Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt

Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: NAL
Publish Date: 8/4/2015
Pages: 368
Series: Hartley-By-The-Sea #1
Format: Trade paperback, ebook

My Review:

If you are looking for heartwarming, entertaining and real in a novel, then Rainy Day Sisters is just the book for you.  And now that I have read it and fallen in love with the village of Hartley-by-the-Sea and some of the townspeople, I cannot wait for future books in this series by Ms. Hewitt.

Rainy Day Sisters is a primarily character-driven novel.  Lucy leaves Boston after a public embarrassment to go to England to stay with her half-sister and seemingly find herself.  Lucy imagines herself on a quintessential British holiday, however she doesn't realize how far out of the way Hartley-by-the-Sea is or how two cultures can speak the same language yet not be understood. She also pictured bonding and healing with her half-sister Juliet.  However as expected in a book, things don't go as planned.  But sometimes things that aren't planned work out for the best.

Juliet extends the invitation to her sister then wonders why she did it.  She's not a total recluse, she runs a B&B but she doesn't have anyone really steady and involved in her life.  She sees the townsfolk and talks to them and she and her neighbor Peter talk from time-to-time but she doesn't even realize that she doesn't have any close bonds.  And she doesn't expect any to form with her half-sister who their mother took with them when she left England and left Juliet behind.

There are bumps in the road with the relationship between Juliet and Lucy, but I was always pulling for them.  I wasn't sure if I liked Lucy at first but she grew on me.  I liked Juliet and could relate to her (well except for the being estranged from her mother).  Both women want something more but they don't realize that they will find that something more together.

It's a great, fun novel about finding yourself and learning to trust others and trust yourself and decisions you make.  Of course the path isn't easy, but life isn't. There are funny moments, sad moments, and profound moments.  The writing is great. I think Ms. Hewitt told this story very well, interspersing humor and wit with the serious aspects.

If you enjoy women's fiction or just a great relationship read with some hints at a romance plot then this is the book for you. There is something for everyone in this one.  Sisters, friendship, romance, failed relationships, family squabbles, small village life, it's all in there.  And I loved the setting. I want to go to Hartley-By-The-Sea.  No the weather is not always ideal but somehow it does sound like that quintessential British village in the countryside.  I felt like I was there getting to know Lucy and Juliet and the townspeople.

I loved this book, the characters, the writing, the storyline and I look forward to future books in this series.  Give this book a chance and I think you will really enjoy it.  I suggest you find yourself a comfy place and just enjoy.

My favorite comfy place - a front porch hammock.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Summary

The USA Today bestselling author presents a heartfelt novel about two sisters struggling toward new lives and loves.

Welcome to Hartley-by-the-Sea in England’s beautiful Lake District, where two sisters who meet as strangers find small miracles tucked into the corners of every day....

When Lucy Bagshaw’s life in Boston falls apart, thanks to a scathing editorial written by her famous artist mother, she accepts her half sister Juliet’s invitation to stay with her in a charming seaside village in northern England. Lucy is expecting quaint cottages and cream teas, but instead finds that her sister is an aloof host, the weather is wet, windy, and cold, and her new boss, Alex Kincaid, is a disapproving widower who only hired her as a favor to Juliet.

Despite the invitation she offered, Juliet is startled by the way Lucy catapults into her orderly life. As Juliet faces her own struggles with both her distant mother and her desire for a child, her sister’s irrepressible optimism begins to take hold. With the help of quirky villagers, these hesitant rainy day sisters begin to forge a new understanding…and find in each other the love of family that makes all the difference.

Amazon        B&N          iBooks         Book Depository

Author Biography

Kate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of 35 romances with Harlequin Presents, hundreds of short stories, and several historical novels and anthologies now available on Kindle. Her first women's fiction with Penguin/NAL, Rainy Day Sisters, will be out in August 2015.

She likes to read romance, mystery, the occasional straight historical and angsty women's fiction; she particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.

Having lived in New York City, she now makes her home in a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever. You can read about her life at http://www.acumbrianlife.blogspot.co.uk.

