Spotlight: When Life Happened by Jewel E. Ann

When Life Happened by Jewel E. Ann
Publisher: Jewel E. Ann
Publication date: 06/05/2017

Parker Cruse despises cheaters. It might have something to do with her boyfriend sleeping with her twin sister. 
After a wedding day prank involving a strong laxative, that ends the already severed relationship between the twins, Parker decides to grow up and act twenty-six. 

Step One: Move out of her parents’ house. 

Step Two: Find a job. 

Opportunity strikes when she meets her new neighbor, Gus Westman. He’s an electrician with Iowa farm-boy values and a gift for saying her name like it’s a dirty word. 

He also has a wife.  Sabrina Westman, head of a successful engineering firm, hires Parker as her personal assistant. Driven to be the best assistant ever, Parker vows to stay focused, walk the dog, go to the dry cleaners, and not kiss Gus—again.

Step Three: Don’t judge. 

Step Four: Remember— when life happens, it does it in a heartbeat.

"Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's husband."  This book was so unexpected and I couldn't have imagined where Parker's life would have taken her just by reading the synopsis. I loved everything about this book. It gave me all the feels that I look for in books in this genre. Once I started, it was impossible to see where Parker's journey would take her. I laughed, I cried, and I was angry too.  This book is everything!

I love this book that I had to give it a spotlight so readers can delve in and take notice of the wonderfully, amazing  journey, and surprises that this book throws at you. If you're ready to be wrapped up in a book that holds on til the very end then look no further, this book has it all.

You can read an exclusive of chapter one here.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Review: #1 Crush by T. Gephart

#1 Crush by T. Gephart

Publisher: T. Gephart
Series: #1 Series, #1
Publication date: 02/20/2017
Source: Bought

Tia Monroe was smart, sassy and successful. Sure, she could get a little crazy at times—life around Tia was never boring—but that was part of her appeal. And while she didn’t see herself as ‘classically beautiful’, she had no shortage of options in the boyfriend department. She just hadn’t found one who held her interest.

Until she laid eyes on Eric Larsson, and then it was lust at first sight.

He packed the perfect mix of smoldering sexy and unapologetic cool into his blond-haired, blue-eyed, ridiculously hot six-foot-four frame. One smile from him was enough to twist her insides, making her girlie bits tingle in the most delicious way. But it wasn’t just his looks, he was smart and funny—charming in the most a-dork-able way.

The only problem was . . . Tia had never actually met him.

Eric Larsson was one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars, rising to the top of his game and leaving a trail of disintegrated panties in his wake. Tia’s were no exception—but she wasn’t delusional. Love, marriage and happily-ever-after were not part of her fantasy; she just wanted to meet him. Just one time. One time. Confident that just seeing him in the flesh would get him out of her system.

So, with her resolve steeled, Tia set off on a quest to make it happen while avoiding her mug shot being splayed across the five o’clock news.

The journey no doubt will make for one hell of a story.

Once I started this book, I didn't want to put it down. I mean, when you're seeing the story unfold from inside Tia's head, it's like a train wreck is bound to happen. Tia's character is hilarious. I loved her craziness and everything about her obsession with Eric. Sigh...Eric. Yes, Tia had me crushing on him too. I totally see why. He was the total package.

This book was entertaining and humorous and just all around filled with goodness. I was just all tingly inside after reading it. I can't say enough great things about this book. I loved everything about it. Even the secondary characters were great.

If you're looking for a fun read or something to get you out of a slump, I highly recommend that you pick this book up.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon

The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon

Publisher: CreateSpace Publising
Publication date: 05/06/2016
Source: Bought

Swallow, Daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heav’n or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, Daughter. Stay alive.

The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn’t speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would trade his soul and lose his son to the sky.

My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother’s words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free.

But freedom will require escape, and I’m a prisoner of my mother’s curse and my father’s greed. I can’t speak or make a sound, and I can’t wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love . . . a bird?

I just have to start by saying, ‘WOW!’ I’ve read some of Harmon’s novels and let me tell you, this woman can write about anything in any genre. All of her books are different and everyone that I’ve read, was beautifully written. She has a way with words and you can’t help but be fascinated with her stories.

The Bird and the Sword ensnared me then had me wrapped up in its pages from beginning to end. I didn’t want the story to end. After I finished reading it, I immediately went to Goodreads to see if this would be a series because I would definitely love to read more about this wonderfully unique world that Harmon created.

Short and Simple: You should read this book! You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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Review: Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication date: 08/02/2016
Series: Kingmaker Chronicles, #1
Source: Bought

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…
Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

Promise of Fire is one of those books that once you start reading it, you won’t be able to stop. The world that Bouchet has created is fascinating. Greek Gods, dragons, magic, and unforgettable characters – what more could I ask for? Cat and Griffin have become one of my favorite couples. The tension between these two had me rooting for them throughout the book. I guess what they have could be called EPIC.

The secondary characters are just as likeable. I would find myself thinking of the team as “grinning idiots.” And I say this with love because what’s not to love when you have three warriors whose fierce loyalty goes beyond anything that Cat has ever experienced. Cat’s world is brutal and has made her stronger for it. She’s fierce - one of the things that I love about my heroines.

I can only imagine what book 2 has in store for the Beta Team. I’m thinking it’s about to go down for Cat and she’s going to have to face her past head on and I’m dreading the outcome. But who knows, she’s like a cat with nine lives. I’m ready to dive into the next book right now.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

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