Cover Reveal: Fireworks by Sarina Bowen

September 8, 2018Leave a comment

**Guys, check the amazing cover for Fireworks, the 6th book in the True North series, Fireworks.**

Skye Copeland is on paid leave from her broadcasting job after accidentally drawing a wiener on the traffic map.

Let that sink in. Like it’s her fault the traffic pattern created a perfect schlong?

Skye isn’t laughing. She needs this job. And that’s the only reason she’s willing to chase down a story in her least favorite place — that hell on earth known as Vermont.

A quick trip. In and out. Much like – never mind. She can sneak into the town that once tried to break her, get the story and slide back into the good graces of her producer. Easy peasy.

But things go sideways the moment she steps over the county line. Her stepsister is running from a violent drug dealer. And the cop on the case is none other than Benito Rossi, the man who broke Skye’s teenage heart.

His dark brown eyes still tear her apart. And even as she steels herself to finally tell him off after twelve years, the old fireworks are still there.

Things are about to go boom.

FIREWORKS is up for pre-order at:

**Get Bittersweet, the first book of the series, here:**

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SARINA BOWEN

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Speakeasy (Sarina Bowen)

May 29, 2018Leave a comment

Sometimes you fall for Mr. Right. And sometimes for Mr. Right Now…

May

Did you hear the one about the girl who walks into a bar and catches her live-in lover kissing someone else? No? You’re the only one in town who missed it.
Luckily Alec is there to wrap me up in strong arms and carry me out the door before things get too ugly. And that’s not all Alec is good at. Our unexpected chemistry makes him the perfect rebound guy.

Alec

I should know better than to hook up with my rival’s little sister, but the fiery look in May’s eyes really turns my crank. She needs cheering up, and I’m just the guy for the job.
It’s not like I’ll fall in love. Not even after a string of scorching hot trysts, and the realization that we’re good at the same things: wild nights and familial disappointment. I don’t do love, never have, never will. So this is the perfect arrangement, for both of us.

Nobody would approve, but nobody has to know…

I’m so excited that Sarina wrote another book on this series. She’s one of my favorite authors, and this series has a special place in my heart, I love everything about it, and I can’t wait to read more. The writing was, as always, wonderful, so I’m not going to spend a lot of time on that. I hope you’ve read something by Sarina Bowen by now, otherwise, you’re missing out.

I’ll admit that this was not the story I was expecting for May, and like me, I think most people were expecting May to have a F/F romance, given that since coming out as bisexual, she was very fixed on the fact that she would end up with a woman. But I was happy with the way the story turned out, and how the progress made May’s character to grow.

I’ve loved May for a lot of books now, but I think she finally got what she deserved: acceptance… from herself. She was always trying to show a good facade, but she never put her foot down and admitted to herself that she was worthy too, and she deserved everything. Alec helps May grow on that sense, and she finally realizes that she can be herself, no judgment or preconceived notions. She’s deserving, and she can be herself, a bit messed up and all.

Much on the same way, May helps Alec become more than what everybody sees in him. He comes off at first a bit childish and immature, because he’s always carefree and honest, but he’s also insecure and he needs to feel like he’s not always a screw up. He eventually realizes that he can want and desire more, and he can achieve it.

These two apparently didn’t have anything in common, but they actually do. They’re both the middle children that everyone disregards a bit. And they help each other find the right footing they both need. The character growth is my favorite part of this book, and the fact that they love each other without any judgment. They’re supportive and they come into their own together.

I’m glad May Shipley found Alec Rossi. They ended up being exactly what each other needed.

If you haven’t picked this one up yet, do. It’s worth it.

Meet the author:

Sarina Bowen is the RITA® Award winning author of over two dozen contemporary and LGTB romance novels. She most recently hit the USA Today bestseller’s list in February, with Brooklynaire. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.

Sarina Bowen is a New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country since the 1760s. Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. On a few wooded acres, she lives with her husband, two boys, and an ungodly amount of ski and hockey gear.

Sarina’s books are published in a dozen languages on four continents. In 2016, The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with a RITA award for Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.

