I have to, because I finally have something to live for.
When I first saw those two pink lines, it was a blow that stung harder than any slap or punch ever could. I was devastated. I’m not sure I’m fit to be a mother, but I’m damn sure going to protect this child from the monster down the hall. He will never know it exists… he will never lay one finger on my baby. Not ever.
Some might think the life growing inside of me would be a reminder of all I’ve lost—of all of the pain I’ve endured, the hurt, and the terror. And in a way, they’re right, but it also gives me hope. Now I have something—someone—to fight for.
Anxiously, Nora
__________________
Dear Diary,
I hope this finds you in time—that you can help me, that you believe me.
Please believe me…
I had to run sooner than planned… he’s too unpredictable. I can’t take any unnecessary risks, not anymore, not when I have so much to lose.
It’s funny, I used to want to die, for him to hit me so hard I would never wake up, but now? Now I want to live. I have to live.
If you’re reading this still, look for me in the place where the lake meets the shore. I’ll wait for you as long as possible. I understand if you can’t come, or if you don’t want to… but I really hope you do.
Known by Kate to most, LK Farlow is an Amazon Top 40 bestselling author of nearly a dozen romances, ranging from sweet, to sexy, to rip your heart out, and everything in-between.
She has a heart built for happily-ever-afters, which is lucky since she found hers at the young age of nineteen. Now, at thirty-something, she is the wife to one hunky man and the mother to four semi-feral humans, three lizards, and a handful of stray cats.
Kate often jokes that her life is all out chaos on most days, but she wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I am absolutely destroyed at the moment. This book gutted me. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to get when I started. As this is A- my first read by this author so I’m unfamiliar with her style, which I am discovering is a tragedy in itself because OMG where has Author Brit Benson been in my life the last few years?! And B- because other than the blurb that TBH I read a while back when I signed up to read this, I went in blind not really knowing too much of what to expect. Which turned out to be the way to go anyway.
Blind is best y’all. My recommended way to go, always. Now, I had my assumptions based upon said blurb, but… You know what they say about assumptions and all! Blurb had me thinking “ okay, this is going to be the whole “good girl falls for an anti-hero that’s going to grow on us.” and I can totally get on board with a good ‘ol enemies to lovers any day of the week and twice on Sunday’s. I mean it was an enemies to lovers, and this book does take place in high school, but these were anything but your typical high school sweethearts. This book was unlike ANYTHING I have ever read. Original storyline with phenomenally written, flawed characters gave us an engaging and gripping story. A gritty and realness that is sure to leave you emotionally raw long after the cliffy at the end leaves you breathless. I know it did me.
From the very beginning I fell for Macon hook, line, and sinker. He’s so tantalizingly toxic, and I should be ashamed that I’m so twisted because I die harder for the toxic ones. But I’m not even a little ashamed. Yes, he was definitely cruel at times, he was messed up, he was for sure trouble with a capital T. But he was also misunderstood, he was damaged, he was broken, self destructive, hurt, and he was so much more than what people saw him for. It wasn’t just the way people saw him, it was the way he saw himself.
He just made me feel everything. I wanted to simultaneously hit him upside his head to knock some sense into him and pull him to me and just hug him and heal all his hurts. He broke my heart, he melted my heart, he made me hot. Holy Hot Hell 🔥🌶🔥🌶 did he ever make me hot. The ones with the bad egg rep y’all, I’m telling you. They just do it for me. What is wrong with me? In real life my hubby is as straight-laced as they come. Lol That’s probably why I like my fictional fellas fully fubar’d! (Not completely. I do want him redeemable)
Lennon is amazing. She’s got a heart of gold, she is who she is and she’s comfortable with herself. She is creative, a rule follower, and selfless friend. Honestly she gets the short end of the stick sometimes because with most of the people in her life she doesn’t stand up for herself…except with Macon. He seems to be the person in the world who can get her the most fired up. The way they verbally spar. He brings out this lively feisty spirited side to her that no one else sees. I can feel how she finds herself struggling with her feelings for him, it practically jumps off the pages. She is at war with everything. The things he does, the way he treats her, the things others have to say about the kind of person he is. It all weighs heavily on her mind.
But things start to happen and she finds herself around him more and more and she sees glimpses that there is so much more to him. All of these discoveries are breaking down her walls. However the more walls they tear down, the more life seems to throw back up in their way. I just connected with her character so deeply. The writer did such an amazing job I was so invested and emotional I had to take moments and remind myself that I wasn’t actually there. I didn’t need to throw down with anyone in real life to stand up for some injustice that was being done to my girl. I mean I could chuck my kindle, and almost did several times. I could cry, which I absolutely did. A lot. I could cuss, did that as well. But at the end of that chapter I pressed on. Until press on I could no more…and now we wait.
