Tag Archives: Monica Murphy

The Junior (College Years 3) by Monica Murphy-review tour

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The Junior (College Years 3) by Monica Murphy-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 9, 2021.

Caleb Burke.

Charming. Funny. Sexy.

Major player – both on the field and with the ladies.

I hate him.

Well, not really. I resist his so-called charms because I recognize them. We’re a lot alike, Caleb and I. He’s afraid of commitment? Me too. A giant flirt? Same here. He knows how to party? I am the absolute queen of the party.

Until I realize it’s time for me to grow up and become a responsible adult. I’ll be student teaching next year, so to save money, I move in with my two new roommates — Eli Bennett and Caleb. Then I find a summer job — where Caleb works. Soon, I’m spending almost every single day with the guy.

He’s growing on me too. We’ve always had this unspoken chemistry brewing between us. When we finally give in to it, it’s just as spectacular as I secretly predicted. The sex, and everything else, keeps getting better and better between us too.

But can I really take this guy seriously? Or am I only setting myself up to fail?

•••••••

REVIEW:THE JUNIOR is the third instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary , new adult COLLEGE YEARS erotic, romance series-a spin off from the author’s The Callahans. This is twenty year old, college junior/football player Caleb Burke, and twenty-two year old, student teacher Gracie Hughes’ story line. THE JUNIOR can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Gracie and Caleb) THE JUNIOR follows the building romance and relationship between twenty year old, college junior/football player Caleb Burke, and twenty-two year old, student teacher Gracie Hughes. Summer break means looking for a job, and Gracie Hughes finds herself working alongside her new roommate and self-professed manwh*re Caleb Burke. Caleb is about to enter his junior year at college, and is looking forward to a summer of one-night stands but the back and forth, acrimonious relationship with his new roommate, finds our hero looking for something more permanent with Gracie Hughes. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Gracie and Caleb, and the potential fall-out as the ‘friends with benefits’ relationship turns into something more, something Gracie struggles to accept for the long term.

Gracie Hughes knows that her time with Caleb is only temporary; a summer fling with a man/boy whose all about the party and fun-his lack of maturity is a point of contention for our story line heroine. With the end of summer approaching Gracie and Caleb’s relationship jumps to the next level, a level Gracie believes is temporary and doomed to end. Caleb Hughes has a reputation as a love’em and leave’em kinda of guy, and his earlier encounters, bickering with Gracie prove they are doomed as a long-term couple.

The relationship between Caleb and Gracie begins acrimoniously as their constant bickering carries over into their relationship with mutual friends. Agreeing to get along for the sake of their friends, their current living arrangements and of course, as co-workers at the local club, Caleb and Gracie find themselves acting on their attraction but keeping their relationship on the down low. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line couples return. Eli and Ava, Jackson and Ellie, Hannah and Jake, Diego and Jocelyn, Tony and Hayden. Eli and Ava’s continuing story is next in The Senior.

THE JUNIOR is a story of friendships, acceptance, love and trust. The fast paced, character driven premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is heavy and hot-the sexual chemistry palpable; the characters are energetic, and dynamic. THE JUNIOR ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

READING ORDER AND PREVIOUS REVIEWS
The Freshman
The Sophomore

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Things I Wanted to Say by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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Things I Wanted to Say (But Never Did) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

 

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Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ebRZFs

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 29, 2021.

Whit Lancaster burst into my life like a storm. Dark and thunderous, furious and fierce. Cold, heartless and devastatingly beautiful, like the statues in our prep school gardens. The school with his family name on the sign. He can do no wrong here. This is his domain.

He’s a menace on campus. Adored and feared. Hated and respected. His taunting words carve into my skin, shredding me to ribbons. Yet his intense gaze scorches my blood, fills me with a longing I don’t understand.

When I stumble upon him one night alone, I find him broken. Bleeding. My instincts scream to leave and let him suffer, but I can’t. I sneak him into my room. Clean him up. Fall for his lies. Let him possess every single part of me until I’m the one left a gasping, broken mess.

When he leaves me alone in the dead of night, he takes my journal with him.

Now he knows all my secrets. My hate. My truth. And he promises to use my words against me. I’ll be ruined if my darkest secret gets out.

That’s when I strike a bargain with the devil.

I’ll let Whit Lancaster ruin me behind closed doors instead.

