The Real Thing by Cassie Mae

Eric Matua has one friend—his best friend and childhood sweetheart, who needs a place to stay for the summer. Mia Johnson has thousands of friends—who live in her computer. Along with her email chats and Facebook notifications, Mia also devours romance novels, spending countless hours with fictional characters, dreaming of her own Romeo to sweep her off her feet. When she starts receiving supersweet messages from a stranger who thinks she’s someone else, Mia begins to believe that real love is possible outside her virtual world.

When the two friends become roommates, Mia finds herself falling harder than she ever thought she could. But Eric keeps his desires locked away, unsure of himself and his ability to give his best friend what she deserves in a boyfriend. As her advances are continually spurned, Mia splits her time between Eric and her computer. But she soon realizes she’s about to lose the only real thing she’s ever had.

The Real Thing is available for purchase:

     

I don't know how Cassie does it but she's done it again. Another novel that is totally relatable, hilarious and entertaining. The social media references and Mia's obsession with being "connected" all the time made the book so very realistic in my eyes. I'm pretty sure Hubby has said and gotten mad at me (not unlike Eric at Mia) over my attachment to my phone, computer, etc. on many occasions. Colour me guilty. I think the fact that it overpowers her life, though annoying to continually read about, makes it's point as to how much it was affecting her life and relationships.

I love me a friends to lovers story and TRT is just that. Cassie is really good at spinning stories of unlikely couples becoming couples. Makes life seem a bit sweeter--that dreams do come true, that there is happily ever after? :) We can all dream, right? I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the story was cute and hit close to home and I love the way Cassie writes!

Within These Walls by J.L. Berg

Within these walls, he became my solace, my sanctuary and my strength. 

I am not strong. I am just a survivor of circumstance.
Isn’t that what we all do? Survive?

Each of us has our own set of circumstances to muddle through. Mine are just more…complicated. 

Born with a severe heart defect, I’ve seen the inside of a hospital room more than my own bedroom. 

I was drowning, a prisoner to the illness that owned me, until he appeared. He thinks he’s blocked out the world with his tattoos and hard exterior, but I see the real Jude, the one he so desperately wants to forget. 

But is he the answer to my prayers or will he break my already damaged heart forever?

My name is Lailah Buchanan, and this is our story of hope, redemption and sacrificing it all for the one you love.

Within These Walls is available for purchase:

     

Lailah Buchanan has been living her life restrained by her heart condition her entire life. Knowing very little beyond hospital stays and what her doting mother allows, she's quite sheltered. Through happenstance, Jude gets transferred to the cardiology department where he happens to cross paths with Lailah. Jude's life hasn't consisted of much for the past three years since the death of his fiancee. Lailah seems to be the light at the end of his tunnel, though. Jude makes it his job to fulfill all of Lailah's bucket list in efforts to redeem himself for choices he made in the past that may have affected her future. The more time they spend together, the more attached they become to each other until they run into a hurdle that threatens to change their relationship forever.

This story was nice. It lacked a lot of depth and I felt like it could have gone a bit deeper with the characters. Everything seemed to fall into place a little too easily and lacked a bit of reality. I guess that may be why they're able to have their happily-ever-after. It was Lurlene McDaniel-esque in nature but didn't quite do it for me as a whole.

Release Day Blitz: The Real Thing by Cassie Mae

Time to party!

The Real Thing releases today (whoop whoop!) and I'm giving away a swag pack full of goodies.

The Real Thing postcards
A froggy loofah
Oh the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
The Real Thing Samsung Galaxy S3 Phone Case
A Cassie Mae pen
A collection of select Cassie Mae/Becca Ann signed books

Rafflecopter right below the excerpt and book details :)

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“All right, all right,” he says, smiling and holding his palm up to stop me. Tomato juice is dripping from the top of his head down his cheeks, getting caught in the smile lines by his mouth. I can feel it running down my face, too, and I should be gagging, but I’m not.

I open my mouth to tell him how cute he looks even with juice all over him, but a light ploof! hits the center of the tub between our bodies, and I stare down at my froggy loofah, now covered in red.

