second chances

Book Review: One Week Hating You by Roya Carmen

Mauve was living the dream–great job, terrific fiance, soon to be husband, terrific condo. All of it came crashing down. First she lost her job. Then she was stood up at the alter. Why stay at a place with the man who didn’t bother to show up at his own wedding!? What’s a girl to do? Go home to your momma. Mommas always make everything better. That’s what Mauve did. She decided she would spend a bit of time with her family before deciding her next step in putting her life back together.

Mauve and her friend Corrie along with Mandy, Mauve’s childhood best friend decided the first thing to do is go shopping. Buy clothes that are not safe. Not plain. Not boring. Her outfit turns heads. Why wouldn’t a leather mini skirt, leather peep toe booties with a Pink Floyd shirt gain the attention of every man in the bar even Mauve’s high school sweetheart, Blake Taylor. Blake broke her heart when she was 18 by sleeping with another girl. Blake has changed. He’s not longer scrawny. He’s built with a sexy as sin beard.

Book Review: Five Reasons to Go by Candace Knoebel

As soon as I was approved for an ARC of this novel, we picked up the previous novel in the series: Ten Reasons to Stay. When I finished reading Corrine’s story, I was not looking forward to reading Jack’s story. Jack was a complete tool. I’m glad I read both novels. Reading the first book gave me a better understanding about Jack–who he is where he comes from. It makes it easier in his novel to understand why he wants to change and never wants to be that guy again. In Jack’s story: Five Reasons to Go, I had more sympathy for Jack because of everything he went through before with Corrine and after. Jack is flawed but still relatable.

Jack’s story begins at the same point Corrine’s story begins–with both of them together. But unlike Corrine’s story, the reader is moved through those last few years with Corrine fairly quickly. I’m not sure if I would have understood everything that happened with Corrine had I not bought the previous novel. This part of the novel still paints Jack in a negative light even in his own story.

Jack Swanson has been married to Corrine since shortly after graduating college. The harder he works to appease her the worse their marriage gets. He has the brilliant idea of an open marriage. Every Thursday–home by midnight. No staying over and protection is a must! This concept blows up in his face when his wife falls in love with Cole (All of this in in the previous novel). Jack is a complete wreck after Corrine divorces him. He realizes how terrific his life really was with Corrine. He also realized how horrible of a person he was to Corrine and Jessica. How his actions have hurt both women.

Release Day: A Brand New Ending by Jennifer Probst

Ophelia Bishop was a lovestruck teenage girl when she and Kyle Kimpton chased their dreams to Hollywood. Kyle’s dreams came true. Ophelia’s did not. When Kyle chose his career over their relationship, Ophelia returned home to rural New York to run the family’s B & B—wiser, and more guarded against foolish fantasies. Now Kyle has come crashing back into her life, and all her defenses are down.

BOOK REVIEW: Dear Jane by Kendall Ryan

Jane Royce works for the Chicago Hawks as the Assistant Manager. She has worked her tail off to get where she is. Some people think that she got the job because her dad is the head coach–they couldn’t be further from the truth. She has earned her spot on the team. She lives and breathes football. Some might say she has a type–football players. Her first love was the star football player –who now plays in the NFL–to her college sweetheart, both play/ed football. When her father comes in to tell her that Weston Chase has been traded to the team, the world turns on its axis. The one man who shattered her heart is back in her life–her professional life anyway. No way is she letting that pretty boy any where near her outside of the stadium. That’s what she keeps telling herself.

Weston Chase asked–prayed, begged, whatever it took to get out of Pennsylvania. He found his linebacker plowing his fiance in his house. He needed a change. The perfect place is Chicago. His hometown. With the coach who taught him everything about football. Where the one girl who broke his heart is. He decided that he was going to win her back at any cost. Before he can do that he needs to do some soul search about who he is and who he was. His role in the relationship ending with Jane and even with his cheating ex.

Cover Reveal: One Week Hating You by Roya Carmen

Maeve is over the moon: life is good and she’s about to get married to Peter. But when she loses her job and gets jilted at the altar, her world crumbles and she runs into her momma’s arms.

She’s back in her small hometown for a week, and she has a plan – make Peter insanely jealous and win him back. Enter Blake Taylor, the boy who broke her heart. She’d rather avoid him at all costs, but with his ‘bad boy’ good looks and their shared history, Blake is the perfect man for the job, as long as she can stand him long enough – it’s just one week, after all.

BOOK BLITZ:Through the Layers by R.H. Tucker

No one has ever called Veronica fat. Thick? Okay. Curvy? Sure. However, they’ve never come right out and told her she’s overweight. Not unless you count the kids in third grade who called her roly-poly. Grade school or freshman year of college, it doesn’t matter. Guys usually go for the tall, thin girls. Girls like Micah’s ex.

Despite their hang-ups, and their pasts, Micah and Veronica find something in each other that quells their concerns. But when old faces return, and unsettling truths are revealed, will either of them be able to work through the layers and find one another again?

BOOK REVIEW: I Don’t by Andrea Johnston

Whitney Wheeler has been dreaming about and planning her wedding since her grandmother gave her a wedding scrapbook as a teen. Well, the thing with well laid plans…they never–I mean ever work out. With Whitney, it came in the form of walking into her McMansion that she shared with her fiance, finding his secretary servicing her soon-to-be husband. Instead of discussing the situation, Whitney goes on a road trip with Lucas DeCosta, her high school crush that she reconnected with the previous night at the local strip club…where he was working. Her friends paid him to give her special attention…on stage in front of the entire club. The real problem is the electric current that runs through her veins every time Lucas touches her. Why can’t Trenton stop calling and texting me? Do I still love Trenton? Did I ever really love him?

Book Review: America’s Sweetheart Jessica Lemmon

Why did I let my manager talk me into dating McCormack? What a jerk! I went from America’s Sweetheart to the most hated person in Hollywood. All because of that two-faced ex. I can’t escape the media. So, I go to the only place where I can be me. No, not Nina Lockheart–but Allison. The girl from Columbus, Ohio. The first thing I see is Jackson Burke. Great! When I thought my life couldn’t get worse, the one man who shattered my heart is standing in my parents’ living room. He is remodeling my parents’ bedroom while they are on a month long trip to Europe. Terrific. The more time, I spend with Jax the more I remember how it felt to be in his arms. The more I want that again.