2016 End of the Year Book Survey

This survey was created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner

Number Of Books You Read: 69 but currently working on #70.
Number of Re-Reads: 12

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. It's a 2017 debut so I'm going to also mention This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. I actually DNF it.

3. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

I have two, Sarina Bowen and Laura Griffin. I read Sarina's Brooklyn Bruisers series, Rookie Move and Hard Hitter and I'm LOVE! As for Laura, she took me back to one of my old fave, romantic suspense with the Tracers series.

4. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Any books from the Tracer series by Laura Griffin. I could devour them within a few hours.

5. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?
This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills - SOOOO pretty.

6. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

7. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read?
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo . Better late than never is what I'm going to say.

8.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?
Shortest: Our Love Unhinged by Brighton Walsh - 88 pages

Longest: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas - 624 pages

9. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

10. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?
The Darkling from The Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo.

11. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.

12. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

13. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

14. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

15. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Get a Clue by Jill Shalvis. Nope. I did not like it. Not one bit.

1. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry. I don't know exactly why but I loved this review.

2. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
Let's Chat Non-Bookish Edition: In Which I Talk Gilmore Girls Revival

3. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Trying to keep the content fresh but also to learn how to not burnout from blogging.

4. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Review + Giveaway: Beautiful by Christina Lauren

5. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Bookish Girl in the Kitchen

6. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I did! I wrote all about it here.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?
I'm totally cheating here but I'm counting them because they are all series sequels/enders. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor and Crooked Kingdoms by Leigh Bardugo.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?
I don't actually have one! I've been trying to get through my TBR pile that I've stopped looking ahead. Book blogger fail, I know.

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Same as above. Eeek!

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?
Get a better handle of scheduling my posts. I want to be better than typing it up the night or hour beforehand.

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone?
Yes, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. When it comes out, Imma need everyone to GO READ THIS BOOK. ASAP.

Review: Our Love Unhinged by Brighton Walsh

Our Love Unhinged
(Reluctant Hearts #3.5)
Author: Brighton Walsh
Release Date: August 20, 2016
Publisher: Bright Publishing, LLC
Format: ebook
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Jenn

Despite everything she thought she knew, Winter fell in love, and she fell hard. Living with the security of Cade’s unconditional devotion for the past two years has been a welcome reprieve from the decades of loneliness that came before him.

So when he pops the question, she says yes. Of course she does. But two years isn’t long in the grand scheme of things, and certainly not enough time to erase the memories of the past.

Sometimes, even the greatest love can’t silence fears.

Our Love Unhinged is the final novella in the Reluctant Hearts series, and is best enjoyed after reading books 1-3 in the series.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Our Love Unhinged was a sweet, hot, and perfect ending to this series. Every character I came to love in the Reluctant Hearts series, we saw one more time and I was able to seem them get their happy ending.

It was so sweet how Cade finally proposed to Winter. How nervous he was and how he just HAD to ask her. And I loved how the boys reacted to Tessa and Paige spotting Winter's ring. It was HILARIOUS how Jason didn't really acknowledge it at first because he wasn't asked for ring shopping help. God I love him. My only problem is that in my romance books, I don't really care for couples having babies, it just something I don't want to read about. So I didn't really love how it was included in two ways in the book.

I am going to miss this gang. The boys shenanigans are always fun and the girl talk, especially with Paige around, will be missed. I might have to go reread now.

