I am thrilled, and honored, to be reviewing a debut author's first contemporary romance who also happens to be one of this blogs regular followers. Dreams really do come true and I hope her luck rubs off on me so I'm a debut author some day. Aimée Duffy contacted me and asked if I would read her debut novel, MONSTER OF FAME. Of course, I recognized her name and so agreed - payback, you know! ***eARC supplied by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
Blurb for MONSTER OF FAME: Can the voice of an angel heal a tortured soul? Annabelle MacIntosh enters a reality singing contest to save her family from
their mounting debt. Miles Oliver, celebrity judge and the owner of the biggest
record company in the UK, doesn't think she has what it takes. She sings like an
angel, but when she performs all he can focus on is the terror in her eyes. It's
a look he knows only too well. After the pressure of fame destroyed his wife,
Miles swore he'd never let the same thing happen to anyone else. Driven by the
guilt he's carried for years, Miles tries everything in his power to make sure
Annabelle doesn't succeed, because he doesn't believe she'll survive it. Annabelle needs that prize money, and she's determined to win it. As she
fights to make it through each round of the contest, an attraction begins to
develop between the two adversaries. The longer Annabelle remains in the
competition, the deeper her attraction grows to the man who's trying to prevent
her from reaching her goal. Can she convince Miles she's strong enough to fight
the fame monster and win? * * * * * * * Annabelle MacIntosh has wanted to sing since she was a little girl but was discouraged by her father who thought it foolish. Then this same selfish man picked up one day and abandoned her, her mother and his mother to run off to the islands with a young new wife. Now, her chance to do what she's always wanted to do, as well as save her family from financial disaster, has presented itself in a reality show singing competition.
Miles Oliver knows talent when he sees it but he also learned the hard way, with the death of his wife, how fame can destroy a talent and a life. Right from the start, he sees that there's something special about Annabelle and his protective instincts are thrown into overdrive in reaction to her nervousness at performing before an audience. Attracted to Annabelle and not wanting her to meet the same drug-induced ending that his wife met, Miles is determined to persuade Annabelle to quit the competition. Miles decides to befriend her so that he can keep a close eye on her as well as work at undermining her desire to stay in the competition. Falling in love with her was the last thing he expected to have happen.
I have to admit that I am NOT a fan of reality of shows and don't follow the so you want to be a star type reality shows at all. I suspect that this lack of enthusiasm held me at bay when I first started reading MONSTER OF FAME by Aimée Duffy but once I was knee deep into the story, I certainly began to enjoy it and became glued to it, eager to find out how things turned out. I will say that I was a little disappointed in that the tension between Miles and Annabelle was too one-sided. Miles was obviously on the edge at all times as to what he should about Annabelle even while his attraction to her was growing in leaps and bounds. Annabelle, on the otherhand, I felt gave in to her attraction to Miles too quickly. I recognize that she came into the competition with a crush on Miles Oliver. But, after the first time out and Miles gives her a bad review, she was over the crush and recognizing him for the controlling man that he is. Yet, it wasn't long at all before she was over that, too.
Aimée Duffy is a debut author and it's really only the rare talent that can hit the mark right out of the box, so I may have my criticisms but overall, Aimée did a wonderful job of creating charaters that we could relate to and enjoy. At first, I thought I wasn't going to like Miles at all but quickly fell under his spell just as Annabelle did. I loved that his insecurities were right there, for the reader to angst through with him, right up to the end when he lays his heart out to Annabelle and still worries that he's about to get stomped on.
MONSTER OF FAME by Aimée Duffy is a delightfully sweet romance with a very up-to-date feel with its reality show environment. If you're a fan of such shows as American Idol, you will definitely enjoy the background, the tension, and the nervous energy as well as some of the jealousies and back-stabbing that come into play but best of all is the falling in love that happens between Annabelle and Miles. Also, Aimée writes one of the best happily-ever-after endings and so, I will say that this romance is a successful debut novel for a talented new author who I expect to see good things from in the future.
I do recommend reading, MONSTER OF FAME by Aimée Duffy, if you love contemporary romance with a big city feel. If you love reality shows and the idea of someone down and out hitting it big as a star. If you believe that dreams really can come true, if you've got the talent and guts to go after it, then this debut contemporary romance is for you.
