GETAWAY GIRL

This unlikely getaway driver never expected to help the mayor escape…

After a six-year absence, Addison Potts is back in Charleston to stir things up. And what better place to make her villainous return than her estranged cousin’s wedding? Only, the nuptials hit a snag when the bride doesn’t show, leaving Addison to play getaway driver for the jilted groom. A groom whose heartbreaking smile and deep, southern drawl she should not be noticing…

Elijah Montgomery Du Pont is the future mayor of Charleston. From his military career to city hall, every detail of his life has been meticulously planned. Until now. His only respite from life’s sudden upheaval is Addison, his new, improbable best friend. She makes him happy. Grounds him. And public disapproval be damned, he’s not willing to give her up. But with an election on the line and public pressure rising, Addison—and the cruel hand of fate—might not give him a choice.

Audiobook Release Date: June 6, 2018

Blunder Woman Productions

Narrators: Joe Hempel & Lori Prince

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by Lori Prince

Liza's review:

Somehow Getway Girl is the first book I've read/listened to by Tessa Bailey, but it definitely won't be the last. I was pulled in from the very beginning and the story kept me wanting more the entire time.

I absolutely adored Addison Potts from the very beginning. She is such a strong and take-charge woman. Yes she totally can be venerable at times, but that just made me love her more. I love as soon as she sees Elijah she is completely struck by him. When Addison's cousin, who was to be Elijah's bride doesn't show up, Addison is the one who offers him a ride to getaway from the wedding.

Elijah Montgomery Du Pont had his life all mapped out when his bride to be left him at the alter. Now the hopeful future mayor of Charleston has finally found the first place that feels like home in Addison's apartment. I loved how quickly Elijah and Addison connected as friends even as they were both fighting an attraction to one another in the beginning. Their banter was laugh out loud funny at times, and I loved they each seemed to bring the best out in one another.

I was waiting for them to finally act upon their attraction and have to say it was more than worth the wait! OMG they had smoking hot chemistry and I loved they couldn't keep their hands off each other once they finally took that next step.

I have to say I really didn’t love how Elijah’s family acted when it came to Addison, but I loved that Addison never changed who she was for anyone. I was afraid the fact that Elijah was engaged to Addison's cousin would be a big issue in the long run, but I loved how everything worked out.

Getway Girl was done with dual narration based upon the point of view of the chapter, and both Joe Hempel and Lori Prince did a wonderful job with the narration. I felt like they each flowed flawlessly with both Addison and Elijah's voices as well as all the other characters. I had no issue going between the two narrators as they changed from chapter to chapter.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

FALLING FROM THE SKY (GRAVITY #2)

She's the woman he doesn't remember. He's the man she can't forget.

Bad boy Hank “Hazardous” Lazarus used to have everything: a gorgeous girlfriend, a career as a freestyle snowboarder and a spot on the US Olympic team. Nine months ago, after a bad crash in the half pipe, he woke up in the hospital, unable to move his legs. Now he’s landed there again, but gravity is not the culprit. With his family pressuring him to try a groundbreaking treatment, Hank self-medicates with too much tequila instead.

Doctor Callie Anders has the courage to restart a patient’s heart with a thousand volts of electricity, yet she’s afraid to risk her own. So she doesn’t confess to her newest patient they met just before the accident, an encounter that he doesn’t remember. Even as their friendship develops, she won’t admit that she regrets turning down his dinner invitation, or that her heart stutters every time those inked shoulders roll through the door of the therapy department.

With another Vermont winter coming again, Hank needs a hand out from under the avalanche of his disappointments. If only Callie were brave enough to take the job.

This book is a standalone novel, no cliffhangers, no prior experience necessary.

Audiobook Release date: August 23, 2017

Contemporary Romance

Gravity Series #2

Blunder Woman Productions

Narrated by: Tanya Eby & Aiden Snow

Liza's Review:

Falling From the Sky is the second book in the Gravity series, yet can totally be read as a stand-alone story if you missed reading the first book. You do meet Callie in the first book in the series, but as a secondary character.