Social Networking Links
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads Author Page

***I received this book from the publicist for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. My links for Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. ***

Fishbowl by Bradley Somer

Fishbowl by Bradley Somer
Genre: General Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publish Date: 8/4/2015
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover, ebook

My Review:
I'm not even sure how to convey how I felt about this novel. It's amazing but on an entirely different level. The fact that the author, Bradley Somer could weave the plot lines together like he did and make them work, make the reader care about each and every character on some level is more than amazing.  This is a book I will think about for years.  And it will make me think about the people I cross paths with more patience, care and love.  Yes there will still be that guy driving slow in the left lane that will tick me off, but this book will cause me to consider lives of others besides mine.

Mr. Somer starts us off with the tale of Ian, who at that moment in the first chapter is still happily swimming in his fishbowl on the top floor of The Seville on Roxy.  And there begins this tale.  First it's a tale of Ian's descent after he jumps out of his fishbowl, but it's also a tale of other people in the building and how even though they only know each other in passing, if even, they cross paths with each other and their lives overlap in small and large ways.  It's a story of how one small gesture can mean the world to someone.  It's a story of separate lives that touch in some way.  It's a story of people.

I loved each and every character in some way or at least I could relate to them in some way.  I was amazed at how someone I hated in the beginning was someone I liked by the end.  Each chapter alternates with glimpses into the lives of Conner, Katie, Faye, Deb, Petunia Delilah, Danny, Claire, Herman, Garth, and Jimenez and yes Ian the goldfish.  Each has a story and every story will bring out some emotion and a way to connect to each character.  By the end of the book, I felt like I was living in The Seville on Roxy and they were all my neighbors and friends.

The plot is character-driven. Learning bits and pieces about each character through the present and sometimes flashbacks, it's wonderful to move through the book and slowly put the building blocks in place to see how all the characters overlap, meet and mingle and how each touches the life of another in some way, sometimes a way that's not even noticeable. It shows a look at the beauty in the world and hope in circumstances that seem to lack hope and beauty.

I am in awe.  This book was a wonderful and entertaining read.  The characters are heart-warming, they are funny and most important, they are real. To show how much the story touched me, I still remember specifics and think on them almost a week after finishing the book.  A lot of the time, I forget what I read except for a few things after I finish reading.  Not with this one, I still feel like I am living with the characters.  It's great, it's entertaining and it's refreshing. It teaches you so many things. So go out and grab this one. I loved it.  I hope you will too.  Come join the group at The Seville on Roxy, pull up a chair and get pulled into their world, their building and their lives.  Mr. Somer is a master at making you feel right there.  Check it out, you won't regret it!

And you have to get the hardback of this just because the little surprise on the pages is adorable and so appropriate.  If you buy the ebook, make sure you get to a bookstore to check out the pages of this gem.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Summary

A goldfish named Ian is falling from the 27th-floor balcony on which his fishbowl sits. He's longed for adventure, so when the opportunity arises, he escapes from his bowl, clears the balcony railing and finds himself airborne. Plummeting toward the street below, Ian witnesses the lives of the Seville on Roxy residents.

There's the handsome grad student, his girlfriend, and the other woman; the construction worker who feels trapped by a secret; the building's super who feels invisible and alone; the pregnant woman on bed rest who craves a forbidden ice cream sandwich; the shut-in for whom dirty talk, and quiche, are a way of life; and home-schooled Herman, a boy who thinks he can travel through time. Though they share time and space, they have something even more important in common: each faces a decision that will affect the course of their lives. Within the walls of the Seville are stories of love, new life, and death, of facing the ugly truth of who one has been and the beautiful truth of who one can become.

Sometimes taking a risk is the only way to move forward with our lives. As Ian the goldfish knows, "An entire life devoted to a fishbowl will make one die an old fish with not one adventure had."

Amazon        B&N          iBooks         Book Depository

Author Biography

BRADLEY SOMER was born in Sydney, Australia and grew up in Canada and holds degrees in Anthropology and Archaeology. His short fiction has appeared in literary journals, reviews and anthologies. His debut novel, Imperfections, published in Canada, won the 2013 CBC Bookie Award for debut of the year. Bradley currently lives in a little old house in the city of Calgary, Canada, where he works on his writing projects and tries to ignore the wild growth that his backyard has become.

