REVIEW: Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan

“Kennedy Ryan’s writing continues to amaze and inspire. She is a genius wordsmith and a prose poet. And in Banner Morales, she has created the perfect heroine for this day and age. Don’t miss this read. It’s everything.” — Emma Scott, Bestselling Author

Block Shot, Kennedy Ryan’s enemies-to-lovers, second-chance standalone romance is LIVE and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

OUR REVIEW:

Block Shot, the latest Kennedy Ryan novel, is going to have you glued to your kindle. The first chapters are a punch to the gut and then you get to breathe for a second before she has you flipping through the pages at record speed to see how Jared and Banner are going to get to that happy ending. Anyone familiar with Kennedy's novels knows that she likes to make her characters (and us!) work for those happily ever afters and Block Shot is no different: Jared and Banner butt heads and get into these facepalm situations that had me so antsy--if I bit my fingernails, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have any left after some chapters. I mean Jared, duuuuude, way to put your foot in your mouth (or just not think) so many times! GAHHHH. It might be a miracle that Banner ever spoke to you again. Thankfully she does and it makes for some great moments. These two are fire and ice--in some ways an unlikely pair (one has a heart, one only has a heart for the other)--put them together and they steam up every page.

As for Banner? I loved Banner and her very real talk about being a curvy girl in a seemingly skinny girl's world. Her story arc always includes some very poignant observations about how our perceptions of ourselves (and hurtful words from others) can wedge themselves so deeply into our conscious, subconscious, and everything in between that it can color our every waking thought. In addition to Banner's battle with her body, she has to battle being a woman in a man's world. It's her blend of heart, hard work, and killer instincts that rounded out her character and made her another strong female character of Kennedy's.

Jared, on the other hand, is one of the alpha-est alphas I think I've read from Kennedy in a while. He's such an ass sometimes! Other times his absolute heart-eyes adoration of Banner has me loving him so hard. He's so very different than many male characters--he's unapologetically cynical, goes for the juglar in life and love, and just so RAWR. lol. He was a lot of fun to read and while I didn't always agree with how he saw the world, I appreciated that he didn't try to sugarcoat things or make them anything other than what they were, in his opinion.

As with all of Kennedy Ryan's novels, she includes diverse characters, interesting conflicts and plot points, and scenes that will have your kindle both steaming up and melting your heart--all reasons why I absolute am a fan for life.

Some early readers are calling this a lighter Kennedy Ryan read and while I can see that, it will hit home for many of us.

JARED

If I had a dollar for every time Banner Morales made my heart skip a beat...

The heart everyone assumes is frozen over.

Her anger is...arousing.

Every glare from those fire-spitting eyes, every time she grits her teeth,

gets me...well, you know.

If I had a dollar for every time she's put me in my place, I'd be an even richer man.

I'm a successful sports agent because I assume "no" means you'll think about it.

I'm sure what you meant to say is "Coming right up.”

They say even rich men don't always get what they want,

but those men don't know how to play the game. The trick is to keep them guessing.

Take Banner. She assumes she's winning, but this game?

She doesn't even know how to play.

BANNER

If I had a dollar for every time Jared Foster broke my heart, I’d have exactly one dollar.

One night. One epic fail. One dollar...and I'm out.

I've moved on.

I’ve found success in a field ruled by men.

Anything they can do, I have done better.

They can keep the field while I call the shots, blocking them when I have to.

And Jared has the nerve to think he gets a second chance?

Boy, please. Go sit down. Have several seats.

I'll just be over here ignoring the man carved from my fantasies with a lust-tipped chisel.

Oh, I didn't say the struggle wasn't real.

But I've got that one dollar, and Jared won't have me.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

*Special release price $2.99! Price goes up soon!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2QmF0TE

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BlockShotKR

Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2IbeQOU

Enter the BLOCK SHOT BOSS Giveaway!

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Excerpt:

