The Perfect Duet by Meghan Quinn {Book Blitz, Review }

The Left Side Of Perfect � Release Day � August 30.

For better or for worse,'til death do us part . . . The better captured me; she's who stole my heart. And made me realize I couldn�t live without this woman. The worse of her took my breath away--kicked me when I was down and twisted me into a million knots. When I first met her, I thought she was someone I would never see again. The second time I ran into her, it was a random coincidence. The third? I didn�t know it at the time, but she was the girl I was going to marry. But life isn�t always perfect. You have to take the better and the worse--even if it means giving her up, having her slip between your fingers, and letting her walk away. I�m getting married.

This is forever, 'til death do us part.

What can you say about a book that gives you everything but breaks you along the way? Be glad it is a duet! This first book left me begging for the next immediately. 

Ryan has always thought of herself as chubby, and not meant to be happy. After all that is what her mom always told her growing up. Even though her dad was always in her corner, getting teased constantly has done its damage to her and she can't seem to stop feeling this way even though she is not at all chubby now. 

Colby was meant to be a pilot. He gave up everything in order to make this one dream happen. Now that he has this dream, he doesn't have much else. Unless you count the books on his night stand, his rugged attitude and laundry. 

He was a quiet one and when he met Ryan she brought him out of his shell for one wild weekend. Then she went home. When he saw her again, he was mesmerized but circumstance made them friends. Best friends in fact. 

That was okay with him.

That was okay with her. 

Until it wasn't...�.

This is a love story.
It's a story of friendship.
Its a story that leaves you in pieces and begs for more.
Your typically Meghan Quinn book. Perfection.

       

The Right Side Of Forever � Release Day August 31 In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish . . . It sounds so simple, to love someone unconditionally. To give them your heart. So why is she slowly eating away at my soul with every unanswered phone call, every unread text, and every door left unopened? She said yes, and yet, in order for her to be with me . . . I need to let her go.

"You were made for me, and it might have taken us a while to realize it, but now that I've had you, I know deep in my soul you are meant to be mine. And I will die trying to make you believe the same thing.

Just like there is a right and left side of perfect, there is a right and left side of forever. The left side of forever represents the relationships that come and go in your life but have had an impact on the person you've become. The right side of forever provides the relationship that stays with you, the relationship that's imprinted itself so deep into your bone marrow that you live and breathe for that person.

You're my right side of forever, baby."

Three words for this ending of the perfect duet: heart wrenching, magical and meaningful. 

This review is almost impossible to write without spoilers as it is the last book in this amazing duet by Meghan Quinn. I will say little but tell you as much as I can in order to make you read it, because you simply can't miss out on this perfection! 

This second book focuses more on Ryan and the heartbreaking ending to The Left Side of Perfect. We see more of her emotions, and she became the woman she is today. She has dealt with so much from her past and getting put down by someone that was supposed to be her number one fan. It has cost her a lot and she is very closed off. She doesn't feel like she is good enough. 

The beauty of this love story was in the pain and then healing from it. Quinn did a phenomenal job of capturing the emotion on each and every page for her readers to experience along with her characters. It was an absolutely incredible love story told from duel points of view, and it will stay with me for a long time to come.

  AMAZON
  
               

Meet the author:

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if �It�s Raining Men� starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped. Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing� enter her first novel, Caught Looking. Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze

 Facebook | Follow on Goodreads | Website | Amazon Author Page | Instagram | Follow on BookBub    

Tiffany Blues by M. J Rose {Book Blog Tour, Review, & Giveaway}

Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
Atria Books
Hardcover & eBook; 336 Pages
ISBN: 978-1501173592
Genre: Historical Fiction

New York, 1924. Twenty-four-year-old Jenny Bell is one of a dozen burgeoning artists invited to Louis Comfort Tiffany�s prestigious artists� colony. Gifted and determined, Jenny vows to avoid distractions and romantic entanglements and take full advantage of the many wonders to be found at Laurelton Hall. But Jenny�s past has followed her to Long Island. Images of her beloved mother, her hard-hearted stepfather, waterfalls, and murder, and the dank hallways of Canada�s notorious Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women overwhelm Jenny�s thoughts, even as she is inextricably drawn to Oliver, Tiffany�s charismatic grandson. As the summer shimmers on, and the competition between the artists grows fierce as they vie for a spot at Tiffany�s New York gallery, a series of suspicious and disturbing occurrences suggest someone knows enough about Jenny�s childhood trauma to expose her. Supported by her closest friend Minx Deering, a seemingly carefree socialite yet dedicated sculptor, and Oliver, Jenny pushes her demons aside. Between stolen kisses and stolen jewels, the champagne flows and the jazz plays on until one moonless night when Jenny�s past and present are thrown together in a desperate moment, that will threaten her promising future, her love, her friendships, and her very life.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound

Set in New York in 1924, you are introduced to 24year old Jenny Bell, who is struggling to make ends meet while studying art. Through the friendship and manipulations of her closest and - only friend - Minx Deering, Jenny is selected along with the other top students to study at the luxurious home of Louis Comfort Tiffany Laurelton Hall. Jenny has closed herself off to any romantic entanglements and for the most part trusting many people, knowing that she must rely only upon herself and is working hard towards that end.

Unfortunately, Jenny�s past seems to be following her to Long Island with images of her beloved mother, her hateful step-father, waterfalls, and murder from the dark hallways of the notorious girls reformatory Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women. As she tries to bury those memories of her imprisonment, she must keep those secrets at bay while she is being sensually pulled towards Oliver, grandson of Mr. Tiffany.


Competition is fierce for the prize that is being offered for the artist who submits the best example of their art and win a spot at Tiffany�s New York Gallery. But then a series of incidents both suspicious and disturbing let Jenny know that someone is out there who knows of her past and is trying to scare her away before all is revealed.

The story is very absorbing. Although it took me a bit to get through I still feel like I was loving it the whole entire time. This author seems to be an absolute master at descriptions of the surrounding settings and for me it brought the story to life for me. I just loved reading how she would describe a setting as it added to the love I had for the plot. 

All the characters in this story were very interesting and I was pulled into their world by the way each and every one of them were described and how they handled themselves in the situations given to them. It all made sense with the story and flowed well. 

I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction fans, romance fans and mystery fans alike. I think it will appeal to very diverse group of people as there are so many elements to the story. 

This book was absolutely fabulous! It had intrigue, romance, & a great mystery. All the workings for a great read! 

Praise for Tiffany Blues

�A lush, romantic historical mystery with a unique setting. Tiffany Blues explores an interesting lost bit of American history and gives us a heroine to root for." �Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale

 �A fascinating novel about a young, struggling artist mentored by the celebrated jeweler and stained-glass creator Louis Comfort Tiffany. Tiffany Blues brings together an enchanting glimpse of Jazz Age New York and an inspired fictional story about Jenny Bell and the terrible secret she's hiding.� �Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and A Piece of the World

 "The New York Times bestselling author of The Library of Light and Shadow crafts a dazzling Jazz Age jewel�a novel of ambition, betrayal, and passion about a young painter whose traumatic past threatens to derail her career at a prestigious summer artists� colony run by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co. fame. �[M.J. Rose] transports the reader into the past better than a time machine could accomplish� �The Associated Press

 "M.J. Rose must have plunged her pen into a vale of tears, radiance, and crime to write this novel. Tiffany Blues melds a tragic mother-daughter relationship, the shimmer of Tiffany�s creations, the jolting life of artists and their shocking jealousy, in a captivating story that illuminates how far we'll go for love. MJ Rose broke this reader�s heart and then, as though using the ancient art of Kintsugi, healed me by sealing the future with golden veins of hope." �Randy Susan Meyers, International Bestselling Author

"Intriguing... [Rose's] best creation yet." �Publishers Weekly

 "Intricate plotting, sensuous descriptions... captivating. A lush, mesmerizing story." �Kirkus "Rose keeps readers spellbound... with a touch of Gatsby-esque flavor and opulence and a research-rich mix of facts and fiction." �Library Journal - Starred review

 "Rose's talent for delivering believable characters and plot shines in her latest novel...Readers are in for a treat and the jaw-dropping climax well have them enthralled." �RT Book Reviews

 "A stunning look at the Jazz Age, told in M.J. Rose's inimitable style." �PopSugar 25 Best Summer Books

