Review & Giveaway: Walk with Me by Kaitlyn Stone

 

Title: Walk with Me (The Thin Blue Thread)

Author: Kaitlyn Stone

Genre: Contemporary New Adult

Publish Date: July 22nd, 2014

Publisher: BookStrand

Oraganized by Literati Author Services

~ Synopsis ~

 

After escaping her abusive parents, nineteen-year-old Kenna Sloane is determined to create an independent life, free of emotional distraction. The last thing this focused college student wants is a relationship, especially with a hot rookie cop popular with the badge bunnies. When Kenna reluctantly agrees to a double date with Santa Monica cop Donovan Alexander, she’s launched on an exciting and dangerous journey. With time, she discovers some souls are instinctively drawn together to quiet the pain of their traumatic pasts. But even after the revelation of Donovan’s own secret burden, Kenna continues to battle the fear she may be too broken for her modern day knight in blue. Can Kenna open her heart to the healing light of true love before peril strikes?

Purchase Links

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EXCERPT:

It’s midnight, the day after my eighteenth birthday, and I’m escaping from my life of oppression and pain. With only the fear of being caught and dragged back to my cell of a life, I’m shortening the gap between what I know and the undiscovered world ahead.

The August air whips across my face and through the loose strands of my pulled-back hair. My internal will to survive, fueled by adrenaline, propels me forward into the night with no feeling of cold or discomfort. The wind stings my eyes and they begin to tear, blurring my vision as I sprint along the walking path between the condos and boat slips in the Marina, one foot in front of the other pounding the pavement. Thump, thump, thump. The same beat of my excited heart.

After two blocks I realize they’re not chasing after me. I slow to a fast walk, scanning the area ahead and behind me. My chest is heaving as I try to catch my breath and regain my thoughts, but I’m not tired. I could run for miles if I need to, and I will fight tonight to protect myself and my freedom.

I sweep the area one more time before ducking into the shadows of the next condo complex. Catching my breath, I lean against the wall of the entrance, pull out my pay-as-you-go cell phone, and call Danielle and her mom—my lifeline, my ride to freedom. This is it. I pace nervously under the cover of night, still on high alert, and wait for the transportation to my new life. Pumped from the adrenaline surge, my thoughts are spinning and making me dizzy, but assuredly I won’t be coming back here anytime soon, if ever. 

  

     


What I thought about Walk with Me

Kenna runs away from an abusive home life and vows to get her act together and make something of her life. She has no room for a serious boyfriend, choosing to spend time with guys that aren't looking for a relationship.

Until she meets Donovan.

It isn't long before they are dating, and getting to know each other. I liked how they didn't jump on each other from the get go, and took their time getting to know each other before things got physical between them. There's no insta-love here, and that's one of the nicest aspects of this story.

But Donovan has some secrets that he fears will push Kenna away, but eventually he shares those with Kenna and all is good.  That is until Kenna's past comes knocking at her door in the form of an ex-hookup and her mother. 

There's some tense and unexpected action toward the end of the book that culminates in a very serious situation for Kenna and Donovan. After most of the book is focused on their falling-in-love story, these scenes made for a nice change of pace. 

I read Walk with Me over two nights and it did keep me interested until the very exciting ending. The action at the end did a lot to help with some slow spots in the middle. I liked the main characters, although I couldn't help but feel that they were always telling me what they are thinking or feeling instead of showing it, something that could have been improved with another pass of edits.

I'm rating this three stars and a half stars because it held my interest and the characters were likable. Very nice debut effort. 

This is my honest review. I may have received this book from Netgalley, Edelweiss, a publisher, an author, a promoter or purchased it. How I obtained the book has no bearing on my review rating.

About the Author

Since childhood, Kaitlyn Stone has gravitated toward fairy tales and happily- ever-after's, forever chasing the first love dragon. She is a self-professed adventure junkie, constantly talking her husband and family into some new life adventure, where they’ve learned to just buckle up for the exciting ride. When they do stay home, it’s in sunny Southern California located along the Pacific Ocean.

