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{ARC Review + GIVEAWAY} The Fine Art Of Pretending by Rachel Harris

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Title: The Fine Art Of Pretending

Series: The Fine Art Of Pretending #1

Author: Rachel Harris

Published: 30th Sept 2014

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

It's impossible not to finish this book without a huge smile on your face!

REVIEW:

The story:

So after seeing countless teaser over what feels like the last year I have been so excited to finally read this book. So it goes without saying I had HUGE expectations. And I'm happy to say I was not disappointed! This books is full of everything that makes me adore YA contemporary romances; the sweet innocence of teenage girls, flirty with boys, girly chats…about flirting with boys and all the teenage angst and fun!

Aly is a sporty girl who's never really cared about make up and wearing trending cloths. But she's tired of being seen and 'one of the guys' and 'just a friend'. She want the boys at her school to start looking at her different, and so begins 'Operation Sex Appeal'. With the help of her two best friends, Aly gives herself a make over. But if she wants school 'hottie', Justin, to ask her to the homecoming, the makeup and new cloths aren't enough. Aly needs to be seen with a boy, to show everyone she's hook up material, and who better to pose as her pretend boyfriend, than her best friend, Brandon (who is very popular with the ladies). Many awkward, sweet, and oh so hilarious situations ensue, and it's not long before her plan starts to work. But, it's only a matter of time before the 'pretend' dating starts to feel a little more real than either of them had expected.

The characters:

Aly was such a sweet character. She had a sweet naivety to her at times that was so endearing. Her thoughts and insecurities would be relatable for most teenage girls. But it was how she acted around her small group of real friends that I loved. She's more confident in her real personality and not ashamed of it. It was really beautiful to see her slowly embrace that more and more as the book progressed. It's something that a lot of young girls struggle with, so I found it really heartwarming to see.

Brandon was a little closed off at first. Yes he's happy and bright and loves to have fun, but you know there is a sadness underneath that bubbly personality. He's had pain in his past, that affects how he approaches life - it's all about having fun in the moment, and not really planning ahead. He's also a very kind and decent guy, who had me swooning all over the place! He's such a yummy little sweetheart!!

I must also mention how fabulous it was to see some positive parental figures in this book. Rachel proves that not all YA characters need abusive or absent parents! Aly's mum is happy and supportive and Brandon's mum is a loving and hardworking single mother. There was one conversation that Brandon had with his mum, and the advice she gave him made me well up it was that beautiful.

The romance:

Aly & Brandon have been the closest of friends for years, but Aly has held stronger feelings for him for some time. And it's clear to anyone who sees them together that he feels the same way. But he's fear of to loose her as a friend, or having he's hear broken that's preventing from fully embracing he's feeling towards Aly. These two were so frustrating at times - I can't tell you the number of times I yelled at my book "JUST KISS ALREADY!!". I absolutely adored Aly & Brandon and by the end I was a pile of mush.

The writing:

Rachel is the queen of swoony boys…seriously. She writes boys who are sweet, funny and most importantly, caring. I love that all her characters have a moral conscience, and although they all make mistakes at times, they learn from them and become better people for it. If I had young daughters I would want to read Rachel's books, with heroines to look up to and heroes who know how to respect girls.

FINAL WORD:

The Fine Art of Pretending has everything you could want from a YA romance; laughs, tears, swoon worthy boys and heartfelt romance! It's impossible not to finish this book without a huge smile of your face!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: medium / heavy kissing, references to sex, virginity & casual hook-ups

Violence: mild / minor fight between two school boys

Language: medium / several f words, sh*t etc

Drugs & alcohol: mild-medium / underage drinking at parties

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning and Bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls next door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, and LOVES talking with readers.

Links:
Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Release Day + GIVEAWAY} The Fine Art Of Pretending by Rachel Harris

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We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch of Rachel Harris' THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING!

THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING is the first book in Rachel's The Fine Art of Pretending Series published by Spencer Hill Contemporary.

