The Feel Good Factor by Lauren Blakely [Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt + Giveaway]

Hello! Welcome to the next stop for The Feel Good Factor blog tour hosted by InkSlinger PR. I'm really happy to share my thoughts on this book with you! 

Title: THE FEEL GOOD FACTOR
Series: Lucky in Love, #2

Author: Lauren Blakely

Release Date: March 23, 2019

Find it on: Goodreads, Amazon Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, Audible, Amazon PB

That inked bad boy who’s been flirting hard with me since he rode into town? Turns out he’s my new housemate, which is one hell of a problem since our chemistry is so hot it should be illegal.

I have a fantastic family, great best friends, a job I love…and now I’m up for a promotion to police sergeant. I need total focus—not a flirty, dirty, irresistible, tattooed hottie riding into my town on his motorcycle. Can I arrest him for being too good-looking? When he kisses me senseless in the back of a waffle truck, it’s criminal, the things he makes me think about hot syrup and melted butter. One order of hot, fluffy hookup to go, please.

But the next time I see him, it’s not for our date with benefits. He’s the guy who just rented the room above my garage.

I need the rent to pay my bills, not a man like Derek, who I soon discover to be strong, caring, generous, good with kids, and kind to puppies… If I’m not careful, he’ll be moving into my heart as well as my house.

***

A no-strings-attached fling with the fiery redhead who revs my engine? Why, yes, that does sound like a delicious perk of my new job in this new town,thank you very much. I’m coming off a bad relationship, and I have zero interest in anything serious. I’ve got all the serious I need helping my sister take care of her three little kids while her husband is deployed.

Except, surprise! Perri isn’t just my future fling. Turns out she’s my sexy, sassy landlord. A lease definitely counts as “strings attached,” and as much as I’d like to get tangled in her sheets, I can’t let myself get tangled up in a relationship.

But as soon as we put the cuffs on our escapades, I learn over late-night conversations in the kitchen, that my landlord is so much more than the sexiest woman I’ve ever met– she has a quick mind and the biggest heart.

Once I’m in, I’m all in. And to convince her that we should see where this goes, I plan on turning up the heat—and not just in the kitchen.

"My lady parts are dancing the hula and they want a luau with him."

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

The Feel Good Factor was my first Lauren Blakely book, and I was not disappointed! This is the best romance book I've read in a long time, and I cannot wait to read more books by this author.

Before reading this, I didn't think I had a type, equal opportunity and all that, but Derek was everything. He loves his family, he's great with kids, and his job is saving lives every day. Seriously, the whole package. His dirty thoughts (not to mention his actions) kept my cheeks flushed and my interest piqued. I cannot remember the last time I was so turned on by a book!

I really enjoyed their game of resistance! They're obviously attracted to one another, and it was fun watching the two of them go from teasing to tasting. I'm not going to lie, it was hot. I'm smiling just thinking about it! Their chalkboard messages, dirty talk, and kissing practice were realistic and oh-so sexy. Derek is delicious. Perri is confident and relatable.

And it wasn't just the sexual tension that I enjoyed, but the overall story as well. The secondary characters were interesting, and I enjoyed their roles within the story. I also liked that Perri and her friends contributed to charities every year instead of giving each other gifts for their birthdays. Perri has an awesome relationship with her brother and parents, and Derek dotes on his nieces and nephew. He moved to help his sister while her husband was overseas, and I melted when he peppered kisses all over the baby's face.

The Feel Good Factor is an amazing book that checked all the boxes! The characters are likable and believable, there's no unnecessary drama, and the story is lovely and fun! Blakely builds up the tension between Derek and Perri, but she also doesn't withhold their affections. They react like adults, and it was so nice to read a book that avoided all the angst that usually accompanies a new relationship. I cannot recommend this one enough!

Remind Me (Magnolia Sound, #1) by Samantha Chase [Blog Tour: Review]

Hello! Welcome to the next stop on the Remind Me blog tour hosted by InkSlinger PR. I'm really happy to share my thoughts on this book with you! 

