You feel it…Love Hurts: Hated You Then

Hated You Then

By M. Robinson

“Dear Jackson “Asshole” Pierce, I hate u more today than I did yesterday…I don’t feel bad I kicked you in the nuts yesterday, cuz u deserved it…Not Love, Harley”

5 STARS

Prepare to laugh, cry, and generally lose your heart and mind to Jackson and Harley in M. Robinson’s newest book Hated You Then. This is book 1 of a duet, so don’t be surprised by a cliffhanger. I say that, but you will be.

You will be soooo engrossed in this book the freaking end will come up and slap you in the face. Then you will really cry because you have to wait for the next book.

This duet follows characters from her Good ‘Ol Boys series, but it is a standalone. If M. Robinson is new to you this is a wonderful place to start but know after you read this you are going to be obsessed with reading the series. Well played M. Robinson. Well played.

The book is told from both POV and takes you on a journey of love and learning across many years. This mortal enemies-to-less enemies-to-hopefully lovers is a fast, funny, beautiful, charming, and gut-wrenching story of soulmates with a destiny that seems fated if not treacherous. The book is not overly angsty. Folks who know me, know that is not my thang – but this IS about young love, so you know there is drama and just the right dose of teen angst.

Jackson and Harley grow up hating each other – fighting constantly and generally attempting to make the other miserable. The term bane of my existence seems like one they would have used to refer to each other. We all know the passion behind hate is the same that can spark to love. Their families see it, even if they can’t in their younger years. All that familiarity breeds a lot of confusion as emotions grow and change with time.

I will admit, that as the aunt of several kids in this age range I was a bit unsettled by the level of awareness of some of the characters. Sometimes the dialogue among the youth did seem a bit sophisticated for their age.

Yet it was the timelessness of the story and the juxtaposition of innocence and raw passion (hate at their age) that made for such a compelling narrative.

You will hate yourself if you let this story pass you by.  It is the sweetest, hateful love story ever.

From Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author M. Robinson comes Hated You Then, book 1 in the Love Hurts Duet. 

A coming of age, enemies to lovers, contemporary romance filled with angst and all the feels. 

I couldn’t remember a time before her… Harley Jameson. 

Before she owned me.

Hated Me.

Needed me.

Before I hated her…

Things were simple.

We had an understanding.

Bully. Fight. Hate. It’s what we did.

Mind. Body. Soul. It’s how we loved.

I thought nothing would ever change that, until everything did. 

She was mine. 

Always had been.

Always would be.

Nothing altered that.

Not how much I hated her.

Not how much she hated me.

Especially, not how much I hated… 

That I LOVED her.

Purchase Links:

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2G1i3Su
APPLE: https://apple.co/2Jxwb6G
KOBO: https://bit.ly/2xAkjeN
NOOK: https://bit.ly/2XVYEMM
GOOGLE PLAY: http://bit.ly/2lKjWLU

Add to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/series/265933-love-hurts

Book 2, Love You Now:

Release Date: November 12

Blurb to come soon

Purchase Links:

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/34zKkKx
APPLE https://apple.co/32i1Cuc
KOBO: https://bit.ly/2LHClUA
NOOK: http://bit.ly/2kEUoQ0
GOOGLE PLAY:


Add to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/series/265933-love-hurts

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author M. Robinson loves to read. She favors anything that has angst, romance, triangles, cheating, love, and of course sex! She has been reading since the Babysitters Club and R.L. Stein.

She was born in New Jersey but was raised in Tampa Fl. She was pursuing her Ph.D in psychology, with two years left. However, she dropped out of school and became a fulltime writer.

She is married to an amazing man who she loves to pieces. They have two German Shepherd mixes, Kobe and trooper, a Wheaten Terrier, Teddy and a Tabby cat, Gio.

She feels blessed to be living her dream.


Author Links:

Website: www.authormrobinson.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormrobinson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormrobinson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMRobinson
YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2Catz97
Reader Group: www.facebook.com/groups/M.RobinsonVIP/ 

Be tempted by All The Forbidden Things

All The Forbidden Things

By Lesley Jones

5 Stars!!!

I was tempted and loved every minute!!!

Wow! This was my first Lesley Jones book. I was given the opportunity to read the ARC for review. It was like winning a lottery, I just didn’t know how lucky I was.