Review: Paige in Progress by Brighton Walsh

Paige in Progress
(Reluctant Hearts #3)
Author: Brighton Walsh
Release Date: January 19, 2016
Publisher: Bright Publishing
Source: Brighton Walsh
Review by: Jenn

She wanted a one-night stand…and then he moved in next door.
Paige Bennett is more than content with her life and what she does—and does not—have in it. She’s got a supportive family, a great apartment, and the best friend a girl could ask for; so what if her relationships expire faster than a carton of milk? After a disastrous detour courtesy of poor judgment in the boyfriend department, her plan is back on track and her dream job is finally within her grasp. Nothing can make her lose focus now. Well, nothing except the one-night stand she had with her best friend’s surrogate brother. The one-night stand she can’t stop thinking about.
Adam Reid has always been reliable…the responsible son, the loyal friend, the steady boyfriend. Two years ago, he graduated Magna Cum Laude and is well on his way to making a name for himself at an accounting firm in Denver—a far cry from working as a helper in the Mom and Pop store his parents own in Michigan. But when said store starts failing, he’s the only one who can step in and help. So reliable Adam does what he always does, and he comes to the rescue.
Paige thought Adam was a safe bet because he lives halfway across the country. But then suddenly he’s moving back to their town, and then into her apartment building, and soon he’s worming his way right into her life. If she’s not careful, he might sneak his way into her heart, too…

5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this book by the author but it did not influence this review in any way.*

Paige in Progress might be Brighton Walsh's best book yet. Which is saying something considering how much I loved Tessa Ever After. But this book had me in a laughter and swooning like loon like no other of Brighton's books.

Paige and Adam come to us from the previous books. Paige is Tessa's best friend and in the glimpses we get, her being a wonderful and honest friend to Tessa, I knew I wanted her to have her own book.  Adam, we get small glimpses but I never really but much thought of him. However, in Paige in Progress, I quickly learn how much I was missing out on with Adam.

Paige is a take-no-prisioner, ball buster. She has no qualms about telling it like it is and about being straight about what she likes. Adam, on the other hand, is quiet, reliable, and responsible. They are complete opposite but their attraction to other is off the charts. We learn that they had a one night stand and they both can't stop thinking about that night and the other. However, while Adam is looking to learn more about her and what they could potentially be together, Paige is trying to avoid a repeat performance.

I completely adore this book. I love the chemistry that Paige and Adam share and how well they played off of each other. Brighton knows how to do banter with lots of sexual tension and in this book, it worked so well. I love how Paige was scared of getting closer to Adam but being who she is, she can't back down. Adam also opened himself up to new feelings and experiences. Also, their sexual chemistry, HO-LY CRAAPPPPP. Adam is one talented man. Their foreplay and actual acts, all were everything I was expecting from a Brighton Walsh's book.

My only complaint was towards the end. There is a reason why Paige is the way she is towards relationships. She was burned in the past and Adams learns about the reason. However, he then asks something of Paige which terrifies her and in turns, pushes Adam away. I didn't like how Adam just expects Paige to do what he wanted considering what he was asking of her and how he leaves town without saying anything. It was a real shitty move considering where Paige was at that moment in her life. It didn't have to be all or nothing for him and I'm sure they could have figured something out.

Aside from that, Paige in Progress is now my new favorite from Brighton. I enjoyed each and every word and getting to see what Tessa, Jason, Haley, Cade and Winter were up to. I can't wait to see what else Brighton is working on because knowing her, her new hero might just be my new favorite. So if you haven't already picked up this series or any of Brighton's work, I seriously ask you to reconsider because her books are the best.

Favorite Friday (#51) - Tessa Ever After by Brighton Walsh

Have a favorite book? Series? One that you've just read or are currently reading? Favorite Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Books and Swoons where we spotlight some of our Favorite Reads. Everyone is welcome to join. Just enter your information on the linky or leave us a comment!

This week pick is: Tessa Ever After by Brighton Walsh.

In this grippingly emotional New Adult novel from the author of Caged in Winter, what you want isn’t always what you need…

Jason’s been living (and loving) the rich playboy lifestyle for five years, but now his parents are pressuring him to get involved in the family business. The last thing he wants is another obligation, but when his best friend moves out of state and asks Jason to look after his sister, he can’t just say no.

