Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Put Me In Detention, by Meghan Quinn

PUT ME IN DETENTION by Meghan Quinn

PUT ME IN DETENTION by Meghan Quinn

Release Date: January 11th

AVAILABLE NOW!!! FREE IN KU!!!

Amazon: http://mybook.to/PutMeInDetention

Audio: https://adbl.co/3qvSShb

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56522163-put-me-in-detention

Blurb:

“You got married on your divorce-cation?”

That would unfortunately be correct.

I was hanging with the girls, celebrating my divorce when I saw him, my crush, sitting in the corner of the bar all alone. Being single and looking for a wild night, I asked him if he wanted to join me. To my delight, he said yes.

Drinks were consumed, fun was had and then . . . one drunken conversation with a cranky gondolier in Las Vegas led to an Uber lift through a drive-thru wedding chapel with the incredibly hot, British bad boy, Pike Greyson.

On paper, it seemed like I hit the jackpot. And if I wasn’t fresh from a toxic marriage, I would have absolutely noticed the finer things about him.

But I wanted nothing to do with being married, so when I arrived back home from my eventful weekend in Vegas, the last thing I expected to see was a new doting husband already moved in.

I asked for an annulment, he pulled a Ross Geller and said no.

That’s right, he said NO! Instead, he asked for three months to prove we could be good together.

Insanity clearly knocked him in the head and the only way I could convince him to give up on our sham of a marriage was to show him just how wrong we were for each other. Only problem with that was, he saw right through my every prank, every trick, and every yearning emotion I attempted to mask.

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

I did not want Put Me In Detention to end! Cora and Pike’s story gave me ALL THE FEELS!!

This book is part of Meghan Quinn’s teacher’s series, and Cora is Arlo’s sister on her Divorce-cation in Vegas with the girls when they run into hot, tattooed British history teacher Pike. Cora wants a hot one night stand to celebrate her divorce… and ends up marrying Pike kind of on a date. She figures they’ll get divorced when they get back to Chicago, but Pike has other plans.

This book is hilarious. Right off the bat, I was hysterically laughing at these two. There is some serious chemistry between them, and she refuses to give in. The game they play of her trying to push him away while he’s trying to get to know her — and all the pranks involves — were awesome. Disappearing bathing suit?? Where did that come from, Meghan? Loved it!

But as funny as this romcom is, MQ, as always, does a fantastic job of showing a vulnerability to the characters. Like Pike’s family issues with his dad, and his reasons for wanting to stay married. Like Cora’s insecurities based on her last marriage, and her troubled past. It all leads to a beautiful payoff once Cora agrees to stop fighting it and date her fake husband. There are some really tender scenes and Pike is a super sweet guy even when he’s trying to be a jerk just to please his wife.

Should he have kept the truth from her? No. But then we wouldn’t have had that wonderful plot twist, the awkwardly painful scenario that ultimately brings these two back together!

As much as this book is Cora’s story, it is also Keiko’s story. In a lovely subplot, the Female Sheldon of this girl group gets her own HEA with Kelvin, and I couldn’t have been happier.

Thanks for another fantastic escape, Meghan! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

About Meghan:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7360513.Meghan_Quinn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghanquinnbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMegQuinn

Website: http://authormeghanquinn.com

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/meghan-quinn

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LitE4x

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Beg You To Trust Me, by B. Celeste

Beg You to Trust Me by B. Celeste is now live!

When I decided to move across the country for college, I thought it’d be the perfect chance to reinvent myself.

But then one party changed the course of my entire freshman year.

And just when I think I’m about to drown in the foggy memories of my night spent partying at the football house, Daniel Bridges walks into my life.

Lindon University’s wide receiver.

A total flirt. And a total threat.

Because he can help take away the memories I do remember from that night.

What I don’t anticipate from the witty football player is the friendship we form as the months go on.

