I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting | ARC Review

I Flipping Love You (Shacking Up #3) by Helena Hunting
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: May 29, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 320
Source: eARC from Publisher
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Goodreads Description

A new kind of love story about flipping houses, taking risks, and landing that special someone who’s move-in ready…

SHE’S GOT CURB APPEAL

Rian Sutter grew up with the finer things in life. Spending summers in The Hamptons was a normal occurrence for her until her parents lost everything years ago. Now Rian and her sister are getting their life, and finances, back on track through real estate. Not only do they buy and sell houses to the rich and famous, but they finally have the capital to flip their very own beachfront property. But when she inadvertently catches the attention of a sexy stranger who snaps up every house from under her, all bets are off…

HE’S A FIXER UPPER

Pierce Whitfield doesn’t normally demo kitchens, install dry wall, or tear apart a beautiful woman’s dreams. He’s just a down-on-his-luck lawyer who needed a break from the city and agreed to help his brother work on a few homes in the Hamptons. When he first meets Rian, the attraction is undeniable. But when they start competing for the same pieces of prime real estate, the early sparks turn into full-blown fireworks. Can these passionate rivals turn up the heat on their budding romance — without burning down the house?

I FLIPPING LOVE YOU, set in the Shacking Up world, follows two people, both working in real estate, who find themselves vying for the same properties in the Hamptons, leading to a sometimes-not-so-friendly competition.

My Thoughts

I Flipping Love You is the third book in the Shacking Up companion series. I wasn't expecting another book in this series so I was really excited when I fount out it would be part of it. I Flipping Love You follows Rian and Pierce (whose sister Amalie was the main character in Hooking Up which I loved!!). The two end up meeting when Pierce mistakes Rian for her twin. After their first encounter they continue to run into each other.

I thought this story following Pierce and Rian was adorable. At the beginning they are both pretty guarded because of past experiences but Pierce is a lot more open to the possibility of something happening. On the other hand Rian has been closed off for so long and she only allows herself to fully open up to her sister since it has been just the two of them for so long. As she starts to accept that she might want more than a casual fling with Pierce she allows him to see more of her and where she came from. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationship throughout the story.

Since I've read and reviewed Hooking Up I have gone back and read Shacking Up. After having read all three now there were some things that stood out and made me a little disappointed in this one when compared with the other two. There were times when I found it hard to keep track of the passing time. Several times in the book one line would be talking about the current time and the very next line jumped to week or more later. I think this could've been easily solved with mid-chapter breaks. Another thing that really stood out to me was the lack of use of the side characters. Don't get me wrong, the side characters were there but the majority of the story took place inside a bubble where only Rian and Pierce and existed.

While Hooking Up was my favorite of the three, I Flipping Love You was a light, fun read with lots of humor thrown in. This was truly a story of a chance meeting and falling in love. I'm not sure if Helena Hunting has any plans for another book in this series but I would definitely pick it up if she does!

Marked by Drew Elyse | ARC Review

Marked (Sailor's Grave #1) by Drew Elyse
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: May 15, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 262
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
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Goodreads Description

“MOVING ON” IS JUST ABOUT ACTING THE PART. 

I would never say as much to the people I love, but it’s the truth. 
They want to see me doing better. 
They want to see me living for more than just my son. 
So I let them. 
Every day is about putting on a face, 
pretending to get over the loss of my husband. 
And every day is a lie. 

UNTIL MOVING ON IS A TEMPTATION THAT CAN’T BE DENIED. 

I’m not about to claim I’m a genius, 
unless we’re talking with a tattoo gun or woman in my hands, 
but I’m smart enough to know the beauty serving up my cupcake fix is off limits. 
Really, I know. 
Too bad the lure of putting a real smile on Kate’s face is so strong. 
When she visits Sailor’s Grave Tattoo Parlor, 
I can’t help but want to leave my mark.

My Thoughts

Going into this book I was really interested in the concept. I love reading about characters that get a second chance at a one of a kind romance. Marked follows Kate and Liam. Kate lost her husband in a tragic accident 3 years before the start of the story and she hasn't gotten to the point where she is truly living agin. Liam is a tattoo artist in the town that Kate is currently living in with her son.


Honestly, I had some mixed opinions about this story. From the synopsis I knew a big part of this story was going to be Kate grieving and pretending to move on. Liam understands Kate isn't in the right place to start a romantic relationship. Even though he's interested in more Liam offers Kate friendship, or at the very least someone to talk to. The two start to grow closer when Liam starts working on Kate's tattoo. During the time they spend together Kate starts to realize she might be ready to move on.