My angsty frustration level is at an all time high. The tension between them is palpable. I live for the kind of rush this book was giving me. This book is a catastrophic collision of every emotion under the sun. Past trauma, damaged hearts, addiction, forbidden love, secrets, mistakes, lies and betrayal rips through their lives. Told in dual alternating POV, book one in the Next Live Duet will leave you grasping the edge of your seat, tears in your eyes, wanting to IM the author immediately to demand book two, before I die of impatience. Can one actually die of impatience? I feel like I just might. But in all actuality this book is fantastic. While it is full of sensitive content. It is beautifully written, the parallels to real life make it tragically devastating especially given where it has left us at this point. I am also filled with a smidge of hope. Deep in my core I believe in true love and I believe these two are inevitable soul mates. But I think they ( and us readers) will be put through a gut-wrenching journey, the likes of one which we won’t recover from immediately( because these characters have already captured our hearts.)
My Cr8zysockbookblock Wrap Up
⭐️Star Rating~⭐️✨⭐️✨⭐️✨⭐️✨⭐️✨⭐️✨~Six, I will probably never emotionally recover from this duet if book one is anything to go by, STARS!!
💭Overall Thoughts~ I am so happy I took a chance on this book and this new to me author as it will most definitely go down as one of my TOP READS of 2022! My only regret is that I am just now discovering this author’s work. I plan to quickly devour as much of her back list ASAP. I will be counting down the days until book two. I’m probably not ready for what Ms. Benson is going to do to my poor heart. But I can’t survive without knowing where we are going from here. I highly recommend EVERYONE take a chance on this author and The Love Of My Next Life. As for me… I will never be the same.
⚠️TRIGGERS~This book has some content that could be disturbing to some readers. Elements of child abuse, unaliving oneself, Death, addiction, mental illness. If you would like more specific information feel free to PM me for more specific details.
🌶 HEAT~ 🌶🌶🌶 Definitely Hot. Had tension and lots of great “Banter O’Hate.” The buildup was worth the wait. I can’t wait to see the spice level in book 2 since I imagine the them to be older in that book.
🥰 HEA/CLIFFY🧗♀️~HUGE CLIFFHANGER– This book is book ONE of TWO. You will not get a resolution to this couple’s story in this book. You will get a shocker and then an abrupt ending to keep you hanging! Thankfully book two is set to release in October 2022. Until then Happy Reading My Friends!
Meet Brit Benson
Brit Benson writes romance novels that are sassy, sexy, and sweet.
When she’s not dreaming up her next swoony book boyfriend and fierce book bestie, she’s reading.
When she’s not reading, she’s probably marathoning a Netflix series or wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles in Homegoods.
Brit currently resides somewhere near the Blue Ridge Parkway with her husband, daughters, and dogs.
mailer
To learn more about Brit and her books, visit here!
But the second I walk into the hotel bar, I see temptation.
The man sitting there is delicious. Older. Experienced. Once our eyes meet, I know I’m not walking away unscathed. I’ve heard about men like Jenner Dalton–richer than God and hotter than sin. He’s got heartbreak written all over him.
But it only takes fifteen minutes before we’re headed up to his room.
I’ve never done anything like this before, but something tells me he’s worth it. Every swipe of his tongue feels electric, every kiss sets me on fire, and his experience has me begging for more.
And more.
And more.
In one week, I’ll return to college in Miami.
He’ll go back to being LA’s most eligible billionaire.
The miles and years between us are just too many for this to mean anything.
So, between now and then, I plan to spend every moment being anything but good …
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!
Marni Mann has blown me away with Jo and Jenner. This deliciously dirty age gap, forbidden romance is everything I was looking for in my life right now.
From Jenner and Jo’s sexy meet cute to them kickin things right off from there with explosive chemistry they will captivate you with their down and dirty playfulness, witty banter and swoony steam.
Jo is beautiful, sweet, fun, playful and mature. She’s about to graduate from college and is ready to make her mark on the world. There is just something about Jenner that caught her eye from the get go and she had to have him. Jenner is this perfect blend of successful, alpha, swoony and oh so hot.
This couples journey from a strings free type of arrangement to falling hard and fast will keep you entertained and engaged with its every little detail designed to have you obsessing over Jo and Jenner. The dynamics of just how forbidden a romance this particular book is unfolded as the story did. It definitely made for an unexpected twist that I didn’t see coming and I loved it!
Four fan yourself flirty and fantastic stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meet Marni
USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts unique stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and their yellow Lab. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, or devouring fabulous books.
