Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Release Day Review & Giveaway:Beyond Ruin by Kit Rocha


The sectors will never be the same...

Adrian Maddox fled his royal life—and tragic past—in Sector One, choosing instead to join up with the O’Kanes. For years, he’s lived by one rule: love fast, love hard, and always be willing to walk away. He’s managed to guard his heart, keep it whole and untouched—until now.

They couldn’t be more different—Dylan, the brilliant, burned-out doctor from Eden who drowns his pain with drugs and self-destruction. Scarlet, the sensuous, sexy rocker from Three, a woman unafraid to embrace the world. And Jade, the whore turned spy from Sector Two, who battled addiction and came out stronger than anyone he’s ever met.

Separately, they make Mad long to open his heart, to tumble head-first into a sea of possibilities and wild love. Together, they make him burn, inside and out, with lust and unbearable, unimaginable pleasure.

Then one fateful moment shakes their world to its foundations—and leaves the sectors on the verge of all-out war with Eden. It’s the biggest fight the O’Kanes have ever faced, and Mad and his lovers are at the dead center of it. They could end up with everything they never knew they wanted—or lose it all. Including their lives. 



Buy Links


 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18392421-beyond-ruin



What I thought about Beyond Ruin

Kit Rocha is back with the seventh installment in the Beyond series with a tale of love and war between the sectors. This book was real surprise for me. I was getting worried that the series was leveling out, and I'm jumping up and down now because, wow! Beyond Ruin was just incredible.

There were so many things I liked about this book.  Let me start with the writing.  I don't think I've ever highlighted so many passages as I did when reading this.  There were some very strong statements being made here, and there were places that the language touched my heart and head.  This quote was one of my favorites, and it was hard to pick only one to include here.

Power had its own silent language, one that screamed. It combined tiny, effortless shows of arrogance with bigger, louder displays -- of wealth, of violence.

I wasn't sure how I was going to like the romantic connections in this installment because I wasn't really invested in any of the characters from the previous books, except for maybe Dylan (Doc).  But again.. I was drawn into the lives of Maddox, Dylan, Jade and Scarlett in a way that surprised me. I adored this exploration of lust and love, and readers be prepared for some filthy scenes from these characters. I adored the fact that I saw them as a unit, all 4 complementing each other, when it would have been so easy to see them as two couples getting together.  But it had to be the four of them, and of course, the ride through their love story wasn't easy, but it was beautiful. 

The beginnings of war between the sectors and Eden provide a tension-filled backdrop for this story, and Kit Rocha did a fabulous job of setting things up in this book.  Within the first few chapters, everything in this world changes, and I didn't see it coming, which made for a wonderful reading experience. I probably liked this part of the book the best, the escalating tensions, the threats of war between Eden and the sectors had me biting my nails.

There was just so much for me to like with Beyond Ruin. It's a game changer for this series, that's for sure, and like the characters in this series, I'm left wondering who will survive the upcoming war?  

I love this series. 

Giveaway



I have a Beyond Series Bundle (Volume One) which includes three books in the series to gift away. 

To enter, send an email to redhotbluereads at gmail dot com by February 25, 2016 and let me know you want it!  I'll let randomizer pick a winner! 
 


BEYOND SHAME (87,000 words, 354 pages)



All Noelle Cunningham has ever wanted is a life beyond the walls of Eden, where only the righteous are allowed to remain. But ruins lie outside the City, remnants of a society destroyed by solar storms.



Those ruins house the corrupt and the criminal--men like Jasper McCray, bootlegger and cage fighter. He'll defend the O'Kane gang with his life, but no fight prepared him for the exiled City girl who falls at his feet.



Her innocence is undeniable, and so is their attraction. But if she wants to belong to Jas, she'll have to open herself to a world where passion is power, and freedom is found in submission.



BEYOND CONTROL (100,000 words, 398 pages)



Alexa Parrino escaped a life of servitude to become one of the most influential people in Sector Four, where the O'Kanes rule with a hedonistic but iron fist. There's nothing she wouldn't do for the gang--and for its leader. But she bows to no one, not even Dallas O'Kane.



