Calm Like Home by Kaisa Clark (Book Review)

In association with Obsessive Pimpettes Promotions, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Calm Like Home by Author Kaisa Clark!

Book Review

Calm Like Home by Kaisa Clark

Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: July 15, 2015
Format: eBook - 207 pages
               Kindle - 410 KB

ASIN: B010BLZE1C

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance


Buy The Book: 
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Obsessive Pimpettes Promotions.


Book Description:

Alexa Clausen has never fallen. She’s never soared. She’s lived her entire life floating midway between passion and despondency, never experiencing those extremes. But all it takes is one evening with Adam Westbrook to draw her out of her shell, to leave her feeling bold for the first time ever. He is fiery and magnetic. He is gravitational, that inescapable pull no one can avoid. After a few chance encounters, Alexa finally accepts that she can’t stay away, can’t deny the electricity she feels every time he comes around.

But as the intensity between them deepens, she also can’t avoid the subtle hints that Adam is hiding something. His wide smile and radiant eyes obscure some burning secret, some detail of his past that resurfaces to steal his joy. The farther Alexa falls, the more she realizes just how little she really knows about Adam and how far he is willing to go to cover up the truth.

Calm Like Home is a story about love and longing, growth and stagnation, discovering one’s counterpart but losing oneself, and ultimately finding that one person truly has the power to change everything.


Review Quotes:

“What an emotional roller coaster this book took me on! This book was so well written it was like the story was actually happening to me instead of the main character, Alexa.“

“Calm Like Home definitely gave me a book hangover. I finished the book and had to get my emotions in check before I could start another book.”

“Really, the ups and downs of the story couldn't have been more perfect. Kaisa Clark did an amazing job. The story was sweet at times, but very real and raw. I loved it.”

Book Excerpt:

The early hostess ends up running late so I’m covering the host stand when Damien strolls in through the door. Even in his work uniform, he looks every bit the confident frat boy. He has one hand casually tucked in his pants pocket, the other swinging languidly at his side. His tie is loose at his throat, his light brown hair tousled on his head, lips curled into a relaxed don’t-give-a-fuck smile. He nods towards me at the host stand then saunters towards the back, likely in search of some new prey to poke fun of.

And then there’s Adam, his dark head poking through the doorway. Suddenly the room is filled with him, with his energy, with his light. I drink him in, soaking in every detail. His crisp, white dress shirt fits him perfectly, lightly skimming over the muscles in his chest and arms and tapering where his waist narrows. The lightness of the shirt is the perfect contrast to his tan skin, to his dark eyes.

His gaze slowly sweeps from the floor to my face, and if seeing the four letters of his name earlier was enough to give me butterflies, seeing him now is like being hit by a freight train. It’s been three hundred days and yet everything slams back into me at once. The way his brown eyes sparkle when he smiles, how one corner of his mouth turns up a little higher than the other. And this smile is all for me.

His stride quickens as he approaches and I can’t help myself. My face breaks into an obvious grin, completely full-toothed and pinched-cheeked. So much for playing it cool.

“Look who’s back!” I call out, hearing my voice light up. Being around him instantly lifts me. This is what he does to people; it’s what he’s always done to me.

My Book Review:

Calm Like Home is a captivating new adult romance that follows the friends to lovers relationship of Alexa Clausen and Adam Westbrook. Author Kaisa Clark weaves an emotional tale of friendship, longing, love, insecurity, losing oneself, rediscovery, and life changing experiences that will tug at the heartstrings.

Told in the first person narrative by Alexa, the reader embarks on an emotional roller coaster ride that follows the trials and tribulations of Alexa and Adam's relationship, as it goes from friendship to passionate romance. With the change of relationship status and undeniable passion also comes a sense that something is missing in their relationship when the reality of how much a person really doesn't know the other becomes clear when they do not fully share themselves.

This story easily draws the reader into the intensity of their relationship, you can't help but feel the love and the pain, and the conflicting emotions that come with the uncertainty and inner turmoil of how far will their love go, and would it or could it even last. The story is well written and slow building that it keeps the reader engaged and turning the pages, you can't help but want to know just how strong Alexa and Adam's love really is, and the conclusion will leave you simply breathless.

Calm Like Home is a realistic, touching, and deeply emotional story of love that will stay with the reader for a long time.


