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Book Review: Getting Schooled by Emma Chase

Jun 29, 2018

Getting Schooled by Emma Chase

Pages: 310
Publish date: June 26, 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B079DX2VBS
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Kobo – iBooks

Head of the class…
Garrett Daniels has this whole life thing figured out.
The cocky, charismatic former high school star quarterback is an idolized football coach and “cool” teacher in the hometown where he’s not just a golden boy — he’s platinum. He has good friends, a great house on the lake, and the best damn sidekick a man could ask for: Snoopy, the albino beagle.
Then…Callie Carpenter comes home.
And knocks him right on his tight end zone.
Back to school…
Callie has a pretty sweet life herself…on the other side of the country. But circumstances — that she’d prefer to never speak of again — have brought her back home, helping out her parents and substitute teaching at her old high school.
Now she’s facing bickering, raging hormones, constant gossip, awkward weirdness, and drama galore…and that’s just the teachers.
Just like old times…
When Garrett offers to show his former high school sweetheart the secrets of his winning teacher ways, Callie jumps at the chance – and then has to stop herself from jumping him.
Good friends are all they can ever be.
Or…these teachers just might end up getting schooled — hard — by love.

Getting Schooled:

I received an e-arc of Getting Schooled by Emma Chase from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Since I’ve really started to read romance novels, I wanted to pick up an Emma Chase book, so when I was given the chance to review her latest novel Getting Schooled, I knew I had to take it. And while I didn’t love it like I thought I would, I still really did enjoy it. And makes me want to read more Emma Chase in the future. This second chance romance is addicting, beautiful and put a smile on my face.

Getting Schooled by Emma Chase follows Callie and Garrett, high school sweethearts that reconnect after Callie movies back to their hometown to help her parents. After their break up, Callie and Garrett both tried to move on, but these high school sweethearts were always on each other’s minds. With Callie back in town and just so happens to be working at the same school as Garrett, old feelings come to the surface and everything starts to turn very interesting.

The premise of Getting Schooled is what caught my eyes right away. A second chance love between high school sweethearts – yes, please. It did take me a while to get into though, and I am not entirely sure why. Everything about this book was appealing, but there was just something not there for me that made me really enticed. In saying that, I still really enjoyed the book and after a couple of chapters I was really into it.

Not only was the premise of Getting Schooled intriguing, so was both protagonists. They were both charming in their own ways and as the novel went on you could see how much they cared for one another.

I really enjoyed Callie as a protagonist, she was sweet and really took the story for me. After receiving an amazing job opportunity, she is needed back home after an ‘accident’ with her parents. And while for a lot of people it might be the end of the world for them, she really takes it in her stride and comes back to where it really all began. Of course, she told herself that she would not be tempted by Garrett, but them working as colleagues at the same school, of course she is tempted. Who wouldn’t?

I really liked the growth of Callie throughout the novel. Even though had some substance at the start of the novel, the way that she takes everything in during Getting Schooled. The way that she starts caring for her students is something that put a smile on my face and just made me like her even more.

Garrett is pretty amazing himself. I’ve been reading a lot of romance recently, and I’m getting sick of alpha males and all macho man. So it was really nice to see a calm and charming male protagonist and love interest. From the start of Getting Schooled, you are able to tell how much Garrett cares not only about his family, but his students and those around him. He is the teacher that makes that one class something you look forward to. But it wasn’t just his passion for his students that made me really enjoy him. But his passion for Callie.

When Callie and Garrett were together the sparks were everywhere and I just love second chance romances. What I love about second chance romances is there is already this relationship that has already there. The romance in this one starts off that. And that is exactly what happens in Getting Schooled. Through the novel, the reader is able to see Callie’s and Garrett’s before the book and how it’s different now. Emma Chase really knows how to write a fantastic second chance romance. I loved how Callie and Garrett just fell back into everything even though they had spent so many years apart.

In saying all this, there were still things that didn’t make me love it. I felt the writing style of Emma Chase wasn’t as captivating to me as other romance authors that I love. It was good and I didn’t hate anything about it really, but it just lacked a spark for me. There was also parts of the Getting Schooled that felt dull to me. I don’t know how to explain it right. I just felt that at times there were unnecessary scenes and nothing really happened to keep the plot going.