One of my big worries while reading was this would be a situation where a new love/relationship cures everything Kate had been dealing with for the past 3 years. For a while it seemed like the story was going in that direction. Thankfully the author didn't take that route. Instead there was a focus on wanting to make a change for the right person. On another note I didn't care for the writing, mainly the use of flashbacks. They were overdone and at times made it hard to get a grasp on the movement of time.

While I didn't care for the writing I really enjoyed the journey this author took me on. Marked showed that people grieve in many different ways. Even though Kate spent 3 years just going through the motions for her son. she couldn't truly move on until she was ready. Being able to see the progression of Kate and Liam's relationship form the beginning to the end of this story was truly beautiful.

Royals by Rachel Hawkins | ARC Review

Royals by Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 304
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
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Goodreads Description

Meet Daisy Winters. She’s an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair; a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who’s nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her to join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond. 

While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince’s roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown–and the intriguing Miles–might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.

My Thoughts

Royals follows 16 year old Daisy Winters as she's thrown into the life of royalty after her older sister gets engaged to a prince. Since her sister Ellie started dating Alex, the Crown Prince of Scotland, Daisy has received unwanted attention. After an unsavory article is released involving her ex-boyfriend, it is suggested Ellie go to Scotland for the summer to stay out of any further trouble. However that seems to have the opposite effect.

I had some mixed opinions while reading Royals. I liked Daisy as a character. I felt she was a unique character and pretty funny at times. However, I felt like at times she was extremely whiny and selfish. From the beginning of the story she talks about how her sister's new life is basically a disaster for her. We soon find out she doesn't have the best relationship with Ellie because of some things that happened as she was growing up. Throughout the story I kept hoping they would sit down and talk. At the very least come to an understanding and stop being so hostile towards each other. It took almost the entire book for this moment to happen and while I was happy it happened I felt like it should've happened sooner than the last couple chapters.

On another note, I thought the entire royal family was messed up! I liked that the siblings have a pretty good relationship with each other but there were so many other things going on in the background that I couldn't appreciate it. I think a major part of this was because a large part of this story focused on the tabloids and how much people cared about what was depicted in them.

Overall, I thought Royals was a fun read. While I had some issues with some of the characters I enjoyed being able to see some of them grow during the time I spent with them. By the end the story did feel a little rushed and unfinished. However I have seen there's supposed to be a sequel/companion so hopefully we'll get the wedding in that book. If you want a fun and possible quick YA contemporary Royals might be what you're looking for.

Author Spotlight : Stephanie Nicole Norris

Write Now Literary is pleased to be coordinating a blog tour Stephanie Nicole Norris. This tour will run April 23, 2018. Book your own tour here. Title: No Holds Barred Genre: African American Contemporary Romance ASIN: B07C8J6DH9 Read for free with Amazon Kindle Unlimited

  Meet Stephanie 

Stephanie Nicole Norris is an author from Chattanooga Tennessee with a humble beginning. Always being a lover of reading, during Stephanie’s teenage years her joy was running to the bookmobile to read stories by R. L. Stine. After becoming a young adult, her love for romance sparked leaving her captivated by heroes and heroines alike. With a big imagination and a creative heart, Stephanie penned her first novel Trouble In Paradise and self-published it in 2012. Her debut novel turned into a four book series full of romance, drama, and suspense. As a prolific writer, Stephanie’s catalog continues to grow. Her books can be found on Amazon dot com. Stephanie is inspired by the likes of Donna Hill, Eric Jerome Dickey, Jackie Collins, and more. She currently resides in Tennessee with her husband and two-year-old son.                                                

                                 About the Book

Love was no longer on the menu for Camilla Augustina. After her fiancé calls off the wedding not once but twice, Camilla's had enough. In a brazen move, she takes a new position in the windy city of Chicago; leaving her parents, friends, and ex in a bittersweet goodbye. Adapting to her new surroundings isn't easy but as Camilla settles in a chance encounter with an infamous playboy throws her off balance and rattles her world. She hadn't expected to be drawn so meticulously to another but denying the magnetism that lures her is a futile fight. As President of VFC Energy, a fortune 500 company, Hunter Valentine is at the top of his game. The renowned bachelor holds no secrets about his risqué rendezvous, and his allegiance is saved for family only. However, when Hunter spots Camilla Augustina, dining alone at the breakfast hut in his building, he can't explain the adulation that runs through his core and shakes his entire world. Lust never weakened him like this, and the inclination of love at first site was silly. But when Hunter decides to prove the sudden rapture is unreal, he may find himself enamored by love.