Dallas fought to carve order out of the chaos of the sectors. Danger threatens his people, but his liquor business is flourishing, and new opportunities fuel his ambition. Lex could help him expand his empire--and no one says no to the king of Sector Four.



Falling into bed is easy, but their sexual games are anything but casual. Attraction quickly turns to obsession, and their careful dance of heady dominance and sweet submission uncovers a need so deep, so strong, it could crush them both.



BEYOND PAIN (89,000 words, 350 pages)



Live fast, die young--anything else is a fantasy for Six. She's endured the worst the sectors had to throw at her, but falling in with Dallas O'Kane's Sector Four gang lands her in a whole new world of danger. They're completely open about everything, including their sexuality--but she hasn't survived this long by making herself vulnerable. Especially not to men as dominant as Brendan Donnelly.



Bren is a killer, trained in Eden and thrown to the sectors. His one outlet is pain, in the cage and in the bedroom, and emotion is a luxury he can't afford--until he meets Six. Protecting her soothes him, but it isn't enough. Her hunger for touch sparks a journey of erotic discovery where anything goes--voyeurism, flogging, rough sex. He has only one rule: he won't share her.



In Bren's arms, Six is finally free to let go. But his obsession with the man who made him a monster could destroy the fragile connection they've forged, and cost him the one thing that makes him feel human--her love.





Kit Rocha 

Kit Rocha is the pseudonym for co-writing team Donna Herren and Bree Bridges. After penning dozens of paranormal novels, novellas and stories as Moira Rogers, they branched out into gritty, sexy dystopian romance.

The series has appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and was honored with a 2013 RT Reviewer’s Choice award. Find out more at kitrocha.com, or sign up to be notified of their next release at bit.ly/kit-rocha-updates


Twitter (Announcements): http://twitter.com/kitrocha
Twitter (Bree): http://twitter.com/mostlybree
Twitter (Donna): http://twitter.com/donnajherren

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway:The Groom Wore Plaid by Gayle Callen



The Groom Wore Plaid

Highland Weddings Series
 By Gayle Callen

Avon Romance
February 23, 2016

Mass-Market ISBN: 9780062268006 * $7.99
E-ISBN 9780062268013 * $5.99

About the Book

Falling in love means tempting fate in this passionate new novel in USA Today bestselling author Gayle Callen’s Highland Wedding series.

Maggie McCallum’s dreams about her new fiancé aren’t the romantic sort. It’s not just that she was bartered to Owen Duff like a piece of property to end a clan feud. She’s also haunted by premonitions of his death on their upcoming wedding day. Yet the exasperating Highlander won’t let her call it off, even though his life and his clan are both in jeopardy.

Owen has wanted Maggie in his bed since he first glimpsed her years ago. If their union restores peace between their clans, so much the better. But while lusting after another chief’s sister had its risks, growing to trust Maggie is far more dangerous. Owen is falling deeply in love with the one woman he cannot hope to claim…and survive.

Purchase Here:

THE GROOM WORE PLAID –
http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062268006/the-groom-wore-plaid

THE GROOM WORE PLAID on Goodreads

HIGHLAND WEDDINGS series on Goodreads

Excerpt:
Scotland, 1717

Maggie McCallum was only sixteen and Owen Duff eighteen the autumn their families spent in Edinburgh. Her mother had said she was too young for courtship, but Maggie secretly scoffed at that. Men looked at her now, and she was finally allowing herself to give a flirtatious look back.

And then at a dancing assembly, she saw Owen, Viscount Duncraggan, heir to the earldom of Aberfoyle. She’d met him only once before, at a dinner with their parents. She’d been twelve, he fourteen, and he’d ignored her. Now a friend giggled and pointed him out.

“He’s from the Duff clan,” the girl said. “Even I ken that the McCallums and the Duffs have always despised each other.”