Or how easy it is to fall for him as he teaches me how to trust again…and so much more.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
US: https://amzn.to/3A3gPPG
WW: https://geni.us/BYTTM

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3mrNlGx

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Reading this book was like walking through an emotional minefield. Skylar and Danny’s romance itself was a sweet slow burn with a hero who was so incredibly patient with the broken girl he wanted more than anything to let him in. But in the background is a messy tale of bullying, harassment, and sexual assault on a college campus. This book definitely has some triggers that readers need to be aware of, but Danny and Skylar’s story is a beautiful one to read.

The book opens with Skylar doing the walk of shame after a party at the football house. But she can’t remember who she was with because she was drugged and drunk. There are rumors going around campus about her, and Sky has zero support from her suitemates. Especially her bitchy roommate. The only person she can count on is her friend Olive, until Danny pushes his way into her life.

I loved how these two connected with one another. There were misconceived notions on both of their parts at first, but once they became friends, they just really clicked. There are some really heartbreaking moments where Danny tries to help Skylar work through what happened to her — like the scene where he is on his knees literally begging her to trust him! So well written!

There is a lot of growth for both characters, especially Skylar. I loved her story arc and how she ultimately reclaims her life after being victimized. When it came down to things that really matter, Danny stood up and did the right thing, despite what it did to his reputation as a member of the football team.

I would have loved to have seen a HEA for this couple instead of the happy-for-now ending that we got, and the book ends on a jaw-dropping tease for the next installment in this series.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet B. Celeste

B. Celeste’s obsession with all things forbidden and taboo enabled her to pave a path into a new world of raw, real, emotional romance.

Her debut novel is The Truth about Heartbreak

Connect with B.
Website | https://authorbceleste.com/
Goodreads | https://bit.ly/3DwHhUm
Amazon | https://amzn.to/30zM48U
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/authorbceleste
Facebook Group | https://bit.ly/3nwWxLv
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/authorbceleste/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbceleste
Bookbub | https://bookbub.com/authors/b-celeste

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Only One Mistake by Natasha Madison

Release Date: January 4

A one-night stand gone wrong?
Michael
Being traded after fighting with your coach on air isn’t exactly a good look.
With one mistake under my belt, I knew I needed to focus on the game and nothing else.
But everything changed when I went to pick up my niece and came face-to-face with my very pregnant one-night stand from six months ago.
Jillian
Two pink lines changed all my plans.
So did the guy I had a one-night stand with, a man who made me laugh and smile, a guy who I called to share my unexpected news with, only to find out his number was no longer in service.
Once more letdown by the opposite sex, I figured I was doing this on my own.
Then one day, I was staring into the eyes of the man I hated, the father of my baby.

Grab Your Copy Here!
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars
Only One Mistake is a super cute one-night-stand/accidental pregnancy romance in Natasha Madison’s Only One series. The hero, Michael, is the son of Max and Allie from the Something So series, and his cousin is Cooper from Only One Regret.

The first day that Michael arrives in Dallas after being traded to the Oilers, he’s out incognito for a bite to eat and comes to the rescue of Jillian, who has been stood up by her blind date. She has no clue who he is, which he finds refreshing, and they have tons of chemistry. Their one-night stand is full of steam, and I thought they connected so well — so how was Michael going to blow her off when she called him to tell him about the baby when he was so smitten with her?

Okay, I bought into Michael’s explanation about having lost his phone/got a new number. Even if Jillian didn’t buy it — again, not knowing who he really is. I thought it was sweet how involved his parents wanted to be from the start, even though I expected them to question the surprise pregnancy A LITTLE considering who they are as a family. But they welcomed Jillian, Julia, and their mom into the family with open arms, making this a very hunky-dory, feel-good, no-angst romance.

I can’t wait to see what happens between Alex (Michael’s sister) and Dylan (his best friend/adopted cousin) in their book! And I would love to see Julia (Jillian’s twin) get an Oiler herself! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Natasha Madison 



When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…
 

 

Connect with Natasha Madison


 
Hosted By:
Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: The Love Square, by Jessica Calla

Happy Release Day to Jessica Calla!
THE LOVE SQUARE is NOW LIVE!

