Book Review: Promise Me Forever

Quick note here, don't go into this thinking these are short novellas, otherwise you're going to get REAL frustrated. Ha! Instead, go into this knowing these are four full length novels and settle in because you are going to enjoy this.

Promise Me Forever - Top Shelf Romance #3

For the love of books...

Top Shelf Romance is devoted to bringing readers a new standard of Romance. Unforgettable books in a collection you'll cherish.

Promise Me Forever is a collection of four best-selling novels, including: ⁣

Drive by Kate Stewart

Ghost by A Zavarelli

The Stolen Duet by BB Reid

Flow & Grip by Kennedy Ryan

⁣

Top Shelf Romance represents the best of the best in romance. There are no cliffhangers. These are simply must-read novels for readers looking for the best in happily ever afters. 

Full disclosure, this is my first Top Shelf Romance book so I wasn't sure what to expect. Inside there are full length novels so if you order this as a hard copy, it's coming in close to 2000 pages. I'm not even kidding.

BUT!

You're going to get so much out of this one, things from four really great authors. I won't go into every story too much because this would turn into the longest blog post, but if I had to rank the stories...

1. Drive 

2. Flow & Grip

3. Ghost

4. The Stolen Duet

Let me be clear, this isn't to say one is better than another, but this was just my favorite lineup. Far and away, DRIVE by Kate Stewart was my favorite. So much so that I actually read it again after I finished the book because it just tugged at my heart. I went into it thinking it was a novella so I didn't want to go to bed if the end was near. (Spoiler: it wasn't) I ended up reading an entire book at lightning speed and I texted my friend Shirley and told her she had to read this book. It was so good that I felt like I should have a cigarette at the end and I haven't smoked ever. Also, if you don't have the Deftone's cover of Drive stuck in your head forever, we can't be friends. That song has always been a favorite of mine since I was little so when that came up in the book I totally cried.

FLOW & GRIP was pretty good though there is a prequel called GRIP included that you really should read first because it is how this couple meets each other and its him before he was famous. The nice thing about Kennedy Ryan is she often features bi-racial couples and includes conversations about race and while the characters are learning about each other, you might be learning things that maybe you didn't feel comfortable, or had the opportunity, to ask. I always appreciate that from her and she did it exceptionally well here. The only thing I didn't love about this book is our female lead is... I'm not sure if its selfish or self-centered. She doesn't always understand or consider what other people want, she's very singular and at times that made me hard to like her.

I am not familiar with the Boston Underworld books by A. Zavarelli and I don't think mafia/crime family type books are my thing, so I had a hard time getting into GHOST. I just had an icky feeling about all of it but by the end, I was really rooting for Talia because she's had the WORST time imaginable, and I really wanted Alexei to pull through for her.

THE STOLEN DUET is last on my list but not because it wasn't good, it's just that there has to be someone last. Obviously 'duet' tells you this is two books, THE BANDIT and THE KNIGHT. The story is good, I liked the premise of it, I just had a hard time connecting with the characters.

Ultimately, I think the fact that DRIVE was the first one in here and it was so incredibly great, I kept measuring things to that instead of how they would have been separated and I had more time before stories. Alas, that's the tricky part about reviews, sometimes you just have to read, read, read and I don't always have time to come down from a book so to speak.

If you're looking for something to round out your summer reading list, this is an excellent one to pick up! A huge thank you to the authors as well as Social Butterfly PR for having me on this tour and sending me an ARC for review. Have you read anything by these authors? Share in the comments!

      

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Book Review: Reckless Memories

It took a few weeks but I'm back on the reading wagon. It helps to have had so many great books come for review and I'm not hating it. Like this one!

Reckless Memories - Catherine Cowles

I loved him before I knew what the word meant.

From skinned knees to first dates and everything in between.

But he was never mine to love.

I settled for friendship, even though I always wanted more.

That was before.

Before he ripped my world apart and didn’t bother sticking around to help me pick up the pieces.

I knit every last shred back together all on my own.

And I’ve all but forgotten his name.

Now, he’s back, and everything is torn apart once more.

But he’s not the only one doing the tearing this time.

And there might be no stopping the person who has it out for us both.

If the author's name sounds familiar, it might because I recently read and reviewed another book of hers, Beautifully Broken Control, and I really liked that one. I do believe I have another one in that series that I'm hoping to get to soon. In the meantime though, I had this one. It's the first in what I believe is a trilogy called Wrecked, and I cannot wait to read the other ones and that tells you  how good this one was for me.