I realized quickly that these characters had history, so if you are one of those “must read in order” folks, I would encourage you to pick up the Carnage Series by Lesley Jones first. It will be worth it. I am happy to jump in the deep end even if there are other books associated. This is definitely a standalone. I did not feel I was missing anything. I WAS super curious and bugged all my reading groups for spoilers from other books, but they were stingy and didn’t give up the goods. LOL

So, Max and Billie’s story – It is an age-gap romance. They are close family friends, but Max hasn’t seen Billie in years. She shows up and…

“BOOM” chemistry explodes all over the pages of Lesley Jones’ book.

The community of friends is real despite the rock star world in which this takes place. There is palpable love among the cast of characters.

The story is told from both POV and sucks you in from the first page. Ms. Jones is exceptionally talented at creating detailed scenes and action. She creates so much detail that sometimes you think to yourself, I have read so many chapters, days or weeks must have passed in the story. In reality, it may only be a day. The detail is so engrossing that despite the short time span the book feels fast-paced.

Sometimes age-gap stories feel a bit creepy for me. I don’t like stories that have a “daddy” overtone to them. This IS NOT one of those stories. It is really about 2 souls meant to be together that finally find each other. Of course there is some attempt to resist the attraction, but it all feels very natural.

This story has minimal angst and is a HEA. There is an attack scene that may be a trigger for some. It is not written overly violent or graphic, but I know some folks are sensitive. You can skip over it (you will know it when you get to it) and it will not significantly impact your enjoyment of the rest of the story.

If you are a fan of Lesley’s, this book will not disappoint. I am told it is not quite as intense as the Carnage Series-that’s all my reading group friends would spill! If Ms. Jones is new to you too, be tempted by All the Forbidden Things. You won’t be disappointed.

All the Forbidden Things by Lesley Jones

When all that you want, is all that’s forbidden…I’ve known him my entire life. Before marriage. Before fatherhood. Before betrayal. Now, he’s one of rock’s bad-boys trying to be good. Trying to be the best father he can for his daughter.

He’s my brother’s best friend.

He’s my boss.

He has a wife.

Max isn’t mine to have, but I want him all the same. And I haven’t survived all that I have to not go after what I want. Her story is a tragedy, mine’s a publicity disaster. Just when I needed her most, she walked back into my life, and the timing couldn’t be worse. With a newborn baby, a divorce, an album to record, and a world tour to plan, I don’t need the distraction. She’s off limits.

She’s my best friend’s little sister.

She’s my nanny.

Billie’s a golden drop of sexy sun on a grey autumn day, tempting me into the light and a life full of possibilities.A life not meant for us.Add to your Goodreads TBR: http://bit.ly/2YKvG2Q

To purchase:

Amazon:  https://geni.us/ATFT

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/all-the-forbidden-things-by-lesley-jones

http://www.wildfiremarketingsolutions.com

#wildfiremarketingsolutions #lesleyjones #alltheforbiddenthings #carnageseries #smartypantsreads

This is Love

This is Love by Natasha Madison

IT WAS LOVE FOR ME TOO!

5 Stars!!

This was my first book by Natasha Madison and it won’t be my last. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy to read, so I had no preconceived expectations of the author or the book.  As it turns out this is the 3rd book in the This Is series and part of a spin-off of the Something So series. That is a lot of context for readers to get to know this world Ms. Madison has created and I jumped in feet first!

It was so much fun getting to know Vivienne and Mark and all their friends. Vivienne and Mark have an explosive relationship from the start. Both are guarded with aspects of their personal lives for different reasons. That caution leads to some drama, but this is not an angsty read. It is sexy, sweet, and belly-laugh funny.

It was so entertaining to be a part of Vivienne and Mark’s growth both as independent individuals and as a couple. I really appreciated Mark as an alpha male who didn’t try and dominate his love interest. He respected her wild, carefree personality and recognized when she needed a little extra support. I loved Vivienne and Karrie’s friendship. Vivienne reminds me of some girlfriends I have – no filter. The funniest moments I found in the book were between these two besties.

I think my vagina is broken! – Vivienne

Unlike some sports romance, hockey is not a secondary character in this book; it is another aspect of Mark’s life and the event that draws everyone together. I do think the wealth of the h/h was almost a secondary character.  I don’t know about you, but this was definitely fairytale material for my budget – extravagant homes, clothes, cars, dates, trips. That said, I was on board with the amount of champagne Vivienne consumed. I love my bubbles! Stories like these are truly escapes from our everyday lives.

The book is told from both h/h POV. Technically, I guess this book would be in the insta-love or at least insta-sex category as a stand-alone.  However, I feel like if you have read the first 2 books in the This is series, you probably saw hints of their mutual attraction as it was clear the h/h had met before. Ms. Madison is not advertising this book as a stand-alone, but as the 3rd in a series. That may seem like a minor semantic difference, but there is a difference.