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Cover Reveal: Burying Water by K. A. Tucker

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the cover reveal for K.A. Tucker's BURYING WATER! BURYING WATER is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel scheduled for release October 7th! This book will blow you away. Get. Ready. 
 
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About BURYING WATER:

The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.  

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You can read Chapters 1-4 of BURYING WATER in the back of IN HER WAKE, the Ten Tiny Breaths prequel novella from Trent's POV! IN HER WAKE is out September 1st. Pre-order your copy today!

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About K.A. Tucker:

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

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Review & Giveaway: Torrent by Gemma James

Title: Torrent (Condemned #1)

Author: Gemma James

Publication date: July 22nd 2014

Genres: Erotica, Romance

Synopsis
I’ve been obsessed with Rafe Mason since I was thirteen. The twisted part of this story is that I still want him, even now. Now that he’s holding me captive on an island. Rafe has his reasons for doing what he’s doing, and if I’m honest, I can’t blame him—I’m the girl who sent him to prison for a heinous crime he didn’t commit. But now he’s free and the tables have turned…now he’s the one driven by obsession. 

Buy Links

Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.com/1499589115

 

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/torrent-gemma-james/1119589977?ean=9781498983174 

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/torrent-5 

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/torrent/id881584455?mt=11

10 Random Facts About Torrent

1. I began writing Torrent last summer. Back then it was a barebones beginning about a young, reckless girl and her dead brother's best friend who couldn't fight his darkness any longer. The island has been in the story all along.

2. I really have Skye Warren to thank for how Torrent turned out. Last year around Christmas time, she called for submissions for a short story anthology about criminals. Well, I had an idea…and that idea was too good to confine to a short story. I decided to combine my earlier efforts with the premise of a girl sending a man to prison for a crime he didn't commit, and him coming back for what he felt he deserved.

3. Once Iad the island in mind (small, privately own, with a single cabin on it), I turned to Google to find out if I could find any real islands of a similar nature to use as a reference. There just happens to be one about three hours from where I live, situated on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. It even has a cabin on it. I've driven there twice and have seen it from the highway. I call it "my island." The setting in the novel, though based on real places, is purely fictional, with the exception of the Columbia River and Portland, Oregon.

4. I rewrote the beginning about three, maybe four times.

5. Zach and Alex were originally full-blooded siblings. I gave into censoring myself out of fear of being banned from retailers, even though I had no intention at first of writing sexual scenes between the two. Once I changed their relation to step-siblings, the brief taboo scene in the beginning formed, and in my opinion, strengthened the setup of the novel. It also opened wicked avenues for book two. ;)

6. I didn't immediately know why Alex sent Rafe to prison. She was a stubborn character who kept me in the dark for a while!

7. Torrent is the first book in which I wrote from the hero's POV. It was interesting getting inside Rafe's head.

8. One of the twists about Rafe's past (something he learns after he's out of prison) basically wrote itself into the story part way through. Same with Jax, Rafe's buddy. These characters and subplots just popped in of their own accord!

9. If you're looking for an easy read with hearts, flowers, and mainstream topics—this isn't the book for you. This story will make you squirm, possibly make you sick at times, and push you into the darkest corners of your mind. But I'm a romantic at heart and believe in happy endings. Getting there is hell though.

10. I do not feel guilty about the cliffhanger ending. Have you watched any TV season finales lately? AHHHHHHHH! I understand the frustration, and I'm evil enough to rub my hands together in glee. Don't lynch me. I'm working on the second book. :D 


What I thought about Torrent

Eight years ago, Alex sent Rafe to prison with her accusations of rape.  He’s out now, and he’s got payback on his mind.  Serious payback that could send him back to prison. Shortly after he executes his plan, new revelations come to light, and he realizes that all is not exactly as he thought.  But before he can do anything to stop himself from doing any more damage, Zach, Alex’s step brother, shows up.  And everything explodes.

I’m being purposely vague because what I loved the most about Torrent was the crafty development of suspense that brings the reader to an O.M. G moment at the end of this first installment of the series.  I love a good cliffhanger, and this one definitely fits the bill.  Gemma James builds a lot of good suspenseful tension in this short piece and that was my favorite part of this read.