In this book we have Isabelle and Ford. Ford was a first love to Violet, Isabelle's older sister. Of course, Isabelle is in love with him but he is strictly off limits. After a tragic accident, Ford leaves and Isabelle is left to deal with her grief without her sister and without Ford. Her parents are the absolute worst.

Years go by and she goes by Bell now, she's made something of herself and made her own family with her best friends and Ford's family, who have adopted her as one of their own. For a variety of reasons, Ford finds himself back in his hometown and neither him or Bell realize they'll be working together. Closely.

Over the course of weeks it becomes clear that those old feelings didn't go anywhere for either of them, not that they are admitting it to each other. Bell feels like she's betraying Violet but also its a small town so the gossip mill is in full force. Before they can even get into any of that, someone in town is angry that Ford is back but also that Ford and Bell are rekindling their friendship or more. Threats of violence escalate into actual violence and they are trying to solve the crimes before someone gets more seriously hurt.

I absolutely loved this book and I really liked Ford and Bell separately, but also together. I didn't guess right on who the culprit was but that was totally fine because it was a fun journey to get there. I am so excited for the next two books, I'm pretty sure who the couples are going to be and you will too once you read this one! I am becoming a huge fan of Catherine Cowles because this is now the second book of hers I've really enjoyed so I'm eager to read more from her!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Catherine Cowles and Social Butterfly PR for having me on this tour and sending me an ARC!

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Book Review: The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook

I know a lot of you have kids graduating high school and thinking about going to college. If you don't personally, surely you know someone graduating, and you're probably invited to a grad party. If you're looking for a GREAT gift, this is what you need to get them. Hands down.

The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook - Jill Grimes, MD, FAAFP

College students facing their first illness, accident, or anxiety away from home often flip-flop between wanting to handle it themselves and wishing their parents could swoop in and fix everything. Advice from peers and “Dr. Google” can be questionable.The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook provides accurate, trustworthy, evidence-based medical information (served with a dose of humor) to reduce anxiety and stress and help set appropriate expectations for more than fifty common issues.

What if you can’t sleep well (or can’t sleep at all) in your dorm room?  What if a pill “gets stuck” in your throat? What if your roommate falls asleep (or passes out) wearing contacts, and wakes up with one painfully stuck? Your friend’s terrible sore throat isn’t Strep or Mono? What else could it be? What if everyone from your group project thinks they’re coming down with the flu the day before your presentation?

Dr. Jill Grimes has the answer to these questions and many more. Her guidebook is designed to help you: 

Decide if and when to seek medical help

Know what to expect when you get there

Plan for the worst-case scenario if you don’t seek help

Learn how you can prevent this in the future

Realize what you can do right now, before you see a doctor

Understand the diagnostic and treatment options

The topics of tattoos, smoking, vaping, pot, piercings, and prescription drugs will also be tackled throughout the pages of this handbook, ensuring you, your roommates, and your friends have a healthy semester.

A few months ago, I found myself in the ER because my gall bladder decided that was a good time to wage war on me. The whole thing was a comedic circus but the best part about being in the ER are your neighbors. You can never see your neighbors, you only hear their problems, and if you're unlucky their vomiting. On this particular night one of my neighbors was a college kid, escorted to the ER by campus police because of (wait for it)...... heartburn.

Turns out the kid was worried he was dying and he apparently called his parents (who presumably live far away) who were rightfully worried because you can bet his description of what was happening wasn't clear. The nurse specifically asked him if he tried taking Tums or something and you know what he said??

No. He said no because his mom told him everything over the counter is scary and to never ever take it.

Instead, go to the ER. (This is when I tell you she had been calling the ER constantly for status updates but they can't talk to her over the phone because he's an adult and they were begging him to just call his mom from his cell phone.)

The moral of the story though is to not send your kids into the world unprepared. Your job as a parent is to turn a kid who picks their nose into a fully functioning adult. Someday, these kids are going to have no help and will have to fend for themselves because you can't hover (and shouldn't) forever.

