We are so excited to get to share the cover for Cora Carmack’s ALL BROKE DOWN today! A New Adult Contemporary Romance, and published by William Morrow-an imprint of HarperCollins, this is the second book in her Rusk University Series, and it is set to be released on October 28, 2014! But you can pre-order it NOW! Check out what it’s about and then fall in love with this gorgeous cover!
In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love
Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.
Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.
Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.
Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.
And don’t forget to grab your copy of ALL LINED UP Today!
Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.
Being the Beta of the Redwood Pack isn’t an easy task, but Jasper has never complained. He’s spent his entire adult life dropping everything so he can take care of others. Now he’s a father, a husband…and tired. His mate, Willow, knows Jasper won’t let others know that he might need a break, even for a weekend, so that’s where she comes in.
Once Jasper lets go and allows his mate to call the shots, this Beta might just be in for the ride of a lifetime.
Author’s Note: This is a novella set between books 6 and 7 to give you a taste of Jasper and Willow. It is best that you have already immersed yourselves in the Redwood Pack world, however even new readers will enjoy a glimpse of one of the Redwood’s favorite couples.
You can find this in print in Redwood Pack Volume 5.
Redwood Pack Series Reading Order
An Alpha’s Path
A Taste for a Mate
Trinity Bound
A Night Away
Enforcer’s Redemption
Blurred Expectations
Forgiveness
Shattered Emotions
Hidden Destiny
A Beta’s Haven
Fighting Fate
Loving the Omega (Coming July 2014)
Dark Fates (Coming August 2014)
A Beta’s Haven is a lovely novella that gives you a look back at character’s we have already gotten to know.
Jasper, Willow and Brie are back and we get to see a little bit of what their day to day life is like. Jasper is tired and in need of a bit of a break and so Willow steps in to help out. One of the best things about this Novella is the glimpse of Cailin’s future. This novella is a great addition to the Redwood Pack series.
AuthorBio
USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.
Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.
Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. Visit the links to the left to contact her.
Sensational New York Times bestselling author Molly McAdams breaks bounds with this emotionally wrenching, heartbreakingly real New Adult novel of love, passion, guilt, honor, and infidelity.
Twenty-three year old Kamryn Cunningham has left behind a privileged, turbulent past for the anonymity of small-town life. Busy with her new bakery, she isn’t interested in hook-ups or fix-ups. Then she meets the very sexy, very married Brody. Though she can’t deny the pull between them, Kamryn isn’t a cheater and she’s not good at sharing.
Twenty-six year old Brody Saco may be married, but he isn’t happy. When his girlfriend got pregnant six years ago, he did the right thing . . . and he’s been paying for it ever since. Now, his marriage is nothing but a trap filled with hate, manipulation, and blame—the remnants of a tragedy that happened five years earlier. While he’s never broken his vows, he can’t stop the flood of emotion that meeting Kamryn unlocks.
Brought together by an intense heat that is impossible to resist, Brody and Kamryn share stolen moments and nights that end too soon. But is their love strong enough to bear the weight of Kamryn’s guilt? And is Brody strong enough to confront the pain of the past and finally break free of his conniving wife?
Sharing You by Molly McAdams is part of the Sharing You series. This series is based off the friendship three young men formed in the Army. This is the story of their lives after they have finished serving. Each book is a novella featuring a different couple. Each book can be read as a stand alone.
Sharing You is going to evoke many different reactions from readers. It is a controversial book that may offend some people. With that said, I want to emphasize that this book is very well written. The story flows beautifully. The characters are very real and capture the reader’s attention. The reader can feel their emotions, good and bad. Their heartache is very real and makes the reader ache right along with them. Molly McAdams knows how to write a highly emotional story that will bring tears to your eyes. Although the subject matter was one of my “ick” factors I found I could not put this book down. After reading the first two novella’s in this series I wanted to see where Brody Saco’s life was heading. I understood how he had to step out of his value system to grasp the one chance of happiness. He tried to do everything right, follow the rules, follow his conscience, but sometimes it is the heart that must be followed.
Brody has finally found his piece of happiness in life. This happiness may destroy him and Kamryn in the process.
