Waiting on Wednesday (#160)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Accidentally on Purpose (Heartbreaker Bay #3)
By: Jill Shalvis

Expected Release Date: January 24, 2017

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

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Synopsis:

There’s no such thing as a little in love…

Elle Wheaten’s priorities: friends, career, and kick-ass shoes. Then there’s the muscular wall of stubbornness that’s security expert Archer Hunt—who comes before everything else. No point in telling Mr. “Feels-Free Zone” that, though. Elle will just see other men until she gets over Archer . . . which should only take a lifetime . . .

There’s no such thing as a little in lust…

Archer’s wanted the best for Elle ever since he sacrificed his law-enforcement career to save her. But now that she’s earned happiness and success, Archer just wants Elle 24/7. Their chemistry could start the next San Francisco Earthquake, and Archer doesn’t want to be responsible for the damage. The alternative? Watch her go out with guys who aren’t him . . .

There is such a thing as…

As far as Archer’s concerned, nobody is good enough for Elle. But when he sets out to prove it by sabotaging her dates, she gets mad—and things get hot as hell. Now Archer has a new mission: prove to Elle that her perfect man has been here all along…

I am super excited about this book. I read the first two book in the series and I'm hooked on these characters. I am especially excited that we are (FINALLY) getting Elle and Archer's story. Their chemistry has been brewing for a while now and I'm so curious to see how it's going to play out.

What are you "Waiting on?"

Blog Tour Review: On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton

On Broken Wings (Wild Aces #3)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Mass Market Paperback / eARC
Source: Berkley / NetGalley
Review by: Jenn

The author of Into the Blue and Fly with Me returns with the newest, hot and high-flying Wild Aces romance...

A year after losing her husband, Joker, the squadron commander of the Wild Aces, Dani Peterson gets an offer from his best friend, Alex “Easy” Rogers, to help fix up her house. Dani accepts, and their friendship grows—along with an undeniable attraction.

Racked by guilt for loving his best friend’s widow, Easy’s caught between what he wants and can’t have. Until one night everything changes, and the woman who’s always held his heart ends up in his arms. Yet as Easy leaves for his next deployment, he and Dani are torn between their feelings and their loyalty to Joker’s memory.

But when Dani discovers something that sends them both into a spin, the conflicted lovers must overcome the past to navigate a future together…

4 stars out of 5 stars
*I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I was SO excited when I got my hands on this book. I've been itching to get Easy's story ever since we learn of his love to Dani, one of his best friend's wife in Fly With Me. Knowing how broken these two would be since the death of Joker, especially Dani, I braced myself for tears and feels while I was to read this book. So when I read Dani's first chapter, I was a mess. Chanel Cleeton had me crying like a baby while my heart broke into tiny little pieces.

I was curious to see how Cleeton was going to handle Easy and Dani's story because of their connection but I just loved how it was dealt with. The grief and guilt and the acceptance that it's okay to move on, Cleeton handled that absolute care and in perfect characterization for these two. It definitely resonated true and real for me. Also, when these two are together, the familiarity that they share and how easy and relax they are around each other, I just loved it. It was so well written that it just oozes off the pages.

My biggest complaint against this book is something that I don't want to give away but considering it bothered so much to the point that I can't rate it any higher, is the subplot that happened after Easy is deployed. I honestly saw it happening a mile away and it bothered me so much because I felt like they could have come together without this plot point. In a way, it felt like a cop out for Dani in not being able to admit to her feelings without that added influence. I felt like that relationship they were brewing didn't need that to happen.

Aside from that, I enjoyed this book for all the emotions it managed to bring out in me. This love story had me sobbing and hoping for relief from the pain and I love books that are able to bring such emotions out in me. Chanel Cleeton wrote such a wonderful series that I'm sad to say goodbye to and managed to introduce me to a different military lifestyle I didn't have much knowledge on. I can't wait to see what else she writes but in the mean time, I might just go an reread some of my favorite parts of the Wild Aces trilogy.

