Dawn L. Chiletz Doesn't Lose With This Follow Up Novel

One of the things I like about having a little blog that focuses on little authors is how I get to watch them grow.  I love seeing a debut author release a second or third book, and seeing how much clearer their "voice" becomes.

This is the case with Dawn L. Chiletz.  I loved her characters in "The Contest" which you can get by clicking here.

But her voice is so much stronger in her new follow up novel, titled "Waiting to Lose".  Here's the synopsis as found on Amazon:

"What happens when you win a love you don't think you deserve?

Long distance relationships are tough and there are two sides to every story.  No one knows that better than Jake Morgan and Madi Ryan.  It's not just about falling in love; it's about staying together when everything in the world wants to tear you apart.

When Madi's attacker is released on bail, Jake decides he'll do everything in his power to protect the woman he loves, even if that means keeping secrets.  Strange emails and photos appear on Madi's computer, warning her that Jake is not what he seems.  Mari's faith in him begins to waver, especially when Jake becomes linked to beautiful actress, Allison Gregory.  Although he promises there is nothing between them, outside forces push Madi's trust in him to the breaking point.

Jake is willing to move heaven and earth to prove to Madi just how much she means to him.  But when everything in their lives comes crashing down, will Madi be able to trust her heart or will she lose the only man she's ever really loved?

Can two people stay together when one of them is always waiting to lose?"

I really enjoyed getting a chance to revisit these characters.  They are still charming and like normal, everyday people who you would want to hang out with.  So it was fun catching up with them.

The book itself was packed with so much story and so many twists and turns.  It was really a fun read!  It was very different than I thought it was going to be, and I liked that about it.  You can see what I mean by getting "Waiting to Lose" by clicking here.

Dawn L. Chiletz didn't lose on this one, earning herself 

Get "Caught" Up in This Collaboration

Little known fact about me:

I hate reading love triangles.

Hate it.  I cringe.  My stomach hurts.  I just don't like it.  Don't even get me started about how Jenn Sterling crushed me.  No amount of cupcakes she gives me will make me forgive her for ripping me apart. Nope, nope, nope.  Well, maybe if it was an ice cream cupcake....

I digress.....

Needless to say I was a little leery about reading "Caught" by AE Woodward and Erika Ashby.  I don't want to say too much about it because I don't want to give away the twists and turns.  So let me had over the floor to the Amazon synopsis:

"There's this boy.
He kinda owns my heart.

Who am I kidding?

He owns all of me--but he's completely oblivious to it.
And I can't tell him.

Because there's this girl.
And even though he's my best friend, she is too.

Then there's me...
CAUGHT between what feels so right, yet is so wrong."

And that, my friends, is how I'm going to leave the love triangle portion of this review.  

"Caught" was fun to read from the beginning.  And yes, my heart ached that she loved him so much and it wasn't reciprocated.  I mean, tears in my eyes type of ache.  We've all been there, ya know?

But then we get to this part of the book and all I could think was...

WTF just happened?  How did we get from this fun read of a book to.....THAT????!

And by THAT, I mean some weird, crazy stuff you never see coming and can't really figure out why it happened.  

Until the end.

But again, I digress.  Despite the weird, crazy stuff (and actually probably because of it), I couldn't put this book down.  I HAD to know what was going to happen!  I HAD to know where it would end up!  I HAD TO KNOW!!!

And once I found out, I wasn't disappointed.  In fact, my brain kind of spun for several hours after I was finished reading.

Here's the other really cool thing...you know how in a love triangle, you always feel terrible because you want two people together but you don't want the other person to get hurt and it makes you just feel all knocked off kilter?  I'm happy to report, by the end of the book, you are so completely satisfied with the outcome and happy with the way things are, there is no feeling off kilter.  It all feels a little more balanced.  Like it should have all been this way from the beginning.

I'm hoping that AE Woodward and Erika Ashby will give us more installments of this series.  I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to...well, I'll let you figure out who I want to know more about. Wouldn't want to accidentally spoil things for you, would I?  In the meantime, pick up "Caught" by clicking here.

AE Woodward and Erika Ashby "Caught" my attention for a very intriguing

Dear Trudy....Stop Making Me Cry

Let me just start out by saying....

I HATE TRUDY STILES!!!

Ok, so that's a lie.  I actually love her to pieces.  She is one of the kindest, most genuine authors I've met over the last few years.  Every time I've chatted with her in person, I've watched her greet every single person she meets with a smile.  And probably some wine.

BUT, I have spent the last two days being pulled through the emotional wringer because of that woman!  And dang...it was good.

Before I get to "Dear Juliet", the latest release by Ms. Stiles, I need to make sure you're up to speed with the rest of the "Forever Family" series.  