RATING: 4 STARS  

Book Teasers

About The Author

Kaisa Clark is the author of the new adult novel Calm Like Home. She is passionate about reading and writing and also has an intense love for music, coffee, and dark chocolate. She lives with her amazing husband, sweet dog, and kooky cat.

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Neverending Beginnings by Mary Chris Escobar (Author Guest Post / Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Neverending Beginnings by Author Mary Chris Escobar!

Author Guest Post

How much of your book is based on your real life? It’s a question that I would bet good money (or a nice craft beer) that every fiction author has been asked at least once. I’d probably even go out on a limb and say it’s the question we are asked most frequently.

I’m sure everyone’s answer to this is a little different. The quick answer involves quoting the legalize in the front of our books: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously … yada, yada, yada (and not over the best part in this case.)

For me, there is a longer answer that is much more complex. Yes, the story is completely fictitious. I am not giving an account of events that actually happened in my life or the life of anyone else that I know. However, I think for readers to really connect with a story, there has to be an element of realism that requires me to write about things I genuinely know and understand. I think this is especially important in a story like Neverending Beginnings, in which readers are asked to suspend reality and accept the fact that the main character is stuck in an infinitely looping time warp. I imagine a reader saying, Okay, I’ll give you this one-- but everything else better seem really real to me. 

To that end, there are pieces of my life that do end up in my books and I thought it would be fun to share a few of those from Neverending Beginnings with you:

● All the the restaurants in the book are real, as are the food and drinks my characters order. (You can actually get your own serving of that banana pudding Ben won’t share.)
● On a similar note, two of the restaurants I reference, The Belvidere and Mulligans, have closed since the book was originally published. I could have chosen to update this before releasing the print version, but I think it’s a fun way to remember old favorites.
● My husband’s middle name is Ben. Just Ben, not Benjamin. This inspired two things in the novel: obviously a character name and also the fact that Kate’s name is just Kate, not Katherine (which Ben likes to tease her about).
● This is the zucchini lasagna that Kate makes. It’s in regular rotation at my house.
● Some of the memories of her mother that Kate shares with Ben are actual memories I have from childhood with my mother (who is, thankfully, still living). This made those scenes pretty emotional to write.
● While I’m talking about the heavier stuff, I wrote Neverending Beginnings after the death of a close friend from childhood. I have no doubt that my own grief experience crept into writing about Kate’s.
● And finally, on a much lighter note, Kate’s apartment, complete with the old safe that is her closet, really exists. I lived in it when I first moved to Richmond and there are pictures of it here.

So for me the answer to the oft-asked question is: yes, quite a bit of my life ends up in my fiction, but only in tiny little pieces and when needed to enhance the story. Sort of the same way tiny grains of salt make food more flavorful.

About The Author

Award-winning author Mary Chris Escobar writes women’s fiction. She was destined to write romance from a young age (as a child, her stuffed animals always got their happily-ever-afters). She lives in Richmond, Virginia in a renovated parking garage with her husband. Find her on her website, on Twitter or just about anywhere good coffee or craft beer is served.

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Book Review

Neverending Beginnings by Mary Chris Escobar
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: December 29, 2012
Format: Paperback - 274 pages
               Kindle - 1048 KB
               Nook
ISBN: 978-1511902205
ASIN: B00AV8T6H4
BNID: 2940044218307
Genre: Chick Lit / Romantic Comedy / Women's Fiction


Buy The Book:
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.


Book Description:

This contemporary romance is Groundhog Day meets My Best Friend’s Wedding. Readers who like women’s fiction by Meg Cabot, Emily Giffin and Allison Winn Scotch will enjoy this romantic comedy. Kate is alarmed to find out that her best friend Amy is getting married after dating for only six months. Her alarm turns to shock when she learns that the groom-to-be is Kate's old college ex. As the big day approaches, Kate's inability to hide her feelings is threatening to ruin her friendship with Amy. Kate’s last minute, vodka-fueled wedding toast has her wishing she could turn back the clock and make things right. Imagine her surprise when she wakes up the next day and finds out she can. Forced to relive one of the most painful weeks of her life, Kate slowly works to repair the damage she has done. In the process, she learns a lot about herself and the cynically charming best man, Ben. 


Book Excerpt:

The screen on my phone lit up. I had silenced it before I went to bed. It was a text message from Ben. Did you get the squash yet? I smiled and clicked on the message to reply, then changed my mind and called instead.

“Hello,” he answered. There was a little gravel in his voice. It was nice.