Tessa had to grow up way too soon. After dealing with the aftermath of her parents’ deaths, then becoming a teenage mom, she knows the meaning of responsibility. Which is why, at twenty-two, she’s looking for so much more than a party boy. She’s looking for someone who can stand by her and her daughter…forever.

A relationship between them is doomed from the start, but who says they can’t have a little fun? But as Jason gets closer to Tessa—and her daughter—fun starts to turn into something else… Something Jason’s not sure he’s ready for.

I love Brighton Walsh's books and her story telling abilities. She is one of those authors that I will always read her books because her books contains sweet, sexy heroes, feisty heroines, hot sexy times, and a great plot. This book, you have all the right factors to make it into one of my favorite reads from Brighton. If you haven't already read this book, I sincerely recommend it to you.

About the author: 

Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before deciding to take her storytelling in a different direction and reconnect with her first love: writing. When she’s not pounding away at the keyboard, she’s probably either reading or shopping—maybe even both at once. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children, and, yes, she considers forty degrees to be hoodie weather. Her home is the setting for frequent dance parties, Lego battles, and more laughter than she thought possible. She is multi-published with Berkley, St. Martin’s Press, and Carina Press, and is represented by Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary Agency.

Author Links: Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Website

I hope you can join us in sharing and talking about some of your favorite reads. Book talk always make me happy. 

What are one of your favorite reads?

Stacking the Shelves (#27)

Stacking the Shelves, which is hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This mean you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks.

Hi there Swooners,

Today, we're sharing the books we got in the month of October and November.

For review:

90s PLAYLIST by Brighton Walsh, Lorelie Brown, Amy Jo Cousins,
Audra North, Rebecca Grace Allen, and Jennifer Blackwood

ALONE IN THE DARK by Karen Rose
JUST SAY YES by Elizabeth Hayley

RESOLUTION by J.S. Cooper

HOW TO BE BRAVE by E. Katherine Kottaras

WICKED SEXY LIAR by Christina Lauren

SMART GIRL by Rachel Hollis

REBEL BULLY GEEK PARIAH by Erin Jade Lange

LOUD IS HOW I LOVE YOU by Mercy Brown

CALL ME, MAYBE by Ellie Cahill

Books we got for free/bought:

FINDER'S KEEPERS by Stephen King

SHADOW KISS by Richelle Mead

BLOOD PROMISE by Richelle Mead

LAST SACRIFICE by Richelle Mead

TRICKY TWENTY-TWO by Janet Evanovich

NOWHERE BUT HERE by Katie McGarry

MY STAR, MY LOVE by Natasha Boyd

Wow, we may have gone a little overboard this past month. In our defense, we had a Janet Evanovich and Richelle Mead signing we went to and got some interesting books in the mail for review. We have lots of reading ahead of us.

What did you add to your shelves?

Review: My Strongest Weakness by Brighton Walsh

My Strongest Weakness
('90s Playlist Anthology)
Author: Brighton Walsh
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Source: Brighton Walsh
Review by: Jenn

Six stories of sex, love, and being young in the ‘90s, inspired by songs of the decade…

My Strongest Weakness by Brighton Walsh
It was supposed to be a one-time thing. No one would find out; no one would have to know. And then once turned into twice, and twice turned into several times a week, and now pierced, punk-loving, rebellious Tia Lanning is banging Mason Brooks, the big man on campus and Mr. All American. But banging him isn’t the problem. Falling for him is. Especially when he’s content to let her remain his dirty little secret.

4 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this anthology from Brighton Walsh, however, it did not influence this review in any way. *

*This is a review of one of the six stories. I am only reviewing Brighton Walsh's MY STRONGEST WEAKNESS.*

Most of you all know that I am a big reader of Brighton Walsh's work. I will read anything she writes because her stories and heroes are worth going back for. So when she announced she was writing a '90s novella I was super excited. As a '90s baby who became a teen in the 2000s, it was a treat to see how life was so different for teens and college students from what I grew up with.

