NEW REVIEW: Exposed by Kristen Callihan

OUR REVIEW:

Court and I are very new to the VIP Series...as in we just started reading them about a week ago. And while I kinda want to kick myself for waiting so long to read these, I also love that we've been able to read them back to back to back without any wait time between them. 

In Exposed, we finally get to know the story behind Brenna and Rye. From the very first book (Idol), these two have been snapping and snarking at each other while their bandmates and friends looking on with huge smirks on their faces. It seemed so obvious that there are *things* between them but no one knew why. Now we know....and that, my friends, is something I'll let you discover when you read. As with all of the novels in this series, the banter is top notch, especially between Brenna and Rye. There's always a snark, comeback, or witticism that either makes you have to smile, or sometimes when it's especially too on the nose, cringe. Because each of them knows the other so well, the barbs come early and fairly often, until it becomes apparent that sometime those barbs are just cover for something else.

Another plus in this series is the inevitable hilarity that happens between all of these characters. The history they share means they have lots of ammunition and stories and that means lots of opportunities to embarrass each other and make us laugh. The way that Callihan creates these characters and their world makes them feel real (and surprisingly relatable for being mega rock stars) and I think part of the reason we love them so much is because we feel like we know them and understand them. Like the previous novels, the other bandmates and friends are very much a part of the narrative so you're always getting updates about how they are as you are simultaneously involved in the love story of Brenna and Rye. I don't know about you, but I love it when that happens.

One thing that I think differentiates this novel is that the relationship-phobe was Brenna, not Rye. While both of them definitely had their own personal battles to fight with and through, for once it wasn't the male that was pushing their person away. Like many strong protagonists in this series, a strength can sometimes also be (or mask) a weakness and it was interesting to see both Rye and Brenna work through some things to get to their HEA. 

Now that Killian, Scottie, Jax, and Rye have fallen, we all know that Whip has to be next, right? So the question is will that mean Jules is his person or someone else? And if not Jules, will she get a book too? Either way, I look forward to reading the next book in this series and am secretly hoping that more characters are introduced so we don't have to say goodbye when the next one is over. 

Exposed (VIP #4) by Kristen Callihan is now live!

Brenna

There are some people in life who know exactly how to push your buttons. For me, it’s Rye Peterson. We can’t spend more than ten minutes together before we’re at each other’s throats, which makes working together that much harder. Rye is the bassist for Kill John, the biggest rock band in the world, and I am his publicist. It doesn’t help that the man is gorgeous, funny, talented, and…never takes anything seriously. Avoidance is key.

But everything changes when he overhears something he shouldn’t: a confession made in a moment of weakness. Now the man I’ve tried so hard to ignore is offering me the greatest temptation of all—him.

Rye

Brenna James is the one. The one I can’t have. The one I can’t get out of my mind. Believe me, I’ve tried; the woman loathes me. I managed well enough—until I heard her say she’s as lonely as I am. That she needed to be touched, held, satisfied. And I could no longer deny the truth: I wanted to be the one to give her what she craved.

I convinced her that it would just be sex, mutual satisfaction with nothing deeper. But the moment I have her, she becomes my world. I’ve never given her a good reason to trust me before. Now, I’ve got to show Brenna that we’re so much better together than we ever were apart.

Things are going to get messy. But getting messy with Brenna is what I do best.

 

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/34QUjwl

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3wg2Sg1

Nook: https://bit.ly/3iC3atM

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3gurUkP

 

Website: www.kristencallihan.com

 

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fOg0Sx

 

Meet Kristen

Kristen Callihan is an author because there's nothing else she'd rather be. She has written New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestsellers. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. Her debut book, Firelight, received RT Magazine's Seal of Excellence and was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, Best Book of Spring 2012 by Publishers Weekly, and Best Romance Book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she's not writing, she's reading.

Connect with Kristen

Website: www.kristencallihan.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/kristen_callihan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristen_callihan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kris10Callihan

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristen-callihan

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan

OUR REVIEW

Dear Enemy is a fun enemies to lovers, slow burn that was the perfect distraction from the crazy times that we are currently living in. I found myself eager to be in the world of Macon and Delilah and their history of burns and barbs. Delilah had such a sharp tongue and a quick trigger with her insults that I found I was either cheering her, laughing, or cringing at how filterless she could be. As sympathetic as I was to her hurts, the more I got to know Macon, I found myself equally sympathetic to his plight too. (SIDE NOTE--Macon, rhymes with bacon....still not sure about that name! but I got past it). I actually found that I felt more for Macon the more I read. He had a lot going on in that back story and his current day life was not all sweet and perfect and yet he found a way to brave through it all to push for something with Delilah. As they rounded the curve from their past interactions to dealing with each other in the present, and finding that they've grown and are actually good for and with each other, I found myself just loving what was happening. The secondary plotlines were fun...the cooking was to die for...and I was genuinely sad to see the ending of this novel.