“Just wanted you to know that there is a whole basket full of squash and salsa and spaghetti sauce in the trunk of my car.”

“You didn’t mention the salsa and spaghetti sauce the other night. I mean that’s a total game changer, I wouldn’t have even given you a hard time for blowing me off over that.” I could hear him smiling, which made tingles run the length of my spine.

“So what are you up to?” I asked.

“I was actually cutting out tiny people to glue onto this model I’m working on.”

“Like stick people?”

“No, tiny photographs of actual people.”

“Really. Where do you find something like that? Is it like clip art?”

He laughed. “Sort of. There are actually whole websites where you can download them for architectural purposes.”

“What are they wearing?”

“Um ... are you trying to chat up my tiny model people? Because I think I might have to protest on their behalf. I mean they’ve never even met you. . Now if you’re asking me ... ”

I hadn’t, of course, meant that at all, but I laughed. And tried desperately to fight back the onslaught of images and feelings the mere hint of intimacy with Ben seemed to produce. Perhaps calling him while I was lying in bed had been unwise.

“I, um ... just wanted to make sure they were, you know, not going to embarrass themselves by being out of date ... fashionably speaking. That’s all,” I tried to recover.

“Oh, I see. They certainly appreciate the concern.” He was still smiling.

“So, other than an update on the squash situation, and propositioning your tiny model people, any word from Jack?”

“Nope.”

“Oh.”

“I can call you tomorrow if I hear, though.”

“Yeah, that would be great.”

“So, are you having a good visit with your dad?” he asked.

I hesitated. “Yeah.”

“You don’t sound so sure there.”

I tried to remember if he knew about my mom. I don’t think it had come up this round, but there was the dessert ... except that was last round. The combination of tired and tingly all over was making details hard at the present moment, so I just asked, “Did I tell you my mom passed away last year?”

“No. Wow. So I guess it is sort of weird being back there, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you been back a lot?”

“No. Not much at all, actually.”

“How ... I mean was it sudden ... if you don’t mind me asking?”

“No. Not sudden. Cancer. And actually thanks for asking, most people are scared to.”

He was quiet, probably not sure what to say. As usual with him, I kept talking. “So my dad is starting to go through things. Wants my help tomorrow. I’m really dreading it.”

“I guess so,” he said sympathetically.

“He’s right. It’s time, and intellectually I know that. It just sucks ... you know, emotionally.”

“Yeah.”

We were quiet again, but it wasn’t awkward. Never awkward.

“I didn’t mean to unload all that on you ... I barely know you ...”

“No, no ... thanks for telling me. Now we won’t have that awkward moment later when I ask about your family.”

“Right, awkward, sort of like how I just asked what your little people were wearing.”

“I’d file that more under adorable, actually. And for the record, seriously, if you ever want to ask what I’m wearing, that would be nice, too.”

“Duly noted.” I smiled.

“So I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything tomorrow. Otherwise, Tuesday night?”

“Sounds good.”

“Good night,” he said.

“Good night.”

I hung up relaxed and sleepy. As I drifted off, I thought for the tiniest of split seconds, that possibly a phone relationship with Ben might not be the worst thing in the world.

My Book Review:

If you are looking for an entertaining romantic comedy that has a humorous Groundhog Day meets My Best Friend’s Wedding theme, then Neverending Beginnings is the book for you!

Author Mary Chris Escobar weaves a fun tale that transports the reader into Kate Crenshaw's madcap reliving of the same week over and over again after waking up the day after flubbing her drunken toast at her best friend Amy's wedding to Kate's ex-college boyfriend Jack. Kate gets many chances at repairing the damage that she has done, and along the way finds an unexpected romance with the charming best man Ben!

Neverending Beginnings is a thoroughly entertaining romantic comedy that will simply keep the reader in stitches. With a great mixture of humor and sweet romance, the reader follows Kate as she relives the week from hell over and over again with many chances to make things right after causing drama and trouble because of her inability to hide her true feelings about everything (can you say "diarrhea mouth"?!) lol And if trying to repair a rocky relationship with her best friend isn't enough, Kate gets an unexpected chance at romance with Ben, the best man, if only she would give in and take a chance! I really enjoyed following Kate as she tried to figure out how to fix her mistakes in order to end the rewinding cycle of the exhausting time warp that she finds herself in, and I couldn't help but cheer at her developing romance with Ben. Author Mary Chris Escobar cleverly weaves an enjoyable tale that leaves you wanting more!

