Stolen Hearts by Molly O’Keefe Publication date: January 12th 2021 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
The flare of a cigarette, the sound of a stranger’s voice, and the handsome Irishman in the shadows–I wanted it all, but I wasn’t allowed to want.
Ronan was danger and beauty, murder and mercy. To me, he was a mystery, but he was also the only man who ever knew me.
In that single stolen moment before I had to give my life to someone else, I imagined myself with him, the man with scars and bruises. The one who knew what hurting meant far more than I did at that time.
Instead I was given to another man, one who broke my soul right along with my bones.
Through it all, there was always that memory of the man in the shadows, the one who said–not in words–that I was strong, that I could endure, that I was more than just a princess in a ballgown.
Now Ronan is the only man who could keep me safe from two warring families that wanted my blood. The spark that started two years ago burned brighter with each touch, each glance, each kiss. He woke me from the nightmare, giving me life with soft touches and sharp words.
Two years ago, Ronan gave me strength, but he took something in return. I never gave him my heart, but hearts like mine are made to be stolen.
M. O’Keefe is the darker, more dangerous pen name of bestselling author Molly O’Keefe. She is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Everything I Left Unsaid series and the upcoming Stolen Hearts. To find out more visit www.molly-okeefe.com
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in this Mini Blog Blitz for Kate Ryder’s new novel Beneath Cornish Skies.
Beneath Cornish Skies
To an outsider, Cassandra Shaw‘s life looks perfect. She lives in a beautiful, luxurious house in the English countryside, with a handsome, wealthy boyfriend who insists she needn’t do a day’s work in her life. But Cassie knows that something is not right. Her boyfriend has grown colder, treating her more like a housekeeper than a future wife. And her time feels empty and purposeless.
Cassandra has always been riddled with insecurities and self-doubt, but, just for once, she decides to take a chance on a new beginning. She answers an advert for a live-in nanny, dog walker, cook and all-round ‘Superhuman’ for a family living in a rambling manor house on the rugged North Cornish coast. The work is hard and tiring, but Cassie has never felt so fulfilled.
As Cassie learns to connect with the natural beauty unfolding around her, Cornwall starts to offer up its secrets. Soon, Cassie starts wondering if she was drawn to this isolated part of the coast for a reason. Why was she guided to Foxcombe Manor? What are the flashes of light she sees in the valley? Is it her imagination or does someone brush past her? And who is the mysterious man living deep in the woods?
A beautiful romance with a hint of ghostliness, Beneath Cornish Skies is for anyone who has ever longed to start their lives again.
This was my first book written by Kate Ryder. The description sounded interesting, but I had no idea what a talented storyteller she is.
Beneath Cornish Skies is a beautifully-written novel of self-discovery in one of the most magical settings. The protagonist of the book, Cassandra Shaw, lost her parents in a car accident when she was just seventeen and spent the following ten years living with her supposedly charming, arrogant and bossy boyfriend David. Cassie feels trapped in this unfulfilling relationship, but appears to lack clear ideas what else she would like to do with her life. Once Cassandra discovers David’s infidelity, she confronts him about their future together. To her dismay, she realises his vision of it is very different to what she longs for, a family of her own.
Cassie answers an ad for a ‘Superhuman’ (an all-round helper at Foxcombe Manor) and accepts the job. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and spellbinding local legends and stories, Cassandra re-thinks her life choices that let her doubt her own self-worth. She also finds an unexpected soulmate, Luke Metcalf, a naturalist and a successful writer.
There is a touch of paranormal, but it is all an integral part of the setting and atmosphere of this evocative novel.
The writing is the best feature of this book. There is something magic about the way Kate Ryder carefully chooses her words to render Cassie’s complex feelings and capture her fleeting impressions, insecurities and burgeoning hopes. For the first time in her life Cassie feels in control of her life choices wherever they may lead her. For the first time she acknowledges that there are many different ways of living and she needs to find her own.
If you are a fan of A Discovery of Witches and Jane Eyre, you are going to enjoy this enchanting story with its rich language and vivid imagery. Alternatively, if you find Cornwall a place where magic may well still be alive, this book is also for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.
