Review: Not Fooling Anyone by Allie Winters

Not Fooling Anyone by Allie Winters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC for review, all opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Lessons Learned series, but it is a complete standalone.  Mia and Tyler are present in the book, but they are minor side characters and they are only briefly mentioned.  You don't need to read book 1 to read book 2, they can both be read independently.  The main focus of this book is on Lexie and Ethan.  

Lexie has not had an easy life, and in reading this emotional tale we get to know her and why she keeps to herself and pushes people away.  Getting to know her and seeing her character develop is a huge part of the book.  When Lexie initially meets Ethan, she misjudges him as a dumb boxer.  Turns out he's actually fairly intelligent and generally a good guy.  Ethan is training as a boxer at the same gym where her dad, a former pro-boxer works.  Knowing that Lexie is looking to earn extra cash, her dad sets her up with an offer from the gym's owner to put her future CPA skills to work and modernize his accounting.  It just so happens that Lexie and Ethan are also in the same psychology class.  Hard up for some extra cash Lexie signs up for a psych study, but it requires her to have a romantic partner.  She finds herself in a fake relationship with Ethan in order to earn the money.  Lexie is not really interesed in romance, boyfriends, or people in general.  She's been hurt by the people she's let into her life in the past, but Ethan is determined to break down her barriers and get to know her.  As they spend time together getting their fake relationship story straight and getting to know each other, they realize that they are becoming friends.  Lexie tends to shy away from talking about things, which leads to miscommunication and misunderstandings because she doesn't want to get hurt.  Ethan tries to give her space, but he does eventually encourage her to have the conversations she is avoiding and they do eventually get better at communicating.  

This is a more heavy and emotional novel for Smartypants Romance.  Much of what we see from their offerings tend to be a little lighter and comedic.  There are some humorous moments, but this deals with some heavy topics such as drug abuse, abandonment, and bullying.  Overally, I really enjoyed this!

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Release Blitz: Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend by Penny Reid

 

Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend, an all-new enemies to lovers romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid, is now live!

Winnifred Gobaldi and Byron Visser are not best friends.

Yes, they’ve known each other for years, but they’re not even friendly. Winnie considers them more like casual, distant acquaintances who find each other barely tolerable, especially when he's being condescending (which is all the time).

The truth is, they have nothing in common. She’s a public school science teacher with stars in her eyes, and he’s a pretentious, joyless double PhD turned world-famous bestselling fiction author. She loves sharing her passion for promulgating women in STEM careers and building community via social media, and he eschews all socialization, virtual or otherwise. She’s looking for a side hustle to help pay down a mountain of student debt, and his financial portfolio is the stuff of fiduciary wet dreams. So why are they faking a #bestfriend relationship for millions of online spectators?

When a simple case of tit-for-tat trends between nonfriends leads to a wholly unexpected kind of pretend, nothing is simple. Sometimes, it takes a public audience to reveal the truth of private feelings, and rarely—very rarely—you should believe what you see online.

Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend is a full-length, complete standalone, adult contemporary romantic comedy.

Fall in love today!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3EV4yPv
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TenTrends
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Meet Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

Connect with Penny
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Website: www.pennyreid.ninja

Review: Parks and Provocation

Parks and Provocation by Juliette Cross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC for review, all opinions are my own. This is the second book in the Green Valley Heroes series, but it is a complete standalone. This follows Lola and Jed, who were what I'd call frenemies in high school. They always liked each other but mixed signals and teenage immaturity got in their way. After moving away for college and to chase dreams of an uber successful career in marketing, Lola has found herself back at home in Green Valley. She had the big fancy job, but all of that fell apart with one mistake. While she's trying to get her marketing career back on track, she is running a dating podcast with her best friend Marly. Marly is hilarious by the way! Their podcast is laugh out loud funny! Lola has no intention of running into Jed while she is in town, but when she locks her keys in her car he just happens to be the fireman on duty when she needs rescued. Jed always wanted a shot with Lola, but things didn't work out. His future didn't work out the way he planned and he is part of the local fire department and moved home to be closer to his family. He's no longer the immature teen who used to tease Lola to get her attention in high school, so when luck (or meddling friends) brings them together he is determined to seize his second chance. She agrees to go on a date with him, mainly because she can use it as material for her podcast. Jed charms her and her followers, and somehow gets her to agree to go out on a second date. As they get reacquainted they realize that much of their irritation with each other from the past was due to miscommunication and teenage hormones making them act irrationally. As their dates and podcast episodes unfold, we really get to know Jed and Lola. They get to know each other and are finally able to say the things they couldn't before. They both have to communicate their wants and needs if they are going to make things work. This is especially important because Lola is a planner and she has her future mapped out and staying in Green Valley and a relationship were not part of her master plan. Jed on the other hand is pretty easy going and wants to seize the moment. I felt the characters were relatable as was their situation. I thought they had great chemistry and because they knew each other before there wasn't an insta-love connection between them, it was more of a fire being reignited between them. If you love enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, and second chance romance this is the book for you. There is some angst and drama, but it is short lived and low level. The spice factor is pretty good too. I really enjoyed this and loved Jed and Lola! This is my first book by Juliette Cross, but it certainly will not be my last.