Title: REMIND ME

Author: Samantha Chase

Series: Magnolia Sound, #1

Release Date: March 12, 2019

Find it on: Goodreads, Amazon, Apple, Nook, Kobo, Google Play

It’s been years since Mallory Westbrook set foot in Magnolia Sound, but the death of her great-grandfather forces her back. Two weeks to get his affairs in order then she would return to her life in New York. The perfect plan, if not for Jake Summerford—her first love who broke her heart.

Jake always regretted the way things ended with Mallory and now that she’s back in town, he’s hoping they can put the past behind them. As they reconnect, old feelings resurface and Jake realizes that friendship is only the beginning of what he wants from Mallory.

With one foot out of the door, Mallory is looking for any excuse to leave Magnolia Sound behind. Forever. Will Jake’s plan to replace the old, painful memories help him finally show her their love deserves another chance? 

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I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I read the prequel, Sunkissed Days, a few weeks ago and enjoyed everything except the ending! I dislike it when characters have problems because of a lack of communication, which was the source of most of Mallory and Jake's problems. They both leave things unsaid, and it causes a rift between the two. However, I do understand that they were both younger and this problem needed to be there to set up the first book in the series, Remind Me.

Mallory and Jake have both been through college (yay for Jake making it work after six years!), and have been living separate lives. Jake is back in Magnolia Sound, which I love, because I feel like it's a place they're all meant to be. It was important to Pops that his family stayed around the area, and he considered Jake to be family, too. Mallory has been avoiding Magnolia Sound, and cancelling her plans to visit, because she's worried about bumping into Jake. It was sad that it took a hurricane to bring everyone together, and only when it resulted in more than just property damage.

I will admit to being wary about this one at the start, because it's clear that Jake lied about something in order to push Mallory away after the last book, but we don't know what the lie entails (I thought it was going to be something cruel or shocking, but it wasn't). If I dislike a lack of communication in books, a single lie that the story revolves around is worse. However, the story doesn't depend on the lie, but it does impact Jake's relationship with Mallory. She doesn't fee like she can trust him with her feelings, although she has no such reservations about her body (seriously, they were like rabbits).

I still really like Sam and wish he'd played a more prominent role in the book. Maybe he'll get his own story one day? He's constantly moving from place to place, and it almost feels like he's running from something. He's relationship with Mallory is solid, and I love that she thinks they have some sort of twin telepathy.

I did have a few small issues with the story, but they were easy to overlook and didn't really impact by overall feelings about the book. At the beginning, when Mallory first bumps into Jake, she tries to leave and Jake grabs her and forces her to stay. He tightens his hold when she tries to get away, and that bothered me. She never asked him to let her go, or told him to stop, but it was clear she was trying to leave and he was preventing her from doing so. It rubbed me the wrong way. Also, some of the language felt weird. The characters were more thoughtful and well-spoken than most people, and it made some of the conversations feel unrealistic. Lastly, everyone was always making a sandwich! ;)

Occasionally it felt like the story was going in circles, and it lacked real confrontation and conflict. It was like reading a play-by-play of people living their lives in a small town, complete with unnecessary details. Basically, Mallory needs to decide what she wants to do with her life (stay or go), and she repeats the same internal debate throughout the book. All of the characters were a little too dramatic for me, and sometimes they felt interchangeable. When the characters "fight" with each other, it's just them talking loudly about the things we already know they've been thinking about, and it's over within minutes. We turn the page, and it's like it never happened.

In the end, Remind Me filled me with fluffy feelings (totally not a bad thing you naysayers), and also really made me miss my grandfather. Pops was a huge part of the last book, and his absence was significant throughout this one. He's clearly impacted the town, townspeople, and his own family in a very profound way. I love that Jake and Mallory are committed to honoring his memory and his legacy.

