BLOG TOUR - VERSE BOOK TWO: THE SECOND GATE BY SAM BECK - GRAPHIC NOVEL [SPOTLIGHT + GIVEAWAY]

I am thrilled to be hosting a spotlight stop on the VERSE BOOK 2: THE SECOND GATE by Sam Beck Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway! 

Book Information

Title: Verse Book Two: The Second Gate

Authors(s): Sam Beck
Publication Date: June 28, 2022
Edition: Paperback, eBook; 256 pgs
Publisher: Wonderbound
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Purchase: Amazon - Kindle - B&N - BAM! - iBooks - TBD - Bookshop.org

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.  My thoughts and opinions are my own.  Please note the purchase links above are affiliate links.

Tour Schedule

Week One

6/13/2022 - The Momma Spot - Guest Post

6/14/2022 - Sadie's Spotlight - Guest Post/IG Post

6/15/2022 - BookHounds YA - Guest Post/IG Post

6/16/2022 - Ya Books Central - Guest Post

6/17/2022 - Two Chicks on Books - Guest Post

6/18/2022 - @jaimerockstarbooktours - IG Post

Week Two

6/19/2022 - Lady Hawkeye - Excerpt/IG Post

6/20/2022 - Read With Serena - Review/IG Post

6/21/2022 - Living in a Bookworld - Guest Post

6/22/2022 - #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog - Spotlight

6/23/2022 - Lifestyle of Me - Review/IG Post

6/24/2022 - Rajiv's Reviews - Review/IG Post

6/25/2022 - @thechattybookworm - TikTok Review/IG Post

Week Three

6/26/2022 - Fire and Ice - Review

6/27/2022 - Eli to the nth - Spotlight

6/28/2022 - Nonbinary Knight Reads - Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

6/29/2022 - Library of Alexandria Archives - Review/IG Post

6/30/2022 - TakeALookAtMyBookshelf - Review/IG Post

7/1/2022 - The Bookwyrm's Den - Review

7/2/2022 - A Backwards Story - Review/IG Post

Week Four

7/3/2022 - Nerdophiles - Review/IG Post

7/4/2022 - modefii - Review/IG Post

7/5/2022 - @allyluvsbooksalatte - Review/IG Post

7/6/2022 - Two Points of Interest - Review

7/7/2022 - onemused - IG Post

7/8/2022 - beersbooksandboos - Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

The Summary

FACE THE MAGIC

THE BATTLE FOR THE FUTURE OF MAGIC HAS TAKEN ITS FIRST PRISONER.

Held captive by the leaders of a dangerous new movement, Neitya is forced to face a darker side of her abilities that threaten to tear her away from Fife, her only true friend. The only way back to one another may be to follow their destinies down divergent paths and discover what it means to face their worst fears alone. 

Book 2 of the three-book original graphic novel fantasy series!

(Goodreads)

REVIEWS:

“Verse's rich drawings and colours beautifully illustrate a complicated, engaging fantasy world filled with sympathetic characters. I can't wait to learn more about them as their journey continues!" -- Faith Erin Hicks ― The Nameless City - Comics Creator, Writer, Artist

"An intricately woven tale of magic and mystery, Sam Beck has written and illustrated an unforgettable story." -- Victoria Ying ― Illustrator - Diana Princess of the Amazons, I Kissed Alice, and more!

"Verse is the sort of book you spend hours pouring over, even after the first read. Every single page is a visual delight – I lingered on every panel and relished every page-turn. Sam expertly crafts a sprawling world full of gripping characters and thrilling stakes that transported me to another dimension– it's the kind of book I would have devoured as a teenager, and certainly still love now." -- Hannah Templer ― Artist - Cosmoknights

Grab VERSE Book 1: The Broken Half now!

FOR DOWNLOADABLE DIGITAL ITEMS (Bookmarks, Digital Wallpapers, and Poster), please click on this link: https://www.readwonderbound.com/books/verse-book-1/

To see and hear Sam talk about VERSE, click on the YouTube link below for her Zoom chat at the 2021 US Book Show, entitled: MAGIC IS REAL: https://youtu.be/6kJ_1k--KDs

Excerpt

About the Author

About Sam Beck

Sam Beck is a writer and illustrator living in Toronto. She likes to explore themes of identity and relationships through the lens of fantasy. Sam has done work with Dark Horse, Vault Comics, and BOOM! Studios. When she's not drawing, find her admiring the forests of northern Ontario or playing the ocarina and guitar.