This is a dark romance with plenty of kink, so this story may not be for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for something a bit rough, and potentially felonious,Torrent might just be a good read for you, but for me, the real charm was in the suspense. 

Looking forward to Rampant!

This is my honest review. I may have received this book from netgalley, Edelweiss, a publisher, an author, a promoter or purchased it. How I obtained the book has no bearing on my review rating. 

Giveaway!

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Coming Soon in late October 2014

Rampant (Condemned #2)



Pre-order RAMPANT for the promotional pre-order price of $0.99 on the following retailers!

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About Gemma

Gemma James (a pseudonym for Christina Jean Michaels) loves to explore the darker side of sex in her fiction. She's morbidly curious about anything dark and edgy and enjoys exploring the deviant side of human nature. Her stories have been described as being "not for the faint of heart." She lives with her husband and their four children—three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention.

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The Hazards of Sex on The Beach by Alyssa Rose Ivy Review & Giveaway

 

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Alyssa Rose Ivy's THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH! THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH is a contemporary romance and is a part of Alyssa Rose Ivy’s Hazards Series. It is priced at just $.99 right now. This will last for a limited time only to celebrate the release! This book, y'all. Holy cow.

   

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THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH Synopsis:
One broken heart, one drink too many, one steamy night in the sand...

No one warns you about the dangers of drinking with a broken heart. At least no one warned me. I never imagined I'd fall for a musician, especially not one like Chase, but then again I never expected to have my heart broken into a million pieces by the frat guy I thought was the love of my life.

Sometimes it's the rash decisions, like hooking up in the sand, that lead you to the best places—the kinds of places where it's possible to let yourself fall in love again.

THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH Excerpt:
He took a strand of my hair and studied it. “Is this your natural color?”

“Yes.”

He dropped the strand. “I’ve never dated a girl with blonde hair.”

“Well, you’re not dating me.”

He gently brushed his fingers down my bare arm. “No, but I want to kiss you.”

“Then kiss me.” I was used to pushy guys. The kind that knew what they wanted and took it.

“Okay.” He smiled before leaning in.

The kiss was hesitant at first, the kind of kiss that gets your whole body excited because you know there’s more to come. I waited—hoping he’d take it further. His hand slid just under the hem of my shirt, brushing against my skin. The touch was light, but it was still enough to get a response out of me. I moaned.

That must have been what he was waiting for. He deepened the kiss, pushing into my mouth with such force I was taken by surprise. I kissed him back, enjoying the sweet taste of his mouth, and the way his hand slowly inched its way up my stomach. Blazer moved from zero to sixty. I didn’t mind it. I moved onto his lap, welcoming the arm he put around me to pull me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His hand moved higher, cupping my breast over my bra. I was drunk and hot, and so turned on I was going to lose it.

That’s when the door to the roof opened. The loud laughter of a group of girls pulled me half out of my lustful stupor.

“Want to go for a walk?” His question was asking something else entirely. I knew that when I answered with an enthusiastic yes.

Blazer held my hand as we made our way through the crowds. I looked briefly for Gabriella, but I didn’t see her. The normal Cara would have called her to tell her I was leaving with a random guy—but was Blazer random? We had chatted for hours already.

Before I could worry about it long, we were walking along the dark and nearly vacant beach. It was January on the South Carolina coast, and the crowds were months away.

“You never told me your name.” He said it as a statement as he led me further away from the party.

“Cara.”

“Hi, Cara. I’m Chase.”

I smiled. “Isn’t it a little late for introductions?” I stopped and turned toward the ocean.

“It’s never too late.” He drew something on my arm with his finger. The sensation felt good. I closed my eyes.

“You look so gorgeous. The moonlight, that look on your face.”

I opened my eyes and his face was inches from mine. “If you’ve never dated a blonde, does that mean you’ve never had sex with one?”

“Why? Are you looking to change that?” His eyes were lidded.

“I’d like to.” I slipped a finger into the waistband of his jeans.

“Should we go back to my hotel room, or do you have one?” He looked down. “I’m going to be honest here. I haven’t done this before.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re a virgin.” That would be just my luck.

He laughed. “No. Not saying that at all. I just don’t generally hook up with girls I’ve just met.”