Happy Reading Everyone!
MONSTER OF FAME by Aimée Duffy, Beachwalk Press, release date - October 15, 2012 in ebook formats. To purchase directly from Beachwalk Press click HERE.
On Monday, I reviewed Jessica's second contemporary romance novel, UNTIL THERE WAS YOU - if you haven't read my review yet, please take a moment and please do, we'll wait for you but do hurry back because the author, Jessica Scott, will be with us in just a moment. Just click on the title of the book to read the review. Jessica Scott is not your average romance novelist. She's a career army officer, mother, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She has commanded two companies, served in Germany, Korea, Fort Hood, and Iraq. She considers herself a terrible cook and an even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon. She's also been published in the New York Times AT WAR blog - so, she's no slouch. She's also an awesome romance writer.
Please join me in welcoming Jessica Scott to UNWRAPPING ROMANCE.
Amy: Hi
Jessica, it's an absolute delight to have you here with us today. Thank you for
taking time from your very busy day to visit with us. Perhaps you'd like to tell us a little bit about yourself for the benefit of those who don't know you yet.
Jessica: I’m
thrilled to be here today! Thanks so much for having me. Honestly, I’m just a
regularly hyperactive over achiever. I live in constant fear that someone is
going to figure out that I’m a fraud and call me on it. I’m married w/ 2 kids,
3 cats, 3 dogs, 2 hamsters and a couple of fish and I’m also in the army. Amy: LOL! Jessica, you're no fraud and even if you were, we won't tell. As a woman living in a world dominated by men where women have to be as tough and physically skilled as any male soldier, I'm curious about what drew you to writing and why you chose the romance genre? Jessica: I had
a fantastic battalion commander tell me once that everything is about
relationships. When you think of life in those aspects, it changes the way you
deal with things. Romance is nothing if not about relationships, you know?
Plus, my grandmother got me started reading romances when I was younger so it
was kind of a natural fit for me to graviate into the genre. The romance
writers I’ve met along the way are so incredibly supporting and amazing. I’ve
never met a group of folks who are more willing to lend a hand or a shoulder,
you know?
Amy: Most definitely! The romance community is one of the most fabulous group of people I've ever met. I love how you center your stories around the harsh realities of military life, its rules and regulations. As a woman in the military, you're already placed in a position of scrutiny, so I'm wondering if your fellow soldiers know that you write romance and if they do, what do they think of it?
Jessica: Some
of my former soldiers know about it but for the most part, I try to keep my
writing life separate from my military life. I’m a company commander and it
would be grossly inappropriate for me to talk about my writing in a
professional forum. So most folks don’t know about it until after I leave the
unit. The folks that do know about it have been amazingly supportive and kind of
in awe that I’ve managed to carve out the time to get a book written, revised
and sold, you know? Amy: I'm rather in awe of that, too. You are true model for the modern woman. Reading
UNTIL THERE WAS YOU was especially easy for me to connect to being the daughter
of an officer who, like yourself, began his career as an enlisted man then went
to, what was then, called War College where he was recommissioned as an
officer. I know that those who have seen action tend to carry much of their
experiences tucked deep inside, just as you have Evan, Claire and Reza do
in the story. Without divulging your own secrets, how much of you has been
instilled in Claire? I can see where she may be a reflection of your military experiences as a female officer in the Army? Jessica: Claire
is a lot like me in that she’s a hot head and she always thinks she’s right but
other than that, she’s completely fictional. I’ve never done any of the things
Claire has done, except for getting my butt chewed by a full bird colonel. That
actually happened to me more than once and let me tell you, it is NOT pleasant.
Amy: LOL! They aren't any easier on their kids, believe me! In
reading UNTIL THERE WAS YOU, we meet supporting characters who endear
themselves to us as much as the hero Evan and the heroine Claire. Will
Reza, Sara, and Mallory ever have their stories told?
Jessica: I
have already started on Reza’s book. I love a tortured hero and wow is he
screwed up. Sara hasn’t taken hold yet in my mind as a full blown story.
Mallory may show up down the road but I’m not sure yet.