About the author:

After years spent studying international politics in London and a stint in law school, Chanel Cleeton found her passion crafting smart and sexy contemporary romances and thrillers. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she's happiest curled up with a book, her three dogs lounging beside her. Chanel is a lover of big sunglasses, irresistible handbags, food covered in sprinkles, and pint-sized pups with larger-than-life personalities.

She is published by Harlequin and Penguin and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, Assassins, and Wild Aces series. Chanel also writes historical fiction as Chanel Dolz Cleeton. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Author Links: Website  / Facebook / Facebook Reader Group Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram / Newsletter / Tumblr / Pinterest

Check out the rest of the tour:

January 2nd-

Vanilla & Spice Books

I’m a Sweet and Sassy Book Whore

Logan Sports Book Section

Book Freak

Must Read Books or Die

A Bluestocking’s Place

January 3rd-

Eye in Bookland

Sweet and Spicy Reads

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Sammi’s Bookish Reality

The Lily Reader

Lush Book Reviews

Reviews from the Heart

January 4th-

Chelle’s Life in Books

The Bookishmedialite

An Asian Chick & Her Cat Walk Into a Book Blog

JoJo the Bookaholic

Red’s Romance Reviews

BFD Book Blog

Les Chroniques Aléatoires

January 5th-

Straight Shootin’ Book Reviews

Carlene Inspired

Read-Love-Blog

Typical Distractions

Ramblings of a Daydreamer

Sheila’s Book Corner

January 6th-

Four Chicks Flipping Pages

Tied Up in Romance

Dog-Eared Daydreams

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Boyfriends

Literati Literature Lovers

January 7th-

Bookworm221

Maine Book Momma

Reading Between the Wines Book Club

January 8th-

Ashley Book Blog

The Reading Belles

April’s Blog of Awesome

Smokin Hot Reads

Chatterbooks Book Blog

January 9th-

A Fortress in Books

Bookish Wanderlove

Books & Swoons

The Readdicts

Under the Cover and Between the Sheets

January 10th-

Relentless Romance

Once Upon a Book Blog

Oh My Growing TBR

Bibliojunkies

Renee Entress’s Blog

January 11th-

Read Your Writes

Smokin’ Hot Book Blog

Quesarasera Book Blog

The Reading Cafe

January 12th-

Ramblings from this Chick 

Quirky Debutante

Naomi’s Reading Palace

Bookgasms

January 13th-

Kimmy Loves to Read

Verna Loves Books

Unofficial Book Club

The Crafty Engineer’s Bookshelf

January 14th-

Margie’s Must Reads

The Book Voyagers

Joandisalovebooks

January 15th-

Wrapped Up In Reading

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions

Literary Misfit

Steamy Reads

Shooting Stars Magazine

Hot Books Hotter Book Boyfriends

Red Hot + Blue Reads

Quotes (#182)

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Morning Lovelies,

Today is the first day of grad school for me and I'm so excited and nervous and holy crap what have I gotten myself into? I am heading head first into it and I'm a little nervous. So today's quotes are all about encouragement and motivations. 

“There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind has achieved the second.” ― Logan Pearsall Smith

“Whatever you're meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.” ― Doris Lessing

“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” ― Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

“Do your thing and don't care if they like it.” ― Tina Fey, Bossypants

“Nobody gets everything in this life. You decide your priorities and you make your choices. I'd decided long ago that any cake I had would be eaten.” ― Donald E. Westlake, Two Much

“Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face.” ― Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” ― Confucius

Have a great week, lovelies!

Let's Chat Non-Booksish Edition: Life Update

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that there would be some changes happening that might affect the blog. Today I want to go over that. As of January 1st, I’ve been the sole blogger of the site. Nahomi is currently on hiatus as she deals with some personal life stuff. Now, it’s been years since I’ve been the only blogger so it’s been a bit of a transition getting myself organized and getting posts up and scheduled. Nahomi and I had a partnership so I have to get myself used to doing it all on my own. She will be back, though, as she says It will only be a few months.