Read today: https://mybook.to/TheLoveSquare
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/32jINvS

On the west coast…

…Nebraskan Clare Davis hates her new life managing a bookstore in LA—until she meets up-and-coming movie star Dylan Barnes. Dylan’s always been a city guy, but can’t resist Clare’s midwestern charm as he shows her the wonders of California.

On the east coast…

…Alex Popovich loves being a carefree bachelor and a minor league ballplayer in his hometown Brooklyn. But things get complicated when gorgeous ballroom dancer-slash-office worker Jenna Stecco asks him to take that leap with her from best friend to something more, and he bunts and lets her go.

When Jenna and Dylan stir up the dynamic with a night of passion, the four friends must decide whether to accept the new normal, or fight their way out of the wrong corners of their love square and journey to their happily ever afters.

One-Click: https://mybook.to/TheLoveSquare
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/32jINvS

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

The Love Square definitely puts a twist on the love triangle trope as it tells the dual story of best friends Dylan and Clare in Los Angeles, and then Dylan’s childhood pal Alex and Jenna in NYC. In both pairs, they each have feelings for one another, but there are some complications and nobody really acts on this feelings. But then Dylan meets Jenna while visiting Alex one weekend, and a steamy long-distance relationship takes off. But how true are they to each other when they both can’t stop thinking about someone else? Especially when an unforeseen complication makes things messier?

Like I said, this story puts a unique twist on the trope. There is some mild cheating (kissing) and while there are sexual scenes, they are not graphic. A lot of the heartache would be avoided if these four just were open about their feelings. So much miscommunication. And I really detested Jenna’s initial decision before her mind was swayed.

But that aside, I enjoyed this story. I knew who I was rooting for, and everyone in this quarter gets a HEA — even if it is an unconventional one, in a way!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jessica Calla is a contemporary romance and women’s fiction author who leaves her Christmas lights up and glowing on her porch all year long. Although Jessica’s passion is reading and writing about love and relationships deep into the night hours, she moonlights during the day as an attorney. If she’s not writing, lawyering, or parenting, you’ll most likely find her scrolling through her Twitter feed, binge-watching Netflix, or gulping down way too much caffeine (sometimes all three at once). A Jersey girl through and through, she resides in the central part of the state with her handsome husband, two charming sons, and a princess dog.

WEBSITE: https://www.jessicacalla.com
NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/32jayVn
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaCallaAuthor
FACEBOOK READERS GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192783561184995
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jess_calla/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jess_calla
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Calla/e/B0195YOTB2
GOODREADS: https://bit.ly/3sycLGZ
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jessica-calla

TOUR HOSTED BY:

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Ripple Effect, by J. Bengtsson

Ripple Effect by J. Bengtsson is now live!

Enemies to lovers tale with an earth-shaking twist!

International pop star RJ Contreras finds himself at a crossroads when his mega famous boy band, AnyDayNow, breaks up. After his solo career fails to take off, RJ retreats to a no-frills apartment where he can hide out from the world and lick his festering wounds.

But when the girl next door starts slipping ‘good neighbor’ contracts under his door and complaining about his behavior through strategically placed Post-it-Notes, RJ snaps out of his self-absorbed melancholy to wage war.

Nothing short of an act of nature could repair the relationship between these two strong-willed enemies. But guess what Fate has in store?

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
http://mybook.to/ripplee

Listen to the audiobook narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Stella Hunter!
https://adbl.co/3ECFc9U

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ljKvnw

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Ripple Effect full-blown blew me away! I was not expecting this enemies-to-lovers neighbors romance to be so intense, but once I got sucked in, I could not put it down and binged it in a night.

I’ve read just about all of the Cake series, as well as some of J. Bengtsson’s other standalones, including Bodhi’s story Like The Wind. But still, nothing prepared me for the intensity that was RJ and Dani, and the literal earthquake that brings these two together.

There is so much to love about these two. Slow burn. A broody rockstar in hiding. A sassy schoolteacher. Incredible banter as these two just want to strangle each other. And then once the world literally collapses around them, there is so much vulnerability, love, emotion and sweetness.

