Month: June 2020

Review: The Player Next Door (K.A. Tucker)

The Player Next Door
Author: K.A. Tucker
Publication Date: June 14, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

From the international bestselling author of The Simple Wild and Ten Tiny Breaths comes a new second-chance, hate-to-love romance.

Scarlet Reed has returned to Polson Falls, convinced that twelve years away is long enough to shed her humiliating childhood identity as the town harlot’s daughter. With a teaching job secured and an adorable fixer-upper to call home, things in her life are finally looking up.

That is, until she finds out that Shane Beckett lives next door.

Shane Beckett, the handsome and charismatic high school star quarterback who smashed her heart. The lying, cheating player who was supposed to be long gone, living the pro football dream and fooling women into thinking he’s Prince Charming. Shane Beckett, who is as attractive as ever and flashing his dimples at her as if he has done no wrong.

Scarlet makes it abundantly clear that old wounds have not been forgotten. Neighbors they may be, but friends they most certainly are not. She won’t allow herself to fall for the single father and firefighter again, no matter how many apologies he offers, how many times he rushes to her aid, or how hard he makes her heart pound.

But as she spends more time with him, she begins to fear that maybe she’s wrong. Maybe Shane has changed.

And maybe this time she’s the one playing herself—out of a chance at true happiness.

The Player Next Door was a fun escape. It was a cute second chance romance. Scarlett was heartbroken after Shane broke up with her in high school. Now, years later, she’s back living in her hometown living next door to him. He’s determined to win her back, and Scarlett is determined to stay away from him. That doesn’t last long, and Scarlett discovers the feelings she had in high school might not be as far behind her as she thought.

I loved how lighthearted this book felt compared to some other of Tucker’s books.  The sweetness of Scarlett and Shane’s takes center stage. Their romance felt fun and natural. There was some deep stuff going on at times, but it never felt like too much. It also helped that there were so humorous moments with Scarlett’s friends. It was exactly what I needed in these heavy times. I’m hoping Tucker will make this a series and give Justine a book. I would LOVE to see her with Dean!

Download today or read for free in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2B2QTuD
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ThePlayerNextDoorKAT
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2YJOXRC

WWW Wednesday: June 17, 2020

Welcome to WWW Wednesday!

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. The purpose is to share what I’ve reading lately. The three W’s stand for:

What did you recently finish reading?
What are you currently reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Recently Read

This is my daughter’s last week of school. It’s bittersweet ending the year at home rather than saying goodbye to her friends for the summer in person. I have a feeling my reading will (hopefully) be dropping off after this week, and that we will get out to do some things together, if it’s safe to do so.

This week  I read Summer Fling and Crossing the Line (Hot Jocks, #4). Then I binged the Game On series with The Hook Up, The Friend Zone, The Game Plan, and The Hot Shot. I finished up the week with an ARC of Want You to Want Me (Want You, #2).




Currently Reading

I’m reading an ARC of In a Holidaze.

Reading Next

Next up is a new release, Faked.

What are you reading? Make sure to leave me your link below so I can check out your post. 🙂

Review: The Dare (Elle Kennedy)

The Dare
Series: Briar U, #4
Author: Elle Kennedy
Publication Date: June 16, 2020
Genre: New Adult, Sports, Romance, Contemporary
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can’t say no.

The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class.

Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy.

Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies’ eyes.

But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see.

And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.

Elle Kennedy is one of my favorite authors and, while I eagerly anticipate every one of her new releases, I also hold her to a high standard when it comes to her books. With every new release, I’m holding my breath hoping she’s going to knock it out of the park. She’s always done that for me, and continued to do that with The Dare.

The Dare was one of those super swoony new adult sports romances. It had just the right amount of sports moments, teammate camaraderie, character chemistry, and character backstories to create problems. What really stood out in The Dare, though, were the characters themselves. Taylor and Conor were characters that were easy to love.

Taylor is one of my favorite Elle Kennedy characters ever. She is perfectly imperfect. She gets in her own way a lot. Taylor is a bigger girl. She has body issues that she lets crossover to every aspect of her life. The way they are portrayed resonated with me. I would have been able to identify with her as a college student, and I’m able to relate as an adult, too.

Conor also got added to my list of favorite characters. He was nicer than I was expecting from the get-go. I mean super nice. He was still a cocky hockey player, but he had layers and some deep insecurities of his own. I loved what his relationship with Taylor did for both of them.

