Showing posts with label Sheralyn Pratt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheralyn Pratt. Show all posts

Monday, September 26, 2016

Review: King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt


Heidi Reads... King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Esme Taylor has an amazing fiancé, a lifelong best friend, and a problem.

The problem stems from the fact that her best friend is named Hunter and, well. . .he’s kind of (totally) hot. It’s hate at first sight when her fiancé, Jon, and Hunter meet. Jon’s convinced that Hunter is in love with Esme, and that Hunter must be out of the picture if their upcoming marriage is to succeed.

Esme thinks Jon is paranoid.

The truth is, Jon’s not that far off. Hunter is in love with his best friend and always has been. What Jon has wrong, however, is that Hunter never had any plans of ruining Esme’s happily ever after. Hunter wants what’s best for Esme, even if that’s not him.

When Jon pushes hard to end Esme and Hunter’s friendship, opposition comes from the most unlikely of places. It’s an eccentric lady with a cookie cart who suggests a different solution to Esme’s problem: Hunter and Esme should give each other a chance.

They’ve both thought of the possibility over the years—of course they have. But with a ring already on Esme’s finger and a heap of hurt feelings and broken trust in the mix, there hasn’t been a worse time to explore the depths of their feelings for each other.

Both Esme and Hunter think it’s time to move on and leave childhood crushes in the past. The question is: Can one woman and the taste of one cookie change their minds?


My Review

As it always happens, whenever I read a book by Sheralyn Pratt, I can't put it down until I've devoured the entire thing in one sitting. And since I usually read at night after my kids go to bed, this makes for some pretty late nights ;) This time it was 2:52 am, but even after that I couldn't sleep and had to type some notes about the story in my phone to share in my review. I was a bit of a zombie the next day but it was totally worth it! Don't you just love books that leave you feeling totally satisfied?

So, what stood out to me about King of the Friend Zone is what I thought was the most creative use of  Miss Pearl of all the books in the Power of the Matchmaker series. I loved the cookie angle and how it reflected the "flavor" of a relationship. Miss Pearl was pretty subtle about it at first which I liked since it made it not seem gimmicky.

Esme and Hunter share a special bond, but they do spend much of the story avoiding or denying their deeper romantic feelings since their dynamic is based on the fear of risking their friendship or facing rejection. Hunter identifies with a friend Luke, who pines after a woman who married someone else, but can't move on and insists on being there for her as a friend. Esme's fiancé provides much of the conflict when he coerces her to cut Hunter from her daily life, and Hunter sees that even being the third wheel isn't part of his future with her. Part of me was mad that Esme was so conciliatory to Jon, but the author does such a good job of showing the personalities and vulnerabilities in play that I could see why everyone was acting the way they were, and it felt realistic and complex. 

The other aspects of Hunter and Esme's lives blend seamlessly into the plot and add another dimension to their characters. A crisis they handled together demonstrated how perfect they are together, not because they match (like she and Jon did) but because their differences complement each other and there is a deep foundation of trust. Some of the unexpected twists in this book had my jaw dropping as I was reading and made me think "what the what?!?!" I loved that the story wasn't completely predictable or cliché, but had me seriously glued to the pages as Hunter and Esme angst their way to a happy ending.

And... hands down the most epic best man toast at the engagement party.

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Sunday, September 25, 2016

#Tackle TBR Daily Update - Day 12 & 13



http://www.wishfulendings.com/2016/08/tackle-your-tbr-read-thon-sign-up.html
 
Day 12 & 13


Darn it. Reality intervened and I had to spend my spare time editing photo sessions to get out to clients instead of reading. I still need to write my review for King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt (which I loved) so I haven't started my next book yet, which will be Christopher and Jaime by Jennifer Peel. I did get my challenge photos posted on Instagram for the Duo-Color and Name challenges.

Tally:
Total Pages Read: 2,044
Total Books Finished: 7

Friday, September 23, 2016

#TackleTBR Daily Update - Day 11



http://www.wishfulendings.com/2016/08/tackle-your-tbr-read-thon-sign-up.html
 
Day 11

I wasn't getting much reading done yesterday until the kids went to bed, and then I read King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt straight through until 2:52 am. There's something about her books that I just can't put down! I even tried at about 1 am to get some sleep but I soon gave up and devoured the rest of it.

I made my final picks for the first three challenges on Wishful Endings and got the first picture taken for the Fall Challenge! My girls had a blast throwing all the extra leaves up in the air and making a huge mess, but it was worth hearing their sweet giggles :)

Tally:
Total Pages Read: 2,044
Total Books Finished: 7


Fall Challenge on Instagram

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

New Release & Giveaway: King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt


I am so excited to read this book! Her previous two contemporary romances both earned 5 stars from me. I'll be reading and reviewing it ASAP!