About the Author

New York Times Bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother's favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice... books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it. Rose's work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com Her most recent novel THE LIBRARY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW (Atria/S&S) was chosen as an Indie Next Pick. The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Reincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers. Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield. For more information, please visit her website and her blog, Museum of Mysteries. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 6Excerpt at Passages to the PastFeature at Naomi Finley Tuesday, August 7Feature at So Many Books, So Little Time Wednesday, August 8Review at A Bookish Affair Thursday, August 9Feature at Just One More Chapter Friday, August 10Review at Donna's Book Blog Sunday, August 12Review at Carole Rae's Random Ramblings Monday, August 13Review at A Chick Who Reads Tuesday, August 14Feature at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers Wednesday, August 15Feature at Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen Thursday, August 16Review at The Lit Bitch Monday, August 20Review at The Book MindReview at 100 Pages a Day Tuesday, August 21Feature at Maiden of the Pages Wednesday, August 22Review at Pursuing Stacie Friday, August 24Feature at I'm Shelf-ish Monday, August 27Review at Broken Teepee Tuesday, August 28Feature at A Holland Reads Wednesday, August 29Review at BookishReview at Library of Clean Reads Thursday, August 30Review at History From a Woman's Perspective Friday, August 31Interview at History From a Woman's Perspective Saturday, September 1Review at A Darn Good Read Monday, September 3Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book! Wednesday, September 5Review at Laura's Interests Thursday, September 6Review & Interview at Clarissa Reads it All Friday, September 7Review at Bookramblings

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a Louis Comfort Tiffany glass paperweight from the Metropolitan Museum of Artder! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules � Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on September 7th. You must be 18 or older to enter. � Giveaway is open to US residents only. � Only one entry per household. � All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. � Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. Tiffany Blues

Never Say Goodbye by RIchard Parker {Book Blast}

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Publication Date:	August 14th 2018
Format:	Digital
Published By:	Bookouture
Website:	Richard Parker
	Never Say Goodbye on Goodreads
My Review Copy:	Thanks to Bookouture

Where to get:

Somewhere in this city� she�s waiting to be found.

When the body of an innocent woman is found stabbed in her otherwise pristine bedroom, Detective Tom Fabian is called in to lead the investigation. It�s the latest in a series of seemingly random murders all over London, which Tom suspects might be linked� but how?

Just when Tom feels all his leads have run dry, he discovers a startling connection between the victims. The killer is tracing a sinister web of murder through the capital � but where does it lead, and who is next?

May the nineteenth 1968 had been an average day for Janet Wells.

Unbeknownst to her, it was the day her murderer was born.

She was twenty-two at the time and had been fast asleep with

her new husband when the person bringing the end of her life

had started theirs. Over fifty years later she awoke to find him in

her room.

Janet knew there was somebody there before she opened her

eyes. Should she leap from her bed and charge to the door? But in

the split second she hesitated his weight was pressing down on her.

Janet didn�t see his face but if she had she would have realized

she�d never met him before. They had no connection to each other,

and her killer went about the business of stifling her exclamation

and thrusting his blade into her chest without any sense of pleasure.

One of the main reasons he�d chosen Janet was because she lived

alone. Why make the job more risky than it already was?

As the force of the third blade strike pushed the last air out of

her lungs Janet�s brain shut down before it could speculate about

who he was and why he�d targeted her.

He made sure her chest was still before standing back and slowly

filling his. The room smelt of Deep Heat and Steradent. It was

the fourth time he�d killed and the experience wasn�t necessarily

becoming any easier, but he knew the days that followed would

be less paralyzed by recrimination than previously.

He put his boot against the side of the mattress and shoved it a

few times. Janet�s head lolled back and forth and a last hiss escaped

her. He waited and listened for sounds outside her retirement flat.

But her death had been quick, and he�d suffocated her cry. Nobody

would have heard and by the time anyone checked on her he�d be

long gone.

He gripped the handles of the butterfly blade tight. The only

sound in the room now was the squeal of the air from his nose.

Just one more thing to do but it was the hardest part. Janet Wells

was gone now though. She wouldn�t feel any pain.

He leaned forward and stabbed her four times in the face.

About the Author

Richard Parker was formerly a TV script writer, script editor and producer before turning his hand to penning twisted stand alone thrillers.. ??