I stretch my arm toward the wall and turn out the lights. With the light snuffed out, my other senses rise, hunting for her in the dark. The smell of her hair and her quick, shallow breaths. My sight adjusts until the heavy black curtain completely obscuring her fades to gray. Light from the outer room spills under the door, revealing just the shape, the outline of her, but still camouflaging details. I cup her cheek, taking a moment to appreciate the softness of her skin, the silky hair brushing my knuckles. I’m not an idiot. She wants the lights out because she’s self-conscious, but from my perspective, she has nothing to be ashamed of. “I think you’re beautiful, Ban.” “You do?” she asks, her voice hushed. My words surprise me as much as they seem to surprise her, because I don’t say shit like that to girls. The prettiest ones usually seem to already know, which makes any admiration I’d express redundant. But Banner . . . she’s so beautiful, and I’m not sure she knows. “I do.” I push the hair away from her face. “Uh . . . thank you.” Her laugh isn’t much more than a breath. “The lights are out, so I’m not sure that compliment counts.” “I know your face by heart. You have seven freckles here.” I swipe a finger over the straight bridge of her nose and drift down to caress her full lips and the tiny dent in her cheek her smile displays. “And a dimple right here.” I explore the smooth skin of her nape, under a heavy fall of hair. “Now I want to know your body, too,” I say softly. “Take off your clothes for me, Banner.” After a sharply indrawn breath, she raises her arms. The rustle of her clothes—the sweatshirt, jeans, socks, shoes—being discarded whisper in the dark. I approximate her by touch, reaching for her arms and closing my fingers around the softness, the velvety skin. I lower my head and run my nose along her neck, discovering. “You always smell so good.” I’ve wanted to tell her that since the first night we studied here. “Pretty Pastel,” she replies, her laugh low, nervous. “What?” I pause. “The smell. It’s my dryer sheets. The scent is Pretty Pastel.” “I like it.” I resume my exploration, running a palm over her shoulder, her collarbone until I find the soft, full weight of her breasts, testing them in my hands, cupping them, holding them, brushing the nipples with my thumbs until they pebble and her breaths come harshly. “You like that?” I ask. I see her head nod in the semi-darkness. “Yeah. It feels good.” Her touch startles me in the best way, her hand finding my face, traveling over my mouth, eyes, and hair. I sense her approach, feel tiny pants of breath on my lips, and anticipation has me panting, too, shortens my breath and sharpens my senses. Her mouth seeks mine, eager and sweet when she kisses me. Her pleasure, her excitement matches, answers, fans mine. I guide her back down to the couch, and with a hand at her shoulder, urge her to stretch out. I’d shave points off my GPA for a glimpse of her, but she doesn’t want that. I get it, so I settle for a taste. BLOCK SHOT Spotify Playlist: http://bit.ly/BlockShotSpotify Block Shot Discussion Group: https://bit.ly/2QhoCUh

About Kennedy

A Top 30 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes about women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine and Frolic, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Atlanta Autism families, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for families living with autism.

Connect with Kennedy

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NOW LIVE: Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan

“Kennedy Ryan’s writing continues to amaze and inspire. She is a genius wordsmith and a prose poet. And in Banner Morales, she has created the perfect heroine for this day and age. Don’t miss this read. It’s everything.” — Emma Scott, Bestselling Author

Block Shot, Kennedy Ryan’s enemies-to-lovers, second-chance standalone romance is LIVE and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

JARED

If I had a dollar for every time Banner Morales made my heart skip a beat...

The heart everyone assumes is frozen over.

Her anger is...arousing.

Every glare from those fire-spitting eyes, every time she grits her teeth,

gets me...well, you know.

If I had a dollar for every time she's put me in my place, I'd be an even richer man.

I'm a successful sports agent because I assume "no" means you'll think about it.

I'm sure what you meant to say is "Coming right up.”

They say even rich men don't always get what they want,

but those men don't know how to play the game. The trick is to keep them guessing.

Take Banner. She assumes she's winning, but this game?

She doesn't even know how to play.

BANNER

If I had a dollar for every time Jared Foster broke my heart, I’d have exactly one dollar.

One night. One epic fail. One dollar...and I'm out.

I've moved on.

I’ve found success in a field ruled by men.

Anything they can do, I have done better.

They can keep the field while I call the shots, blocking them when I have to.

And Jared has the nerve to think he gets a second chance?

Boy, please. Go sit down. Have several seats.

I'll just be over here ignoring the man carved from my fantasies with a lust-tipped chisel.

Oh, I didn't say the struggle wasn't real.

But I've got that one dollar, and Jared won't have me.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

*Special release price $2.99! Price goes up soon!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2QmF0TE

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BlockShotKR

Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2IbeQOU

Enter the BLOCK SHOT BOSS Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Kennedy

A Top 30 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes about women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine and Frolic, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Atlanta Autism families, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for families living with autism.

Connect with Kennedy

Never Miss A Release! Follow Kennedy on BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/kennedy-ryan

New Release Txt: https://clk2.me/mgFv

Subscribe to Mailing List: http://bit.ly/2QjisCW

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/681604768593989/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kennedyryan1/

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

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Fvhqiz

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kennedyryan

Book+Main: https://bookandmainbites.com/kennedyryan

Website: http://kennedyryanwrites.com

REVIEW: The Duke With The Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne

OUR REVIEW

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo brought me back, y'all. Wayyyyy back. It brought me back to the days in my teendom when I'd exhausted all of the teen and harlequin romances in the public library and I ventured into historical romance. Until recently, I'd forgotten that historical romance was one of my first loves in romance but thanks to Staci Hart and her snapchats about a book she was reading, I found my memory jogged and my interest piqued. So when I had the chance to read this latest by the highly acclaimed Kerrigan Byrne, I snatched it the first second I could and I have zero regrets. 

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo was so much fun to read. The characters were well rounded, had interesting stories, and their HEA was so well earned by the end. The mysterious beginnings, torturous middle, many misunderstandings, and finally FINALLY an acquiescence to an enduring love by the end had me connected to this novel the entire weekend. It was one of those reads that I wanted to read in one sitting and yet I kept putting it down because I wasn't quite ready for it to end. It had romance and humor and intrigue and pirates, so basically all the things. 