Sign up for the Verse email list!

Verse Website | Website| Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon  

Giveaway

2 winners will receive a finished copy of Verse Book 2: The Second Gate, US Only.

CLICK THE GRAPHIC

Tweet

WHAT I READ: FEBRUARY

This month was a slower reading month for me, compared to January.  I read only 4 books total, but I'm blaming the fact that February is shorter than the other months (flimsy excuse, I know, I know.).

I also spanned the age bracket this month, which is always fun, reading: 1 adult book, 2 YA books, and 1 middle grade book.  I'm trying to make sure I read more widely, not just genre and content, but age group as well.  I don't know about you, but I find different things to enjoy/relate to dependent on what age group I am reading in.

The genres were pretty consistent with my favorites: contemporary, fantasy, and sci-fi--my three favorites.  If I'm having a hard time getting into reading, I definitely reach for a comfort read, which is typically sci-fi/fantasy.  Do you have a comfort genre that helps with difficult reading months?

Overall, I really enjoyed each of the books I read this month, and I recommend them for everyone to read!

 The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

The first book I read this month, and it blew me away!  It felt like a warm hug, as I was reading it.  All my Goodreads review says is, "This was beautifully perfect".  And it really was.  I could live in this book, it was just so full of love, family, and the strength we have within ourselves.  A battle of injustice with a hero who is initially seen as normal/average/unremarkable; he ends up being anything but, and saves the day using his mind and his heart.

This was a 5 STAR for me.

"A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours."

If you haven't had a chance to pick this up yet, make it a priority because you won't be disappointed.  I have already ordered TJ Klune's other books because I want to devour all he has written.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

One of the challenges I've set for myself for 2021 is to read more BIPOC books, whether it be author or character (hopefully both).  I've heard really great things about Binti, so I got the ebook to check out.  It was interesting, and quick (didn't realize it was only 98 pages), but I definitely felt it was missing things.  There are more books in the series, and the premise/world-building/characters were enough to make me interested to continue.  But it wasn't quite what I thought.  Definitely going to continue to see if it becomes one of my faves.

This was a 3 STAR for me.

"Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.

Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.

If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself — but first she has to make it there, alive."

I think this is a good introduction, but wasn't as fully fleshed as I would've liked, but as there are additional books, recommend checking it out if you like sci-fi!

Spin with Me by Ami Polonsky

I had the opportunity to review this book through Rockstar Book Tours (check Jaime out; I love working with her!), and it was beautiful/adorable/impactful; a perfect middle grade introduction to love and gender identity!  Here's my full review, so please check that out to learn more.  Polonsky has a very deft hand when creating the plot and characters, making you feel what both Essie and Ollie are going through.

This was a 4 STAR for me.

"From the author of the critically acclaimed Gracefully Grayson comes a thoughtful and sensitive middle-grade novel about non-binary identity and first love, Ami Polonsky's Spin with Me.

In this elegant dual narrative, Essie is a thirteen-year-old girl feeling glum about starting a new school after her professor dad takes a temporary teaching position in a different town. She has 110 days here and can't wait for them to end. Then she meets Ollie, who is nonbinary. Ollie has beautiful blue eyes and a confident smile. Soon, Essie isn’t counting down the days until she can leave so much as she’s dreading when her time with Ollie will come to an end.

Meanwhile, Ollie is experiencing a crush of their own . . . on Essie. As Ollie struggles to balance their passion for queer advocacy with their other interests, they slowly find themselves falling for a girl whose stay is about to come to an end. Can the two unwind their merry-go-round of feelings before it's too late?"

This is such an excellent book for both adults and kids, one that can be read together as a family even!  And a great addition to the ever expanding LGBTQ+ world of middle grade books!

Into the Dark (Star Wars: The High Republic) by Claudia Gray

I am in love with this multi-media idea that Disney Lucasfilms Press is doing! The 3rd book (kind of...all the books/comics go together in a way you could technically read them in any order) of The High Republic project, I was so excited to be a part of this blog tour through Rockstar Book Tours (again, check them out)!!  Diving into a little known time period in Star Wars history, we get to learn all about the peak of The Jedi Order in the universe.  Excellent entry for veteran Star Wars author Claudia Gray, it was not only a great Star Wars book, but a great sci-fi/action book!  Check out my full review here!!