Another change that is happening is that I will be starting graduate school! I got accepted and will be starting the MBA in Human Resource Management program and I’m both nervous and excited about this new development. So now that I’ll be starting school and I’m the only blogger around, I’m trying to get myself sorted and organized to schedule blog posts in advance as a way to keep the site running as well to be able to dedicate my time to school work.

I pretty much have most of January scheduled. I just need to write up all the reviews I hope to have up this month. I also hope to start drafting up or at least planning my calendar for February. I know that once I start school and hopefully work soon, my time for the blog will be dramatically less. But I do want to say that even though I am trying to schedule posts ahead of time, school is my priority for the next 2 years. I know I have to cut back on my reading for fun and the amount of time I normally spend on the blog. So with one blogger down and the other in grad school, the blog might have some slow days. I’ll try to keep it updated as much as I can, though.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I’ll take any help I can get to succeed in getting this degree.

Review: Throwing My Life Away by Liz Czukas

Throwing My Life Away
Author: Liz Czukas
Release Date: December 20, 2016
Publisher: Liz Czukas
Format: eARC
Source: Liz Czukas
Review by: Jenn

7 photographs, 2 weeks, an entire life to get back. No problem, right?

After her stepfather accidentally throws away her high school mementos, sentimental Mariska is pretty sure the world is over. That is, until she comes up with a plan. She’s going to recreate her past, with a little help from her friends. It’s not easy to rally everyone into helping, especially Caine, who couldn’t be less sentimental about anything if he were a park bench. But from a guerilla kite festival to convincing her ex-boyfriend to recreate her lost prom picture, Mariska is willing to do what it takes.

With a little nudging from Caine, Mariska starts to realize she can’t actually get her past back. And maybe that’s okay. Because while she’s so focused on the past, she’s missing out on the present, where her friends are busy having the summer of their lives. And where funny, quiet Caine might just be the future she never knew she wanted.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this book from the author. However, this review is in no way influenced by that.*

Reading Throwing My Life Away was like going back *cough ten years ago cough* to high school.  It was filled with nostalgia for the old days and with hopeful feelings for the future. And Mariska is for sure feeling all the emotions as she prepares to depart her childhood for college. Here are some of my favorite part of the book.

• I loved all the recreated pictures moments. While they didn't come out exactly like the original that Mariska took, they are unique and will give Mariska two memories instead of one. The old one and the new one. I especially love the ninja recreation. It was definitely a turning point between Mariska and her love interest, Caine.
• I also loved Mariska's best friend Sun and Caine. Sun is hilarious and unique. I loved how she was up to anything for Mariska and gave it the project a special touch. Caine is the perfect compliment for Mariska. The book has some awesome banter between Mariska and Sun and Mariska and Caine but I especially loved Mariska and Caine's back and forth quips. There is this whole yearbook drop off between the two that I found absolutely adorable.

Throwing My Life Away was filled with nostalgia and hope and it was so cute. I loved that I got another YA book from Liz Czukas and I can't wait to see what else she's working on.

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Swoony Boy of the Month: Levi from Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Swoony Boy of the Month is our feature where we spotlight a favorite and/or swoony boy from the books we have read.

Hi Friends,

For this month Swoony Boy of the Month, we have Levi from Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg. When I first read this book back in 2014, I fell in love with it and I've been telling people to read this ever since. So I want to introduce you to Levi, here we go.

“But in truth, home isn't necessarily where you sleep at night. It's where you feel like yourself. Where you're most comfortable. Where you don't have to pretend, where you can be just you.” ― Elizabeth Eulberg, Better off Friends

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“I am not complete without you.” ― Elizabeth Eulberg, Better off Friends

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“This entire time I'd been thinking about where my home was. At first it was California, then Wisconsin. But in truth, home isn't necessarily where you sleep at night.
It's where you feel like yourself.
Where you're most comfortable.
Where you don't have to pretend, where you can just be you.
I had finally reached that place because Macallan is home to me.” ― Elizabeth Eulberg, Better off Friends

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SA-WOOOOONS! I love Levi and how he just GETS Macallan. I think it's time for a reread for me.