That relationship…sigh. It was so sweet. I loved the pace at which everything progressed between them. The trust they built in each other was what I would expect in a real relationship, so to see it on the page was cool. Everything they went through together matured them from college kids to adults. I just really loved them as a couple.

What else can I say? As with all the other Briar U and Off Campus books, we get to see more of some of our favorite characters. They had special roles in this book, and it was fun to see them again. Other than that, I guess you’re just going to have to read The Dare for yourself. Trust me, you are going to want to! It was one of my favorites in this series.

AVAILABLE NOW!

 
 
START THE SERIES FOR FREE WITH THE CHASE!
Limited time only — Until the end of June!
 
 

Top Ten Tuesday: My Summer 2020 TBR

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

My Summer 2020 TBR

These are just basically books coming out this summer that I plan to read.

1. Charming Like Us
Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

2. Faked
Author: Karla Sorensen

3. Heart Bones
Author: Colleen Hoover

4. Taking His Shot
Author: Kendall Ryan

5. Midnight Sun
Author: Stephenie Meyer

6. That Swoony Feelings
Author: Meghan Quinn

7. Kiss My Cupcake
Author: Helena Hunting

8. Jilted Jock
Author: Rebecca Jenshak

9. Always Crew
Author: Tijan

10. Dirty Empire
Author: Nina West

Blog Tour: Rich Prick (Tijan)

RP - BT banner

“Blaise is the perfect rich prick to fall in love with! One of my fav reads in 2020!”
– Ilsa Madden-Mills, Wall Street Journal Bestselling author

Rich Prick, an all-new not-to-be-missed, opposites-attract standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Tijan, is available now!

Rich Prick ecover

He walked into school on his first day and owned it.

I guess that’s what happens when you’re a prick, rich, and you’re best friends with the ruling school’s king.

Also didn’t hurt he’s drop dead gorgeous.

That’s all fine.

I mean, I have nothing to do with them.

I’m a loner, invisible, and that’s how I wanted it to be.

I was even proud of it, until I wasn’t.

Until I saw a girl kneel before him.

Until I couldn’t look away.

Until he caught me watching.

His name is Blaise Devroe. My name is Aspen Monson.

He only knew how to get, command, and demand attention.

I knew how to do everything but that.

And this is our story.

*Rich Prick is a full 100k standalone.

My review:

Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Rich Prick is a book that’s harder for me to describe. I’m not sure why. It’s a standalone novel, but it has ties to the Crew and Fallen Crest High worlds. You don’t have to read either of those series to read Rich Prick, but it wouldn’t hurt. For me, it was a book that drew these worlds closer together and tied of a TON of questions I’ve had for a long time.

Blaise is a Mason-esque character. He’s one of those super popular guys who runs Fallen Crest Academy, and yet he isn’t one to bow to peer pressure. He has some deeper issues than Mason did, but his character provides the same level of comfort. I liked his character a lot, and loved how he worked on himself throughout this book. I also enjoyed seeing Blaise’s family situation from his perspective that I saw a different way in Crew. That involved new experiences and changes in his relationship with his half-siblings and father.

I knew from her last name that Ashton was going to be Nate’s younger sister. I didn’t pick up her connections to Crew right away, but once I did, I became even more curious about her. She was a weird chick. Or at least she seemed weird until I got into what shaped her. She didn’t have an innate toughness that other Tijan girls do. She was more emotionally delicate. I liked how different that made her.

I really loved Ashton and Blaise together. Tijan excels in creating couples who build each other up. I always want to root for them and see them come out on top of all the drama. Yes, Rich Prick has that drama and angst one expects from Tijan. I liked how that tension was woven throughout the story. Not one moment felt too heavy.

Rich Prick is going to give Tijan fans something they didn’t know they needed. I didn’t know I needed Ashton and Blaise’s stories until I read this book. Now, I’m even more excited for Nate’s book and Always Crew. I love how these worlds keep growing and intertwining.

AN Insta

Download your copy today or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
 Amazon: https://amzn.to/30WxruH
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/richprick
Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/30ttr4i

Add RICH PRICK to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ArZt5G

To celebrate, Tijan is giving away a $50 Gift Card. Click here to enter → http://www.tijansbooks.com/rich-prick-giveaway.html

About Tijan

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores.