Amy: Oh, how I was hoping you would write Reza's story. His character really touched me and so I either wanted to smack him upside the head or hug him. My
absolute favorite scene in the story (I had many) was the scene where Claire
first sees Evan's tattoo. My dears, I'm not going to give anything away but I
just want to tell you that I thought it was the most incredibly sexy scene and
they didn't have sex. So Jessica, can you tell us where your inspiration for
such an incredibly sensitive and unique scene came from? By the way, it made me
cry.
Jessica: I
love that that scene made you cry! Personally, I love it when a book moves me
enough to make me cry but that’s another story. Back to the tattoo scene. I
have to give credit where credit is due: the Romance Man suggested that Evan
needed a tattoo. As far as the inspiration for the scene, I love it when a big
powerful man stands with his head bowed. It’s a symbol of strength and to be
honest, it was going to take a very strong man to love Claire.
Amy: Wow, it worked and Evan is an incredibly strong man. I think that was what was so touching about that scene. He let his guard down and at that moment he was practically putty in her hands. I loved it! Do
you have any favorite authors who you enjoy reading and have they had any
influence on your writing?
Jessica: Who
are my auto buys? Sherry Thomas, Laura Griffin, Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter
series, Laura Kinsale, Courtney Milan. I would say that Nalini Singh is the
most recent author who has influenced me. She has such an evocative way with
words. I love the deep sensuality in her writing.
Amy: No argument there, she's awesome. Last
question and one I ask everyone, if I have the opportunity. IF you could be ANY
character in ANY book, not necessarily one of your own - who would it be and
why?
Jessica: Oh
wow, well let’s flash back to my youth: I’d want to be Lessa in Anne
McCaffrey’s Dragonflight. She’s the first strong female character I remember
identifying with and man, who would pass up an opportunity to ride a dragon?
Yes, that’s my inner nerd shining through!
Amy: LOL! Imaginative and fantastical - great start to your creative inspiration. Jessica,
having you visit has been such a pleasure and an honor. I'm sure
my readers join me in wishing you congratulations on the release of UNTIL THERE
WAS YOU. I'm definitely going back to read BECAUSE OF YOU - I've heard
great things about it. Thank you for Evan and Claire's story, it was one of
those that I didn't want to end. Also, thank you, and God Bless you, as well as your family for all that
you do in your service to our great country and may He always keep you safe.
Jessica: Thanks
so much for having me here today! I’d love to give away a copy of UNTIL THERE
WAS YOU to someone who answers this question:
What character would you be in
what book?
Amy: Well, my dears, you've been issued a challenge from this lovely lady. Leave a comment with an answer or even just a hello along with your email address to be entered to win a digital copy of Jessica's hot, steamy romance featuring lovers in uniform, UNTIL THERE WAS YOU. Good Luck.
Giveaway Prize: A digital copy of UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott To read an excerpt from this fab new contemporary release click HERE.
Blurb for UNTIL THERE WAS YOU:
He plays by
the rules, she’s not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed army
captains will prove that opposites attract . .
.
A by-the-book captain
with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with
pleasure—except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the
deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though,
Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again.
But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire,
battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.
Strong, gutsy, and
loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In
Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything
else—including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon
discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye.
He’s more than
the rank on his chest; he’s a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all
their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and
each other. Giveaway Rules: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Thanks for playing. * Giveaway is open to everyone (void where prohibited). * Answer Jessica's question in a comment but be sure to leave an email address so you can be contacted if you win.
* One lucky commenter will be chosen at random to win a digital copy of UNTIL THERE WAS YOU and notified by email and then announced in a special post on Saturday.
* Giveaway runs until 11:30PM EDT, Friday, October 12, 2012, so comment now and Good Luck.
If you're interested in learning more about Jessica Scott and her fabulous books as well as what's coming next, please visit her website and feel free to follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.
Happy Reading Everyone!
UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott, Loveswept from Random House, available now in ebook formats.
When I was approached by Jessica Scott about reading her newest novel, UNTIL THERE WAS YOU, I was hesitant. I had not read anything by this author yet and knew this would be a contemporary romance. Then I read the excerpt. Then I read Jessica's bio. I learned that she is an active duty Army officer. So, who better to write a contemporary about a hero and heroine in the Army. I am so glad I took a chance.
***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
Blurb for UNTIL THERE WAS YOU:
He plays by the rules, she’s not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed army captains will prove that opposites attract . . .
A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure—except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though, Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again. But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire, battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.
Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything else—including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye.
He’s more than the rank on his chest; he’s a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other. * * * * * Claire Montoya is tough, single-minded, gutsy and a captain in the Army. She's survived her father's alcoholism, Iraq, and advancing from an enlisted recruit to officer. Now faced with readying untried troops for deployment to Iraq in minimal time and under the command of a man who, in her opinion, doesn't know what he's doing may just be the end of her career.
Evan Loehr is an officer and a gentleman. A West Point graduate and a captain in the Army, he's a man who lives by the rules. He knows from experience the consequences of breaking the rules. So when he's thrown together with the one woman who has always tempted him to break his own rules, his resolve grows weaker. He's fought his attraction to Claire Montoya even while danger exploded around them in Iraq. He's butted heads with her when she wanted to do things her way and he wanted to stick to the rules. Now, he's right back where he started - she wants to train a team of green troops her way and he wants to train them according to their commander's orders.
As an Army brat and an officer's daughter, I was immediately drawn to this tale but what I found was a story that touched me deeper than I expected. UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott is a look into the minds and hearts of officers trying to their best by their troops, their friends, their country and themselves. Courage comes from deep inside and is sometimes built from self-preservation rather than guts. Claire has a deep respect for the military standard but puts the welfare of her troops before anything else. Evan understands this but as a man, as an officer, he is held tight by the military standard because without guidelines, he understands how dangerous it is to go off track. It can cost someone their life. If only he can get Claire to understand this before it's too late.
In UNTIL THERE WAS YOU, Jessica has created characters that grab you, pull you in, and endear themselves to you so intensely that you feel their pain, their sorrow, their angst, and their joy. Early on, in the romance building between Claire and Evan, there is a scene where Claire removes Evan's shirt to discover a tattoo. She asks him about it and he starts to tell her. As his grief and his sorrow begins to envelope her, she traces the tattoo with her fingertips. This single gesture is enough for Evan to relax with her so that he begins dropping the walls, he's built around his heart, that guard his guilt and prevent anyone from loving him. He finally reveals the guilt he's carried for so long. This scene was so touching, so romantic, and so sweet that it made me cry. It was a simple scene that contained no sex just this reveal and acceptance. It was at this point in the story that I knew this one was a keeper.
I highly recommend UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott to everyone who has ever felt pride in themselves, their country, and their military. As a military officer, Jessica brings her own experience, both as a soldier and as a woman, to this romance and it's what makes it so intense. This is a romance that will capture your heart, fill you with pride for our unselfish military and make you smile, even as tears slide down your face, as surely as the sun rises tomorrow. UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott is an expressive, action driven, emotional rollercoaster about friendship, trust and respect, compassion and forgiveness, survival, and allowing love to sooth the wounds carried deep in a person's soul.
Happy Reading Everyone! Btw, be sure to come by on Wacky Wednesday when this fab author will be joining me!
UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott, Loveswept from Random House, available now in ebook formats.
I recently entered a contest held by Lila DiPasqua for a copy of UNDONE that had a cover featuring an orange dress on the heroine instead of this gorgeous red one. I hadn't read this Fiery Tale yet and wanted to very much. Plus to have a signed copy with a slightly wrong cover would be a thrill. Sadly, I didn't win it but ... the lovely Lila asked me if I'd like to read and review UNDONE for her anyway. Of course, I jumped at it - I'm a huge fan!
*** Digital copy supplied by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
Blurb for UNDONE:
Inspired by the tale of Rapunzel, Lila DiPasqua offers a new
steamy, emotionally charged historical romance in the acclaimed Fiery Tales
Series . . . Rescuing this beauty from the ‘tower’ is only the beginning . .
.