“At least you know my name.”

“I do know your name, don’t I, Cara?”

Something happened to me when he said my name. I needed him. I reached up again, wrapping my arms around him. I crushed my lips into his.

We came up for air only after ending up horizontal on the sand. He laughed. “Or we can just pick things up right here.”

What I thought about THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH

After a break up caused by her cheating boyfriend, Cara’s friends take her to a party to help her get over her broken heart. One drink leads to another and Cara ends up flirting with a gorgeous stranger. And that’s not all. Wanting to put her past boyfriend behind her, she has sex with him on the beach and leaves without giving him any way to get in touch with her.

When Cara returns to college, she knows it’s going to be tough. Her best friends are dating men from the same fraternity as her ex, and her ex is under the delusion that he can have her back. Her whole life has changed, and she handles it pretty well. Then Jade takes her to a club to see a band perform, and her almost anonymous hookup on the beach isn’t so anonymous anymore. He’s the lead singer in the band they’ve gone to see.

Once they are together, Cara and Chase find that the attraction they felt for each other on that first night hasn’t gone away, and in spite of his touring with the band, decide to try to make a go of a long distance relationship. Of course, there are complications, mainly from Cara’s ex and a stalker-creep from another band, and some questions about Chase’s feelings for his ex-girlfriend. .

There’s more fun than drama here though. I loved how Cara finds her place on campus now that she’s no longer dating a fraternity brother. I really like this series for the lightness of it all. The drama isnt too intense and things work out with a little bit of effort. My biggest complaint is that I didn’t really feel that I got to know Chase all that well in this, since he’s off touring for most of the book.

If you are looking for a relatively light, easy read with a little drama to spice it up, this might be for you.
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Alyssa Rose Ivy Bio: Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

     

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Review: Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

Buy Links

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What I thought about Take Me On

I read Take Me On back in May when it was first released. I got to the end, and I’ll admit, I wanted more. Something felt missing to me. But there is something very unique about Katie McGarry’s books in this series. My first read is usually all about devouring the story and wanting to know what happens, but that second read is all about picking out the wonderful layers of the story and enjoying the richness of it. So I waited, and I just read Take Me On for a second time and as with the other books in this series, I’m blown away by this wonderful story.

It begins with West. He ripped his sister Rachel off for cash in the previous book in the series, setting up events that had very serious consequences. When we see him in Take Me On, he’s almost at rock bottom. He blames himself for Rachel’s accident, he’s been expelled from prep school, and his dad has kicked him out of his house. Traumatic stuff for a high school senior. He gets involved in an altercation near the strip mall that involves Haley and when he runs into her at his new school, it doesn’t take long for him to develop feelings for her.

Haley is in dire straits herself. Her father has lost his job, and her family is living with an tyrant of an uncle. And then there’s Matt, her ex. She’s scared of him in a big way, even though she’s a national titleholder in martial arts. There’s lots of bad blood there and it doesn’t help that West goads Matt into a martial arts match in two months time. It’s a good think Haley can train him.

“Home” is such a strong theme in this story. Losing it, finding it, leaving it -- it’s all in Take Me On. The challenges that Haley faces with her home situation are heart-breaking, and I couldn’t help but think of other families that have gone through the same situations her family goes through. Both Haley and West are searching for home, and there’s a great moment when he makes his realization about what home is all about.

"For weeks Haley and I have talked about what home is and what it means; a building, a structure, a memory. It's none of those things. For me, home is the contentment currently bubbling up inside me. Home is the rush of emotions buzzing in my veins." loc 3169

or when he says this about Rachel…
 
"Besides the fact she can't drive anymore and that her beloved Mustang became toast in the wreck, Rachel can only touch a closed hood. Rachel lost her home." loc 3878

The story builds gradually until everything explodes when serious family secrets are revealed, causing West to make some serious decisions about his future. The last third of this book is wrought with emotion and I just loved it.

I went into this book not really liking West, but it was hard to resist him and his determination. Haley was a bit harder to get close to, but then again, she's so busy worrying about everyone else she's lost herself. She carries her own heavy secret, and it’s her mom who helps her find the courage to deal with it.

