a whole lot about the featured couple Shannon and Victoria (ergo… this book) and Ms. Force deftly fills us in on the development of their relationship from when they first met to now when they are facing quite a large hurdle.
The way Shannon handles this hurdle is frustrating at first but soon I appreciated the way he finally decided to face his own demons. Let’s just get this straight, though, Victoria is a badass. In this book, she assists with three births of Gansett Island babies. I loved that despite her own exhaustion and personal struggles, she was ready to rock and roll. Something else I loved was how Victoria and David’s close friendship was showcased. David has quite a history where the McCarthy’s and Gansett Island are concerned and I always enjoy a good redemption story and he continues to cement his own for me.
Simply put, the Gansett Island Episodes are a welcome addition to the McCarthy/Gansett Island world and I’m looking forward to more from one of my favorite series of all time.
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Review: The Cad and The Co-Ed by Penny Reid and L.H. Cosway
I remember when I finished The Player and the Pixie (the book before this one) and I read the teaser for this book. I knew then that I wanted to read this book. I’m a complete sucker for a baby in a book, I don’t know why but that trope just works for me. Soon, I realized that this was going to be somewhat of a secret baby book and at that point, I became concerned. I’m NOT a fan of the secret baby trope when that secret is kept for a long time for a stupid reason.
In the Co-Ed and the Cad, Eilish kept Patrick’s paternity a secret for a very good reason. Bryan was in no way shape or form, in a place to be a father, much less, even remember the time he and Eilish spent together. (This is not a spoiler, by the way, it’s in the synopsis.) When Bryan and Eilish were together, he was an alcoholic, plain and simple. Thanks to his rugby coach he was able to pull himself together and live his life in a completely different way. Enter Eilish.
It’s clear to Eilish that Bryan has absolutely no memory of her and while she concerned about his ability to be a parent to Patrick, she realizes she needs to tell him about his son. I was cool with all of this and I wanted Bryan to know about his son. It was also obvious that Bryan and Eilish were very attracted to each other and I was really looking forward to how they could work through Patrick’s paternity and maybe become a family. Bryan wanted to create a family, he cared for Eilish and Patrick and knew he had a lot of work to do. All of the pieces were there (and here is where the BUT comes in) but I just wasn’t crazy about how all of the pieces were put together. I think the thing is, I’ve become intolerant of conflict and drama due to lack of communication. There was a MASSIVE speedbump that revolved around this very plot device and it really diminished my overall enjoyment of this book.
This book was funny, sexy and entertaining, plus I truly enjoyed Eilish’s cousin Sean (from the previous book). I have enjoyed Penny Reid and L.H. Cosway’s work in this series but I was really bummed out by the use of conflict in this book.
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About the Authors
L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favorite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.
She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.Penny Reid
SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally, I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers, I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually, I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Newsletter
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