If you are looking for a delightfully lighthearted romantic comedy to wile away a lazy summer day, then take a chance and read Neverending Beginnings, it will leave a smile on your face!


RATING: 5 STARS 

Contest Giveaway

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Virtual Book Tour 

Neverending Beginnings by Mary Chris Escobar ~ Virtual Book Tour Event Page

Tour Schedule:

July 6 - Sweet N Sassy Bookaholics – Review
July 7 - Living Life With Joy – Guest Post. Q&A & Excerpt
July 8 - Coffeeholic Bookworm – Review
July 9 - Mallory Heart Reviews – Review & Excerpt
July 9 - Julie Valerie’s Book Blog - Review & Q&A
July 10 - Sinfully Good Reads – Excerpt
July 13 - Hey Said Renee - Review & Guest Post
July 14 - CDyess Writes – Excerpt
July 17 - Samantha March – Excerpt
July 20 - Polished & Bubbly – Review
July 23 - ChickLit Goddess – Review
July 24 - Chick Lit Plus – Review
July 28 - Writing Pearls - Review & Excerpt
July 31 - Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
August 3 - Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Twenty Something: A Marching Ink Collection (Book Blast Event / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the book blast event for Twenty Something: A Marching Ink Collection!

About The Collection

Twenty-Something, A Collection from Marching Ink 

The first collection from Marching Ink features three full-length novels in Twenty-Something. From the good girl that is tired of playing by the rules in the new adult novel from Laura Chapman, to the friendship between two women that isn’t what is seems in the women’s fiction novel from Samantha March, and then the loveable Roxy that will give us plenty of laughs and touching moments in the chick lit novel from Cat Lavoie. While all characters are indeed Twenty-Something, we believe this collection can be enjoyed by readers in a variety of ages. 


Hard Hats and Doormats by Laura Chapman 

After losing out on a coveted promotion at work, Lexi Burke is done playing the nice girl. Her first order of business: Giving in to her longtime workplace crush. But Lexi soon learns that balancing a workplace romance and her job might be harder than she anticipated. 


A Questionable Friendship by Samantha March 

While Brynne and Portland seem to have an ideal friendship, cracks are starting to show as their lives take a turn for the complicated. Not willing to go to one other with their secrets, one woman begins to feel shut out and the other enters into a web of lies to protect herself. Their journey will explore several questions of friendship, and show that happily ever after might not be in the cards for everyone. 

Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie 

When Roxy Rule shares a passionate kiss with her lifelong best friend, she must come to terms with her feelings for him while dealing with two sisters in full crisis mode, a boss who makes her want to stab herself with a letter opener and a fiancé who can’t wait to walk down the aisle. Can she keep it together–or will she break under the pressure? 



Book Excerpt:

Hard Hats and Doormats – Laura Chapman

Chapter One

Alexis Burke @theLexiBurke

Can a person refer to employees as Jackass 1 & 2 in an official report? Asking for a friend. #HRProblems #ThisIsMyLife

The universe keeps telling jokes and I’m the punch line. #IHaveProof

Okay, seriously. When did this become my life? Can I get a mulligan? #ObscureGolfAnalogyForLife

In kindergarten Sunday school, Lexi Burke imagined Hell as a fire-ridden, hate-filled pit below Earth’s surface. On a mighty throne of blackened steel and skulls, Satan preyed on the souls of the damned for eternity.

Twenty years later, she discovered a new version of Hell. It was a windowless conference room on an oil platform off the coast of God-only-knew-where Texas in the middle of May. The devil took form in two men, both middle-aged and madder than a hornets nest. Despite the sweat building on her neck, she shivered.

When did babysitting old guys become my job?

How mad do hornets get, and what does their nest have to do with it?

Where did I come up with that analogy?

Solving those mysteries had to wait. Casting a glance at the figures gathered around the badly chipped table, she considered the situation at hand. The two men, their union reps, and a team of local managers were going yet another round in their verbal sparring without a semblance of resolution. The representatives wanted the men to go back to work. The managers wanted to give them pink slips.

As the HR manager assigned – albeit at last-minute – to the investigation, she wanted to keep everyone from killing each other. Not an easy task, considering the two men under investigation already gave murder their best shot.

According to the initial report, the incident happened over the weekend. The men engaged in a particularly heated discussion about college football. The man to her right apparently took offense to the one on her left using derogatory names to describe his beloved team.

