SECOND SENTENCE SATURDAY is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jess of From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab the novel/novella your currently reading or previously read
Open to the first page of Chapter 1 or its Prologue
Share the SECOND sentence from that page
Share the novel/novella's title & its author, so that other participants can add that novel to their TBR Lists if they want
John's friends rallied around him, crowding on either side, but however supportive they might be, John would be the only one climbing into the roped-off ring.
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT to share either the link to your own SECOND SENTENCE SATURDAY post or share the sentence in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thank You!
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon: Paperback - Pages: 354; Kindle Edition - File Size: 1400 KB | Expected Release Date: December 6, 2016 | Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca | Obtained: NetGalley
"Sweet Southern Bad Boy" [Harmony Homecomings Series, Book 3] by Michele Summers
Author's Book Description :Katie McKnight loves her job. Not really. But Katie loves her dad and this job means everything to him. Which is why she's scouting for the perfect house to film a mini-series…and that house happens to be in Harmony, NC. Now if only Katie can convince the grouchy, disheveled but totally hunky owner his home is perfect for the next teen craze, she’ll be in business.
Bestselling author, Vance Kerner has lost his mind along with his loafers and the notes to his next novel, under dirty dishes in his kitchen. Since babysitting his brother’s three kids, Vance hasn’t found a moments peace. So when California Katie knocks on his door, Vance doesn’t stop to ask questions. He simply yanks her inside and puts her in charge.
Katie agrees to babysit, if Vance allows her film crew access to his property. Vance agrees to keep an open mind as long as he gets the peace he needs to write.
But having Katie underfoot is anything but peaceful. And Vance is finding less and less time to write and more and more time to watch Katie weave a lovely spell on all the Kerners...especially him.
Can these two opposites find a common ground and the love they both deserve?
My Book Review :4 out of 5 stars!! Katie (Kathryn) has been called a free-spirit most of her life, though the term wasn’t one of endearment and it was something she always tried to curb because of her parents domineering ways. Therefore, when she meets Vance it is under the guise of trying to have him sign a contract so she’ll have the rights to use his house and land in one of her father’s upcoming movie productions as an attempt to get into good light with her Dad. Yet what seems so simple at first, turns into controlled chaos when Vance and Katie get into another arrangement all together. Now with their lives pushed together, they find shared common ground, shared passions, but what will happen with them once their deadline arrives and their arrangement ends? Will they find that being together is truly where their hearts are at, or is moving on best for the both of them?
An unexpected delight that knocked me out of left field. I had been hearing about this novel non-stop for a while, and because I really enjoyed Ms. Summers’ "Not So New In Town" (Book 2), I was excited to check this novel out too. Yet though it had the charming dynamic, I anticipated from a Ms. Summers novel I was surprised when the plot hits you sideways and takes you on a ride that you didn’t foresee coming. All in all, after the paced picked up after the beginning, I became enchanted with this story of “women power” and having Katie find that true family is one who cares for you no matter what, even if they aren’t blood related.
Although I say all of that, Pirate Man and California Cupcake, i.e. Vance and Katie REALLY steal the show. It’s not just their instant attraction or the way they ARE the main characters, I mean they both have a vivacious quality about them they was compelling to read about; even during times when I struggled reading through parts. In addition, I liked how both Vance and Katie turned around their circumstances, which from my perspective made them both very powerful characters. It doesn’t hurt that they are just perfect for one another … I mean … come on. 😉
What also sealed the deal for this novel, for me, was being back in Harmony, North Carolina. It has a crazy cast of characters, yes, but you cannot help but wish you could find a way to visit all of them too. PLUS, the updates on the previous characters were fun too!
Overall, I recommend this novel to those who are fans of the Harmony Homecomings Series, fans of Ms. Summers, and/or are looking for a quirky contemporary romance!
Vance got busy scribbling his information on a piece of scrap paper. "I'm actually pretty good with kids," she said, smiling, hoping to reassure him---and herself---as he handed her the paper. "You, on the other hand, have the handwriting of a psychopath," she murmured, trying to make out his chicken scratch. "Is that a five or an eight?" ~ within Chapter 1
Katie held her breath, wondering how she'd ended up here. And when she meant here, she meant inside this beautiful but oh-so-masculine bedroom with Harmony's hottie playboy standing so close she only had to sway a half inch and her back would be touching his well-defined front. Holy cliffhanger. ~ within Chapter 6
Book Preview(s) :
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Michele, then please check out her Amazon Acct.
"Fall With Me" [Sixth Street Bands Series, Book 2] by Jayne Frost
Author's Book Description :
As the bassist for the band Caged, the last three years have been one, long non-stop party. Sure, I’ve had some regrets. Everyone does. But getting trapped in a relationship isn’t one of them. I know good and well what happens when the attraction fades. I’ve seen it first hand. Love is a zero sum game, so why play? As long as I’m upfront about my feelings, no one gets hurt. Besides, I’m never in one place long enough to worry about tomorrow.
That is, until the band decided to take an extended hiatus in our hometown. That’s when I met Melody Sullivan. She’s the full-package. Whip smart and beautiful, with enough determination to take on anything life has in store. And the best part? Melody shares my philosophy on the fleeting nature of attraction. She doesn’t buy into the whole “happily ever after” crap anymore than I do. We’re perfect for each other. For now. And now is all I want.
With the expectations off the table, I can let my guard down and enjoy her company until the spark dies. And we both know it will. In a week, or a month. But until then, we’ll just keep having fun. The good kind, with lots of sex and no strings attached. And when it’s time to move on, we will. No drawn out goodbyes and no remorse.
That’s the plan, at least.
My Book Review :4.5 out of 5 stars!! During an “inconspicuous” visit to a local burger joint, Christian, the bassist for the famous rock band Caged, meets Melody (Mel). Their meeting is very unceremonious (except the fact that Melody gets fired) but when they unexpectedly meet up again at a local college’s science library their shared interests spark a fire in one another that explodes into something more. Yet even though they both know the score, will they want to give one another up when the time comes to finally go their separate ways?
This is a heartwarming tale. 💖 It kept me intrigued from the very beginning with the grouchy Minnie Mouse and silly Batman, then even more so with the way Christian became undoubtingly hooked on Melody and her snarky ways. In addition, I loved the way Ms. Frost integrated the other important secondary characters from her Sixth Street Bands Series into “Fall With Me” giving us fun updates while letting us get more info about some characters we still are learning about.
What sealed my enjoyment about this novel the most was Melody and Christian, of course. From how they shared the same intellectual passions to how they never let their different living situations bother them to how they ended up truly caring for one another … I was enchanted! Christian and Melody are such a great pair that I wish I could get to read more about them somehow. Their novel is a “nerdy” rockstar romance and they make it just so sweet.
I recommend it to those who are fans of Ms. Frost and/or are looking for a unique spicy contemporary rockstar romance.
-- On a side note --
Also, though it’s part of a series this novel can be read as a standalone too. 😉
"There's really no excuse for you, sweetheart," I deadpanned. Sweetheart? I wasn't sure if she had a heart---sweet or otherwise. But she damn sure tasted sweet. Cherry lip balm lingered on my lips from the searing kiss, the memory of her velvet tongue sending a tingle to the base of my spine.
Seizing the moment, and her blessed silence, I slid my hand into hers. "You're rude, arrogant, and presumptuous, just like I said. But you're also kind of cute. So I guess I'll let you buy me a cup of coffee and tell me all about your research." ~ within Chapter 2
Book Preview(s) :
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Jayne, then please check out her Amazon Acct.
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