Connect with Tijan

Amazon: https://amzn.to/30oxe0f
Facebook:http://bit.ly/2vreAub
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Vx4DpD
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2PyLhwy
Reader Group: http://bit.ly/38bz8nQ
Audiomen Group: https://bit.ly/3bFFKgB
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2EcGBqB
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2T88ibY
Website: http://www.tijansbooks.com/

Review: Rich Prick (Tijan)

Rich Prick
Author: Tijan
Publication Date: June 15, 2020
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

He walked into school on his first day and owned it.
I guess that’s what happens when you’re a prick, rich, and you’re best friends with the ruling school’s king.
Also didn’t hurt he’s drop dead gorgeous.
That’s all fine.
I mean, I have nothing to do with them.
I’m a loner, invisible, and that’s how I wanted it to be.
I was even proud of it, until I wasn’t.
Until I saw a girl kneel before him.
Until I couldn’t look away.
Until he caught me watching.
His name is Blaise Devroe. My name is Aspen Monson.
He only knew how to get, command, and demand attention.
I knew how to do everything but that.
And this is our story.

Rich Prick is a book that’s harder for me to describe. I’m not sure why. It’s a standalone novel, but it has ties to the Crew and Fallen Crest High worlds. You don’t have to read either of those series to read Rich Prick, but it wouldn’t hurt. For me, it was a book that drew these worlds closer together and tied of a TON of questions I’ve had for a long time.

Blaise is a Mason-esque character. He’s one of those super popular guys who runs Fallen Crest Academy, and yet he isn’t one to bow to peer pressure. He has some deeper issues than Mason did, but his character provides the same level of comfort. I liked his character a lot, and loved how he worked on himself throughout this book. I also enjoyed seeing Blaise’s family situation from his perspective that I saw a different way in Crew. That involved new experiences and changes in his relationship with his half-siblings and father.

I knew from her last name that Ashton was going to be Nate’s younger sister. I didn’t pick up her connections to Crew right away, but once I did, I became even more curious about her. She was a weird chick. Or at least she seemed weird until I got into what shaped her. She didn’t have an innate toughness that other Tijan girls do. She was more emotionally delicate. I liked how different that made her.

I really loved Ashton and Blaise together. Tijan excels in creating couples who build each other up. I always want to root for them and see them come out on top of all the drama. Yes, Rich Prick has that drama and angst one expects from Tijan. I liked how that tension was woven throughout the story. Not one moment felt too heavy.

Rich Prick is going to give Tijan fans something they didn’t know they needed. I didn’t know I needed Ashton and Blaise’s stories until I read this book. Now, I’m even more excited for Nate’s book and Always Crew. I love how these worlds keep growing and intertwining.

Blog Tour: Winning Hollywood’s Goodest Girl (Max Monroe)

WHGG - BT banner

A baby on the way first. Then love and marriage? It’s complicated on its best day.

Winning Hollywood’s Goodest Girl
Authors: Max Monroe
Publication Date: June 11, 2020
Publisher: Max Monroe LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Raquel and Harrison sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
First comes love.
Then comes marriage.
Then comes a baby in the baby carriage.

That’s how her brother used to sing it when we were kids—a simple ploy to get under my skin and make me stick my fist in his face—but man oh man, did he get the order wrong.

One night of “kissing” in New York catapulted us straight to the pregnancy portion of the song—surprise!—and now I have to figure out how to carry out the whole melody in reverse.

A baby on the way first.
Then love and marriage?
It’s complicated on its best day.

But our situation is far more problematic than just a simple twist of nursery rhyme lyrics. Before our night together, Raquel Weaver was the best-known good girl in Hollywood—a twenty-nine-year-old sexpot virgin whom the world adored and watched like a hawk.

Obviously, the consequences of that kind of reputation don’t just go away. Add in pregnancy hormones, the media, a fake fiancé, and a selfish manager, and you have the short list of my problems.

As a thirty-four-year-old, successful CFO of a multibillion-dollar media conglomerate, I thought I would be able to handle anything show business could throw my way, but I’m starting to think I might be in over my head.

Good thing I’m all in.
Winning Hollywood’s goodest girl is going to take everything I’ve got.

Heck yeah! I LOVED this book. I mean, I know I say that about every book by Max Monroe, but I REALLY LOVED Winning Hollywood’s Goodest Girl. Why? Get ready for the gushing!