Maggie nodded without really listening. She was staring at Owen with wide, curious eyes. He did not wear a belted plaid as so many of her family did, but an expensive tailored coat and waistcoat over knee breeches, and the polished sword at his hip sparkled in the candlelight when he strode across the dance floor to bow to a blushing girl. He had a thin face and bony shoulders that hinted at the broad strength of the man he would become. His sandy hair was gathered in a haphazard queue on his neck, loose strands brushing his cheeks as if he were too busy to be bothered fastening it more securely.

“Isn’t your brother to marry his sister? Ye’ll be practically family.”

Family or not, Maggie knew better than to be the McCallum who approached a Duff in public, right in front of her mother. She thought of her brother’s misery at marrying a woman he didn’t know or love, the way he’d done foolish, reckless things in anger when he’d first discovered his fate at thirteen. Maggie had pitied him, and felt guilty that she was secretly glad it wasn’t she forced to marry a Duff.

Her next meeting with Owen wasn’t auspicious—she merely passed him on the stairs outside her flat on High Street, as dusk settled in dark waves on Edinburgh. The tall building with a dozen floors housed all manner of people, from the chimney sweep in the cellar to the dancing master in the garret. The best floors were reserved for noblemen, and though her father didn’t have a title, he was the chief of the Clan McCallum. Her mother had leased the flat to be near the earl’s family, since her son was marrying into them, but she did not want her daughter involved beyond what civility expected.

Upon seeing Maggie, Owen came to a stop on the stairs and grinned that grin that lived in her dreams for many years to come. His warm brown eyes made her think of the chocolate English ladies favored for their morning drink, and as they took her in, skimming her form, she felt as suitably overheated as that cup she’d only once clutched in her hands on a cold winter morning in the Highlands.

She wanted to scold him for his bold gaze but then she saw the round tube he carried.

“Is that a telescope?” she demanded.

Those eyes now brightened with more than warmth. “Aye, I’m heading out to gaze upon the stars. Have ye looked through one before?”

She shook her head. She’d done nothing more intellectual than read passages from the Bible—she hadn’t been allowed more, had no access to other books. Knowing there was a whole world of knowledge out there made her ache with regret and frustration.

He held out a hand. “I’m Owen. Do ye want to come?”

She hesitated, realizing he didn’t recognize her. In that long moment she thought of her grandparents already preparing for bed, the fact that she’d just seen her mother into a sedan chair to meet with friends, and that her brother lived in his own flat near the university. She was alone.

Owen stood a couple stairs below her, and that put them at just about the same height. She stared into his eyes again, and the admiration and curiosity made her unfurl like a blossom in springtime.

But she had to be honest. Taking a deep breath, she said, “I’m Maggie McCallum. ’Tis my brother who’s to marry your sister.”

He looked at her for a long moment, and the first feelings of regret and resignation washed through her.

But Owen didn’t rush away, only extended his hand closer to her. “Nice to meet ye, Maggie. Do ye still want to come with a dreaded Duff?”

She bit her lip to keep from giggling like a foolish girl. She was sixteen, a woman now. He obviously didn’t remember her from four years before. Maybe that was for the best. Putting her hand in his, she let him lead her out into the twilight.

During the next few weeks, Owen was the excitement in days that were once dreary and repetitive. Sneaking away to ride down to the shore at the Firth of Forth, boating, exploring the grounds of Edinburgh Castle, or even meandering through shops seemed like wild adventures when she was at Owen’s side.

Rather than deter her, the very forbiddance of a friendship between them caused her to be far too reckless. He was so very different from the men she knew. He discussed physics and chemistry and astronomy as if she was as smart as he. She saw his wonder in the world, but when she asked if he would be a scientist, his expression turned hard as he said his father had forbidden it. He was the heir to an earldom, and would be educated as such. If he didn’t study the classics, his father would refuse him attendance at university next year.

Maggie sympathized, and distracted him from his sad and angry thoughts, but she could not stop dwelling on her own confusion. Every moment she spent in his company, Owen seemed more and more familiar to her, as if they’d met much earlier in their childhood, though he swore they had not. Sometimes it was as if a ghost of a dream teased her from just beyond the shadows, and she shivered.