She grimaced at the list of profanities. Three or four of them merited HR intervention on their own. Then again, others struck her as downright creative. Note to self: Use “dag nab ass backwards pile of swamp waste” in a sentence later today.

The fight escalated when Mr. Right expressed his displeasure by raking his broken glass across Lefty’s face. A few days later, the wounds swelled red and blotchy. Her stomach churned when she examined their faces closely.

His opponent fared no better. Lefty managed a couple of solid jabs with a shard from a shattered plate. His cheek and eyebrow were held together with the help of twenty-two stitches.

How did these men still have jobs? Surely trying to kill your co-worker violated the Employee Code of Conduct. But because they had no previous violence on their records, the company’s agreement with the union guaranteed them the right to an investigation – this investigation.

“I told ‘em to back off and leave my Tigers alone,” Idiot Number One shouted. “But he started waving around his God-damned glass. I had to grab hold of something to protect myself. A man’s got a right to defend himself and his pride.”

“What the hell are you talking about, son?” Moron Number Two chimed in. “You were the one bent outta shape in the first place. He’s pissed because my Hogs’ll beat the hell out of this pussy lover’s team next year.”

Hogs? Tigers? Did these men seriously put their jobs and lives on the line over the Arkansas and LSU football teams? Did Lexi have to take team allegiances into consideration when she hired new employees to avoid catastrophe? Were SEC fans this torn up about football year-round?

Will we have full-on riots come September?

She struggled to recall the last two football seasons, but nothing came to mind. In her early days at Gulf America, she’d spent most of her life adjusting to the heavy travel schedule of a field HR representative. Current events, sports, and anything unrelated to HR dealings never entered her mind. She instead concentrated on getting through each day, never mind remembering what happened in the rest of the world.

What kind of fights should she expect when the Big 12 schools in Texas started beating up on each other in the fall?

God help us all.

Pulling her shoulder-length brown hair off her neck, she longed for a breeze. Not the kind from men yelling at each other, but a real, honest-to-God breeze.

She sighed and stared back at her notes. Even if the investigation proved the men deserved firing, she wouldn’t make the decision. Her worthless boss would be using whatever recommendations she gave him.

Dale seldom left his office during the work day. Unless he heard an ice cream truck. Then he raced out the door with a dollar in hand. Why bother leaving for something important–– like his job–– when he had minions like her to do his dirty work in the field? He reserved his energy to sweep in at the end when he took credit and – by all appearances – saved the day.

This time, he didn’t even have the courtesy to make his decision before dawn. In her eagerness to please – the department had a promotion up for grabs – she overlooked the faux pas that sent her straight to hell. Sure the Assistant Regional Director job would be more work, but it came with a healthy salary increase and less travel. And at twenty-four, she’d be the youngest director at headquarters.

The shouts escalated.

Is a promotion worth this?


****


A Questionable Friendship – Samantha March

Chapter 2

Portland

I shut the door behind me and took a deep breath. Turning the faucet on, I gave my face gentle pats with the cold water, so I didn’t ruin my makeup but was still able to calm down. It was ridiculous that I was getting so upset. Brynne didn’t do anything wrong, she was just being Brynne. But her comment about scaling back and the fight I’d had with Trent on the way over made my stomach upset. I just needed a minute for myself, to breathe and be able to stop smiling through the pain.

I glanced at myself in the mirror, hoping no one else could see the bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep the night before. I had visited my hair stylist just yesterday so my blonde tresses were smooth and shiny, but that was about the only glowing quality I had at the time. I itched to be able to say something to my friend, but I sensed Brynne was going through something herself at the moment, and didn’t want to burden her with my (probably silly) problems. Knowing Brynne, she would drop everything and focus on me and only me until we worked through it. She might even have me take some time off from the store, and I really didn’t want that. EJs was my escape.

Realizing I had been in the bathroom long enough, I patted my face and hands dry on the lavender towel that was hanging next to the sink, to match the lavender hand soap and lavender diffuser Brynne had set up. That made me smile, to think about my friend who loved nothing more than her house being in order.

“There she is! Portland, I put some cheesecake salad on a plate for you. I hope you like it.” Brynne handed me a small plate that was filled with the delicious smelling dessert, and I smiled at her gratefully.

“And I helped make it!” Emmy Jo squealed, before digging back into her own piece.