Overall, I enjoyed Getting Schooled. It was a really nice second chance romance read that put a smile on my face. It explores the notions of growing and changing, a second chance, and family. Through the novel, we see Callie and Garrett both reconnect, lean on and love each again and it just great. I wish I loved the writing more than I did, but I still did enjoy the book. If you love a good romance that just sweeps you away, then this is the book for you.

Have you read Getting Schooled? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read any other Emma Chase books, do you recommend any? Nevertheless, Let’s Chat!

About the Author

Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Overcome by A.K. Evans | Excerpt

Jun 25, 2018

Overcome by A.K. Evans

Pages: 291
Publish date: 12th June 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B07BZBYDDN
Purchase: Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N |

It only took a matter of moments for Lexi Townsend’s life to change. Her power was taken, her trust lost. Her bubbly personality was smothered by the depressing weight of shame and guilt.

Four years later, Lexi yearns to get back to the former version of herself. A stronger version. One who is no longer afraid to share her story, her body, and her trust. When Private Investigator Cruz Cunningham comes into her life, he proves he’s a man that’s deserving of her trust.

When multiple women in Windsor go missing, it launches Cruz and the Cunningham Security team into action. As Cruz digs deeper into the investigation, he’s torn between finding the missing women and protecting the woman he loves. Putting her faith in Cruz, Lexi never imagines that this case could destroy everything she’s worked so hard to overcome.

WARNING: This novel contains references to rape and sexual assault and may trigger discomfort in some readers.

Overcome:

Today I’m sharing with you an excerpt from Overcome by A.K Evans. This new contemporary romance is out now! You can check out an excerpt below.

“Is there anything I can do to help you with this?” he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders and replied, “I’m not sure yet. Telling my parents about the rape is going to be difficult, but I want them to know. The problem is that I don’t know how they’ll react. I know they love me and they’re going to be devastated. It hasn’t been easy to tell anyone about this, so I have to face that hurdle along with trying to handle their reactions to it.”

“You don’t have to do it alone, Lexi. If you want me to be there to support you, I’m more than happy to do that for you.”

I wasn’t sure what I wanted. I knew I didn’t want to do it on my own, but I also didn’t want to overwhelm my parents. This was going to be hard enough on them as it was.

“I don’t know what to do, Cruz,” I answered honestly. “On one hand, I think it would help me tremendously to know that you, Logan, Luke, and Nikki were there when I tell them. On the other hand, I’m trying to put myself in my parents’ shoes. I can’t imagine the disappointment they are going to feel.”

Cruz’s arm curled around my shoulder a little tighter. “Why would they be disappointed with you?”

“Lots of reasons,” I started. “I know they’ll be disappointed that I didn’t tell them sooner, that I didn’t fight, and that I didn’t report it.”

“You didn’t fight?” Cruz questioned me, clearly confused.

I shook my head and explained, “When it happened I didn’t fight him. I let him do it.”

“Did you say no, Lex?” he asked.

I nodded.

“You didn’t let anyone do anything. He wanted power and control so he took what he did from you to get that. You aren’t at fault and nobody can blame you for any part of it.”

I sighed. “I wish I had tried harder to fight him and I wish I would have reported it. Those are my biggest regrets. It breaks my heart to even think about the disappointment I know I’m going to see in my parents’ faces…especially my dad. I know I can’t go back to change it and that my reaction is one that’s extremely common. Even still, it doesn’t change the fact that sometimes I wish I had done something more than I did.”

Cruz’s hand cupped the side of my face, where his thumb swiped back and forth across my cheek. “You said no. That’s all it should have taken.”

About the Author

A.K. Evans is a married mother of two boys residing in a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. Between her day job, writing, and homeschooling her two boys, Evans is left with very little free time. When she finds scraps of spare time, she enjoys reading, doing yoga, watching NY Rangers hockey, dancing, and vacationing with her family. Andrea, her husband, and her children are currently working on taking road trips to visit all 50 states (though, Alaska and Hawaii might require flights).