This was a 4.5 STAR for me.

"Long before the Clone Wars, the Empire, or the First Order, the Jedi lit the way for the galaxy in a golden age known as the High Republic!

Not everyone who hears the call to adventure wants to answer it....

Jedi Padawan Reath Silas loves adventure—reading about it, that is, not living it. Content to spend hours browsing the Jedi Archives on Coruscant, Reath dreams of being one of the great scholars of the Jedi Order. But Reath's master, the well-respected and virtuous Jora Malli, has other plans: she's taken a post at Starlight Beacon, the Republic's shining new outpost on the edge of known space. As her Padawan, Reath must join her, whether he likes the idea or not. (And he most definitely does not.)

So Reath reluctantly boards the ship that will take him and a few other Jedi to the dedication of Starlight Beacon, where Master Jora waits for him to start their new adventurous life on the frontier. But trouble in hyperspace leaves the ship and other nearby vessels stranded, with only an eerie abandoned space station reachable for shelter. And the secrets hidden there will not only bring Reath to a crossroads but, if left unchecked, could plunge the entire galaxy into darkness..."

This made me super hyped to jump into all The High Republic books/comics; Star Wars fan and sci-fi fans alike will really love this one!

So there you have it, all the books I read in February 2021.  Have you read any of them, and if you did, what did you think about them?  If you haven't gotten to read any, which are enticing you?  

Let me know what you read in February in the comments, and happy reading!

Tweet

My 2020 Reading Year

This year for me, as for the entire world, was crazy.  

Once quarantine happened, I thought I would read so much (I'm sure a lot of people thought that).  

But that is not what happened, instead I felt less motivated...at first. But then, things started, not becoming normal, because nothing about this year has been normal, but more familiar (which is a little sad, but reality). 

I got back into my groove.  

Reading has always comforted me, so I was very glad I could get my mind to focus on the one thing, besides my family, that always brings me joy.

With that said, I read 10 books beyond my goal this year!

I know a lot of people have put reading challenges to the wayside, but for me, I utilize it when I am in a slump.  This works for me, to look at my Goodreads page and see if I'm 1, 2, 3+ books behind.  

It forces me to pick a book up, maybe a comfort read, maybe a new release that sounds exciting, but whatever it is, once I start reading I can typically get over that hump.

So to not only have hit my goal (I make it a simple 50 books --- I am in awe of those who read 100+ in a year), but to have gone 10 books over it was quite an achievement for me.

Okay let's break down some stats.  I find it interesting watching/reading anyone's end of the year reading stats videos/blog posts.  Mine is never quite as extensive, but I think it is interesting to track my own reading in different ways.

This doesn't surprise me; Young Adult is my jam.  Any genre, any format, I will choose a YA book 95% of the time...well 50% of the time with 30 books read according to my list this last year.  Young Adult is my comfort zone, and my area of study, so I tend to lean into it more often than not.

Then 35% of my reading with 21 books  was Adult/New Adult, which, again, not super surprising.  I love to read romance as a genre, and all the most steamy are Adult/New Adult (I mean...as it should be).  Most of my Adult/New Adult reading is dominated by romance.  So that is one thing I'd like to try and change this coming year (not off to a great start, 2 of 3 books I've read have been romance...oops LOL).

Then coming in last is Middle Grade/Children at 15% and 9 books read.  Small, but mighty, I am getting more and more into Middle Grade/Children books.  Some have been excellent, and I think this is a category of book that is often overlook for nuance.

Again, not totally surprising as most YA books are 300ish pages, as are most romances (my other comfort genre).  For this, even though I have audiobooks on the list, I took what was the physical hardcover book page count to tally.   This is also a comfort number for me, as 300-350 is usually my sweet spot.  Of course, the one biggin that I read in 2020 was Middlegame by Seanan McGuire --- a perfect book.

Of course, looking at this you would think that the 0-100 books were all Middle Grade/Children, and none of them were: one was a YA short story, one was an art book (that contained words I promise), and one was a smutty novella. 

I love that I didn't use the "crutch" of reading shorter books to obtain my goal this year, either!  I actually hit my original goal of 50 books in October with One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake.  And after that I read a few good sized books.  Not that reading short books is a problem, I just didn't want to force myself to read them in order to reach a goal, if that makes sense?

