Mini Reviews: Once Upon a Bride & Merrily Ever After by Jenny Holiday

Once Upon a Bride

Author: Jenny Holiday
Series: Bridesmaids Behaving Badly, book 0.5
Publisher: Jenny Holiday (October 9, 2018)
Goodreads     |     Amazon

USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday’s hilarious prequel to her acclaimed Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series!

Jay Smith likes to be in control. His every choice, every move, is made with his carefully planned future in mind. Sure, some people think that’s boring. But Jay knows who he is, and he makes no apologies for it. So when the lobby in his accounting firm needs a makeover, Jay takes charge—and quickly determines he needs a designer. What he does not need is a woman who tempts him to break all his long-held rules.

Elise Maxwell needs this job. After cutting off her overbearing, old-money family, she’s determined to establish a successful design business—all on her own. Independent for the first time in her life, Elise isn’t looking for a boyfriend. She certainly doesn’t want someone telling her what to do.

Until she meets Jay…

Merrily Ever After

Author: Jenny Holiday
Series: Bridesmaids Behaving Badly, book 2.5
Publisher: Forever Yours (December 4, 2018)
Goodreads     |     Amazon

Elise Maxwell is loving her first Christmas with her husband, Jay Smith. So far, newlywed life has been filled with laughter and lots of steamy marital "bliss." But when Elise discovers she's accidentally, against-all-odds pregnant, happily-ever-after screeches to a halt. Although she sees it as a Christmas miracle, Elise knows her new husband might not agree...

Jay never wanted to be a father. In fact, he's avoided it his entire life, worried he'd repeat the patterns of his own messed-up childhood. He's madly in love with Elise and, until now, he thought they were on the same page about not having children. But her surprise pregnancy changes everything. Elise is suddenly committed to parenthood, and Jay knows he can't lose her. Facing his deepest fears will be difficult, but with a little holiday magic, Jay might be able to prove to Elise that - as a family - they're destined to live merrily ever after.

Blog Tour: A Duke Changes Everything by Christy Carlyle (Review, Excerpt)

In the first novel in Christy Carlyle’s sizzling Duke’s Den series, three men, intent on making a fortune, discover irresistible opportunities . . .

Nicholas Lyon gambled his way into a fortune and ownership of the most opulent, notorious gentlemen’s club in England. But when Nick’s cruel brother dies, he inherits a title he never wanted. The sooner Nick is rid of the estate that has always haunted him, the sooner he can return to the life he’s built in London. But there’s one obstacle—the exquisite Thomasina Thorne.

When the new heir to the Tremayne dukedom suddenly appears in Mina Thorne’s life, she’s flustered. Not only is he breathtakingly handsome, but he’s also determined to take away her home and position as steward of the Enderley estate. If Mina learns what makes the enigmatic duke tick, perhaps she can change his mind—as long as she doesn’t get too close to him.

With each day Nick spends with Mina, his resolve weakens as their colliding wills lead to explosive desire. Could she be the one woman who can help him finally bury the ghosts of his past?

About the Book

A Duke Changes Everything
by Christy Carlyle
Series
The Duke’s Den (Each story is a standalone.)
Genre
Adult
Historical Romance
Publisher
Avon Books
Publication Date
November 27, 2018
Purchase Your Copy Today!
Amazon  |  Avon Romance  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Google Play  |  iBooks

COVER REVEAL! The Dating Alternative by Jennifer Woodhull (Excerpt, Giveaway)

Today Jennifer Woodhull and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover and an exclusive content for THE DATING ALTERNATIVE, her New Adult Contemporary Romance which releases December 26, 2018! Check out the awesome cover and enter the giveaway! I love this cover and personally *can not wait* to read this book, which releases on December 26th. ♥  

On to the reveal! 

Title: THE DATING ALTERNATIVE

Author: Jennifer Woodhull

Pub. Date: December 26, 2018

Publisher: Jennifer Woodhull

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 288

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

Brie picked the wrong guy—gave him the wrong finger. 

