REVIEW: "Public Relations" by Katie Heaney & Arianna Rebolinito (Chick Lit, Romance)

PUBLIC RELATIONS by Katie Heaney & Arianna Rebolinito
	Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Genre: New Adult, Chick Lit Publication Date: May 9th 2017 Standalone: Yes
Description from Publisher:
Young PR star Rose Reed is thrown into the big leagues when her boss leaves town the day of the firm's meeting with Archie Fox, a young, hot, internationally famous British singer-songwriter. The meeting is going badly until Rose suggests a staged romance with up-and-coming, young indie star Raya. He'll do it, but only if Rose becomes his publicist. As the faux-mance begins to rehabilitate Archie's faltering career, Rose finds his herself having unexpected, inconvenient and definitely unprofessional feelings for the crooner. But do late night texts and impromptu burrito binges mean he feels the same? In the end, Rose will have to decide whether to let her fantasy crush go, or to risk her reputation to be with the charming, handsome, scoundrel-y but sweet pop star she's grown to love.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
I thought that this was cute and sweet, with a bit of sexy. Less a romance and more of a chick lit. I liked the PR angle a lot, and would have enjoyed a more in-depth look at that, especially involving Archie. The Raya aspect was interesting and felt mostly realistic. I wanted more Archie though, for multiple reasons, including the fact that he seemed like a great character and because he was Rose's love interest. The guy Rose goes on a fee dates with, Neil, and how far things went with him felt unnecessary. I wanted more cute and sexy moments where the chemistry between Archie and Rose was undeniable. I feel that this really needed the couple to be together sooner than 80% in. And/or this would have benefited from having dual POV where we knew how Archie felt. Until the dinner Archie cooks, there was nothing overtly flirty or romantic enough between them to do much to showcase their chemistry. Overall, this seemed a bit slow and like we were in Rose's head too much for while.
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.

REVIEW: "Tracking You" by Kelly Moran (Contemporary Romance)

TRACKING YOU by Kelly Moran
	Publisher: Kensington Books: Lyrical Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: May 23rd 2017 Series: Redwood Ridge, #2 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Best Friends to Lovers, Non-traditional Protagonist (deaf hero), Animal lovers (vet/vet tech), Slow burn
Other Books by Kelly Moran
Redwood Ridge #1   Redwood Ridge #3 TBR 9/26/2017
Description from Publisher:
Love isn't always loud. Sometimes it's silent. Gabby Cosette has always been dubbed the good girl of quaint Redwood Ridge, Oregon, and being permanently put in the friend zone has left her dating life stagnant. With no prospects in sight, she clings to her friends and resolves to not let loneliness drag her under. So when the town Battleaxes set their matchmaking sights on her, she figures it can't hurt. Yet the guy they think is perfect for her just happens to be not only her boss at the veterinarian clinic, but her best friend. Sure, Flynn O'Grady is attractive and the nicest guy around, but going there with him would topple both of their carefully constructed worlds and there would be no going back. Even if he is starting to make her girly parts zing. Having been born deaf, Flynn has already felt like an outsider most of his life. Aside from his brothers, Gabby is about the only person who's gone out of her way to treat him as more than a handicap. Which is exactly why he's banked his secret attraction for his sweet, beautiful vet tech. Except his meddling family is trying to play Cupid and ruin the best thing to ever happen to him. Without Gabby, his work as a veterinarian, never mind his personal life, wouldn't flow. Determined to ignore the antics, he's secure in the knowledge she's not interested in him romantically. But then a kiss changes everything . . . and he's wondering if taking the ultimate shot at love might be worth the risk.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
Aww, I seriously loved these two! Gabby was a sweetheart (who "burped sunshine and farted rainbows", haha) and I loved her heart. Flynn was also adorable. Caring, sexy, and kind. Their relationship, from the friendship they share at the beginning to the romantic love they eventually allow themselves to embrace, is such a deep and loving one it was truly swoonworthy. The relationship with the O'Grady brothers was also really wonderful and there were so many really sweet moments that brought a smile to my face. The sign-language aspect and things from Flynn's point of view as a deaf person was really fantastic and I felt that it was really, very well-done. The issues Flynn had felt very realistic and I applaud the effort and skill that made it so enjoyable! It was a big part of the story while also feeling very normal. That us to say, Flynn wasn't portrayed as a "deaf guy," but a guy who happened to be deaf. The chemistry between these two was off the charts, and felt very natural as well. The slow burn was perfect. As an animal lover, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the animals in my review. Flynn's dog and Gabby's cat were adorable additions. And the discovery on the new client's farm was heartbreaking, but appreciated none-the-less as it deepened the story and the characters that much more. This was the first book by Kelly Moran that I have read, but will certainly not be my last! The characters were rich, the romance and friendships deep, and there were just so many "feels"!
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: Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran is a bestselling romance author of enchanting ever-afters. She is a Catherine Award-Winner, Readers' Choice Finalist, Holt Medallion Finalist, and a 2014 Award of Excellence Finalist through RWA, plus she's landed on the 10 Best Reads & Must Read lists by USA TODAY's HEA. Kelly's been known to say that she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there's always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. Her interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don't tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and two dogs. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well. Visit her website for up-to-date book news and where to follow.