Social Networking Links
Website
Twitter

***I received this book from the publicist for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. My links for Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. ***

In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
Genre: Suspense
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Publish Date: 8/4/2015
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover, ebook
ISBN: 9781501112317

My Review:
This was one crazy and suspenseful ride.  If you pick this up, be prepared to read it until you are finished.  It is that good.  I didn't get to read it in one sitting but when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about what I had read and what could possibly happen next. And then I would try and figure out what the twist would be. That made the book even better.

The characters.  Nora is our main character and the book goes from the present which is after the hen party and flashes back to before and during the hen party. It was obvious from the start that something bad has happened.  The problem is Nora can't remember what happened or what role she may have played in it.  I liked Nora; she's a somewhat reclusive writer who has a past that is hinted at through the book.  Nora was very well-developed as the main character and I enjoyed getting to know her.  I also enjoyed the unreliable narrator aspect. That is always fun for me because it keeps me guessing and has me questioning all I thought I knew about the main character. The other characters are Nina, Mel, Thomas, Flo, who hosts the party and of course Claire, who is the bride-to-be.  I really felt like I got to know each character and it felt like I was at the hen party right there with them.  If I had to pick a second-favorite character it would be Nina.  I loved her sarcastic, witty personality.  I liked how she loved deeply and cared for others even through her tough exterior.

The plot was amazing.  While the character development moved things along as the six acquaintances get to know one-another, the plot starts speeding along to what I knew would be an exciting climax/plot twist.  And I was not disappointed.  Did I guess what would happen, I did try and I got part of it right, but the twist was very "dark and twisty" (to coin a Grey's Anatomy phrase).  It was awesome, it was exciting and I enjoyed the ride through the whole book. I found the plot very believable.  I wouldn't want it to happen to me for sure, but I could definitely see it happening.

If you love gothic, psychological-thriller-type books then In a Dark, Dark Wood is just the book for you.  I loved this.  The plot kept me entertained, the characters felt like friends (or frenemies) and I enjoyed every minute of the book.  Ruth Ware can spin a tale and she has spun a great one with this book.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Summary

Someone's getting married. Someone's getting murdered.

In a dark, dark wood

Nora hasn't seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back.

There was a dark, dark house

Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her?

And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room

But something goes wrong. Very wrong.

And in the dark, dark room....

Some things can’t stay secret for ever

Amazon        B&N          iBooks         Book Depository

Author Biography

Ruth Ware grew up in Sussex, on the south coast of England. After graduating from Manchester University she moved to Paris, before settling in North London. She has worked as a waitress, a bookseller, a teacher of English as a foreign language and a press officer. She is married with two small children, and In a Dark, Dark Wood is her début thriller.

Social Networking Links
Website
Facebook
Twitter

***I received this book through Netgalley for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. My links for Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. ***

Book Preview, Excerpt, and Giveaway: Grift by Jason Mosberg

Grift by Jason Mosberg
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Three Story
Publish Date: March 4, 2015
Pages: 234 pages
Format: ebook
ASIN: B00SU8XL6Y

Note: My review is coming later this week, but let me say it really grabbed me from the start.  I can't wait to get home and finish reading this.

Summary

Why would a 17-year-old girl pretend to be a prostitute?

Piper is a con artist whose canvas is the city of Las Vegas. She rolls with a crew of young grifters including a card-counting genius, a tourist-hustling pool shark, and a pocket-picking magician. Together, this crew of teenage outlaws live with their mentor Max in the penthouse of a hotel casino. They work hard and play harder. But unlike the others, Piper must balance her hyper-real Vegas fantasy with the reality of raising her 14-year-old half-sister Sophie. Disaster strikes when the Las Vegas mafia kidnaps Sophie and demands a multimillion-dollar ransom. With only five days to piece together the money, the crew races the clock to save her.

