Monday, May 25, 2015

Searching for Beautiful by Jennifer Probst

SFB_BLITZ

Today we are celebrating the release of SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Probst. This is the 3rd book in the Searching For series and it is published by Gallery Books. Check out the teaser and giveaway below for a chance to win a necklace and signed book.

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SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL Synopsis:

The highly anticipated third novel in the Searching For series from Jennifer Probst, “one of the most exciting breakout novelists” (USA Today), featuring a runaway bride and the man who wants to be more than just her best friend...

Genevieve MacKenzie has her life completely under control. About to wed the charming Chief doctor at the local hospital, she’s an up-and-coming surgeon with everything she could ever want. Until an escape through the church window on the day of her wedding sends her life into a tailspin...and flings her right into her best friend’s arms. When Wolfe catches his best friend falling out a window on her wedding day, he doesn’t ask questions. He whisks her away, determined to watch over her and discover the truth behind her desperate escape. But when his feelings turn more than platonic, he realizes he may risk his most important relationship in order to protect his damaged heart, and the woman he loves. Can Genevieve and Wolfe’s friendship turn into something deeper—or is it already too late for true love?

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My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jennifer Probst delivers a heartwarming and humorous story wrapped in what could be considered a warning of sorts. She reminds us through Genevieve MacKenzie that despite what we may believe, a love that requires us to change is not love at all.

Alone in the minutes before her wedding, Gen begins to hear her not-so-familiar inner voice, one that she had silenced in the years leading up to that moment, telling her to RUN. Unable to shake the feeling that going through with the marriage would be in her worst interest, Gen takes flight and shimmies her way through the small church window. As fate would have it, her best friend - only known as Wolfe - is procrastinating outside the church. When he sees the fluff of white drop down near him, he knows that something is off. Rather than wait for her to change her mind, he romantically scoops Gen up in his arms and makes his way to his car. Lost in the blur of chaos, Gen doesn't see the romance of the actions - she only sees that her best friend was late to her wedding. Why else would he have parked so far away?

For those of you that have read Jennifer's past stories, you'll know that we met Wolfe in The Marriage Merger. We were reintroduced to him in Searching for Perfect, where we see that Sawyer's mentoring was the best thing to ever happen to him, as he's now a successful and wealthy adult - with a hidden heart of gold. He doesn't allow many inside his walls.

The weekend that ensues after Gen's narrow escape from wedded hell is both endearing and comical. We see the damage done by Gen's emotionally abusive ex-fiance, and we see Wolfe's anger at the loss of his best friend's self-esteem. He spends the weekend reminding Gen that fun is not something reserved only for youth and naivety, but something that should be a regular part of life.

Upon returning to the mess left behind by the runaway bride, Gen makes attempts to reassure her family and friends of her mental well-being. As it turns out, this is not such an easy task, and never before have I felt such a prominent hatred for a secondary character.

But as it might seem, the story is not only about Gen's healing, but also about Wolfe's. We learn so much more about his past, and what has helped him recover from those events. Sawyer and Julietta, as well as a number of other members from the Conte clan, make their presence known in heart warming ways.

Wolfe Wells and Genevieve MacKenzie took hold of my heart, and had me rooting for each of them individually within the first chapters, but had me utterly engrossed in their romantic resolution by the end. I wanted nothing more for them to be whole as a couple, and on their own. Jennifer's words had me running the gamut of emotions, experiencing everything from happy tears to ghetto anger to falling off my chair laughter. As a loyal fan, I think it's fair to say that this is her best work yet.

PURCHASE SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Jennifer Probst

Jennifer Probst - Bio: Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Monday, May 18, 2015

Dragon's Lair by Chantal Fernando - Book 1, Wind Dragons MC

Dragon's Lair (Wind Dragons MC, #1)Dragon's Lair by Chantal Fernando
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Recently I was given the opportunity to read and review this title by Chantal Fernando. Given the hype over MC titles, I was interested to see what would be different and what would follow the trend in this book. I can say that I was pleased with this book, and looking forward to reading book 2 in this series.

In the prologue, we meet childhood Faye, perched on the steps outside her home, dreading the evening with her disapproving mother. We also meet childhood Dex - the older boy next door who makes it his responsibility to look after the small "fairy" next door. We learn then that despite a five year age difference, Faye is determined that one day Dex will be hers.

Flash forward to the present, and we see Faye on the lamb - and we discover the straw that broke the camel's back where her relationship with her mother is concerned. She's been disowned, and is struggling to determine where her new place will be.

Another blast to the past, and we're treated to the series of events that led to her current situation. Faye is a brilliant and promising law student dating the boy next door. No, not Dex. His younger brother Eric. Unfortunately, Eric doesn't have the same urge to keep Faye's feelings intact and she finds him sleeping with one of her only female friends. After a bit of self pity and wallowing, Faye decides he is no longer worth her time or tears, and she's going to start herself on a new path. She begins at a local watering hole, and becomes a bit torn on how her night should end. Does she want to go home with someone? Why does no one interest her?

Then she runs into a familiar person on the way to her car - Dex. Having not seen him in a few years, they start with a bit of banter and reminiscing, but ultimately they end up in bed together. The night is chalked up to a one night stand meant to get back at Eric, and they both go their separate ways.

Temporarily.

Given the sudden break in connection to her family, Dex once again takes it upon himself to protect her. He locates her in the run down motel after learning she took off from his brother, and he takes her back to the Wind Dragons compound with him. They proceed to take residence in his clubhouse bedroom, and Faye learns her place among a group of gruff bikers. Given her straight laced former life and curious, blunt nature, it's a bit of an undertaking that makes for some more than comical moments.

In time, Faye learns that she will one day become the President's Old Lady if she remains with Dex - or "Sin" as the brothers and followers call him. Unsure how to respond to the shift in her future plans, we see some unrest in Faye's thoughts. Eventually, she comes to the conclusion that she will make a good "Old Lady" - a conclusion that readers have come to many chapters before.

After a particularly unsettling event, though, Faye is sent away to safety until a war with a rival MC is settled. This is where I started to have trouble with the book. We have been spoiled with perfect detail and insight into Faye's situation until this point, but after she returns to the compound, we begin what I like to call a "Journal Entry Ending". The story begins to read as a cliff notes version of a perfect or not so perfect day, and events become unresolved. Any retribution of an attempted rape is overlooked, a wedding apparently takes place though we hear nothing about it, and Faye manages to not only graduate law school but take her bars and become the club's full fledged lawyer handling a high priority case for one of the brothers, all without the reader's full knowledge.

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