•••••

REVIEW:THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) by Monica Murphy is a contemporary, stand alone, young adult/new adult/ adult, dark, erotic bully romance focusing on Whit Lancaster, and Summer Savage.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there may be numerous triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives covering approximately twelve years THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) follows the acrimonious, bully relationship between Lancaster heir Whit Lancaster, and Summer Savage. At the ages of fourteen Summer Savage met Whit Lancaster at a Lancaster party, and in the ensuing years never forgot that fateful encounter. Three years later, the fall-out of a society scandal found Summer Savage struggling at the prestigious Lancaster Prep School, a school where she would become the target of bullies but more specifically the target of the boy she could never forgot. Becoming persona non grata at a school for the elite, meant Summer awakening each day worried about the who, how and why of each personal attack, attacks seemingly orchestrated by Whit Lancaster. Exiled from most of the school population, it was only a matter of time before the administration took a dislike to Summer Savage. What ensues is the tempestuous and caustic relationship between Whit and Summer, and the ongoing fall-out of betrayal and vengeance, aimed at our story line heroine, as she struggled to move on from the demons of her past.

Summer Savage has struggled with issues of low self-esteem in the wake of her family life spiralling out of control. Following a society and media nightmare, not of her making, our heroine is ‘hidden’ away for all intents and purposes but coming face to face with the boy that has continued to star in her nightmares and dreams was about to push our heroine to the edge of reason, as she battles between head and heart knowing that Whit Lancaster would be her ultimate fall. Whit Lancaster is an entitled bully who controls Lancaster Prep, and in this controls the entire student body and staff. When Whit places a proverbial target on our heroine’s back, it is only a matter of time before the fall-out destroys what is left of Summer Savage. Whit Lancaster uses emotional, physical, and sexual control in his position of power that he lauds over our heroine, and the school, at every opportunity. He is feared and loved in equal measure, using his name and family position to rule at the ripe old age of seventeen.

The relationship between Summer and Whit is angry and spiteful, and I struggle to call it a romantic story line. The bullying, humiliation, emotional and mental abuse is continuous; the sl*t shaming is excessive. Whit Lancaster cannot stop obsessing about Summer Savage, and in this, he is determined to know all of Summer’s secrets in an effort to claim every part of our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intense, dramatic and not without some question of consent-the relationships and friendships play out like a game wherein Summer Savage is the ultimate pawn.

The mean girls (and boys) and relentless bullying is tantamount to assault; the adults and parents are unforgiving, ruthless and cruel. Summer Savage is not the perfect heroine but an embattled life makes for questionable decisions, decisions that often place our heroine in the direct line of fire. She didn’t deserve the humiliating treatment, treatment that affected her choices going forward, often taking the blame for catastrophic events in her life.

THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, abuse, bullying, power and control. THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) may be a difficult story for many readers. I struggle with the bully romances, in general, as the victims and intended targets do not deserve the abuse at the hands of piers, strangers, family or friends, and in the wake of real life, sometimes the bullies hit too close to home. The premise is dark, heart breaking and emotional; the characters are broken and cruel; the romance is questionable on so many levels. Monica Murphy is a gifted writer-she was able to break my heart, and make me cry in a matter of a few pages.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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The Sophomore (College Years 2) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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THE SOPHOMORE (The College Years 2) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3xFMDKC

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 10, 2021

Jackson Rivers.

My not so secret crush.

He’s popular. Gorgeous. Talented.

Also my biggest weakness.

I’ve stood by him for years. Been a friend every time he needed one, but he doesn’t see me. Not like I want him to.

Move on, my friends said. Find someone new. Someone who sees your worth. Someone who gets you. I know they’re right. I’m only a friend to him. He’s never going to see me like I see him. So I take their advice, and try to move on.

But Jackson is always right there. In my face. Running to my rescue. And when I meet someone else, Jackson isn’t having it. For some reason, he’s suddenly determined to stay in my life. Right by my side.

Now he says he wants me, but does he want an actual relationship? Or is that he can’t stand the thought of losing me to another guy?

It’s time to find out what Jackson truly wants…and I’m going to make him work for it.

For me.

•••••••

REVIEW:THE SOPHOMORE is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult COLLEGE YEARS romance series -a spin off from the author’s THE CALLAHANS and ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND series. This is nineteen year old, college sophomore and singer Jackson Rivers, and eighteen year old college student Ellie Jessup’s story line. You do not have to have read The Callahans to follow but I recommend reading the series for back story and cohesion as The College Years focuses on the secondary characters from the previous series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ellie and Jackson) THE SOPHOMORE follows the friends to lovers relationship between nineteen year old, college sophomore and singer Jackson Rivers, and eighteen year old college student Ellie Jessup. Ellie has been in love with Jackson Rivers for as long as she can remember but Jackson’s attitude runs hot and cold as it pertains to our story line heroine. A summer touring to promote his music culminates in a concert where Jackson screws up royally with regards to our story line heroine, a screw up for which he is about to pay dearly. Returning for his second year in college, Jackson reconsiders his future as both a member of the college football team, and his music but struggles with his relationship with Ellie Jessup. As Jackson tries to keep his distance, our hero sees green whenever anyone else vies for our heroine’s affection but a final ultimatum by Ellie forces Jackson to look long and hard at what he wants, and Jackson wants Ellie more than he could have ever imagined. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jackson and Ellie, and the potential fall-out as Jackson doesn’t believe he is worthy of love, or his own happily ever after.