"Ocean's Eleven for the Reddit set, with a twist of Oliver Twist floating in a dirty martini none of the characters are old enough to order. Jason Mosberg deftly explores the very real world of Vegas runaways and misfits through the lens of a heist movie Sinatra's great-grandaughter would be proud of." -Sean Beaudoin, author of Wise Young Fool

"Thrilling read... couldn't put it down!" -- New York Times best selling author Aubrey Rose

Buy Links

Amazon

Goodreads

iBooks

B&N

Kobo

Smashwords

Excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE – The Strip “How does this work?”
For the first time, I look directly into his eyes. It’s hard to make eye contact in the poorly lit Riviera Hotel and Casino. Hard to make eye contact anywhere in Las Vegas. Too dim in the casinos, too bright in the sun.
He seems anxious. Maybe because he’s out of his element. Or maybe because he’s not good with women. I give him a warm smile to loosen him up.
“Well, unless you want me here in the casino, we start by getting a room.”
He forces a one-syllable laugh.
“What’s your name?”
“Mark.”
At the mention of his name, I do everything possible to avoid smiling. I heard somewhere that it takes 10 muscles in your face to smile and 30 to frown. How many does it take to keep from smiling?
“Madeline, right?”
I nod. But Madeline’s not my name. Piper’s my name. I have a roster of about eight fake names, but I always circle back to Madeline. My mother’s name.
Mark and I wander over to the front desk. One room costs 40 bucks. On Friday and Saturday nights, a room here, booked the day of, might cost over two or three hundred. But on some random Tuesday? They just want to get you in the casino.
He fumbles for his wallet, but I insist.
He seems like a gentleman. Lets me into the elevator first. Opens the door for me. Doesn’t gawk at me. I wonder if this gentleman has a wife at home in Indiana or Rhode Island or Arizona or wherever he’s from.
Once I close the door to the hotel room, he slides his arms around my waist.
“There’s one rule I have.”
“No kissing?”
I giggle what I consider a sexy-giggle. “No. That depends on how things go. I kiss when I want to kiss.”
“So what’s the rule?”
“I always collect the money first.”
“Oh. Of course.” Mark draws his wallet. He counts out 15 crisp hundred-dollar bills. In this age, people rarely pay for anything with this much cash unless it’s scandalous. Drugs. Gambling. Sex.
The cash never stops flowing in Vegas.
“Thank you.”
He hasn’t inhaled in a few seconds. Or blinked. He’s waiting to ask me something.
“Will you dance for me?”
Damn it. There it is.
Dance means strip. No one pays an escort to do the funky chicken fully clothed.
I’m not really in the mood to slowly remove layers of clothing while dancing, but the request gives me a quick in for booze. I glance at the ground and use my most innocent voice. “Sure, but I might need some champagne then.”
After one glass of champagne, I dance. I don’t enjoy doing it, but it’s not the worst. It’s slow. Tasteful. He’s not expecting me to shake my ass in his face. He can get that over at the Pussycat Lounge for $35. He wants to see class. That’s what he’s paying for. Class.
Fifteen minutes of slow, rhythmic swaying pass. Feels like fifty minutes to me. Afterwards, I stand in my bra and underwear, undergarments that cost twice as much as the room. His eyes have grown bigger and his looks longer. The word gentleman no longer comes to mind.
I pour myself another glass of champagne. After a few sips, I rub my head and grimace.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just…didn’t eat dinner. Reminds me of this time a couple years ago when I was on a field trip with my class. Me and my friends snuck out and stole a couple bottles of wine from this drug store. One of my friends…well she was obsessed with grunge music. You know, the 90’s, Nirvana and…well, anyway so we hid the bottles in her baggy jeans and flannel shirt. But none of us had eaten dinner, so of course we all ended up getting sick.”
He takes the bait.
“How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
His jaw drops. As if his chin instantly gained five pounds.
“You’re 17 years old?”
“I’ll be 18 in two months.”
A lie. I’ll be 18 in more like ten months. For a moment, it looks like he’s changing his mind, but they never change their mind.
As he puts his hands on me, I move to my purse.
“I’ll feel better if I take my medicine.” I pull out some prescription pills. They wash down like two little barrels going over a waterfall of champagne.
His impatience grows. He places his hand on my shoulder. I want to smack his hand away, but I have to pretend his fingers don’t feel reptilian against my skin. Pretend his reaction to my being 17 years old doesn’t make me want to puke on him.
I put my hands on his arm, but then I reel back. He sees then that I’m ill.
“Hey. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I try to stand. But I can’t. I collapse on the couch.
He rushes over to me, shakes me a few times.
“Madeline! Madeline!”
A driblet of saliva runs down my lip to my chin. It tickles like crazy.
He shakes me a few more times but realizes this girl is not going to wake up.
As soon as the door closes, I spring to my feet. I want to get out of the suite ASAP. Just in case the guy experiences a sudden burst of conscience. They never do, but I still have my rules.
I walk past the elevator to the stairwell, but I don’t walk down. I walk up four flights. A different key card I had in my purse unlocks the door to room 1216.
On the bed sits the bag I left. I dump out the items: denim overalls I plan to throw over my dress, an extra-baggy hooded sweatshirt, and a baseball cap with a built-in red ponytail wig.
Thirty seconds later down the elevator rides an inconspicuous tomboy.
Fairly smooth, I think to myself as the elevator descends. I wasn’t in the mood to dance, so that was a drag, but at least he hadn’t insisted on paying for the room. If he had, then his card would have been on file with the hotel, and he’d have been much less likely to flee. In which case, I would have needed to use a different variation of the con. I’ve used dozens of variations.
I scan the lobby for the mark, but even if he were there, he probably wouldn’t recognize me. Now I take a moment to smile at the coincidence of his name.
Chances are Mark wouldn’t have stuck around. So you might think the $80 I spent on the two rooms went to waste. But it’s worth it. Worth it for that one time you get seen.
The $80 isn’t the only money that comes out of the $1,500 I just scored. $150 goes to the spotter, who in this case is a fat man named Randy who played Single A professional baseball before he began working as a telephone representative for an escort service called First Class. And of the $1,270 that’s left over, 90% goes to Max. I’m sure 90% seems like a lot, but I owe everything to Max. Compared to everything, 90% doesn’t seem too bad.
From the lobby, I walk outside, hitting the dry desert air just as the afternoon sun disappears below the towers of Circus-Circus. I head south on The Strip – I’ve got another appointment at 7:00.
 