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

And that is it for this post. Is Overcome something that you might read? Have you read other books dealing with hard-hitting topics? Nevertheless, books that deal with these topics are important, what are some of your favourite? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett | Blog Tour

Jun 8, 2018

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Pages: 421
Publish date: June 1, 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781471161063
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best-friends-turned-worst-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to try to make their way to safety. But as the two travel deeper into the rugged Californian countryside, secrets, and hidden feelings surface. Soon it’s not simply a matter of enduring each other’s company, but taming their growing feelings for each other.

Starry Eyes:

I received a copy of Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett from Simon and Schuster for free in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Last year when I read Alex, Approximately, I fell in love with the characters, humour and the writing. So when I heard that Jenn Bennet was bringing out another novel, I knew I needed it and I was not disappointed. Starry Eyes is a beautiful novel that explores friendship, love and defying the odds.

Starry Eyes follows teens Zorie and Lennon as they try and navigate their last years of school, but best friends that have now turned enemies didn’t expect to be spending their break together on a camping trip. When things go south and they have to stick together, everything is brought out into the open. But it doesn’t help that Zorie’s father hating everything to do with Lennon is just the start of it. And Lennon didn’t turn up to homecoming.

Zorie was a really interesting character, from the start of Starry Eyes the reader is able to see that she is still quite hurt from what happened between her and Lennon. But as the novel goes on we get to see her really open to both her feelings and the past. What Jenn Bennet does best is create honest and likable characters protagonist and that is what Zorie is. She is not perfect, but that is what makes her so interesting. Zorie didn’t just find out the truth in Starry Eyes, but also found herself. She found the strength to stand up for herself and those that she loves even if it broke her heart to do so.

Lennon was a very interesting character as well. At first, it was hard to love him, simply because of how Zorie saw him, but as the novel went on and everything came out into the open, gosh he was great. Lennon has been through a lot. And the way that he dealt with it was too pull away. I loved Lennon’s presence that he gave the book, it just gave this whole lift to the book, I can’t even explain.

Miscommunication and secrets were what torn Zorie and Lennon apart. But as the novel went on and those all came out, both of them were able to see the best in one another again and that was fantastic to see. Jenn Bennet is a genius at adorable, slow burn romances and even though the romance in Starry Eyes was over a short period of time, Zorie and Lennon had been friends for years. This wasn’t just hate-to-lovers, but friends to loves and gosh it was just the best thing in the world. Zorie and Lennon were adorable together, you could tell that they both still very much liked each other. Zorie and Lennon hadn’t really talked since homecoming. But this camping trip and eventually them being stuck together really got them both really letting everything go. And that was great to see.

Family and friendship is a big theme in Starry Eyes and what Jenn Bennett does, is explore the good and bad of both. Zorie’s family isn’t that crash hot. At the start of the novel, she finds out something. And this is tearing her apart and it was really hard on her. There were so many things going on in her life, she really didn’t need it at all. It broke my heart when Zories was trying to figure what to do with all the information and finding out others knew before her. Zorie also had some pretty horrible friends, I understand that everyone has something going on in their lives, but gosh did it escalate in Starry Eyes. Lennon’s family is just great, I adored both his mums and they just seemed like great parents that really understood their son.

Overall, I loved Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett. It explores what it means to love, have family and friends. It’s a coming of age novel that really grabs you from the start with its honesty and reliability. Zorie and Lennon were such great protagonists that made the story that much better. Plus they were stuck in the middle of the wildness with only each other for company, things are bound to get heated. Starry Eyes is for everyone that wants to be taken away with honest and flawed characters and romance that will warm your heart.

Jenn Bennett is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary romance books, including Alex, Approximately; Night Owls; and Starry Eyes. She also writes romance and urban fantasy for adults. Her books have garnered multiple starred reviews, won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award, and been included on Publishers Weekly Best Books annual list. She lives near Atlanta with one husband and two dogs.

Twitter | Instagram | Website | Goodreads

Have you read Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it soon? Have you read any of her other books? Let’s Chat! Also, don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog tour.