Author Social Media Links:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

 

BT: Bring Down The Stars by Emma Scott {Book Blog Tour}

      I fell for Connor Drake. I didn�t want to; I fought against it, but I fell in love with him anyway. With his words. With his poetry. With him. The gentleness and beauty of his soul that speaks directly to mine. He writes as if he can feel my heart, hear its cadence and compose the exact right lyrics to accompany every beat and flow. I�m in love with Connor�so why do I feel an inexplicable pull to his best friend, Weston? Grouchy, sullen, brooding Weston Turner, who could cut you down with a look. Fiercely intelligent with a razor sharp wit and acid tongue, he�s the exact opposite of Connor in every way, and yet there�s electricity in the air between us. The thorny barbs Weston wraps around himself can�t keep me away. But the more time I spend with these men, the more tangled and confused my emotions become. When they both sign up for the Army Reserves during a time of increasing strife in the Middle East, I fear I�ll never unravel my own heart that sometimes feels as if it will tear straight down the middle�for both of them. ********** Bring Down the Stars is an emotional, angst-filled novel of unrequited love by bestselling author, Emma Scott, and is inspired by the classic tale, Cyrano de Bergerac. (Roxanne) It is Book I in the Beautiful Hearts Duet, coming this summer. Book II, Long Live the Beautiful Hearts, to be released a few weeks later. #lovetriangle #confusedhearts #notamenage        

  I took the cement stairs into the library and entered the cool, hushed confines of the main reading room. None of the long mahogany desks with green-shaded lamps were empty. One of the university clubs had taken over two-thirds of the space. The rest of the tables were filled with students like me, trying to get a head start their course load. I finally found an empty seat at the end of a table, opposite a blond guy engrossed in reading. His open backpack spilled books and papers into what I hoped could be my table territory. �Excuse me,� I whispered. �Can I�?� He looked up, his expression vaguely hostile. Piercing blue-green eyes set in a stunningly handsome, if angular, face met mine. High cheekbones, sharp chin and long straight nose. He looked chiseled out of smooth stone at first glance, then his features softened for a moment as his gaze swept over me. Something like recognition lit up his eyes, and I could see the gears of his brain turning as he studied, analyzed, and then came to a conclusion. Not a good one, I guessed, because his expression hardened again. �Yeah, sure,� he muttered. He stood up, leaning his tall, slender frame over the table to corral the books back into his pack. �Thanks,� I said, thinking if he wasn�t a basketball player or a runner, he was a model. All right, girl, get a grip. I sat, cracked my textbook and settled in to read. I wasn�t through two pages when the words blurred to nonsensical gibberish and my skin prickled with the sensation of being watched. I glanced up, straight into the ocean eyes of the guy across from me. A million thoughts swirled in their soft depths before they quickly glanced down. He slouched lower in his chair, disappearing behind his book�the collected poems of Walt Whitman. Part of me wanted to melt. Good lord, a hot guy reading poetry? I was only human. And this is how you wound up with a broken heart in the first place. I must�ve been frowning at the book because the guy held it up and said, �Not a fan?� I blinked back to reality. �No,� I said. �I mean, yes. I love Whitman. And poetry in general. I just... Never mind.� He regarded me a long moment, then slowly closed Whitman and picked up Atlas Shrugged from his short stack of books. �Ugh, that�s even worse,� I muttered without thinking, and then shook my head. �God, sorry, I left my filter at home. Don�t listen to me.� His lip curled. �Is there anything in my collection you approve of?� A hot, smart asshole, I thought. Game on. �Sorry,� I said. �I�m not in a good mood today and it�s making me forget my manners. I�ll leave you to read your capitalist propaganda in peace.� The guy�s eyebrows shot up, disappearing under the blond hair that fell across his brow. �Not a fan of Rand either?� He smirked knowingly. �No, of course you aren�t.� My blood heated at his flippant tone. �What�s that supposed to mean?� The guy nodded at my textbook�Global Responsibility and the Third-World Hunger Epidemic�and shrugged, as if that answered everything. �Oh.� I frowned. �Well� yes. I mean, Rand�s point of view is purely capitalist and mine isn�t. Not by a long shot.� The student sitting to my right exchanged glances with the girl sitting across from him. Then both packed up their books and left. �We�re being disruptive,� I said to my across-table neighbor. �We need to stop talking now.� He leaned back in his chair, his eyes intent on me. �So what�s your point of view?� �My what?� �You said your point of view isn�t capitalist.� He raised a brow. �So what is it?� �Humanist, I suppose. Since you asked. I think everyone, regardless of race, creed, income-level, or sex should be granted the same shot as anyone else.� I raised a brow at him. �But you don�t?� �Are you asking me or telling me?� he said with a slight chuckle. �Since we�re tossing labels around, I�m a realist.� He held up his book. �And not a fan of Rand either.� �You�re not?� I leaned back too, crossing my arms. �Are you just messing with me or what?� �Maybe,� he said. �What do you care what I think anyway?� My mouth fell slack. �I don�t. Thanks for reminding me.� �No problem.� �Wow, you�re rude.� �That�s the word on the street.� �I can see why.� I lifted my own book up to signal conversation over, but my eyes wouldn�t focus. I could feel the hum of his presence like a field of electrical wires, getting under my skin and infiltrating my thoughts. The buzz went beyond distraction. It felt like a challenge had been laid down. And I never walked away from a challenge. I lowered my book to see the guy�s glance hide behind his book again. �Well?� I demanded. �Well what?� Why are you watching me? �Why are you reading Ayn Rand if you don�t like her either?� �Required reading for an English Lit minor.� �And your major? Let me guess, pre-law.� �God, no,� he said. I raised my eyebrows but he offered nothing more. �Are you going to make me run through Amherst�s list of majors until I guess which one is yours?� �Yes,� he said. �Alphabetically, please.� A laugh burst out of me against my will, and the guy almost smiled. Every one of his hard angles softened. �Economics,� he said. �But I don�t know what I�m doing with it.� �That feels like the most honest thing you�ve said to me so far,� I said. �And that�s important to you?� �Yes,� I said, my laughter dying away as I remembered Mark and that girl, naked in the bed I�d slept in just the night before. �Honesty is very important.� He lifted one shoulder. �You don�t agree?� I asked. �Being honest is sometimes mistaken for being rude.� �You must be really honest,� I said. Again, he almost smiled. �Must be.� Satisfied that I�d held my own against this beautiful but hostile member of the opposite sex, I went back to my book�for eight entire seconds before my skin started prickling again. The electric hum of his attention was impossible to ignore. When I looked up this time, he didn�t look away but cleared his throat. �I�m Weston Turner.�

Holy shit!!! How am I going to review this book with my heart laying broken on the ground? I'm in pieces right now. Emma Scott is one of those writers who makes you feel every emotion a thousand times over. She is a master at the angsty love story but I was still surprised by this book. I never saw the heartache coming. 

Abby is an Economics major that wants to do something good for humanity. She's petitioned Harvard to let her make up her won major when she goes to grad school. She's done with love after her boyfriend of two years humiliated her by cheating. But Abby is a hopeless romantic and believes in love so fully, she can't stop the attraction she feels for Connor. 

Connor is a rich, intoxicating guy that smiles all the time. You can't help but want to be near him. Then there's his best friend Weston who never smiles, is always brooding about something but Abby loves their conversations.

It is impossible to put into words the affect this book had on me. I was lost from page 1. I'm going to be holding my breath until the conclusion of this duet comes out. For now, I'll just remember the story of Abby, Conner and Weston with vivid detail that the amazing author Emma Scott brought to life for me.

      Emma Scott is a bestselling author of emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy thoughtful, realistic stories with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy my novels. NEWSLETTER | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK READER GROUP | AMAZON PAGE

Four Last First Dates by Kate O'Keefe {Blog Tour Review & Excerpt}

Four Last First Dates by Kate O'Keeffe Series: Cozy Cottage Caf� #4 Published by Wild Lime Books on August 9, 2018 Genres: Romantic Comedy