I’ve lost my family, my wealth, and the place I called home for the past five years. Now I’ve moved back to where it all began… With the guys I thought I’d never see again. Abel, Ronan, Wells, and Bishop were my friends at one time. The only girl they would let into their inner circle. Now they hate me. They think I’m a traitor. And I don’t know why. But I am bound and determined to find out. The problem is, there is a super fine line between hate and lust. What happens when we all cross it?
Traitor is the first book in the Loxley Prep series.
*This is a reverse harem romance and contains foul language, sexual content, and parts may be triggering.*
Meagan Brandy is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of New Adult and Sports Romance books.
Born and raised in California, she is a married mother of three crazy boys who keep her bouncing from one sports field to another, depending on the season, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Starbucks is her best friend and words are her sanity.
Emily Goodwin has revealed the cover for Bitter Love!
Releasing: March 15, 2022
Photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography
If there’s one thing I know to be certain in life, it’s to expect the unexpected. I never expected to become a teen mom or have to flee a toxic relationship years later. And I certainly never expected to go head-to-head with Jacob Harris, doctor of veterinary medicine, to prove I’m worthy of running the struggling rescue full of misfit animals I suddenly inherited.
Jacob is as smug as he is good looking, and I refuse to let that cocky grin or sharp jawline distract me. I won’t go down without a fight, and this time, it’ll be easy to stand my ground when my opponent is someone I can’t stand–even though my body reacts whenever he’s around. This time I’m not backing down no matter how much he gets under my skin.
But the more I push, the more he pulls…until I don’t know what I’m more at a risk of losing: the rescue or my heart.
Emily Goodwin is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of over a dozen of romantic titles. Emily writes the kind of books she likes to read, and is a sucker for a swoon-worthy bad boy and happily ever afters.
She lives in the midwest with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not writing, you can find her riding her horses, hiking, reading, or drinking wine with friends.
Emily is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency.
Scared to Love, an all-new angst-filled dark mafia romance set from USA Today and Wall Street Journalbestselling author Siobhan Davis, is available now!
A new dark mafia friends-to-lovers romance from USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Siobhan Davis.
Serena has felt trapped her entire life, living a lie because it was demanded of her.
Years of torture at the hands of her sadistic husband have left her battered and bruised, but not defeated. She needs to stay strong for her children, and she’s determined to reset her future.
The future she has all thanks to Alessandro.
He saved her that fateful night when her husband died, and he continues to save her as she struggles to piece her life back together.
Yet the closer they get, the more it terrifies her because no man has ever made her feel like this.
It can’t work.
She’s too broken.
He’s too young.
And she’ll never trust a made man again.
Women never get under Alesso’s skin—until Serena. They share an intense connection that can’t be ignored, no matter how hard she tries to push him away.
He knows she’s scared. He is too, but she’s worth the risk. Alesso vows to be patient, until danger resurfaces and now all bets are off. Serena needs to understand how much she means to him and he will do everything to protect her.
The situation grows more tense as the DeLucas plot against Bennett Mazzone and the surviving mafia heirs. But Alesso will lay down his life before he lets Serena get hurt again.
Now his walls are lowered, the gloves are off, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
Even if it means letting her go.
This is a full-length 105k-word novel with NO cliff-hanger and an HEA, set in the Mazzone Mafia world. This is the third and final book in this series. For readers who enjoy friends-to-lovers, second chance, reverse age-gap, dark mafia romance. May contain triggers – please read the note at the start of the book.
Oh my goodness!! Talk about mafia magnificence. Alessandro and Serena’s story is like no other in the mafia romance genre. This story is heartbreaking but also healing to its core. This world in which Siobhan Davis has created is unforgettable, the stories unputdownable.
Serena’s character is rebuilding a life for herself after years of abuse. Her journey is one of self discovery, healing, and so much strength. It’s about realizing your strength that lies within, while dealing with the struggles that go along with trauma. I loved her character and I wanted all that’s good in life to find her and her children. I wanted her to find a partner who would treat her like the treasure she is, and I think Alesso is most definitely the man for the job.
Alesso was such a fantastic hero in this book. Total slow burn book boyfriend goals. He was so kind, loving and patient. He was a delicious alpha and protector. He was longing for everything only she could give him, and in return he wanted to be there for her and her adorable kids. He gladly fulfilled a missing chunk in their lives.