"Dear Emily" is the first in the series.  It's about a couple getting ready to adopt their first child.  A baby girl names Emily.  It's told from the perspective of the adoptive mom and the emotions she has as she impatiently waits for her baby; and the birth mom and the emotions she has as she pushes through to make the right decision for everyone. For any adoptive or birth mom out there, it is a must read.  This is where we've all been.  I wept when I read this one.  Get it by clicking here.

"Dear Tabitha" is the second book in the series.  It's a follow up to the birth mom's story as she struggles to build herself up and never have to be in that position again.  While it can be read as a stand alone, it make so much more sense if you read "Dear Emily" first.  I'm not gonna lie...I struggled with some parts of this book.  They were dark and disturbing. I can't tell you how many times I PM'd Ms. Stiles and told her I couldn't get through it.  But I did.  And I'm glad.  It was really nice seeing the birth mom go through the healing process.  Get it by clicking here.

But "Dear Juliet"....holy moly, "Dear Juliet"!!  This was just in a category all it's own.

It is told from the perspective of the birth mom's ex boyfriend and his childhood best friend.  Neither of their lives have been easy and I so enjoyed seeing the bond they had from the time they were small.  

I will say, I struggled with the first part of the book.  It was good, but I honestly didn't know what my rating would be.  I don't tell you this because there's any reason to discuss my particular hang ups.  I'm sure Ms. Stiles and I will have that conversation later (I'm sorry, Trudy, don't hate me!).  But I tell you that because if you have the same hang ups as me....DON'T LET IT STOP YOU!!!  You MUST finish this book! Here's why:

The entire time I was reading, I kept feeling like there was something on the tip of my brain.  Something I knew that I should know, but couldn't figure out.  As twists and turns and connections began to be revealed, I found my jaw dropping over and over and over.  The interweaving of the plot lines was absolutely brilliant.  The last time I yelled at a book when figured out what I knew from the beginning but didn't know that I knew (I promise that's supposed to make sense), was when I read a Colleen Hoover book.

Yes, I am comparing "Dear Juliet" to a Colleen Hoover book.  And coming from me, that is huge.  I never compare to the queen.  But the way "Dear Juliet" comes full circle is what I would expect from a Hoover book.  And now I expect it from Trudy Stiles.

No pressure.

Do not miss this series.  I'm in awe.  My brain is still spinning.  And I can't wait to watch other people's reactions to this book.  Get "Dear Juliet" by clicking here.

Despite my earliest reservations, the rest of it knocked this book out of the park for me.  Hands down...it gets a huge

Stacey Grice's Latest Work May Leave You Emotionally "Tapped"

Kristin here!  My next Diamond, Stacey Grice, isn't new to the blog, but this will be my first reviewing her.

Her newest book, Tapped, is the continuation of Totaled.  Though there is a slight recap of Totaled in the beginning of Tapped, I highly recommend reading Totaled first so you have an understand of the characters and the story.  Plus, it's great!  You can find Totaled by clicking here.  

However, if you already read Totaled, then here is your synopsis from Amazon for Tapped:

"Unexpectedly thrust into a whirlwind romance, Bree thought her relationship with Drew could withstand any obstacle thrown their way.  Excited for the future, everything she thought she knew came crashing down in one horrible night.  Forced to re-evaluate her feelings, Bree is left alone with a heavy heart and the realization that Drew's nightmare changed everything.  The effects of his trauma once again surfacing, Drew had no idea how volatile his actions were until it was too late.  He must work to rebuild trust with everyone around him, all while participating in vigorous therapy and being separated from Bree.  When a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity presents itself with impeccably poor time, Drew has some tough decisions ahead.  Can he heal the wounds his past has created and quiet the demons that haunt him? Can he repair the damage done with his love or will he give up?  Discover if it's all too much and Drew ends up...Tapped."

This story is filled with so many different feelings that I felt like I had whiplash!  Sue had me cracking up with her ever-hilarious "Sue-isms", while Bree and Drew had me clutching my heart in sympathy pains for their heartache.

I loved the nearly tangible bonds formed by Drew and his coach;  I think that relationship  was my favorite to see develop and grow throughout both books.  Some might not agree with me, but I know Drew and Pat.  I just know that deep down, they are both big softies!

These two books deal with some tough situations, so they won't be light, fluffy reads.  They are both excellent stories, but get intense at times.  Be ready with a glass of wine and a box of tissues, and you should be just find.

You can grab Tapped by clicking here:  

Author Stacey Grice and Tapped get a shiny 

Whitney Barbetti is Our Newest Diamond to Shine

Kristin here!

This is probably one of the most difficult reviews I've ever written. This book, "Ten Below Zero" by Whitney Barbetti, took me on one of the biggest roller coaster rides I've ever been on.  

As always, I went into this story blind.  I didn't read the synopsis and, yet again, I'm so glad I did.  And because of it, I won't give you the synopsis either.

