BOOK TRAILER




CRIS & PAM'S REVIEW

Cris and I decided to share with you our private coffee shop chat about The Proposal.  We are so excited about this book that we couldn’t help but share with you.  So it went a little something like…

                                                                                                             

Pam: (While sipping her favorite coffee) So Cris did you get a chance to read The Proposal by Katie Ashley?

            Cris: Oh you mean the follow up to The Proposition right?   (Takes a bite of  her chocolate almond biscotti).

Pam: Sure do! We last left Emma and Aidan at a cross roads with their relationship.  My heart dropped at the end of book one.  Emma and the possibility of being alone yet again!  Oh my heart hurt!

  

Cris: huh! well tell me about it Pam! When I reached the last page of The Proposition I was like…What the heck? Seriously? A cliffhanger? But alas! The long wait is over! We have a few days left before the official release. So how did you find the sequel?

  

Pam: Well Katie did not disappoint with this follow up.  Aidan is back on track to make it right!  With a pregnancy scare and a dreamy doctor ready to step up, Aidan is going to have to step up his game.

Cris: You bet! Katie has given us a magnificent kick start! Something that could really hook you up until the very last page. And the good thing is that it still has the unique and perfect ingredient that we came to love in book one. Beau the loyal  dog, the ever hilarious nephews of Aidan, Caseyand her big mouth, the very subtle Patrick, and now we were introduced to a new character who  I believed played a very important role in the sequel.  And see just how gorgeous he is! (showing Pam her IPAD).

Pam: Yeah, I couldn’t agree more! I was really pleased with the way this story unfolded.   It was not your cookie cutter set up.  We were able to dig a little deeper into Aidan’s head and learn just why he did what he did.

Cris: Yes! Like everything just made sense! But there were times that I really wanted to slap both of them. With Aidan still being the cocky, egoistic man that he is and Emma being so hard on him that I started to feel sorry for Aidan. Well I guess, that’s the price he has to pay. If I were on Emma’s shoes, I could’ve done something more evil! LOL. I mean, can you blame me? When you have someone like Pesh out there who can actually swing, swoon and sweat your heart out? But I have to admit that my heart still beats for Aidan even if he’s too much of a coward to say how he truly feels for Emma. But I think he was able to redeem himself at the end and Chapter 14 says it all! The scene just keeps on replaying in my head over and over again. I can vividly remember every line, every single emotion I felt while reading it. And let me just add that Katie didn’t fail to give us those hot and steamy, make you sweat scenes. The book has just the right amount of intimacy that will leave the readers at the edge of their seats.

"chapter 14 is love "

 Pam: I am happy to say that I give The Proposal  5 +++.  I wish I could just shout out the full story but I know once January 15^th comes, everyone will be racing to get their own copy.   Now I am not one to read and tell but Katie Ashley made this girl one happy camper!  How about  you Cris?

  

Cris: Yeah, the girl surely knows how to write a perfect love story! One that can break your heart at one point, and then totally fall hard the next.  I’d say the mind-boggler ending of Book 1 makes it all worth it, so I give it a 5+++++ stars! Heck! If there is a 7, then I’d probably give this one! 

CRIS & PAM'S RATING

GIVEAWAY

Emma's Baby Shower: It's a BOY! Let's all help welcome Baby Noah into the world!

Mechanics:

Write a caption for each one of the 3 photos below. Each photo will have 3 winners. You will have until the 16th to enter and 9 total winners will be picked for an ebook copy of The Proposal by Katie Ashley.

Click here to join the party and giveaway!

BOOK TRAILER

REVIEW

Ever had to ask yourself this question, is it love or career? Can one really enjoy having both at the same time?

When it comes to choosing between the two, it’s never an easy answer. You have the diehard romantics who’d tell you to choose love. And on the other hand, you’d have the ladder climbers looking down and yelling to give up your personal life and reach out to your ambition.

