The Break-up by Erin McCarthy

I didn't realize this book was a sequel to The Hook-Up until I was over halfway through the novel. I did have one or two moments where I felt that I was missing an inside joke between Sophie--Bella's little sister and Cain--Christian's identical twin brother. But that didn't take anything away from Bella and Christian's story. Bella is a rich girl from Boston whose family has a vacation home in a tourist town on the coast of Maine. Bella is engaged to Bradley Alexander--was--until she found lewd texts from and to him from various women only days before the wedding. Feeling vulnerable and inept at sexual behaviors sue to the types of texts on Bradley's phone, Bella asks local bad-boy Christian to help her lose her prudish and close-minded ways. Since Bella is still engaged Christian declines her offer--until Bella texts Christian on her wedding day to come pick her up. The duo spend the weekend together. Bella's journey is more than learning about sex--it is also her own self-discovery. Before she blindly followed Bradley because he offered her what she always wanted--a family, stability, the dream of motherhood. Bella's mothering nature is what lead her to social work and the job she left just days before her wedding--social worker at an adoption agency. 

Since Bella gave up her apartment, quit her job, and broke up with Bradley, she has no where to go. She manipulates Bradley into giving her the house that he bought as a wedding gift to her in the small tourist town. Bella decides to remain in Maine to begin her new life. In this sleepy tourist town doesn't have many opportunities for an adoption social worker, so Bella begins working at one of the local bars which Christian also happens to work in. Christian inadvertently fulfills one of Bella's dreams and in the process his own. 

Overdrive by Juanita Kees

Chase Calhoun and his family run Calhoun Customs Garage, where their retired NASCAR driver father started. His father, Marty was just diagnosed with Parkinson's disease thus far only Marty's hands are shaking but that enough that they garage needs to hire a graphic artist for his father to mentor. Chase never expected the girl with a baby to be the one they hire especially after finding her and her three month old baby, Zoe hiding in the attic of the garage--a place that he has rarely gone since his mother's death. 

Charlotte Jackson is used to garages and fast cars since her father and brother are both NASCAR drivers. But unlike her brother, Charlie must follow her father's orders that means giving her beautiful daughter up for adoption. Something that she's not willing to do--so she runs away with her baby. Her original plans fell through so she went to the infamous Calhoun Custom Garage knowing that they are looking for a graphic artist--something she is passionate about but her father doesn't allow her to do.  Charlie is also running from the PI her father hired her to bring her home. Tony Jackson is never told no. He is a sore loser. 

Chase brings Charlie into the family fold and Marty mentors her. The Calhoun family also assist Charlie with standing up to her father. Her brother, Ronan is also finally able to break free of Tony's command. 

The Invitation by Keris Stainton

     

This novel focuses just as much on body image as it does on the romantic notion that a person can find that "one who got away." Piper James is body positive blogger. She focuses on having a healthy body image over healthy living. Yes, Piper is considered "chunky" or "fat" but she works out and maintains a healthy lifestyle. Piper works for a record label in the legal department. But that is not how she lands herself on Hey UK! morning show debating the differences between dieting and maintaining a healthy body image. After her television premier, Piper hears from her high school crush, Robbie Kingsford. She again runs into Robbie at the Starbucks in her hometown of New Brighton when she has to rush home due to her great aunt falling ill. Rob invites her to return home for their high school reunion in a few weeks.

But Piper never wants to return to her old stomping grounds. There are too many memories in New Brighton for her. She can see her parents ghosts almost everywhere in New Brighton. She also hasn't dealt with the fat shaming from her childhood either. Rob just wants a chance to be with his high school crush--Piper.   

    

https://www.keris-stainton.com/

                                                                                                                                      

All I Want is You by Patricia Mar

Mar puts a different spin on this romantic novel--the story of Sara De Michele and Daniel Gant isn't the beginning of their love story but the middle. How couple need compromise and trust to grow as a couple. The storyline was not what  I expected. My expectations were of the couple runs into a few hiccups--they break up and get back together. Instead Sara and Daniel are madly in love with each other. The conflict of the story is they are so madly in love that it blinds them and feeds their insecurities especially for Sara since Daniel is a highly sought after male model with the media and Hollywood knocking on his door.
Another surprise for the reader is Daniel is just as much if not more insecure about himself and his relationship as Sarah is. His cousin enters the scene at the height of Daniel's insecurities and when Daniel has to leave for a meeting in Hollywood. The media adds to both Sara and Daniel's insecurities when Daniel is photographed at a party with a Hollywood actress. Of course, the quirky sister and best friend also assist the duo with finding their true passion and reminding both Sara and Daniel what they each want--each other. 

Fling Club Review by Tara Brown

Evidently, I am out for revenge or the universe is trying to tell me something because this is the third novel I've read that focuses on revenge. Fling Club is a secret society organized by Caitlyn Landry, the queen bee of the Hamptons. Her best friend-slash-frenemy Cherry Kennedy was always Cait's yes-man.The duo ran the secret and manipulative club that has 10 rules to live by for the summer flings. Cherry blindly followed Cait with these rules.  Until Cait committed the ultimate betrayal. Now, Cherry wants revenge in the form of destroying the club that Cait and Cherry built. Cherry couldn't enact her revenge alone. She has her older brother, Andy and baby sister, Ella to help her. The plan is to get Cait to break all of her Fling Club rules. 
Ashley Jardine is a MIT robotics student who needs a summer job. His new "job" is to help the Kennedy children force Cait to break all ten of her rules. Ashley doesn't have a problem with manipulating the ice queen but he does fall for naive, Cherry. 
Brown fills the novel with suspense, manipulation, sex, and self-awakening. 

Revenge Love Review

Releases July 26, 2018!!

Revenge Love is a sweet friends to lovers romance novel that features the pitfalls of college life from cyberbullying to Greek life to the unattainable perfectionism. Sweet lovable Emma Hastings is a member of Sigma Sigma Theta, strives to fit into the perfectionism lifestyle of her sorority. But she never quite feels like she fits in. Her best friend, Jason Gould knows and accepts that he doesn't fit in due to a genetic skin mutation called neveus flammeus which leaves his skin scarred and red. The two along with Emma's on-off bed buddy, Kieran and her lesbian sorority sister, Rosie--the foursome hatch a revenge plot to teach the "rich snobby assholes" a thing or two. Of course, nothing goes as planned. A suicide, expulsion, fight club, Jello wrestling, and one of the four drops out of Wellbridge University. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40134313-revenge-love 

But what each of the four learns is far greater than anything they can teach others.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40134313-revenge-love

I'm back....

After a very long break from writing, I've returned to writing. Now the biggest decision for me is do I continue with this blog site or do I start anew? I still haven't figured that our quite yet. One of the reasons why I haven't been on this site is because I lost my password and didn't gain access to the email attached until recently. I do hold some sentimental value to this blog. It was my first. It's like the first kiss or first sexual encounter--you never forget it. But like a first love, I'm wondering if I need to let it go or perhaps--I'm not sure. Have I outgrown this blog which to be honest isn't really a blog but more like an online journal or misc crap. I never had a theme. I ranted about stupid stuff most of the time. It is the blog I used when my husband was in Iraq.  I whined about my undergraduate studies. I'm more attached to the memories I have from that time period versus the actual blog. Really, the writing is kinda crap with nothing really said. It's just me whining--much the same as I am doing now. Maybe it's a therapeutic outlet for me.