As an adult reading YA, this is exactly the kind of book I love. A compelling story that has something to say about issues like growing up, standing on your own, and being brave without beating you over the head. I love the things that Katie McGarry says in this about family, parents, and the mistakes they make.  How the truth can set you free. I loved the positive image of a female martial arts champion too and was very happy that Haley could find a way back to her sport.

But Take Me On is really the story of West clawing his way back, and all that he learns in the process. I loved his arc in this story and how Katie McGarry painted each step of West's growth. It was absolutely interesting, dramatic and heart-warming. I just love everything about this one.

Absolutely recommended -- and I mean Take Me On and the entire series!

This is my honest review.

 For more about Katie McGarry:  http://www.katielmcgarry.com/

Review & Giveaway - Until We Fly by Courtney Cole

UNTIL WE FLY Synopsis:

Ex-Army Ranger, Brand Killien, has always been good.

A good friend, a good soldier, a good everything. .

The problem is, good hasn’t gotten him anything but a crushed heart.

So after licking his wounds, he decides to move on. And moving on doesn’t include being good anymore.

Bad sounds so much better.

Jaded and detached, Brand is determined to never open himself up to anyone again. It’s not worth the pain. Instead, he becomes closed, hardened, aloof.

But then he’s called back home for a family emergency… a family that he is estranged from. A family that he put out of his mind a long time ago for very good reasons…reasons that involve secrets and pain. Reasons he tried hard to forget.

But home is where the heart is, and it just might be where Brand finds his again.

Why? Because home is where Nora Greene is. A fiery, red-headed spitfire, Nora is a thing from his past. A beautiful, feisty thing. When Brand left, she was away at boarding school.

But she’s back now.

And she wants Brand, scars and all.

UNTIL WE FLY on Goodreads

And don’t miss the other Beautifully Broken, now available:

                    IF YOU STAY            IF YOU LEAVE         BEFORE WE FALL

Praise for the Beautifully Broken Series:

"I loved If You Stay. Like, really really loved it. The kind of love that kept me reading until 2:40 am and left me crying, smiling, devastated, and elated. The best kind of book love." - Andrea, The Bookish Babe

"Beautiful, raw, gritty, emotional and breath-taking are just a few of the words I can find to describe this book...reading this book was one of the best experiences I have had." -Amanda, Globug and Hootie Need a Book

"In If You Leave, we continue the wild ride Courtney Cole started us on in If You Stay. This raw story of heartbreak and hope solidifies Cole's standing as a rising star in hot contemporary romance." --- New York Times Bestselling author of Down to You, M. Leighton

"Another raw, gritty masterpiece with a sexy-as-hell Army Ranger to swoon over." --- K.A. Tucker, author of Ten Tiny Breaths

Excerpt

I set her phone back down, just in time for Nora to walk into the kitchen, in only her towel. 

I turn, and then freeze when I see her. 

Creamy white shoulders, soft skin, long legs. 

I swallow hard and meet her gaze.

“Who’s William?” I ask simply.   Her eyes grow guarded. 

She leans around me, purposely pressing her towel-clad front against me.  Her soft curves fold into me, sexy and warm.  I feel her nipples poke me through the towel and my groin reacts. 

The corners of her mouth turn up.  “Does it matter?”

She looks up at me, grinning impishly now, her face inches from my crotch. 

“Is there anything you need while I’m down here?”

My dick twitches. 

“No,” I tell her firmly, pulling her up by her upper arms.  “Who’s William?”

She sighs.  “Someone from work.  It’s fine.”

But it’s not fine. I can see it on her face, I can tell by the way she drains of color at the mere mention of his name.  But her shoulders are back and her chin is out.  She’s determined not to talk about him. 

That’s fine. 

We all have our secrets. 

She smiles triumphantly when I drop the subject and she grabs her phone, spins around, and drops her towel.  It falls at my feet. 

She walks confidently out the door, as naked as the day she was born. 

Her legs flex as she walks, and her ass is round and firm and my dick reacts once again. 

Fuck. 

I groan and look away. 

I can hear Nora chuckling from the other room and I roll my eyes. 

I also hear her turn off the shower. 