Maintaining her ruse as a commoner, and trusting no one has kept Angelica
safe. But a chance encounter with a handsome stranger lands her right where
danger lies. Now, this sinfully handsome man with arresting blue eyes and a
polished manner thinks he’s saved her life, when in fact he’s placed her in
great peril. She’s intent on keeping him and everyone else at arm’s length. Yet,
the smoldering attraction between them is difficult to deny. And impossible to
ignore . . . As commander of a number of privateer ships, Simon Boulenger
dresses and speaks like an aristocrat, and has obtained wealth. But he is still
not a noble. Or an officer in the King’s Navy. His lifelong dream to elevate
himself from his station of birth and attain a respectable place in society is
dead. Worse, he’s ensnared in a deadly scheme, and must get out. But how is he
to stay focused on his dangerous mission when the mysterious beauty has him
utterly intrigued? He can’t afford the distraction any more than he can resist
the carnal hunger she stirs. Simon soon discovers that she’s not only a
passionate soul mate, but a woman born into privilege. A woman he can never
have. But they’re in too deep. Their hearts are at risk . . . as well as their
lives. * * * * * Angelica was born into aristocracy but, at the age of fourteen, she left it all behind to hide herself away in a convent in the Republic of Genoa. Her reasons - fear of her stepfather and to escape the memory of what the man did to her. Keeping her identity and her secrets to herself, she intends to spend the rest of her life in the safety of the stone walls. That is, until one fateful night when she's saved without her consent, from this self-imposed prison, by a stranger.
Simon Boulenger was born a commoner but strives to be a nobleman. He has wealth and a profession of which he is so skilled that he's called the Black Demon upon the seas. But he's lacking that which will fulfill his life - nobleman's papers and a title. He has dedicated his skills at attaining riches from Spanish ships and winning battles in the name of the King of France. That is until he discovers that a certain man has been benefiting greatly from his success and the people of France suffering for it.
Having discovered that he's unwittingly been a co-conspirator to offenses against King Louis, Simon decides to try to right the wrongs. His path is set, his goal strong in his mind until one night on a country road, he's bowled over by a moonlight angel. When she falls beneath the stick of an abuser, Simon knows he cannot bear to see one more commoner beaten down and rescues her from her fate. What Simon doesn't know is that this beautiful angel will set him on a path that may be his greatest undoing.
UNDONE by Lila DiPasqua takes me back to earlier romance novels with its old world historical setting, ocean voyages, and a heroine in breeches. Romantic and very steamy sexy, UNDONE transports the reader to a time when men could be brutal or revering to women. If you've read any of the Fiery Tales, you'll know most of the characters including Simon, who we first met in A MIDNIGHT DANCE, but I couldn't help falling in love with all of the characters, some for the second or third time, all of them - except Fouquet, of course. Speaking of the characters - there's a point in the story where I felt Lila had painted herself into a corner and I wondered how she was going to get out. I won't give away how she did it but I was sorely disappointed at how she went about it.
UNDONE by Lila DiPasqua is a Fiery Tale filled with emotional conflict, steamy scenes of teasing sex that finally culminate in a passionate understanding between two desperate people who find solace only in each others arms. Surrounded by a cast of supporting characters who endear themselves as easily as the hero and heroine, I wanted more. I wanted the story to continue for many more happily-ever-afters.
I recommend highly, UNDONE by Lila DiPasqua, if you love traditionally set historical romance with a swashbuckling feel, sword fights, waterfall getaways, and characters that come to life in the pages of a beautiful tale about a man whose passion for what's right is only second to his passion for his moonlight angel. If you haven't ventured into the Fiery Tales series yet, I advise you do - each does well as a stand alone - but be forewarned, these are not the Fairy Tales of your youth.
Happy Reading Everyone!
UNDONE by Lila DiPasqua, Amazon Digital Services, available now in print and ebook format.
Whatever it is, I suspect that Cowboys are here to stay! What's your favorite thing about Cowboys?
Giveaway: Prize: One print copy of THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE by Lori Wilde Blurb for THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE:
Ex-champion bull rider-turned-cutting-horse cowboy Joe Daniels isn't quite sure how he ended up sleeping in a horse trough wearing nothing but his Stetson and cowboy boots. But now he's wide-awake, and a citified woman is glaring down at him. His goal? Get rid of her ASAP. The obstacle? Fighting the attraction he feels toward the blond-haired filly with the big, vulnerable eyes.
When out-of-work wedding planner Mariah Callahan learns that her estranged father has left her a rundown ranch in Jubilee, she has no choice but to accept it. Her goal? Redeem her career by planning local weddings. The obstacle? One emotionally wounded, hard-living cowboy who stirs her guilt, her heartstrings, and her long-burned cowgirl roots... Rules: One lucky commenter (US Residents Only) will win a print copy of THE COWBOY TAKE A BRIDE by Lori Wilde - just tell my what your favorite thing about Cowboys is and remember to leave an email address so I can contact you.