I can’t say any more without giving away too many spoilers. I will say that although this book is not your perfect romance and touches on some very hard lines, I think most reader’s will understand where the author was coming from and why she had to allow these characters to experience this life. I know we all know that sometimes there are “exceptions” to the rules. I commend Molly McAdams for being brave enough to write this story.
Author’sBio
Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry daughter. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach, which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. When she’s not at work, she can be found hiding out in her bedroom surrounded by her laptop, cell, Kindle and fighting over the TV remote. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm…or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.
Five years ago, Kit Landry was homeless and alone at sixteen. Determined to ditch her crappy life, she moved to Nashville with only $200, her guitar, and a notebook full of songs. She hit it big as America’s country sweetheart, but a year of living like a rock star plus a stint in rehab has killed any good will she had with her label. The suits have ordered Kit to shape up or ship out of the limelight. The last thing she needs is a hot, sexy distraction with a sinful smile.
He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.
Max Butler is as far from a celebrity as you can get and he likes it that way. A Nashville firefighter, he’s living the single life with a revolving door of parties, friends, and a different woman in his bed every night. When his normal life suddenly collides with the girl on his favorite Rolling Stone cover, he sees the perfect chance to fulfill his ultimate fantasy and see just how bad Kit can be.
Sometimes bad is so very good.
With three weeks until Kit leaves for her big tour, Max promises to give her a break from being the good girl–no strings attached. But when hot days lead to sultry nights, the lines get blurred and suddenly three weeks of bad might not be good enough.
Excerpt:
Finished with his ribbon, I rested my hands on his chest and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
Under my hands, his chest constricted with his swift intake of breath at the moment my lips touched his skin. I inhaled deeply, soaking in his scent of cedar wood, citrus, and warm male while the blood pounded in my ears and my skin grew warmer. Pulling away, we both exhaled slowly as our eyes locked in a heated exchange of shock and desire.
There was no mistaking the look of desire in his eyes, and I’m sure it matched the one in my own. I wanted him with jaw-clenching intensity and the part of me that was all woman unfurled after being packed away for so long. I might as well have been back on that fire escape, because this felt just as dangerous. More dangerous.
Behind me, the gathered paparazzi began to call out above the murmuring of the crowd.
“Give him a real kiss, Kit!”
“Is that how you thank a hero?”¬
“Kiss him!”
At the sound of their voices, I glanced over my shoulder. Everyone was smiling encouragingly; the press wanted the photo, the other firefighters were cheering on their boy.
I looked back at Max for his opinion.
A smirk pulled at the edge of his lips. “I did save your life.”
I narrowed my eyes, not really mad at the suggestion. “That’s not fair.”
He shrugged his shoulders the slightest bit and grinned. “Chicken?”
Oh. Hell. No.
Determined and rising to the bait, I lifted my face, slowly closing the distance between our mouths. This would be quick, fun and flirty, and over before it began.
I had no fucking clue what I was talking about.
The first press of our mouths was like being hooked up to a live wire. We both broke contact in surprise but quickly began again, the lure of such intense pleasure already addictive.
I was the one who took it deeper, running my tongue along his, dipping inside to taste him. I couldn’t help myself; it was like putting my favorite dessert in front of me and saying that I could only have a sample. Good luck trying to stop me.
Max groaned and grabbed my hips, his fingers lightly digging into my flesh—tugging me closer and turning the kiss hotter, wetter. His mouth slanted over mine and his tongue stroked past my lips, taking what he wanted and what I freely gave. My knees went weak, and I clutched the fabric of his uniform, holding him close as the kiss went on and on.
The sound of whooping and clapping startled me and snapped me back to reality. This wasn’t good.
I distanced myself from Max, only far enough away to end the kiss but not far enough to lose the physical contact of his hands on me. I was breathing hard, my breasts swollen under the tight dress, my lips tender and tingly. Max was panting, his face hard and eyes hot.
Painfully aware of our audience and my management and label resident glaring at me from the other end of the room, I tried to pull back further but Max shook his head, holding me in his grip.
“We shouldn’t have done that,” I said.
“Maybe not, but I want to do it again,” he answered, his smile intimate and naughty enough to make me shiver. “And I want to do more.”
I sucked in a breath. I had thought the fire was dangerous, but I was wrong. Max was the thing I needed to worry about.