RJ’s history is not a pretty one, and that childhood hurt leads him to hide out from the rest of the world after his attempt at a solo career bombs. Dani makes him want to be better, do better, fight for something. He’d spent his whole life feeling unwanted and unloved, and the tragedy that brings RJ and Dani together makes him want to stop being a victim and take matters into his own hands. Unfortunately, while RJ comes out of the earthquake with newfound confidence, Dani is suffering from some major survivor’s guilt. No matter how much RJ wants to build a life with her afterward, Dani needs to figure out how she can move forward.

JB wrote a brilliant story of true love and resilience in Ripple Effect.

BTW, I kinda fell in love with Dani’s family of sperm siblings. I would love to see a spinoff series with some of those side characters!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet J. Bengtsson

J. (Jill) Bengtsson is the bestselling author of the Cake Series. She writes contemporary novels focused on love, humor, passion, and family. Her heroines are strong, nurturing, and quirky while her heroes are what dreams are made of – gorgeous, committed, and in need of a little saving. A native Californian, Jill’s novels are set under the glittering lights of the West Coast entertainment industry.
They are for the dreamer in all of us.
Jill resides in Ventura County, California. She’s married to the Swedish boy she met as an exchange student her junior year in college and they have three children, a golden retriever, and two ragdoll cats.

Connect with J.
Website | https://jbengtssonbooks.com
Goodreads | https://bit.ly/3s2Bgs7
Amazon | https://amzn.to/3d1yleP
Facebook | https://bit.ly/3dOoS9Q
Facebook Group | https://bit.ly/2PFjDBy
Instagram | https://bit.ly/3cYVzCn
Twitter | https://bit.ly/3cZ6ADA
Bookbub | https://bit.ly/3d1Cbon
Verve Romance | https://bit.ly/3mtTHET
Newsletter | https://bit.ly/3cZvWBd

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Getting Real, by Emma Chase

Getting Real by Emma Chase is now live in audiobook!

A sexy, hilarious, emotional, new romance from New York Times bestselling author Emma Chase.

Connor Daniels never thought he’d be starting over at dating square one. His career as a successful doctor, and his three boys, are everything to him. It’s not exactly a setup conducive to a scorching social life—but he’s giving it a shot.

ER nurse Violet Robinson never intended for Connor to find out she’s had a crush on him forever. It was a dirty little secret only meant for her dirty dreams. Her heart trips every time he’s around—and so do her feet.

When Connor sees Violet coasting across the grocery store parking lot—and she falls on her face—he starts falling for the gorgeous, young nurse right back.

Dating can be tricky. And life can be beautiful and crazy and unpredictable. But when it gets real, you discover what matters most . . . and the one person you want loving you through it all.

Start listening now!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/303LgsL

Narrated by Zachary Webber & Andi Arndt

Included in Audible Plus!
Audible: https://adbl.co/3AdODtm

Releasing in ebook & print January 31, 2022

Pre-order your copy!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3e6sVzw
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3r4zWpq
Nook: https://bit.ly/3ALqw6Z
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3k7yS2U

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3z2cw7j

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Getting Real was a delightful age-gap/coworkers/single dad romance. Connor and Violet’s story is funny, sweet, sexy, steamy, and emotional all wrapped up in one.

Connor is a fantastic hero — although I wanted to smack him for playing games like a teenager after he and Violet went out for the first time! Thankfully, he got his act together, and the rest of this story flowed smoothly. There is little drama between Violet and Connor, but some miscommunication and assumptions cause issues between them.

I really liked the connection between Violet and Connor. As a single dad over 40, he has a maturity to him that I don’t find in 20- or 30-something heroes. I loved how well Violet fit in with Connor’s kids, and how easygoing the relationship is between them.

Getting Real is a complete standalone — but within the Getting Some series. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but I am definitely interested in reading rest of the Daniels brothers’ stories!