For several years Ellie and Jackson have danced around one another but Jackson has always held himself back, giving mixed signals, pushing and pulling at the heart of our story line heroine. Jackson’s summer on tour showed a different side to life, the potential for fame and women, and Jackson took full advantage of what was offered. Ellie Jessup knew that Jackson owned every bit of her heart but Jackson’s attitude often portrayed an indifference regarding our story line heroine.

The relationship between Jackson and Ellie is a friends to lovers that struggles in the face of a lack of communication, fear of rejection, and thoughts of failure. Jackson is unable to commit to our heroine believing he is unworthy , and Ellie battles between head and heart knowing there will come a time when she will have to say good bye-forever. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line couples and characters play secondary and supporting characters.We are introduced to Ellie’s classmate Carson, a potential love interest for our story line heroine, as well as a cameo from Drew and Fable Callahan (One Week Girlfriend et al)

THE SOPHOMORE is a story friends, family, and relationships; of conflict and confusion; of acceptance and love. The premise is impassioned and compelling; the romance is tender; the characters are spirited and moving.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one THE FRESHMAN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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The Freshman (College Years 1) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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The Freshman (College Years 1) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3sibZe2

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 22, 2021

I started flirting with a guy while waiting for my car to be serviced. Now granted, he wasn’t just any guy. Tall. Dark. Hot. Mysterious. Can you blame me for wanting to talk to him? He’s in town visiting his parents. So am I. He goes to the same college as I do. Such a coincidence. Almost as if our meeting is destined…

But I shouldn’t believe in that sort of thing. I am single as a Pringle and always ready to mingle. Until I keep running into Mr. Tall, Dark and Mysterious everywhere I go. Tony Sorrento. Turns out he’s on the football team. I mean, I’m not one to chase after a sexy jock but, okay. I’m down. And did I mention he’s only a freshman?

Our fathers are business rivals, and they forbid us from dating. We need to keep this on the low. Can we remain friendly? Sure. Maybe turn our friendship into friends with benefits? Most definitely. Here’s the thing though. I didn’t plan on catching feelings for him so quickly. Seems like he’s falling pretty hard for me too.

Defying our fathers’ wishes is only asking for trouble, but is being with Tony worth the risk?

••••••••

REVIEW:THE FRESHMAN is the first instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult THE COLLEGE YEARS romance series-a spin off from the author’s THE CALLAHANS. This is eighteen year old, college freshman Tony Sorrento, and twenty year old junior Hayden Channing’s story line. You do not have to have read The Callahans but I recommend reading the series for back story and cohesion as The College Years focuses on the secondary characters from the previous series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tony and Hayden) THE FRESHMAN follows the forbidden relationship between eighteen year old college freshman Tony Sorrento, and twenty year old college junior Hayden Channing. Hayden and Tony had never met before the day they found themselves at the local car dealership but unbeknownst to our couple, Tony and Hayden’s father were business rivals, and as such were forbidden from seeing one another. Upon their return to college, Tony would run into Hayden, on the first of many meetings that would eventually lead to a romantic affair but as Tony’s love for Hayden grew, threats of another nature would force Tony to chose sides between the woman with whom he was falling in love, and the family he hadn’t been close to in a very long time. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Tony and Hayden, and the potential fall-out as keeping their relationship a secret is about to be exposed.

Hayden Channing struggles with the age difference between herself and Tony but more so the possibility that her relationship with Tony is about to affect her father’s business. Tony knows that once their relationship is exposed, there may be no going back but the Sorrento family dynamics is slowly deteriorating from within.

The relationship between Hayden and Tony is one of immediate attraction but their father’s rivalry is threatening any possibility of a happily ever after. Hayden continues to struggle with Tony’s age, and Tony struggles with what is happening back home. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most if not all of the The Callahan leading couples. We are reintroduced to the original supporting characters, all of whom will have their own story to tell: Jackson and Caleb.