Title: The Fine Art Of Pretending

Series: The Fine Art Of Pretending #1

Author: Rachel Harris

Published: 30th Sept 2014

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

BLURB:

EXCERPT:

An exhale of breath leaves Brandon’s lips, almost like a laugh, and he scoots closer to me on the blanket. I twist my legs under myself, sitting tall as I face him. He cups my chin and tilts it toward him, drowning me in the now dark-green depths of his eyes, the cologne I gave him for his birthday filling my head. It’s woodsy and yummy and I always loved how it smelled on the store testers, but on Brandon, it’s even sexier. My eyes flutter closed, and I inhale again, this time slowly. Goose bumps prickle my arms, and my head gets fuzzy. Brandon slides his hand down the column of my neck and brings the other up, threading his fingers through the hair at my nape. His breath fans across my cheek, and everything south of my bellybutton squeezes tight. When his mouth first meets mine, it’s hesitant, questioning. But as I move my lips with his, he quickly grows bolder, coaxing them apart. Desire, pure and raw, electrifies my veins as his tongue sweeps my mouth. A whimpering sound springs from my chest, and instinctively, I wrap my arms around his neck, tugging him closer. Needing more. My teeth graze his full bottom lip, and I pull it, sucking on it gently. He moans and knots his fingers in my hair, and a thrill dances down my back. Brandon is an amazing kisser, just as I knew he would be. I have no control over my body’s reactions. I lose myself in his lips, his tongue, and his strong arms, forgetting time and space and even my surroundings—until Gabi’s snicker brings reality crashing around us, reminding me we have an audience. And that I’m kissing Brandon. We break apart, out of breath, and stare into each other’s eyes. That was unexpected.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Links:

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking The Shelves #22

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Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves.

So after a few weeks hiatus I am back blogging.

I've got lots of TBR books & reviews to catch up on and lots more that I've added to my shelves.

Physical ARCs for Review:

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Nowhere But Here by Renee Carlino
Lead Me Not by A. Meredith Walters
Pulse by Gail McHugh
Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton
One More Chance by Abbi Glines

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for these lovely surprises!

I've already read Nowhere But Here and really enjoyed it.

And I am really exited to check out the new thriller Black Ice!

eARCs for Review:

Promise Me This by Christina Lee

Thanks to Penguin Group via Netgalley

Love this series so much!

The Fine Art Of Pretending by Rachel Harris

Thanks to Spencer Hill via Netgalley

After seeing so many teasers over the past year, I've been desperate to finally read this one!!

Sideswiped by Lia Riley
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley!

Purchased

Hard Knox by Nicole Williams
Upside Down by Lia Riley

Gifted

Damaged Goods by Nicole Williams

Thanks so much to the fabulous Stina Lindenblatt for gifting a copy!!

Have you read any of these books?

What books did you add to your shelves?

{Review} Accidentally Married On Purpose by Rachel Harris

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Title: Accidentally Married On Purpose

Series: Love and Games #3

Author: Rachel Harris

Published: 14th July 2014

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review

Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

One ring plus one wild night equals one crazy love

Sherry Robicheaux loves men. She loves love. And she loves an adventure. So when she meets a mysterious man while working backstage at a country music concert in Vegas, she’s all about what’s happened in Vegas staying there.

Country music superstar Tyler Blue just wants a weekend of anonymity…though there’s something about the spunky waitress with the streaks of purple hair that tempts him like no other. Until the next morning, when they both wake up with fuzzy memories…and rings on their fingers.

Convincing Sherry to maintain the ruse for his public image isn’t the hardest part—it’s reminding himself that their time spent playing husband and wife in her small town of Magnolia Springs can’t last. Tyler’s first love will always be music—and the road is no place for a sweet downhome girl.

