Review of DEFENSIVE ZONE by Catherine Gayle

Catherine Gayle gives readers the HOTTEST book yet in the Portland Storm series!!! The youngest of the Weber clan, Dani, is used to getting her way and she has her sites set on Cody “Harry” Williams. While her at times childish and bullish pursuit of Harry can be downright annoying, Dani’s character will grow on the reader as she grows and matures throughout the book. The steamy scenes between Dani and Harry will more than make up for any qualms about Dani’s character. Harry himself is a terrific character that the readers will LOVE. After being teased with his story in previous books, it was great to finally get a chance to see what makes him tick. Readers will enjoy finding out why Dani mentally calls him “Dirty Harry”. He lives up to his nickname. Definitely recommend!

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Portland Storm defenseman Cody “Harry” Williams owes his coach everything—especially for bailing him out of trouble in the past. It’s up to Cody to repay him by keeping his hands to himself around the coach’s sensual and mischievous daughter. All signs point to this task being easier said than done…

Up-and-coming fashion designer Dani Weber always gets what she wants—and she wants Cody Williams. Cody’s sexy, geeky-chic bowties and hard-to-get attitude only make her want him more, and Cody’s resistance is fading…fast.

Review of RENEGADE RED by Lauren Bird Horowitz

***Now Available***

The exciting second book in “The Light Trilogy” by Lauren “Birdaileen” Horowitz will not disappoint readers that fell in love with the first book, SHATTERED BLUE. Oftentimes the sequel doesn’t live up to the original, but that isn’t the case with RENEGADE RED. Readers will be drawn back into the world created in SHATTERED BLUE and into the characters lives. Noa, Callum, and Judah are well drawn characters that readers will be sucked into their lives. Twists and turns abound that will leave readers guessing. Definitely recommend!
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Description 

ONLY A RENEGADE WILL SURVIVE
Reckless, desperate, and distraught, Noa Sullivan leaps into a collapsing Portal in the explosive finale of Shattered Blue —the jaw-dropping, award-winning first installment in The Light Trilogy —in wild hope of rescuing her little sister Sasha. Now Noa and the Fae brothers who love her—Callum and Judah Forsythe—must find a way to survive not only across worlds but between them, in places so treacherous and deceptive their own minds are twisted against them. As the three fight to survive their passage, they battle not only enemies but themselves, and their darkest, most difficult secrets.
Surviving, however, is only the beginning: Noa needs to find Sasha. That means becoming a warrior herself, one just as fierce as the magical brothers battling for her love. Across broken cities, underground labyrinths, rushing floods and endless skies; in the face of legions of armies, horrifying tyrants, and the most deceitful of friends, can Mortal Noa rescue her sister—and understand her own heart—in time to escape the most deadly of magic realms?

Review of SWINGING AT LOVE by Kendra Highley

***Available NOW***

The second book of the “Suttonville Sentinels” series, SWINGING AT LOVE, by Kendra C. Highley is a definite home run. Readers will fall in love with the wonderful main characters, Alyssa and Tristan. Perfect blend of high school drama; romance; following your heart; family dynamics; and baseball action. Part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Definitely recommend!

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Description

Outfielder Tristan Murrell has a problem. As the number two slugger for the Suttonville Sentinels, his team is counting on him to make their very first run at the state championship. But he has a secret—his swing has totally deserted him. As in, he can’t hit anything. He needs to fix the issue, and fast, but how?

Ballerina Alyssa Kaplan has a problem, too. The shiny new sports complex in town has left her family’s batting cage business on the verge of going under. Nailing her audition for a prestigious dance company is everything, but there’s no way she’s letting her some shiny big-box company destroy her family’s livelihood.
Tristan needs a miracle. So does Alyssa. And maybe, just maybe, Tristan’s secret weapon might be the girl of his dreams…

Review of OFF THE ICE by Julie Cross

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Julie Cross gives us a wonderful romance that will draw readers in from the very first page. This is not your typical YA book, full of fluff and hearts and stars. There are some controversial subjects brought up in the book, including: teen pregnancy; underage drinking; physical and emotional abuse; cancer; sexuality; and sex. They are brought up in such a way that they blend seamlessly into the story. There is no “shock and awe” intended. There is no conscious effort to “gotcha” the reader. The book manages to still be an enjoyable read despite the sometimes heavy subject matter. Readers will be drawn into the story and become invested in the character’s lives. Definitely recommend!
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Description
All is fair in love and hockey… 

Claire O’Connor is back in Juniper Falls, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be. One semester off, that’s what she promised herself. Just long enough to take care of her father and keep the family business—a hockey bar beside the ice rink—afloat. After that, she’s getting the hell out. Again.
Enter Tate Tanley. What happened between them the night before she left town resurfaces the second they lay eyes on each other. But the guy she remembers has been replaced by a total hottie.When Tate is unexpectedly called in to take over for the hockey team’s star goalie, suddenly he’s in the spotlight and on his way to becoming just another egotistical varsity hockey player. And Claire’s sworn off Juniper Falls hockey players for good.
It’s the absolute worst time to fall in love.
For Tate and Claire, hockey isn’t just a game. And they both might not survive a body check to the heart.

Review of GARDEN OF THORNS by Amber Mitchell

***Available NOW***

Exciting YA fantasy that will draw readers in from the very first page. Amber Mitchell creates an interesting world that is dark, violent, and broken yet manages to weave hope, love, romance, and friendship to light up the cracks. Readers will be drawn into the lives of the main characters, Rayce and Rose. Rose has lived the past ten years with lies, heartache, terror, and tears in The Garden under the thumb of the evil Gardener. Forced to dance and entertain, Rose has struggled to survive and has lived in constant fear of her past coming back to destroy her and everyone she loves. Rayce has his own struggles trying to lead a dangerous rebellion against his cruel uncle, the Emperor. Can two people struggling under the weight of their past bring each other out of the darkness and rise from the ashes or will the weight crush them? Readers will be eagerly turning pages to find out. Definitely recommend!
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Description

After seven grueling years of captivity in the Garden—a burlesque troupe of slave girls—sixteen-year-old Rose finds an opportunity to escape during a performance for the emperor. But the hostage she randomly chose from the crowd to aid her isn’t one of the emperor’s men—not anymore. He’s the former heir to the throne, who is now leading a rebellion against it.

Rayce is a wanted man and dangerously charismatic, the worst person for Rose to get involved with, no matter what his smile promises. But he assumes Rose’s attempt to take him hostage is part of a plot to crush the rebellion, so he takes her as his hostage. Now Rose must prove where her loyalties lie, and she offers Rayce a deal—if he helps her rescue the other girls, she’ll tell him all the Garden’s secrets.

Except the one secret she’s kept for seven years that she’ll to take to her grave if she must.