I sat in my regular seat next to Brynne, across from my husband. “You did an excellent job, missy. And, mmm, it’s so delicious!” I said that last bit around a bite, and wasn’t lying. Brynne was a natural in the kitchen.

“It’s about time for you to start thinking about bed, don’t you think?” Brynne directed her question at Emmy Jo.

“No! I get to stay up with the grown-ups tonight.” Emmy Jo pouted and folded her arms. One little finger poked out and grabbed a strawberry, quickly stuffing it in her mouth before folding her arms again like nothing had happened. I took a sip of wine to hide my smile.

“Grown-ups also have to go to school in the morning, and you don’t want to fall asleep next to Guy, do you?” Brynne continued, looking in mock horror at her daughter.

EJ’s eyes grew wide as she considered this. “He might put glue in my hair, or color marker on my face, momma. I don’t want to fall asleep next to him!”

“Well, then, let’s get you to bed on time so you don’t have to worry about that.”

Emmy Jo took one more large bite of her dessert and raced out of the room. Brynne sat for a moment watching her retreating form, then laughed. “I didn’t think that would work that well. She’s been complaining about this Guy for a few weeks since the seating arrangements changed at daycare, but I really think she might have a crush on him. I’ll be back.”

“Glue in hair and markers on the face? I thought that only happened at parties where you were the first to pass out,” I said.

Aaron stood from the table. “I’m going to go say good-night. Let’s hope those wild parties stay away from Emmy Jo for a long, long time.” He winked at me before leaving. I shook my head. Aaron was one of the most over-protective fathers I had ever met, but it was cute. He was a great dad and a great husband, and I knew how lucky both Brynne and Emmy Jo were.

“Well, it’s just you and me, babe. How about a quickie on the porch?” Trent leered at me, and I glared back.

“You know as well as I do that it takes Emmy Jo about five minutes to get settled. They’ll be back in no time.”

“I said quickie. I can wrap it up in two minutes tops.”

“Wow, that is so romantic and really turns me on, Trent. Please, keep talking.”

“I was just trying to liven things up around here. Sue me for finding my wife attractive.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, don’t be such a baby. We had sex two days ago before you left, so don’t act like you’re all deprived either.”

“What is wrong with you tonight? You’ve been acting weird all day.”

The hair on my arms rose. Trent had been able to see through me too? Brynne was an obvious one, she was my best friend, but Trent didn’t usually notice – or care – if my moods were off. Shit.

“I’m just not feeling the best today. I hope I’m not coming down with a cold or anything. The weather shifts are starting to get to me I think.”

Trent peered into my face for a moment, making me want to shake under his stare. “You do look a little pale. Did you sleep well last night?”

I shook my head. “Not really. That’s probably a part of it too.”

“Do you want to leave soon so you can try to tuck in early? I can probably round up a sleeping pill or two for you to take.”

And he’s flipped to the caring, compassionate husband. I just never knew who I was going to get from one moment to the next anymore. “No, that’s okay. I need to talk with Brynne about the store some more. I’m sure I’ll be okay.”


****


Breaking the Rules – Cat Lavoie

Chapter One

I’ve never been good at keeping secrets from Oliver Frost. It might be because I’m a terrible liar but, most likely, it’s because he’s known me all my life and can read my face like an open book. Every eyebrow twitch, every blink, every fake smile. And, right now, I feel like I’m strapped to a lie detector. At any second the needles might go haywire like they do in the movies when the devious main character is lying through her teeth.

Calm.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Cough.

“I really don’t like the sound of that,” Ollie says, sitting on the edge of my bed, shaking his head. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go to the drugstore and get you some cough syrup or something? Or I could make you soup. Or tea with honey.”

Under normal circumstances, I’d appreciate all this attention. But I’ve been trying to get Ollie out of the apartment for the last twenty minutes so the last thing I need is him hovering over me. Maybe relying on my lackluster acting skills wasn’t the best idea. Faking an illness was all I could come up with to convince Ollie that I need to stay home without making him suspicious. My original plan was to accidentally ‘twist’ my ankle while walking up the stairs but, in the end, I decided to keep it simple and go for the common cold. There’s less limping involved.

I don’t think Ollie has any idea that I’ve been planning a surprise farewell party for him—which is a miracle since I’ve been sneaking around every night this week and coming home from the grocery store with enough food to feed a small army. The party is tonight and I have a million things to do. And I can’t do them with him here.