A Fun And Sassy Romance Full Of Heart

REVIEW:

The story:

Sherry, the spunky lady full of life, doesn't have the best track record in the romance department. Tired of being burnt by men, she decides that what she needs is a Mr Boring; a man who might be boring, but won't break her heart. But before she settles for Mr Boring, she wants one last crazy weekend in Las Vegas, where she's helping cater an event for one of the hottest bands around, Blue. With no interest in Blue's musical talents Sherry has no plans on picking up any arrogant band members, and has her sights set on a sexy roadie she meets instead.

After a crazy night out with him, she wakes up with one hell of a hang over…and a wedding ring! Realising she's just married her one night stand, she soon finds out that her new husband is none other than Tyler Blue - famous lead singer of the band. With paparazzi asking them questions, they decide it's best for both their reputations to stay married and pretend their relationship is legit. The plan seems like a good idea at the time, but how long until this pretend romance starts to feel all too real?

The characters:

Sherry is such a fun loving carefree character. She's not afraid to be herself and be a little crazy. But she's also been hurt a lot and that has taken it's toll on her. She desperately want's to find someone who will love and cherish her and most importantly respect her.

And that is exactly what Tyler Blue does. He respects her and the boundaries she sets on their fake relationship, never pushing or pressuring her for something she's not ready for. He is a true family guy, who is kind and considerate and I just have so much love her him. Oh, and he can sing and play guitar like nobody's business *swoon*

The romance:

The romance between Sherry & Tyler may not be conventional, but that didn't make it any less real. Often with accidental marriages & quick romances, the connection between the characters feels forced. But Sherry & Tyler spend plenty on time just getting to know on another and as their friendship grows, so does their attraction and eventually a romantic connection.

The writing:

I'm a huge fan of Rachel Harris…seriously HUGE! I've loved both her YA & adult titles and will auto buy any future books too. Her characters are always vibrant and the dialogue can make me laugh, cry and swoon - sometimes all at once!

FINAL WORD:

Accidentally Married On Purpose is fun and sassy romance full of heart! If you love sweet HEA romance, then you won't want to miss this one!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: mild-medium / discussions of sex & one-nighters, no sex scenes

Violence: none

Language: mild

Drugs & alcohol: medium / main characters get very intoxicated

Stacking The Shelves #19

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Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves.

Gifted:

Nil by Lynne Matson
I was so surprised to have won this in the #WinNIL Twitter giveaway!!
Thanks so much Lynne Matson, I'm so excited to start this one!!!

Thanks so much to Rachel Harris for these pretties!!

ARCs for Review:

Accidentally Married on Purpose by Rachel Harris
Thanks to Entangled Publishing via Netgalley

Lets Get Lost by Adi Alsaid
Thanks to Harlequin Teen via Netgalley

Purchased:

Sweet Thing by Renee Carlino
Sweet Little Thing by Renee Carlino
I've started Sweet Thing & loving it so far
I'm also sooooo excited that she'll be at the Sydney Author Event in November SQEEEEAL!!!!!!

Tell Me When by Stina Lindenblatt
I have been wanting to read this for ages & can't wait to get started!

Well that's what's new to my bookshelf - what about you?

{ARC Review} My Not So Super Sweet Life by Rachel Harris

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Title: My Not So Super Sweet Life

Series: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #3

Author: Rachel Harris

Published: 21st April 2014

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided by publisher for fair & honest review

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

Cat Crawford just wants to be normal—or at least as normal as a daughter of Hollywood royalty can be. And it looks like fate is granting her wish: she’s got an amazing boyfriend, Lucas; her fabulous cousin, Alessandra, living with her; and her dad planning his second marriage to a great future stepmom. That is, until her prodigal mother reveals on national television that she has something important to tell her daughter…causing a media frenzy.

Lucas Capelli knows his fate is to be with Cat, and he’s worked hard to win her over once and for all. Unfortunately, Lucas has his own issues to deal with, including a scandal that could take him away from the first place he’s truly belonged.

As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities.

Well, and the stalkerazzi.

A Fun & Vibrant Story With A Colourful Cast Of Characters!