When her fiance walks out three weeks before their wedding, she slowly picks up the pieces with the help of her friends. A serial monogamist, she's not quite ready to start dating again. There are some things she misses about having a boyfriend, though. Her friends convince her to try something more casual. Random hookups have never been her thing. When a guy she has flirted with for a while offers his services to solve her dilemma, she can't help but be intrigued. Now she's trying to keep things casual, but when she's wrapped in his arms, it's hard to remember she's not supposed to be falling for him. 

Max has had a few hookups since he split with his last girlfriend. Lately, though, he feels like something is missing. He has crushed on the girl he affectionately calls Cheese for years, but the timing was never right. When he finds out they're finally single at the same time, he is poised to make his move. Unfortunately, she's only looking for something physical. Of course, Max is happy to oblige, but the more time they spend together, the more certain he becomes that she's the perfect girl for him. 

He pulls out all the stops, and just when he's about to make his move from the friends-with-benefits zone to serious dating, Brie completely ghosts on him. Now he has to figure out if she has really walked away, or if something more serious is keeping him from the girl of his dreams. 

Funny, sexy, and satisfying, The Dating Alternative is a standalone new adult/contemporary romance. 

Chapter 1 Excerpt – Sabrina

As I lay on the bed, wearing my ex-fiancé’s t-shirt and remembering the night he left me six months ago, I realize that tears are slipping silently down my cheeks.

I’ve done reasonably well, too. The first week, I was catatonic. The first month, I was practically a zombie. In those days, even showering on my day off had been a challenge. Within a couple of months, though, I was doing better. By the ninety-day mark, I could be mistaken for someone who hadn’t been virtually left at the altar.

Now, lying on the bed six months after Grant had thrown away our life together, I was almost indiscernible from a normal girl. Looking at me most days, you would never know that my life had been ripped apart by an exotic Olympian named Isabel and my former fiancé, Grant.

I sit up, realizing how far I’d come since that night. I put the back of my hand up to one cheek, then the other. No more. That asshole doesn’t get another single tear from me. Control-G-Delete.

About Jennifer:

Jennifer Woodhull is based in the Southern United States, spending time in her second home of England, and traveling as often as she can. Her love of travel permeates her work, and her characters often find themselves exploring new and foreign surroundings.

A keen observer of human behavior, Jennifer often draws inspiration from something as simple as a fleeting connection, or the glimpse of a unique trait or characteristic. Her favorite place to write is on airplanes.

"The drone of the engine, the scores of people, all traveling to something or from something, and being disconnected from digital distractions are a combination that provide the perfect place to write," she says. "If you see a woman in seat 9F who is balancing her Macbook on her lap because it's time to close your tray table, please have patience. I'm just trying to finish one more sentence."

Join Jennifer’s Newsletter!

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Giveaway Details:

5 lucky winners will receive an finished copy of THE DATING ALTERNATIVE, US Only.

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Blog Tour: The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (Review, Excerpt)

She was in the wrong place…

Fiercely independent and adventurous, Poppy Bridgerton will only wed a suitor whose keen intellect and interests match her own. Sadly, none of the fools from her London season qualify. While visiting a friend on the Dorset coast, Poppy is pleasantly surprised to discover a smugglers’ hideaway tucked inside a cave. But her delight turns to dismay when two pirates kidnap her and take her aboard a ship, leaving her bound and gagged on the captain’s bed…

He found her at the wrong time…

Known to society as a rascal and reckless privateer, Captain Andrew James Rokesby actually transports essential goods and documents for the British government. Setting sail on a time-sensitive voyage to Portugal, he’s stunned to find a woman waiting for him in his cabin. Surely, his imagination is getting the better of him. But no, she is very real—and his duty to the Crown means he’s stuck with her. 

Can two wrongs make the most perfect right?