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Review: Flirt by Adriana Locke

Flirt by Adriana Locke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions are my own.

This might be my new favorite book from Adriana! If you loved the Masons you are going to absolutely love the Carmichaels. If you don't know who I'm talking about, don't worry you don't need to know who the Mason Family is, but I highly recommend reading their books! This first book in the series centers on Moss and Brooke.

Moss and Brooke have been working together as a team for the last 2 years. He does the demo and construction and she does the interior architecture for his family's company. Their professional work has won awards, and they are friends. They have great banter and like to joke around with each other. Neither wants a romantic relationship because they have both been hurt in the past and don't want to be hurt again. Unfortunately, Brooke needs a "boyfriend" to accompany her to her grandmother's 85th birthday party so she can live up to her mother's unattainable standards. Moss ends up agreeing to be Brooke's fake boyfriend after his family decides to meddle in his personal life and to help out Brooke with her unreasonable mom. They come to a fake dating agreement, but their feelings quickly take a turn into not so fake.

I adored Moss and Brooke together. They were so oblivious to their feelings for one another at the start of their "situation-ship". I loved their banter and the antics of the Carmichael brothers. I also really loved Brooke's best friend Jovie. I hope Jovie gets a book! Brooke has not had alot of unconditional love in her life, but Jovie is a breath of fresh air and is always on team Brooke no matter what. Moss has had an unfortunate experience in the relationship department that has left him scarred for life when it comes to love. He does however accept Brooke as she is with no conditions, and seamlessly fits her into his life. This has everything I look for in a romance, great characters, good banter, laugh out loud moments, and it will make you feel all of the emotions. Once you pick this up you won't want to put it down. There is also a good level of spice.

I can't wait to read Maddox's book Fling next! The Carmichaels are going to be ridiculously entertaining and I cannot wait to read each of their stories!

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BLOG TOUR: Flirt by Adriana Lock

 

  FLIRT by Adriana Locke 

  Release Date: April 8th 

  Genre/Tropes: Contemporary Romance/Office Romance/Fake Dating/Friend to Lovers   

  AVAILABLE NOW!!! FREE IN KU!!! 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3L1Nefm 

  Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/FLIRT  

    

  Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59775481-flirt 

   

  Blurb: WANTED: A SITUATION-SHIP I’m a single female that’s tired of relationships ruining my life. However, there are times when a date would be helpful. If you’re a single man, preferably mid-twenties to late-thirties, and are in a similar situation, we might be a match. Candidate must be handsome, charming, and willing to pretend to have feelings for me (on a sliding scale, as the event requires). Ability to discuss a wide variety of topics is a plus. Must have your own transportation and a (legal) job. This will be a symbiotic agreement. In exchange for your time, I will give you mine. Need someone to flirt with you at a football party? Go, team! Want a woman to make you look good in front of your boss? Let me find my heels. Would you love for someone to be obsessed with you in front of your ex? I’m applying my red lipstick now. If interested, please email me. Time is of the essence.   

  About the Author: USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.   She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket.  

  Connect w/Adriana: 

  Website: https://adrianalocke.com 

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

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8379774.Adriana_Locke 

  Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ivy7xd 

  Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/adriana-locke 

  Newsletter Signup: http://bit.ly/NewsletterAddy   

RELEASE BLITZ: PARKS AND PROVOCATION by Juliette Cross

 

Parks and Provocation, an all new enemies-to-lovers small town romance from Juliette Cross, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited!