Author Biography

Jason Mosberg lives in Los Angeles where he works as a screenwriter. He has optioned several feature screenplays to independent financiers. He wrote his first novel Grift while staying in cheap hotel rooms in Las Vegas. When he’s not writing, Jason can be found playing soccer, walking, and over analyzing everything.

Having grown up in Delaware, Jason attended Wake Forest University before he lit out for the west coast. His top five TV shows of all time are The Wire, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Six Feet Under, and Twin Peaks.

His one vice is claw machines.

On the book side, he is represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger.

Social Networking Links
Twitter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I received this book from the author for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Return to You by Samantha Chase

Return To You by Samantha Chase

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Summary
She will never forget their past...

He can't stop thinking about their future...

James Montgomery has achieved everything he'd hoped for in life...except marrying the girl of his dreams. After a terrible accident, Selena Ainsley left ten years ago. She took his heart with her and she's never coming back. But it's becoming harder and harder for him to forget their precious time together, and James can't help but wonder what he would do if they could ever meet again.



My Review:
Return to You was an amazing read.  I love the story where the guy and girl were so close in high school but something happens and they are apart for many years but finally get back together.  Add in a wonderful uncle matchmaker (which is what ties this series together) and you get magic.

I believe this is the fourth book in the Montgomery family series.  It's based on a man in the family (he's the Dad in the first three books and I believe the Uncle in subsequent books, like this one) who is a great matchmaker. I really liked him. He was fun, sweet and had wonderful intentions to unite each child/niece/nephew into the relationship they are destined for.  He does some arranging but it never comes off as manipulative since he has their best interests at heart.

And oh does he have James' and Selena's best interests at heart.  These two were high school sweethearts, meant to be together but pulled apart by horrible circumstances that I can't reveal because it's really a part of how the book unfolds.  Watching them react to each other, find each other again and deal with the past is both wonderful and heartbreaking.  Both have held on for the other for so long, but as it works most of the time, stubbornness can get in the way.