Author Bio
Kate Ryder is an award-winning, Amazon Kindle international best seller who writes timeslip and romantic suspense in a true-to-life narrative. On leaving school she studied drama but soon discovered her preference for writing plays rather than performing them! Since then, she has worked in the publishing, tour operating and property industries, and has travelled widely.
Kate is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Authors. In 2017, she signed a 4-book contract with Aria (digital imprint of award-winning independent publisher, Head of Zeus).
Summer in a Cornish Cove, a contemporary romantic suspense set on the Lizard Peninsula, gained her a nomination for the RNA’s 2018 Joan Hessayon award, while its standalone sequel, Cottage on a Cornish Cliff, reached the heady heights of #2 in Kindle Literary Sagas.
‘Secrets of the Mist’, a mysterious timeslip romance, not only achieved #1 Kindle best seller flags in the UK, Canada and Australia, but also reached #49 in Amazon UK Paid Kindle. In the original, self-published version (The Forgotten Promise) it was awarded the first Chill with a Book “Book of the Month”.
Originally hailing from the South East of England, today Kate lives on the Cornish side of the beautiful Tamar Valley with her husband and a collection of animals.
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for this uplifting book!
New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow Brand new from the top 10 bestselling author of New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms and Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow.
With new arrivals comes new responsibilities… The sun is shining, wild flowers are blooming and Hedgehog Hollow is officially open for business.
For Samantha, the proud owner of this beautiful rescue centre, life has never been busier. But with an influx of new hogs and hoglets to take care of, not to mention a full-time job and ongoing family issues, can she accept the possibility that she has taken on more than she can handle?
Fortunately, she has the love of her life, Josh, by her side for support and encouragement. But Josh has his own family troubles to deal with. And soon he must decide if he’s ready to do the one thing he swore he’d never do – forgive his father.
For both Samantha and Josh it’s a season of change and for figuring out whether the past can ever truly be forgotten.
Escape back to wonderful Hedgehog Hollow with top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for the perfect uplifting read full of love, hope and forgiveness.
New arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow is the sequel to Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow. It is better read the books in order, but if you haven’t read the first one, don’t worry: Jessica provided a very helpful summary and list of recurring characters at the beginning of the book and made me feel at home straightaway.
Samantha/ Sammie finaly opens The Hedhog Hollow Rescue Center, and immediately has her work cut out for her with new patients brought in or left out on her doorstep. She is still recovering from her coma after her newly inherited farm was set on fire. It isn’t easy to juggle her full time teaching job with taking care of new arrivals at the hedgegog shelter, some of which are tiny new born hoglets. Luckily for her, her boyfriend Josh isn’t just understanding and supportive, he is also a veterinarian who is totally committed to animal rescue. What Sammie might not have realised before she opened the centre was that it would require her being there for her helpless patients all the time. This kind of work can also be heartbreaking as not all hedgehogs are going to survive. On top of all this, a spate of threatening vandalism incidents puts Sammie under additional emotional strain she could really do without.
There is a lot of family drama in this book. Samantha and Josh’s relationship is getting stronger, but they both have a lot to learn about their respective families. Josh is trying to reconcile with his estranged father, while Sammie is getting a deeper insight in her own mother’s past. Not everything is what it seems at first sight. Sometimes children have a certain idea of what their parents’ marriage is like which is not entirely true.
Sammie is a wonderful character. She hates letting peope down and she is kind and considerate. Sammie has to ask herself some really hard questions to find out what she really wants from life. I love the way she often reframes her own negative experience to provide the most benevolent explanation and how she is ready to give anyone a second chance. I also really enjoyed meeting Fizz, a lovely secondary character who I hope is going to feature again in the next book.
What I liked the most about this book is all the information about hedgehogs and how to take care of them. This book is so much more than just romance (in fact, although present, it isn’t very prominent in this book). It is more about families, friendships, kindness, forgiveness and life in general.if this is something you like reading about, welcome to the world of Hedgehog Hollow!