What do you do when you�ve agreed to a pact with your friends to get married, but neither you nor the guy in your sights is quite ready to fall in love? Bailey De Luca is the last of her friends to complete the Last First Date pact�to marry the next guy she dates. But lady luck must be in a bad mood, because so far, it's all come to nothing. Everywhere she looks people are in love. Everyone except her. Is she fundamentally unlovable? Or is it that she�s already found�and lost�The One? Whatever the reason, one thing's for sure: Bailey never expected to be alone at thirty. When one of her friends announces her engagement with a rock that could eclipse the sun, Bailey throws herself into a new business. Starting up Cozy Cottage Catering seems like the perfect way to bury her head in the sand. But fate has other ideas, and soon Bailey is swept off her feet by the oh-so cute Ryan Jones. Ryan may seem like the perfect combination of Prince Charming meets Thor (without the hammer), but is Bailey ready to be with him? Or will the ghost of her past love prevent her from finding happiness again? Escape to New Zealand in this fun, feel-good sweet romance. Books in the Cozy Cottage Caf� series: Book 1: One Last First Date Book 2: Two Last First Dates Book 3: Three Last First Dates Book 4: Four Last First Dates

The next �speed date� was so nondescript and dull, not even my list of probing and unusual
questions helped. And I wasn�t here for nondescript and dull. I was here to find �The One.�
Well, that was the plan at least.
As I sat half listening to Nondescript Guy carry on about how important his health was
and how he liked to have granola each morning to keep himself �regular��talking about
bowel movements on a date? Really?�I did my best to stifle a yawn.
I scanned the room. I could see Fake Jamie-slash-Fabio chatting up some new victim,
and Adam talking with Perky Blonde at the adjacent table. Marissa waved at me from the bar,
catching my eye. She shrugged, her palms face up as she nodded at my current �date.�
I gave my head one shake to indicate Nondescript Guy was a non-starter, and she
scrunched her face up.
I stole another glance at Ryan. He and Paige were deep in conversation, and he didn�t
look my way.
�. . . and you see, that�s why the flora of your gut is so important,� Nondescript Guy
said, an earnest look on his face. �Not a lot of people know that, but it�s vital for good
health.�
�Absolutely,� I replied, having no clue what he was talking about. Wasn�t flora a word
scientists used for plants? I thought remembered it vaguely from high school biology.
�I�m glad you understand. That�s important to me, to have a partner on the same health
journey as me.�
I blinked, unsure how to respond. A �health journey� didn�t exactly sound like
something I could get on board with. You see, I had a bit of a cake habit. Baking, eating, the
lot. And I had a great excuse�my caf� was known for its cakes. We always had a variety to
suit most tastes, even offering a couple of gluten-free options lately, too.
Although I�m not sure Nondescript Guy and his �health journey� would approve of
even those.
Fortunately, the bell sounded, so I didn�t have to pass comment. Instead, I smiled and
said, �Nice to meet you.�
He got up and moved on to Perky Blonde. I heaved a sigh of relief.
�Hello.�
I looked up to see a small, bespectacled man standing by my table. He was dressed in a
button-down shirt and khaki pants. He looked more than a little nervous.
�Hi,� I said brightly, trying to put him at ease. Although he didn�t look like they type of
guy I�d dated in the past, I knew I needed to keep an open mind. �Please, take a seat.�

�Oh, I err . . . okay.� He pulled a pad and pencil out from his back pocket and sat down
opposite me.
I glanced at his name tag. �Your name is Reg? Is that short for Reginald?�
He nodded. �Lieutenant Reginald Barclay the third, actually.�
Lieutenant? Very formal. He didn�t look much like a military man, with his slim frame
and lack of stature. But who was I to judge?
�Nice,� I said with a smile, trying not to let on what I was thinking.
�It�s not �nice.�� He scowled at me as though I�d insulted him. �Lieutenant Reginald
Barclay is the most underrated member of the Starship Enterprise.�
The what now?
�Oh.� Not for the first time tonight, I didn�t know quite what to say.
�It�s all Captain Kirk and Spock, the superstars of the series.�
�This is a Star Wars thing?�
�Star Wars?� he spat, his features forming a disapproving scowl.
You�d think I�d insulted his mother.
�Star Trek.� He shook his head, his lips forming a thin line. �Reginald is a crew
member of the Starship Enterprise.�
�Gotcha.� I didn�t at all.
�He needs his time in the spotlight, too, you know. He was a technical genius, not one
of those �look at me, I�m an alpha male� types.� He glared at me as though I was personally
responsible for this Reginald Whatshisname�s lack of superstar status. �Beta males are just as
important for the procreation of the species.�
I cleared my throat. Is this guy for real?
I glanced down at his notepad, landing on a way to move the conversation on. �You�ve
come prepared.�
�Yes, I . . . have some key questions I�m looking for answers to.�
�Okay,� I replied, steeling myself for what was to come.
He flipped the notepad open and studied his notes.
I waited and waited.
And waited.
I shot my friends a desperate look I hoped they could read. It went something like �get
me the heck out of here!�
�Ah, excuse me, Reg?�

He looked up at me as though I were some sort of irritation to him. �What?�
�We only have four minutes together. You know that, right?�
�Yes, yes.� He waved his hand in the air at me.
I knitted my eyebrows together. This was feeling less like a date and more like a visit to
the school principal.
�Aha!� he exclaimed, making me jump.
�You�ve found your question?�
�Yes, I have.�
�Great.�
�What is your bust measurement?�
My mouth dropped open. �My bust measurement?�
�Yes.� His tone was matter-of-fact tone. �Your bust measurement, otherwise known as
the circumference of your . . .err chestal area.� He made a circular motion in the air with his
hands.
I crossed my arms on the table in front of my �bust.� I cleared my throat. �Why do you
want to know that?�
�Because I assessed you as you arrived, and you have the proportions I am most
invested in.�
What? Invested? Proportions? What was this guy, a freaking mad scientist? Or, worse
yet, a serial killer?
�Invested in for a date?� I asked, really not wanting to know the answer.
�Of course!� he replied a little too loudly. �Why else would I be here? There isn�t any
other explanation. I�m here for the dating. I want to meet someone to date.�
I wasn�t buying it. I glanced down at his notepad. There were numbers scrawled over
the page. I let out a laugh, hoping to lighten the mood. �I don�t know. Maybe you�re doing
some research or something?�
He pursed his lips and glared at me. �Who said that?� His eyes darted around the room
in accusation.
I shifted in my seat. �Ah, me?�
He let out a puff of air. �I�m here for the dating, and as part of that, I would like to
know what your bust measurements is, thank you.�
To my astonishment, he half-stood and reached into his front pocket, pulling a blue
plastic measuring tape out in a long coil.

�You�re serious?� I guffawed. I shot a nervous look over at my friends. They all had
incredulous looks on their faces, watching the bizarre speed date with �Reg��allegedly the
most underrated of the Starship Enterprise crew�unfold before their eyes.
�I thought I�d made that clear already. Do you have an objection?�
I crossed my arms. �Actually, I do.�
His glasses slid down his nose, and he pushed them back up his face with his index
finger. �Well, in that case, I will need to hug you.�
�Hug me?�
This was getting more and more perverse.
�Yes. That way I can assess you, since my measuring tape appears to be so abhorrent to
you.� His tone suggested I was slow on the uptake and he needed to explain things more
clearly. �It won�t be as accurate, of course, but if you won�t provide me with your consent, I
shall have no choice.�
That was it. I�d had enough. I placed my hands palm-down on the table. �Look,
Reg�or whatever your actual name is. I�m not interested in being assessed or measured or
anything. So, can you please refrain from asking me again?�
He slumped in his chair. �But you�re the best one.�
�The best one for what?�
Why oh why did I have to ask?
He let out a puff of air. �I�m designing something, even if Father thinks it�s a �waste of
my education.�� He did air quotes, his face contorted in bitterness.
�What are you designing?�
My mouth was clearly disconnected from my brain at this point.
�The perfect woman, only robotic so she won�t have any of the challenges of a real
woman.�
Oh, no.
�She�s going to be incredible. Beautiful, loving, flexible, do whatever you want . . .�
I held my hands up. �Stop!� I�d heard more than enough. I slid out of my chair and
stood up.
Reginald Barclay III looked up at me in surprise. As I stepped around the table, he also
stood and attempted to swing his measuring tape around me.
I grabbed a hold of one end of it and snapped it away from him. �You have got to be
kidding me.� I smacked the tape down on the table, turned and walked away, just as the bell
sounded for the next round of �dates.�
But there would be no more �dates� for me. I�d had more than enough Jamie wannabes
and sicko mad scientist guys to last me a lifetime. I was done.