As the 3rd in a series the author makes assumptions about our knowledge of this world and the connection to Vivienne and Mark’s characters.  If this were a stand-alone, I would have appreciated some more details around their previous meetings and the connection they felt. It was so obvious that we had missed getting to know the characters through others’ eyes in previous books. Their first encounters did come across a bit rushed/superficial.  Though is can be read as a stand-alone, I believe reading the books in order will give the reader a better picture. Awwwhhh, the perils of starting in book 3 of a series. I did it to myself! LOL. In the end this was a minor thing and did not impede my joy in reading the book. It DID make me anxious to read the series from the beginning.

This is Love was wonderful introduction to Natasha Madison.

For her loyal readers I feel confident this was a much-anticipated story.

For my fellow newbies, go ahead and buy all three in the This is series you are going to want to READ THEM ALL!!!

This review is 100% my opinion. I have not been paid to write any review. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I may receive an advanced copy (ARC) to read. That does not guarantee, I will like it, but come on, I only have time to read authors I feel pretty confident I will like. So, agree, disagree, agree to disagree. These are just my opinion…hope it helps in your search for the next great love. ♥

THIS IS LOVE

This Is Series book 3

By Natasha Madison

Release Day: Sept 3

From the best selling series, Something So comes the spin-off series This is…

Vivienne
Never fall in love.
That was my motto, and I was sticking to it.
Having my heart broken once was enough, and I never wanted to do it again.
He was supposed to be a one-night stand, the only thing I do.
One rule shouldn’t be so hard to follow, but then I went back for seconds, then thirds. 

After that, I lost count of the number of times I lost myself in his arms.
When I wasn’t paying attention, my guard slipped.

Mark
They call me Private Mark for a reason—my whole life is a secret.
For two years, we danced around each other until I got her right where I wanted her … under me.
Now that I had her, I wasn’t letting her go. I thought we were on the same page.
I thought we were building something great.

Boy, was I ever wrong.

I had no idea that while I was falling in love, she was trying to convince herself we were temporary.
She thought I’d walk away.
She was wrong.
Now it’s time to convince her she wants us too and to show her that the crazy, wild thing we have … This Is Love.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US https://amzn.to/2WzasES 

Amazon CA https://amzn.to/2KdroKj 

Amazon UK https://amzn.to/2R8II3Z 

Amazon AU https://amzn.to/2ZcCVx8 

Apple Books – https://apple.co/2Kb9qIw 

NOOK https://bit.ly/2I6PkwF 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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…
FACEBOOK | TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM  |  FACEBOOK  READER GROUP  |  FOLLOW ON AMAZON  |  FOLLOW ON BOOKBUB  | SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER 



A Little Bit Wicked…yes, please!

A Little Bit Wicked, the first book in the Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside

A brand new series of standalone romances by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster is releasing on May 20, 2020!

A captivatingly funny and deeply emotional new standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Set on the sandy shores of Cape Cod, the Wickeds feature fiercely protective heroes, strong heroines, and unbreakable family bonds. If you think bikers are all the same, you haven’t met the Dark Knights. The Dark Knights are a motorcycle club, not a gang. Their members stick together like family and will stop at nothing to keep their communities safe. Their stories are told in the same loving, passionate voice readers have come to adore from Melissa. Some of the Wickeds’ love stories will be hilariously fun, others will tear at your heartstrings with injections of humor, but they will all leave you wishing you could climb between the pages and join them!

In A LITTLE BIT WICKED…

What do a cocky biker and a businesswoman who has sworn off dating bad boys have in common? According to Chloe Mallery, not much. But Justin Wicked has had his eye on her for a long time, and he is sure the inescapable heat between them runs far deeper than just physical attraction. Could their difficult pasts be drawing them together, or will Justin’s protective nature be too much for Chloe’s independent heart to accept?

Buckle up for a spectacular ride, and fall in love with Justin and Chloe, in A Little Bit Wicked, a fun, sexy standalone romance.

MORE WICKED LOVE STORIES COMING SOON!

Crazy, Wicked Love

The Wicked Aftermath

Wicked Lucky

Wicked Temptations

MEET THE WHISKEYS (cousins of the Wickeds)! Now available for your binge-reading pleasure!