THE FRESHMAN is a fast paced, wonderful and exciting story line of forbidden romance; a slight age-gap love affair that is reinforced by Hayden’s continuous need to reflect on their differences. The premise is entertaining and captivating; the romance is tender and seductive; the characters are energetic and familiar but I struggled with the immature nature and attitude of the parents, often times reminiscent of what you would find in a young adult story line.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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Fighting for You (The Callahans #5) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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Fighting for You (The Callahans #5) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N Paper /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 11, 2021

Diego Garcia.
Class bully.
Football star.
My boyfriend.

I fell hard and fast for the resident bad boy and he fell just as hard for me too. We were the perfect couple, until things turned sour.

Senior year and we’re both super busy. He has football. I have volleyball. Soon enough, I hear the rumors – Diego’s cheating on me. After everything we’ve been through, I’m devastated. Breaking up with him was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. He doesn’t love me. Besides, only a few more months of school, and then I’m going away to college. And Diego will be permanently out of my life.

Until I find out I’m pregnant. And now we’re forever tied together

••••••••

REVIEW: FIGHTING FOR YOU is the fifth instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young adult THE CALLAHANS erotic, romance series focusing on the second generation of the Callahans and their extended family and friends-a spin off from the author’s ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND series. This is high school seniors Diego Garcia, and Jocelyn Douglas’ story line. FIGHTING FOR YOU can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as Jocelyn and Diego’s story begins in book three ADDICTED TO HIM.

NOTE: FIGHTING FOR YOU is a young adult story line ( characters under eighteen years of age) with adult sexual situations including a teenaged pregnancy, that may not be suitable for more younger readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jocelyn and Diego) FIGHTING FOR YOU follows in the aftermath of Jocelyn’s discovery that she is pregnant with her ex-boyfriend Diego’s baby, and with it the realization that she may have lost Diego, forever. Diego is a star player on his high school football team, and as such laps up the praise and attention of the female student body but Jocelyn and Diego’s relationship had hit a bumpy road, and with hit, the school girls threw themselves at our hero, ensuring his reputation and conquests found the ear of our story line heroine. Having loved and lost, Jocelyn struggled with issues of trust, and one final threat to her relationship with Diego meant Jocelyn was willing to go it alone. Months will pass before Diego and Jocelyn reconnect for the sake of their child but the months were heart breaking for our story line hero. What ensues is the back and forth, struggling relationship between Jocelyn and Diego, and the fall-out as dysfunctional family dynamics, secrets and lies, manipulation and vindictiveness threaten any potential future for our story line couple.

Diego Garcia is and was the proverbial high school football star, feeding his ego and reputation by flirting with every available girl but Diego’s actions are about to destroy the one true love and relationship he has ever known, and with it the possibility of seeing the child he may never know. Struggling with a dysfunctional home life, Diego makes a permanent break, and finds himself alone for the very first time. Jocelyn Douglas comes from a wealthy and connected family but our heroine’s reputation is destroyed by a teenaged pregnancy, and the antics of a mean –girl who is determined to take down our story line heroine. Believing she and her child are better off without Diego Garcia, Jocelyn finds herself a single parent but a parent missing the man she will always love.

The relationship between Jocelyn and Diego is a high school romance broken by the desperation of a high school bully, and the teenaged pregnancy of two students too young to commit to anything beyond the present. Diego Garcia has never stopped loving our story line heroine, and in this, the truth about the rumors continue to fuel the rage and heart break of the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of familiar secondary and supporting characters: Drew and Fable Callahan (One Week Girlfriend); Eli Bennett and Ava Callahan: fellow football players Caleb, Wyatt and Tony: Jocelyn’s friend Ellie, and Jackson Rivers; Diego’s long suffering mother Rosa, his brother Mateo, their cousin Marty; Jocelyn’s parents, as well as mean girl and bully Cami Lockhart.

FIGHTING FOR YOU is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; of betrayal and vengeance; secrets and lies; abuse, manipulation, teenage pregnancy, rumors and heart break. The premise is emotional and dramatic; the romance is fated but destructive; the characters are broken, sensational and struggling.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Close To Me
Falling for Her
Addicted to Him
Meant to Be

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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‘TIS THE SEASON FOR ROMANCE Anthology -Reviews

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‘TIS THE SEASON FOR ROMANCE Anthology -reviews

‘Tis The Season for Romance anthology features NINE NEVER BEFORE RELEASED novellas from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors, and was only available for a limited time in December 2020.

I have posted my  reviews for six of the novellas, and the links for the individual books now available for purchase.

•••••••

THE DETOUR by K. Bromberg

Release Date: January 1, 2021

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Bestselling author, Harley Humbug, needs an escape.
From the current state of her own love life.
From her deadline she blew past weeks ago.
From Christmas that’s just around the corner and the bad luck it usually brings with it.