REVIEW:

The story:

Cat Crawford, a fun and quirky girl, with a sweet boyfriend, awesome best friend and dotting father is finally feeling like she's found her place in the world. But after her famous mother reappears in Cat's life after being absent since she was only five, her world spins out of control. Cat's always avoided the spotlight, but she desperately wants the love and attention of her mother, so she endures the persistent paparazzi in hopes of building a relationship.

Meanwhile, Cat's boyfriend, Lucas is dealing with his own issues. All he wants to do is becomes an artist, but he's being pressured by his father to pursue football, a sport that was a dream of he's late brother. Lucas feels like he's living in the shadow of his brother and will never live up to the memory he left behind. He also struggles to help Cat deal with the sudden appearance of her mother and all the paparazzi. He wants to be there for her, but as Cat starts to put up walls to protect herself from being hurt again, Lucas fears she may shut him out too. Can Lucas & Cat survive the all these new pressures?

The characters:

I adore Cat! She's one of the liveliest and funniest characters I've read, with some of the best lines ever! She tells it like it is and has such a spunky attitude, that it's impossible not to love her. But underneath that, there is an insecure girl, who just wants to be accepted and loved - something that most girls can relate to in one way or another.

Lucas, oh what can I say that will do justice to this sexy Italian artist. He is just such a sweet guy and you can see how much he adores Cat and treats her with so much respect. He puts so much thought and effort into making Cat happy - is particular the date he too her on that was inspired by one of her favourite movies - BEST SCENE EVER!!

Cat's cousin Alessandra and her surfer boyfriend Austin are back for the fun. And I just love how kind and caring Cat's father & step-mother-to-be are. It's refreshing to see in a YA book, compared to the usually absent parents. And rounding out the cast, we have Cat's estranged celebrity Mother Caterina, and new character Ransom - who I won't tell you much about as it will spoil the surprise, but I can tell you that I LOVE HIM!!!!

The romance:

Cat & Lucas' romance is so sweet I found myself grinning like an idiot whenever they were in a scene together. It's obvious they both love each other, but they both struggle with their own insecurities, that threaten to tear them apart. They have to learn how to trust one another to make their relationship work.

The writing:

I love Rachel's writing style - it's fun, colourful and full of life. The dialogue is one of my favourite elements in her books, with every character having their own distinct voice. With lots misunderstandings and plenty of drama to push the plot along at a fast pace, there is never a dull moment is this story.

FINAL WORD:

I absolutely loved this book! With a colourful cast of characters and a fast paced, drama packed plot, My Not So Super Sweet Life is a must read!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: mild-medium / some heavy kissing

Violence: none

Language: medium / occasional f words

Drugs & alcohol: none

***GIVEAWAY***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Cover Reveal} My Not So Super Sweet Life by Rachel Harris

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Title: My Not So Super Sweet Life

Series: Suddenly #2

Author: Rachel Harris

Published: 21st April 2014

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N

BLURB

As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities.

Well, and the stalkerazzi.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong families are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing.

A Cajun cowgirl now living in Houston, she firmly believes life's problems can be solved with a hot, sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. She homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches way too much Food Network with her amazing husband.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and losing herself in story. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Stacking The Shelves #11

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Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves.

Okay so I'm finally posting Christmas haul!! Plus a couple I bought myself - all physical copies these past two weeks!!

Gifted:

Endless by Jessica Shirvington
Empower by Jessica Shirvington
Hidden by Sophie Jordan
Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck
Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout
Opal by Jennifer Armentrout
Origin by Jennifer Armentrout

Purchased:

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy

Swag:

Thanks to the lovely Rachel Harris for sending these!! <3

Well that's what's new to my bookshelf - what about you?