While I didn't want this one to end, I'm happy to see that Kerrigan Byrne has a backlist for me to explore and I will definitely be making time to go through it. I love that historical romance is back on my radar and is something I can escape into in a way that's different than realistic and dystopian fiction.

BUY IT HERE.

SYNOPSIS:

The bravest of heroes. The brashest of rebels. The boldest of lovers. These are the men who risk their hearts and their souls—for the passionate women who dare to love them…

He is known only as The Rook. A man with no name, no past, no memories. He awakens in a mass grave, a magnificent dragon tattoo on his muscled forearm the sole clue to his mysterious origins. His only hope for survival—and salvation—lies in the deep, fiery eyes of the beautiful stranger who finds him. Who nurses him back to health. And who calms the restless demons in his soul…

A LEGENDARY LOVE

Lorelai will never forget the night she rescued the broken dark angel in the woods, a devilishly handsome man who haunts her dreams to this day. Crippled as a child, she devoted herself to healing the poor tortured man. And when he left, he took a piece of her heart with him. Now, after all these years, The Rook has returned. Like a phantom, he sweeps back into her life and avenges those who wronged her. But can she trust a man who’s been branded a rebel, a thief, and a killer? And can she trust herself to resist him when he takes her in his arms?

“Byrne is a force in the genre.”—RT Book Reviews

AUGUST 2018 Favorites

August was a great month of reading and I feel like if you're a romance reader, there's something for you on this list. If you see something that grabs your interest click on the cover and you can read more about it on Amazon.

As Dust Dances by Samantha Young--tackles homelessness, fandom and social media, and music with the beautiful Scotland as the backdrop.

His True Queen by Jodi Ellen Malpas--picks up right where book 1 leaves off and plunges us right back into royal scandal...so deliciously soap opera-ish, just like the first book in the latest Meghan March, Rich as Sin. Both Malpas and March know how to write the best cliffhangers!!

Blind Kiss by Renee Carlino--if you're looking for one that grabs you by the heart, Blind Kiss or Emma Scott's Bring Down the Stars will give you a HUGE case of the feels. 

Shimmy Bang Sparkle by Nicola Rendell and Trick Play by Max Monroe had two of the swooniest book boyfriends and laugh lines that had me wiping tears from my eyes. These gals write some of my favorite romcoms and I'm thrilled that they have many more books to write!

And last but not least, C.D. Reiss release of Over the Edge finished off a series that was one of the best of the summer. It was interesting and different and I find myself still thinking about it and wishing that there were more books, more intrigue, more everything because I wasn't quite ready for it to end.

REVIEW: Intercepted by Alexa Martin

OUR REVIEW:

Nothing's better than reading a debut novel and loving it, am I right? Alexa Martin hit all the right notes in Intercepted. Her protagonist, Marlee, is hilarious (those hashtags!), smart, and strong; her antagonists are wonderfully awful; and, her love interest is the swooniest of swooniest--Gavin Pope, y'all, wow.

The characters interesting and flawed and funny and sweet and romantic --and even more fun?!, this novel all happens in the football universe. As someone who enjoys sports, this is a definite plus for me. For those who aren't big football or into sports, this novel is so much more than that. I promise you're going to enjoy the journey Martin takes you on with Marlee and Gavin and all the things they get into.

I could go on for pages about how I really thought this was a light sports romcom and then the last 20% had me feeling all sorts of things. I could go on about the Marlee's best friends and enemies and how much I enjoyed reading all those parts. I could list all the moments when I laughed out loud or when Gavin melted my ice cold heart. I could tell you for days about how awesome it is to have more #ownvoices on my TBR list and how hopeful I am that publishers continue to embrace and encourage and support diverse voices. I could do all of that and more instead let me tell you how excited I am that Alexa Martin is writing another book and I cannot wait to read it! I'm so excited and I want to know all the things about Fumbled (so, if you're reading this, Alexa Martin, I'd love to know more!).

BUY IT HERE.

SYNOPSIS:

Marlee thought she scored the man of her dreams only to be scorched by a bad breakup. But there's a new player on the horizon, and he's in a league of his own...

Marlee Harper is the perfect girlfriend. She's definitely had enough practice by dating her NFL-star boyfriend for the last ten years. But when she discovers he has been tackling other women on the sly, she vows to never date an athlete again. There's just one problem: Gavin Pope, the new hotshot quarterback and a fling from the past, has Marlee in his sights. 

Gavin fights to show Marlee he's nothing like her ex. Unfortunately, not everyone is ready to let her escape her past. The team's wives, who never led the welcome wagon, are not happy with Marlee's return. They have only one thing on their minds: taking her down. But when the gossip makes Marlee public enemy number one, she worries about more than just her reputation. 

Between their own fumbles and the wicked wives, it will take a Hail Mary for Marlee and Gavin's relationship to survive the season.