  • The way Max Monroe worked flashbacks into the story. Normally, I don’t like them, but they worked here the way they unraveled one important night between Harrison and Raquel.
  • Raquel was exactly what I would hope America’s Hollywood sweetheart would be.
  • The way Raquel’s fame was portrayed. I wouldn’t wish being a celebrity on my worst enemy at this point… Or maybe I would…
  • Harrison was so sweet! I have enjoyed him in their other books, but he really shined here. I loved his support of Raquel.
  • The “bad guy” in this one was SO BAD! So bad, it was good.
  • The Billionaire Book Club guys’ cameos. So fun!
  • I didn’t want it to end. That’s how much I loved it.

Download your copy today exclusively on Amazon or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dIq5xP
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/HollywoodsGoodestGirl

Add WINNING HOLLYWOOD’S GOODEST GIRL to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Ynwt9j

WHGG - Teaser 2

About Max Monroe

A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.

Connect with Max Monroe

BookBub: http://bit.ly/3bJFJJh
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ReoxkK
Facebook: http://bit.ly/31XxggS
Instagram: http://bit.ly/39wuCkW
Stay up to date with Max Monroe by joining their mailing list today: http://bit.ly/2HzGmau
Website: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/

Disney Parks Book Tag

Don’t we all just wish we could leave the pandemic behind us and head to Disneyland/world right about now? I was tagged to do the Disney Parks Book Tag by Alison at Our Book Boyfriends. This tag originated over at Reading By Starlight.

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☆ Mention the creator of the tag and link back to original post [Alexandra @ Reading By Starlight]
☆ Thank the blogger who tagged you
☆ Answer the 10 questions below using any genre
☆ Tag 5+ friends
☆ Feel free to copy the heading graphics

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Not quite the jungle, but definitely set upon a river.

This one is set on cruise ship that’s sailing the world with a bunch of adrenaline junkies.

An old, haunted motel and a serial killer on the loose. Creepy enough for you?

Not actually a thriller, but figuring out what is going on in this book is a thrill for sure.

This series is called Getting Hitched in Dixie. If that doesn’t say “Deep South”, I don’t know what does.

Princesses obviously live in a castle. This is a fun NA princess read.

I don’t know how whimsical this actually is since it has a dark side, but it is a take on a fairytale, so there’s that.

This cover doesn’t scream trek through the mountains, but there is an actual trek through the Alaskan wilderness.

This book travels the world: ancient India to Berlin in the Nazi era, weaving in present day Chicago, London and Pakistan.

I always enjoy the Ritchie twin’s books, so even though I don’t usually read books about space I enjoyed this series.

I Tag: Anyone who wants to do it!

Mini Reviews: Wild at Heart, Black Lies, Alex in Wonderland

Wild at Heart
Series: Wild, #2
Author: K.A. Tucker
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Publisher: K.A. Tucker
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Calla Fletcher returns to Toronto a different person, struggling to find direction and still very much in love with the rugged bush pilot she left behind. When Jonah arrives on her doorstep with a proposition she can’t dismiss, she takes the leap and rushes back to Alaska to begin their exciting future together.

But Calla soon learns that even the best intentions can lead to broken promises, and that compromise comes with a hefty price—a log cabin in interior rural Alaska that feels as isolating as the western tundra.

With Jonah gone more than he’s home, one neighbor who insists on transforming her into a true Alaskan, and another who seems more likely to shoot her than come to her aid, Calla grapples with forging her own path. In a world with roaming wildlife that has her constantly watching over her shoulder and harsh conditions that stretch far beyond the cold, dark, winter months, just stepping outside her front door can be daunting.

This is not the future Calla had in mind, leaving her to fear that perhaps she is doomed to follow in her mother’s fleeing footsteps after all.

From the internationally best-selling author of The Simple Wild comes the continuation of a woman’s journey to Alaska and a life she never imagined for herself.

My thoughts:

While Wild at Heart didn’t quite have the magic of The Simple Wild, I did end up enjoying it a lot. Calla drove me crazy with her one foot out the Alaskan door routine, but I loved her growth over the entire journey. Her relationship with Jonah continued to be the star, right along with the Alaskan wilderness and the cast of characters who live there.

Black Lies
Author: Alessandra Torre
Publication Date: August 14, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Brant:
Became a tech billionaire by his twentieth birthday. Has been in a relationship with me for 3 years. Has proposed 4 times. Been rejected 4 times.