REVIEW: "Another Postcard" by Elle Christensen (New Adult, Romance)

ANOTHER POSTCARD by Elle Christensen
	Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: May 2017 Series: Stone Butterfly Rockstars, #1 Standalone: Yes
Description from Publisher:
Brooklynn Hawk is an enigma. Highly sought after for her incredible voice, her talent shines bright in the studio. But a dark past and a secret she holds close to her heart keep her from permanently stepping into the limelight. Until her favorite band offers her the chance to chase her dreams. As the lead singer for rock sensation, Stone Butterfly, Levi Matthews is wary of bringing in new talent. But, he has heard just how amazing Brooklynn is and when the need for another singer arises, he’s confident that she is the perfect addition. However, he doesn't count on laying his heart at her feet. But the world of music can be as dangerous as it is thrilling. Joining Stone Butterfly on tour was hard enough for Brooklyn, but when she finally succumbs to Levi's charms, the rock 'n' roll life turns deadly. Will Levi and Brooklynn keep their voices and their hearts entwined? Or will the music prove too hard to survive? **Can be read as a standalone**
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
Rockstar Romances are some of my favorites, so I was pretty excited to read this one (Also, that cover is just gorgeous!). I really love when a story doesn't just paint a character as a particular type of person (in this case, a famous musician), but goes the extra mile to really delve into that world and allow you to live vicariously through them. This is most definitely a story that does that! Every aspect of being in a band really came through here, from creating & writing music, to rehearsals, to touring, and the complications that are added to their personal lives. The band itself, Stone Butterfly, and its members, including our male protagonist Levi, are great, and you really get the sense of family and comraderie between them. This is the first in a series, so I expect we'll get more books from the other members, as well. All that said, I felt like the pacing for this was really slow and a bit bogged down for the first half. It started to pick up around the 50% mark, with good suspense and steaminess between Brooklynn and Levi. The suspense wasn't anything crazy, and I did see the mystery introduced fairly early on, but it was enjoyable and made the story more interesting. I liked Levi and Brooklynn, though this is one of those stories that has InstaLust and InstaLove, though these two don't actually capitalize on that until about halfway. They were drawn to one another, but Brooklynn spends half the book pushing Levi away while he waits around for her to finally give into his advances. Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy push-and-pull Rockstar Romances.
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:
I’m a love of all things books, a hopeless romantic, and have always had a passion for writing. Between being a sappy romantic, my love of an HEA, my crazy imagination, and ok, let’s be real, my dirty mind, I fell easily into writing romance. I’m a huge baseball fan and yet, a complete girly, girl. I’m an obsessive reader and have a slight (hahaha! Slight? Yeah, right) addiction to signed books. I’m married to my very own book boyfriend, an alpha male with a sexy, sweet side. He is the best inspiration, my biggest supporter, and the love of my life. He is also incredibly patient and understanding about the fact that he has to fight the voices in my head for attention. I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoyed writing them!