I fell completely, utterly, 100% in love with this story from the beginning.  The characters had a spark that ignited my soul on such a deep level and I never wanted the story to end.  I could feel Parker's indifference to life begin to fade and could not wait to see how she broke down her self-imposed, steel-enforced walls.  I loved seeing the interactions between Parker and Everett.  I laughed at their banter and wished I could find them and become friends with them both.

The only problem I had with this story, and it's a big one, is that the editing just kind of petered out midway through the book.  The first half only had a few errors, but the last half had multiple.  Per page.  It started to detract from the beautiful story and at that point, I began to actually get pissed off. I was pissed off because this book is phenomenal.  Seriously, it is by far my favorite book of the year, and will probably have no problems remaining in that spot.  This story is so gut-wrenching, so touching, so powerful.  It needs to be devoured by everyone I know, and everyone I don't know.  Pretty much everyone needs to read this story.

I hate that I can't give it five diamonds, but with so many distracting editing errors, I just can't give it that last diamond.  On the story and content, it's a TEN.  I love it that much.  I only hope the author will seek out experienced beta readers and a good editor for any future books.  I will most definitely be following the author and cannot wait to see the progress.

You can get "Ten Below Zero" by clicking here.

Our newest Diamond, Author Whitney Barbetti and "Ten Below Zero" get

Shari Copell's Writing is Simply "Rock'n"

I am a freebie addict.  I love free books.  I love scrolling through lists of books that cost no money, reading the synopsis' (Synopsises? Synopses?  Synopsi?) and one-clicking if it has a great cover.

This, of course, means I also also have a gigantic TBR.  When it comes to my books, my OCD always takes over and I read from the bottom up. On other words, I read them in order of download.  This also means, I go into almost every book completely blind.  I have no idea what the book will be about or why I even downloaded it.  Sometimes, that makes for the best experience.

"Rock'n Tapestries" by Shari Copell was one such great experience.

The main character, Chelsea works at a bar called Tapestries.  She's just your average, everyday girl trying to make a living.  When her ex-boyfriend and guitar prodigy, Asher, decides to get a job at Tapestries....let the game begin.

That's all I'm going to give you for a synopsis.

The book started off as a cute, well written story.  But as it continued on, there was deeper character development.  There were unexpected twists and turns.  There was inevitable heartbreak.  

I will say, about two-thirds of the way through, all of the sudden it got very rushed.  I couldn't quite figure out what the hurry was.  And then....

BAM!!!

It all made sense.  And the tears started flowing.  And I cried for the last twenty five percent of the book.  It was rough.  And so, so good.  

Does it have a happily ever after?  Well, it depends on how you look at it and which character you're talking about.  To me, it had a near perfect ever after.  And that made me happy.

I'm very much looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.  But for now, I'm still digesting "Rock'n Tapestries".  Ms. Copell should be proud of her work.  She knocked my socks off and I know she'll knock yours off, too!  Get it by clicking here.

"Rock'n Tapestries" and Author Shari Copell had all the feels for a fulfilling

Lacey Silks Won't Be "Anonymous" on My Kindle Anymore!

I'm not a huge fan of erotica.  To me, it's just boring.  Jack and Jill meet.  Jack and Jill hit it off.  Jack and Jill have sex.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Booooooring!!!!

But then I saw this synopsis I admit, I was intrigued:

"We're both addicted to sex, just not with each other.

High school friends - nothing more.
That was our promise to each other, because let's face it, infidelity spreads like a disease.
Everybody cheats.
Period.
And it's easier to remain friends than hurt the only person you ever cared about - or so we thought."

That sexy cover caught my attention, too.  So I went ahead and took a chance on "Cheaters Anonymous".

What I like about Lacey Silks writing starts with the way she promotes herself.  She calls herself a "romantic erotica" writer.  And therein lies the difference between a boring erotica book and a non-boring erotica book.  While most are a story about sex surrounded by the eventual love, this story was the opposite.  It was about love surrounded by the eventual sex.  See the difference?

The story didn't have a one-track mind.  It had depth.  It had character development.  It had a real story behind it.  A story about two people who are trying to improve themselves and make better choices without losing who they are along with way.  It's about figuring out when the gamble of facing your fears is truly worth it.  

I will say, there was one particular plot twist that I didn't really care for.  I skimmed through most of it because it felt a bit out of place with the story.  If there was a sequel to this book, I could see it.  But to me, it distracted from the good parts....the parts where the main characters were working on themselves.

But despite that, "Cheaters Anonymous" was still a really good read.  It goes live on April 21st but you can pre-order it by clicking here.  I went ahead and read the prequel titled "When Things Go Wrong" to introduce myself to the characters beforehand.  I'm really, really glad I did.  Click here to get that prequel.  It's only $0.99 and it's a really fun, quick read.

