COVER REVEAL: "The Heartbeat Hypothesis" by Lindsey Freeman (New Adult, Contemporary Romance)

THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS by Lindsey Frydman
	Publisher: Entangled: Embrace Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance Publication Date: March 20th 2017
Description from Publisher:
Audra Madison simply wanted to walk in the shoes of Emily Cavanaugh, a free-spirited teenager who died too young. After all, Audra wasn’t supposed to be here. Thanks to Emily, Audra has a second chance at life. She’s doing all the things that seemed impossible just two years ago: Go to college. Date. Stargaze in the Rocky Mountains. Maybe get a tattoo. You know, live. Jake Cavanaugh, a photographer with mysterious, brooding gray eyes, agrees to help chronicle her newfound experiences. She makes him laugh, one of the only people who can these days. As they delve into each other’s pasts – and secrets – the closer they become. But she’s guarded and feels like she can’t trust anyone, including herself. And he’s struggling with the fact that his beloved sister’s heart beats inside her.

About the Author: Lindsay Frydman
Lindsey has been writing since she was nine years old, when she discovered the awesomeness that is Harriet the Spy. Her books always include a romance, though sometimes there’s an added sci-fi or magical realism twist. She lives in Columbus, Ohio (where the weather is never quite right). Her BFA in Photography and Graphic Design has granted her a wide assortment of creative knowledge that serves as inspiration (and not much else). When she’s not crafting YA and NA stories, you'll likely find her spending waaay too much time on Pinterest, playing a video game, singing show-tunes, or performing in a burlesque show—because she enjoys giving her introversion a worthy adversary. (Plus, it's the closest to Broadway she’ll ever get.) Lindsey was a proud 2016 Pitch Wars Mentee and thoroughly adores being a part of the wonderful writing community. THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS is her debut novel.

REVIEW: "Undeclared" by Julianna Keyes (New Adult, Romance)

UNDECLARED by Julianna Keyes
	Publisher: Julianna Keyes Genre: New Adult, Romance Publication Date: February 27th 2017 Series: Burnham College, #2 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Reformed Player, Childhood friends, Friends with Benefits, Best Friends to Lovers, Second Chance Romance
Other Books by Julianna Keyes
#1
Description from Publisher:
Kellan McVey is Burnham College’s most prolific athlete, partier, and ladies’ man—and that’s just how he likes it. Returning to reign for his third year, he wants nothing to change. Then Andrea Walsh shows up. It wasn’t too long ago that Andi and Kellan were lifelong friends, mortal enemies, and, for one hot summer, more. Then Kellan left and Andi stayed behind. Kellan thought he’d moved past that last summer’s heartbreak, but with Andi sitting next to him in class, befriending his friends, and battling for the same once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity, he’s starting to remember why he hated her…and why he loved her. Kellan has a long list of reasons that falling for Andi again is a terrible idea, though every new moment together challenges that theory. But Andi’s all too familiar with Kellan’s love ’em and leave ’em approach—and she’s found someone else to get serious about. Burnham’s campus king has never had to fight for a girl, but if he wants Andi to give him another chance, he’ll have to do the one thing he’s never had the nerve to do: admit it.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
My Musings:
This was such a sweet and real romance! I loved every minute and just how rich everything was. It's a more realistic romance than many in the genre - in an oh-so-good way. I really liked and enjoyed Andi's character. She was stubborn and very relatable, especially for someone like me who isn't especially "girly." Kellan was a pleasure and I liked getting inside his head. He is a bit thick but loveable anyway. The way that this was all from his perspective worked really well with the story, and I feel like Keyes did an excellent job of capturing the tone of a male voice without being crude or juvenile. I also liked how well-rounded this was, overall. Kellan doesn't just go to class - his class subjects blend into the story like they would in real life, inspiring new ways of looking at things going on in his life. His friends aren't just friends, supporting him - they are multi-dimensional people with their own lives going on, but not in a distracting way. For those of us who read the first book, Undecided, we get little updates on what Crosbie and Nora are up to in subtle and occasional mentions. The "second-chance" aspect, as well as the "chilhood friends reunited" aspect, are really well done. I really liked the way Kellan and Andi's history is shared with us and the way he is trying to figure out how and why he feels the way he does, and how to talk to her. It felt very genuine and there was the perfect amount of showing without too much "telling." Overall, I really, really liked this! I know there may not be anymore in this series, but I wouldn't mind getting a Dane or Choo story eventually!
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

About the Author: Julianna Keyes
Julianna Keyes is a Canadian writer who has lived on both coasts and several places in between. She's been skydiving, bungee jumping and white water rafting, but nothing thrills - or terrifies - her as much as the blank page. She loves Chinese food, foreign languages, baseball and television, not necessarily in that order, and will go to her grave swearing that 'ain't' is not a word. She has volunteered in Zambia, taught English in China, and dreams of seeing pink dolphins in the Amazon. It'll happen.