Meet Seth Taylor & Devi Porter…

“First young love gets sidetracked by dreams that take them on two different journeys, but an unknown bond brings them back together again. Devi Porter an up-and-coming tattoo artist in Dallas is trying to live her life as best as possible, but never able to forget the love she had with Seth. Seth a bassist for the popular band My Misery Muse is struggling with his fellow band members with the lifestyle that he now lives. The band decides to go home to Dallas to work on their latest album as well as to work out their problems out from under the glare of the media. Seth and Devi meet up again and both realize they have a lot to work out between themselves as well. As they get reacquainted life and obstacles are thrown at them at every turn, are they able to overcome them to become the family neither really had?” (Synopsis from Goodreads)

Reading the synopsis of this novel really piqued my interest. Not too many books have the ability to do that to me, so certainly this book says a lot! The author has the talent to create characters that are absolutely lovable, believable and relatable. I like that the story takes you through different series of emotions. I find myself swooning most of the times with Seth’s oozing sexiness, biting my nails through quite a few scenes and totally broken when one of the most important decisions have to be made. But I love that the story is not too dragging, both the main characters are not excessively damaged for once. They are two souls who once loved each other, finding their way back and starting to build and relive their feelings for each other only there are certain things that needed to be considered. It isn't anything overly complicated but I am pretty sure that you will enjoy the book as much as I did especially that it featured a sexy, tattooed rockstar with a jacob's ladder that will surely aroused your curiosity and makes your panties melt.

This is an easy 5 star for me!

GIVEAWAY

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Well Cris and I decided to take our reviewing skills to the beach. Why don’t you join us?

Pam- It is nice to take some time to relax. Don’t you agree?


Cris- How can I relax I just read Hopeless by Colleen Hoover!! I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest by the Salvatore brothers! Did you read it like I told you to?


Pam- I did! I have told you before that Colleen Hoover can write an instruction manual and I would give it 5 stars. This new book has a great story. Let me refresh your memory.



“Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies...
That's what Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she's never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he's nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn't at all who he's been claiming to be. When the secrets he's been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky's life will change forever.” (synopsis from Goodreads)




Cris- You don’t need to tell me what its about. I loved it too! The book is fictional, yes! But the plot is very believable since it was based on something which normally happens in our daily lives, and I loved how Colleen was able to build up all the characters, but hated and totally hurt to see those characters had to go through it. Wo, the after effects are still killing me!


Pam- Well after Slammed and Point of Retreat I knew that Hopeless was going to be at the top of my all-time favorite books. Sky lived a sheltered life but with help of her best friend Six, Sky is able to step out of her box.


Cris- I know! Although there were quite a few scenes when I had some difficulties understanding her but eventually loved her seeing how she was able to put down her walls and how much change she had from the beginning till the end. Then queue Dean Holder! Stop the clock!

Pam- He is dreamy and throughout the book you grow to love he more. Such a stand-up guy and so miss understood!


Cris- You don’t have to tell me twice. I think that everyone that reads this book will fall in love not only with Holder but with the story (*sigh...). Colleen Hoover has written a wonderful standalone book that complements her writing style of the Slammed series.


Pam- I total agree! I think that the fans that were drawn into the Slammed series will fall head over heals for Hopeless. Colleen Hoover has painted us a picture of the Lake and Sky and left us with Hope!

CRIS & PAM'S RATING

CRIS & PAM'S REVIEW:

Well I couldn't help but do it to her! I knew she would think I was crazy but I will try anything…

Cris - You brought me to a Tattoo and Piercing Parlor??? I’m not getting pierced!!!

Pam - Chill out chica!! I have a plan! Remember when you told me about that book. You know that one with the MAJOR hot guy!

Cris - Sure do! Fight With Me by Kristen Proby. It is a follow up to Come Away With Me and the second book in With Me Seattle series. Here goes the synopsis...

"Jules Montgomery is too busy and content with her life to worry about a man, especially one Nate McKenna. If growing up with four brothers has taught her anything, she knows to stay away from sexy men with tattoos and motorcycles. That goes double if he's your boss. During the one incredible night they shared, he violated the no fraternization policy...among other things, and it won't happen again. Jules won't risk her career for mind-blowing sex, no matter how much her body and her damn heart keep arguing with her.

Nate McKenna could give a shit about the no fraternizing policy. He wants Jules and he'll have her. The rules could bend around them, or be damned. He's not a man to be taken lightly, and Jules Montgomery is about to find out just how he responds to being pushed aside after the best night of sex he's ever had. She can fight all she wants, but he'll have her in his bed in the end."

Cris - Ok Pam but what does that have to do with you dragging me to a Tattoo and Piercing Parlor.