Getting Real was released on audio first — and Zachary Webber is TO DIE FOR as Connor! Oh wow, he has such a sexy voice! Andi Arndt is fabulous as well, and these two really bring Connor and Violet to life!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Emma

Emma Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance novels filled with humor, heart and heart. Her stories are known for their clever banter and sexy, swoon-worthy moments. Emma’s novels have been translated in over twenty languages around the world.

Emma lives in New Jersey with her amazing husband, two awesome children, and two adorable but badly behaved dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: These Thorn Kisses by Saffron A. Kent

Release Date: December 7


Eighteen-year-old, Bronwyn Littleton is in love with a stranger she met on a summer night a year ago.

A stranger who was tall and broad in a way that made her feel safe. He had dark blue eyes that she can’t stop drawing in her sketch book. And he had a deep, soothing voice that she can’t stop hearing in her dreams.

That’s all she knows about him though.

Until she runs into him again. At St. Mary’s School for Troubled Teenagers – an all girls reform school – where she’s trapped because of a little crime she committed in the name of her art.

Now she knows that her dream man has a name: Conrad Thorne.

She knows that his eyes are way bluer and way more beautiful than she thought. And that his face is an artist’s wonderland.

But she also knows that Conrad is her best friend’s older brother. Which means he’s completely off-limits. Not to mention, he’s the new soccer coach, which makes him off-limits times two.

What makes him off-limits times three however, and this whole scenario an epic tragedy, is that, Conrad, Wyn’s dream man, has a dream girl of his own.

And he’s as much in love with his dream girl as Wyn is in love with him…

NOTE: This is a STANDALONE set in the world of St. Mary’s.

Grab Your Copy Here:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Apple 

 Kobo | Google Play | B&N 

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 3 Stars

The return to St. Mary’s with These Thorn Kisses fell a little flat. I loved My Darling Arrow, and really liked A Gorgeous Villain… But Conrad (one of Callie’s older brother from AGV) and Bronwyn were just a bit “meh” for me in These Thorn Kisses.

I didn’t get the same sense of forbidden romance in this book that I did in the previous stories… it just kind of felt forced. I didn’t feel this burning connection between Conrad and Wyn, so the forbidden aspect to their relationship felt unexistent. The other woman drama that I was expecting with Conrad’s ex Helen being the guidance counselor at St. Mary’s was more in Bronwyn’s head than anything else.

Ultimately, These Thorn Kisses was a miss for me. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Saffron A. Kent

Saffron A. Kent is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and New Adult romance.

She has an MFA in Creative Writing and she lives in New York City with her nerdy and supportive husband, along with a million and one books.

She also blogs. Her musings related to life, writing, books and everything in between can be found in her JOURNAL on her website (www.thesaffronkent.com)



Connect with Saffron A. Kent


Hosted By:
Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Only Sometimes by Felicia Bladel