COMMENT + EMAIL ADDRESS = ENTRY
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - thanks for joining the fun! Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will run until 11:30PM EDT Friday, October 5, 2012 at which time, one winner will be chosen at random, notified by email, and announced in a special Saturday post. Good Luck and Happy Reading Everyone! THE COWBOY TAKE A BRIDE by Lori Wilde, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats.
photo credit: brutalSoCal via photopincc
When Juliana Stone first started posting teasers from her new contemporary romance, OFFSIDE, I recognized a strong heroine and a tough yet protective hero - I was hooked. So when she approached me to read and review this indie contemporary even knowing that I am rather particular about contemporaries, I was both flattered and excited. To say the least - I jumped at the chance!
***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
Blurb for OFFSIDE:
When hockey phenom Billie-Jo Barker returns home and decides to play in the local Friday night hockey league, all hell breaks loose. Not because Billie's talent is in question, but because Billie is a woman. And though these are modern times, some of the local guys still have a problem letting a girl into their 'men's club.' Soon, Billie is at the center of a small town battle of the sexes, with everyone choosing sides. Her sisters. The townsfolk. Her friends. And yet, the only person whose opinion she cares about doesn't seem to care much at all. Logan Forest, the man who broke her heart when she was eighteen and the man she now shares the bench with ever Friday night. She's got a lot to prove and though Billie Jo Barker scores on the ice, will this girl ever score with the man of her dreams? * * * * * Billie Barker is an ex-Olympian, a hockey phenom, a slap shot queen who is now side-lined because of concussions suffered while playing in a female pro-hockey league in Europe. Having returned home to rest, she's stirring up trouble nearly from the moment she walks into town. Having discovered that the guys in town are putting together a beer league hockey team, Billie signs up. Well, this goes over like a fart in church. The guys aren't happy about it, their wives aren't happy with their husbands for not wanting Billie to play, and the single gals are jealous of Billie's close proximity to the single men. One single man in particular.
Logan Forest barely remembers the kid that used to skate rings around the guys. The pint sized girl who went off to play hockey in the Olympics and then later, professionally. Of the Barker triplets, he only had eyes for Billie's sister - Betty - but now that Billie's returned, he can't seem to keep his eyes off her. He's not happy about her playing hockey with the guys but he doesn't see any reason why she can't. He finds himself defending her and protecting her from the abuse that some of the guys are determined to heap on her. The last thing he expects is to find himself thinking about her nearly every waking moment and sometimes even when he's not awake. He's determined to get her out of his system and the best way to do that is to get her into his bed. Or so he thinks.
I was surprised and amazed at how intimately I became entranced in this story. OFFSIDE is not just about a gal wanting to play hockey with the boys or proving herself as capable as any of them, if not more. No. It's about family, it's about loyalty, it's about the relationship between sisters, friends, and teammates. I have two sisters so I know what it can be like and I understand the tension that can exist even though you love them. Bobbi is the third triplet and she feels as if she's been handed the short end of the stick and her sisters, Billie and Betty, have skated free to live their lives as they wish. What she doesn't know is that Billie has her own secrets and torments. Billie has fears and trepidations about her future whereas Bobbi is settled and confident. Betty shows up near the end, and oh boy, did I want to slap her down and kick her to the curb.
OFFSIDE by Juliana Stone is a story built on familial tugging of the heartstrings, a heroine who, while confident on the ice, is still the timid sports-minded teenager who once pretended to be her more flirtatious sister to seduce the man she's always loved, and a hero who, despite his protests, wants what everyone else around him seems to have - real love. Touching, emotional, at times heart-wrenching, OFFSIDE is a steamy romance that culminates with a devastating blow to the heart leaving you wondering if this romance can be saved. Have no fear, Juliana Stone pulls it out and leaves you begging for more.
I highly recommend OFFSIDE by Juliana Stone to anyone who wants to read a truly romantic, heartfelt, emotional roller coaster of a romance. It's that simple. I guarantee you'll even find yourself a little more interested in hockey.
Happy Reading Everyone!
OFFSIDE, the Barker Triplets by Juliana Stone, self-published, available now on Smashwords and Amazon (link below)