Apparently, she’s changed her mind about taking one. 

She pops her head back into the kitchen. 

“Want to go skinny-dipping?”

Yes. 

“No,” I tell her firmly. “I don’t swim.”

“So you said,” she nods, then struts through the kitchen naked, opens the back door, and makes her way across the lawn in the broad daylight to the private beach behind the house. 

I shake my head, unable to prevent the smile from spreading across my face. 

The girl is something, that’s for sure. 

I limp to the window and watch her. 

She’s unconcerned that someone will see her.  She simply doesn’t care as she puts on her show for me. 

And it’s for me.  I know that. 

Nora isn’t the kind of girl to strut outside nude in the daylight for any other reason than a means to her end.  For whatever reason, she’s made it her goal to get me this summer. 

I don’t know why.

But suddenly, it feels good. 

It feels fucking good to be pursued like this, after being the one who was on the giving end of unrequited affection for so long. 

She wants me. 

Through the glass, Nora’s eyes meet mine and holds my gaze.  She swims on her belly for a while, her eyes just above the surface of the water, never looking away from my own. 

She splashes and kicks at me, flipping onto her back. 

Her tits bob above the water, her nipples pointed to the sun. 

My dick twitches again.

And then when she’s finally done showing off for me, she emerges from the water, dripping wet and bathed in sunlight. 

She’s sexy as hell. 

And she knows it. 

She strides back across the lawn, watching me every step of the way.  She climbs the back steps, crosses the kitchen, and pauses in front of me, dripping on my feet. 

“I’m cold,” she murmurs into my ear, leaning up on her tiptoes.  She is.  Her cold skin grazes against me, bleeding through my shirt, as her tits press into my chest. Her nipples are hard enough to cut glass and my hands ache to slide along her skin, over her hips, down to where I’d grip her ass and…

I grit my teeth.

“Then you should get dressed,” I tell her calmly, bending to pick up the towel she’d discarded earlier and handing it to her.  I make no move to touch her, regardless of how much my traitorous fingers want to slip in between her legs and…

I grit my teeth again. 

She sees my jaw flex and grins victoriously.

She knows that she won the game she was playing… that she made me want her. 

I don’t bother telling her that I wanted her already.

What I thought about Until We Fly

Where do I start? With the swoony cover? Or maybe with a thank you to my friend, Eleanor at The Book Hammock for recommending this series to me.  I was hooked from the first book and after Jacey broke Brand's heart, I was hoping that he'd get his HEA. Until We Fly was everything I hoped for.

Brand is on his way back to Angel Bay after a death in the family and he's not too happy about it. Nora is there too, back at her parent's home for the summer, and she's not a happy camper either. Right from the start, it's clear that both of these characters are broken in some way, but we don't exactly know how or why. 

When their worlds collide in a explosion, Nora takes advantage of the opportunity to spend time with the one man she remembers and wants from the little lakeside town. The man she sees as her protector, even after all the years apart.

I loved the way Nora describes Brand when she sees  him for the first time, I could already tell  how she felt about him. 

"But that blond hair...honey blond hair that it looks like it has been kissed by the sun.  The chiseled cheekbones, cleft in the chin, the strong jawline, the proud nose.  I would recognize that profile anywhere, even through a heavily tinted windshield, even though the last time I'd seen it was almost ten years ago." 


Nora and Brand end up together in Gabe's cottage with Nora playing nurse and seductress. She wants him and isn't shy about letting him know it.  I liked that about her. It takes a little effort to get him to admit he wants her, and gradually, Brand's secrets are revealed. It broke my heart (again) to learn what happened to him as a child and the scars it left.  Nora's got secrets too and they are of the blow-your-mind variety.  I know I'm being cryptic there, but I found the way this story unfolds really very beautiful and I don't want to spoil it for you.

I really love this series and Until We Fly might even be my favorite. There's something about the writing in this series that just pulls me in--there's a level of intimacy I love. Maybe it's because there are so many feels here and those are the books I love the most -- the ones that make me feel right along with the characters. A definite stay-up-all-night read. 

Recommended.

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ABOUT COURTNEY COLE:

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people.

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

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