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Bountiful (Sarina Bowen)

October 20, 2017Leave a comment

No last names. No life stories. Those were the rules.

Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling — a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on.

Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life.

Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave No-Last-Name will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.

Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.

Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards — and hard won love — are Bountiful.

Guys, guys! Sarina Bowen did it again!!! 😀 I was beyond happy when I got an ARC for Bountiful, because this is one of my favorite series. And once again, this new installment of the True North series didn’t disappoint, and left me happy and smiling and swooning. I loved it.

**And learning that this book is in fact a mash up of True North and Brooklyn Bruisers, another AMAZING series?! PERFECTION!**

I already loved Zara since book 1, I always loved her roughness, and how strong she was, because she was in such a tough position. The fact that she became friends with Audrey was amazing, and I always respected her even more because of it. But Zara grew up so much after she got pregnant and she understood she couldn’t do it all by herself, and she became a little less rough, but still so very HER. I love Zara.

Dave… it took me a little bit more to fall for Dave, mostly because the guy was so lost there for a bit, but I liked his development, how he realized that his past didn’t define him, and how he became a father to Nicole. I loved his scenes with his baby daughter.

It was great to see all the people from the 2 series too, especially Audrey and Griff, and Leo. And Castro, he needs a book ASAP.

While I really loved the plot, and I loved seeing Zara, Dave and baby Nicole become a real family, I needed some more development on the romance department. The relationship between Zara and Dave just happened way too easily, especially after they had been apart for 2 years and so much had changed in the meantime. I thought the their story needed more talk, more discussion, more time spent together. I do understand that having Nicole was already a huge bond, but there was something missing.

But baby Nicole is the most adorable baby ever. And I loved every little scene she was in, she was a scene stealer!

Like I said, another amazing book by Sarina Bowen. I can’t wait to see what else the True North and Brooklyn Bruisers bring. I need books about a lot of characters in these 2 series, and I need those books fast!

Cover Reveal: Bountiful by Sarina Bowen

September 25, 20171 Comment

**I am beyond excited to show you guys the cover for the 4th book in the True North series, by Sarina Bowen, Bountiful.**

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo

No last names. No life stories. Those were the rules.

Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling — a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on.

Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life.

Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave No-Last-Name will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.

Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.

Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards — and hard won love — are Bountiful.

I’m so excited about this book! It will combine the True North series, and Hockey, and OMG, I can’t wait to read the mash up that’s going to come from it.

I can’t wait to have this beauty on my hands!

Keepsake (Sarina Bowen)

November 15, 2016November 15, 201613 Comments

keepsake

There’s a first time for everything.

Lark Wainright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.

When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.

Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.

Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.

Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he’s good for much more than farm labor.

After falling in love with Bittersweet and Steadfast, I couldn’t wait to start this one, because I was 200% sure that I would love the hell out of this book. I obviously did! This series is amazing, because even though each book is linked, the stories are wildly different, and the characters too. Amazing.

I obviously loved Sarina’s writing, she’s done it once again! I will definitly read anything else she writes, because I’ve loved everything I did read so far. The book is told in dual POV, and Lark and Zach have such different voices.

Zach is such an unusual character! I don’t remember ever reading a romance where the guy is less experienced than the girl, so I thought this was brilliant. There were so many layers to Zach too, he was an amazing person, but he still felt worthless for the events of his past, so it was an amazing journey to see him understand his worthiness, and how surrounded by love he really is. And he is! Because the Shipleys are so awesome. I love them more and more with each book.

Lark was also very complex, and her journey is heartbreaking in this book. Understanding what she went through was painful and it took a long time. She was not ok… not at all 😦 .

The romance was so amazing. These two become friends that star helping each other get through the hard times, and then they slowly fall for one another, and then it turns HOT (hurray Zach!). When things eventually fall apart, it was emotional, and even though I knew it would happen, because Lark was not in a good place, it was still heartbreaking. I loved how supportive and loving Zach was during the whole ordeal, how he understood that she needed space and time, and he gave it to her, still being supportive at the same time.

While the first book of this series deals with new dreams and goals, and the second deals with addiction, this one deals with PTSD and understanding that love and family are not determined only by blood.

