REVIEW + EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY: Watching the Sky Cry by J.B. Hartnett

OUR REVIEW:

You know what I love about J.B. Hartnett's novels? I know that I'm going to read characters who are well developed and are complicated. I also know that she's going to put me on an emotional roller coaster that is well worth every minute of the ride. Watching the Sky Cry  was no different; it has all the components--complicated characters who pack an emotional punch on almost every page-- and I could not stop reading it.
 I had to know what happened with Riley + Nick and Riley + Quentin. I needed to know how Riley was going to reclaim her life from her grief. I needed to know what her family and lover was hiding. I so desperately wanted to see how these characters and their families were going to have their HEA. 

I wish I knew how to explain how wonderfully quiet this novel is--it's not overly angsty. It's not explosive. It's grown up--the characters handle their lives as you might expect a 30-something to handle it (and sometimes better than the older adults do). It's thoughtful. It's exactly what I wanted when I requested to read it and I know that those of you who haven't given J.B. Hartnett a try yet would really enjoy it--she flies way too under the radar, in my opinion. 

New from J.B. Hartnett!

Watching the Sky Cry is a beautifully written,

emotional story and is NOW AVAILABLE

& Free on Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cXnRNh

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2d3EQfk

Blurb

Ten years is a long time when you’re thirty-two. We’d seen our share of ups and downs, but I could honestly say, they were mostly up. That’s the thing about happiness though. It lulls you into a false sense of security.

Neither one of us ever thought we’d ever be touched by crippling loss or immeasurable grief. But not all stories have a happy ending, and I knew, better than anyone, that sometimes, one of you won’t make it till the end. One of you has to go first. And one of you will be left behind to pick up the pieces.

That one is me.

But starting over isn’t what I thought it would be. I need escape from the memories that plague me, remind me. So I went back to where it all began. To the town where I was born. To the place whose beauty could pierce my pain. Where I experienced my first kiss, where I fell in love, where a man was my earth. And I…

I was his sky.

Excerpt

You never had a girlfriend.” I whispered.
“No, Rylie. I didn’t.”
I pushed away from him, my mouth coating itself in preparation for what was to come, and ran toward the field behind his parents’ house. I threw up everything in my stomach, but I kept heaving with wracking sobs, unable to keep my shit together. If I’d listened….if I’d answered his letters…if I hadn’t met Nick…
His hands were in my hair, pulling it back, but it was no use. I was a mess in every way possible.
“This isn’t…” I hiccupped, “how I imagined this going.”
“Yeah?” he said softly. “How’d you imagine it?”
“We would have it out, and then we’d have angry sex, and then we’d fall in love and have babies and live happily ever after.”
See? Honesty.
“Oh Rylie,” he said with humor in his voice, not at all bothered when he wiped the edges of my disgusting mouth with his hand. “I’ll be pissing you off again…probably on purpose just so we can have that angry sex you just mentioned.”

About the Author:

Julie is a southern California native, a fan of a really good story (preferably a 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 might be a singer/songwriter. The 'writer' part is that one that stuck.

Julie is obsessed with Pi...the equation and the food. She's allergic to cats, cantaloupe and hates mushrooms. So if you ever want to give her a gift, those are out for sure.

She currently lives with her romance hero husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NEW: Watching the Sky Cry by J.B. Hartnett

New from J.B. Hartnett!

Watching the Sky Cry is a beautifully written,

emotional story and is NOW AVAILABLE

& Free on Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cXnRNh

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2d3EQfk

Blurb

Ten years is a long time when you’re thirty-two. We’d seen our share of ups and downs, but I could honestly say, they were mostly up. That’s the thing about happiness though. It lulls you into a false sense of security.

Neither one of us ever thought we’d ever be touched by crippling loss or immeasurable grief. But not all stories have a happy ending, and I knew, better than anyone, that sometimes, one of you won’t make it till the end. One of you has to go first. And one of you will be left behind to pick up the pieces.

That one is me.

But starting over isn’t what I thought it would be. I need escape from the memories that plague me, remind me. So I went back to where it all began. To the town where I was born. To the place whose beauty could pierce my pain. Where I experienced my first kiss, where I fell in love, where a man was my earth. And I…

I was his sky.

About the Author:

Julie is a southern California native, a fan of a really good story (preferably a 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 might be a singer/songwriter. The 'writer' part is that one that stuck.