Tru Blue

Truly, Madly, Whiskey

Driving Whiskey Wild

Wicked Whiskey Love

Mad About Moon

Taming My Whiskey

Find out more about these and many other steamy romance series in Melissa Foster’s big-family contemporary romance collection, Love in Bloom, featuring characters from all walks of life, from billionaires, cowboys, and bikers, to artists, jam makers, and blue-collar workers who could be your neighbors. You’ll love her fun, sexy, and relatable characters, and their real-life issues. Best of all, you’re always guaranteed a happily ever after.

PREORDER LINKS

➜KINDLE – https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Kindle 

➜KOBO – https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Kobo

➜APPLE – https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Apple

➜NOOK – https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Nook

➜GPLAY – https://smarturl.it/ALBW_GPlay

➜PAPERBACK – https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Pb

➜AUDIO ALERT – https://melissafoster.com/audio-books/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website:  http://www.melissafoster.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster

Newsletter: http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-fosterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/


#alittlebitwicked #melissafoster #coverreveal #preordertoday #perfectreads #contemporaryromance #booksarelife #booknerdigan #bookpassion #bookster #readyourheartout #bookobsessed #alwaysreading #amazingcover #romancenovel #romancebooks #bookstagramfeature #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #instabook #bibliophile #wildfiremarketingsolutions

Betrayed by a book?

Have you ever felt betrayed by a book?

Betrayed is different than surprised. There have been many books that took me by surprise. Maybe I was expecting a simple love story and instead I was sucked into an emotional whirlwind; taken to depths I didn’t anticipate. TL Swan’s Stanton Series comes to mind. Whew…that series was H.O.T. hot and it also had some major feels. The world she created had so many layers, the intrigue, the connections. I had no idea that I was getting more than a sexy romance. That group feels like family. I love to go back and visit time and time again.

So back to my question, have you been betrayed?

I am feeling a bit betrayed. I shouldn’t take it personally. I had no prior personal investment in the author. It was the first book of hers I had ever read. I read the blurb on Amazon and it felt like a feel-good, fun read. I must admit, I was in a bit of a book funk. Nothing was really hitting the sweet spot for me, so this seemed like jut the perfect pick me up. And it WAS, until it wasn’t.

The story was a this clever meet-cute college romance. It was light and charming. The hero was just enough cocky to be interesting, but mostly he was a loving, considerate young man with just the right dose of momma’s boy. The heroine was struggling with some image issues and and the damage a bad relationship can have on the phyche, especially first loves. That said, she was wasn’t over-burdened with baggage, just more cautious, tentative. The dialogue and relationship development had a natural feel to it.

We all know to expect sooooommmeee sort of obstacle in a romance. Any book that is just meet, fall in love , the end is going to feel flat.

We expect our h/h to EARN that HEA.

And you definitely want to end with the feeling that it will be a HEA. Not just a HFN…(happy for now). So why am I so bitter over the book equivalent of a Kate Hudson ROM-COM?? Well, imagine if at the end of How to Lose a Guy in 10 days Hudson and McConaughey just broke up. He didn’t chase after her on his bike. He didn’t bring the dead plant? What if they didn’t end up together? After 90 minutes of ROM-COM, if they just walked away, wouldn’t you be staring at the TV screen with a spoon of Haagan Dazs hovering inches from your lips as it drips down your shirt wondering what in the hell just happened???

Well, welcome to my world. 270 pages in…you see the obstacle coming. You are anxious to see how the characters work this out. They have done so well up to now. Managing each other’s concerns and expectations. Demonstrating trust and vulnerability that was beyond their college years. So of course this hiccup will cause a momentary misstep, but they will rebound and prove they have earned the HEA.

Or not.

They could just break up.

And as a reader I am supposed to accept an 8, yes, 8 year separation that the author covers by intermittent texts between the h/h that peters out after about 3 or 4 years. Then randomly the h/h see each other again and almost immediately profess their love despite the years and not having addressed the issues that have festered for 8 years.

This was NOT THE ENDING to the book I started reading. The last 50 pages in no way matched the first 270. Ironically, I would totally re-read the first 270 again. They were funny and a sweet read. But I have made up my own ending. I refuse to accept the ending as written.

You can’t start a story as a meet-cute ROM-COM and end it as Nicholas Sparks ROM-tragedy. That is a betrayal of reader trust. When I read and/or watch a Nicholas Sparks story I know to prepare with a box of tissue because I WILL BE WRECKED. His stories are honest. They aren’t light and fluffy then sucker punch you. There is a tension from the get go. The poignancy of the story is in the juxtaposition of the joy and sadness.

