REVIEW: On the Corner of Love and Hate by Nina Bocci

For fans of Christina Lauren and Lauren Layne comes a delightfully sassy and sexy romance about a campaign manager who reluctantly works with the local Lothario to help revamp his image for the upcoming mayoral elections, only to discover that he’s hiding something that can turn both their lives upside down.What’s a campaign manager’s worst nightmare? A smooth-talking charmer who’s never met a scandal that he didn’t like.

When Emmanuelle Peroni’s father—and mayor of her town—asks her to help rehab Cooper Endicott’s image, she’s horrified. Cooper drives her crazy in every way possible. But he’s also her father’s protégé, and she can’t say no to him without him finding out the reason why: Cooper and her have a messy past. So Emmanuelle reluctantly launches her father’s grand plan to get this Casanova someone to settle down with and help him lose his lothario reputation.

Cooper Endicott wanted to run for Mayor, but he never wanted the drama that went with it. Now that he’s on the political hamster wheel, the other candidates are digging up everything from his past. Even though he’s doing all the right things, his colorful love life is the sticking point for many of the conservative voters. He wants to win, badly, and he knows that if he wants any chance of getting a vote from the female population, he needs to change his image. The only problem? He might just be falling in love with the one person he promised not to pursue: the Mayor’s off-limits daughter.

A perfect blend of humor and heart, On the Corner of Love and Hate is the first in a new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Nina Bocci.

If you like a slow burn, frienemies, workplace romance, On the Corner of Love and Hate by Nina Bocci is the book for you.

Source: Netgalley

Purchase a Copy: Goodreads | Amazon

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: I really enjoyed how long Bocci had Emma resist the feelings she had for Cooper. When I'm telling you this novel embraces the slow burn, we're talking s-l-o-w, but I liked it. Maybe it's because I'm petty and stubborn and when I'm hurt it takes me a while to get over it so I like to see that truly mirrored in other characters?! If you're the same, you'll like Emma. She was so oblivious to Cooper's feelings and resistant to the idea of giving him an inch that it takes a good long while for her to soften to him. She's straight up a hard ass and I loved her for it (and felt sorry for Cooper, once I got to know him better). When we got to that HEA, it was quick...maybe more of that please?!, and sweet after the long build up to get there.

Court: I am like you, girl. The slow burn was delicious, though as always I think the ending could've gave us a few more pages...we always want more, though! I really enjoyed the characters and the dynamic that their story is in. I love how much they love their town and honestly I wish my town had this kind of department and people working for it! It is a team that I would love to be a part of that for sure! 

Shel: Another thing I enjoyed was what a boss bitch Emma was. She excelled at her job and her criticisms of the people who were slackers felt so accurate and spot on that I feel like Nina Bocci must have had some of those experiences, right? She nailed it-the frustration that pushes you to feel like you have to micromanage and take on too much because it's not getting done...that then turns you into a control freak that has to relearn how to delegate--totally recognizable responses for those of us who've had to live through that experience.

Court: I KNOW! I really enjoyed though as she grows and figures out her life and the direction she wants it to go in and just makes a decision and GOES for it! You can tell her friend's get her, and they accept her as she is and I loved that too!! 

Shel: The revival of a precious small town also spoke to my heart in this novel. She wrote with such love, care, and vivid description that I found myself wanting to visit this town or maybe even move there. Could she bring Emma to life and have her make over my small town please? Court: YASSS! I completely agree...let's go, and get houses next door to each other! C'mon y'all! 

Shel: The mayoral campaign, romance in a small town, the friends and family who make appearances, and all of the love and care in the details and characterization made On the Corner of Love and Hate a sweet, fun novel. It'll be interesting to see how the secondary characters find love in their novels and to hopefully get another look at Emma and Cooper when we all meet up again.

Court: I REALLY HOPE we get to see Nick and Henry fall in love...PLEASE Nina, let us see that! And like Shelley said get more Emma and Cooper...but honestly, I'd be most excited for Emma's parents! 

New Release + Review! Violent Ends by Jessica Hawkins

Title: Violent Ends
Series: White Monarch #2

Author: Jessica Hawkins

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 18, 2019

Blurb

I had a life, love, and future to give.
Until my enemy took a wife.

The devil has a name, and it’s Cristiano de la Rosa. On my wedding day, he was the last man I expected to see standing at the altar. He wants to make me his queen. His brother wants to rescue his princess.