Have you read this book? You better have and if not, GO. RUN. NOW.

Release Day Blitz: On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton

On Broken Wings (Wild Aces #3)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Publisher: Berkley

The author of Into the Blue and Fly with Me returns with the newest, hot and high-flying Wild Aces romance...

A year after losing her husband, Joker, the squadron commander of the Wild Aces, Dani Peterson gets an offer from his best friend, Alex “Easy” Rogers, to help fix up her house. Dani accepts, and their friendship grows—along with an undeniable attraction.

Racked by guilt for loving his best friend’s widow, Easy’s caught between what he wants and can’t have. Until one night everything changes, and the woman who’s always held his heart ends up in his arms. Yet as Easy leaves for his next deployment, he and Dani are torn between their feelings and their loyalty to Joker’s memory.

But when Dani discovers something that sends them both into a spin, the conflicted lovers must overcome the past to navigate a future together…

Check out the rest of the book in series, Fly with Me and Into the Blue.

Fly with Me (Wild Aces #1)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Berkley

From the author of the Capital Confessions Novels comes the first in the steamy Wild Aces Romance series.

U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Noah Miller—call sign Burn—loves nothing more than flying hard and fast. When he meets a gorgeous and sassy woman while partying in Las Vegas, he immediately locks on to her.

Jordan Callahan owns a thriving clothing boutique, but her love life is far less successful. Her luck changes when six feet, two inches of sexy swagger asks her to dance and turns her world upside down.

One scorching weekend becomes an undeniable chemistry that they can’t leave in Vegas. But the long distance relationship and their different lives threaten to ground their romance. And when the dangers of Noah’s job become all too real, Jordan learns being with a fighter pilot means risking it all for a shot at love…

Into the Blue (Wild Aces #2)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Berkley

Eric Jansen—call sign Thor—loves nothing more than pushing his F-16 to the limit. Returning home to South Carolina after a tragic loss, he hopes to fix the mistake he made long ago, when he chose the Air Force over his fiancée.

Becca Madison isn’t quick to welcome Thor back. She can’t forget how he shattered her heart. But Thor won’t give up once he’s set his sights on what he wants—and he wants Becca.

Thor shows Becca that he’s no longer the impulsive boy he used to be, and Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But will Thor be able to walk away from his dream of flying the F-16 for their love or does his heart belong to the sky?

About the author: 

After years spent studying international politics in London and a stint in law school, Chanel Cleeton found her passion crafting smart and sexy contemporary romances and thrillers. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she's happiest curled up with a book, her three dogs lounging beside her. Chanel is a lover of big sunglasses, irresistible handbags, food covered in sprinkles, and pint-sized pups with larger-than-life personalities.

She is published by Harlequin and Penguin and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, Assassins, and Wild Aces series. Chanel also writes historical fiction as Chanel Dolz Cleeton. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Author Links: Website  / Facebook / Facebook Reader Group Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram / Newsletter / Tumblr / Pinterest

Quotes (#181)

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Morning Swooners!

I want to wish you all a Happy New Year. 2017 is finally here and please sweet baby Jesus, I hope it's good on us. We need good things to happen. I want to start the year off strong so I'm gonna put some of my favorite quotes for you guys. Let's do this.

“I wish for the thing that is best for me.” ― Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss

“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.” ― Robert Frost

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.” ― J.K. Rowling

"It is never too late to be what you might have been.” ― George Eliot

“Bad things happen whether you're scared or not, so you might as well not bother being scared. It's a waste of time.” ― Louise Rozett, Confessions of an Angry Girl

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” ― Kathryn Stockett, The Help

“Your silence will not protect you.” ― Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

That's it for me today. I hope you all have a wonderful week. Let's start kicking 2017's butt!