Title: Only Sometimes
Series: Without Filter #3
Author: Felicia Blaedel
Genre: Steamy New Adult Romance
Release Date: December 9, 2021
BLURB
Disagreeing from the first time they meet, Noah and Niko know exactly how to push each other’s buttons while they fight the intense pull between them. But when they are forced to work together, they might realise that their connection runs deeper than frustration and lust.
Niko is driven and ambitious, even when it’s misconceived as cold and measured.
Her latest project is her great-grandmother’s nature organisation. Niko is determined to see it thrive again and hopefully understand herself and her broken family better in the process. Getting a handle on her inconvenient feelings is a must too.
Noah has made a promise to set things right and honour his eccentric grandfather’s hard work. Even when that means taking on an active role in a small nature organisation, while hiding his true identity.
He is busy enough as it is with university, work, and late nights of writing. Still, he can’t help but care about the organisation. Or the fierce woman who always seems to make his life harder.
Only Sometimes is a steamy new adult frenemies to lovers romance set in Copenhagen, Denmark (with a getaway to a gorgeous Swedish forest).
It’s book three in the Without Filter Series, but it can be read as a complete standalone.
PURCHASE LINKS
$2.99 for a limited time!
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
EXCERPT
Noah’s POV
The emotion in her eyes doesn’t match her calm and bored voice. She’s dismissing me, and I can’t do anything because she’s right about this. I want to know why she lets Finn treat her like crap and does all his work with a sweet smile.
But I know she won’t answer that, so instead, I ask, “Why is your car at the shop? Did you drive it like an idiot again?”
She instantly flushes, and I bite back a laugh.
“Maybe you’re jealous because my car can accelerate without sounding like it’s dying a slow and painful death! But no, I didn’t speed. It’s in for a stone chip repair!”
“Could just have well been. I’ve seen how you drive. I guess I’d be more inclined to wreck my car if my dad paid for it every time,” I say, but it comes out much harsher than I intended.
Niko simply rolls her eyes. “I think we’ve established that I’m rich and that you take great offence to that—could we move on? Today, perhaps?”
I sigh and run a hand through my hair as a wave of guilt rolls over me. “I’m sorry I spied on you. Let me give you a lift to Copenhagen if you aren’t too posh to be seen in my very reliable car?”
Niko looks at me curiously, humour and frustration mixing in her gaze. “I’m not sure. An hour is an awfully long time to be stuck in a confined space with you. Do you think we’ll make it back alive?” Her tone has changed to playful, and I’m again aware of our proximity. One step forward, and our bodies would touch. I can smell her caramel scent mixing with the flowers surrounding us. I notice the rise and fall of her chest, tinted with pink.
She makes me so goddamn frustrated.
She’s also beautiful and clever.
“I think we can manage,” I say, but it sounds guttural as her gaze darts to my lips. Heat runs through my veins, and the air feels thick and heady. The idea that we are hidden from the rest of the party by the abundant flowers—it’s intoxicating.
Dangerous.
So bloody tempting.
And then the stupid bell sounds, letting us know the auction has started.

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Only Sometimes is the first book I’ve read by Felicia Blaedel and I found it to be a charming enemies-to-lovers romance wrapped in the deeper themes of grief and loss. Niko and Noah really knew how to poke at one another, but their end goal wasn’t all that different as they were both trying to feel closer to someone that they lost. They kind of get off on the wrong foot, but they form a lovely friendship along the way that leads to something beautiful.

Only Sometimes is part of a series, but is a standalone. I have not read the others in this series, and had no problem following along with the references to those characters who appear in this book.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

ALSO AVAILABLE
99c for a limited time!
(US & UK only)
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
$1.99 for a limited time!
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
AUTHOR BIO
Felicia writes quirky and heartfelt romance with real, flawed characters. She also reads whenever she has a free minute and can’t leave her house without her beloved kindle.
Felicia writes in English, but is Danish and lives in Denmark with her husband and son.
 
When Felicia isn’t doing something bookish, she enjoys drawing, dancing (mostly at home with her toddler), cooking (for the most part) and travelling.
She also tends to buy anything with dinosaurs.
 
Felicia writes books about being true to yourself, and she is passionate about mental health and authenticity. As an adult, Felicia received professional confirmation that she is actually autistic.
Felicia hangs out (too much) on Instagram where she posts about her indie-author life, cute dresses, coffee mugs, musings about autism and anxiety, book recommendations, and much more. She would love it if you came by and said hello. @feliciablaedel
AUTHOR LINKS
Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Protecting You by Lena Hendrix

Protecting You, an all-new emotional second-chance romance from Lena Hendrix, is available now!

One moment of hesitation and I lost Maggie forever.
Since then, we’ve spent the last 15 years in this small town circling each other and pretending neither remembers how right it felt when we were best friends.
Now she’s a single mom and she doesn’t need a “broody, grumpy cop” like me complicating her life. No matter how many times her heated gaze scorches my skin, I can never have her in the way I want.
Completely.
So I push her away—but it’s for her own good.
Because if she knew the truth of what I did, she wouldn’t just have hurt feelings, she would truly hate me.
She has a guarded heart and it’s all my fault.
But I don’t have a heart at all. I gave it to Maggie O’Brien a long time ago.