Her dreams were nothing to make light of. More than once, she’d dreamed something that eventually came true. The family of a little boy in her clan had thought him drowned and were about to give up the search, when a dream led her to the bedraggled boy huddled beneath a cliff. Another dream foretold the suicide of a young woman whom Maggie’s father had abused. Maggie hadn’t understood what she was seeing until it had actually come true, which was often the case. And then it had been too late to help the girl. Maggie’s mother had taken her away from Larig Castle and back to Edinburgh, to keep her safe from her father.

But Owen? Could he have been part of a dream she couldn’t remember? The puzzle of it flooded her mind when she was separated from him, but the hours they were together were full of happy laughter, insightful discussion, and endless moments where she stared into his face when he wasn’t looking and imagined herself married to him. Maybe her mind was simply trying to tell her that he was her destiny, that they were meant to be together. She wanted him to kiss her, but he was ever the gentleman—or maybe he assumed that the centuries-old feud between their clans meant they could never share a more intimate relationship. It seemed to be a forbidden topic between them.

But he touched her, and each time she could have surely melted with delight. He would take her hand running across a field, guide her by grasping her elbow, put his hand gently on her waist when they stood watching the sun set amid beautiful orange and pink clouds adorning it like trailing scarves.

Two weeks into their friendship, they were carrying a luncheon basket along the river, Water of Leith, on a particularly sunny autumn day, when Owen suggested they look for mussels and Scottish pearls. This was no mere meandering in ankle-deep water, and soon they were both dripping wet, pearl-less, shivering as they crawled back up the grassy bank, laughing.

Owen lay down in the sun, and feeling reckless, she did the same, eyeing him boldly since his own eyes were closed. His queue had come undone, and long strands of his hair, dark brown with water, covered his cheeks. Without thinking, she came up on her elbow and used a trembling finger to move the locks away from his face.

His eyes snapped open, and she expected him to laugh up at her, but he seemed to concentrate intently on her face just above his. Everything external seemed to go silent as they shared a hot, meaningful gaze. She was focused on the rough sound of her breathing, the moisture beaded on his skin, the way she could feel his heart pounding in his chest when she rested her trembling hand there.

And then he cupped her head and brought her down for a kiss. His lips were cool from the water, yet softer than she imagined a man’s would be. Such boldness made her dizzy—or was it simply nearness to Owen? Her hand still on his chest, she lifted her head and stared down at him uncertainly, but he only brought their mouths together again. He parted his lips, and the shock of his tongue sliding between hers made her start with surprise and wonder. Her cool, wet skin seemed to heat, the warmth spreading out from her mouth and down her chest. Her trembling was no longer from the cold, but she didn’t know why her limbs seemed so restless. She wanted to be touched—needed it with a desperation new to her. But she was afraid to do more than brace herself against his chest as he explored her mouth and taught her to explore his.

The world shifted as he rolled her onto her back. It was his turn to rise above her, his intense face framed by blue sky and towering autumn-hued trees. She had no time to think as he kissed her again and began to touch her. His hand on her body was a hot, welcome presence, and with each touch she felt more and more as if she couldn’t lie still. His caresses journeyed across her wet clothes from her hip and upward. And when at last he touched her breast, pushed upward by her stays, she moaned against his lips and shuddered with each delicate strum across her nipple, as if he made her an instrument of desire.

Their shared world of passion was suddenly overwhelming, and she pushed against him before it was too late to stop. Owen lifted his head and stared down at her, his breathing as erratic as hers.

“We cannot do this,” she said with a trembling voice. Not that she regretted any of it, she realized, staring at his mouth and wishing to feel again the pleasure he’d given her.

Owen was looking at her mouth, too, and he practically growled, “I knew ye’d find out. Forgive me. I didn’t ken how to tell ye.”

“Find out what?” she demanded.

He grimaced.

“Owen Duff, ye have to tell me now.”

“My father betrothed me some years ago to the daughter of a Lowland clan. Even now, they journey here for us to meet.”

The last warmth from their kiss deserted Maggie. Shivering, she sat up and scooted away from him, covering her chest as if it was bared to him.

