Friday, July 10, 2015

REVIEW + EXCERPT: Katherine in Gold by J.B. Hartnett


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Katherine in Gold is the  second installment of the Beachy Bride series. In this unique romance, we follow the story of Katherine and Holst. A tale of shaking off the past, embracing the future, and finding true love.  

**Can be read as a stand alone**


NOW AVAILABLE!




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Blurb
*Warning: this is a love story with sexual situations and copious swearing. It also deals with an inappropriate relationship between an underage girl and a much older man.


When Katherine Symes experiences heartbreak at the age of twenty, she picks herself up, dusts herself off, and declares no man will ever break her again. The independent, potty-mouthed Katherine makes no apologies for how she lives her life. Marriage, babies, and husbands are ideas she’s never even entertained. There is only one thing she’s never had the guts to do.


Open her own cafe.


The day of her best friend’s engagement, a stranger bulldozes his way into her life. Handsome, tall, and annoying as hell, he pushes all her buttons. A mutual acquaintance introduces them, and the stranger, Holst Rutherford, wastes no time in presenting Katherine with half ownership in a coffee shop he wants to open in Laguna Beach; he just doesn’t want to do it alone.


Can she put up with Holst to achieve her lifelong dream?


Holst moved to the coastal town of Laguna Beach with clear intentions: a fresh start, concentrate on his new business, and enjoy the beach at his doorstep. After ending a toxic relationship, he never considered entering a new one. But there is something about the ever-combative Katherine which makes him realize she could be much more than a business partner. She just might be the one.


However, she is going to need a little convincing

Shel: As you may  know, we read both books in this series back to back and they compliment each other really well. As companion novels, they feature the same characters, with a focus on a new couple, and the beauty of that is getting more intel on the characters you met in the previous book, right? RIGHT!! Plus, if you haven't read book 1, it's okay because you'll get the details you'll need to know early on in the book.  Court: Exactly! Which is why companion series are my absolute favorite. Our previous friends (characters) are still basking in their HEA with little angst, and we get to shift our focus without just drowning people in misery. (Though, to be fair...I love that too!) 

Shel: Since many of you may have read Bride in Bloom, I thought it might be helpful to focus on what makes Katherine in Gold similar and different from Bride in Bloom: Court: Clever idea, my Shell. I think you nailed it.

SIMILAR: 
  • humorous/light tone
  • setting: the same
  • same ensemble cast--and they're wonderful and supportive
  • low angst
  • sexy, steamy scenes
  • the male protagonist (Holst) uses the female protagonist's (Katherine) full first name--it's a thing in this series, I think?
  • the past impacts the present
  • HEA
  • the time the novel covers is 1+ years
  • parentals--one set was not great and the other was pretty fantastic And by not great...she definitely means not great.
  • the dress is important 
DIFFERENT:
  • While the tone was light/humorous I definitely felt the subject matter was more serious. It didn't necessarily overtake every aspect of the novel but it was a heavier presence. It is definitely heavier. I think the warning had me prepared for the worst...but it was handled much lighter than some of the scenes in J.B's previous books, so I didn't feel that it was too much. 
  • Secrets--It felt like the characters were carrying some secrets that weighed them down. These didn't become "issues" or create "drama" but they were there. Oh, I agree. It could have. And for other characters...it definitely did. But I can't elaborate! Dang! 
  • Holst (the male protagonist) was definitely more alpha than Cam in Bride in Bloom and Katherine was also very strong (but like Victoria, she capitulated fairly easily) I liked him more, but also in a different way I think. AND Kath and her Tori...I love these two girls, and their openness with one another that was found. Their bond was special to me more than the love story in each book.
  • I thought the way the time span was handled in this book was better than in book 1--things were clearer Agreed. The pace felt better to me as well. 
  • We got some in depth information on some of the ensemble cast--and I'm pretty sure I know who our next book will be about.... I feel like that is where we will get all of our angst, y'all...
  • The ending definitely projected us into more of the future--that was a happy surprise 

What am I missing, Court? What are you thinking--any surprises or anything you wanted to focus on? I do have something! I liked the alpha-ness of our MC's in this series, but I also liked that while they're bossy...they're not controlling, and I found it funny that these badasses found the most independent women on the planet! 

I think both of these books are really great summer reads--they're light, romantic, sexy, funny, and beachy. 




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Excerpt


He looked around my bedroom for some weird reason, then said, “Baby?” He dipped his head so he was right against my ear. “You aren’t weak, and I’m sure you can take care of yourself, but I think it’s time you let a man help who will make sure, when all is said and done, you have someone to walk out of battle with at your side.”
Fuck, I was gonna fall in love with him, that dirty, sneaky, big-dicked, perfect-mouthed, motherfucker.
Apparently, he got all that from the look on my face and smiled. “At least you didn’t say what you were thinking out loud.”


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Have you met Cameron & Victoria from Bride in Bloom (Book One) yet?  
One-click your copy at the following retailers:




About the Author
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Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads


Julie is a Southern California native, a fan of a really good story (preferably romance with a happily ever after), really good pie (preferably pumpkin) and copious amounts of coffee (preferably Folgers).
She has always enjoyed writing and at one time thought she could be a singer songwriter...the 'writer' part is the one that stuck.

Julie is obsessed with pi...the equation(and the food). She's allergic to cats and cantaloupe and hates mushrooms...so if you ever want to give her a gift, those are out for sure.She currently lives with her own romance hero husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia.

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