Book Recommendations

A FEW THOUGHTS. . .

A Surprise Release!!

 Best Christmas gift ever!!!

I had the honor of proofreading this novella and I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!!!

It’s probably—no, it’s definitely—one of my RVD favorites!

Rachel Van Dyken has perfectly paired an enemies-to-lovers trope with royalty and lots of laughter!

Tons of heartfelt moments, fall-out-of-your-seat humor, and lots of sweet, sweet romance will surround you while you curl up with this novella, a cup of hot cocoa, and maybe even a candy cane…LOL (inside joke – you’ll have to read it to find out!) 

And keep the tissues close by for one special scene that will melt your heart right into a puddle – I know mine did!

Make this book a part of your Christmas and enjoy this incredible story!

SYNOPSIS:

The first time I met Fitz or to most of the world Duke Fitzegerald Heraldo Belleville, I punched him in the throat. 
I was actually aiming for his chin, but he was a few years older, clearly not wiser, but at least taller. 
He started wheezing on his candy cane. 
And well, the rest is history. 
Hate replaced what could have been friendship, and for the rest of my teen years, I watched him flirt with every single breathing female. 
I hated him. 
Plotted his death with a smile on my face. 
And knew that my first decree as Queen would be to chop off his head. 
Except now that I’m finally old enough to inherit the title, there’s one tiny little slip-up. 
I need a man by my side. 
The problem? 
I may have accidentally scared them all away. 
I have no options. 
Until the devil rings my doorbell with a wicked grin on his face and revenge dancing like sugarplums in his gaze. 
I hate that I need him. 
It’s a serious problem. 
We have twelve days before we say I do. 
I just pray we survive without killing each other first.

Buy A Crown for Christmas on Amazon

A FEW THOUGHTS . . .

There is truly nothing better than curling up on the couch with a fuzzy blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and one of Jenny Hale’s Christmas novels. Even here in Tennessee where it hasn’t begun snowing yet!

It Started with Christmas easily transports you to that cozy cabin in the woods outside of Nashville where a woman and her nana are snowed in with an unexpected guest.

This is a lovely, heartwarming tale of a girl in search of her true calling and her true love while endearingly taking care of her grandmother who herself is missing the love of her life.

The gorgeous imagery and depiction of Nashville and its surrounding country is spot on. While I’m fairly new to the Nashville area myself, I know the landscapes and life are perfectly represented in this story, making you want to search for a comfy cabin in the country to spend your holiday, tour the lavish estates of Brentwood, and ring in the New Year in downtown Nashville!

An inspiring romance that brings the enchanting magic of the holidays to life!

SYNOPSIS:

Holly McAdams loves spending the Christmas holidays at her family’s cozy cabin, with its little red door and twinkling lights, tucked in the snowy hills outside Nashville. But this year will be different. Someone unexpected is joining them…

After Holly and her beloved Nana struggle through a snow storm to reach the cabin, they discover gorgeous and wealthy Joseph Barnes, who has been renting the cabin for the last few weeks, is now snowed in. And it looks like he’ll be staying for the holidays.

Determined to make the best of the surprise situation, Holly tries to bring everyone together by baking delicious treats and decorating the cabin with plenty of festive sparkle. She finds herself growing close to handsome Joseph, who is unlike anyone she’s ever met before, even if Nana isn’t so keen on the dashing stranger with the mysterious past.

But charming and irresistible musician Rhett Burton is also back in town. Thrown into close proximity with the person who used to be her best friend and the man who broke her heart, Holly realizes it’s time to face her feelings and figure out what she really wants from her life. But to complicate things, both Joseph and Rhett have secrets to reveal…

Will Holly be able to find herself and the love she’s always dreamed of this Christmas?

Buy It Started with Christmas on Amazon

Grab your cozy blanket and hot cocoa, ladies. Then, simply decide which of these amazing holiday romances you’re going to cuddle up with first…

A FEW THOUGHTS. . . 

I could gush about this book all day!

It’s so much more than a love story!

LJ Evans gracefully layers friendship, hope, hardship, and family with a slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance that will work magic in your heart.

Lonnie and Wynn meet through mutual friends and are swiftly drawn into each other’s worlds.

Together, they walk through some of life’s most challenging struggles, creating a solid friendship and unbreakable bond, which ultimately turns into a love formed on a beautiful foundation of respect and caring.

It’s hard to talk about this book without spoiling the most special element, but I’m gonna make it happen.

Trust me, you will know what (or WHO *wink wink*) it is as soon as she presents herself. And then this book will skyrocket to the top of your favorites list! She is the most precious, unforgettable character, and you will fall in love instantly!

The MY LIFE AS AN ALBUM series will always be a top recommendation of mine. (I highly suggest reading them in order, but you don’t technically have to.)