When a snowstorm causes a road closure, she chalks it up to one more thing to go wrong.
Little does she know the detour will take her to a town she never knew existed, and right into the path—and possible arms—of a man who might just be her real-life muse.

______

REVIEW: THE DETOUR by K. Bromberg is a contemporary, adult Christmas short focusing on romance writer Harley Humbug, Mayor / bar owner Saint Nick and a snowstorm that strands our heroine in Saint Nick’s Hollow.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Saint and Harley) THE DETOUR follows the quick building relationship and one-night stand between romance writer Harley Humbug, and Mayor / bar owner Saint Nick. Harley Humbug has lost her muse; she is struggling to write, and the holidays are something of which she is not looking forward. Stranded in St. Nick’s Hollow, a virtual Christmas village Harley will get the inspiration she needs from the man that stirs something she hasn’t felt in a very long time-magic.

THE DETOUR is a character driven, short story with a sexy hero and a lost heroine who will find her muse in the unlikeliest of places. The story ends abruptly, I am hoping for more.

•••••••••••

 

SHIELDING JAYME by Susan Stoker

Available : January 5, 2021

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: After a decade of hard work and dedication, Jayme Caldwell’s dreams of a Seattle bakery are whisked out from under her. She’s licking her wounds in Killeen, Texas, living with her memaw, Winnie, while contemplating her future. Of course, Memaw knows exactly the kind of future her granddaughter needs…and it starts with a handsome young man she tricks into having dinner with Jayme. She’d be upset…if the man wasn’t something straight out of any red-blooded woman’s fantasies.

Rocket Long never suspected the sweet little old lady he’d befriended at the grocery store would turn out to be a conniving matchmaker, cleverly setting him up with her beloved granddaughter. But once he lays eyes on Jayme, Rocket can’t be too upset. Especially when, at forty, he’d already given up on finding “the one.” Suddenly, the love and family he’d all but given up on could be his for the taking.

But life is precious. And short. And happiness can be snatched away in the space of a breath. All things Rocket may discover the hard way…before he even gets his ring on Jayme’s finger.

________

REVIEW: SHIELDING JAYME is the fourth instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult DELTA TEAM TWO, romantic suspense series. This is baker Jayme Caldwell, and helicopter mechanic Rocket Long’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jayme and Rocket) SHIELDING JAYME follows the building romance and relationship between baker Jayme Caldwell, and helicopter mechanic Rocket Long. Having moved from Seattle to Killeen Texas after her dreams of owning her own bakery died, Jayme moved in with her Grandmother in an effort to reconsider her future plans but Jayme never expected her Memaw to play matchmaker. Enter helicopter mechanic Rocket Long. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Rocket and Jayme, and the potential fall-out as danger comes to Killeen on Christmas Eve.

SHIELDING JAYME is a story of family, friendships, goals and ideals. The premise is impassioned; the characters are flirty and passionate; the romance is tender, provocative and intense.

••••••••••••••

CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY by Devney Perry

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

Release Date: January 1, 2021

ABOUT THE BOOK: From USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry comes an Eden series prequel.

Cleo Hillcrest would rather cancel Christmas than endure another one of her father’s pretentious holiday parties, making small talk with his rich colleagues and her stepmother’s shallow friends. She’s leaving home to spend three peaceful and quiet days in Quincy, Montana, trading gifts and grandeur for room service and slippers.

But she should have expected her family to thwart her plans. The minute she finishes unpacking her suitcase at the quaint Eloise Inn, Austin Myles knocks on her room door.

As the head of her father’s security team, Austin’s been ordered to drag Cleo back to California. Only when she refuses to leave, he has no choice but to stay. After a Christmas in Quincy, everything between them is about to change.

__________

REVIEW: CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY is the introductory novella in Devney Perry’s contemporary, adult THE EDENS romance series focusing on the town and people of Quincy, Montana. This is twenty-eight year old, bakery owner Cleo Hillcrest, and thirty-three year old, security specialist Austin Myles.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cleo and Austin) CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY follows tech heiress and bakery shop owner Cleo Hillcrest n the few days before Christmas. Wanting to spend some time alone, our heroine heads to Quincy Montana, only to find herself facing a member of her father’s security team, sent to bring our heroine back into the fold. Enter Austin Myles, Cleo’s long time crush, and the man with whom Cleo would fall in love. As Austin struggles to bring Cleo back home, our heroine finally comes to terms with the who and what of what she wants.

CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY is a story of family, relationships, honesty and love. The premise is spirited ; the characters are sassy and energetic; the romance is edgy and intimate.