Getting Cristiano to lose control becomes the name of the game, and the stakes are life and death. But as truth and lies blur, loyalty is tested, and our chemistry threatens to reach the melting point, the prize grows less clear. Either freedom no longer means what I think it does, or Cristiano is as devious as everyone says, and he’s mastered the art of playing my mind.

All I know for certain is that nothing is certain. And all you need to know? This is a love story.
But even love stories have to end.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Our Review!

Court: OK! So, to say that we've been waiting patiently for this book might be a slight exaggeration on the patience part...but once we got it I am telling you right now we absolutely DEVOURED this book. The first one really sucked us in and this one almost killed me with how good it was! Shel: Yes. I'm deceased. Like I'm typing this from heaven because Violent Ends just killed me dead. GAHHHHH.

Court: Natalia is slowly becoming someone who isn't like an ostrich with her head in the sand...and begrudgingly she owes some of that to a certain someone. She was sheltered from so much, and really thought she knew everything about what motivated certain people in our lovely story...so now I really enjoy her figuring out that she just might not know everything she thinks she does! HOWEVER, and I repeat...however, she also is becoming someone who is exuding strength and perspective in a world where there isn't any and it helped make this book a wildly exciting ride. Shel: Natalia took a ride on the struggle bus in this one. She really wanted to hold on to what she'd been told was true about Cristiano and she desperately needed to belief that what she knew was true because otherwise years and years of hatred would have to change and she was not ready to give up the fight against him. It's like her hatred of him fueled her and if he took away that fuel, then what?! So as she discovered more, two things happened--she had to consider some things she'd never thought she'd have to consider and she had to grower stronger than she thought possible. I loved that Cristiano is pushing her and opening her eyes to things and that he appears to be more than meets the eye.

Court: These covers...Jessica Hawkins writing...these characters...the tease...oh, the tease! Have we ever been teased by the slow burn quite as much as this book? I am not sure, but I think you should read it as soon as you possibly can (start with book 1...that is a must!) because it is not to be missed. There is something about the insane world of cartels and drugs and secrets that entices us (in book form only, am I right? Shel: yep. Totally right.) and we cannot get enough. I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out! We will try to be waiting patiently...try, being the operative word!  Shel: Look Jessica Hawkins is really great at what she does and I love how she's making monsters into angels and angels into monsters and killing me with her slow burn and creating all sorts of suspicions and intrigue and I cannot believe we have to wait until forfreakingever to get the next book but I will somehow deal with it. Get lost in this series, y'all; it's a fun escape.

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Author Bio

Jessica Hawkins is a USA Today bestselling author known for her "emotionally gripping" and "off-the-charts hot" romance. Dubbed "queen of angst" by both peers and readers for her smart and provocative work, she's garnered a cult-like following of fans who love to be torn apart...and put back together.

She writes romance both at home in New York and around the world, a coffee shop traveler who bounces from café to café with just a laptop, headphones, and coffee cup. She loves to keep in close touch with her readers, mostly via Facebook, Instagram, and her mailing list.

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NEW RELEASE: Crave by e.k. blair

Title: Crave: Part Two
Series: Crave Duet #2

Author: E.K. Blair

Genre: New Adult Romance/Coming of Age

Release Date: October 16, 2017

Blurb

Weeks became months, and months became years. Each day nudged Kason deeper into his addiction. Each memory of the girl destroyed fed the craving for what he could never have again. 

Leaving a life-altering first love behind, Adaline tried moving forward to find love and trust and happiness. Pain eventually faded, wounds slowly healed, yet scars were forever left behind.

But some scars feel like kisses.

When the shattered pieces of their hearts are forced to meet again, the two of them must decide how much pain their love is worth enduring.

This is what happens when one person loves beyond the craving and the other craves beyond the loving.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

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Free in Kindle Unlimited

Author Bio

E.K. Blair, takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her dynamic and intense writing style. Noted for her ability to create fleshed-out characters that will evoke a realm of reactions, you can be assured that her stories will linger with you far beyond the last word.

A former first grade teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything dark and moody. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and spending time with her friends. She’s a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and everything in between.

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New Release Spotlight! Mastered by Maya Banks is available now

Title: Mastered

Author: Maya Banks

Series: Book I in the Enforcers series

Book II expected publication in May 2016

Title: Dominated

Paperback, 368 pages
Published December 29th 2015 by Berkley

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Breathless Trilogy comes the first novel in the Enforcers series—a bold new direction in erotic romance that explores the games men and women play, and the price they’re willing to pay for pleasure.