This is one of those series where you read the first book and say, “That’s my favorite.” Then, you read the second book and say, “No, wait, that’s my favorite.” Then, you read the third book and say, “Hold on, that’s my favorite.” And by the fourth book, you are just in awe of this whole series and LJ’s unforgettable world she has created for us to enjoy.

And as a bonus for those who have read the series . . . there is a SERIES EPILOGUE at the end, bringing back all the fabulous characters that have made a special home in our hearts.

SYNOPSIS:

“One mistake doesn’t make you a failure.”

LONNIE
I came to Tennessee to help a friend.
And now, I’m stuck.
By the Southern charm,
By the sweet tea and
By a tall, red-headed “Strawberry Shortcake”

And when my world crumbles apart,
Wynn is there to help me pick up the pieces.
To show me the way.

WYNN
My life was a huge disappointment.
My marriage,
My job,
Everything slipped away.

Coming home seemed like the final failure.
But then I meet him,
Lonnie Brennan, the sexy bass player,
Who adds laughter to my life.

And now, I realize that I can
Change my tune,
Sing a new song.

From award-winning author, LJ Evans, comes the music inspired conclusion to the MY LIFE AS AN ALBUM SERIES about hope and new beginnings.

Buy My Life as a Mixtape on Amazon

My Life as a Country Album

This is a breathtaking story of the truest friendship and the most real kind of love. A love that is raw…flawed…and all-consuming.

These characters are pure and unwavering, and you fall in love with their story in mere moments. She belonged to him and he belonged to her, but the thing was…she knew it…he didn’t.

Your heart will ache with hers.
Your tears will fall with hers.
Your devastation will burn with hers.

Every turn of the page brings all the feels. I loved Cam’s complete and utter stubbornness when it came to Jake, the strength in her resolve, Jake’s unapologetic protection of her, and even the unfairness of…everything else.

The melodic and inviting writing of LJ Evans makes you feel like you are sitting right there with Cam, hearing her tell this story. You’re on this journey with them, desperate for the next chapter, but also a little nervous about what may be coming.

But you’re with them, you’re invested, and you want to see it through…for them. And for their love.

SYNOPSIS:

I belonged to you the moment you told my mama you were waiting for me when I was still inside her stomach. 

I belonged to you as we grew up sharing a treehouse, a yard, and the lake. I even belonged to you when our three-year age difference tried to pull us apart rather than put us together.

But, I was most especially yours when you kissed me and told me you weren’t letting me go.

Except you did.

And now I’m wondering how to turn our lives from a country love song without a happy ending into one that does…

Because “loving you was a race I was determined to win.”

Inspired by Taylor Swift country songs, this is a story of aching love and loss and learning to live through life in all its pain and glory.

****************

My Life as a Pop Album

An inspiring and genuine story of overcoming the deepest grief and the most self-deprecating guilt.

Mia is a good girl. A pleaser.  It’s her job to make sure everyone around her is okay. But the thing is…she’s not okay.

And when she meets Derek Waters, the rock star with his own demons that he hides behind a gorgeous smile, he pulls her well outside of her comfort zone, and she eventually has to face her grief and guilt head on. But he is with her, loving her, every step of the way.  And that is the best part of their story.

The unconditional love and trust that Mia and Derek have for each other is evident in every heartfelt word that LJ Evans has written for them.

Mia’s story is a heartwarming tale of finding true love…for someone else and also for herself.

SYNOPSIS:

Good Girl Mia feels guilty for her brother’s death. It was her kidney that killed him after all…

Four years later, Mia is back home after college and trying to pretend that she’s got it all together. She’s set to take over the family car dealership, and is determined to never make her mama cry again, but she’s also running from guilt and a boy who never really loved her.

Derek Waters has just signed with a record label and is determined to spend his summer touring with his band far away from his alcoholic dad and the whole L.A. scene. Dealing with anyone of the female persuasion is the last thing on his mind.

But then the sexy musician walks into Mia’s dealership, and they both find themselves throwing their best laid plans aside. Which leaves Mia wondering how she’ll survive the guilt of touring with this tattooed rocker in her dead brother’s Camaro. And what will become of Good Girl Mia when Derek Waters is done with her?

****************

My Life as a Rock Album

Get ready to SQUEE, ladies!!
Seth is everyone’s favorite kind of bad boy…

Fast car…check.
Surly attitude…check.
Tortured past…check.
Hidden, soft heart that melts for that one and only girl that changes all of the above…check.

LJ Evans’ writing blows me away every time. She took a broken, life-hardened bad boy and molded him into a man with a depth and power to love that will melt your heart into a puddle and have you rooting for him 100%!!!

This is a true love story full of passion, heart, and even suspense! It’s incredible!

SYNOPSIS:

“They took broken and made it art.”