Author’s have the right to take their stories where they want. I agree. They do have an obligation to be honest with the readers what type of story it is. Don’t present your romance as a light-hearted, can I get her to take me serious romance and give me irreconcilable differences. I don’t mind when the story blurbs are opaque or ambiguous. I get it that they are trying to entice you in. But Anne Rice didn’t advertise Interview with a Vampire as a quirky love triangle with an age-gap and friends to lovers motif for a reason.

Be honest about what you have written. And more importantly, make sure your plot-line is consistent with the characters and the story you have created. If you have written them well, they will demand a story unique unto them.

Ok my rant is over.

I have intentionally not mentioned the book as I do have a ton of respect for the amount of effort, love, and personal investiture that goes into writing a book. That said, if your curiosity is getting the best of you, you can read my review of the book on goodreads.com here.

Electric Blue Love

By Rebecca Jensak

5 Stars

NO Shocker, Electric Blue Love is a Must Read!!!

“He’s better on paper. But I am better for you.” – Court to Bianca

Bianca is 22, graduating college, and facing a very real crossroads. She is trying to live her best life, but as a normal 22 yr. old, not really sure what means. She approaches the challenge with the strategic focus one would expect from a successful engineering student. Court is a bit older, has some practical experience in life, but is equally as lost as Bianca in different ways. The evolution of their friendship/relationship is funny and feels natural. On their journey of course there are some hiccups, but the story is not angsty. I never despaired of Bianca and Court’s love; I just enjoyed learning how they would figure it out.

Ok, full transparency…I am not usually a big fan of the slow burn or friends-to-lovers trope, as those books tend to drag on with implausible obstacles and leave me screaming, “KISS ALREADY!”. I am also not a big fan of age-gap stories. I find myself wondering why they can’t find someone age appropriate. In my 30’s I briefly dated a guy who was in his 20’s. There were some benefits 😉, but generally it was a disaster.

Anyway…About right now, Rebecca Jenshak is probably wondering, who on Earth let me write a review of her novel, Electric Blue Love? Well, I am glad they did, because….

I loved, LOVED, LOV-UVD this story.

Electric Blue Love is a very fresh, fun romance with well-written layers of different tropes incorporated: Cyrano, slow burn, friends-to-lovers, and fake boyfriend. The age-gap was there, but never abused. It didn’t overwhelm the story, only complimented aspects as necessary. The story is told by both POV.

Rebecca Jenshak writes romance with the perfect balance of sexy. I have said something similar in a review of Rebecca’s, The Fade-Away, she can take incredibly normal and very real situations and just wrap it up in an exceptional love story that makes you believe it could be real – that you want to be real. The story makes you wish you could have lived this love. The characters have depth and sincerity with real lives (we can’t all be millionaire-performer-biker-pro athlete-CEOs). The conflict is logical and the HEA doesn’t feel rushed or contrived. The story moves at a fast pace, I was 50% in and didn’t even realize it. I actually read this story in a day, because I couldn’t put it down.

No shocker, Electric Blue Love is a must read!

Hot Jocks Series

REBECCA JENSAK

Hot Jocks Series: The Assist, The Fadeaway, The Tip-Off

The Assist by Rebecca Jenshak
5 stars

Sometimes it is scary taking a chance on a new author. I had never read one of Rebecca’s novels when I grabbed The Assist on my Kindle. It was a such a fun twist on the jock/nerd story. It has all the things that make me love college romance. Wes and Blair are imperfect, challenge each other, are funny, and adorable. Minimal angst. Sometimes you want to cry and get the feels, but sometimes you just want to revel in young love and this story gives it to you with joy. If you haven’t read one of Rebecca Jenshak’s books before, jump in; you will fall in love with a smile on your face. If you are familiar with her work, I imagine you will recognize the spunk with which she builds endearing characters. I am an official fan.

The Fadeaway by Rebecca Jensak

5 Stars

This was my second Jenshak book. After The Assist I dove straight into The Fadeway. Joel and Katrina’s story was just as good. I really appreciate the dimension that the characters have. I love how Rebecca gives us all the college romance but finds fresh themes to make it just real enough to keep us interested, but not so real we lose the fun of the fantasy. You don’t often read about the single mom working through college and when you do it is extra angsty. Rebecca keeps it real but sends us on a funny journey of young love. Rebecca’s novels are well-paced….the true Goldilocks, not too fast you feel the story is underdeveloped and not too slow that you are skimming ahead. Make sure you grab The Assist and The Fadeaway for your weekend/vacation reads.