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Very Irresistible Playboy by Lila Monroe | ARC Review

Very Irresistible Playboy (Billionaire Bachelors #1) by Lila Monroe
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: January 22, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 210
Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR
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Goodreads Description

Hot bachelor Max Carlisle is heir to a media empire, tabloid catnip, and... wants to hire me to be his fake fiancee. I know what it takes to keep a billionaire in line, but signing up for seven days in close quarters with this Very Irresistible Playboy? It's just asking for trouble. The kind of thrilling, reckless trouble I could use a little more of since my career is currently ass-backwards in a mud bath with six shih-tzus (don't ask). So do I: a) Take the job, and bicker wildly every step of the way? b) Embark on a mad-cap treasure hunt to claim his billion-dollar inheritance? c) Try my hardest not to fall head-over-heels in love with him and wind up having the best sex of my life? d) All of the above? Something tells me I'm about to be way out of my league... and under the most handsome, infuriating man I've ever met. But with a fortune on the line, can we beat out his crazy relatives to win the prize? And will our fake relationship be game over at the finish line? Find out in the new sexy, hilarious romantic comedy!

My Thoughts

Very Irresistible Playboy wasn't the story I was expecting based off the description. This book follows Hallie and Max. Hallie is an aspiring photographer working as an assistant at the moment in order to make ends meet. At the beginning of this book Hallie is helping out at a weeding and afar some unfortunate circumstances her only camera ends up ruined and she's out a job. From there things continue to go downhill for Hallie until she meets someone who might have a job opportunity for her. One thing leads to another and she agrees to be the fake girlfriend fo Max for 7 days while goes to spend time with his family.

The general idea for this story was different from anything I've read centered around a fake relationship. However, I did find the plot predictable. It was pretty clear almost from the beginning where these characters were headed and at times it was frustrating watching them act like it wasn't happening. Still, it was nice being able to see the progression of their relationship from the beginning to the end of the story. Very Irresistible Playboy was a quick, fun read and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole | ARC Review

A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1) by Alyssa Cole
Publisher: Avon Romance
Publication Date: February 27, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 384
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
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Goodreads Description

Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after? 

My Thoughts

A Princess in Theory is an adult contemporary romance following Naledi Smith. Naledi is currently in graduate school studying epidemiology while also working a couple jobs. She doesn't have time to focus on anything but school and work. One day she receives an email saying she's betrothed to an African prince. Since Naledi is an orphan and has been in and out of the foster system most of her life, she doesn't think it's possible and someone is trying to scam her. However it turns out that it's true and Prince Tabiso is hoping to meet her while in the United States for business. When Thabiso shows up at Naledi's job she mistakes him for a new coworker. Thabiso decides to play along in order to get to know Naledi without revealing who he is.

I really enjoyed the journey these two characters went on throughout the novel. Naledi starts in a place where she is working towards her desired career while overworking herself to not take care of herself but not be seen as a specific stereotype. She has grown used to not having anyone to rely on so she has made it so it's hard for anyone to get close to her. On the other hand, Thabiso comes from a place of privilege. Being the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo he has grown up in the spotlight with everything he could ever want. He still isn't completely happy because being the sole heir there's a lot everyone expects of him, especially his parents.

Throughout the story the characters had to learn about their own faults and how to overcome them while getting to know each other. There were times when the story was slow for me. Also, I wish there was more time spent in Thesolo with Naledi getting to learn more about where she's from and spending time with her living family. Overall I really enjoyed this story and now want to read more from Alyssa Cole.

Lost for You by Jayne Frost | ARC Review

Lost for You (Sixth Street Bands #4) by Jayne Frost
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: January 12, 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 303
Source: eARC for Review
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Goodreads Description

When I was eighteen, I stood at the precipice of stardom. I had the record deal. And the tour to back it up. But I succumbed to the pressure of that life. The dark side. 

Now, I skate on the fringe. My brother is the genius guitarist for the band Caged, and I’m the one who helped make that happen. I’m happy to run my bars and my land development company. 

Sure I am. 

And then I meet her—Taryn Ayers—the music manager behind the three biggest bands in the country. She doesn’t know I’m Cam’s older brother. Or that I’ve got a secret that makes her world and mine fundamentally incompatible. 
Problem is, I want to know Taryn.

But do I want her to know me? 

My Thoughts

Lost for You, the fourth book in the Sixth Street Bands companion series, follows Chase and Taryn. Both characters have ties to the music industry in they own way. When the story opens Chase is helping out a friend of his younger brother when he runs into Taryn. From there, a very intense romance happens vey quickly between the two main characters.

Lost for You ended up being a lot darker than I was expecting. Trigger warnings fo drug use and addiction! I'll admit it made me a little uncomfortable at time but I kept reading because I wanted the characters to be okay in the end. However, I didn't feel any connection to the characters. I think this was a decent story it just wasn't the story for me. If you like rockstar romances it's one I would suggest you give it a try.