Download Your Copy Today!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ZM5siA
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/protectingyoulh
Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/3lgDzqU

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3DVJ451

Excerpt

I couldn’t. Maggie hadn’t released her arms from around my neck, and I couldn’t

As we inched closer toward Maggie, I could see her partner was getting bolder, pressing his hips into her ass as they swayed. She pulled away, turning to push her palm against his chest. A low rumble vibrated within me at seeing him completely oblivious to her discomfort. The song faded, and I thanked Casey Mae for the dance, effectively dismissing her and ignoring the pout she clicked into place.

Two steps forward and I was pressed against Maggie’s back, my hand wrapping possessively around her trim waist. “You okay, doll?” My voice rumbled low against the shell of her ear.

“There you are!” Her eyes were wild as she turned and threw herself around my neck. Instinct took over, and I wrapped her in my arms. For a moment, I pulled her close to me, drowning in the warmth of her body, the delicate scent of floral perfume and her skin. My cock thickened at the closeness of Maggie’s body pressed against mine.

I’ve waited fifteen years for this.

Maggie still clung to me as I shot her dance partner prick a murderous glare. He took one step back, both palms in the air. Shaking his head, he backed away and wound himself around the next girl who smiled in his direction.

I should stop touching her. Let her go.

I couldn’t. Maggie hadn’t released her arms from around my neck, and I couldn’t force myself to peel my arms off her. Instead, I took a deep inhale of her sexy, floral scent and filed it away in my memory for later. Around us, the mood shifted. The lights slanted, and the low bass of a slow country song reverberated through the speakers.

Instead of releasing my shoulders, Maggie’s plush hips began to sway. “I think he’s still watching,” she whispered against my skin.

“Definitely,” I said. That douche had all but forgotten about us, but if that was what she thought, I was going with it.

One hand ran up her back, settling between her shoulder blades, and I pulled her chest against mine. I knew it was a mistake. My carefully crafted detachment was the only way I knew how to protect her from all my bullshit. Her heart hammered through the delicate fabric of her top, and I could feel the diamond tips of her nipples press against me.

I swallowed a groan as we swayed and moved to the music. Slow, practiced breathing was the only thing that kept me from completely unraveling in her arms. Up close, Maggie was even more beautiful than I could stand.

She was everything I needed but had no right to want. Not after what I had done. I shoved my demons down and focused on the fact that Maggie O’Brien was swaying in my arms, humming along with the band.

“You smell nice,” she said quietly. Her voice was barely audible above the noise in the bar.

“Mmm,” I harrumphed, unable to form a coherent thought, let alone actual words. A thousand thoughts tumbled through my head, but I couldn’t seem to find a way to give voice to a single one.

You smell nice too.

I miss you.

This feels too good.

The song faded, melted into a new one, and my ability to form a singular thought returned. My back stiffened as I pulled to my full height, causing her fingers to untangle from my hairline. The cold left behind by the absence of her hands prickled down my spine.

What the fuck are you doing? You’ve done nothing but ruin her entire life.

Dread pooled in my stomach as I thought back to all the choices that brought us here, all the things that I had done. I thought of David. I had no right to enjoy the feel of Maggie’s soft breath tangling with mine.

Steadying her on her feet, I held her at arm’s length and leveled my breathing. Her long fingers curled around my wrists, pushing against my pulse points as they hammered against her fingertips.

I’d let it go too far. How had I let her creep past my defenses and seep into my bones? The swirling greens and amber of her eyes burned into me. Everyone around us melted away.

I could do it. I could pull her into me and crush that full mouth against mine and finally claim her.

“Cole . . .” Maggie took the tiniest step toward me.

I swallowed past the gravel in my throat.

“You need to be more responsible.” I pushed past the undulating crowd, fleeing before I could do something epically stupid, like finally caving to my deepest desires. Bitter self-loathing washed over me as I caught the disgusted look that marred Maggie’s gorgeous face. I’d hurt her with the very words I knew would cut deep. But I had to protect her, and her heart.

Even if it cost me everything.

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

This series keeps getting better and better! We’ve gotten hints of Maggie and Cole’s backstory in the previous Chikalu Falls books, and Lena Hedrix did not disappoint with the emotional second-chance romance she delivered in Protecting You!