••••••••••

CODE NAME: GRACE (Jamieson Force Security 6.5) by Sawyer Bennett

ONLY 99 ¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK:
As the resident psychiatrist at Jameson Force Security, I make it my business to know all about our team—the good, the bad, and everything in between. But for every secret of theirs I hold close, I have secrets of my own I hold closer. I’m not trying to hide my history, but…it’s complicated. And that’s putting it mildly. It’s easier to keep my past firmly in the past, until the day a familiar face walks through my office door.

Clay Brandeis is the only one who knows my whole story. Through the darkest period of my life, he was by my side. A friend and confidant. I once thought he was something more, but he walked away and left me wondering how I got it so wrong.

After all these years, one look at him and I know I wasn’t wrong at all. His handsome face, his strong and steady demeanor, despite the icy glare he’s throwing my way. My heart wasn’t wrong about Clay Brandeis, and this Christmas, I’m determined to make sure he knows it too.

______

REVIEW: CODE NAME GRACE is the latest novella in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult JAMIESON FORCE SECURITY erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Jameson Force Security. This is twenty-nine year old, psychiatrist Dr. Corinne Ellery, and thirty-seven year old, FBI Agent Clay Brandeis’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Clay and Corinne) CODE NAME: GRACE follows the rebuilding romance and relationship between our leading couple. Nine years earlier, Agent Clay Brandeis was the leading investigator on the Salt Slasher serial killer case, and Corinne’s parents were the killer’s final victims. Believing his inaction caused the death of Corinne’s parents, Clay ran from the woman who had stolen his heart. Fast forward to present day wherein a Christmas Eve snowstorm has ‘trapped’ our hero with the woman he failed. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Clay and Corinne as Clay continues to struggle with the guilt of Corinne’s parent’s death.

CODE NAME: GRACE is a wonderfully sexy and decadent second chance Christmas romance. The premise is heart warming; the romance is provocative; the characters are energetic, a little bit broken and lost.

••••••

BOYFRIEND (True North) by Sarina Bowen

REVIEW: BOYFRIEND is a contemporary, new adult, hockey romance short found in Sarina Bowen’s world of the TRUE NORTH series,and the upcoming multi-authored Moo U anthology. This is waitress Abbi, and Vermont college hockey player Weston Griggs.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Abbi and Weston) BOYFRIEND focuses on the fake relationship between college junior/ waitress Abbi, and Vermont college hockey player Weston Griggs.With the approach of the Thanksgiving holiday, Canadian Weston Griggs, choosing t remain in Vermont, hires himself out as a temporary boyfriend, something our heroine needs in the face of returning home for the holidays, a home where she no longer feels comfortable or welcome. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Abbi and Weston, as Weston must run inference on more than one occasion.

BOYFRIEND is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and lust. The premise is engaging; the romance is sweet; the characters are colorful and fun but the story line ends rather abruptly. I am going to presume the author has plans for their continuing story.

•••••••••••

BLIND DATE by Monica Murphy

REVIEW: BLIND DATE by Monica Murphy is the most recent instalment in the author’s contemporary, adult DATING romance series. This is twenty-six year old. jewellery clerk Amelia Lee, and twenty-one year old Isaac Jones’ story line. Several characters from the previous DATING instalments appear as secondary and supporting characters.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Amelia ad Isaac) BLIND DATE follows Amelia as she is tasked to select a Christmas tree for the family owned jewellery store, and runs into twenty-one year old, tree farm worker Isaac Jones (first introduced in HOLIDATE #3), a young man who would unknowingly become her blind date aka plus one for her friend’s wedding To Isaac and Amelia’s shock, neither one was aware of their impending matchup, a matchup that would become a happily ever after.

BLIND DATE is a story of family, friendships and love. The premise is inviting; the romance is sweet but mostly implied; the characters are feisty and flirty.

•••••••••••

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Wedding Date (Dating 6) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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Wedding Date (Dating 6) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2020

Kelsey Phillips is over the dating scene.

All that time and energy perfecting your profile and taking just the right picture and articulating exactly what you’re looking for, only to get the same sleazy propositions? No thanks. She’s doing just fine on her own, so there’s no point in a fruitless hunt for “the one” that doesn’t exist.

Besides, she already has the perfect man in her life. Theo is the type of friend who’s always there for a laugh, a hug, or a drink– and no propositions.

So when he somehow manages to agree to be a groomsman in his ex-fiancée’s wedding to his cousin, the least Kelsey can do is be his date.

But why stop at doing the least?