Thank you to Rachel, Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Jessica Redland for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio
Jessica Redland is the bestselling author of ten novels, including The Secret to Happiness, which are all set around the fictional location of Whitsborough Bay. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.
Eventually Evie by Cat Lavoie Publication date: January 4th 2021 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance
Synopsis:
How are you supposed to get your life back on track when the Universe won’t stop messing with you? After a series of personal and professional setbacks, interior designer Evie Glass has lost faith in herself and the world. The last thing she needs is her loud, boisterous family poking their noses in her business, so that’s why she avoids opening up about anything—especially her love life—during their weekly dinners. Thankfully, her bestie and next-door neighbor, Matilda, always has her back.
When Evie is asked to cat-sit Matilda’s beloved rescue, she’s not thrilled at the prospect. One well-meaning mistake later and a distraught Evie is rushing her furry charge to the ER where she meets and is instantly smitten with Fletcher West, a charming veterinarian who seems to return her interest. That is until they both realize they’ve met before—ten years ago when he was dating her temperamental cousin. Fletch’s break-up with Bee put him at the top of her family’s hit list and makes him the last person Evie should be dating.
In addition to navigating a secret romance with Fletch, Evie must also deal with a demanding new job, an eccentric client from her former life, and an ex who’s suddenly blowing up her phone. She convinces herself she’s got it all under control, but what happens when things start falling apart and Evie learns she’s not the only one keeping secrets?
One thing’s for sure… Eventually Evie’s got to take a chance—on love, on life, and on herself.
Cat Lavoie is a chick lit writer from Montreal, Canada. She loves writing fun and quirky romantic comedies and is the author of BREAKING THE RULES, ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN, PERI IN PROGRESS and MESSING WITH MATILDA.
A fan of all things feline, Cat loves cats and hopes to someday have a house full of them in order to officially become a crazy cat lady. (But one or two cats will do for now.)
If she isn’t reading or writing, Cat enjoys listening to podcasts (mostly comedy and true crime) and watching way too much TV. She fell in love with London many years ago and hopes to go back one day. Cat is currently at work on her next novel.
Letting down her guard leaves a woman vulnerable to love—and to a menacing stalker—in a pulse-pounding novel by Nancy Herkness, award-winning author of The Hacker.
After fleeing her abusive ex, New Jersey salon owner Natalie Hart is reclaiming her life and self-esteem. Her fragile recovery doesn’t need a player like former FBI agent Tully Gibson, no matter how tempting a fling sounds. Then Natalie starts receiving anonymous notes, each more frightening and threatening than the last. To help track her stalker, Natalie knows whom to call. Their explosive chemistry together is an emotional hazard she’s willing to risk.
A high-powered security expert at KRG Consulting, Tully has intimacy issues of his own. The stirring hum of attraction he feels with his new client comes with boundaries. Tully’s job: just keep Natalie safe. But keeping his distance is getting harder. Whoever is playing games with Natalie wants to take things one deadly step further. The deeper Tully and Natalie are drawn into danger, the closer they become.
It’s time for Natalie and Tully to face their fears—of falling in love and of falling prey to a vengeful killer.
Publisher: Montlake Publication Date: January 5th, 2021
This is the third book in the Consultants series that deals with the lives of three friends: Derek, Leland, and Tully.
The book begins with Alice and Derek’s wedding. Natalie Hart’s best friend would love to see her find a romantic partner she is as much in love with as she is with her brand new husband. Derek’s partner Tully seems to be a perfect choice, even if Natalie keeps saying she isn’t interested in getting involved with anyone. It has taken her a lot of time and effort to put behind the ugly reality of the psychological abuse her ex-husband put her through. Even though there is undeniable attraction, ‘the spark’, between her and Tully, she knows how to discourage any romantic advances wthout saying a word. However, Natalie has a problem and Tully might be the right person to discuss it with ( I have to say, I admire both Natalie’s independence and her common sense in asking for help when necessary). She has been getting anonymous e-mails with threatening messages. Tully takes the situation seriously and tried to discover who might want to hurt her. Is it her ex-husband Matt? Natalie has also been providing shelter to women trying to escape an abusive relationship/marriage… Perhaps, one of the husbands/boyfriends learnt what she has been doing and where she lives. As the threats continue to escalate, Tully and Natalie’s feelings seem to grow exponentially. They do need to confront their issues and their past if they want this relationship to work.