Julie is obsessed with Pi...the equation and the food. She's allergic to cats, cantaloupe and hates mushrooms. So if you ever want to give her a gift, those are out for sure.

She currently lives with her romance hero husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

EXCERPT: Watching The Sky Cry by J.B. Hartnett

Excerpt

I never really appreciated the businesses open 24/7 until I stopped going out when the sun was up. But I’d come to find this necessity such a relief, I was close to sending the good people at Thrifty Corporate offices a thank you note. I could leave my house at midnight and buy a big-ass bottle of quality gin, a pint of the best mint chocolate chip ice cream in the world, and a jumbo-sized bottle of weed killer.

The guy at the cash register made a point of eyeing my products. So much so, for a split second, I wondered if I’d forgotten to wear pants. He had an obnoxious, patronizing smirk plastered to his face when he asked, “Big night planned?”

His customer service skills left a lot to be desired, and I was in no mood to take shit from anyone. So, I gave it to him honestly.

“Oh yeah,” I enthused, trying to remember if I’d brushed my teeth that day. “First,” I said holding up a single finger, “I’m gonna get drunk. Second,” I continued with two fingers and noticed he was staring at my chest, “I’m gonna murder the plant my husband gave to me.” That’s about the time his eyes met mine again. “And for my big finale,” I patted the tub of ice-cream lovingly, “I’m gonna eat my feelings.”

He had no response, whatsoever, to my smartass comments or manner, so I took my items, leaned in on my elbows, and gave him some solid, retail advice. “You know, it’s just a normal Saturday night for any single girl. Put these three items on a primary end-cap and sales will soar.”

Again, he didn’t find me funny.

I thought I was fucking hilarious.

A few hours later, I was on my fourth homemade Grey Goose cocktail. This consisted of gin and Diet Coke, because these were the things I had in the house. Not to mention the jar of maraschino cherries, which made for a lovely garnish.

Sometime after my third drink, I’d gotten into Nick’s CDs. With cocktail number four in hand, I stood in my front yard, Don’t Stop Believing blaring through the open windows—on repeat—and looked at the mess I’d made. My previous plan for the night was to simply shut my broken heart up by drowning it in liquor, then drowning that plant with poison. I thought…if I killed the plant, I could somehow move on from the pain. But the closer I got to home, my plan morphed into something a little more…sinister. The gin helped, of course, but I had two years of livid, confused emotions I’d denied for far too long, chomping at the bit for release.

I walked into the shed and saw the area dedicated to the care of that plumeria. I filled the wheelbarrow with big sheers and a shovel. My intention to release the plant from the earth was foiled by rock-hard soil which required me to soften it up with a little water. While a shallow pond formed around my flip-flop clad feet, I gave the offensive blooms their last trim and final rites.

“Forever’s a long time, isn’t it, little flowers? I bet you thought that nice man would take care of you until the end of time?” Then I opened the bottle of weed killer and poured it on top of the neat pile of blooms. “Wrong, wrong, wrong!” I said, shaking my head as I bathed them in poison.

I don’t know which one of my concerned neighbors called the cops. But if it had been me, and I knew what happened to that poor woman in the blue house, even if it had been two whole years, I would have minded my own fucking business and hoped she only had one night of power ballads in her

But sadly, no such luck. The flash of blue and red lights in my periphery reminded me what I hated about my neighborhood: around here, no one wanted to get involved in anyone else’s business. No one warned you to move your car before you got that ticket on street sweeping day. Everyone seemed to be suspicious of everyone else. When I was growing up, my brother and I spent summers and some holidays at our aunt and uncle’s place outside of Guerneville. Even now, with Johnny-Law approaching, I recalled how my uncle left in the middle of dinner one night because the neighbor’s truck needed to be pulled from a ditch. He didn’t ask the guy if he’d called Triple A. He said, “Be right there, buddy.” That’s the kind of place I wanted to live. Somewhere with kind, considerate neighbors.

I wouldn’t even think of asking my neighbors for a cup of sugar. Not that they’d answer the door. But this was all good, because these seemingly-small things were the catalyst to change. It was that very moment when I realized I needed to move. Not just from the house, but from Southern California. As soon as the thought drifted into my head, I realized how relieved it would make my parents. They’d watched me go through the motions, but I couldn’t move on if I stayed here. Everywhere I went, everything I did, had some kind of connection to Nick and my life with him.

