#BookReview: Say You Swear (Boys of Avix, 1) by Meagan Brandy @Read_Bloom

ABOUT THIS BOOK:

From USA Today bestselling author Meagan Brandy comes the viral TikTok sensation Say You Swear. When Arianna starts college, she's hopeful this will finally be the year she wins the heart of her brother's best friend. But things don't quite go as planned...and that's when she meets football star Noah.

Her brother's best friend broke her heart, but what happens when his new teammate wants to put it back together?

Arianna Johnson has been dreaming of what college life might bring, and it’s finally coming over the horizon as she and her friends plan one last beachside summer together. So much has changed over the years, but there’s always been one constant. The boy her heart returns to no matter where her imagination runs: her brother’s best friend, Chase.

This is the summer she’ll finally tell him how she feels. That it’s him. It’s always been him.

Until suddenly, it isn’t.

Ari’s heart is in splinters when she meets star quarterback Noah Riley. His friendship is exactly what she needs after Chase’s rejection, but from the start, Noah wants more. Even when their path is blurry, even when tragedy strikes, even when Ari doesn’t know her own heart, Noah will fight for the feelings he knows they both have…no matter what it might cost them.

They say first love lasts forever. Ari is about to find out if that’s really true.

#BookBlitz: Songs for the Deaf by Kennth A. Silver @RABTBookTours

Speculative Fiction

 

Songs for the Deaf is a wonderful story with the unforgettable presence of Miles Curtin, the protagonist. Following his bombshell discovery, the tug-of-war within his soul creates the kind of depth and literary richness that is one of the hallmarks I look for in great writing. Mariel Hemingway, Oscar-nominated actress, author, and granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway

#BookReview: If Love Had a Price (If Love, #3) by Ana Huang @Read_Bloom

ABOUT THIS BOOK:

Every heart has a price. 

She offered him $10,000 to seduce her father’s gold-digging fiancée.

He countered with $15,000 and a kiss—from her. At any time he chose.

Kris should’ve said no, but she was desperate to get rid of her stepmother-to-be, and the gorgeous actor with the wicked grin was perfect for the job.

So she agreed to his terms—not knowing that doing so would cost her a lot more than money and a kiss...

—

He did it for the money, which he desperately needed.

The kiss was just a bonus, or so he told himself.

Melting an ice princess like Kris started as a challenge, but by the time Nate realized there was more to Kris than meets the eye, it was too late: he had fallen.

But they’re not just from opposite sides of the track—they’re from different worlds. And when those worlds collide, Kris and Nate must decide whether they’re willing to give up what they have for what could be…

If Love Had a Price is book three in the If Love series but can be read as a complete standalone. It takes place between books one (If We Ever Meet Again) and two (If the Sun Never Sets). No cliffhanger! 

Recommended for 18+ due to adult language and explicit content.

#BookBlitz: Black Love Matters by Jessica P. Pryde @essisreading @XpressoTours $25 Amazon gift card

Black Love Matters: Real Talk on Romance, Being Seen, and Happily Ever Afters
Jessica P. Pryde
Publication date: Feburary 1st 2022
Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance

An incisive, intersectional essay anthology that celebrates and examines romance and romantic media through the lens of Black readers, writers, and cultural commentators, edited by Book Riot columnist and librarian Jessica Pryde.

Romantic love has been one of the most essential elements of storytelling for centuries. But for Black people in the United States and across the diaspora, it hasn’t often been easy to find Black romance joyfully showcased in entertainment media. In this collection, revered authors and sparkling newcomers, librarians and academicians, and avid readers and reviewers consider the mirrors and windows into Black love as it is depicted in the novels, television shows, and films that have shaped their own stories. Whether personal reflection or cultural commentary, these essays delve into Black love now and in the past, including topics from the history of Black romance to social justice and the Black community to the meaning of desire and desirability.

Exploring the multifaceted ways love is seen—and the ways it isn’t—this diverse array of Black voices collectively shines a light on the power of crafting happy endings for Black lovers.

Jessica Pryde is joined by Carole V. Bell, Sarah Hannah Gomez, Jasmine Guillory, Da’Shaun Harrison, Margo Hendricks, Adriana Herrera, Piper Huguley, Kosoko Jackson, Nicole M. Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, Christina C. Jones, Julie Moody-Freeman, and Allie Parker in this collection.

#BookTour: Jacob's Melody by Jacqueline Diaz @RABTBookTours

Harmony in Autism

Children's Book

Date Published: May 7, 2024

Publisher: MindStir Media

 

Meet Jacob, an autistic friend who sees the world in his own way. Struggling to make friends, he discovers the power of music- and music therapy- with the help of a caring teacher. In the rhythm of challenges and quiet moments, Jacob finds his unique voice, proving that being different is extraordinary. Join Jacob's musical journey, where every note tells a story of belonging and strength.