“Why did ye never tell me this?” she demanded. She’d let herself get lost in the fairy tale of their friendship, and the romance she’d thought had been blossoming. Now she knew she was simply a fool.

Owen tucked his hair back into the queue, as if he needed something to do with his hands. He didn’t look at her, and his face was as red as hers felt, but she didn’t feel any sympathy for him.

His words came out slowly at first, before tumbling over each other as fast as the rippling water behind him. “At first, I thought we were simply friends, and to know ye were a McCallum made it daring. But the need to kiss ye has been dominating my thoughts more and more.”

He met her gaze at last, and she felt like she’d never forget the heat she saw there, the passion he was showing just for her. But he was betrothed, and a lump rose high up into her throat, shutting off any words. She scrambled to her feet and backed away from him before she would embarrass herself more by crying. “I—I have to go.”


What I thought about The Groom Wore Plaid

It's been quite a while since I've read historical romance (years) and for some reason this title captured my attention so I decided to give it a try. I haven't read this author before either, so this was purely an impulse read.  So glad to say that I enjoyed every minute of it.

The Groom Wore Plaid is a fun read, with some sexy scenes and a classic historical romance plot. Maggie and Owen are from feuding families, brought together in marriage to settle the rift between their clans.  Having met years ago, their beginnings are those of friends to almost more, but when Owen doesn't believe something Maggie tells him, she vows to stay angry with him. Fast forward ten years later and circumstances have changed again, and Maggie and Owen might get that second chance to make that commitment to each other and their families.

I loved Maggie. She was smart and sassy and wasn't afraid to show her steely interior to Owen.  Owen was less likable, but in true romance fashion, he does eventually redeem himself.  There isn't a lot of plot here you won't see coming at you, but it's still a lot of fun.

I'm happy to say that reading this made me want to include more historical romance in my reading selections, and that's how much I enjoyed this book.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

After a detour through fitness instructing and computer programming, GAYLE CALLEN found the life she’d always dreamed of as a romance writer. This USA Today bestselling author has written more than twenty historical romances for Avon Books, and her novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and been translated into eleven different languages. The mother of three grown children, an avid crafter, singer, and outdoor enthusiast, Gayle lives in Central New York with her dog Uma and her husband, Jim the Romance Hero. She also writes contemporary romances as Emma Cane.

Visit her website at www.gaylecallen.com.

Connect with Gayle Callen

Website - www.gaylecallen.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/GayleCallen

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GayleCallen 


Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/46974.Gayle_Callen

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Cover Reveal:Dark Notes by Pam Godwin

Dark Notes Pam Godwin eBook
They call me a slut. Maybe I am. Sometimes I do things I despise. Sometimes men take without asking.

But I have a musical gift, only a year left of high school, and a plan. With one obstacle.

Emeric Marceaux doesn’t just take. He seizes my willpower and bangs it like a dark note. When he commands me to play, I want to give him everything. I kneel for his punishments, tremble for his touch, and risk it all for our stolen moments.

He’s my obsession, my master, my music. And my teacher.

Adult 18+ only
Genre: Dark student teacher romance
Expected release date → April 2016
Dark Notes Pam Godwin Paperback

Meet the author

GodwinBio
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.
Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Release Day Review:Dawn of Forever by Jewel E. Ann



**The conclusion to the Jack & Jill series. This is not a standalone novel.

’til death do us part.

Aric James Monaghan promised Jillian Knight Portland. With a heavy heart and a light bag, she travels to the West Coast for the man she loved. In a blink her worlds collide, holding her hostage to a past filled with lies, deceit, and revenge.

Four Caskets
Two Bodies
It all started with a boy and a girl—their tragic love story is shared through the eyes of the enemy.

Every word fades dreams and shatters memories as life slips away. Jillian needs a Knight, Jessica needs a miracle, and together they need a savior.