Pam - Well I read the book.

Cris - And…so did I. I told you! It was HOT! It is on the top of my book list! Nate McKenna is one of my all-time book boyfriends! A man that every woman wants!! (Thank you Kristen Proby for an ARC of this book! It made my morning after having a bad day!)

Pam - That’s why we are here don’t you see? Tattoo and piercings works for Jules so maybe if we hang around I can find me a man and then maybe I can get something pierced!?!?!

Cris - Ok I get where you want to relate to the book. I loved Jules since the first book, Come Away With Me. She's real, fun, confident, independent...no pretensions. She follows her heart, says anything she wants to say and doesn't really give a fuck of what other people will think or say. Having said that I love ya girl but your no Jules and I am sure Nate is NOT running around here.

Pam - I get I am not Jules! Now Nate definitely took me by surprise! He posts as a very professional and intelligent guy, but when you get to know him better, you'll find out that there's more to him. He's over the top sweet, likes to cook, very protective and he definitely knows what he wants and is willing to do everything to get it! Isn't he dreamy? Can you fault a girl for hoping? I’m not in a total dream world! Kristen had to have some truth in her story and maybe I can find some of that here!

Cris -Couldn't agree more! Everybody knows I'm a fan of Kristen's writing. She has a clear take on how to describe scenes in detail especially the steamy ones which would require an intricate narration. Her characters are always 99% believable and readers can easily relate to them. Saying that I really don’t think that she meant for her readers to stock local tattoo shop!

Pam -I get it! She wrote a book that grabbed my attention from the prologue and held it until the end. Jules and Nate's chemistry is fascinating! There were moments when I caught myself smiling, laughing, crying, biting my lips and swooning! So I say again, can you fault me for wanting to try???

Cris - I guess not. I loved all the characters, from the main ones up to the supporting ones especially the whole Montgomery clan. I loved the ending; I loved every freaking thing about that book! Ok so maybe you're not all that crazy now that I think about it! The one thing that every author wants to do is have the reader relate to their words. Now maybe Kristen didn’t think some crazy girl like you would get tatted up but I get ya!

Pam – Exactly! Now what to get pierced? Any input?

Cris – What! Your really going to do it? What are you getting?

Pam – That’s only for me and future Nate look alike to know!

Cris & Pam's Rating:

SIT-DOWN WITH KRISTEN PROBY

The Book Avenue Review had the honor of “sitting down” with Kristen Proby to get down and dirty about what she gets down and dirty about…her books. As the world is welcoming her book Fight With Me and patiently waiting for the next in the “With Me In Seattle” series we at The Book Avenue Review just had to dig deep into that hot and steamy head of hers! Here is what she had to say…



The Book Avenue Review ~ Does the Pacific North West inspire your writing and where else have you lived? (Submitted by Carole Ronneberg)



Kristen Proby~ Hi Carole! Yes, the PNW is beautiful, fun and I love it here. It does inspire the setting of the With Me In Seattle Series. I grew up in a small town called Whitefish, Montana, and also lived for about eight years in Portland, Oregon.











The Book Avenue Review ~ What would make your top 5 book list? (Submitted by Michelina Di Campo)











Kristen Proby ~ This is a tough question, Michelina! Hmm… Okay, I’m going to narrow this down to the past year because if it were of all time, I’d have to list far more than five. 







1. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young







2. Fifty Shades Darker by EL James







3. Wallbanger by Alice Clayton







4. Taken by Kelli Maine







5. Seduction and Snacks by Tara Sivec







There are SO MANY books on my TBR list! I don’t read nearly as much as I used 
to.









The Book Avenue Review ~ After the “With Me In Seattle” series is done what’s next? Are you planning a different direction such as Tara Sivec did with “A Beautiful Lie”? (Submitted by Sandy Roman Borrero)











Kristen Proby ~ I’m not sure what’s coming after WMIS. I still have five books to write for this series! I’ve been tossing around the idea of writing about rock stars, or maybe another family saga set in Montana, but that’s all up in the air. I’m completely submerged in the Montgomery family!











The Book Avenue Review ~ Do you use personal experiences for your sex scenes? Do you try the fun stuff (motorcycle…)? (Submitted by Kristen Teaff)











Kristen Proby ~ Ha! Well, I don’t think it would be appropriate to go into detail on this. I think as a writer, there are certain aspects of my personal life that bleed into the story. That’s inevitable. But I have a pretty active imagination.