From award winning author LJ Evans comes a novel inspired by Bon Jovi songs that shows how love and acceptance can heal even the toughest scars.

SETH

I’m a trash artist. I’m a recovering alcoholic. I’m a rude bastard. It’s why I was better of alone until feisty blogger PJ Hensley entered my life with her fairy-like quality. Suddenly I couldn’t imagine a life without her in it. And when she loved me and left me, it was what I expected but it isn’t what I wanted. And because I couldn’t just let her go, I’ve spent the last five months writing her letters trying to convince her to come home even though I know she won’t. I don’t deserve for her to come back.

PJ

I was ignoring my screwed up past and a bunch of stalker like texts while focusing on graduating college. The last thing I needed was a moody trash artist entering my world. But like all things Seth, he entered my life anyway with an intensity and focus that left me breathless. And when the summer collided into one big mess, I ran. To try to heal. To try and escape. But Seth’s letters are tearing at my soul and slowly reeling me back in. He’s almost convinced me that he can weld our lives back together into something beautiful. Almost…

Check out the MY LIFE AS AN ALBUM series on Amazon

COMING NOV. 13TH …

A FEW THOUGHTS. . .

Every Last Word is not only an endearing love story, it is a fascinating peek into the mind of a girl with OCD. I couldn’t put it down!

The thoughts Sam had, the secrets she kept, the adjustments she had to make every day of her life were truly a struggle for her, and it was amazing to see her journey through all of it.

Her struggle with balancing two very separate and different groups of friends was so true to life. Tamara Ireland Stone captured this aspect of high school perfectly with her incredible writing. Every one of Sam’s emotions were felt and understood completely. Sam’s worry—her wish—to be “normal” was so heartfelt and honest that you wanted to just reach in and give her a hug.

And the twists! Truthfully, I had a hunch about what was happening pretty early on, but there were still many surprises that I never saw coming. And my hunch did not affect my enjoyment of the story in any way. In fact, I think it enhanced it!

Sam’s relationship with AJ was sweet perfection. I loved how they started on pretty rocky ground, but they worked through it and created a beautiful relationship from it. He loved her just as she was, even when she wasn’t sure how she felt about herself. His unwavering honesty was exactly what she needed.

After reading this book, you will forever remember Every. Last. Word.

SYNOPSIS:

If you could read my mind, you wouldn’t be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can’t turn off.

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn’t help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she’d be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school.

So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam’s weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to the Poet’s Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself.

Slowly, she begins to feel more “normal” than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

Buy Every Last Word on Amazon

A FEW THOUGHTS . . .

Fun, sweet, and hilarious!

Bust out the Aquanet and spray up those mall bangs, ladies! Because Remember When is like a time machine back to all your best high school memories!

Layla, the central character, is not girly-girly. She’s strong, she’s feisty, she’s quick-witted. She’s your best friend in a book.

And she is at the center of this witty, heartfelt story all about one of the most essential elements of high school – the high school crush. Enter…Trip.

Her friendship with Trip flourishes, turning into a crush, and inevitably…denial. Yes, their misunderstandings and insecurities might bother you a bit, but that’s part of what makes this story such an accurate accounting of a high school romance. They’re 17 years old! They have no clue how to navigate this experience. They’re still learning how to be confident and how to express these confusing feelings they’re having. Personally, I find their hesitation and awkwardness totally endearing! And the hilarious 80’s references keep it all light and fun!

Now, full disclosure…this is a continuing series which takes you into their adult years (so yes, there is a cliffhanger). But no worries, the story just gets better and better, and you’ll be dying to find out what happens next with Layla and Trip. I just loved it!

SYNOPSIS:

Head back to the 80s with this coming-of-age romantic comedy about a pre-fame Hollywood movie star and his high school sweetheart!

Years before Trip Wiley could be seen on movie screens all over the world, he could be seen sitting in the desk behind me in my high school English class.

This was back in 1990, and I cite the year only to avoid dumbfounding you when references to big hair or stretch pants are mentioned. Although, come to think of it, I am from Northern New Jersey, which may serve as explanation enough. We were teenagers then, way back in a time before anyone, himself included, could even dream he’d turn into the Hollywood commodity that he is today.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you who Trip Wiley is. But on the off chance you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, just know that these days, he’s the actor found at the top of every casting director’s wish list. He’s incredibly talented and insanely gorgeous, the combination of which has made him very rich, very famous and very desirable.

And not just to casting directors, either.

I can’t confirm any of the gossip from his early years out in Tinseltown, but based on what I knew of his life before he was famous, I can tell you that the idea of Girls-Throwing-Themselves-At-Trip is not a new concept.

I should know. I was one of them.

And my life hasn’t been the same since.

Buy Remember When on Amazon

A FEW THOUGHTS . . .

