• Hard Fall by Brenda Rothert and Kat Mizera

     

    First and foremost, don’t start this book without tissues nearby.  I had tears in my eyes a lot during this book, I am sure you will too.  The thing about oil and water is they don’t mix well , however, when they are put together, they make the most delicious dressing you ever tasted.  That is Wes and Hadley in a nutshell.  They both had growing up to do in the seven years that they knew each other.  It takes a nudge from the heavens to get them to work with each other and realize what their guardian angels knew from the beginning, they were perfect for each other.  The kids just make this story that much better and they will tug on your heartstrings.  A great book.

     

    The St. Louis Mavericks are having the best season in team history. On pace for a pro hockey record, the unexpected death of their captain and star player knocks them off course in ways they never expected.

    Weston

    My world was turned upside down the day Ben Whitmer died. Best friends since junior hockey, Ben was like a brother to me. My voice of reason and a grounding force on and off the ice. But as heartbroken as I am, I don’t have the luxury of grieving his loss.

    Not only do I have to hold our team together, I was named guardian of the two young children Ben and his wife left behind. Well, not just me—me and his wife’s best friend, Hadley. We’ve been left with the impossible task of deciding which of us will raise the kids, but there’s no way I’m letting that uptight ball buster have them.

    Lines are drawn, but they begin to blur as I find out there’s more to Hadley than I thought. A lot more.

    Hadley

    I can’t take the place of my beautiful best friend in her children’s lives. But I love them so fiercely that I’ll do whatever it takes to raise them the way their parents wanted.

    Wes Kirby is an obnoxious womanizer, and I won’t let him take Ben and Lauren’s children from me. Deciding to temporarily live together in our friends’ home, we attempt to provide the kids stability while we figure out which of us is better suited to raising them.

    As we learn parenthood together, my enemy Wes slowly becomes something different. Something more. And I’m left wondering not only if I’m enough for the kids, but if Wes and I are enough to last.

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    ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

    Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.

     

     

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    USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Kat Mizera is a South Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she’s called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Atlanta home. She’s never been able to pick which locale is her favorite, but if pressed, she’d probably choose the west coast.

    A typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max), Kat can usually be found scrapbooking or indulging in her second love (after writing) – traveling. Greece is one of her favorite places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible.

    Kat’s been a working freelance writer for nearly 30 years. She sold her first article–a review of a rock concert–for $10 in 1985. Since then she’s been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent some time working at A & M Records in Los Angeles.

    As you can guess from her Las Vegas Sidewinders series, Kat loves hockey and occasionally writes articles about her favorite team, the Florida Panthers. The rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes makes you as happy as it makes her. There’s something enticing about hockey players and romance…

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  • Code Name: Tiara – Sawyer Bennett

    This book had a lot of elements to that Roman Holiday and The Princess Diaries came to my mind a few times, but only at certain points. This book is much more sexy and erotic with a drop dead Hero and Heroine that is more than just your ordinary Princess. If you want to know if the Princess finds her Prince, you will have to read this book and find out. A book worth reading.

     

    I joined Jameson Force Security for three reasons: the missions, the danger, and the money. I definitely didn’t join the team to be an overpriced babysitter for a spoiled princess. Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you Jackson Gale is an adventurer through and through. Yet here I am, halfway across the world, watching over Princess Camille of the House Winterbourne. Even her name sounds stuck up.

    After arriving in Bretaria, I realize that Princess Camille is nothing that I expected. Beautiful, smart, and sophisticated, Camille is the very picture of elegance and grace. But under her perfect façade, she is funny, adventurous, sexy as hell, and impossible to resist. And that is a dangerous combination.

    The closer Camille and I become, the more obvious it is that while she and I are compatible in many ways, our destinies are not. She has a duty to the monarchy, and I’m just an average American who’s fallen for a princess. Everyone says we can’t be together, but how does one walk away from the other half of their heart?

    Code Name: Tiara is available now:

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    AUTHOR INFORMATION:

    New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

    A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

    If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

     

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  • 9/11 – Never Forget 20th Anniversary