Finally, I was met with the phrase, “Ma’am, we’ve had some calls from your neighbors…” After that, I tuned out and answered “yes” or “no” to their questions when it was warranted. As intoxicated as I was, I managed to rein in my gin-surliness in order to avoid incarceration. But there was a small crowd gathered on my sidewalk. These same people had likely watched from afar while my life fell apart and did not one thing to offer help.

When I looked at the older couple that lived next door, I moved closer, close enough they’d be able to hear me and anyone else nearby. I used to drop a plate of cookies on their doorstep every Christmas, but not once had they thanked me.

“You’ve seen the entire show, haven’t you?” I asked quietly, not wanting the officer to hear. But the old man just kept hold of his wife and stared beyond me. But I knew he was the “man,” the “husband,” the half-of-a-whole I’d never have again. “You watched from your porch while a black limousine parked in front of my house. You would’ve seen me collapse, wracked with so much pain, my dad and brother had to carry me to the car. I came home to an empty house, stopped answering the door, and never, not once, did you come to offer a kind word. You saw us together,” I whispered. “We should’ve been you…and lucky, you’ve had a lifetime together. Think about that the next time you rob a woman of her grief.”

“Ma’am,” the officer started behind me.  

“Shame on you,” I said and walked away.

I went back to my house, ignoring the officer who followed, and walked inside. I turned off the stereo and closed the windows. Then I returned to the officer waiting on my front porch. “I just need to shut the water off, and I’m all done for the night.”

He didn’t seem at all satisfied with my cooperation. “Is there someone we can call for you?” He made a point of looking at my hand. “Your husband?”

Two years… two, and I still hadn’t taken off my wedding rings.

“I’ve gone back to my maiden name, Officer.” I hoped that would be explanation enough.

He looked to his partner and nodded. Whatever that was meant to convey, I had no idea. But he handed me a business card. “If you need me, Miz…”

“Truscott. Rylie, Truscott.”

He closed the distance between us and warily glanced behind him. “If you need me,” he said quietly, “you give me a call. I’m only a few blocks away.”

“I assure you, I won’t have any reason to call.”

Then he stepped a little closer. “Please don’t do anything stupid.”

His words weren’t meant to insult me, in fact, they communicated genuine concern he seemed to feel for a fellow human, and for that, gratitude welled up in me and formed in my eyes.

“I won’t do anything stupid. I promise,” I said and looked at the house, “I’m done here.”

And I meant every word.  

New from J.B. Hartnett!

Watching the Sky Cry is an beautifully written,

emotional story releasing September 24th!

Add to your TBR at: http://bit.ly/2bCJnat

Blurb

Ten years is a long time when you’re thirty-two. We’d seen our share of ups and downs, but I could honestly say, they were mostly up. That’s the thing about happiness though. It lulls you into a false sense of security.

Neither one of us ever thought we’d ever be touched by crippling loss or immeasurable grief. But not all stories have a happy ending, and I knew, better than anyone, that sometimes, one of you won’t make it till the end. One of you has to go first. And one of you will be left behind to pick up the pieces.

That one is me.

But starting over isn’t what I thought it would be. I need escape from the memories that plague me, remind me. So I went back to where it all began. To the town where I was born. To the place whose beauty could pierce my pain. Where I experienced my first kiss, where I fell in love, where a man was my earth. And I…

I was his sky.

About the Author:

Julie is a southern California native, a fan of a really good story (preferably a 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 might be a singer/songwriter. The 'writer' part is that one that stuck.

Julie is obsessed with Pi...the equation and the food. She's allergic to cats, cantaloupe and hates mushrooms. So if you ever want to give her a gift, those are out for sure.

She currently lives with her romance hero husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

COVER REVEAL: Watching the Sky by J.B. Hartnett

New from J.B. Hartnett!

Watching the Sky Cry is an beautifully written,

emotional story releasing Fall 2016!

Add to your TBR at: http://bit.ly/2bCJnat

Blurb

Ten years is a long time when you’re thirty-two. We’d seen our share of ups and downs, but I could honestly say, they were mostly up. That’s the thing about happiness though. It lulls you into a false sense of security.

Neither one of us ever thought we’d ever be touched by crippling loss or immeasurable grief. But not all stories have a happy ending, and I knew, better than anyone, that sometimes, one of you won’t make it till the end. One of you has to go first. And one of you will be left behind to pick up the pieces.

That one is me.