If you're worried, THIS is the book to get them. First off, you can tell this book is written by a mom who has likely gotten some bizarre calls for advice, and has gone to college herself because the book covers everyday things like pink eye, test anxiety, headaches, home sickness, acne, etc. What it ALSO covers are things like hangovers, tattoos, date rape, sexually transmitted infections, the "missing" tampon (I laughed so hard over this because this happened to a friend and I had to help and it brought back memories!), birth control, smoking/vaping/pot, and alcohol.

So much of this are questions you know your child has or will have and might not want to talk to mom or dad about, and that's OK. Each chapter explains what is happening and how you got yourself in this predicament, what to do, and when to go to the doctor. Do you remember when we had our first baby and we clung to those What to Expect books? Like a how-to manual on being a mom? This is similar to it and I promise you that your child is going to roll their eyes when you give it to them but they will 100% pull this out to read it when they get something stuck in their eye. (Seriously, this is in the book!)

The BEST part? Way in the back there is a list of a DIY First Aid Kit. You can purchase all of those things in a handy box, with this book, and bam- you've got the best (and most useful) graduation gift.

I have to thank the author, Jill Grimes and PR By the Book for sending me a copy of this to review, I absolutely love it and I am so impressed with how well organized this is. It is written in a way that isn't condescending or in a "if you had just listened to your mother" voice, and I loved the Preface meant for the parents, and I love how the author acknowledges that it doesn't matter where your child goes, they WILL be exposed to new and different things, sometimes not always the best things, but mistakes are OK. We all learn from mistakes, but hopefully this book will help your child feel a little more confident making the big leap to college!

   

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Book Review: Wrong Turn

I have been receiving the BEST review books as of late so stick around because I promise to fill your summer reading list!

If you know me,  you know one of my favorite things are ROAD TRIPS. My family and I usually take one every summer, and since it looks like coronavirus thinks we need to sit this summer out, I jumped at the chance of a road trip romance book!

Wrong Turn - Samantha Chase

Chelsea Cooper thinks her best friend’s fiancé is the world’s biggest jerk.

She’s never really been one to make waves, but when it comes to that guy, Chelsea’s willing to make an exception. There’s just no way she can let her best friend make the biggest mistake of her life by marrying him. She’ll do anything to stop the wedding, even if it means teaming up with the one person who’s an even bigger jerk—the groom-to-be’s best friend.

Drew Russo thinks his best friend’s fiancée’s best friend is the prickliest woman alive.

Everything about Chelsea aggravates him. She’s too structured, too uptight, and too opinionated—especially when it comes to her thoughts on his best friend. When he’s tasked with keeping her away from their best friends’ secret wedding, Drew knows he’s in for one hell of a challenge. Never mind the days he’ll have to spend trapped in a car with the world’s most annoying woman.

The plan is simple enough—keep Chelsea from interfering with the wedding. But between distractions, delays and detours, they discover they aren’t the enemies they thought they were. And sometimes a wrong turn can lead you in the right direction.

I have to just start by telling you that I started and finished this one in just a few hours. I was having such a great time with this book that I've already decided that I'm a fan of this author and I need the rest of this series. All of them are stand alone, but I need more of these!

In this we have Chelsea, who comes off as kind of a stick in the mud, kind of the Debbie Downer of the group. When she finds out her best friend Bianca is engaged to Jimmy, she is less than thrilled. It doesn't seem like she dislikes Jimmy but maybe the idea of it being too quick has her worried. When Bianca and Jimmy decide to elope, and not tell Chelsea for fear she'll ruin the wedding, they enlist Jimmy's best friend Drew to keep her away.

Of course, Chelsea figures it out, so Drew hatches a plan to stall her for as long as possible. It starts with a flight that he of course misses because he "gets lost" on the highway. A few other mishaps has them taking a road trip to South Carolina for Chelsea to crash this wedding. During the trip though, Drew and Chelsea (formerly not particularly fond of each other) learn that maybe they didn't really know each other at all and this trip might leave them as friends.... or more. A wild series of shenanigans ensues with them both learning a lot about each other and themselves.

I loved this! While it doesn't have sexy details we find in a lot of romances, we get just enough to fully enjoy it. I loved the evolution of Drew and Chelsea, I loved Chelsea's big moment with Bianca. If I had to list a con, I guess I'd say more craziness on the actual trip. It was pretty seamless I thought, except for the Chesapeake Bridge incident (though, I have to be fair and say I'm team Chelsea on that and I feel like I'd do the same thing). So minor and that is me being VERY picky.