“You’re no angel,” I whispered.
“I’m glad you finally figured it out.”
About Robin Covington:
Robin Covington, who NYT Best Selling authors, Robyn Carr and Carly Phillips, said was their new “auto-buy author”, writes sizzling hot contemporary and paranormal romance.
A Night of Southern Comfort, her best-selling debut novel was a 2012 finalist in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awards, earned 4.5 stars and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”. When she’s not exploring the theme of fooling around and falling in love, she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello.
Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington and Maryland Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today. You can find Robin on her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (@RobinCovington).
Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppy.
Very Wicked Things (A stand alone Briarcrest Academy novel) is on sale for a limited time for .99 cents!!
Book Description:
Ballerina Dovey Beckham is a scholarship student at Briarcrest Academy, determined to prove she’s more than just a girl with the wrong pedigree. She does whatever it takes to succeed in her endgame, even if it means surrendering her body but never her heart.;”>;”>
Until the day she meets him, and he rips apart all her well-laid plans. Suddenly, the girl everyone thought unbreakable might just shatter.
Cuba “Hollywood” Hudson is rich, spoiled, and a star football player. With his fast cars and superficial girlfriends, he lives the high-life, hiding his secrets from the world.
Until the day he meets her, and she offers him something he’s never tasted…love.
But once in a lifetime kind of love doesn’t come easy…especially when dirty money, past sins, and old flames threaten the very fabric of their lives.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy, where sometimes, only the wicked survive.
WARNING: This new adult romance is dark and edgy with mature content. Over 18 please.
THIS IS NOT YOUNG ADULT.
Excerpt for Very Wicked Things
Book #2 of the Briarcrest Academy Series
by Ilsa Madden-Mills
I got out of the shower and dressed hurriedly, anxious to get back to Cuba.
The door opened, and like he did it every single day, he stepped inside the steamy bathroom.
“Think I need a shower, too,” he said, his fingers easing off his football practice shirt.
What? Now?
Trying to play it cool and failing miserably, I moved my eyes off his naked chest and checked out his track pants and the obvious bulge he sported.
Oh. Did his lower body match the rest of him? Was it all sinewy muscle and big?
Just, yeah. That thought got stuck in my head and went round and round.
“You staying?” he asked, a grin working his face. Pleased at my open admiration, probably.
“No,” I said, but made no move to go. ‘Cause I had no shame when it came to catching a glimpse of his muscular body.
“Good,” he said, his smile broadening.
He pivoted to turn on the shower, and my eyes betrayed me again, admiring the muscles in his back, checking out how they twitched and rippled when he moved. Football and rowing had been good to him. My fingers itched to know how they’d feel underneath my hands. Which was stupid because we had nothing in common. Not a rich Highland Park boy and a poor girl from Ratcliffe.
And most importantly, he was a player, not to be trusted.
He hooked his thumbs into his pants, paused a moment—maybe waiting to see if I’d run from the room?—but when I didn’t budge, he slid them and his underwear off. My mouth opened. Cuba Hudson, the most popular guy at Briarcrest was standing right in front of me, naked and beautiful. And like the cocky bastard he was, he posed for me, his big-ass biceps and chiseled abs making me vibrate all over. Need for him slammed into me.
Did I say he was hot?
Well, I was wrong.
He was off-the-charts, no-holds-barred, freaking going make-me-lose-my-mind-right-there delicious. The ultimate man-candy, the kind I knew to stay away from, yet here I was, ogling him.
“Still leaving?” he asked huskily.
“Any minute,” I said in a weak voice, backing up to the wall and propping myself up. “Just chillin’. Shower wore me out. I might need to hold this wall up for a sec.”
“I want you to stay,” he said, eyes at half-mast, glowing with heat.
“Why?” I said, aching to touch him. But that was crazy. I was a virgin, and I didn’t know jack about touching a guy’s you-know-what.
“Look at me, Dovey.”
I tore my eyes from his manhood, blushing.
His eyes burned. “There’s a sense of urgency in my head. Like our time is limited.”
I nodded. Yeah, same here.