*WARNING : This book contains explicit language, sexual content, and abusive scenarios that could be a trigger for certain individuals.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25109564-dawn-of-forever

Buy Links

Amazon

What I thought about Dawn of Forever

Wow. Just wow!  That's how I felt when I got to the end of this book. Did I mention I read it in less than 24  hours because I just couldn't put it down?  Jewel E. Ann saves some dark and twisty for the final book in this series, and it packs a punch.

With Luke figuring out that the love of his life is still alive, Jillian/Jessica grieving over AJ, and Jackson/Jude sorting through his feelings for Ryn, there's a whole lot going on at the start of Dawn of Forever.  Things just get more complicated and intense as the story progresses, too.  I can't really tell you about it because it will spoil all the juicy reveals for you, but this book was chock full of surprises.  There isn't as much humor in this one as the first two books in the series, but that was okay with me. This series is about love and tragedy and the final book does it up perfectly.

The beauty in Dawn of Forever for me was the masterful way Jewel E. Ann chose to tell this story through flashbacks and a variety of points of view. She strips down the main characters, ripping off the band-aids layer by layer until the whole bloody truth is exposed and everyone is standing in the rubble. 

There's gallon buckets of emotions too, as hearts are broken and mended along with dark and twisty suspense that might stay with you for a little while. I finished this book last night and I'm still thinking about it today.

If you like romantic suspense with an intricate plot that will blow your mind, you might just like this series.This will definitely be on my list of favorites for 2016.

ARC provided for review.



About the Author

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.
With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business. 

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Review:A Woman's Worth by Audra North


Chantal Jones is going through a rough patch. A divorced single mother to two demanding boys, she’s constantly putting the needs of others before her own. She’s exhausted, and the only thing that fuels her fantasies these days is her sexy, off-limits boss, Ronan Nakata.

Ronan has definitely noticed how attractive Chantal is, but he’s her employer and their relationship has to remain strictly professional. Besides, he isn’t looking for anything serious and the last thing he wants to do is get emotionally involved.

But when a chance encounter in the company elevator leaves them both strung tight and wanting, taking it to the next level is seemingly inevitable. In such close quarters, will they be able to get their attraction out of their systems without losing their hearts?


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28198699-a-woman-s-worth
 
Buy Links



 

What I thought about A Woman's Worth

For the last year, Chantal has been dealing with a lot -- a divorce, two rambunctious boys and demanding VP job in Marketing.  To say her sex life has taken a major hit is an understatement, and there's some lingering confidence issues as a result of her husband's affair and subsequent divorce.  She's on auto-pilot -- working and taking care of her boys and her job, without getting much of an opportunity to think about herself.
 
As she experiences a sexual reawakening, she finds herself fantasizing about her boss, Ronan Nakata. The sexy Japanese businessman is at the center of her fantasies, and one fateful morning she happens to get stuck on an elevator with her boss.  Now I have to say that some of the beginnings of their relationship had my eyebrows in my hairline, as Chantal crosses some unwritten work rules regarding office behavior, but Ronan is definitely interested in Chantal as well.
 
There's only one caveat to their budding sexual relationship.  Ronan puts Chantal in charge, and he wants her to call the shots when it comes to their relationship. While this arrangement empowers Chantal on one hand, it also keeps Ronan from investing in the relationship.  It isn't long before Chantal realizes that she wants more than just sex in their relationship.
 
I adored Chantal's journey of reclaiming her life back after the divorce.  Audra North does a lovely job of giving dimension to her character as she discovers her worth and what she wants in life. I read a lot of romance, and A Woman's Worth had a fresh take on giving your heart to a partner without losing your own sense of self worth, and I loved that about this story.  
 
ARC provided for review. 
 

About the Author
Audra North is the contemporary romance author of the Pushing the Boundaries series from Samhain and the Hard Driving series from St. Martin’s. Sign up for Audra North’s newsletter to get free books, extra scenes, and exclusive subscriber giveaways. You can also connect with Audra on her website, AudraNorth.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Review: Falling Into You (Colburn Brothers #3) by Jill Shalvis

    Some love stories don’t stay buried, no matter how far you run. Hazel Pierce has three goals for coming back to Star Falls: 1. Help her ...