If you are looking for a fun romance, something with just enough heat to keep you satisfied, this is the one to add to your summer reading list! Absolutely 5 stars from me, this one was fun. I'm always happy to find a new author and I'm excited to read more from Samantha Chase!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A *huge* thank you to Social Butterfly PR and Samantha Chase for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review!

   

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Book Review: Step Brother Dearest

I know this title is making you stop and think, "God DAMN, Sara- what is wrong with you?!" and believe me, I felt that way myself. I'm using this as my "book I swore I wouldn't read" for a book challenge I'm in because this gives me all the uncomfortable vibes.

Imagine my surprise when I finished it and kind of loved it. I feel so gross but here we are.

Step Brother Dearest - Penelope Ward

You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.

When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be.

I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here.

I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room.

But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night.

Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California.

It had been years since I’d seen Elec.

When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again.

And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.

I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

I have to start by saying that the only other book/series I've read that was anything like this was by Annie Stone and part of a series she did that was about a stepmom ending up with her step son after the husband/dad turned out to be an abusive dirtbag. That was a short trilogy but I really loved it and felt all of the feelings going through that so believe me when I say I was uncomfortable at best when I started this and quickly forgot all about it by the end and wanted Elec and Greta to end up together.

Penelope Ward is a magician like that, I swear.

OK, so in this book we have Greta, a virgin and totally inexperienced with boys. Her step brother (her step dad's son) comes to live with him and right off the bat he's an asshole to all of them but Greta is immediately attracted to him and she knows that it isn't necessarily "normal" so she tells nobody. Over time though, while Elec is still a jerk to her, they form a strained relationship. She's falling in love with him and she isn't sure if he even likes her but when he finds out he has to leave to take care of his mom, they both discover they like each other more than family.

Years later they come together over the death of Elec's dad and they realize that what was once between them wasn't a fluke and Greta has to deal with the jealousy of Elec having a girlfriend.

OK. You guys. I know the concept of this is really WEIRD and it is hard to get beyond the step thing but promise me when I tell you that in the end, it is a non issue and it'll be OK. I actually ended up really loving this book and finished it in three hours of constantly being interrupted because I couldn't stop reading it. I'm already a fan of Penelope Ward as it is so I was certain she wouldn't lead us down a weird path and she didn't. My heart broke for Elec when I learned all about his history. I wish Greta was a little more assertive in her feelings but I also understand why she wasn't, either.

I am giving this a solid 4 stars. I am knocking it down only because I felt icky for half the book and I wish there were more steamy scenes towards the end. Which makes me feel dirty and gross but here we are. HA!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

   

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Book Review: Butterfly Bayou

Honestly, the best part of the quarantine has been all of the reading I've gotten done. Even better has been discovering some new to me authors, Lexi Blake being one of them!

Butterfly Bayou - Lexi Blake

Life in Dallas took a tragic turn for nurse practitioner Lila Daley. In need of a fresh start, she retreats to Papillon, Louisiana, a tiny town on the bayou. Sure she's greeted by a gator, finds herself in the middle of golf cart wars, and unwittingly adopts a scruffy dog, but Lila remains undaunted. She's focused on running the town's medical clinic, but fitting into the quirky community is harder than she imagined.

As a single dad, Sheriff Armie LaVigne embraces routine. But there is nothing routine about the town's newest resident. Lila is a gorgeous fish out of water and he’s ready to catch her. In fact, in no time at all, Armie knows Lila is the woman for him and he plans to win her heart. But when the past threatens their happiness, Armie will have to decide if he has the courage to trust Lila enough to find a true happily ever after.

In this sweet romance we start with Lila, who is the last person standing in a particularly violent domestic encounter in the emergency room she worked at. She watched her friend die and she realizes she needs a fresh start to move forward in her life. She leaves Dallas and heads to Papillon, Louisana where her sister lives with her new husband. (This is where it felt like there was a book before this one featuring that couple, but it says this is the first in the series, so I don't know. Regardless, its OK and you won't be confused during this one.)

Her adventure starts with meeting Otis the alligator in the middle of the road and consequently being ticketed for speeding by Sheriff Armie. Incidentally, they saw each other at Lisa (sister) and Remy's wedding but Lila was in no position to do anything so she avoided him despite the obvious chemistry. Once in town she starts her work at the clinic she has taken over from Doc Hamet, who we discover was rather lazy, and faces the uphill battle of winning over Papillon despite being a nurse practitioner versus a doctor. Her abrupt and sometimes off putting personality doesn't help her case either.