Nancy Herkness has a great writing style. It was very easy to follow the story and imagine the characters. I haven’t read the previous books in the series, but this one can definitely be read as a standalone. The structure of the book is solid as the events unfold in crescendo until the mystery is solved, the lives are saved, and the protagonists can enjoy their own rather unique happy end. If I could change anything about this book, I’d go for a bit less steam. To be fair, since the protagonists have been abstaining from romantic relationships for some time (for valid reasons), there is a lot of pent-up passion, still…if you are more of a fade-to-black reader, you might want to skip a bit.
Tully is undoubtfully written as an alpha male- strong, safe, protective, attentive. One of the things I liked about him was how he paid a lot of attention to Natalie’s reactions to his words and her body language. He also warns her that situations like this can provoke strong feelings without an outlet. I must say I kept thinking: the right thing in this situation would be to act professional and leave ‘dating’ until later when he could be sure that her judgment isn’t clouded by the adrenalin of ‘Fight or Flight’ Natalie’s dilemma also isn’t that clear-cut: on one hand, she is attracted to this powerful, confident, and decisive man, on the other hand, she has vowed to make sure her desisions are not going to be overruled by a man, however tempting it may be to let somebody else take responsibility. On one hand, we all want to be cared for, loved, and protected, on the other hand, we still need to remember it is our life and we choose how to live it.
Overall, I liked this romantic suspense/ thriller (it was fast-paced, and, well, there was plenty of action). Three and a half stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
She never thought she’d be the prince in the Cinderella story.
Cassidy Joanes met the man of her dreams during the annual Halloween office party. Only problem? He was wearing a mask, and she hasn’t a clue who he is—only that he can rock a Dread Pirate Roberts costume.
With only a few men in the office, she makes it her mission to find the man who swept her off her feet, only to be met with date after date of disappointment. And with a growing attraction to her boss, she’s not sure she can find her prince before she falls for someone else.
My thoughts:
Sweet in a lovely, nerdy way…what’s the right word for it? Adorkable?
Cassidy is known as Marvel Girl in her office. She is a billing assistant in an OBGYN clinic and there is always a superhero figurine on her computer, just for luck. Her boss/unlikely friend persuades her to attend the office Halloween party and even helps her to choose a costume. Buttercup. I don’t know about you, but there are lots of people who can’t imagine Christmas/New Year holidays without rewatching this timeless classic. Cassidy even puts in a pair of contact lenses, something she hasn’t done for ages. Shame she doesn’t know what happens to contact lenses if you keep them in solutions well their expiry date (if you’re squeamish, skip this part, nothing bad happens, but just the thought…)
She starts chatting to… yep, you’ve guessed it, Dread Pirate Roberts …and they click in the most unexpected and romantic way. He is funny, caring…well, you’ve seen the Princess Bride. He even helps her get out those horrible lenses. The downside of this undoubtfully kind and sadly necessary action is that Cassidy can’t see a thing without them. So when our nerdy Cinderella makes her escape, she still has no idea who she has been taking to. Of course, she needs to find him, and luckily she knows something about him that could really help her, a very particular kind of tattoo. Cassidy decides to date elegible men and try to figure out who her mysterious Westley is in real life. Meanwhile, Pirate Roberts… a.k.a Dr Jon Bateman is convinced Cassidy doesn’t want to do anything with him because there are rules that prohibit office romance. Hold on, then why has she clearly gone on a dating spree?
There’s also a mystery of disappeared/ misplaced /siphoned off money. As Cassidy is from the billing department and certainly has serious work ethic, she won’t rest until she’s found the culprit.
Altogether, I really enjoyed this workplace romance. The characters were adorable. Sometimes office parties do serve their purpose of making the most unlikely match possible and bringing the timid and nerdy (with a heart of gold) together. Humour is a subjective thing, but this time it really worked for me.