When Andrew learns that she is a Bridgerton, he knows he will likely have to wed her to avert a scandal—though Poppy has no idea that he is the son of an earl and neighbor to her aristocratic cousins in Kent. On the high seas, their war of words soon gives way to an intoxicating passion. But when Andrew’s secret is revealed, will his declaration of love be enough to capture her heart…?

About the Book

The Other Miss Bridgerton
by Julia Quinn
Series
A Bridgertons Prequel (Jump to the Series on Amazon)
Genre
Adult
Historical Romance
Publisher
Avon Books
Publication Date
November 20, 2018
Purchase Your Copy Today!
Amazon  |  Bridgertons Series on Amazon  |  Avon Romance  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Google Play  |  iBooks

2019 Beat the Backlist TBR

First things first: Beat the Backlist is a year long challenge, the focus of which is knocking older books off your to-read list. They can be any genre, any format, any length. There are just a few rules:

* The book must have been published in 2018 or earlier to count. It can be in any format (including an ARC/eARC) as long as the release date is earlier than 2019. 
* You have to start and finish the book in 2019 to count it. Any books started in 2018 and finished in 2019 do not count. Any books started in 2019 and finish in 2020 also do not count. 

* The challenge runs from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019

Sign up here if you're interested. This post also has a lot more info about the challenge and an FAQ and graphics and fun stuff like that. :) 

This year I'm participating in the Hogwarts House mini challenge as part of Hufflepuff house. You can read more about that here. 

I didn't do great in 2018 at the Beat the Backlist challenge, but that's partially because I set all sorts of weird extra perimeters around it for myself, mostly around only counting books I already owned physical copies of before the challenge started. I think my idea was trying to conquer Book Mountain (which is what I call the physical TBR shelves that are taking over my bedroom, which at least count contained 411 books - this is just physical books I own on my TBR and does not include ebooks or rereads... URGH). Not only did I NOT read many books from Book Mountain, the thing managed to GROW AND MUTATE over the year. Like, a LOT. 

ANYHOO. In 2019 I'm doing the challenge *as intended* thankyouverymuch, which is convenient because I'm so behind on ARCs that I have about 50 past due ones for books published in 2017 and 2018 that will also count for this challenge in 2019. SO BONUS, I can also use #BeatTheBacklist2019 to conquer my past due ARCs as well as Book Mountain, MWAHAHAHHAHAHA!

My goal for Beat the Backlist 2019 is 100 books (I know, lofty goals, right?) and to kick things off I put together a super tentative TBR list. This list is comprised almost entirely of past due ARCs (some aren't quite past due yet, but by the time 2019 rolls around they will be!) and books I purchased off Book Outlet and never read. That's right, I am a book dragon, sitting gloriously atop my hoard. ALL SHALL LOVE ME AND DESPAIR! I've created a Goodreads shelf for #2019BeatTheBacklist and my TBR is also below, if you want to see what I'm going to try to knock out. This is more just guidelines than actual rules, of course, and there's no way I'm getting through ALL of these, but the list does give me at least some sort of place to focus. :) 

How about you? Are you going to be a part of the Beat the Backlist challenge for 2019? How about the Hogwarts House mini challenge? If so, what house are you?
(My TBR list is under the cut, so click to read more if you got here on my main page, because it's loooooong.)

Discussion: 2019 Reading Challenges

I can't believe 2018 is almost over - where the heck did the year go? Of course with the end of the year approaching, sign ups for 2019 reading challenges are popping up all over the place. I feel like I over committed myself in 2018 and thus didn't quite do as great as I could have on any of the challenges, so I'm going to be more selective for 2019 and just commit to THREE challenges - two reading challenges and one blogging one.

Goodreads

There is, of course, the obligatory Goodreads challenge. For 2019 I'm setting mine at 150 books and LEAVING IT THERE, DANGIT. This year I hit my goal early and increased it, and while I'm probably on track to still hit my increased goal of 175 by the end of the year, I'm going to set it and forget it at 150. That's plenty of books, me! That's actually a really high goal, but I'm going to need it that high to reach the goal for my next challenge, which is...