Lee:
Cuts grass when he’s not banging housewives. Good with his hands, his mouth, and his body. Has been pursued relentlessly by me for almost 2 years, whether he knows it or not.

Go ahead. Judge me. You have no idea what my love entails.

If you think you’ve heard this story before, trust me – you haven’t.

**This is a STANDALONE full-length novel. It is not part of a series, and does not contain a cliffhanger.**

My thoughts:

Wow. Black Lies was a RIDE. This is no ordinary love triangle. It’s dark, twisted, and sexy. I had so many guesses as to what was going on. I was on the right track 3/4 of the time, but dang! Talk about a book that makes you want to throw your Kindle!

Alex in Wonderland
Authors: Max Monroe
Publication Date: July 25, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, Dark Romance, Fairytale Retelling

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

From New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Max Monroe comes a new, sexy, and exciting twist on a favorite fairytale.

I’m Matt Hadder.
I’ve been called ruthless, savage—even brutal—by the men and women who work for me. And I’ve earned my reputation.

Wonderland Inc., a party planning organization for every major player in the world, is Oz, and I’m its Wizard. I can make anything—drugs, prostitutes, deals—appear for a night and disappear just as quickly.

This doesn’t make me good or bad—it makes me essential.

Wonderland Inc. was my life, until a beautiful contradiction of innocence and impurity, obedience and rebelliousness named Alex Little stepped in and turned both of our worlds upside down.

Welcome to Wonderland, Alex.
A place where everything appears normal.
But we’re all mad.

My thoughts:

Well, this was different from every other Max Monroe book they have released. It was darker in it’s almost mafia-like storyline. Alex’s Wonderland was definitely more scandalous than Alice’s. It was also more provocative than their other books. It took a long time for the story to build, but once it did it was explosive. I loved Alex Little, and Matt Hadder grew on my quickly despite his brutish nature. Overall, it was one of those good boundary pushing reads. I think it was supposed to be a series (not sure if it still will be), and I would definitely read more.

Excerpt Reveal: The Dare (Elle Kennedy)

Hi, all! Today, I have something fun to share with you. It’s an excerpt for Elle Kennedy’s upcoming Briar U novel The Dare. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“Thank you,” she breathes the moment we’re alone.

“No problem. Mind if I make myself comfortable?”

“Um, yeah. I mean, no. I don’t mind. Sit if you want. Or—wow, okay, you’re lying down.”

I grin at her visible nervousness. It’s cute. While I stretch out my six-foot-two frame amid the stuffed animals and decorative pillows on the bed, she remains the startled rabbit plastered against the door and breathing heavily.

“Gotta be honest,” I tell her, entwining my hands behind my head, “I’ve never seen a girl so unhappy to be locked in a bedroom with me.”

This has the desired effect of loosening her shoulders and even eliciting a shy smile. “I have no doubt.”

“I’m Conor, by the way.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I know.”

“What’s the eyeroll for?” I ask, playing wounded.

“No, sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. Just, I know who you are. You’re, like, campus famous.”

The more I watch her, hands braced at her sides against the door, one knee bent, dirty-blonde hair a little messy and draped over one shoulder, I can’t help picturing myself holding her arms above her head while I explore her body with my mouth. She’s got very kissable skin.

“Taylor Marsh,” she blurts out, and I realize I don’t know how long we were silent until then.

I scoot to the far side of the bed and put a pillow beside me as a divider. “Come on. If we’re going to be in here awhile, let’s at least make friends.”

Taylor laughs out a breath and with it she releases a bit more tension. She’s got a nice smile. Bright, warm. It takes a bit more coaxing, however, to get her on the bed.

“This isn’t like a move,” she tells me, lining up stuffed animal guards to patrol the pillow wall between us. “I’m not some sort of weirdo who tricks men into getting in bed with her and then mauls them.”

“Sure.” I nod with mock seriousness. “But a little mauling would be okay.”

The Dare releases June 16, 2020.

The Dare purchase links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/TDrAmz
Apple: https://geni.us/TDrAp
Kobo: https://geni.us/TDrKobo
Nook: https://geni.us/TDrNook

Other Links:

Briar U series: https://geni.us/BriarU
Elle’s Newsletter sign-up: http://geni.us/EKNL
Blogger Newsletter sign-up: http://geni.us/EKBlog