REVIEW: "Almost a Bride" by Jo Watson (Contemporary Romance, Rom Com)

ALMOST A BRIDE by Jo Watson
	Publisher: Forever Genre: Contemporary Romance, Rom Com Publication Date:January 31st 2017 Series: Destination Love, #2 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Love Abroad, Fake Dating, Creatives in Love
Other Books by Jo Watson
Destination Love #1 Destination Love #3
Description from Publisher:
That awkward moment you catch your boyfriend in bed with another woman and then mistakenly get arrested #chargesdropped Annie knows life isn't always fair. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you get mistaken for a crazed intruder when you come home early and find your boyfriend wearing nipple clamps with a coworker on the night you thought he was going to propose to you. The important thing is to move on, and for Annie that means treating herself to a tropical vacation. But when she runs into her ex and his new woman staying at the same resort, reason is washed out to sea. Caught off guard, Annie pretends she's with Chris, a cute screenwriter she meets on the beach. With his own writing blocked, Chris is happy to help Annie craft a story to save face. Soon Annie isn't just getting over her ex, she's getting under Chris. As her fictional feelings grow increasingly real, Annie has to decide if she's ready to risk her heart on a new relationship.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
My Musings:
If you love some good laugh-out-loud moments with your romance, you will LOVE this! I certainly enjoyed the fun, tongue-in-cheek humor laced throughout this really fantastic story. :) Chris is a screenwriter who is staying at a tropical resort, hoping to overcome his writer's block. Annie is a woman who is on a vacation trying to get away from wallowing over the fact that she found her boyfriend (who she was so sure was about to propose!) having some kinky sex with his business partner. But she can't get away from them because they happen to be staying at the same resort... So Chris, practically a stranger, steps in and pretends to be her boyfriend. Chris and Annie both grow so much from start to finish in this, becoming better and happier versions of themselves, which is really just such an absolute joy to watch! I loved Chris's vulnerability and just how much of a sweetheart he was... and yet also how snarky he could be. Annie gets stronger and more confident, and you seriously cannot help but root for her plucky character. 'Cause, honestly, who can't relate at least a bit to how she handles things with her ex? The setting of this was wonderful, and I really liked that Annie was from South Africa, and that they went to Mauritius. As with everything else with this story, it was just different enough to be intersting while still being relatable. Their chemistry is hot & steamy, and undeniable basically from the first moment they meet. Add to that their adorably sweet moments and you've got a solid romance. There are some pretty outrageous things that happen in this, and it reminded me a lot of the Rom Coms "Just Go With It" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". The hi-jinx are so vivid and well-described that you can see them happening right in front of you and have no problem suspending a bit of disbelief. The only real criticism that I have of this is that it did drag a bit after the vacation is over. Though I won't deny that that also may have been because I was so impatient for these two to get their acts together. :) This is funny, sweet, and sexy, with some wonderful build-up and an amusing story. Definitely on that I would recommend!!
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Jo Watson
Award-winning writer of romantic comedies. Collector of colorful, kitsch things that usually sparkle. Adidas addict, Depeche Mode devotee and proud Wattpad writer! Jo loves telling stories and above everything, considers herself a storyteller- no matter what the medium. After graduating with an honors degree in theater, she has worked in numerous creative fields. She's mainly worked as a TV script writer and storyliner, she has written, directed and produced theater, adverts and film and has worked as a copywriter. She didn't intend on becoming an author and "accidentally" wrote her first book, Burning Moon, two years ago. And the rest, as they say, is history. When Jo is not writing, she is binge watching TV, contemplating the nature of entangled particles and blackholes and hanging out with her husband and son on the Southern tip of Africa.