What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.

She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.

What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.

The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.

About the Author:

Maya Banks is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today and international bestselling author of over 50 novels. A wife and mother of three, she lives in Texas.

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BLOG TOUR: The Consequence of Loving Colton by Rachel van Dyken

RELEASE: April 21^st, 2015

It’s all fun and games…until someone’s heart is broken.

They’re not kids anymore, but Milo Caro is certain that Colton Mathews will only see her as his best friend’s little sister for the rest of their lives. After all, he made that clear the night before she left for college. But four years later, her brother is getting married and Colt’s the best man—and guess who is the best man’s last-minute date?

Milo vows to use the wedding to either claim the smoldering firefighter’s heart or douse this torch for good. When Max—her best friend from college, who may be carrying a torch of his own—crashes the party, they devise a plan to make Colt see what he’s missing. But after Colt catches on, he decides to cook up his own revenge.

Now it’s personal. Colt and Milo are at war, and between Max’s questionable acting methods, an unfortunate trip to jail, and a maniacal fiancée, what could possibly go right?

AMAZON

Shel: If you were sad when The Bet series was over..worried that you would miss that special brand of Rachel Van Dyken of humor, never fear! The Consequence of Loving Colton is here to save the day! I laughed out loud, shoulders shaking, snorting, gasping laughed through many, many pages of this book. I'm actually smiling as I'm typing--that's how funny it is. Court: I did think of The Bet series many times while reading this one, and the humor is definitely the same while the story line is different. I loved every page of it, and I read so fast. I really am ready to attribute this one into helping me get out of the funk I've been in...and that is a very big deal. Milo is fun, energetic, and keeps all of these boys in her life on their toes constantly.

Shel: The story of Colt and Milo in and of itself isn't vastly different than many of this genre--the whole forbidden sister/best friend of the brother thing...both wanting each other, both reading signals weirdly or not at all...it's the laugh out loud moments that truly make this stand out. Sure there are moments that are wayyyy over the top, but it's the absolute ridiculousness of some of the things said or actions taken that make it as funny as it is. Court: It is, but sadly insane things like that happen in my family all of the time...yet I'm still in awe of my love for this story. It is sugar sweet, but with a twist of who will be the knight in shining armor that Milo has been hoping for. Max really makes this story in a big way...as her slightly over the top metrosexual best friend, that I honestly am still hoping that he and her brother Jason get their own stories, even though I read this should be a standalone. 

Shel: If you're looking for a book to take you out of the doldrums of your day or you just need a quick and humorous read, you'll find that this one totally fulfills that need. Court: YES! Read it. Love it. And then check into the rest of Rachel's backlist because you won't regret it one bit! 

Prologue

Summer 2009

“I can’t believe you’re really going to college, Milo.” Colton’s teasing smile flashed right in front of me, rendering me temporarily blind. Man, he was beautiful. His normally dark-brown hair had shots of gold from the summer sun. Dimples peeked out from his mega-white smile and I was pretty confident that I saw a twinkle in his green eyes meant just for me. He’d been home for two months since graduation and was already off saving the world one fire at a time. I watched his full lips curve around the mouth of his Corona. He and my brother Jason had organized a going-away party for me. Apparently me getting accepted into NYU was a big deal: they’d even gone so far as to get a Star Wars–themed cake from Dairy Queen and a princess tiara that said “Pretty” across it. It was always their joke with me. I was a complete and total tomboy—I loved picking fights and getting muddy—yet still demanded they treat me like a princess.

With a sigh I leaned back on the picnic blanket and looked up at the stars. My crown fell to the side of my head, causing my hair to fall all over my face. The party had been over for a few hours, leaving me, Colt, and Jason. I should have been happy: after all, who does that for their little sister? What brother would even care? Furthermore, the fact that it had all been Colt’s idea, someone who wasn’t even family, was huge. But . . . maybe that’s the part that left me feeling empty. I might as well be family to Colton. I was the little sister he’d never had—and secretly, I’d always wanted to be so much more.

“Aw, you messed up your hair,” Colton teased, lifting the crown with the tip of his finger and giving me a sexy wink.

“Whatever shall I do?” I huffed.

