
This Week’s Book Feature: Whitney G.’s Sincerely, Carter
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This Week’s Book Feature: Whitney G.’s Sincerely, Carter
Image from https://www.pinterest.com/maddoxpigeon/sincerely-carter/
First, I gotta say – I lOVE THIS COVER!! Why? Finally, the cover model actually represents how the character is depicted in the book … his build, his tattoos, his eyes (both color and attitude), and even his approximate weight.
Logan is the perfect underdog that makes a reader want great things to happen in his favor. He grew up in the worst of areas and works hard to help pay for his sister’s school. Despite his physically tough exterior, Logan actually is sensitive on the inside. Logan’s personality is what makes this book uniquely enjoyable and not just another run of the mill, grunge fighter romance.
Kyla is also fantastic. She’s a walking contradiction by dressing one way but behaving in an opposite manner. Unlike Logan, she may have come from money. But she also had a lot of messed of family drama. The best part of Kyla is her insightfulness
One of my favorite lines:
“You know you’re hot, you know you have it all. You probably f*** like something out of True Blood … But you’re lost. You hate it. You screw and you feel empty inside. The only pleasure you get is the one coming from your c*ck, and that’s short-lived. You’re looking for a longer org*sm, but that isn’t it. You’re sick of women, you’re sick of the sex, you need something deeper, more meaningful, but you’re sh*t-scared to commit to it for reasons I haven’t quite figured out yet.”

This is a time traveler romance story that takes the reader back to spring 1941 in Portland, Oreagon.
The setting was wonderfully described. I felt like I was back in time with the characters. The attitudes and concerns painted a graphic picture in my head of the people during the 40’s. Even more so, the historical, sports, and technological references were fantastic.
A little lost and weary, Joel Smith helps a man in need, which starts the beginning of an amazing friendship and leads him to find the love of his life.
The romance in this book is remarkably passionate, despite the fact that it isn’t sexualized like contemporary romance books. There is something very real about a relationship where any feelings of lust are expected to go unrequited. The tension between Grace and Joel is extraordinary and I enjoyed how the views of the side characters impacted the relationship. Both Grace and Joel struggle with accepting and how to address their relationship.
to John Heldt!

This Week’s Book Feature: Meredith Wild’s Hacker Series
Image from https://www.pinterest.com/ShaylaFeresh/meredith-wild-author/

This was an absolutely refreshing twist on a story where a wealthy, powerful man falls for a plain simple woman. If you are tired of those types of stories, you should consider reading this book. The story line in this book is truly fabulous!
The dialogue in the book is great, too. Each character has a unique voice and personality. The supporting cast adds a lot of humor and sincerity to the book. Perhaps, it is just because I’m an American, but I love reading the English jargon.
The book captures the essence of romance:
“You should pick someone not pretty, not funny, not rich or talented, not someone who loves you when you’re successful and beautiful, funny and upbeat. You should pick someone that respects you now, at your worst, at your lowest, because if he does, then you know you’ll have a partner for life, no matter what happens.”

Just like a boxer needs to stay on their toes during fight, this book keeps the reader on his/her toes. I like all the twists to the story. This is one of those books that gets better page by page. One of the best Epilogues that I have read.
The theme that you need to focus on the good things in life resonates throughout the book. It’s presented in meaningful and very alluring ways. It never comes across as an annoying cliche, where the author seems to be preaching to the readers.
The main characters are compelling and well suited for one another. They both come from abusive pasts, but neither wants to be defined by their history, but rather their triumph in spite of it.
Jagger makes for a a great bad-boy romantic hero. He is hot but flawed. He is a champion in the underground fighting arena, but there is a darkness in his need to fight. On the other hand, he is fully committed to fostering a relationship with Tatiana and has a plan in place to ensure her happiness. At the forefront he wants to comfort her in her time of need and protect her from further abuse. Not until then, does he intend to claim her.
Despite being abused by her father, Tatiana isn’t just a damsel in distress. She is intelligent, resilient, and strong. She is also able to stand up to Jagger when necessary.
My favorite scene (not going to give away too much) was absolutely hysterically funny. You would expect that the scene would be sappy and romantic. Instead, it was like sitting through a roast for the characters where you can feel the surrounding characters’ love and respect.
Just as Tatiana fell in love with the Caldwell family, so did I. While this is a stand alone book, I think I would have preferred to have read this series from the beginning.
Available for Pre-Order, Release on April 12, 2016
to MJ Fields and Cheslsea Camaron!

This Week’s Book Feature: Helena Hunting’s Pucked
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cookie dough 
OR
warm cookies 
This debate in my house started on my birthday. I made cookie dough for my birthday. On that same day, my son baked standard chocolate chip cookies for his Latin class. This resulted in a household debate:
I. Which is better gluten free cookie dough or standard chocolate chip cookie dough?
The house was split, but this was more of a factor of what types of chips were used and the fact that I added pecans to gluten free dough.
II. Which is better cookie dough or warm chocolate chip cookies?
Again, the house was split.
A birthday is definitely a day to indulge in life’s guilty pleasures!
Who says you have to have a cake for a birthday. This year, I abandoned tradition and made myself something that I was simply craving. It’s not that I don’t like cake. In years past, I’ve made my flour-less chocolate cake with cinnamon whipped cream. About six months ago, I even found a fantastic gluten free carrot cake recipe, but I wasn’t in the mood. This year, I wanted COOKIE DOUGH!
I love cookie dough! It’s not pretty looking, but it is pretty delicious. I had absolutely no intentions of baking any of this dough. Thus, I was able to leave out the eggs and baking soda. Also, I used almond flour that has a great taste but doesn’t bake very well.

GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH
Here’s my recipe (not meant to be baked in oven):
Ingredients:
1/2 c butter
1/2 c light brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c almond flour
1/2 c rice flour
1 c chocolate chips (I used a mix of milk chocolate and peanut butter chips)
1/2 c chopped pecans.
Directions:
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Blend in vanilla, milk, and salt. Slowly add and mix-in both flours. Mix until fully incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts..
Enjoy immediately or chill in the fridge. The chilled dough can be rolled into balls for snacking purposes and kept in refrigerator or freezer. Cookie dough doesn’t last long in my house – there’s no need to freeze it.

This was a very dark romance story. The beginning was a bit much for me to handle. Ellie and Philip meet when Philip hides teenage Ellie from a group of men that attempted to gang rape her.
Philip is open about his criminality. He’ll take any opportunity to take what he wants. But he isn’t all bad. “That’s why I stayed away from you for so long, kitten. Because I cared about you. Because I f*cking love you, and you deserve better than this.”
Ellie truly believes that she is unloveable. “I had worked my whole life for acceptance from people who wouldn’t love me back, the princess of lost causes.” “But I wasn’t enough. I never had been. Not for family. And definitely not for Philip.”
It is sad how both Philip and Ellie think so little of their selves. This overall dictates an overall feeling of bleakness throughout the story.
While this book is too dark for my personal taste, I found a lot of the story line to be interesting. And, the story is filled with unexpected turns, which made me want to read until the end.
to Skye Warren!

This book has all the elements that make-up a Play-by-Play Novel. There’s romance, close knit family, hot athletic men, strong independent female characters, hot sex scenes, and a perfect happily ever after.
Two of my favorite things about the story:
All in all, the story is very romantic in a traditional sense, but a bit too predictable.

to Jaci Burton!