The Tip-Off by Rebecca Jenshak

4 stars

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this 3rd book in Ms Jenshak’s Smart Jocks series. If you have read the series then you are anticipating Gabby and Zeke’s story. I adored The Assist and The Fadeaway. Both books were fast paced, humorous witty, and had a balance of what seemed to be real and plausible with fun romance adventure. The H/H in both of the first novels were strong, outspoken, and seemed to demand you love them with ego, pride, and a bit of arrogance. I guess I expected a similar pace and tone in The Tip- off.

Gabby and Zeke give us humor and loving characters but there is a slower pace to their love. Despite Gabby’s desire to explore life and live adventurously you feel this deep grounded connection through Zeke. You know that regardless of what she tries Zeke will be there to keep her safe and secure. In fact there is intriguing juxtaposition between Gabby’s zeal and Zeke’s quiet.

I will admit at times I was feeling anxious as I read the story. I had the sensation of wanting more, needing something but Ms. Jenshak kept us in the story and only allowed so much reveal at a time. When I finished Gabby and Zeke’s story I was content and happy. Reflecting back, I realized I was channeling Gabby’s adrenaline as I read the story.

If I have any critique it is that I wanted to know more of Gabby’s perspective of the accident and her life prior to college. We hear about it some and previous books allude to it. However I really wanted to explore her POV to better understand some of her actions that can at times come across as immature or out of control. It wasn’t enough to derail the book but there was definitely opportunity there.

Sit down with The Tip-off for a fun heartfelt read.

The Difference

What I want to read…

What I have to read…

I am working on my doctorate. Soooooo…all the time I spend reading novels or working on this blog, technically should be spent doing research and writing my dissertation. o.0

A GIRL CANNOT LIVE ON QUALITATIVE DATA ALONE!!!

How did I get here?

Barbara is a gateway drug…

Hi. I am not a professional blogger. I really started this for fun. Everyone tells you to share something about yourself. Here goes…

I have been reading romance novels since I was in middle school. It started the summer between 6th and 7th grade. I spent that summer with my grandmother.  We would go to markets and I always looked for used books. Since I learned to read, I was a voracious reader. That summer, I discovered a booth with used copies of Barbara Cartland novels. https://www.barbaracartland.com/

I would never be the same.

On a side note, this blogging feels like journaling with voyeurs.

Back to Barbara. So, I probably consumed a couple dozen Barbara Cartland books that summer. Oh! the forbidden love…Who knew the 19th century was so rife with orphan maidens being used and rescued by rakish Dukes and Earls?

Back home in South Texas, I lived a block away from a small shopping center that just happened to have a used bookstore. My mother gave me permission to walk to the bookstore and I spent several more months basically reading every freaking Barbara Cartland novel I could find. In school, I was reading Gone with the Wind and every book by the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. My adolescent brain was getting seriously warped by Regency romance.

Did you know that Barbara Cartland wrote over 700 books??? I’m not saying I read them all, but I made a serious dent.

The end of my 7th grade year, I read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. That gothic novel confused, scared, and thrilled me all at once. And suddenly, Barbara’s short novels didn’t seem quite enough. There was a level of drama and emotional adrenaline that was missing. I started to explore the racks of books outside the shelves of Barbara Cartland.

My first full-length novel was Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught. I was scandalized, horrified, and enthralled. At 13, I was officially a reader of romance. Looking back, I can’t believe some of the stuff I read as a young girl. Definitely not age appropriate. I mean this was the 80’s. We didn’t have social media and cable was limited. Kids weren’t as worldly as they are now. I was pretty naive in most ways. I didn’t even get the sex jokes in Grease. My mother never questioned what I was reading. I mean what could be wrong with reading, right?

Some might think reading romance so young, I might be “overly” curious and willing to experiment with sex early. The truth is, I was so captivated by the romance of it all, the boys at school seemed like immature idiots. My crushes would reveal themselves as the clueless boys they were and nowhere near as charming, romantic, dangerous, or swoon-worthy as my romance heroes. 

Poor hormonal teens, they never had a chance.

So, fast-forward 30 years. I have had some pretty amazing romances of my own. (Thanks for the creative ideas, authors!) I continue to find new authors to tickle my imagination.

I work full-time, am working on my dissertation, and take care of an elderly parent. I have a lot…a LOT going on. I definitely use romance novels as an escape.

Some of my old favorites haven’t withstood the test of time. I prefer my heroines smart, independent, and confident now, but I still love those damn alpha, domineering, muscle bound heroes.

Some things never change.