Beat the Backlist

I did NOT do well at all on this one this year, but I'd also set myself a really weirdly specific set of side rules, specifically I was going to try to use this challenge to defeat my book mountain (which I know now is 411 physical books living in my bedroom...) This year I'm going to do the Beat the Backlist challenge as written and count all books published 2018 and earlier, so it will include my physical book mountain as well as that giant backlog of ARCs I need to conquer (which I've come to think of as digital book mountain...) and trying to cram as many Kindle Unlimited books in as a I can before my membership runs out at the end of February! I am going to smash this one out of the park this year, and I'm setting my goal at a whopping 100 books! (I'll do a separate blog post later with at least a partial TBR, but it's not going to have ALL of the books I have because my pool will have 65+ egalleys, over 400 physical books, plus a heckuva lot of KU books...)

If you're interested in this one, sign ups are open here.

Discussion Challenge

(hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight) I really enjoyed participating in the 2018 Discussion Challenge this year (#LetsDiscuss2018, even though I forgot to use the hashtag literally EVERY TIME I share a post...) and I think it pushed me to grow as a blogger beyond just posting book reviews, blog tours, and cover reveals. I don't see an official sign up open yet, but considering it looks like Nicole and Shannon have been hosting this challenge for a few years I'm hopeful that it'll be going on again in 2019, and I'm looking forward to participating again in 2019. ♥

Of course, I'll sign up for shorter challenges and readathons as they come up, but there are going to be the big year long ones I sign up for, and I am CUTTING MYSELF OFF AT THESE THREE, DANGIT.

Do you do official reading challenges? Which ones are you signing up for? And HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?!

Book Review: The Boyfriend Game by Stella Starling

The Boyfriend Game

Author: Stella Starling
Series: #BOYFRIENDSBYBLOVED, book 1
Publisher: ? (July 24, 2018)
Kindle edition, 302 pages (Kindle Unlimited)
Goodreads     |     Amazon

Summary
Fake boyfriends for a week? Yes, please. 

Carter Olson never expected he’d get a chance to date his older brother’s best friend, Rip Taylor.
Wished for it? Yes.
Fantasized about it? Possibly too much.
But ever thought it would actually happen? Not in a million years, since Rip is straight. But even if it’s just to try and win a gay game show, having Rip for a boyfriend—even a temporary/pretend one—is still the best thing to happen to Carter in... well, ever.
Especially because Rip’s so good at it.
Amazingly good, actually.
So good that Carter starts to hope that maybe it won’t have to end once the show’s over…

If there are two things Rip Taylor lives for, they’re having fun and being there for his friends, so a trip to Vegas to help surprise his best friend’s girlfriend with a big, flashy proposal sounds awesome. And even more fun? His bestie's plan to try and win some prize money for the wedding by signing the two of them up as contestants on the The Boyfriend Game.
The game show is sponsored by the gay dating app bLoved, and Rip is all in. He may be straight, but he's never been narrow, and when circumstances (a.k.a. a best friend who can't hold his tequila) mean that little Carter Olson gets roped into being Rip's fake boyfriend instead, that’s almost better… because who wouldn’t be able to be a convincing boyfriend to Carter?
After all, Carter’s hella sweet.
Kind of adorable, actually.
And really, really easy to get into character with…

Winning The Boyfriend Game? Rip and Carter have it in the bag.

The Boyfriend Game is a gay romance novel of approximately 75,000 words that contains some confusion about tops and bottoms, a straight guy who realizes he isn’t, an ice cube that melts much too fast, and the kind of luck that can only be found in Vegas. Every Stella Starling romance takes place in the same interconnected, contemporary world. The Boyfriend Game is a standalone book with cameos from other Stella Starling stories, a #boyfriendsbybLoved spinoff that takes place around the time of the epilogue from Ready For Love (Book One of the Semper Fi series).