But starting over isn’t what I thought it would be. I need escape from the memories that plague me, remind me. So I went back to where it all began. To the town where I was born. To the place whose beauty could pierce my pain. Where I experienced my first kiss, where I fell in love, where a man was my earth. And I…

I was his sky.

About the Author:

Julie is a southern California native, a fan of a really good story (preferably a 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 might be a singer/songwriter. The 'writer' part is that one that stuck.

Julie is obsessed with Pi...the equation and the food. She's allergic to cats, cantaloupe and hates mushrooms. So if you ever want to give her a gift, those are out for sure.

She currently lives with her romance hero husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

REVIEW: Bride in Bloom by J.B. Hartnett

For Victoria, it started with the perfect dress and the perfect man...well, she thought he was perfect.

For Cameron, it started with a devoted wife and a bright future...until he discovered devotion was never high on his wife's list of marital duties.

When trust is tested and faith in the power of true love is lost, there is only way one to restore it:

Give that person everything you’ve got, nurture her, love her…

And watch her bloom.

In the first installment of The Beachy Bride series, we experience the love story of Victoria and Cameron. Both are no stranger to heartache, but both believe in the power of love.

*This book contains mature content for an audience of 18 years or older. Sexual scenes M/M and M/F

Paperback, 208 pages
Published March 12th 2015 (first published March 10th 2015)

Source: Free on Amazon

Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon

Shel: Surprisingly (or not?), I didn't read the synopsis before I started Bride in Bloom but I could tell by the cover, this wouldn't be the dark, angsty stuff I'd read from J.B. Hartnett before; this was confirmed within the first few chapters (after the prologue). What were your initial thoughts, Court? I felt initially really excited because we've been big fans of J.B. Hartnett for a while. We've read every book she has published, so we took this opportunity to catch up on her newest series and ran! *Side note* We DID read this book before the second one, Katherine in Bloom, but with some family stuff going on I wasn't able to get the review done in time to post BEFORE that review...so hopefully this isn't too confusing, but I wanted each to have their own day to be spotlighted, because they are worth it to us.  

Shel: So other than J.B. Hartnett changing things up and making this a lighter/funnier romance, what things stood out to you, Court? I thought that Cam was simultaneously super sweet and stalkerish. I guess what I kept thinking was if I didn't think he was obviously in love with Victoria, he'd be major stalker material for the way he took over parts of her life. To be clear, he wasn't a stalker and every thing he did was motivated by love...and I can't even imagine someone like that in my life, I'd die. Super sweet. (I'm a bitch so super sweet people, I don't know what to do with). The other thing that stood out to me was how relatively low angst this was. Court: He wasn't quite a JOE was he? But hahahaha, that is a hilarious observation that I didn't really notice in the book. That is essnetially what he did, but I think I was swooning too hard to realize it. Then on the other hand, I kind of had a toothache by how sweet Cam was as we went on...

Shel: One other thing that stood out to me was the structure/writing. As I mentioned earlier, this was lighter, funnier, less angsty and I loved that--I love seeing writers do different things than what their readers expect. A few things that were a little distracting for me were the way the timeline would speed up, and also sometimes I felt like I wasn't always following what the character was thinking or wanted me to understand.  It felt like maybe the pacing or the dialogue/inner monologues were sometimes just missing a few things. Not enough to put me off of the book, just enough for me to notice. Court: I'm glad you brought that up, because I was having the same hang ups with the pace. Later, and maybe this is because...well, the beginning is out there with a big fat BANG...like holy crap...we have two very diverging plot lines for Tori, and I think the pace felt somewhat confusing for it. I still feel like I can recommend this title with enough gusto because I did enjoy it a lot. 

Shel: When I think about who would enjoy this book, I think I'd recommend it to people looking for a sweet romance with low angst, who enjoy a California beach setting (loved this!), likes reading about a fun ensemble cast, likes humor, snark, and some steamy scenes (nice surprise there). I'm sure I'm missing some things, Court. What else would you add to this? Court: Well, I think that the little community feel of Lark's shop, Deb, Nico's tattoo shop, Cole's house...(if you've read J.B's earlier series you will recognize ALL of these people...and I was excited that some of our old favorites are coming out to play as people we've been curious about get their story. I am excited to see what comes next. OH, AND OMG, there are some major things that made me seriously excited and even more so excited for the first half of the book...but I obviously can't tell you...but it is about a boy that I didn't think I would end up liking before the story was over. And his journey is pretty big for Tori. I'll stop now!