Now, Sarina, I need another few books on this series, ok? I want a story about May, and I want another about Zara and that redhead that went into the coffee shop (because we all know who he is, right?), and then maybe a story about the twins and the cousins? I’m not asking much, right?!

Steadfast (Sarina Bowen)

November 11, 20165 Comments

steadfast

She’s the only one who ever loved him — and the only one he can never have.

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there’s no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.

For Sophie Haines, coming face to face with the man who broke her heart is gut-wrenching. Suddenly, he’s everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never turn up volunteer in the church kitchen.

She knows it’s foolish to yearn for the man who returned all the heartsick letters she wrote him in prison. But the looks he sends her now speak volumes.

No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie’s police chief father. But it’s a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.

GUYS!! Have I told you how fantastic this series is???? I’m pretty sure I did, when I reviewed Bittersweet…

Steadfast has a totally different tone from the first book of the series, it’s way more serious and heartbreaking, and its central theme is addiction and second chances.

I loved this book. Loved it. I was reading it and crying like a baby, and feeling so deeply for Jude and Sophie. I think that people who haven’t dealt with addiction is some way, don’t know how truly hard it all is, and I think Sarina did an amazing job writing it. Well done, you!

The characters’ voices are super distinct, and I loved that we got little glimpses to when Sophie and Jude were younger and together. These snippets gave us a more complete picture of who these 2 were not only as individual people, but also as a couple, and how deep their feelings ran.

I absolutely loved both characters and their struggles. Jude was battling his addiction, his love for Sophie and trying to survive, thinking that he would never be a good choice for her. Sophie just wanted to live, she wanted answers, and she wanted to feel and to have hope. And I loved these 2 so much.

I wish there was just a tiny bit more of teen Sophie and Jude, because while I got the connection and the love between them, I wanted to see more of the falling in love process.

These two were seriously amazing together. He helped her want more for herself, she made him hope. Together they were seriously hot too.

This book totally broke my heart!!!

The issues were powerful and so serious and important. The characters were amazing and complex. The story was heartfelt with a hint of mystery. All my favorite characters were there! And it has an amazing ending.

I‘M IN LOVE WITH THIS! People… you need to get on this series NOW!

Bittersweet (Sarina Bowen)

November 6, 2016November 3, 20167 Comments

bittersweet

The new series is set in Vermont. True North is populated by the tough, outdoorsy mountain men that populate the Green Mountain State. They raise cows and they grow apples. They chop a lot of wood, especially when they need to blow off steam. (Beards are optional but encouraged.)

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay — a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

I’ve been dying to read this series for a long while now, but last month, anticipating the release of the third book of the series, Bittersweet‘s price dropped and I couldn’t resist! I’m so glad I grabbed it.

I just had a huge month full of Sarina Bowen’s writing, and I just want more, because I love it. The dual POV is on point and the writing just does it for me. She painted the most gorgeous pictures in this book, and I just wanted to leave and find my way to Vermont…

I really loved both characters, they were definitly unique. Griff was a hoot! I mean, he’s grumpy and all, but he’s also so funny and caring, and oh so HOT. I loved how he was dedicated to his family and would do anything for them, even if it costed him some things. Audrey was so much FUN, and exactly what Griff needed in his life. She was a bit lost, but that’s ok…

bittersweet_1

I really liked the message of the book, that you don’t have to fulfill all of your “dreams” to find happiness, because new dreams form, and you find out that the things that make you happy, might not be those you dreamed about in the first place.

The chemistry between these 2 was EXPLOSIVE! I loved the whole love/hate thing they had going on for awhile, and I really loved that once they were in, THEY WERE IN!!! It might have started as something casual, but it was definitly much more than that.

bittersweet_2

It was a really great story, about both of them realizing how much more awesome their lives were with each other in it. I’m in love with this.

I loved the characters, the story, the language, the setting, the writing, the whole family and secondary characters. I love it all. I loved this book to death. So much so, that I couldn’t control myself and went ahead and bought book 2… *sigh*

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