I still read the most physical books: 19 total (between 6 Paperback and 13 Hardcover), but the fact eBooks are my second highest at 14 books, is surprising to me. But something I took into consideration for this year.  

I had read all of those eBooks on my phone, using the Kindle app; not ideal.  So I did research about eReaders, and purchased a Kindle Paperwhite as a birthday present.  I've already read 4 eBooks on it this month, and I am really loving it.  Always will be a physical book reader, but ebooks aren't horrible as I previously thought.  Also, if you include graphic novels, which were all physical copies, that total bumps up to 32 total physical.  So definitely my still my preferred format.

A lot less audiobooks, but that is not surprising.  I have moved back into the city where I work, and I am commuting only twice a week to the office.  So no more long car trips 5 days a week where I can get a good chunk listened to.  I am not a audiobook listener anywhere but my car, so that number will probably stay low in 2021.

Finally, let's talk Star Ratings.  I use to use this elaborate like 10 point system, then give an A+ - F score.  But that got exhausting, so a couple years back I just went to Stars.  I do use half Stars because sometimes a book is good, but not quite full step up good.  You need an in-between option.

So overall, I had the most 4 to 4.5 Star books this year.  Not surprising, since I tend to be generous with my ratings.  I do not typically read books I am not going to like.  But I have also come to the conclusion that a 3 or a 3.5 Star is pretty good still.  So for 2021, I am really going to consider if this is a book I would recommend to people (a 4/4.5) or if this is just an enjoyable book, but maybe not a high recommendation (3/3.5).

And then my 5 Stars are only going to be 100% percent, loved and would recommend to everyone reads.  Which for 2020, I tried to keep that in mind, and I had some very good books.

So out of the 60 books I read 20 of them received 5 Stars; about 33%.  Then I had 33 4/4.5 Star books; about 55%.  The 3.5 Star or lower was only 12% of my overall reading.  I think that will definitely be changing.

Now I did some analysis, but y'all probably want to see the books I read.  So here are just the covers of all 60 books I read in 2020 (thanks Goodreads for putting them together so nicely):

A plethora of excellent books, I really enjoyed my reading year in such a godawful time.  I had a lot of slumps, but was able to finish strong.  I hope that 2021 is the same or even better (January was excellent for me; February...isn't going as well).  

If you found some new books to read through this post, let me know in the comments, and happy reading!

Tweet

BLOG TOUR - THE LAST RULE OF MAKEUPS BY NINA CRESPO - ADULT FICTION [Excerpt+ Giveaway]

I am thrilled to be hosting an excerpt spot on the THE LAST RULE OF MAKEUPS by Nina Crespo Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway below!

Title:

The Last Rule of Makeups
Authors(s): Nina Crespo
Publication Date: October 12, 2020
Edition: Paperback, eBook; 150 pgs
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Buy: Amazon - Kindle - Barnes & Noble - iBooks - Kobo 

Tour Schedule

10/12/2020 - Lisa-Queen of Random - Excerpt

10/12/2020 - Books A-Brewin' - Excerpt

10/12/2020 - Two Chicks on Books - Interview

10/13/2020 - Bibliojunkies - Guest Post

10/13/2020 - BookHounds - Interview

10/14/2020 - A Dream Within A Dream  - Excerpt

10/14/2020 - Rajiv's Reviews - Review

10/15/2020 - Twirling Book Princess - Guest Post

10/15/2020 - Becky on Books - Review

10/16/2020 - underneath the covers - Excerpt

10/16/2020 - Eli to the nth - Excerpt

10/16/2020 - Bookswithpaulak - Review

The Summary

Cori Ross is thanking her lucky stars. Sure, her long-time boyfriend just dumped her, but that’s a good thing. In her rush to find Mr. Right, she realizes she almost settled for Mr. Just Okay. And that’s definitely not okay. So, tonight, she’s out with her friends at the Breakup Bash—a private party for women celebrating their break-ups—and she’s actually celebrating. Still, it was too close a call. So she makes a deal with herself—no guys for six months.

Unfortunately, just as she’s leaving the club, she runs into her old boyfriend, Grey Latham—the guy she’d always wanted to be Mr. Right. Great. What a time to swear off guys. Maybe she needs to change the deal—no relationships for six months. There’s no reason why she can’t have a fling, right? Because Grey still holds the title of the best sex she’s ever had.