“And, I’ll be honest, I don’t want to rush you, but I’m dying to sink into you. I want to set you on fire with need for me.” He ghosted his hands over the steel rod between his legs. Once, twice, and—holy shizzle, he didn’t stop.
My chest rose faster and faster, and I tried to chill-out, but I couldn’t.
He lowered his voice. “Kiss me again, Dovey.”
Oh. “That’s a terrible idea, Cuba. Cause you’re naked, and I’m turned on because you’re naked. And you’re touching yourself. And you’re naked.” I sucked in a sharp breath. “Not a good combo. Odds are we’ll end up in that shower together or back in your bed doing the double-backed monster.”
“Then join me in the shower. I’ll be good. For you.” He arched his back, his hands still doing that back and forth that was driving me insane.
Liar, liar, pants on fire, I thought. No way he would he be good.
Because he was the Heartbreaker of Briarcrest Academy.
Author Bio: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap. She spends her days with two small kids, a neurotic cat, and her Viking husband. She collects magnets and rarely cooks except to bake her own pretzels.When she’s not typing away at a story, you can find her drinking too much Diet Coke, jamming out to Pink, or checking on her carefully maintained chocolate stash.She loves to hear from fans and fellow authors.
Author praise for Very Wicked Things:
“Cuba is hot, delicious, and intoxicating…the perfect book boyfriend. Be prepared for a heartbreaking and addictive read.” ~Tijan, New York Times Bestselling Author “Angst, dark secrets, and off the charts sexiness abound in this twisty installment of the Briarcrest Academy Series. First love never sounded so hot and good. Ilsa never disappoints!” ~Shanora Williams, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Ilsa Madden-Mills slayed my heart in the best kind of way. Cuba’s pain was like my very own. Absolutely gut-wrenching.” ~Crystal Spears, International Bestselling Author
“Ilsa does it again with Very Wicked Things. You’ll be holding on to your seat through a few wicked twists so buckle up and enjoy the ride. ~ Megan Smith, USA Today Bestselling Author
Links to Very Wicked Things USA Today Book Trailer:
Tortured and existing in a dark spiral of despair, bestselling British author, Gavin Cooke, has come to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to escape the seedy lifestyle he had been living in London and in a desperate attempt to regain his writing focus. He’s twisted, bitter and angry at the world. He’s a loner… needing not a single thing other than his Scotch and a laptop upon which he can bang out his next erotic, dark thriller.
She’s running in place and getting nowhere…
Savannah Shepherd’s life is falling apart. Her dream of being a wildlife photographer seems a distant memory and she’s barely able to make ends meet. Driving herself forward with no clear goals apparent, she’s about ready to pack up her bags and head home with her tail between her legs.
Two unlikely lovers…
He’s raw, forceful and a dirty talker. She’s a flowers and romance type of girl. Yet within each other, they find a mutual craving that can only be satisfied by giving in to their desires for one another.
Lust turns into something more… something they were not looking for but tentatively accept. Will it be enough to push them past the obstacles of Gavin’s bitter past?
*SUGAR ON THE EDGE can be read as a stand-alone*
About the Author
USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
We are ridiculously excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for ONE MORE NIGHT by Lauren Blakely, the third full-length novel from her first Erotic Romance Series, The Seductive Nights Series!
“You sure you’re not sneaking off to Los Angeles to get me a ring?”
He laughed once more. She’d been trying to get it out of him since the night he told her he’d wanted to take her to Vegas for the weekend. Even with her business meeting, she was hunting for clues of a proposal. Only his brother knew he planned to ask her to marry him this weekend. “I’m not going to Los Angeles to get a ring, but even if I were I would never tell you,” he said.
“You do realize that gives absolutely nothing away?”
He nodded, tapping her forehead lightly, then running his finger down to her nose. “I know,” he said, then nibbled on the end of her nose.
“Well, enough about rings. What’s in that box there you’re hiding by your leg?”
“You saw it?”
“My gift-spotting skills know no bounds.”
He handed her the turquoise-wrapped box with a white bow on it. She eyed the bow. “In case you want to tie me up on the plane, looks like we already have something to use.”
His dick twitched against the denim of his jeans. She was always on the same wavelength as he was. “I may need to tie up your hands as a reminder to bring your poker face to the meeting today.”