The Book Avenue Review ~ What was the inspiration for the characters, such as Luke and Natalie, in the “With Me In Seattle” series? Did you build off real people or were they totally fictional? (Submitted by Michelle McDonald Cammack)











Kristen Proby ~ All of the characters in this series are fictional. I have a whole bunch o’ people, who aren’t real, running around in my head.





Since the sex is so hot did you find it hard to focus on the relationship between any of the characters when a lot of the story was based on the sex?





I think that the sex enhances the relationships. In most cases, as far as I know, when people are falling in love, they have a lot of sex. Don’t they? They are learning each other, inside and out, and I hope I weave the sex in so that it compliments their story. 











The Book Avenue Review ~ What point of view will the rest of the “With Me In Seattle”? The male or female characters or will it alternate? (Cassie Fillmore)











Kristen Proby ~ I’m sure you’ve noticed that each of the epilogues in all three stories have been from the hero’s POV. I will continue that trend through the series. In future books, I may throw in a chapter here and there from the hero’s POV if I feel that we need to see what the heck he’s thinking, but the majority of the story will be from the heroine’s POV.











The Book Avenue Review ~ Do the covers reflect what your envisioned the characters to be or do you just go with what you like? Do you have a clear cut view of them in your head as you write? (Submitted by Clista Seals)











Kristen Proby ~ Aren’t my covers beautiful? I want the covers to convey the feel of the book. Unfortunately, we are limited in the photos available to use, and so I just find what I like the best and hire a cover artist to enhance it to make it special to my book. For the FIGHT WITH ME cover, Nate has short hair, but as you know, in the story his hair is long. Unfortunately, I didn’t have an option to use a photo with a long haired man, so I went with a photo that best conveyed the feel of the story, and I love the intimate feel of that cover.





Yes, I have a clear picture in my head of the characters as I write. I see what they’re wearing, the expressions of their faces, what the room looks like that they’re in. It’s very vivid in my head, and I hope I show that on the page as well.











The Book Avenue Review ~ Growing up did you always know you wanted to write? Who inspired you? (Submitted by Tess Halim)











Kristen Proby ~ Yes, I’ve always been a writer. I don’t remember a time that I wasn’t making up stories. I became passionate about writing in high school, thanks to an amazing English teacher. 











The Book Avenue Review ~ Who would you love to see play Nate and Jules on the big screen? (Submitted by Tess Halim)











Kristen Proby ~ Wow, I haven’t even given this a thought because it just seems crazy to me. Um, I don’t know. I still have a hard time finding photos of men online that do Nate justice. He’s so fabulous in my head. I haven’t found an actor that looks like him yet.











The Book Avenue Review ~ Would you let your kids read your books? (Submitted by Tess Halim)











Kristen Proby ~ Absolutely NOT! 











Thanks, everyone for your questions! And thank you, Cris and Pam, for hosting me today! I hope you all enjoy the book. 





 Happy Reading! 







Now that we have learned a little bit more about Kristen and the “With Me In Seattle” series I think it is safe to say that we will be waiting with bated breath for the next book “Play With Me”. We don’t know about you but if it is anything like the first two make room in your schedule for an uninterrupted date with Meg and Will. ~Happy reading 


BOOK TRAILER

GIVEAWAY:

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I'm not sure what I love more Melissa Browns writing or her love of 80’s movies.  I was given the gift of one of the best movie scene ever (insert one large boom box and one love sick John Cusack) in The Bouquet Toss and now I am gifted with The Breakfast Club (Sweet).  Throw in a NKOTB reference and I knew that this book had “The Right Stuff”.

In the follow up to The Bouquet Toss, The Champagne Toast brings us Evan!

"Evan Maxwell and Kate Armour fell hard and fast for each other while attending college. Their once passionate and loving relationship ended when old scars eventually tore them apart. Two years after their breakup, they're each struggling to piece together what went wrong in an attempt to move forward.

Kate, a no-nonsense bartender, must face her past while attempting to focus on her future.
Evan is stifled by his bitter heart, which threatens each and every relationship he attempts after walking away from Kate.  Will life offer them a second chance at love or are old patterns simply too hard to break."