Lola Landry stares through the window of her locked car with the keys in the ignition and the radio blaring Beck’s “Loser.” While standing there and sweltering in the soupy Tennessee humidity, she wonders how her orderly life had crashed and burned so badly. Then her high school nemesis saunters up in all of his tall, strapping, fireman-to-the-rescue glory, slapping her with the humiliating proof that it can always get worse.

When the uber-confident Jedediah Lawson requests a date in return for popping her lock, a lightbulb goes off. Revenge is sweet. He would make the perfect victim—guest, that is—for her next podcast episode on Kiss and Tell. What shocks her is the casual way he not only agrees to the post-date interview on air, but ends up hijacking her audience and wooing them with his swoony, southern charm. Not even a low score on the date-o-meter can dissuade the man or keep her fans from demanding more of the charismatic Jed.

What’s worse, she secretly wants a second date with this man who is so different from his teenage self. His unwavering patience and dimpled smile erodes her will, until she breaks the Kiss and Tell rules by agreeing to a second…and a third date. It’s a disaster. Not the date. They’re wonderful. The disaster is that she is falling for a man she once dubbed Jockstrap Jed.

'Parks and Provocation' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #2 in the Green Valley Heroes series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy TODAY!

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Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3oWBJ0a

About Juliette Cross

JULIETTE is a multi-published author of paranormal and fantasy romance & the co-host of the podcast, Smart Women Read Romance. As a native of Louisiana, she lives in the heart of Cajun land with her husband, four kids, her labs, Kona and Jeaux, and kitty, Betty. When she isn’t working on her next project, she enjoys binge-watching her favorite shows with her husband and a glass (or two) of red wine.

Find Juliette Cross online

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__Cross

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Website: https://www.juliettecross.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7795664.Juliette_Cross

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Review: Omens Bite by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Omens Bite by P.C. Cast
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this from Wednesday Books an imprint of St Martin's Press) via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I'm really enjoying this series, so far and I'm lookin forward to the next book. I'm not sure how many books are in the series but it is at minimum a trilogy if not more. This picks up where Spells Trouble leaves off, so I don't recommend reading this as a standalone. Mercy and Hunter are both still grieving the loss of their mother and events from the first book have split the twins sisterly bond. They spend much of the book angry at one another and acting like petulant teenagers. I did find myself rolling my eyes at some of their outbursts because they are so immature, but given that they are only 16 their actions and attitudes make perfect sense. Neither one of them is willing to take responsibility for their actions when it comes to her her sister, however they do take responsibility for their actions when said sister is not in the picture. I can see this not appealing to a more adult audience and appealing more to a YA audience.

The twins are both determined to continue in their mother's footsteps and protect the gateways, which have started to weaken. Torn by their grief and resent for one another, they are both determined to find a way to heal the trees that act as gateways to the other realms. Mercy has stayed true to her path as a Green Witch, while Hunter has taken a much darker path after pledging herself to the goddess Amphitrite. The more Hunter learns about her new goddess the more she comes to feel she has made a huge mistake in forsaking Tyr, the god she had previously pledge herself to.

We see alot of character development from both sisters in this as long as they aren't together. Hunter is on a dark path making questionable choices at the behest of Amphitrite to save herself, the gates, and the town. Mercy is coming into her powers and learning to stand on her own two feet. The second they get within 2 feet of each other all of that progress vanishes and they snipe at one another about how self centered and selfish one another is. There is clearly some resentment the two of them will have to work through before the end of the story, but it doesn't happen in this book. I expect it will come in the next installment as Mercy has found herself in quite the predicament and Xena and Hunter have to find her and rescue her. I enjoyed the side characters in this as well. There is a good supporting cast for both Mercy and Hunter to lean on and the villians are equally devious. I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out in the next installment. There are quite a few things left unresolved.

I enjoyed the magic system and world building. The setting is well described and you have a good idea of how the magic works. I especially enjoyed the touch of mythology that the authors chose to add to the story. I thought the Land of the Dead scenes were really well done and very creative.

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