After awhile she finds her groove, starts seeing Armie, tries to make friends, and comes across a patient she suspects is a victim of domestic violence. In her attempt to help her she basically stirs up a hornets nest and while she helps someone, she puts herself in danger. Things in small Cajun communities aren't like big city Dallas. In the middle of all of this, her and Armie have some major disagreements over the role of women, he's a bit unintentionally and unknowingly sexist and she isn't here for it, but his teenage daughter Noelle (disabled and in a wheelchair) becomes a bone of contention. Lila's good intentions are read differently and that ends up being our second conflict.

Overall? I really liked this one. It's sweet and it wasn't overly sexy (I mean, we know they have sex but we don't have detailed scenes) so if that's your jam this is right up your alley. I enjoyed this enough I really want to read the next books coming, Bayou Baby and Bayou Dreaming, both featuring some characters I really liked in Butterfly Bayou. If you're looking for something to add to your summer TBR list, I think you should really consider this one.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

    

Thank you to Lexi Blake and Social Butterfly PR for sending me an ARC for review, all thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: Love Under Quarantine

I don't know about you, but I'm flying through books during quarantine and I am not hating it. Not at all. I know I have a ton of books on my shelf I've yet to read and I have a few more coming (all of my gift cards are officially gone.... sad day) this week, but dang it if the best books are coming up for reviews! I cannot stop and I love how good they all are!

Lover Under Quarantine 

Kylie Scott & Audrey Carlan

While the world is ravaged by a global pandemic, hotshot NFL running back Evan Sparks is locked in his own personal hell. With a career-ending scandal on his back, Evan hides out in his best friend’s empty San Francisco home, the full city shutdown locking him in a lonely twenty-story apartment in the sky.

Romance writer Sadie Walsh is having the worst case of writer’s block ever…until the incredible, muscular stranger staying next door gets her muse going strong. The pair of loners, never expecting to find a friend in all the madness, meet each day out on their balconies like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.

Each new day brings unique challenges for the pair as they navigate the unknown and find solace together. They quickly figure out that as long as they have one another, they can handle anything.

Even falling in love under quarantine. 

First things first, if you follow either Kylie Scott or Audrey Carlan on Instagram you may have seen something about this book maybe being insensitive given the fact we're still smack in the middle of a quarantine. As someone who read, and loved, this book I can tell you that is so far from the truth. YES, this book takes place during the quarantine we are living in but I will tell you that it is done really well. A lot of the feelings the characters go through are ones we can all recognize. I know when they go to the grocery store for food and witness the precautionary measures in place for the first time, both authors captured that so well because that is exactly how I felt when I went to Target and it looked straight out of a dystopian nightmare.

The best part of this book for me was the fact they found love right in front of their face. In what could have been an incredibly lonely, scary time for both of them, they had each other to talk it out and they fall in love. I love that this is a romance author falling in love with a football player and that he is literally the dream hero of a novel and she gets to live it out. She is different from anyone he's ever been with and it takes him by surprise how much seeing her, even on a balcony, makes his day. Throw in his athletic doping nightmare and we've got ourselves a NOVEL!

Other characters in the book that we meet are all variations of people we know in how they are handling Covid-19. We have people who get sick and take it seriously, some that don't, some on the front lines, and overall I felt like they wrote these characters and this story with care. I think in a few years, when we are hopefully past all of this, this will be an interesting look at what life was like in 2020.

I'm giving this one a solid 5 stars because the romance was great, steamy scenes were so good, and I really was rooting for these characters the entire time. Just the bickering and back and forth was so fun to read. Not to mention this was written by two authors who aren't in the same room throwing ideas out there. How they managed to do that seamlessly to bring a fun story, I'll never know and that's far more talent than I have! I immediately think of those group projects in college that were just absolute hell and one person (me) ends up doing all of the work. I can say that definitely doesn't happen here, and I have to add Audrey Carlan to my list because I already have read Kylie Scott, but now Audrey needs to grace my shelves, too!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A huge thanks to Social Butterfly PR, Kylie Scott, and Audrey Carlan for having me on this tour AND sending me a copy for review! If you want to help out, buy some books from indie authors! Writing is their job and your purchase is their paycheck. 💖

   

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