    Every year since I started this blog, I have taken this day to repeat what this day in history was like for me.  I cannot believe it has been 20 years since that fateful day.  I guess since my son is 20, it shouldn’t be so shocking, but it seems like yesterday.  Some of you may have already read this, and others never have.  Either way, I tell my story to heal my soul.  
    We all have a story.  We all know exactly where we were, what we were doing, and who we were with when we first learned of this tragedy.     
    My heart goes out to all those who died that day and for those first responders, loving citizens who worked downtown, and their families who have died since then due to 9/11 illnesses.  You are in my heart and prayers always.
    I would be amiss in blogging if today, of all days, I didn’t blog about the day that changed the U.S.  So, here is my story from that fateful day.
    The morning of September 11, 2001 was a beautiful clear Tuesday on Long Island.  It was Primary Day here in New York.  My husband had taken me to vote and then he was going to take me work because he was off that day and was going to hang out with our then 7 month old son.  As we left the polling place, we heard on the news that a plane hit one of the Towers.  I don’t know if you know this fact, but it isn’t unheard of for that to happen in New York City.  As we were listening to reports, my husband (who at the time was getting his pilot’s license and had already soloed) shook his head and said that there is no way that plane was a small plane like first reports were saying.  His cop sense was tingling and he said I am taking us to your Mom’s house.  He said he had a feeling that he was going to be called in.  
    We arrived at my mom’s house and we got our first view of the Tower on the television my mom was watching. Hubby was sure at that time that it was a large commercial jet and that it was almost impossible for this not to have been on purpose.  As we were discussing this, we saw before our eyes the second plane hit the Tower. Like everyone else watching the events that played out on the screen we were open mouthed and wide-eyed. Hubby kissed my son, who was now staying with my mom; got the stay safe speech from my mom; and then took me to work.  I kissed him and told him to pack extra underwear, deodorant, pop tarts and whatever else he can think of and be careful and that I loved him.
    As I sit there at work, nothing work got done.  Hubby was called in and was told to get Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn to get assignments.  He called me to let me know.  That was the last time I spoke to him for 2 or 3 days.  Twelve (now 20) years later I can’t recall the actual number, but at the time, it felt like forever.  When I went online at work to one of the news stations; I watched as the Pentagon got hit, then each Tower fall, then heard of the plane crash in a field of Pennsylvania.  My heart went out to all of those people and their families and I couldn’t wait to go home and see my son.  
    A friend at work took me to my mom’s house and my mom took me home to pack a bag for me and my son so we could stay with her.  We didn’t know what would be happening and she didn’t want me to be by myself. Quite frankly, I didn’t want to be alone either.  We all prayed for everyone who was killed, injured, all of the selfless civilians and of course all of the NY/NJ/Federal  heroes who put their own lives at risk to save others.  
    After I finally heard from Hubby, I realized I could finally breathe.  Felt like I stopped when I kissed him when he left that fateful morning.  He told me briefly that he got to Ground Zero just after the second Tower fell and he had spent a good amount of time thereafter on “The Pile”.  He slept in the Church and was ready to head back out but said he would be home the next day but then go back.  We he came home I kissed him and we cried together.
    In the following months, hubby was assigned to morgue duty.  I know….the things he saw was not something I would wish on anyone to see, but he helped do something that would help loved ones “know”.  All I can say is that I could not buy black garbage bags for a few years afterwards.   My husband was assigned down at Ground Zero until May of 2002.  
    **Update – The one thing I forgot to add was the fact that while at work and freaking out you could see the smoke from the Towers in Manhattan from my office in Garden City.  That is about 45 minutes away by train.  My cousins in Brooklyn went on their roof and found papers from the Towers.  Sad.
    Today, he goes for health screenings.  He goes every six months and I thank God everyday that, so far, he is doing good.  I feel fortunate that he is healthy and is doing Biathlons, Triathlons (he is a half Ironman) and Marathons.  I am so proud of him. Too many of his friends or acquaintances either perished in 9/11 or are currently sick.  He doesn’t like to talk too much about that day.  Her used to take off of work every 9/11 to goes running or biking.  Now that he  is retired, he is working to stay away from the TV, that is where he is now.  
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    In memory of all the men and women who died that day and because of that day, do something nice for someone. Go see that old neighbor down the street and have coffee with them.  Take a cake to a firehouse or precinct and let them know how much you appreciate them.
    All gave some, some gave all.  Never forget.
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    ~Karen
     
     

  • Recent Reviews

    Eyes Wide Shut (Cackle Lands #4)Eyes Wide Shut by Cree Storm
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    I really liked this book for more than the romance. First and foremost, what I loved was Warren would do anything for Breeze, regardless of how much Breeze pushed him away. Second, the hero of this book is disabled, blind. It shows that just because someone has a disability, they aren’t weak or unable to do what is necessary. Not many books show a hero with a disability. It was friend storyline that I enjoyed.

    View all my reviews


  • Jett by Sawyer Bennett

     

    I don’t know why, but I always love a story that has a child involved.  Just the thought of a big, sexy guy becoming a pile of goo, wrapped around a child’s little finger does something to me.  Melts my heart.  Jett fills that role perfectly.  Who would have know that Social Media was a great way to pick up a woman who is resistant to going out with you.  I love how he posted thing she liked to his account.  How he used his ignorance to use Instagram to get a date.  I think my favorite scene was the daddy/daughter dance.  It both broke my heart, and filled my heart to near bursting.  A very emotional book.  A great read for sure.

     

    Jett Olsson isn’t looking for anything serious and she’s not looking for anything at all, so why does it seem so hard to keep it professional?

    I love my life—the thrill of being on the ice as part of the Arizona Vengeance, the rush of winning, the adoration of the fans. And if that adoration means I don’t have to spend the night alone, well even better. I’m content being single and always ready to mingle.

    But the day Emory Holland walks into a Vengeance team meeting my attention is caught like never before. I can tell right away she’s full of smarts and sass, and the fact that she’s hot as hell sure doesn’t hurt either. She immediately shuts down my advances, so I opt for the road less traveled—straight to the friend zone.

    My approach works like a charm, and when she invites me into her bed for a no-strings, friends-with-benefits arrangement, I vow to give her everything I have. She’s been hurt before, and if I’m able to help her heal while giving her a spectacularly satisfying time *pats self on back*, then I’ll be happy.

    Or at least that’s the lie I keep telling myself as the time ticks down on the final buzzer of our “relationship”. Now the real question is, can I score the winning goal in a game neither of us realized we were playing?


    https://sawyerbennett.com/giveaways/jett-giveaway/

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    AUTHOR INFORMATION:

    New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

    A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

    If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

     

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