Review: Seven Day Fiancé by Rachel Harris

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Title: Seven Day Fiancé

Series: Love and Games #2

Author: Rachel Harris

Published: Oct 14th 2013

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided by author for honest review

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

One bad boy. One good girl. One unforgettable week.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little fiancé game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

REVIEW:

The story:

After leaving her small hometown and her not-quite-right fiancé behind, Angelle is looking to find herself. However when Angelle finds herself in a bit of a sticky situation when trying to convince her parents that she's happy, by telling them she's engaged to a new man. Uh-oh, Angelle needs to find a fake fiancé and fast! And it just so happens that she's won a date with sexy as sin Cane Robichaux at a charity auction.

After convincing him to play the role of fake fiancé they travel to her hometown in the heart of Cajun country to meet the family. It was really fun watching them try to convince the town they are are indeed a happy couple. There are some particularly funny scenes as Cane struggles with some of the local customs!

For Angelle & Cane the lines between lies and reality soon become very blurred indeed. Angelle and Cane have such strong chemistry and the sexual tension sizzles away as they try to ignore their true feelings.

The characters:

Cane Robichaux is not the settling down type of guy. He's smouldering looks and cocky attitude make him very popular with the ladies. But his father's past indiscretions has made him very cynical when it comes to love and he doesn't believe he's capable of making that sort of commitment, convinced that he'll make the same mistakes. But it's clear to almost everyone else (except Angelle of course) that he's already falling for Angelle. Yes he does make mistakes, but he always makes up for them - some of the things he does for her melted my damn heart!

Angelle is such an awesome character and I absolutely adored her. She shy, awkward, and around Cane she basically becomes a hot mess - which created some hilarious scenes! Now I know a lot of people have issues with virgin characters, especially when they're older like Angelle is at 26. However I felt Rachel handled the storyline really well and that Angelle's reasoning was really well written & very believable. It's not about marriage or religion, for Angelle it was about finding the right man and feeling the moment was right.

“Look, at first I waited because I wanted to be in love. Then, even when I believed I was, it still never felt right."

"This isn’t a religious thing or some random pledge I took. It just never felt right.”

There is also an amazing array of quirky supporting characters that make this story complete. They may have a few strange customs in her hometown of Bon Terre, but it's clear that they love Angelle and just want whats best for her. I also have to make mention of Brady, Angelle ex fiancé. I thought that I would naturally hate him, but I actually really liked him, and felt a little sorry for him. He's sweet and kind and I would really love to see a story for him to have his own HEA.

The romance:

Angelle and Cane are so damn hot together it hurts! Cane is the complete opposite of her old fiancé and her family and friends think he's all wrong for her - with his tattooed muscly arms and biker boots! But there is another slightly nerdy side to Cane, that was so adorable! Their personalities complement each other perfectly. I love how Cane brings out the 'hellcat' in Angelle, and she brings out the softer romantic side to Cane. Together they are the perfect couple!

The Writing:

I think one of my favourite things about Rachel's writing is her sense of humour. Every time I read one of her books I end up just sitting there grinning at my iPad, with sudden bursts of laughter - you know the loud embarrassing kind that make people turn and look at you like your crazy. But I don't care because her books are are so worth the strange looks I get! :)

FINAL WORD:

This is such a sweet and romantic story that sparkles with Rachel's signature humour. With a colourful cast of characters and a unique setting this book was fabulous and I can't wait to read more from this series!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: mild-medium / fade to black sex scene

Violence: mild

Language: mild

Drugs & alcohol: mild

{Release Day + GIVEAWAY} Seven Day Fiancé by Rachel Harris

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Title: Seven Day Fiancé

Author: Rachel Harris

Published: 14th Oct 2013

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

BLURB:

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

AUTHOR BIO:

Rachel Harris grew up in New Orleans, where she watched soap operas with her grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading her mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, she still stays up way too late reading her favorite romances, only now, she can do so openly. She firmly believes life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations.

When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, she homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches reality television with her amazing husband. Taste The Heat is her adult romance debut. She’s the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES. She loves hearing from readers! Find her at www.RachelHarrisWrites.com.

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads Author | SEVEN DAY FIANCE Goodreads | Entangled Website