King of the Friend Zone
 
The King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt

Esme Taylor has an amazing fiancé, a lifelong best friend, and a problem. The problem stems from the fact that her best friend is named Hunter and, well. . . he’s kind of (totally) hot. It’s hate at first sight when her fiancé, Jon, and Hunter meet. Jon’s convinced that Hunter is in love with Esme, and that Hunter must be out of the picture if their upcoming marriage is to succeed. Esme thinks Jon is paranoid. The truth is, Jon’s not that far off. Hunter is in love with his best friend and always has been. What Jon has wrong, however, is that Hunter never had any plans of ruining Esme’s happily ever after. Hunter wants what’s best for Esme, even if that’s not him. When Jon pushes hard to end Esme and Hunter’s friendship, opposition comes from the most unlikely of places. It’s an eccentric lady with a cookie cart who suggests a different solution to Esme’s problem: Hunter and Esme should give each other a chance. They’ve both thought of the possibility over the years—of course they have. But with a ring already on Esme’s finger and a heap of hurt feelings and broken trust in the mix, there hasn’t been a worse time to explore the depths of their feelings for each other. Both Esme and Hunter think it’s time to move on and leave childhood crushes in the past. The question is: Can one woman and the taste of one cookie change their minds?

amazon

Excerpt 

While everyone around Hunter ate and drank, Hunter swirled the liquid in his glass and watched his friends and family interact with Jon. The man was suave when he wanted to be; Hunter would give him that. He wore the right suits, said the right words, and charmed the right people. What a hero. He was also several inches shorter than Hunter, which meant Esme fit neatly against his shoulder as they stood and spoke with all their guests. Esme looked so content as she reclined against Jon, and Hunter wasn’t the only one who had noticed. The last person who had commented on Jon and Esme within Hunter’s earshot had called them “two peas in a pod” as if there were awards to be won in the category. Well, there weren’t. In that moment, Hunter was very glad he hadn’t been drinking that night, because otherwise he might have gone so far as announcing that fact to everyone. There are no awards for being two peas in a pod, everyone. Oh, and by the way, you should meet this guy when he isn’t trying to impress you. He’s a bit of a prick. But, of course, no one wanted to hear that. No one wanted to hear anything from Hunter tonight except for a glowing toast endorsing the golden couple. He still hadn’t written anything, although he had googled a generic speech and printed it out. It was in his pocket now, but he hadn’t practiced it and reading the prepackaged speech was pretty much out of the question now, thanks to his dyslexia. Reading on the best of days usually didn’t go that well for Hunter, but when he was seething mad? Yeah, that wasn’t happening. So he sat and swirled and watched and tried to imagine what in the world he could say that wouldn’t earn him more frowns than his jeans had already earned him. Then it hit him: Why try? Why not be honest? There wasn’t a face at this party that he hadn’t known for the better part of twenty years—well, except Jon. His smug mug was as new as it was unwelcome in Hunter’s book. But everyone knew Hunter and they’d know if he vomited some fake, glowing speech their direction. So why should he? Why not be honest? The idea grew on Hunter as the night went on and the praise for Jon became more and more abundant. The clincher was when Jon’s best man stood up and gave a speech that proved he’d probably met Esme all of once, and everyone in attendance nodded and beamed as the guy praised Esme in the most generic of terms. According to whatever the best man’s name was, Esme was kind and compassionate and a joy to all those who met her. Seriously? The guy had clearly never been within earshot of Esme when an ice cream truck passed in July playing Christmas music. That would redefine the guy’s definition of “joy to all those around her.” Yet everyone ooohed and ahhhhed and clapped until the guy sat and Jon gave his bestie an appreciative slap on the back with a look that said, Well done. Then everyone in the future wedding party looked at Hunter expectantly. It was his turn. In that moment, Hunter had a choice to make. He could either repeat the same lame puffery the best man had, or he could give the speech that had been building up in him like a sneeze all night. Be nice now and freak out later, or let it all hang out? That was the question. And one quick glance at Jon’s arrogant face gave Hunter his answer.

add to goodreads


Sheralyn
Author Sheralyn Pratt
 
Some describe Sheralyn as a girl who's been around the block and worked at every shop. This isn't far from the truth. Writing is what she loves most, however. There's a magical power in stepping into new perspectives time and again, and seeing the world through different eyes. Few things increase empathy more than walking in another's shoes for 100,000 words or so. At least that seems to be the trend so far.
Some random things to know about Sheralyn: * She's a wanderer (geographically) * She can write a novel, but doesn't have the attention span for one page in a journal * She vehemently disagrees with Stephen King's stance that authors should not watch TV * She is pretty much incapable of sleeping before midnight
amazon or paypal
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway
Ends 9/23/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Friday, February 12, 2016

Review: Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt


Heidi Reads... Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

For centuries, the elite of the world have sought the Pimpernel everywhere. Some want to kill him, others want to hire him, but Jack Cavanaugh knows that the love/hate relationship comes with the job title.