Recommended to anyone who works hard, and has had to endure excruciatingly boring work conferences with the promise of having a bit of banter and a cup of coffee or two.
For this challenge, use the first letter of each book title to spell the current month (skipping articles such as A or The). You can either use titles from your tbr (Carla) or books that you have read/reviewed.
Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England’s finest novelists. Now it’s home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen’s legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen’s home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.
The Absolution is the third installment in Queen of Icelandic crime fiction Yrsa Sigurdard�ttir’s series about the psychologist Freyja and the police officer Huldar.
The police find out about the crime the way everyone does: on Snapchat. The video shows a terrified young woman begging for forgiveness. When her body is found, it is marked with a number “2”.
Detective Huldar joins the investigation, bringing child psychologist Freyja on board to help question the murdered teenager’s friends. Soon, they uncover that Stella was far from the angel people claim, but who could have hated her enough to kill?
Then another teenager goes missing, more clips are sent to social media, and the body with a “3” is found. Freyja and Huldar can agree on two things at least: the truth is far from simple. The killer is not done yet. And is there an undiscovered body carrying the number “1” out there?
At the age of twelve, Eve Black was the only member of her family to survive an encounter with serial attacker the Nothing Man. Now an adult, she is obsessed with identifying the man who destroyed her life.
Supermarket security guard Jim Doyle has just started reading The Nothing Man–the true-crime memoir Eve has written about her efforts to track down her family’s killer. As he turns each page, his rage grows. Because Jim’s not just interested in reading about the Nothing Man. He is the Nothing Man.
Jim soon beings to realize how dangerously close Eve is getting to the truth. He knows she won’t give up until she finds him. He has no choice but to stop her first …
A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away
It’s winter in the Catskills and Mitchell’s Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.
So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in and try to make the best of it.
Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead–it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic.
Within the snowed-in paradise, something–or someone–is picking off the guests one by one. And there’s nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm–and one another.
Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has had the rug pulled out from under her. She has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts: her bighearted but unstable sister disappears, and Antonia returns home one evening to find a pregnant, undocumented teenager on her doorstep. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves—lines from her favorite authors play in her head like a soundtrack—but now she finds that the world demands more of her than words.
Afterlife is a compact, nimble, and sharply droll novel. Set in this political moment of tribalism and distrust, it asks: What do we owe those in crisis in our families, including—maybe especially—members of our human family? How do we live in a broken world without losing faith in one another or ourselves? And how do we stay true to those glorious souls we have lost?
Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie’s work trip to England to style a royal family member, she can’t refuse. She’s excited to spend the holidays taking in the magnificent British sights, but what she doesn’t expect is to become instantly attracted to a certain private secretary, his charming accent, and unyielding formality.
Malcolm Hudson has worked for the Queen for years and has never given a personal, private tour—until now. He is intrigued by Vivian the moment he meets her and finds himself making excuses just to spend time with her. When flirtatious banter turns into a kiss under the mistletoe, things snowball into a full-on fling.
Despite a ticking timer on their holiday romance, they are completely fine with ending their short, steamy affair come New Year’s Day. . .or are they?
Shay Miller wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is increasingly lonely.
Until Shay meets the Moore sisters. Cassandra and Jane live a life of glamorous perfection, and always get what they desire. When they invite Shay into their circle, everything seems to get better. Shay would die for them to like her. She may have to.
Have you read these books? If yes, did you like them?
Relic Bounty by Arwen Paris (Relic Legacy Series) Publication date: December 30th 2020 Genres: Adult, Romance, Science Fiction
Synopsis:
Kill the courier, retrieve the relic, collect the money.
Bounty hunter Janis Torzen finally has a chance to free himself from his indentured servitude to the mob. The brutal weather on planet Urrak is as unforgiving as the mob boss Janis Torzen works for, so of course a sudden sandstorm upsets his best laid plans. To make things worse, the courier, Everell, turns out to be a beautiful, smart-mouthed archeologist who has her own plans for the money. Unfortunately, powerful people will kill to possess the relic Everell carries—everyone from government officials to the social elite, and they will stop at nothing to get it.