Pretending to be in a relationship is easy. They already know everything about each other. And it sure isn’t hard to fake attraction to a guy as gorgeous as Theo. Soon enough, the only pretense left is that they haven’t fallen for each other for real… and the very small matter of the secret Kelsey’s been keeping. Can a fake relationship survive this real revelation?

•••••••

REVIEW:WEDDING DATE is the sixth and final instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult erotic, romance DATING series focusing on a tight knit group of friends. This is thirty-three year old, investment manager Theo Crawford, and twenty-seven year old PA Kelsey Phillips’ story line. WEDDING DATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Several characters from the previous instalments cross over for familiarity.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kelsey and Theo) WEDDING DATE follows the friends to lovers relationship between thirty-three year old, investment manager Theo Crawford, and twenty-seven year old PA Kelsey Phillips. Several months earlier, Theo and Kelsey were set up on blind dates only to have their respective matches fall in love with one another. Having just discovered his fiancé in bed with his cousin Craig, Theo struggled in the aftermath but found himself in a friendly relationship with our story line heroine. An invitation to his cousin Craig’s wedding to his former fiancé Jess, means Theo needs a plus one in an effort to prove he has moved on with someone else. Enter Kelsey Phillips, the woman with whom Theo will fall in love. What ensues is the fake boyfriend/girlfriend relationship between Kelsey and Theo that quickly turns into something more, and the potential fall-out as Kelsey has a secret that is about to be revealed.

Kelsey Phillips is a strong-willed, confident and sexy heroine who doesn’t do relationships and refuses to acknowledge the proverbial elephant in the room-her attraction to our hero Theo Crawford but when Theo struggles with the invite to his ex-fiance’s wedding, Kelsey steps up to make sure Theo has her support including the benefit of a girlfriend to his cousin’s wedding. Theo Crawford was quickly falling in love with Kelsey, and knew she was the woman that called to his heart but Kelsey was keeping a secret that was going to destroy any semblance of a happily ever after, and in this, Theo struggled with perceived betrayal, and the potential loss of the woman he loved.

The relationship between Kelsey and Theo is a friends to lovers, fake boyfriend /girlfriend relationship in which our couple are quick to fall in love. Kelsey is the one to push Theo into accepting his ex-fiance’s wedding invitation, and in this Kelsey is going to ensure Theo has moved beyond his heart break and pain. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters most of whom we have me in previous story lines. We are introduced to Theo’s siblings: Max, Mason, Camden and Ali, as well as their parents Patricia and Jim. I am hoping the author has plans for a Crawford siblings series.

WEDDING DATE is a story of friendships, relationships, family and love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is flirty and seductive; the characters are energetic and fun. I will add I thought the ending was rather abrupt-I am thinking there are more stories to tell !

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Save the Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate to Date you
Rate a Date

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

 

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MEANT TO BE (The Callahans 4) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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MEANT TO BE (The Callahans #4) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt tour

MEANT TO BE
The Callahans #4 : Eli and Ava #2
by Monica Murphy
Release Date: October 22, 2020
Genre: young adult, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/33uZUqV

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 22, 2020

Ava Callahan.

Love of my life.

Wrecker of my soul.

I would have sworn on anything that what we shared was real.

But she broke my trust. And then my heart. I don’t think I can piece it back together without her, but I’m sure gonna try.

I’m better off on my own, anyways, right? Who needs girls when you have football?

If only I believed that. Look, when you need someone in your life, you don’t want to let her go. And I can’t let go of Ava. I love her. She loves me. Nothing can convince me otherwise. It’s as simple as that. I know no matter what, this girl belongs to me. We may have issues, but we’re meant to be. So I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back.

Even if I have to fight dirty.

••••••••

REVIEW: MEANT TO BE is the fourth instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young adult THE CALLAHANS erotic, romance series focusing on the second generation of the Callahan family; and the second half of sixteen year old, Ava Callahan and seventeen year old, Eli Bennett’s story. MEANT TO BE should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of ADDICTED TO HIM (The Callahans #3).

NOTE: MEANT TO BE is a young adult story line ( characters under eighteen years of age) with adult sexual situations that may not be suitable for more younger readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ava and Eli) MEANT TO BE follows in the aftermath of what Eli Bennett believes is a betrayal by the young woman with whom he has fallen in love. Eli’s family life is a mess but he never expected the world to be witness to their embarrassing fall-out. Blaming Ava sends our heroine down a rabbit hole of disbelief pushing Ava to discover the who and how of what happened and why. As Ava and Eli’s relationship is threatened by outside sources, Eli’s acrimonious relationship with Ava’s brother Jake continues to fester and draw ire from family and friends. What ensues is the continuing and building romance and relationship between Eli and Ava, and the potential fall-out as issues of jealousy, family dynamics, and competition between opposing football teams both on and off the field, threaten Eli and Ava’s tenuous hold on their already struggling relationship.