At present, Jack is trying to dismantle an investment scheme centered in Las Vegas, but "trying" is the operative word. It's been a month since he put the face of the scheme behind bars, yet the scam is still going strong. As Jack tries to uncover who has stepped in as the new head, what miniscule evidence there is all seems to point him back to Claire Ramsey, an introverted PhD student studying at UNLV.

If ever there as an unlikely head of an investment scheme, Claire's it. She has a genius IQ, but from all Jack has seen, Claire’s intelligence is as much a blessing as a curse when paired up with her acute OCD. Claire can barely make conversation with the cute guy down the hall, which makes it hard to believe she could be the charismatic salesperson who is getting international businessmen to invest $5—50 million a pop.

So what is Jack missing? What is the real story behind Claire Ramsey? And once Jack learns it, will he be able to walk away?


My Review

This isn't a genre I read often, but when I saw the author was Sheralyn Pratt there was no question about it. And sure enough, I could not put it down! Pimpernel is full of distinctive characters that have depth and layers. Claire is a fascinating person with the way her OCD and intelligence interact. She is compassionate, vulnerable, and loyal. It seems that Jack can do the impossible with his team and resources, and the more we get to know him we see just how amazing his personal set of skills are as well. His small team of elite each have their own area of expertise, but the real fun is in their interpersonal relationships and banter. There is action, humor, suspense, and moments of toe-curling romance. As the plot unfolded there were several twists that took me by surprise, and some that I guessed only just before they were revealed. I don't want to give anything away because I think the book is most enjoyed without knowing too much of what's going to happen, just go along for the ride! There are several potential stories with the secondary characters, so I really hope we see more of the Pimpernel's team in the future. Highly recommend!

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Review: Power of the Matchmaker by Karey White, Rachael Anderson, Sheralyn Pratt, Jaima Fixsen, Kelly Oram, Heather B. Moore, Julie Wright, Heidi Ashworth, Taylor Dean, Michele Paige Holmes, Janette Rallison, Regina Sirois


Heidi Reads... The Power of the Matchmaker

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

A prequel novella to the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER Series
Mystical . . . Beautiful . . . Romantic . . .
12 novels by 12 bestselling authors
Released once a month in 2016
Read the matchmaker’s story to find out where it all starts . . .

Mae Li has been in love with Chen Zhu for years, and he with her. But when the matchmaker arrives at the Zhu family home, she recommends another village girl for Chen.

Heartbroken, Mae Li watches as Chen does his duty by marrying another. Mae flees her village with the clothes on her back and her only possession—a pearl embedded comb, given to her as a goodbye gift from Chen Zhu.

Upon Mae’s arrival in Shanghai, she quickly learns that she’ll starve within days unless she sells her prized comb or joins a courtesan house. She goes to the Huangpu River and promises the River God that she’ll always be selfless if he will save her from becoming a prostitute . . . Her wish is granted when Ms. Tan, the matchmaker of Shanghai, finds Mae. But Mae must completely change her future and her name if she is to become the next matchmaker.


My Review

What a sad situation. It's hard to imagine giving a matchmaker the power to choose who you will marry. What I loved about this short story is that Mae wasn't about to stay and watch her love live his life with someone else. Her perseverance and self-preservation were strengths that helped her push forward. I thought the ending was fitting since this is the introduction to a series of stories where Mae will influence couple so their path to true love, written by many of my favorite authors. I'm looking forward to reading more!

(Thank you to Ebooks for Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Review: The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt


The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Each weekday from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Grace and Ashton co-host Battle of the Sexes, a radio program arguing the he-said/she-said issues of the day. Their fiery debates often have listeners wondering if there’s more to their relationship than just talk, even though Grace has been dating Phillip, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Perfect, since long before she ever met Ashton Miller.

Yet when news comes that Battle of the Sexes is on the bubble for cancellation, Grace and Ashton need to step up their efforts to engage their audience to keep the show alive. When a charity organization approaches them and proposes that the two of them kiss for a fund raiser, Grace and Ash agree to kiss for a good cause. A kiss is just a kiss, right?

Or can one kiss really change everything?


My Review

I could not put this book down!!! Another 2:00 am finish for me :) Grace and Ashton are both strong, compelling characters that made me invest in the story from the get go. There is something about the attraction lurking beneath their emotionally-charged banter that takes the chemistry to a new level. They are both maddening at times, but what shines through is the compassion and caring they have not only for the friends and family they are close to, but for their listeners as well. They each take on the role of advocate for social issues in a way that is entertaining yet serious at times. Ashton's teenage niece is my favorite, wise beyond her years and the #1 supporter of an Ashton/Grace romance. The battle over social media is hilarious and there are several times I chuckled while reading. And the kiss... sigh. The lead up creates such anticipation and the description is perfection. From there the story takes a turn I didn't expect but made me desperate to find out what happens next. Highly recommend to fans of contemporary romance!!!

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)