Now on the run, Janis and Everell are forced to depend on each other to escape from Nadir Space Port. But when Everell and the relic are stolen from Janis, he must go back to the very man he’s trying to get away from and offer a deal with the devil. He’s got nothing to lose but his own life, so he bluffs the mob, willing to sacrifice his future to save the woman he’s fallen in love with—a woman he’s still not sure he can trust.
It’s a crazy plan, one so crazy it just might work. If he succeeds, it will pay out big for his wallet and his heart—if he doesn’t die trying. But with a bounty this high, it’s worth any risk…
Arwen Paris is the author of young adult fiction. Her debut YA Sci-fi Urban Fantasy novel FATE OF THE STARS released in 2017 and the second book in the series RIVAL in 2018. The actions packed pages of her novels are filled with characters that are forced to face fears they never expected. When she’s not writing, you can see posts of her (too many) vacations that keep her sane. Arwen lives in Idaho, has a big crazy family & after the day job, she writes Fiction For the Fearless – #F3Fanatic
I knew exactly what I wanted out of my senior year.
A full ride to Northwestern University, the title of American High School Journalist of the year, and a kiss, not just any kiss, but one from the boy I’ve been in love with since the sixth grade.
By October, my plan was fully in motion with liplock by Christmas Imminent. Imminent, that was, until Andie Mercantile moved to Marlowe Junction, swooping both my beat and my man.
Now, I’m stuck writing the sports column–a subject I know nothing about. My goals aren’t unobtainable, but they will take a lot more work. Just because a sports writer has never won journalist of the year before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And as for the kissing part, I’m not counting myself out just yet.
After all, maybe learning a bit about competition is just what I need.
Off Center is the second book in the Varsity Girlfriends series.
My thoughts:
Off Center is the second book in a series of books dealing with five high school basketball team players. The other books (Courtside Crush, Rebound Boyfriend, and Game Plan) are written by other authors.
Lane Crawford is determined to win the American High School Journalist of the Year Award which will surely help her get a scholarship to study in her dream college. She loves everything related to her school newspaper and writing articles. She’s also had a long-tem crush on Elliot Lambert, their new editor. There’s nothing more she would like than for her first ever kiss (yes, she is seventeen and has never been kissed) to be with this adorable nerd. She has plenty ideas which are bound to get his interest and make him want to spend more time together which is clearly the way to his heart.
Unfortunately, things go totally wrong during the first brainstorming session. Lane’s idea for an article on cheerleaders gets rejected. Even worse than that, Elliot clearly shows his interest in Andie, the new girl who shot down Lane’s idea, and Lane somehow gets assigned the worst possible section – she is to cover the sports section, more specifically, the boys basketball team, notorious for their ‘lacklustre performance’. How on earth is she going to do that? The new girl might have unwittingly stolen the coveted news beat, but she is nothing if not helpful. Andie suggests writing a series of articles on the starting five, and Lane finds an unexpected ally as well. Hunter Mackey, a gentle giant whose job is to defend and protect, agrees to help Lane understand basketball and his team better.
As Lane continues writing her e-mails to her best friend Jillie, her feelings begin to change. Is it possible that Elliot is using her crush for his own purposes? or that she is falling for Mackey who always makes her feel listened to and seen like nobody else? Is she fair refusing to help Andie who wants to write an article on a topic so special to Lane that she thinks noone can do it justice? and how do you survive a Thanksgiving weekend with your Dad and his new family?
To say that I liked Lane is an understatement. I loved her honesty and her ability to look at her own actions and admit she was wrong. She is fiercely loyal to her amazing Mom, but is also kind and supportive of her little half-sister. She is also trying to deal with the fact that she misses her best friend so much and isn’t ready to make a new one. She is passionate about journalism and her newspaper assignments. The events are told from Lane’s point of view, so her character is the most developed, although there are many others: Andie, Lane’s family, the starting five, including Mackey, whose quiet strength and unassuming attitude make it very hard not to like him. Am I going to give the story away if I tell you that Lane does get her perfect kiss in the end and it happens on Christmas Eve?
Off Center is a super quick read, perfect for anyone who likes clean, high school romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.
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