“I’ll save you.” His voice was just above a whisper. “I’ve always wanted to save a princess.”

“You did.” My grin was huge. “You saved me a least a hundred times when we were little—slew the dragon at the top of the stairs and did it all without getting a scratch.”

“Messy job.” He let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “I don’t know how I made it to my twenty-first birthday without getting singed.”

“Donald didn’t breathe fire. He was a fireless dragon, remember?”

“Oh, right.” His eyes twinkled. “How is the old dragon anyway?”

I shrugged and chewed on my lower lip. “Haven’t been in the attic since you guys left for school. I’ve been busy.”

“Too busy to play?”

I rolled my eyes. “Too busy graduating to play, yeah.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“Fun.” I snorted. “The last time I had fun was when we snuck into your parents’ pool and—” I clamped my mouth shut before the words could tumble out on their own. Crap. Crap. Crap.

“Skinny-dipped.” He finished my thought. “Yeah, that was a blast.”

“Hey, guys!” Jason called as he ran out of the house. “Dad needs me to grab Mom from work so I’ll be right back! Don’t do anything fun without me! I mean it!”

The loud roar from his truck drowned out our conversation for a brief second and then slowly dissipated as the vehicle barreled down the driveway.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Colton asked.

If his thoughts were along the line of finally getting him alone, away from my brother? “Absolutely.” I grinned as he grabbed my hand and helped me off the blanket.

“Come on. Let’s go have fun.”

Curious, I followed Colt as we ran through a few backyards and finally ended up at his house.

“What are we doing?” I asked in a hushed voice.

“Having fun.” I swear his grin made my heart almost stop. “Now strip, Milo, we don’t have all night and Jason’s going to be pissed he isn’t with us.”

Laughing, I took off my shirt and shorts—I’d spent years swimming with the guys in my sports bra and underwear, though as we got older it became weird, but only on my end. It felt strange to strip down to nothing, knowing that my feelings for Colton were very real whereas his were nonexistent. I mean, it was Colton. Sure, I had a crush on him, but he never, ever thought of me that way. Ever.

“Last one in’s a rotten—”

I didn’t hear him finish—but I did beat him into the water. His mom and stepdad’s pool was always my favorite place to swim. It had a little waterfall in the deep end that you could swim under that always made me think of fairy tales and the movies. Then again, that could be because every time I broke through the water it was Colton’s face I saw, and his smile that drew me. He was my own personal Prince Charming.

Laughing, Colton splashed around, then hauled himself out of the pool and did a cannonball right by my face. I was glad that it was dark—I must have been beet-red. Man, the guy was ripped.

“Wanna race?” he asked, out of breath.

“Wanna lose?” I countered.

“Never.”

“Um, it’s an everyday occurrence.” I swam over to the edge. “Ready, set—”

“—go!” He ran instead of swam and then dove under water.

Bastard! Arms burning, I tried to make it to the other end of the pool. I usually didn’t open my eyes under water, but this time I did to see where I was going.

His body was a blur in front of me. All I saw was hard-lined muscle.

I stopped right in front of him and jumped to the surface. “You cheated.”

“I like to call it winning.” He beamed triumphantly.

“Cheating.” My teeth ground together as I pushed against his chest. Laughing, he fell backward, pulling me with him. Our bodies ground together, heat against heat, skin against skin.

And suddenly sneaking away from Jason wasn’t funny anymore.

Neither of us was laughing.

His hands moved from my waist slowly up my body until they rested on my face. With a curse he pulled my head toward his. “We should . . .”

“Yeah,” I whispered.

Neither of us pulled away.

His lips brushed mine, just enough to make me strain toward him—I needed him like I needed air.

“Kids!” His stepdad’s voice rang through the night air. “You out here making noise?”

Colton pushed me away and I nearly hit my head on the waterfall rocks.

“Yeah, just . . . hanging out!” Colton called. “I’m with Jason’s sister.”

I froze. He’d never called me that before. He even said it in such a final way, as if that was all I would ever be. Period. My heart didn’t just sink . . . it shuddered, then combusted, as all the hopes I’d harbored since I was thirteen came to a crushing world-altering halt. My suspicions were finally confirmed. Out loud. On the day the boy I liked had thought enough to throw me a party.

The line had been drawn. And I might as well be on the other side of the universe.

That was the day I lost Colton Mathews—forever.

About Rachel Van Dyken:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com

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