If you're looking for a quick romantic read, I would suggest giving this one a shot. I'm curious where the series will go from here, but I'm not sure I will revisit Magnolia Sound in the future.

Sunkissed Days (Magnolia Sound, #0.5) by Samantha Chase [Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt]

Hello! Welcome to the next stop on the Sunkissed Days blog tour hosted by InkSlinger PR. I'm really happy to share my thoughts on this book with you! Sunkissed Days, the prequel in the all-new Magnolia Sound series by Samantha Chase, is available now!

Title: SUNKISSED DAYS
Author: Samantha Chase
Series: Magnolia Sound, #0.5
Release Date: February 26, 2019
Find it on: Goodreads, Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, Audible

Mallory Westbrook is ready to make her move on Jake Summerford, the boy—now man—she’s been crushing on for years. Coming back to Magnolia Sound to celebrate her great-grandfather’s birthday provides the perfect opportunity to show Jake that she’s no longer a child. 

The last thing Jake expected to do at his mentor’s birthday party was to find himself kissing Mallory under the moonlight. Though he’s known her for years, the thought of kissing her never crossed his mind. But the shy tomboy he once knew is gone, and in her place is a woman he can’t resist. 

They have one summer before they go their separate ways. Insecurity wars with the possibility of a future together, but it could all come to an end before it even has a chance to start. 

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I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Sunkissed Days was a lovely book! I adored all of the characters, especially Pops. He's my new favorite fictional grandpa (and great-grandpa). He's a sweet old man that has lived a very eventful and fulfilling life, and we see how he has impacted the lives of his family and community. Pops also shares a special relationship with his great-granddaughter, Mallory, and the boy next door, Jake. They've both played prominent roles in his life, and he cares about them and their futures. This story really warmed my heart, and made me miss my own grandfather. Zeke (short for Ezekiel and also Pops) was witty and seemed to always know what was going on.

Mallory and Jake have known each other for years, so it wasn't exactly insta-love, but it was close. Jake briefly resisted the attraction, because the four-year age difference had mattered in the past, but quickly succumbed to his emotions and desires (not that Mallory made it easy for him). Mallory has had a crush on Jake for years, and now she's finally old enough to do something about it. I appreciated her boldness and honesty, and really enjoyed the two of them together. They respected one another, and their interactions were sweet and frequently steamy. It was nice watching the two develop their friendship in addition to their romance.

Everything was going really well for Jake and Mallory at the beginning, so I expected them to hit a snag eventually. Unfortunately, I disliked that this particular roadblock could have been solved with more communication. A lack of communication and conversation always bugs me, especially when they've been really open and honest throughout the rest of the book. They shared their secrets, fears, and desires, but when a misunderstanding happens they just don't talk about it. It was heartbreaking, but avoidable. Also, Jake took stubborn to an entirely new level. I really wish he had accepted Pops' help from the start and avoided a slew of other problems, but his pride prevented him from accepting a kind gesture.

There were also a few inconsistencies, but that's likely my review copy and things have been changed since I received it. Mallory would be out on the deck, but then sit down on her bed. At the beginning, Sam pushed the final chair up to the table, but a few sentences later Jake added the last chair -- stuff like that. It's like an itch my brain cannot scratch, so I thought it was worth mentioning. 

I was also really curious about Sam! He's Mallory's twin (and I'm weirdly obsessed with books about twins) and seemed really nervous and on edge for most of the book. Clearly something was going on, and I was anxious to find out what it was. I enjoyed the subtle side-stories that surrounded Mallory and Jake. The entire family was fun and felt authentic!

Sunkissed Days was a wonderful prequel to a series I'm really excited to read! The ending was a little hard to choke down, but I understand it's setting up the next book. If Remind Me is anything like this one (minus the painful ending), I'll be a very happy camper.

Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry [Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt + Giveaway]

#OnlyaBreathApart

Hello! Welcome to one of the first stops on the Only a Breath Apart blog tour hosted by InkSlinger PR. I'm really happy to share my thoughts on this book with you! Katie McGarry is one of my favorite authors, and I was thrilled to have an opportunity to meet her at a signing last year. She's as awesome as her writing! Only a Breath Apart will be released tomorrow (1/22/19), and will be available on Amazon, Kobo, Google Play, BAM, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Jesse Lachlin is cursed.

So the town folklore says, but while Jesse’s had his fair share of tragedy, the only curse he believes is in his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year, Scarlett Copeland.

Scarlett Copeland is psychic.

Glory Gardner tells Scarlett she has hidden psychic abilities, but Scarlett thinks Glory is delusional. What is real is Scarlett’s father’s irrational fears, controlling attitude, and the dark secrets at home. Scarlett may have a way to escape, but there’s a hitch: she’ll have to rely on the one person she used to trust, the same boy who broke her heart, Jesse Lachlin.

Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other. But as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…

"Holes in hearts hurt, and I have too many holes for me to be breathing. Gran poured her love into me, so much, I should have been fixed, but maybe that’s the problem with having too many holes. All the love that’s poured in falls out."

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I'm sorry this is posting so late today! I received my review copy for the tour a little late, and only finished reading it this morning. I tried to stay up late last night, but my eyes refused to stay open despite how engrossed I was in the story. Katie McGarry never fails to captivate me with her writing, and Only a Breath Apart was no exception. My heart was breaking for both Jesse and Scarlett, and I enjoyed watching them learn to trust in each other again.

Neither character has had an easy life, and their secrets are vastly different, but they've always been connected. I don't know if it was something they shared as children, or some connection the land, but there was something that kept these two together. They've needed each other, and their loneliness was painful to read about. They've guarded themselves against the world (with good reason), and it took the two of them working together to penetrate those walls. It's hard to overcome the need for self-preservation, and learning how to love is never easy.

I hated the way these two treated each other at the beginning of the book, especially after seeing how much they cared for one another as children. They grew up together, and then something happened to end their friendship. The reason isn't revealed for awhile, and I wish Jesse had been honest with Scarlett from the beginning. He could have told her the promise he made to his mother, and how it contradicted the one he made to his Gran. I think Scarlett would have been understanding, but instead he left her in her own personal hell with no one to talk to.

There are some supernatural aspects to this story, but it's subtle. Glory claims to be a psychic and tells Scarlett she is too, but even Jesse just thinks his cousin is exceptionally good at conning people. Glory would read palms and perform tarot card readings, but she also managed to make predictions that had an uncanny ability to come true. It's left up to the reader to determine whether or not they want to believe in something magical, or play it off as a coincidence. I thought McGarry did a wonderful job balancing between the two.

I was so angry while I read this book, but it wasn't directed at Scarlett and Jesse. Yes, I wanted them to talk to each other and share confidences, but I also understood where both of them were coming from. I was angry with how the world treated them, and what they had to endure just to get though each and every day. They both had dreams and aspirations, but neither had people that believed in them. Their friends were there, but on the outskirts and never privy to the emotional turmoil they both experienced.

Only a Breath Apart was another phenomenal book by Katie McGarry! If you've enjoyed her books in the past, I'm sure you'll love this one even more. If you haven't had a chance to read anything by this author, I highly recommend your grab one her books as soon as you can. I have so many feelings right now, and I love it!

Cover Reveal for Katie McGarry’s Only a Breath Apart!

“Gritty and real, Only a Breath Apart is a story of hope conjured from pain, strength drawn from innocence, and love earned from self-respect. Beautiful, poignant, and fierce.”

―Kristen Simmons, critically acclaimed author of the Article 5 series 

About ONLY A BREATH APART:

Jesse dreams of working the land that’s been in his family forever. But he’s cursed to lose everything he loves most.

Scarlett is desperate to escape her “charmed” life. But leaving a small town is easier said than done.