My Strongest Weakness follows Tia, a rebellious punk loving college student and her screwed up sex-only relationship with Mason, the big man on campus. Both Tia and Mason are afraid of being seen with each other in front of their respective friends since they lead such different lives. However, Tia starts to feel differently after learning that he might mess with the rules they have in place. Tia heads to his fraternity house, a place she doesn't feel comfortable in but is doing so to accompany her friend. And I love what happens next because Brighton started it off with a bang and I was quite pleased by it. Tia and Mason are both headstrong characters and it was fun trying to see them both try to get the upper hand on the other.

In true Brighton's fashion, her characters are real, well developed, and can feel like one of your friends. I always enjoy reading Brighton's heroes because they sound and feel like a real male point of view and not a woman writing what we hope a man sounds like.

I read this novella fairly quickly, in a short afternoon, and I only wish it was longer. I hope to get to get to the rest of the novellas but was unable due to time constraints. But I do recommend to buy the anthology because this novella is definitely worth it.

Book Bltiz + Excerpt: 90s Playlist Anthology

'90s Playlist
Author: Brighton Walsh, Lorelie Brown, Amy Jo Cousins, Audra North, Rebecca Grace Allen, Jennifer Blackwood
Release Date: October 13, 2015

Six stories of sex, love, and being young in the ‘90s, inspired by songs of the decade…
My Strongest Weakness by Brighton Walsh
It was supposed to be a one-time thing. No one would find out; no one would have to know. And then once turned into twice, and twice turned into several times a week, and now pierced, punk-loving, rebellious Tia Lanning is banging Mason Brooks, the big man on campus and Mr. All American. But banging him isn’t the problem. Falling for him is. Especially when he’s content to let her remain his dirty little secret.
Worthwhile by Audra North
Jill didn’t expect her semester in Leeds to start with getting dumped by her boyfriend. Especially since she only came to England to be with him. Two weeks in, all she wants to do is go home. Finding love with someone new is definitely not an option. But when she literally stumbles into grad student Stuart’s arms, her experience abroad becomes a lot more worthwhile.
Creep by Lorelie Brown
Roni lives for the raves in Oakland’s warehouse district. Dancing till dawn in white gloves under black lights breathes life into her soul. Nothing will get her kicked out of her underground world faster than turning over Skittles, her dealer. She refuses to provide info about the underage runaway to his big brother Tom. But Tom is going to find Skittles with or without Roni’s cooperation. But Tom is special. He’s rich, handsome and bold. Roni wishes she was special. And like the rave scene she loves, nothing lasts forever.
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Rebecca Grace Allen
Rory Stone’s days of grunge and poetry are behind her, her reality now in bags of Arabian brew, and counting the change in the tip jar. Can indie singer James Griffith rock her muse back into the present?
The Belle vs. the BDOC by Amy Jo Cousins
Shelby Summerfield is a gold star lesbian, even if she doesn’t look like one. Florence Truong is the only other dyke at Carlisle College in 1993 not wearing plaid flannel, and Shelby sets her sights on seduction. But instead of a delightful tumble in the sheets, Florence calls her out for being a straight girl. With seduction off the table, Shelby settles for revenge for her humiliation. But if all she wants is to show up her campus rival, how come Shelby can’t stop herself from saving Florence instead of annihilating her?
Little Red Thong by Jennifer Blackwood
Emily Jones is ready to embark on the most epic spring break trip of her college career with her bestie, twin brother, and her brother’s best friend, Chase. Chase has been in love with Emily since the eighth grade when she kicked his ass in laser tag. He’s not going to piss away his last chance to tell her how he feels. When the group decides to play a game of Spring Break BINGO that involves body shots, a red thong, and secret hookups, this is the perfect catalyst to get him out of the friend zone. But as things get heated, they have to decide if twenty years of friendship is worth putting in jeopardy because of a game, and what will happen when they hit dry land.