I touch my supposedly feverish forehead and erupt into another coughing fit. “You should go,” I say in a raspy voice, grabbing a handful of tissues. “I wouldn’t want you to catch my germs and get sick before leaving for London.”

“Right,” Ollie says, turning away from me. “I can’t believe I’m leaving tomorrow.”

I can’t believe it either. I want to say something but I’m afraid we’ll start talking and get really sentimental and I can’t deal with that right now. I’ve been trying to keep myself busy so I don’t have to deal with it at all. But I know that sooner or later I’m going to have to face the fact that my best friend and roommate is flying halfway across the world to help supervise the construction of a new earth-friendly building in London. I choose later.

“You should really go or you’ll be late. I’ll call you if there’s anything I need, okay?”

He nods and plants a quick kiss on my forehead. I close my eyes and hope he can’t hear my heart beating out of my chest. I’m so close to pulling this off.

“Promise me you’ll rest and take it easy today?” Ollie says, picking up his messenger bag off the floor. “And if Greta calls, please don’t answer. Better yet, hang up on her.” He slings the bag over his shoulder and looks back at me. I wave and watch as he walks out of my room. A few seconds later I hear the front door close with a bang and start breathing again.

About The Authors

Laura Chapman is the author of The Marrying Type, Hard Hats and Doormats and the Autumn and Tuck shorts, which appear in Merry & Bright and A Kind of Mad Courage. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Until she fulfills her dream of landing a British husband or becoming a Disney princess, you can find her in a bar penning her next novel. 
Stay Connected: Author Website  Author Blog  Facebook  Twitter Instagram Goodreads 

Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all-around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up-to-date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and beauty related. In 2011, she launched her independent publishing company, Marching Ink, and has four published novels: Destined to Fail, The Green Ticket, A Questionable Friendship, and Up To I Do. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers. Samantha lives in Iowa with her husband and Vizsla puppy. 
Stay Connected: Author Website  Author Blog Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Youtube Goodreads

Cat Lavoie lives in Montreal, Canada with her tempestuous cat, Abbie. Her debut novel, BREAKING THE RULES, was published in August 2012 by Marching Ink. ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN was published in October 2013. If Cat isn't reading or writing, she's most likely watching too much TV or daydreaming about her next trip to London. To find out more about Cat and her books, please visit www.CatLavoie.com and follow @Catenabi on Twitter. 
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Buy The Collection:

  

Contest Giveaway

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Book Blast Event

Twenty Something: A Marching Ink Collection ~ Book Blast Event Page

Book Blast Event Schedule:

July 27 - BookGroupies - Excerpt 

Jul 27 - MalloryHeart Reviews – Review & Excerpt 

July 28 - Sinfully Good Reads – Excerpt 

July 28 – CDYessWrites – Excerpt 

July 29 - LivingLife With Joy - Excerpt 

July 29 - HeySaid Renee - Review & Excerpt 

July 30 - Caroline Fardig - Excerpt 

July 30 - KarmaFor Life Chick – Excerpt 

July 31 - Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Excerpt 

August 3 - Ski-Wee’s Book Corner – Review

Up To I Do by Samantha March (Book Release Promo Event / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Author Samantha March, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the book release promo event for Up To I Do!

About The Book 

Up To I Do by Samantha March

Publisher: Marching Ink

Publication Date: July 25, 2015

Format: eBook - 221 pages

               Kindle - 768 KB

               Nook

ASIN: B012L6IP3E

BNID: 2940150767386

Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction


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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a book release promo event hosted by Author Samantha March.


Book Description:

Emerson Sinclair, twenty-seven year old hotel heiress, has said yes. With just over a year to plan her extravagant, over the top nuptials to Logan Worthington, it’s all hands on deck with the wedding plans. A Sinclair marrying into the Worthington family is the talk of their small New Hampshire town, and ideas include filming the wedding for a TV segment. But as the items get checked off the list, plans start to go ... not as planned. From not getting a designer dress to a selfish bridesmaid and unaccountable best man, Emerson is afraid her wedding will be more a joke than anything.

When both her mother and sister seemingly begin to lose interest in her wedding plans in favor of their own personal lives, Emerson fears her big day will turn into the forgotten wedding. With the pressure to pull off a beautiful and elegant event that everyone expects from their respectable families, Emerson starts to forget the reason why she is saying I Do in the first place.