Ava Callahan has it all but believes herself to be the black sheep in a family of successful athletes and stars. The requisite mean girls push our heroine over the edge, and Ava finds herself on the outside looking in when she has finally had enough. Her relationship with Eli is fodder between friends and enemies, and in this Ava’s brother Jake struggles with his sister’s love for a boy he doesn’t deem worthy but all is not well in the Bennett household, and the fall-out begins to affect the young man Ava loves.

The relationship between Ava and Eli is one of the forbidden. Ava’s parents are not thrilled with Eli’s reputation, a reputation fuelled by her brother’s hatred and distrust of a young man whose family life is spiralling out of control. Eli’s reputation both on and off the football field has followed our young hero into his relationship with Ava Callahan, and in this Eli tries to prove he is worthy of Ava’s love. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful energetic and charismatic secondary and supporting characters including Fable and Drew Callahan, Owen and Chelsea McGuire (One Week Girlfriend series): Jake and Hannah (Falling For Her #2), Autumn and Ash (Close to Me #1); Ava’s best friend Ellie; Jake’s ex-girlfriend Cami, and rival football players Diego, Wyatt, Jackson and Caleb. The requisite mean-girls continue to be all up in Ava’s face.

MEANT TO BE is a story of family, friendships, and relationships; a story of rivalry and competition, of heart break and love. MEANT TO BE is a young adult story line with all of the requisite YA plot points including mean girls, jealousy, sex, drugs, drinking and fights. The premise is captivating : the romance is tender and seductive; the characters are young and struggling to come into their own.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Close To Me
Falling for Her
Addicted to Him

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Can you die from a broken heart? Not asking for a friend.
The street is empty. Eli is long gone. I clutch my phone in my hand so tight, my fingers cramp up. He won’t respond to my texts or my calls. He’s ghosting me.
Pain radiates from my chest, a constant, throbbing reminder that Eli just destroyed me with a few choice words. He doesn’t believe me. Worse, he doesn’t trust me. I never told my brother about his parents. I don’t know who did. Eli may have hinted at things and flat out told me his mother drank too much, but he never talked about his dad cheating. And why would I tell Jake any of that?
There’s no way I ever would.
So who did?
I make my way to the backyard to find my entire family is gone. Glancing toward the kitchen windows, I see they’re inside. Waiting for me. My parents and Jake, who’s sitting on a barstool at the counter with a glower on his freshly abused face. It serves him right that Eli got a few punches in. I don’t even feel bad that it happened, though I suppose I should.
Mom catches my gaze and raises her brows, the look on her face plainly telling me, get in here.
If I could turn around and run away, I would. I’d run and run and run until I was out of breath and so, so far, no one could find me again.
But I don’t move. I definitely don’t go inside. Not yet. Dad says something to Mom, and I can tell they’re having a minor argument. About me? I wonder if she told Dad about our little secret. How she knew about Eli and I dating.
My gaze sweeps over the scene of the crime, AKA the spot where Jake and Eli fought. The moonlight catches on something on the ground, making it glint and I kneel down, reaching toward the shiny piece. My fingertips touch cool metal and I grasp it between my fingers.
A gold #1 pendant. Eli’s. I feel around for the chain, almost desperately, on my hands and knees, but I don’t see it. I wonder if he knows he lost it. I’m sure he’ll be upset. He loves this necklace and the fact that his father gave it to him.
But would he want to know I have it?
Maybe.
Maybe that’ll be my one way to reach out to him. I have something he wants.
Unfortunately, from the way everything just went down, it’s not me.
“Ava!” I lift my head to find my mother standing in the open doorway of the kitchen, her expression somber. “Come inside. Now.”
Rising to my feet, I clutch the pendant in my palm and march toward my punishment. I hang my head as I enter the kitchen, not wanting to look at any of them. Especially Jake. His anger radiates off of him, all of it aimed straight at me. Mom closes the door but, otherwise, says nothing. Neither does Jake. Or Dad.
It’s a very uncomfortable silence full of thick tension that seems to last ten minutes, but is probably more like thirty seconds before my dad can’t take it any longer.
“Ava.” His tone is firm, yet gentle. He’s mad, but he doesn’t want to show it. “Tell me what Eli Bennett was doing at our house at this time of night.”
Jake snorts. “What do you think—”
“Enough,” Dad says, silencing my big brother.
This gives me immense satisfaction. Lifting my head, I meet my father’s gaze head on. “We’re together. Well…we were.” 


 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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