My Strongest Weakness by Brighton Walsh

This is so not my scene. It’s not that I hate parties…just these parties. Snooty sorority girls with their Heathers cliques, whispering and pointing at anyone who looks different from them. Jocks who are obnoxious and irritating, doing keg stands or groping chicks in the corners or on the couches. I’d rather be just about anywhere. But when Stacy, my roommate from Freshman year, cornered me in the quad after my foreign film class and begged me to come along, saying all her other friends bailed on her and the guy she was trying to catch the eye of was going to be here, I figured why the hell not?
Plus, I thought it would be a good opportunity to fuck with him.
Him being Mason Brooks. Starting quarterback, a legacy and vice president of Zeta Alpha Tau, and Mister All-American. He’s perfection personified. Perfect hair, perfect body…straight white teeth anchoring the perfect smile. Perfect clothes. Perfect life. His parents, both lawyers, are still married. They attend every football game, or so I’ve heard, and live about an hour upstate in a suburb I can’t even afford to drive through, let alone live in. Perfect.
We’re like water and oil, never mixing well. As different as night and day. I hate him on principle alone.
A game of Quarters is going on in the corner, and he’s there, standing almost a head taller than everyone else he’s with. He looks stupid in his backward baseball cap, No Fear shirt, and jeans, just a lemming talking to his lemmings. Everything about him should turn me off, from his neatly cropped hair, to his cocky stance, to his booming voice, to all those muscles hidden beneath his clothes.
Sadly, it doesn’t, which is what got me into this situation in the first place.
He’s talking with some guys I’ve seen him with around campus. Two girls hang off each of his arms—one of whom I overheard in the dining hall say she was going to hook up with him tonight. Since overhearing that, there’s been a fissure of…something…that started low in my belly and worked its way up, and now it’s nearly overwhelming. Must be anticipation. Excitement at the shit that’s about to hit the fan. Mason hasn’t noticed me yet, and I’m kind of looking forward to when he does. The Fourth of July will have nothing on the fireworks between us when he sees I’ve broken our code and shown up on his home turf. There aren’t a lot of rules between us. In fact, there are only three: No interacting in public, no unscheduled hookups, and no home turf invasions.
I’m planning to break all three tonight, just for the hell of it.
“Tia!” Stacy grabs my arm and spins me around, pointing toward the far end of the house. “I see Brad over there, so I’m gonna try and catch his eye. You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, waving her off. “I’ll find you when I want to leave.”
“Okay, an hour, tops!”
Without another word, she takes off in that direction, her long hair flying behind her, and I’m left without a buffer. There’s no denying Stacy fits in here with the rest of the crowd in the house. She’s everything I’m not. Styled blonde hair and trendy clothes, bubble gum personality to my black licorice. When we were assigned the same dorm Freshman year, I thought it’d be a disaster. Turned out we clicked despite our differences and managed to keep in touch even when we moved on to other living arrangements. Head held high, I ignore the thinly veiled looks of judgment tossed in my direction as I make my way through the crowd. God forbid I not be here in a schoolgirl skirt and a baby tee clinging to my tits, all my goodies on display for everyone to see. The chains of my necklace jangle as I walk through the party, not really sure where I’m going. But moving is better than standing still, waiting for the vultures to strike.
Even though I’m on my third year here, I’ve managed to make it my entire college career thus far having yet to actually step foot into a frat house. Until tonight. It’s bigger than I thought it would be. Cleaner, too, even with all the people around. I was picturing a slum, basically. Bug infested, maybe, with garbage lying all over the place, beer-stained carpets and cigarette burns on the couches. How could it not be, with a horde of guys living under the same roof and multiple parties here every week? They must have someone in to clean, because there’s no way any males from the ages of eighteen to twenty-two could keep this shit up.
There’s a wall to my right showcasing dozens and dozens of photographs. I don’t know a lot about fraternities, but I know enough to realize they’re pictures of members of Zeta Alpha Tau, going back several years. Mason is in those photos, somewhere, though I don’t allow myself to stop and look.
I’m on a mission, and reminding Mason our agreement is tenuous is priority number one.