Both characters, James and Selena are developed very well.  I got a great feel for each of them, their pain, their pride and their love for each other and their passion in life.  The plot was fast-paced, giving some flashbacks to how they met and some of their life in the past but mainly focusing on the now and how they get back together.  Of course their is conflict, you can't have a romance book without it and I had to see what would happen.  That makes it a great book for me.  When I care enough about the characters to see what happens to them.  And now I hope I will get a glimpse of them in future books about the Montgomery family.

A great installment in a series, but don't be afraid to read this one as a stand-alone.  I did and I am curious about the other matches that were made and can't wait to read other books in the series.  I will go back and read the first three and will definitely pre-order any future books.  This is a fun series and if this book is any indication I will really enjoy the other books in the series.  Looks like I have a new automatic author for me in the contemporary romance genre.  If you haven't checked out Samantha Chase I can heartily recommend this one.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Excerpt

It was near midnight and Selena’s eyes felt heavy. With her head resting on James’s shoulder, she tried to focus on the ending of The Philadelphia Story. Back when they were dating, they used to enjoy watching classic movies, and finding one on the television seemed like the perfect way for them to relax after such an emotional evening.

James looked over at Selena and smiled to himself. If he could freeze this moment in time, he would. For years he had wondered if he’d ever find a woman he could come home to, with whom he could sit like this and simply relax. The woman half-asleep beside him was the only woman he wanted to fit that bill. The credits were beginning to roll, and he gently nudged her with his shoulder. “Hey,” he said softly, “are you still awake?”

“Mmm…barely,” she whispered and then yawned. As much as Selena knew that the bed would be a far more comfortable place to sleep, she didn’t want to leave the security of James’s side. She jumped when he shifted beside her to stand up. A wave of panic hit her as she prayed that he wasn’t getting up to leave. Before she could even voice her concern, James turned off the television and then scooped her up into his arms. “Oh!”

“Don’t get me wrong. I was completely enjoying being curled up with you on the sofa, but I had a feeling your neck was going to kill you tomorrow.” He walked through to the bedroom and carefully held her close as he pulled back the comforter and gently placed Selena down. Without a word, he walked back out to the living room and locked the door and turned out the lights before returning to her.

He didn’t ask permission.

She didn’t extend an invitation.

Neither seemed necessary.

Buy Links:

Amazon      Barnes and Noble     Kobo      IndieBound

Author Biography

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.



Website      Facebook      Twitter      Goodreads

Giveaway
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: One Night in Close Exposure by AshleyC. Harris

One Night in Close Exposure by Ashley C. Harris

The highly awaited follow up (and final book in the series) to Ashley C. Harris’ ONE NIGHT IN HEATED SNAPSHOTS.

My Review:

First I should mention that I haven't read the first book in the series, One Night in Heated Snapshots.  And while I could easily read this book, I would like personally to go back and read the first book to get more of a feel for Beth and Sterling in their past.

That said, I don't think you must read the first book to enjoy the second story.  There are brief glimpses into what happened in the first book, but never anything that I thought of as a major spoiler.  So I thought the history was treated welll for people like me who jump in and start reading One Night in Close Exposure.

So what did I think.  It's a cute story that is powered along by some character development and a lot going on in the plot. It's a quick, easy and satisfying book to read.  A romance just finding it's start again despite a lot of of odds against it.

I enjoyed Beth and Sterling's characters.  They were different and going through different things but they share so much.  Both have fears and both have dreams, but will things work between them?  You'll have to read it to find out.

My only fault with the book was not in the story or the characters but there were some minor editing blips that may have gotten missed on first pass and I'm hoping by the time that the book is released (I think this was an eARC) that these will be fixed.  They were very minor and most people would miss them.  They didn't glare at me or yank me out of the story.  And most of the book has no editing issues at all.

If you enjoy a simple romance (guy+girl) with some hurdles thrown in then this is perfect for you.  Both Sterling and Beth are fun characters and the sparks fly when they are together which makes for a great romance.  So come, read and enjoy.