Of course… Since this was a Siobhan Davis novel it was jam packed with heart dropping moments, moving fast paced ensuring you didn’t want to stop reading once you had started. I just loved this world and all the H & h’s. This is the perfect time to dive right into the Mazzone Mafia series. Each book focuses on a different couple and gives you a perfect HEA. 🥰
Excerpt
ALESSO
She slams to a halt, turning to face me. “I would never deliberately deceive you. That’s not who I am.” Fire underscores her tone, and I like hearing it.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I know who you are.”
The saddest expression washes over her features. “If that was true, you wouldn’t be standing here with me now. You wouldn’t be spending time with me each day. You would run a mile if you realized exactly who I am.”
I risk stepping a little closer. “I have known you long enough to know the kind of woman you are, Serena. I’d like to think you’ve known me long enough to know you could tell me anything, and it wouldn’t scare me away.” Reaching out slowly, I take her gloved hands in my bare ones. “I spend time with you because I enjoy it. I want to get to know you better. I want to support you as you deal with the things you need to deal with.”
“Why me? I’m too old. Too broken. I have kids. I come with so much baggage I’m completely weighted down with it. I—”
I can’t listen to her beat herself up any longer, so I place two fingers over her mouth, quietly shushing her as I prepare to negate each of her concerns. “One. You’re not too old, and I’m not too young. Age is just a number, and I refuse to allow stupid societal norms to dictate who I spend my time with or categorize the nature of that relationship. Two. Broken is subjective, and we all have our broken parts, but guess what?” I move my fingers from her lips to her cheeks, silently rejoicing when she doesn’t flinch or shy away. “Broken parts can be glued back together. Three, I adore your kids, and they are the cherry on top. And four, every single person in the world has some kind of baggage. It’s called life.”
Tears glisten in her eyes, spilling onto her cheeks. “You’re not real,” she whispers. “You can’t be.”
My heart aches for her because I see the mistrust and disbelief in her eyes. “I’m real, Rena.” Taking her hand, I slip it under my coat and over my shirt-covered chest, where my heart is currently jumping cartwheels in honor of her presence. “I’m as real as it gets.”
Holland Hockey winger and campus hottie, Cole Davis, might be an MVP with the ladies, but I’m not falling for a player…not with medical school on the line.
With our best friends dating, our forced proximity is inevitable.
That doesn’t mean I have to like it—or the way he makes me feel. Like I’m missing out and there’s more to life than sitting on the sidelines.
It only takes one moment of weakness to remind myself why I should have stayed away from Cole.
He might be a ruthless player, but nothing about this is a game.
Cole Holland Donovan knows exactly what she wants out of life—and it isn’t me.
She’s not looking for any distractions, and I’m a one-night kind of guy, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting her.
From the first electric kiss—I know one night will never be enough.
I just need to convince her that I’m in it for the long haul—this isn’t just about scoring.
On the ice I’m a pro at blocking shots and stealing passes, but when it comes to Holland the rules change.
I won’t stop fighting for her, for us, until I make her mine.
Game Six loss costing my team the Cup? Check. Getting arrested and ruining my image? Check. Almost getting run over after my car breaks down? Oh, look–a hat trick.
My contract is up with the Carolina Comets this year, and I need to get it together if I want to stay with the team.
I need relaxation, not a relationship.
But when I’m scrolling on a dating app and stumble across the pretty girl who almost ran me over, I know I can’t let her walk away this time.
Harper is funny, smart, and doesn’t care about hockey.
I’m not supposed to be focusing on anything other than my career, yet I can’t get Harper off my mind.
I know I shouldn’t fall for her…but I think I already have.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
TEAGAN HUNTER is a Missouri-raised gal but currently lives in South Carolina with her Marine veteran husband, where she spends her days begging him for a cat. She survives off coffee, pizza, and sarcasm. When she’s not writing, you can find her binge-watching various TV shows, especially Supernatural and One Tree Hill. She enjoys cold weather, buys more paperbacks than she’ll ever read, and never says no to brownies.
He arrives all dressed in black. Diamond cufflinks. A watch on his tanned wrist that cost more than we would ever see in a lifetime of work. He carries a single red rose for my mother.
Months later, Tiernan Morelli lays red roses on my mother’s grave. That same day, he tells me that he is my new guardian.
I should have known from the very start that he had more in common with the thorns than the rose. Now I know the truth: I’m a pawn in his dangerous game of revenge. I was too young and naive. Now it’s too late to save myself from his clutches.
I belong to him.
About the Author:
Giana Darling is a USA Today Bestselling Selling Canadian romance writer who specializes in the taboo and angsty side of love and romance. She currently lives in beautiful British Columbia where she spends time riding on the back of her man’s bike, baking pies, and reading snuggled up with her cat Persephone. She loves to hear from readers so please contact her at gianadarling@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.
Cr8zy Sock Book Block 