Despite their history of heartbreak, when Jesse sees a way they can work together to each get what they want, Scarlett can’t say no. Each midnight meeting between Jesse and Scarlett will push them to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other.

Would you dare to defy destiny? Are our destinies written in stone? Do we become nothing more than the self-fulfilling prophesies of other people's opinions? Or can we dare to become who we believe we were born to be? 

“A gorgeous, heartfelt journey of redemption and love” (Wendy Higgins), ONLY A BREATH APART is a young adult contemporary novel from critically acclaimed Katie McGarry. “Haunting, authentic, and ultimately hopeful” (Tammara Webber), ONLY A BREATH APART will be available on all retailers on January 22, 2019!

Pre-order links:

Amazon | Kobo | Google Play | B-A-M | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Add it to your Goodreads today!

Katie McGarry Bio:

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

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Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry | Blog Tour: Book Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

#SayYoullRememberMe

Hello! Welcome to the next stop on the Say You'll Remember Me blog tour hosted by Inkslinger PR. I'm really happy to share my thoughts on this book with you, as well as an excerpt from the story! Say You'll Remember Me was released on January 30, 2018 and is available at Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Google Play, BAM and Kobo.

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Synopsis (via Goodreads): "Doesn't matter who did it. Not anymore. I did the time. It's over."

When Drix was convicted of a crime--one he didn't commit--he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the Second Chance Program, the governor's newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.

Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor's daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn't may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle's parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix's messy life.

But sometimes love can breach all barriers.

Fighting against a society that can't imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves--Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence--and each other to finally get what they deserve. 

"I hate the word beautiful. Hate it. The word beautiful somehow gives the world permission to make wrongful assumptions about me, like that I don’t have a brain. Beautiful somehow gives men permission to say the phrase as a secret password in my direction, and I should therefore fall at their feet. Beautiful makes people believe they can say anything they want about or to me and that I shouldn’t be angry. Nothing in the universe could be more wrong."

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Also, the quote I used may have changed or been altered in some way, but I am quoting from what I received.

Katie McGarry knows how to tell a story. She's able to capture my attention from page one and never let it go. I was fascinated with Drix and Elle, their friends and family, their lives, and the two totally different worlds they lived in. I was able to relate and make connections with every single character, which is pretty effing amazing.

My heart hurts for Drix and the life he's lived. I cannot even begin to image what someone in his situation has gone through. This particular story might be fiction, but the concept is real. There are too many people suffering and barely getting by, our justice system is flawed, and there are so many kids out there that need help. They need someone to be there for them and help them find a better path in life. Someone needs to believe in them and what they can do. Everyone has something to offer the world, and they shouldn't be dismissed or made to suffer because of past mistakes.  A person can go to jail, serve their time, and come out a better person. They just need to be given a chance.

Elle's dad and his program give Drix that second chance. I wish there were more programs like it in the world. If people cared more about others than themselves, I think we'd live in a very different reality. 

Elle is incredibly strong. She wants to make the world a better place, and she thinks honesty is the only thing that should ever be given. I hated how desperately she wanted to please her parents, even at the expense of herself and her happiness. No parent should ever ask their child to change for someone else. I was so angry every time her mother pressed her to alter her appearance in some way. A parent should just love their child and accept the person they see in front of them. Yes, children need guidance and all that, but they also need to be loved, appreciated, and wanted for who they are.

Drix has a wonderful family, and not all of them are blood related. I ached for Dominic and Kellan, Holiday, Axel and Marcus. I would love for any one of them to have their own story. They've all been through so much in their short lives, and they still try to do what is right and always put family first. It was eye-opening to view life from their different perspectives, and I cannot fathom how a parent could be so cruel or neglectful. 

I thought Say You'll Remember Me was a wonderful story that highlights significant issues in our society. Drix and Elle had very different lives, problems and expectations, but they managed to find love and happiness. Their relationship was passionate, encouraging, and they gave each other what everyone needs: hope.