She gave him a sharp-eyed stare. “Do not ever doubt my poker face. It is masterful,” she said, as she tugged one end of the ribbon, letting the white satiny bow fall across the shiny wrapping paper. Ripping off the paper, she popped open the top of the box, and there it was. That glow in her eyes. The absolute joy in receiving gifts. She was a delight to give presents to because she never faked her appreciation. Reaching inside the box, she wrapped her fingers around the necklace then gently lifted the long strand of pearls. “Oh my God, they’re stunning. They’re so fucking gorgeous.”
She draped the pearls over her hand, the long strands like waterfalls of smooth, rounded beads. She gazed at them like they were precious, a fitting response, since they were. “They’re real,” she said, with wonder in her voice as she looked up at him.
He nodded. “I would never give you something fake.”
“I’ve never had pearls before. I’ve never thought of myself as a pearl person.”
“Then let me show you how I want you to wear them, so you can see how absolutely fucking sexy a pearl person can be,” he said, standing up and making his way to his suitcase. He opened one of the zipper compartments where he’d tucked a dress for her, and brought it over. “Another gift. Put this on.”
“Now?”
He nodded. “Yes. Model it for me.”
“As you wish,” she said, standing up and glancing once at the cockpit. “What about the pilot?”
“I told him we’d be making full use of the plane and he said he’d have his eyes on the sky the whole time.”
“Then keep your eyes on me,” she said, looping the strand around her neck, then stripping off her skirt, letting it pool at her feet, her gaze locked on him the whole time. He watched her, growing harder with each layer she removed—now her shirt, then her lacy bra. He reclined the spacious leather seat, taking in the show, savoring every second of her undressing.
About ONE MORE NIGHT:
Your presence is requested for another installment in the tale of Julia and Clay, two red-hot lovers. Come inside their world of passion and suspense once more for a deliciously erotic and heart-poundingly dangerous story of pearls, handcuffs, thieves, mobsters, poker and pleasure in the city of sin…
Happy endings don’t come easily. They’re hard-won and Clay Nichols is going to have to keep earning his…
Now living together in New York with her debt safely paid off, sexy bartender Julia Bell and hot-as-hell entertainment lawyer Clay thought their future was clear sailing.
But life doesn’t work that way and the fiery lovers run into a slew of new challenges as Clay tries to put a ring on it. Trouble looms in every corner–trouble from clients, trouble with timing, and, most of all, trouble from her past returns on their trip to Vegas. A dangerous man who knows much more about Julia than he should surfaces in Sin City where they’re supposed to be enjoying a weekend getaway. Following her in the casino, watching her every move at the pool, targeting her as she plays poker.
Too bad Clay is called away repeatedly, leaving Julia alone in a sprawling hotel full of dark corners, back rooms, and unsavory characters. Can Clay save her from danger one more time, and then finally get down on one knee? Or will he be too late for the woman he adores?
Read on in ONE MORE NIGHT, a new novel in the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights series packed with more sex, more dirty talk and more danger. And per your request, the recipe for Julia’s award-winning cocktail, the Purple Snow Globe, has finally been revealed in this ebook!
And don’t miss the prequel novella, FIRST NIGHT, and the full-length novels, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT and AFTER THIS NIGHT, in the Seductive Nights Series!
Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.
Giveaway
Lauren is giving away One Night at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas ($300 value)
“I can easily divide my life into two parts—before her and after.”
Hudson Pierce has led a life few others could even imagine. With money and power at his fingertips, he’s wanted for almost nothing. He’s never experienced love, however, and he’s seen few examples of it in his dysfunctional family. The ridiculous notion of romance has always intrigued him. He’s studied it, controlled it, manipulated it, and has yet to understand it.
Until he meets Alayna Withers.
Now, the games he’s played in his quest for comprehension can finally come to an end. Or are they just beginning?
Told from his point of view, Hudson fills the holes in his love story with Alayna Withers. His past and relationship with his long-time friend Celia is further revealed and light is shed on his actions during his courtship with Alayna.
MUST BE READ AFTER THE FIXED TRILOGY.
Book One: FIXED ON YOU
Book Two: FOUND IN YOU
Book Three: FOREVER WITH YOU
About Laurelin Paige
Laurelin Paige is the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She’s a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine.