Book Blitz organized by: Xpresso Book Tours

Blog Tour: Guest Post: Brighton Walsh

I have the lovely Brighton Walsh on the blog today for today blog tour stop of her newest book, Exposed, second in the companion series of Captive. Here is a little on Exposed:

Exposed
(Captive #2)
Author: Brighton Walsh
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Formats: Trade Paperback Original & eBook
Price: TPO $14.99 / eBook $9.99

Love can be lost but never forgotten. Beautiful, sophisticated, and engaged to the son of a Senator, Evie Masterson has the perfect life. Except for one thing: it's all based on a lie. Five years ago, she created a new identity for herself and cut all ties to her criminal past. But she can't run forever, because something she witnessed years ago comes back to haunt her. And the only person there to help is the man she thought she left behind forever—the one man she's never been able to forget.

Devastatingly gorgeous and just as ruthless, Riley Everett is the criminal for hire who once stole Evie's heart. Years have gone by, but he's never been able to forget her either. Now her life is in jeopardy, and even after all this time, he'd still do anything to protect her, even if that means breaking into her mansion and stealing her away.

As they hide from the world, their long-lost passion reignites. But despite their undeniable chemistry, Evie can't give up the perfect life she's been working toward...and Riley has no part in it.

I'm super excited to have Brighton stopping by because I've been a fan of hers for ages and I LOVE her writing and her heroes. Her heroes just does something for because each and every time, I'm left more in love with her characters. But there's something I particularly love about Brighton's work. I love how she has visual images on her characters. More specifically, her male characters. Brighton has this handy Pinterest board that she has where gets her *ahem* heroes ideas from.

Brighton:
I initially started using Pinterest for my personal life—recipes and kids’ birthday party ideas and DIY decorations for holidays. Then, a couple years ago, I stumbled across Jill Shalvis’ Pinterest account, and thought, whoa…there are a lot of *ahem* very nice looking inspirational things available on Pinterest. Maybe I should start an author account?

Almost two-thousand pins later, nearly half of which are smokin’ hot dudes, and my author Pinterest board is my go-to when I’m looking for inspiration for my characters. Don’t get me wrong, I also have boards for heroines and locations and details. But let’s be real: the hero board is where it’s at.

When I’m going through and finding images to pin to my board for possible future use, I look for different things. At first, I was a lot less picky about who I’d pin there. Hot, half-naked guy in low slung jeans? Okay. Firefighter in any form of dress? Yes, please. Rugged, outdoorsman? Twist my arm.

Now, though, with so many pins, and thus so many pins to weed through when I need a look for a new hero, I’ve found my tastes are a bit more discerning. If you look at my board, you can see I very obviously have a type: tall, dark and handsome. (Shout out to my hubs who fits all three!) When I’m pinning new images now, I try to think about how I could use it, if I could see him as a hero in a future book, if he has a different look than the guys I’ve already got pinned on there. It also helps to have a range of ages available as inspiration, as I write everything from new adult to adult, heroes ranging from early-twenties to mid-thirties.

So there you have it, my selection process and what goes through my mind when I’m choosing these images. Although, I’ll be honest…a lot of times when I’m browsing these pins, all that goes through my head is: jkfldjsakljckdsnacjk.

It’s a hard job, but someone’s gotta do it.

About the author: 

Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before deciding to take her storytelling in a different direction and reconnect with her first love: writing. When she’s not pounding away at the keyboard, she’s probably either reading or shopping—maybe even both at once. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children, and, yes, she considers forty degrees to be hoodie weather. Her home is the setting for frequent dance parties, Lego battles, and more laughter than she thought possible.
Her debut novel, Caged in Winter, is available now from Berkley/Penguin. She is represented by Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary Agency.

Author Links: Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Website / Pinterest