Starting this book I knew that I would fall in love with Evan.  When I was introduced to him in The Bouquet Toss I knew he would be hard to forget and boy was I right.  Evan is sweet, caring, loving and attentive.  Though out his relationship with Kate love grows but its not always easy. 

When Kate entered the picture I knew that love was not going to be easy for these two.  After denying it they both fell for each other, hard.  I was drawn into this story.  Melissa Brown painted a picture with her words that shows love, pain and sorrow.  “Real love is the most possible thing in the world”.  Now I did find myself wanting to yell at my Kindle at multiple parts!  “Sweets. You couldn't ignore me if you tried”.  If everything in life could be solved via a cheesy 80’s the world would be a better place but it is never that easy.

With a mix of well written characters and a believable story line Champagne Toast holds your attention from beginning to end.  Will Evan and Kate be able to fight the war that is love and come out on top...you will have to download your copy today to find out.  Melissa Brown did not disappoint with this follow up and this book would be a great add to your bookshelf.  For me this was a 5 star!     

SYNOPSIS:

High-speed car chases, hiding out in overgrown bushes, nabbing the bad guy—all in a days work for Julianne aka Jules St. James. Sure growing up with a bounty hunter for a father was a little unorthodox, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, how many sixteen-year-old girls can take a man down with her bare hands, fire an assault rifle, or become a chameleon by using fake identities to nab bail jumpers? On her father’s Texas ranch, she’s just one of the guys with her older, twin brothers, Remington and Colt.

So when Jules’s father insists she spend the summer with her absentee mother—a former Savannah debutant and current member of high society, she is more than a little pissed off. Jules has had little use for her mother since she blew out of town six years ago to trade garden parties and black tie affairs for being a bounty hunter’s wife. A summer in Savannah with Mommie Dearest means having refinement and culture shoved down her throat while styling the latest haute couture fashion.

But Jules’s father has another reason behind sending her to Savannah. The society family of Emmett Marshall, a white-collar bail jumper resides there. The mission is for Jules to get close to Marshall’s teenage son, Jackson, thus trying to unravel any clues about his father’s whereabouts. Locating Marshall could mean a hefty payoff —enough for Jules’s freshman year of college.

Since she's better at taking down a guy than hooking up with one, Jules feels like she's in over her head. Enter Wyatt Deluca. Working for Jules’s bounty hunting cousin, Wyatt's suave services are enlisted to help her reel Jackson in. The tattooed, motorcycle riding bad boy is a 180 from sweet, cultured Jackson, but the more that Jules hangs around with Wyatt, the more confused she is about her true feelings and her ability to do her job.


REVIEW:

This book literally just pulled me right from the start. Everything about Jules that happened within the first few scenes sucks me in because I couldn't stop reading it. Krista Ashe or better known as Katie Ashley surely knows how to write a good book that will hooked you in until the very last page. She has the ability to write and make people interested regardless of what age group you are in, whether its YA, Adult, Erotica or even inspirational ones, you only get the best plots, scenes and dialogues from her.

Jules is a clever girl. She's smart, feisty but fun. Working for his father's Apprehension team along with her twin brothers, Colt & Remy, Jules is ready to take down any bad ass guy there is. Come summer time, Jules was forced to stay with her socialite mother in Savannah, with whom she obviously doesn't have the best relationship with. As much as she wanted to say no, there are compelling reasons to stay there. She was given a mission by her dad to find pertinent information about a certain white collar bail jumper named Emmett Marshall and the only way to do it is to get close to Emmett's son, Jackson, a slice of a heaven guy who at that time was dating one of Jules' cousin, Brynn. But there's a bit of a problem, Jules is a chicken when it comes to guys! But it all became easy through the help of his cousin's stepson, Wyatt, who is as irresistible as Jackson. Will Jules find love in the midst of the mission?

This is a quick read yet full of adventure, fun and surprises; a great read for both young and adults alike. Not only that its a great escape from the usual books with heavy and complicated story lines, but its also very moving since it tackles a lot about family relationship, love and friendship. I can definitely see this becoming a series! A must read with a 4 star rating for me!

Katie Ashley's Dream Cast:

Young Brittany Snow as Jules

Shiloh Fernandez
as Wyatt Deluca

Chace Crawford

as Jackson Marshall