“Oh no!” I frown, plucking the sponge up by the froggy’s arm, then looking up to the shower caddy over Eric’s head. Our splash war must’ve knocked my poor froggy right off his little perch. “My loofah.”

“That’s what it’s called!” Eric slaps the top of his knee, getting more juice on both of us. “I’ve been staring at that thing since you moved in, trying to remember what the hell people call it.”

A small bubble of laughter escapes through my slight frown. “Why?”

“That thing is creepy.”

I gasp. “It is not. It’s cute.” My lip pokes out as I look at the juice soaking into the blue frog’s face. “And now it’s ruined.”

He takes the loofah from my fingers, an adorable pinched look on his face.

“I don’t know how you can wash yourself with this,” he says, pulling at the leg poking from the big green sponge part.

“It’s soft on my sensitive lady parts.” I laugh as his face goes red again. I expect him to drop the loofah back in my hand—or throw it at me—but he doesn’t. He keeps pulling at it as if it’s the weirdest, yet most fascinating thing in the world.

“Is it really ruined?” he asks, tone suddenly nowhere near his usual playfulness. He actually looks worried about my sponge.

“It’s like a buck, Eric.” I adjust in the tub again as the juice creeps into nooks and crannies of my body I had no idea existed till now. “I can get another one tomorrow. Maybe an even creepier one just for you.”

I try to wink, but I’ve never been good at that. He sort of laughs, but his eyes go back to the froggy. He runs his thumb over the eyeballs, wiping the juice from it. I thought I knew Eric pretty well. But as I watch him stare at my loofah, head slightly cocked to the side, I realize I have no clue what he’s thinking. And that’s totally okay. The anticipation of finding out is better.

“Only a dollar?” His eyes lift to mine.

“Or two. Depending on where you go.”

His lips purse and he nods, then plunges the sponge into the juice. Before I can smack him for that, he pulls it from the bath and wrings it out over my head. My jaw drops to my knees.

“Oh, you are so dead.”

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Buy Me!

In this electrifying novel from Cassie Mae, two close friends surprise themselves by shifting from platonic love to sexual attraction.

Eric Matua has one friend—his best friend and childhood sweetheart, who needs a place to stay for the summer. Mia Johnson has thousands of friends—who live in her computer. Along with her email chats and Facebook notifications, Mia also devours romance novels, spending countless hours with fictional characters, dreaming of her own Romeo to sweep her off her feet. When she starts receiving supersweet messages from a stranger who thinks she’s someone else, Mia begins to believe that real love is possible outside her virtual world.

When the two friends become roommates, Mia finds herself falling harder than she ever thought she could. But Eric keeps his desires locked away, unsure of himself and his ability to give his best friend what she deserves in a boyfriend. As her advances are continually spurned, Mia splits her time between Eric and her computer. But she soon realizes she’s about to lose the only real thing she’s ever had.

Advance praise for The Real Thing

“Cassie Mae is awesome! The perfect balance between laugh-out-loud funny and achingly poignant, The Real Thing is the ultimate escapist read. I didn’t want it to end!”—Lauren Layne, author of Isn’t She Lovely

“Watching two best friends figure out how to fall in love makes The Real Thing a summer read of swoon-worthy perfection.”—Jolene Perry, author of The Summer I Found You

“Cassie Mae’s The Real Thing made me want to close out every social media app and electronic device I have, but I couldn’t manage to stop reading!”—Rebecca Yarros, author of Full Measures

About the Author

Cassie Mae (who dawns the name Becca Ann on occasion) is the author of a few hundred... okay, maybe not that many... books. Some of which became popular for their quirky titles, characters, and stories. She likes writing about nerds, geeks, the awkward, the fluffy, the short, the shy, the loud, the fun.

Since publishing her bestselling debut, Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend, she has published and sold books to Random House, Swoon Romance, and Spencer Hill Press. She has a favorite of all her book babies, but no, she won't tell you what it is. (Mainly because it changes depending on the day.)