This is the first Kristen Callihan novel I've read and I am excited that she has a backlist for me to go through. Grab this novel and enjoy!

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3jcXBz6

SYNOPSIS: As kids, they hated each other. Macon Saint was beautiful, but despite his name, Delilah knew he was the devil. That he dated her slightly evil sister, Samantha, was no picnic either. When they broke up, it was a dream come true: Delilah never had to see him again.

Ten years later, her old enemy sends a text.

Delilah’s sister has stolen a valuable heirloom from Macon, now a rising Hollywood star, and he intends to collect his due. One problem: Sam has skipped town.

Sparks still sizzle between Macon and Delilah, only this heat feels alarmingly like unwanted attraction. But Delilah is desperate to keep her weak-hearted mother from learning of her sister’s theft. So she proposes a deal: she’ll pay off the debt by being Macon’s personal chef and assistant.

It’s a recipe for disaster, but Macon can’t stop himself from accepting. Even though Delilah clearly hates him, there’s something about her that feels like home. Besides, they’re no longer kids, and what once was a bitter rivalry has the potential to be something sweeter. Something like forever.

NEW RELEASE & GIVEAWAY: THE HOOK UP BY KRISTEN CALLIHAN

Book Information

Title: The Hook Up

Author: Kristen Callihan

Release Date: September 8, 2014

Genre: New Adult

Summary

The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she's shut him down. Completely.

That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It's a good thing Drew knows all about winning.

All’s fair in love and football…Game on

Excerpt

My mother once told me that the most important moment in my life wouldn’t be when I won the National Championship or even the Super Bowl. It would be when I fell in love.

Life, she insisted, is how you live it and who you live it with, not what you do to make a living. Given that she told me this when I was sixteen, I basically rolled my eyes and worked on practicing my pass fakes.

But my mother was insistent.

“You’ll see, Drew. One day, love will creep up and smack you upside the head. Then you’ll understand.”

My mom, it turns out, was wrong in one regard. Love, when it came for me, did not creep. No, it walked up to me, bold as you please, you know, just in case I wasn’t paying attention. It did, however, slap me upside my head.

And while I’d be happy to tell my mom that she was right about that, she’s dead. A fact that hurts even more now that I’ve been struck down. More like shot down. Cut off at the knees. Totally fucked. Whatever you want to call this disaster. Because the object of my affection hates me.

I am man enough to acknowledge that the cluster fuck that is my current love life is entirely my fault. I wasn’t prepared for Anna Jones.

I still cringe at the memory of when I first laid eyes on her at the beginning of the semester. Being late for class, I’d rushed to a seat in the back row, and was trying to remain unnoticed. I can’t go anywhere on campus without getting attention. And though it sounds like an awesome thing, it gets tiring.

When the roll call reached the back row, a soft voice, rich and thick as maple syrup, slid over me.

“Anna Jones.”

Just her name. That was all she’d said. It was like a hot finger stroking down my spine. My head snapped up. And there she was, so fucking pretty that I couldn’t think straight. I might as well have been sacked.

Breathless, my head ringing, I could only gape. I’m not going to say it was love at first sight. No, it was more like oh, hell-yes-please, I’ll have that. With a helping of right-the-fuck-now on the side.

Thinking maybe I was overtired and simply overreacting to something that wasn’t really there, I stared at Anna Jones and tried to make sense of my extreme reaction.

As if feeling my gaze, she’d turned, and fucking hell… Her eyes were wide, almost cat-like, with the corners tilting up just a bit. At first, those eyes appeared brown, but they were really bottle green. And so clear. And annoyed. She glared at me. I didn’t care. One word was playing a loop in my head: mine.

I don’t remember the rest of the class. I watched Anna Jones like a condemned man getting his last view of the setting sun. While she tried to ignore me. Admirably.

The second class ended I shot up, and so did she. We nearly collided in the middle of the aisle. And then it all fell to shit.

Pre-order Link

Amazon - http://bit.ly/HookUpGameOn

Goodreads Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22611920-the-hook-up

Author Biography

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee, and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://www.thehookup.kristencallihan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristenCallihan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kris10Callihan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4971535.Kristen_Callihan

GIVEAWAY:

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