 It is no surprise to me, how much I fell for this book. I read all the last first date books, and I couldn't wait for this one to come out. This is Bailey's story and she is the last of the friends who made a pact to find their "Last First Dates".
Bailey runs the Cozy Cottage Cafe that all her friends drink coffee and eat cakes at. It is a place where the four ladies get together and discuss their careers, and men of course! When it comes to love Bailey knows that she promised her friends to give the last first date idea a chance, that's why she's doing the most horrible speed dating night of her life. However, Bailey's already had the love of her life in Dan her fianc�, who died almost 3 years ago today. She simply cannot imagine giving her heart to anybody else. 
These books are the perfect feel good romance to curl up with. I devoured it, with in hours. I would highly recommend it to all of you! 

About Kate O�Keeffe

Kate O�Keeffe is a bestselling author of fun, feel-good romantic comedies. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke�s Bay, New Zealand with her family, two scruffy dogs, and a cat who thinks he�s a scruffy dog too. He�s not: he�s a cat. When she�s not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), travelling to different countries, and eating chocolate. A lot of it.

Kate has written the Amazon bestsellers the Cozy Cottage Caf� series, the popular chick lit stories, the Wellywood Romantic Comedy series, as well as some standalone titles.

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Blog Tour organized by:

Back to You by Claudia Burgoa {Book Blog Tour}

Today we are celebrating the release of the second title in Claudia Burgoa's Chaotic Love duet! BACK TO YOU is now live and you can find links for the first book in the set, BEGIN WITH YOU, below.

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Back to You by Claudia Burgoa

Chaotic Love, #2

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Synopsis:

 

For the first time in his life, Wes Ahern has encountered something�someone�he can't fix. Not with his hands, his words, not even with his love.

His head tells him Abby had to get out of Colorado to heal from the nightmare that nearly took her from him. To mend her wounded body, piece her broken spirit back together, and find out who she is behind the mask she felt forced to wear. His first instinct was always to protect her. Still is. But as he faces his own pain, an agonizing realization dawns: that while he needs her more than his next breath, the best place for her may not be with him. Because while he always had her back, the secrets they kept�even from each other�have the power to destroy them. When their paths cross again, will their souls still recognize each other? Note: Back to You is the conclusion of the Chaotic Love Duet. Often dark and sometimes jarring, this book also contains references to childhood trauma, rape, kidnapping, and PTSD.

My heart is still beating so fast since I finished reading the conclusion of the Chaotic Love Duet by Claudia Burgoa. As you all know by now, she is one of my favorite authors but this series blew me away. There was just enough angst, emotional and heartbreak to reel me in and keep me up till all hours of the night trying to finish it. With a big cup of coffee, I made it through in the wee hours of the morning. I gotta to say, I WANT MORE!! I simply adored Wes and Abby. 

Without spoiling this duet with too much inside information, part two picks up with Abby in trouble and Wes understandably feeling lost and hopeless as to what to do for her. These two have been through so much together but when it comes to the down and dirty stuff, they both seem to choose to hide what they feel from the other. 

"Abby, I can't lose you. What about us?
She hiccups and sobs at the same time. "There can't be an us when I don't even have a me. I have to fix myself first.
I'm about to speak when she continues. "Every day I find myself trying to be the person you'd want to be with. And I just can't do that anymore. You're in love with the girl I fabricated to make you happy. Not the real me.

The best part of this novel is that it isn't just a romance. This novel is about more than that. It is about real friendship and being there for someone even when it is difficult. It is about family and what makes people love one another. Lastly, it is about fear of moving on from trauma. Starting over after a horrific event is almost impossible. How does one begin to find themselves and love themselves when no one ever really knew who they were?

I can not express enough how easy it is to love the story of Abby and Wes. Pick up "Begin With You" first, so you don't miss anything. Then dive into "Back To You" to read the amazing conclusion. The ending still has me in tears when I think about it. This duet should be a bestseller!

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Begin with You by Claudia Burgoa

Chaotic Love, #1 - Available Now

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Claudia is an award-winning, international bestselling author. She lives in Colorado working for a small IT company, managing her household filled with three confused dogs, two daughters wrought with fandoms and a son who thinks he�s the boss of the house. And a wonderful husband who shares her love for all things geek. To survive she works continually to find purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she consumes high quantities of chocolate to keep the last threads of sanity intact.  

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