Along with writing, Cassie likes to binge watch Teen Wolf and The Big Bang Theory. She can quote Harry Potter lines quick as a whip. And she likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed. She also likes cheesecake to a very obsessive degree.

You can stalk, talk, or send pictures of Dylan O'Brien to her on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cassiemaeauthor

****************Giveaway!******************

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Release Day Blitz: Within These Walls by J.L. Berg

Within these walls, he became my solace, my sanctuary and my strength. I am not strong. I am just a survivor of circumstance. Isn’t that what we all do? Survive? Each of us has our own set of circumstances to muddle through. Mine are just more…complicated. Born with a severe heart defect, I’ve seen the inside of a hospital room more than my own bedroom. I was drowning, a prisoner to the illness that owned me, until he appeared. He thinks he’s blocked out the world with his tattoos and hard exterior, but I see the real Jude, the one he so desperately wants to forget. But is he the answer to my prayers or will he break my already damaged heart forever? My name is Lailah Buchanan, and this is our story of hope, redemption and sacrificing it all for the one you love.

Excerpt

“What is your deal, Jude?” she yelled, taking several strides toward me. 

“My deal?” 

“Yeah, you’re sweet and endearing one minute and then brushing me off the next. I don’t get it. What do you want from me? Am I a charity case? Do you get off on hanging out with the poor sick girl but then tire of me easily?”

Closing the last few inches between us, I got in her face. “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I hissed.

“No,” she answered, “I really don’t. You don’t tell me anything. You are this big, giant mystery that I know nothing about. Why is that, Jude?”

“It’s too much,” I simply said.

“You mean, I can’t handle it,” she inferred.

“That’s not what I said, Lailah.”

“No, but that’s what you meant. You’re just like everyone else. I’m too fragile. I’m too weak. Let’s sugarcoat the truth, so it doesn’t upset Lailah. God forbid that we upset her,” she said in a mocking tone. “Well, I’m neither weak nor fragile. I’ve endured more pain than most people see in a lifetime, so don’t think for one single second that I can’t handle anything you can.”

“I know you can.”

“Then, why put me through all this? Do you even care a little about me?” Her voice was quiet and timid.

“I care too fucking much, Lailah.” Without a second thought, I grabbed the nape of her neck and pulled her body to mine before fusing our mouths together. She gasped in surprise, pulling back slightly, but then she surrendered, melting into me completely. My hands tightened around her waist as I deepened our kiss. I knew this had to be her first kiss, and I intended to make sure it was well worth the wait.

Within These Walls is available for purchase:

     

A portion of the sales during the first week of release will go to a children's heart charity.

Giveaway

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About The Author

J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

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Pieces of Broken Time by Lorenz Font

When Blake Connor returns from Afghanistan, he wants nothing more than to hide from the world. He’s plagued by the memory of his best friend’s death and the pain of his own injuries. That same friend’s dying wish is just one more burden he must carry.

Jennifer Owens had expected to get married the moment her fiancé returned from the war, but the news of his death changed everything. When an unexpected letter arrives a year later, it raises new questions and opens old wounds. Her search for answers leads her to Blake’s doorstep.

Although Blake seems determined to keep her at arms’ length, Jennifer recognizes the beauty that lies beneath his scars and confronts him with the truth. Nothing will ever be the same for this broken ex-Army Ranger, but he must overcome his warped self-image and emotional scars if he’s going to be the man Jennifer deserves.

I think the first thing that comes to mind when I read books like these is how sad and tragic it is that there's still such a thing as warfare going on anywhere in the world. All the lives that are (negatively) affected by this whether in an instant or forever altering someone's life is senseless. Take Blake and Trent in this novel--Trent doesn't survive and Blake is injured only to survive but be forced to live a severely altered life. Then there's Jennifer--her life is changed forever when her fiance is ripped away from her. Right. So we've established that this book is indeed, really sad.