There’s no way this could go wrong. Grey is on his way to international DJ fame—he’s only in town for a short time, and then he’ll be gone again. No harm in burning up the sheets while it lasts.

Too bad neither expected what happened next...

(Goodreads)

The Breakup Bash Series

Each book in the series is a STANDALONE, but all revolves around one EPIC party:

THE BREAKUP BASH!

BOOK 1: The First Rule of Hook-Ups

BOOK 2: Rules of a Rebound

Check out my review of Rules of a Rebound

BOOK 3: The Last Rule of Makeups

Excerpt

     Grey walked in wearing a rose-colored towel around his waist. A sheen of dampness trailed down between his pecs to his abs. The scent of her lemon body wash wafted from his skin. On him, the feminine fragrance transformed into something wholly masculine and potently sexual.

     He came up beside her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and kissed her temple. “I still don’t understand why you wouldn’t take a shower with me.”

     “Because you’re too distracting.” She grazed her fingertip over his slightly damp chest.

     “And the problem with that is?” He rested his hands on her hip.

     “We both have places to go and people to see. And I need to eat something before I pass out.”

      He glanced at the eggs and bowl on the counter. “Yeah, I could eat a whole plate of scrambled eggs right now. Do you want me to cook?”

     He was offering to cook? When they were together, he was the Microwave King, and breakfast Hot Pockets and Toaster Strudel had ruled his kingdom. Starvation must have messed with her hearing. 

     “You mean like actually crack the eggs open and cook them, in a pan, on the stove?” 

     “Yes, I can scramble eggs and actually cook a few other things.” He lifted her chin to shut her mouth, sealing her lips with his. “Stop looking at me like I just grew another head.”

     “You kinda did. The Grey I knew owned exactly one flimsy pot that he never used.”

      “No, I owned two, but yeah, that was me. But now I’ve got skills. I can even handle toast and coffee to go with it.”

     “Oh my gosh.” She exaggerated her surprise. “You’re practically a certified chef. I must partake of this goodness.”

     “Uh-huh. I can’t believe you doubt my skills.” He tightened the towel.

     Her gaze dropped to where he tucked the ends around his waist. 

     One light tug… The prospect of what would happen if that barrier was taken away was exciting as well as slightly unnerving. She’d never been this needy for a man. She’d only been in a sexual drought for a few months, not years. What was wrong with her? 

     She turned her attention to the counter and took another egg from the carton. “Do you want coffee?”

     “I’d love some.” He went over to the Keurig plugged in on the counter behind her. She was about to ask if he knew how to use it when he turned it on, snagged a white mug from the drying rack, and stuck it on the drip tray. He looked through the K-cup pods in the small wire basket next to the coffee machine. “What kind do you want?”

     “The Green Mountain Breakfast Blend. I think I used the last one yesterday. Can you grab a new box from the pantry?” She pointed to the half-closed door near the corner of the kitchen.

      “Sure. Which shelf?” He flipped on the light switch on the wall and went into the walk-in space.

     “On the back wall. Third one down.” Without him as a distraction, she expertly cracked the egg on the side of the bowl with one hand and dropped the contents into the bowl. “Found it?”

     “No,” he called out. “I don’t see it.”

     “It’s there.”

     “Are you sure it’s on the third shelf?”

     “Positive.”

     “Maybe you should take a look.”

     She rinsed and dried her hands. “You’re not looking hard enough.”

     But he’d certainly been hard enough earlier. The play on words made her smile as she walked to the doorway of the pantry closet. 

     Grey faced away from her, searching through the built-in shelf on the back wall. “What does the package look like?” 

     It’s six foot one with a towel molded to its grabbable butt. Her gaze strayed to his ass and lingered. It was solid with muscle, just like the rest of him. He’d definitely been working out a lot more since she’d last seen him.

     “Cori…” Grey looked over his shoulder at her. “If you keep staring at me like that, there will be consequences.”

     Consequences… “Like what?”

     He turned and faced her. The tenting of his towel became more prominent before her eyes.

     A small smile tipped up his mouth, but his gaze, as it roamed over her, was intense with need. “Like finding out just how sturdy these shelves are.”

About the Author

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions — the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing.

Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel.

Let Nina’s sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after.

Stay connected with Nina on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or through her newsletter.

Website | Twitter  | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway

1 winner will win a $15 Amazon Gift Card, INTERNATIONAL.