Overall, I like what Lacey Silks has to say and how she says it.  I already know which characters I hope to see more of!  Because I will definitely be seeing more of Ms. Silks.

"Cheaters Anonymous" reveals a solid 

Penny Reid Give Us a "Chemistry" Lesson Like No Other

I love Penny Reid stories.  No, not stories by Penny Reid.  Well, I love those, too.  But what I mean is, I love stories that Penny Reid stars in.  

Today, I have a new one for you.  

One day, Penny Reid was writing a book called "Elements of Chemistry" when she looked down at her word count.  

"Oh no!" Penny said.  "I have over one hundred thousand words already and the book isn't even close to being finished!  Whatever should I do?"

A little birdie promptly landed on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Split it into three parts.  That way even if it's TWO hundred thousand words, it will never feel too long for the reader."

So that's what Penny did.  Hence, her new SERIES titled "Elements of Chemistry".

((I may have taken some liberties with the previous story.  But you get my drift.))

This leads to my next giant declaration:

I have finally met my favorite character.

Ever.

In the history of the world.

Her name is Kaitlyn Parker and she is the epitomy of socially awkward. When she gets overwhelmed, she hides in a closet until she can calm down.  When she's nervous, she recites synonyms to whatever word pops in her mind.  Any issue that needs to be discussed with her parents has to be put on an agenda for their weekly meeting.

And she gets the guy everyone wants.

Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself.  Considering "Elements of Chemistry" by Penny Reid is a three-parter, it remains to be seen if she actually GETS the guy.  But he at least likes her.  Like, REALLY likes her.  And I love it.

Kaitlyn is so social awkward and has so many quirks that she resembles a lot of kids today.  But here's the thing, in a day and age where so many of us have children with different anxieties stemming from a variety of reasons, children we worry will never find someone who loves them, I wanted to keep shouting "YES!!!" while reading this book.  Because her quirkiness is what makes her endearing.  Her social awkwardness is what attracts the hot guy to her.  Her differences are what make her so very special in the very best ways.  And I closed the book thinking to myself, "Yeah, my kid is gonna do just fine."

Oh yeah.  And there's a guy involved, too.  And you'll like him.  But frankly, where the first part left off, I don't love him.  But Ms. Reid has a few tricks up her sleeve that will make us shout "YES!!!" about him, too.  He deserves it.  You'll just have to trust me on that.

"Elements of Chemistry: Attraction" went live several days early and you really don't want to miss it.  The complete series has already made my list of Top Reads for the year.  So pre-order it by clicking here. You'll be so glad you did.

Ms. Reid shows us what "Attraction" really is and leaves us with a bombshell of a story, earning an giant 

LIbby Austin Just May Leave You "Reft"

Hi guys, Kristin here! I love discovering new authors and love it even more when I find a new “auto-click” author. You know what I’m talking about; those authors that you one-click without even reading the blurb because you just know that it’s going to be good. My next Diamond, Libby Austin, is one of those authors. 

Her newest book, Reft, just came out and it is one you’re going to want to read. Here’s the synopsis from Amazon:

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. ~ Newton's Third Law of Motion

Brandon "Brand" Carmichael's life was the stuff dreams were made of...too bad it was an illusion.  As a guitarist for Inert Motion, Brand traveled the world, performing with his brothers in all but blood.  He never stopped moving all the while his mind played in a never ending loop.  Now outside influences have changed the band's course, leaving Brand's life void of the balance he craved.  Once again, his dream had become a recurring nightmare.  Brand coped the only way he knew how; retreat into solitude.

Magdalena "Layna" Delacroix had achieved the long sought goal of her Ph.D. in Psychology, but success came at a high cost: over one hundred thousand dollars in debt.  After being presented with the opportunity to fulfill her desire to help someone in the aftermath of tragedy, along with earning enough money to clear her debt and start a psychology practice of her own, Layla had to balance the means against the outcome.  Could she be the force to stop the downward spiral of someone who refused to seek help?

Neither Brand nor Layna expected the reaction they had to one another.  It was the opposite of everything they sought.

Could Layla live a lie while pushing Brand to live in the truth?

Would Brand forgive her for committing one unforgivable sin?

Or was he branded by destiny to be...

Reft"

I went into this book completely blind.  Al the info from the blurb was unknown to me until  read it for myself.  You should see the messages I sent to Libby while reading!

Anyway, I'm so glad I chose to skip the synopsis because it made the experience that much more exciting for me as I tried to piece everything together.  There are some MAJOR twists and turns in the plot that I didn't expect.  I love a book that keeps me guessing the entire time and this story really delivered.

I feel like I got to completely immerse myself in Brandon's head to get down to he truly is.  Though I would have loved to see more interaction with Brand and his band, it's purely for selfish reasons because they were so funny!

You can get Reft by clicking here.

I give Libby Austin and Reft a big