Protecting the people of Chikalu Falls is engrained in Cole Decker as a third-generation police officer. But protecting Maggie, the best friend he’s been in love with since he was a teenager, just about ruined him. There is so much history behind the estranged relationship between Maggie and Cole, and I loved how these two went from him (seemingly!) hating her to getting the HEA they both deserved. This emotional, heartwarming, heartbreaking story was captivating from start to finish.

LH also did a really great job of writing Cole’s relationship with Maggie’s daughter, Lottie. And of course, there’s the tight bond between Deck and the other guys, Lincoln and Colin. When things blow up between Cole and Maggie, when the weight of his secret is crushing him and destroying him from the inside out, the bond between these friends really shines as they tell him what a dope he’s being! One of my favorite scenes was between Deck and Lincoln! I’ve thought that the secondary characters were excellent supports from the very first book in this series, and I was thrilled to see that LH continues to write them that way.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

About Lena
Lena Hendrix is the author of steamy, contemporary romance novels. Her love of romance started with her grandmother’s Harlequin paperbacks and now Lena’s stories are full of heart, humor, and plenty of strong Alphas with marshmallow insides-she likes her coffee hot and her heroes hotter!

Lena lives in the midwest with her husband, three children, and two derpy Australian Cattle Dogs. When she’s not writing or devouring new novels, you can find her hiking, camping, fishing, and sipping a spicy margarita!

Connect with Lena
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3fn9nGQ
Instagram: https://bit.ly/2S06Ud9
Website: https://lenahendrix.com

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: The Rules of Heartbreak, by Brittany Taylor

Release Date: December 2

I never used to live my life by rules.
At least not until my fiancé betrayed me, turning my entire world upside down.
Unsure of how to move on, my luck seemed to suddenly change. My estranged mother’s last gift to me before she died landed on my doorstep, giving me the opportunity to start my life over.
I snatched up the chance to leave my life behind in Minnesota, opening my arms up to the hot, sunny weather of Texas.
It was easy to start over in unfamiliar territory, my unofficial rules of heartbreak worn on my chest like a badge of honor.
But along with the house my mother left came a new neighbor. An obnoxious neighbor with dangerous glaring eyes and a set of abs that should be considered illegal. He was mysterious and full of secrets, a story hidden behind his hard exterior.
Before I knew it, Dallas Beckett was about to break all my rules.
I just didn’t realize he had his own set, and I was about to put every one of them to the test.

Grab Your Copy Here:

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

The Rules of Heartbreak is the second book I’ve read by Brittany Taylor — and it was as beautifully full of angst as Paper Hearts! At first meeting, Sloan and Dallas can’t stand one another. But their hate-to-love relationship turns into a no-strings fling since they have both been burned by past relationships and neither is looking for a commitment. But as these two spend more and more time together, feelings get involved, and the carefully-constructed rules they both put in place to protect their hearts seem to matter less and less.

This story is messy and heartbreaking, and it was so, so good. Sloan and Dallas had wonderful banter and sizzling chemistry. Underneath that gruff and grumpy exterior was a guy so broken by the secrets he’s keeping but still had so much love to give. There is a wild twist to this story that just amplified all the angst. Both Sloan and Dallas had a lot of issues to work through on their own, and I loved the journey that they went on as they fought their way to be together.

The Rules of Heartbreak is a fantastic start to a new series, and I hope that the rest of the books to come are just as good — because this was angsty perfection!

I read an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Brittany Taylor

 

Brittany Taylor grew up all over the world including places such as California, England and Texas. Today she resides in Connecticut with her husband, son and two cats. She loves reading, but loves writing even more. 

Her favorite things in life are her family, binge watching Netflix, and tacos. 

 

Brittany Taylor has been obsessed with reading since kindergarten. She followed her lifelong dream in 2017 when she published her first novel, Without You. Ever since, she’s been hooked and can’t write the stories in her head fast enough

Connect with Brittany Taylor

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

Hosted By