CLICK THE GRAPHIC

Tweet

BLOG TOUR - Wrong Bed, Right Man by Rebecca Brooks - ADULT FICTION [Spotlight + Giveaway]

Y'all know I love a steamy romance, especially when I can devour it quick! 

That's why I am pumped to be hosting a spot on the Wrong Bed, Right Man by Rebecca Brooks Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. 

Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Title: Wrong Bed, Right Man
Authors(s): Rebecca Brooks
Edition: Paperback, ebook; 150 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Publication Date: February 10, 2020
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Buy: Amazon - Kindle - Barnes & Noble - iBooks - Kobo

Tour Schedule

2/17/2020 - Two Chicks on Books - Excerpt

2/17/2020 - Jaime's World - Excerpt

2/18/2020 - Texan Girl Reviews - Excerpt

2/18/2020 - Books,Dreams,Life - Excerpt

2/18/2020 - Books_andPoetrii - Excerpt

2/19/2020 - momfluenster - Excerpt

2/19/2020 - Precious books world - Excerpt

2/19/2020 - BookHounds - Excerpt

2/20/2020 - Sandra's Book Club - Review

2/20/2020 - Comfort Books/Paige Bradish - Review

2/20/2020 - Ziggy's Reading Corner - Excerpt

2/20/2020 - Jazzy Book Reviews - Excerpt

2/21/2020 - Eli to the nth - Spotlight

2/21/2020 - The Eclectic Review - Review

2/21/2020 - Novel Novice - Review 

The Summary

Rose Campbell is determined to get her stuff from her cheating ex-fiancé’s apartment. There’s just one problem. A sexy stranger is sleeping in her bed. Work boots and scruff so aren’t her type––except when they’re on furniture maker Owen Crowley, who is funny, kind, and speaks his mind.

The prim and proper Rose isn't the kind of woman Owen is usually interested in. But the more he gets to know her, the more intrigued he becomes. There’s passion underneath those stiff suits of hers that he can’t wait to explore.

There’s no reason these two opposites can’t have some sexy fun––except that one thing. Rose works for the very people trying to destroy Owen’s business.

(Goodreads)

Excerpt

Owen pressed on the mattress over the place he’d fixed, where the weak spot in the wood had originally been. He pressed again, again. Pressed hard enough that the mattress began to…squeak. In a very particular rhythm. In a very particular way.

“I’m not going to break the bed,” Rose cried, obviously horrified.

“Test it,” he said. “Try your best. Go ahead and prove me wrong.”

He should run full speed in the other direction. But it was too much fun to tease her. And his resolve was only so strong. He walked over to his bag and reached inside. He’d told himself he wasn’t going to do this…but here he was, doing it anyway.

“I know you said these aren’t yours, but I thought you should have them.”

He pulled out the restraints. It was as if all the air in the room suddenly vanished. It all must have been locked inside Rose with the force of her inhale.

He twisted them around his wrists and tugged. Unbreakable leather, unbreakable bed. She couldn’t deny it was a winning combination.

“I’m so. Not. Going to use that.” She was looking everywhere but at him. Or at the bed. Or at the restraints in his hands.

“I told you,” he said. “There’s no way you’re going to break the bed now.”

“You should take those. Please.”

“But I don’t have any use for them.”

Now he got her eyes on him. Only for a second, but it was something. “No girlfriend?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I haven’t found the right one.”

“Someone who’ll put up with your snoring? Trust me, I heard.”

She was clearly trying to joke, and he let her have half a grin. “More like someone I could actually be into.”

Not that he could let himself be into her. But he tossed the restraints on the mattress and looked at her anyway.

“Go ahead,” he said. “Try to break that bed.”

“You forget that I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said demurely.

“No, Rose. I definitely didn’t forget.”

About the Author

Rebecca Brooks lives in New York City in an apartment filled with books. She received a PhD in English but decided it was more fun to write books than write about them.

She has backpacked alone through India and Brazil, traveled by cargo boat down the Amazon River, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, explored ice caves in Peru, trekked to the source of the Ganges, and sunbathed in Burma, but she always likes coming home to a cold beer and her hot husband in the Bronx.

She likes outdoorsy guys with both muscle and heart and independent women ready to try something new.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | BookBub

Giveaway

1 winner will receive a $15 Amazon GC, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tweet