I adored Callie in this book. She is at a crossroads in her life and isn't afraid to take chances with her career. She is a bit more hesitant with her personal life, but after being burned by her ex, I totally understood her needing to move at a slower pace. I have to admit she is one of my favorite characters in the series to date.

I openly admit I pretty much loved Hank from the first moment he appeared on the page. He was so cocky about his talent, with good reason, and I honestly thought he took his accident way better than most would have in the same situation. Yes he had a pity party for way longer than he should have, but he also seemed to realize when it was the right time to try something new. I loved that he a Callie had such a fast connection in the hospital, even if he didn't remember meeting her right before his accident. They totally clicked for me from the beginning. 

I even liked how they worked together to face the challenges of their relationship. I think Callie being a doctor did help Hank feel more open to talking to her about stuff he was uncomfortable with, but he also listened to others to head in the right direction as well. I adored them as a couple and found them to have super strong chemistry. 

I listened to the audiobook version of Falling From the Sky thanks to receiving a review copy from Blunder Woman Productions. I absolutely loved both Tanya Eby and Aiden Snow. If felt like their voices flowed seamlessly between change of character point of view. I thought both did an amazing job with the character of the opposite sex and would love to listen to more books from this pair in the future.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (A)

COMING IN FROM THE COLD

Alpine ski champion Dane “Danger” Hollister does not do relationships, though he has an excellent reason. No woman would ever say “I do” to a guy whose faulty DNA will eventually cost him everything: his spot on the US Ski team, his endorsements, and the ability to fly downhill at 90mph.

While Willow Reade moved to rural Vermont to get back to the land, that wasn’t meant to include a night stranded in her vehicle during a blizzard. Luckily, the hot ski racer she practically ran off the road has granola bars and a sleeping bag, and is happy to share. Maybe it’s the close quarters, maybe it’s the snow, but soon the two are sharing a lot more than conversation.

Yet neither can guess how their spontaneous passion will uncork Dane’s ugly secret and Willow’s tentative peace with her own choices. Only their mutual trust and bravery can end the pain and give Willow and Dane a shot at hard won happiness. 

Audiobook Release Date: August 10, 2017

Contemporary Romance

Gravity #1

Narrators: Joe Arden & Maxine Mitchell

Review copy provided by Blunder Woman Productions

Liza's Review:

Coming in from the Cold is the first book I've read from Sarina Bowen. I was offered a review copy of the audiobook and was excited to give a new-to-me author a try.

I adored Willow from the moment we met her. She has every right to be a super bitter person thanks to things going wrong in her life, yet she seems to maintain a pretty great attitude overall. Dane on the other hand pretty much has a pretty great life with the exception of his brother's illness, yet doesn't seem to look at life with a positive attitude. He is full of angst and honestly got on my nerves a good bit at times. He really was a complete and total ass to Willow on more than one occasion, and I did question if his character could actually be redeemed. 

While Willow's and Dane's relationship if you will started out a bit fast, it initially ended pretty fast too. I think this was when Dane was the biggest asshat in the book, and I wasn't sure if I really wanted Willow to give him a second chance. I did like that Willow's friend Callie, who is a doctor who gets Dane medical results he needs, helped him start to act less like an asshat. I understood his worry over his possible health issues, but hated he was such a jerk to Willow without giving her the reason for his actions or fears in the beginning. I did end up really enjoying this story once Dane got his head out of his ass.

There was dual narration for Coming In From the Cold. It always takes me a minute to get used to 2 different voices, especially as they sound a bit different when they voice the character of the opposite sex. I think both Ms. Mitchell and Mr. Arden did a good job, though I did find Mr. Arden's cadence a bit slower at times. However, once I moved the speed to 1.50, it fixed the issue and I was able to enjoy both narrators equally.

The Gravity series is the first books I've read from Sarina Bowen and I found myself loving her voice even when I didn't love the characters at times. I've already listened to book 2 and can't wait to listen to/read more books in the future.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)