ALL proceeds from the sale of this anthology will be donated to Youth Communication, an organization that runs writing courses for at-risk teens and publishes an award-winning magazine (Represent) written by teens in foster care.
“That was all before…” Jenna waves her hand in the air, but we both know what she means. Before I touched her in the most intimate places. Before I felt her shudder under my tongue. Before she tasted the salt on my skin. Before I promised a lot more than I could deliver.
Ty Branch has wanted one thing his entire life—to play professional baseball. When he gets a chance to move from San Francisco to play at Texas powerhouse Garvin State University, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make his dream come true, even if that means hiding his past. But when he meets dance major Jenna Taylor, the chemistry is so strong his single-minded quest begins to weaken. As he gets to know her quirky, small-town family, he falls more deeply
in love, but becomes even more sure he can never tell her the truth about his family. When a surprise visitor blows his past wide-open, Ty is forced to come to terms with his secrets. But is the damage already done with Jenna or can he find a way to sacrifice everything he’s worked for in order to win back the heart of a once-in-a-lifetime love?
This is the first book I have read by author Lynne Jaymes. I was pleasantly surprised. One True Thing has a very fresh plot and outtake on a very real social problem. Sadly this very real problem will go on through the end of time in some way or another.
This is going to be a hard review to write without giving away spoilers.
Tyler Branch has always dreamed of being a professional baseball player. He has diligently worked hard for his accomplishments on and off the field. He is recruited by Garvin State University to play for their baseball team. It is the opportunity he has been hoping for. He will get more recognition and exposure to scouts for the major leagues. Garvin State is in the heart of Texas in a very small town. The people there are stuck in their ways, clinging to the past, and very judgmental. Being from a San Francisco, a very progressive city, it is hard for Ty to grasp their views on life. He doesn’t want to rock the boat in any way that will ruin his chance at the Major Leagues. He vows to focus on school and baseball for the next two years. He will keep his views to himself, stay out of relationships, and keep his secrets buried deep. After all he needs to keep his eye on the ball. What he didn’t count on was Jenna Taylor, the beautiful dancer, who lives a few doors down from him. He didn’t count on an attraction and chemistry that would change the way he looked at life and love.
Jenna Taylor has always wanted to dance. She chose Garvin State over New York because of their outstanding dance department. She is from a very small town in Texas, where everyone knows your business as well as their own. She loves her roots as much as she loves the city. She wants to focus on her dreams without the hassles of being in a relationship that will go nowhere after college. She has been burned before and has no desire to put herself in that position again. That is until she meets Ty Branch.
Jenna and Ty’s attraction builds into a beautiful relationship. There is only one problem with the relationship, Ty’s secrets. As the two become more deeply involved his secrets become lies, the lies get out of hand. When a surprise visit blows the secret out of the water, not only will it ruin Ty’s relationship with Jenna, it may also ruin his chance at the Major Leagues.
Their story may shock some readers. Their story is very real and heartbreaking. It was very enlightening about how the world can be in some places. It is a story that was well written and had the reader sympathizing with Jenna and Ty’s plight.
I think Lynne Jaymes did a wonderful job with One True Thing. The only thing that would of made this story better is if the reader could of experienced more of the characters individual personalities to go along with the focus on their dilemma.
I would highly recommend this book.
Author Bio
Lynne Jaymes is a life-long reader and accidental writer living in Northern California. She writes contemporary fiction that is sometimes funny, sometimes sexy and always from the heart. Although this is not her first venture into writing – Lynne is traditionally published in another genre under another name – she loves the indie world for the freedom it gives her to write the stories that call to her, the ones that mean the most and the ones that editors have said would never sell. ONE TRUE THING is the adaptation of the first book she ever wrote and the story is one that is close to her family and has lived deep in her soul for years. She is also the co-author of the second book in the UNFILTERED Series, UNFILTERED & UNKNOWN.
Spending a year abroad in college gave Lynne a wanderlust as well as a taste for accents and men who can play the guitar. Lynne lives in California with her non-musical, accented husband and two non-accented but very musical sons.
About Cora Carmack:
Saucy Southern Readers 