I devoured this book. Soaked in every word like it was my air. I had to get to the end, but I knew I would be ruined when I arrived there.

Helena will captivate you from the first page. Her raw, tortured honesty is mesmerizing. My heart is still pounding. Days later, and it still pounds every time I think of Helena’s story.

I love all Alessandra Torre’s books; her writing and story development is always impeccable, but this book is extra special. There is such poetry in her writing that is simply beautiful.

This BOOK, Helena’s WORDS, her ACTIONS . . .will make you FEEL in the most profound way.

SYNOPSIS:

From New York Times Bestseller Alessandra Torre…

Four years ago, I lied. I stood in front of the police, my friends, and family, and made up a story, my best one yet. And all of them believed me.

I wasn’t surprised. Telling stories is what made me famous. Fifteen bestsellers. Millions of fans. Fame and fortune.

Now, I have one last story to write. It’ll be my best one yet, with a jaw-dropping twist that will leave them stunned and gasping for breath.

They say that sticks and stones will break your bones, but this story? It will be the one that kills me.

Buy The Ghostwriter on Amazon

A FEW THOUGHTS . . .

Excellent. Truly excellent.
I closed this book and then spent 30 minutes raving about it to my husband. I just didn’t want it to end! I wanted the story to continue on forever!

Jessie, the main character, is so heartbreakingly lost you just want to jump into the book and give her a hug!
She takes you on this journey through her heartache and anger, but also through her learning how to heal and forgive.
And the great mystery (Who is SN?!) will have you grasping desperately at anything you think could possibly be a clue, causing your guesses to change again and again.

Julie Buxbaum’s writing is incredible! She has truly perfected the mind and emotions of a high school girl. And she added just the right amount of angst. You feel the weight of every emotion coupled with enough lightness so it doesn’t feel draining.

Julie Buxbaum is a new go-to writer for me. I can’t wait to dive into more of her books!

SYNOPSIS:

A New York Times Bestseller

What if the person you need the most is someone you’ve never met?
 
Funny and romantic, this tug-at-your-heartstrings contemporary YA debut is perfect for readers of Rainbow Rowell, Jennifer Niven, and E. Lockhart.

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week as a junior at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

Buy Tell Me Three Things on Amazon

A FEW THOUGHTS . . .

Ok, let me break it down…Rachel Hollis and I are the same age. We share a love for sweet romance novels, cuddling our babies, and jammin’ to 90’s hip hop (come on, you know you love it too). We’ve lived through the same decades, and historical moments, and bad fashion trends…

But Rachel Hollis has a level of wisdom about life that is purely astronomical!

She’s been through traumatic events, built companies from the ground up, and navigated the obstacle-ridden adoption process with true grace. And she has learned and grown with each and every experience.

Ladies, I have the same level of admiration for Rachel Hollis as some people do for Oprah, or Beyonce, or Tony Robbins!

So, wouldn’t it be great if Rachel took all of her knowledge (or even just a fraction of it) and wrapped it up nice and neat in a beautiful book that is available to all of us?

“Why yes, that would be fantastic!”

Well, she did it! It’s “Girl, Wash Your Face!” And I only have one word to describe it: LIFE-CHANGING!

Each and every person (women AND men!) who read this book will gain SOMETHING from it!

It could be inspiration to turn your dream into a goal and make it happen.
It could be the knowledge that you are not alone in how you feel and that it is okay.
It could be the motivation to finally do that one thing that will change your life!
It could – and probably will – be ALL of these things!

This book will impact your life in ways you don’t even know yet!

I simply cannot recommend it more highly! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll soak in every word like it’s your next breath.

Thank you, Rachel, for sharing your wisdom and strength with all of us.♥

SYNOPSIS:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Do you ever suspect that everyone else has life figured out and you don’t have a clue? If so, Rachel Hollis has something to tell you: that’s a lie.

As the founder of the lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and CEO of her own media company, Rachel Hollis developed an immense online community by sharing tips for better living while fearlessly revealing the messiness of her own life. Now, in this challenging and inspiring new book, Rachel exposes the twenty lies and misconceptions that too often hold us back from living joyfully and productively, lies we’ve told ourselves so often we don’t even hear them anymore.

With painful honesty and fearless humor, Rachel unpacks and examines the falsehoods that once left her feeling overwhelmed and unworthy, and reveals the specific practical strategies that helped her move past them. In the process, she encourages, entertains, and even kicks a little butt, all to convince you to do whatever it takes to get real and become the joyous, confident woman you were meant to be.

With unflinching faith and rock-hard tenacity, Girl, Wash Your Face shows you how to live with passion and hustle–and how to give yourself grace without giving up.

Buy Girl, Wash Your Face on Amazon

AND ARE YOU READY FOR A BONUS?

Rachel has ANOTHER amazing book coming out in March!!!