Black Blue: Love, Sports and the Art of Empowerment by Andra Douglas

Black Blue: Love, Sports and the Art of Empowerment by Andra Douglas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I am an avid sports lover. Growing up I was always the girl who was hanging out with the guys watching the basketball or hockey games. Thankfully, I was able to play the sport I loved and did not have to face most of the issues that Christine has to face. I know this is around football, but my point is I really connected with Christine and her story. I really loved her journey and recommend everyone give this a try. It is a story that will stay with you even after you finish it.

This is a coming of age story and about Christine finding herself in a world that wants to put stipulations on her dreams. At times this was funny and others will break your heart. It is not the picture perfect look into different issues, but real life. It is about making your dreams come true and knowing you can do anything you want to do.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing what Andra Douglas brings us in the future.


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Take Me Down by Julie Kriss

Take Me Down by Julie Kriss
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from a PR marketing team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I actually listened to these on audiobook, and I flew through both books one and two! I actually went into this with low expectations, but I ended up really loving book one. I was really excited when I saw that book two was going to follow Jace. We are briefly introduced to Jace in Dive Me Wild and I wanted to know more about him.

I was a little disappointed with the insta-love between Jace and Tara. It was lust at first sight. There was no individual development or banter between the two before it jumps right in. I wanted more from their relationship. They do not know anything about each other and are instantly infatuated with each other. I tried to get over this, but I found myself getting more and more annoyed with every chapter as they just fell more and more for each other. Again, there was just no development and nothing happening for me to believe their relationship.

Where I loved book one, book two just did not work for me. I will mostly likely still give book three a chance.



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Drive Me Wild: Riggs Brothers Book 1 by Julie Kriss

Drive Me Wild: Riggs Brothers Book 1 by Julie Kriss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from a PR marketing team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I actually listened to these on audiobook, and I flew through both books one and two! I actually went into this with low expectations, but I ended up really loving it.

As Drive Me Wild started I found myself with a smile on my face the whole time. We are introduced to both Emily and Luke in high school as they are having a secret relationship. We then jump several years later when Emily returns home as an adult.

If you love a great second chance and bad boy romance, you will love this. There are also four brothers! Yes, four! So, if you love this there are several more books to follow.

Even though this was a short read it had a ton of stuff going on. When reading a steamy romance, I need more than just the steamy scenes (I can actually go without them). Both Emily and Luke have side stories that bring so much more to the story itself. The steamy parts did not overtake the story which I loved.

Book one did end a little too cleanly, but I still enjoyed it overall. I immediately jumped into Take Me Down!


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Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer

Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first Nancy Thayer read, and I really enjoyed it. I will say I feel the title is a little off as this was not as much of a story of friendship as much as the story of women and her life. It does all wrap back around the friendship, but it was not the main focus. It was more in the distance, but wraps back around to them later in life.

I thought this was going to be a whole story around the friendship between Isabelle and Keely. However; it really only follows the story of Keely. Isabelle was never a great friend to Keely and we only get limited details as we follow Keely from high school to adulthood. I actually really loved the story and was not a fan of Isabelle, so it all worked for me.

Not much actually happens within the story, but I was still hooked nonetheless. I was just invested into Keeley and wanted to see how everything unfolded for her. This was a slow moving story, but I think you would love it if love a good chic lit read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and look forward to picking up more from the author.


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Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Making Faces by Amy Harmon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 Stars

If you have ever seen a BookTube video around romance than you know Amy Harmon will most likely be mentioned. She has been an author that I have been dying to give a try and I finally took the plunge! Unfortunately, I was kind of let down!

Do not get me wrong! There were some things I loved about Making Faces and some things I just did not love at all. First off, I have never heard anyone mention that this is Christian romance. I actually love Christian romance, but I was just surprised as I was reading along as I have never heard this mentioned in all of the reviews and recommendations I have seen. I have also never really heard anyone mention this being a Beauty and the Beast retelling (I did not really get that from reading it, but still feel it is worth mentioning).

This also deals with some heavy topics such as the military, death and loss, injuries, 9/11, Muscular Dystrophy, and domestic violence. All of these were actually done amazingly and the main reason I kept reading.

I fell in love the with beginning as we begin to see the friendship between Fern and Bailey. This covers 9/11 and I really connected with these parts and even teared up a little as I was just starting college when 9/11 happened. This also moves to several students going off to War and the aftermath of War. This was also very sad moments within the story in which I enjoyed.

Ambrose really is not even a part of their friendship as the story jumps from young children, to high school, to after high school. I was looking forward to a romance as I have heard Amy Harmon is the queen of slow burn. Slow burn is totally different compared to non-existent. I feel the romance was non-existent and not the focal point of the story until after half way through. Yes, they communicated but it was just not something that made me want to hold on for a developing romance.

Bailey made the story for me as we learn about him and his challenges with Muscular Dystrophy. He was witty and a well-loved character. The most exciting parts within the story involved Bailey being involved.

I did not enjoy the message around the “Beauty and the Beast” trope. Fern overhears her mother say she is not a beautiful (pretty) child at a young age. When this first happened I thought it was going to bring a powerful message around the power of words and how they can stay with someone. Well, they stay with Fern. Every other chapters is around Fern not being pretty enough. It was way overdone. Ambrose does not seem to notice her as she is “not pretty.” The romance only starts when Ambrose is “no longer pretty himself.” I actually was getting annoyed with this trope as the story went on and on.

Overall, there were things I loved and things I did not. I felt the story was slow at times and was dragging on. Some things worked and others did not.


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House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have heard several people talk about this one. I actually do not know if I know the fairytale that is it a retelling for, but I was still excited to give it a try.

I really loved the beginning, but then it went a little too slow for me. I liked the mystery behind the sisters and the curse. As the story goes on though it veered off too much. I did not care at all about the ball and the dancing. It just made the story drag on. I wanted to get back to the mystery and if the sisters were killed.

There was so much filler that did not bring anything to the story. I know it all comes together in the end, but I just kept feeling like I wanted it to be over. Yes, there was exciting parts but even then I could not get into this one.

I should and could have pushed through to finish this as I got so far. I seriously read around 80% and then skipped to the end to get it over with. This one was just not for me.


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