Besides the sadness factor, it was also twisted. Not in a bad way but it's funny how life works out. Jennifer and Blake, though they fight it, end up together and it seems like it was meant to be with their feelings for each other mirroring each other but neither of them wanted to face Trent with the truth. It was a bit farfetched at the same time. It was odd to read on and on about how much Blake is physically suffering but then he's more than a-ok to have sex with Jennifer in the shower (which, common, is physically exerting...)! I felt like most of the story was fairly cut and dry. The chapters jumped and it felt that it was disjointed at times. I'm generally a fan of military themed stories so PoBT served that just fine. My mind wasn't blown by this book but it wasn't too hard to get through, either. 

Pieces of Broken Time is available for purchase:

     

Perfect Kind of Trouble by Chelsea Fine

Twenty-one-year-old Kayla Turner has lost everything. After spending most of her life taking care of her ailing mother, she just wants to spot a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. So when her late father-a man she barely knew-leaves her an inheritance, she finally breathes a sigh of relief . . . until she learns the inheritance comes with strings. Strings in the form of handsome playboy Daren Ackwood, her father's protégé. To see any of her inheritance, she's forced to team up with him. From his expensive car to those sexy dimples, Kayla's seen his type before. But Daren isn't who he seems to be . . .

Struggling to make amends for his family's mistakes, Daren has a life more Oliver Twist than Richie Rich these days. He's beyond grateful that James Turner included him in his will, but working with Turner's princess of a daughter to fulfill his cryptic last wish is making Daren wonder if being broke is really so bad. Still, she's just as beautiful as she is stubborn, and the more time he spends with Kayla, the less it feels right being without her. Soon Daren and Kayla begin to wonder if maybe the best gift Kayla's dad could have left them . . . was each other.

From reading Best Kind of Broken, I was actually not quite sure that I had much interest in Daren's story. His appearances in BKoB made him seem fairly shallow. I guess, though, that's why this works. Perfect Kind of Trouble gives Daren a layer of depth you'd never expect. Add the mysterious Kayla and you've got a great story of two, misunderstood souls that come together at a time where they both, in their own ways, just hit the bottom. Daren and Kayla, separately, are both damaged in their own ways. Together, they have the pieces to make each other whole--something Kayla's father saw long before either of them did. It's really a nice story that such a beautiful relationship could come out of such darkness. It truly hurts to know that there are some people in the world who could grow up so unloved and become so emotionally wrecked. This story touched upon emotions I didn't expect, I truly enjoyed it. I can't wait to read the next book in the Finding Fate series!

Perfect Kind of Trouble is available for purchase:

     

Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros

Three knocks can change everything…

"She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead."

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction.

Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.

Full Measures is available for purchase:

     

I don't know why it took me so long to read this. I kept putting it off and things kept coming up. I finally twiddled down my to-be-read pile and opened up Full Measures which has been on my to-be-read and Kindle for MONTHS untouched. Like since its release date in February. Let's just say I fell asleep reading it and finished it the second I woke up to my Kindle next to my face. Yep. FM has made its way onto my favourites book shelf...that is, when I'm able to get my hands on a hard copy!!

This book was full of emotions. Very strong and intense emotions. Just the way I like it. My heart went out to Ember as she had to keep her family in tact during a time anyone would want to fall apart. She's such a strong young woman and I really, truly, admired her strength and wisdom beyond her years more and more as the story went on.

Josh, ah, Josh. To me, Josh was a hero from the get go. I totally swooned, at the same moment as Ember, I'm sure, in the grocery store. Swoon-worthy to the very end. He's there for Ember and offers to be her whatever, no questions asked. Not too many guys would stick around with the on-again-off-again ways of Ember. I loved that he stuck it through and really proved himself to be a remarkable human being.

There's no denying the intensity of the whatever that goes on between Josh and Ember. There are just enough super hot moments that you're satiated without being excessive. There's enough going on that the story flows really nicely and the characters are fairly nicely developed. It wasn't a slow moving story at all, which I liked. You want to laugh with them, you want to cry with them, your heart breaks for them and, most of all, you want more, more, more!! You'll want more of Josh and Ember...and, I don't know about you but I totally want more Jagger! Of course, my excitement can't be contained because I then caught THIS post on Rebecca's blog...can I say I really, truly, can't wait!!!