 My Rating: 4.0/5.0

Excerpt:

“Beth, you need to go ... ” is what her mom had told her repeatedly all week long the moment there was breaking news that Sterling Johnson, and a whole slew of other Olympic athletes, were flying into Beth’s city for the governor’s honorary ball. Beth knew her mom was right, what other chance would she get to talk to Sterling at this point, especially now that he had actually broken a new world record and joined the U.S.A. Olympic team? The answer was none.

            Too many people had begun calling him the minute his Olympic swimming status was announced on a national level, which is why he must have switched numbers, breaking off the possibility of Beth getting ahold of him again. Well, not all possibility, but the truth was she hadn’t ever wanted to face him after their one steamy night that had ended so wrong. But now, just as Sterling’s stellar Olympic news was announced, she had learned her own life stopping drama. In fact, she was pretty sure her life was over as she imagined her dreams and aspirations suddenly crashing to the floor. Oh God, how can this really be happening to me? How can I do this, Lord?

            She entered the ballroom with waves of hot nausea assaulting her. Smells of seafood and other appetizers were making her stomach turn in the worst possible way. Of course, her stomach had been turning for two and a half months now; she just hadn’t realized it was morning sickness until it was too late. I’ve been so foolish ...

            There was a big yellow taped off area where media was not allowed to pass and yet Beth stood at the very edge of it with her photography media badge, looking. Would she be able to get Sterling’s attention ahead of time before the speeches came? A bodyguard warned her with his stern eyes not to dare take a step further and trip up the rope.

            Nervous energy caused her to tremble at the thought of speaking to Sterling now, looking upon his tall height and too ripped abs, ripped in a way that made him this next generation’s newest Michael Phelps and Michael Lochte rolled into one. Young fans posted statuses on the web that Sterling’s face was far more handsome, far more perfect, than any swimmer before him. His photos had been spread across all the papers, capturing his best angles. Beth had to admit, it seemed like they were right.

            If only everyone knew the true man and his motives under that swim cap.

About ONE NIGHT IN CLOSE EXPOSURE:

Title: One Night in Close Exposure

Series: Snapshots #2

Genre: New Adult Romance

Release Date: February 23, 2015

Publisher: Self-Published

Print Length: 89 pages

Format: Digital

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis: Beth, in another life, was a top student and had nothing but visions of a successful career in her head. That was until one night with Sterling Johnson, the sexy and deceitful swim champion next door, who changed her entire future. Now, because of that night from her past, Beth’s path as a photographer is forever changed. Gone is the young women she used to be as she struggles to keep a secret hidden.

Sterling Johnson, on the other hand, has quickly become America’s favorite Olympic athlete. Constantly followed and stalked by the press and the father he has turned his back on, Sterling craves someone who isn’t interested in his celebrity.

When a publicity stunt takes him back to a wild college campus and Beth, who turns out to be the media photographer assigned to his story, the flame he thought was dead rekindles. Will Beth prove to be the only girl not interested in his celebrity status? Or are her own twisted secrets and lies about to bring both their worlds down?

ONE NIGHT IN HEATED SNAPSHOTS, Book One in the Heated Snapshots series, is currently free on Amazon! Grab your copy now!

About Ashley C. Harris:
Author and film director Ashley C. Harris resides in Florida. Ashley was first recognized for her edgy writing and unique film work when she wrote and directed the teenage film Lines. Lines was the first feature film in the world captured using only Mac Laptops.

In 2013 Ashley teamed up with Barclay Publicity to release the first title in a new young adult series Shock Me. Ashley then went on to release the first of a new NA series, One Night in Heated Snapshots, that quickly reached Amazon's Best Selling top ten list for sports romances.

When she is not dreaming up new books and working on film sets, she loves to spend time with her friends and family.

Keep a close watch for Ashley's newest young adult books releases!

Connect with Ashley at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Tumblr | Instagram

To celebrate the release of ONE NIGHT IN CLOSE EXPOSURE, Ashley’s giving away a gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) worth $10! Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I received this book from Barclay Publicity for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***