About The Author

Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all-around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up-to-date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and beauty related. In 2011, she launched her independent publishing company, Marching Ink, and has four published novels—Destined to Fail, The Green Ticket, A Questionable Friendship, and Up To I Do. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers. Samantha lives in Iowa with her husband and Vizsla puppy.


Author Website
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Facebook
Twitter
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Contest Giveaway

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Unclaimed Regrets by Stacy M. Wray (Book Review)

In association with AToMR Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Unclaimed Regrets by Author Stacy M. Wray!

Unclaimed Regrets by Stacy M. Wray

Publisher: Independent Self Publishing

Publication Date: February 25, 2015 - PB / March 2, 2015 - eBook

Format: Paperback - 262 pages

               Kindle - 1086 KB

               Nook - 1 MB

ISBN: 978-1507761502

ASIN: B00TGG163O

BNID: 2940046575989

Genre: Contemporary Romance / YA & NA Flashbacks 

Buy The Book:

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Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by AToMR Tours.

Book Description:

This is a love story that is told through Adelyn Winters’ and Trey Masterson’s POV and reflects the time they met in high school to the present day.

I’m in limbo. If you look close, you’ll see that I’m basically going through the motions. If you look even closer, you’ll see that I’m empty and frustrated as hell with my life.

And then it arrives. That four by six card that tells me ten years have gone by when I wasn’t paying attention. I’m paying attention now.

Pulling my dusty box of memories from the closet shelf, my index finger slowly sifts through the keepsakes that represent the aura of Trey Masterson. The boy who moved from Missouri to Vermont and swept me off my feet the first day of our sophomore year. The boy who I never thought I’d have a chance with but he only had eyes for me. The boy I fell in love with and never stopped.

When we see each other again at our high school reunion, every feeling I ever had for him bleeds from my heart and leaks into every cell of my existence, and I finally feel like I can breathe for the first time in years. I don’t quite get the same reaction from him. In fact, his reaction is downright…cold?

Never knowing the reason of our undoing after I went away to college, I just want some closure. But we can’t seem to carry on a conversation without sparking a slew of emotions – each word igniting all the hurt that’s been buried for ten years.

During the week of our stay in our small town in Vermont, we keep crossing paths but jealousy, bitterness and tragedy threaten to hinder any hopes of possibly rekindling the passion we once shared.

This book contains language and sexual content.


My Book Review:

Unclaimed Regrets is a wonderful second chance at love story that will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride.

Author Stacy M. Wray weaves a delightful tale of first love, unclaimed regrets, and second chances that follows the emotional journey of high school sweethearts Adelyn Winters and Trey Masterson.

Set in the small town of Northfield, Vermont, Adelyn and Trey's story is told in the first person narrative that alternates between the present with flashbacks to their high school past. The reader is easily drawn into Adelyn and Trey's love story that begins in their sophomore year of high school, and follows their lives up to their tenth year high school reunion. What starts out as a lovely first love / high school relationship that was filled with happiness and hopeful plan for a future together, abruptly ends without any explanation when Adelyn leaves for college. As the years progress, neither can forget the other - yet resentment, hurt, confusion, misunderstanding, and regret keeps them apart until they come face to face at their tenth year high school reunion.

Unclaimed Regrets easily captivated me from the beginning. I couldn't help but really enjoy the lovely high school relationship that Addie and Trey shared, and as their heartbreaking story unfolded with alternating flashbacks to the past intertwined with the present, I couldn't help but ache for them, and hope that they would be able to resolve the sad misunderstandings and unclaimed regrets that had kept them apart for so many years. As Addie and Trey's journey towards getting a second chance at rekindling their love unfolds, the reader will experience the full gamut of emotions, and will put a satisfied smile on their face.


RATING: 5 STARS 

About The Author

Stacy Wray has always enjoyed writing growing up and wrote for her high school newspaper. It wasn’t until recently when her husband challenged her to write a book that she decided to give it a go, writing The Girl from the Kitchen Store in September 2014. Her second book Unclaimed Regrets was released in March 2015. With her two children full grown, she spends extra time reading, re-modeling her home room-by-room, and hanging with family. She works in the family business in accounting in Kokomo, Indiana and is currently working on her third book Finding Karma.


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Virtual Book Tour 

Unclaimed Regrets by Stacy M. Wray ~ Virtual Book Tour Event Page

Click on the above link for the list of tour participants.