Clipped by Love (Bellvue Bullies #2) by Toni Aleo

Things are heating up for the Sinclair boys! With one already in the NHL, Jayden Sinclair is hoping to be next! 

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This has been the toughest year of my life. I watched my brother go into the draft without me, my mom got divorced, and the weight of my family’s issues is heavy on my shoulders. I feel like it’s my job to fix everything while working my butt off in school and trying to make my game better. I have to go into the draft. It will give my family the support they need, and it will prove that I’m good enough. But to get there, I have to show I can be the best captain for the Bellevue Bullies. The spot is mine—no one can take it. First though, Jude is making me go on a brother’s weekend. Innocent enough, I guess…until I see her. She’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever faced. Not only for my spot but also my heart. It’s hard to ignore someone like Baylor Moore. 

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I don’t lose. I can’t. My dad has bred me to be the best in anything I do. I am driven, I am smart, and I am going to be the first woman in the National Hockey League. No two ways about it. I’ve worked too hard. I’ve been through too much not to have what I want. I know I can do it. I will make my dad proud, and no one will stand in the way of that. That is, until I let him in. He scares me. He makes me feel. And he could very well be the one person who can make me want more than just to win. 

We both have the same goal. Victory. But how do you compete against the person you want to win? It’s not easy. Love isn’t something you can control. It isn’t like a puck that can be handled by a stick. No, it has a mind of its own and does what it wants. 

Neither of us saw it coming, and we really don’t know if there is a way to score, especially when you’re being Clipped by Love.

Yes, I'm still around!!

I am so glad that this blog is for me and my own entertainment. I have been so overwhelmed with work and life that I simply haven't had time to post or anything. But I think the craziness is dying down, at least for now. As for my reading list for the remainder of April, good question. I planned on a reread of Lisa Kleypas's Hathaways, but now I'm not sure. We shall see!
How about any of you? Suggestions? What are you reading?

Review: Laurie London's Enticed by Blood

This description is courtesy of Goodreads.com:

Stockbroker Juliette Bishop gets more than she bargained for when she flies to New Orleans to handle a business matter for her ailing father and comes face to face with her former lover, the handsome, yet mysterious Andre Lescarbeau.

* This Sweetblood World short story (dark vampire romance) was originally published in the Mammoth Book of Southern Gothic Romance.

(I was given an ARC in return for a fair review)

 I typically am not a huge fan of short stories- I don't feel that there is enough time for a story to develop. Enticed by Blood, however, is an exception- it was fast paced and drew me in immediately. Juliette and Andre already had a connection, so the story was able to jump right in to the action. For those who haven't read the series, they may feel as though they are missing something, but for the most part, one can certainly read Enticed by Blood as a standalone. I highly recommend this as a new edition to the Sweetblood world and look forward to new additions!!


The Sweetblood series:

Author Laurie London's website

Laurie London's Goodreads Author page 

Feature and Follow Friday - okay, Sunday, but I'll do better next time!

I am having a fun time looking at other blogs and meeting new people. I truly do love the ease in which the internet allows me to chat with fellow book nerds!

So much for my moratorium...

One of my book buddies over in the OSRBC posted some wonderful, yet terrible information last week.  Amazon was having a .99 cent sale on ebooks.  I was kind of looking, until something even more horrible was shared - Search for "Avon Romance" and filter by price. Holy spending frenzy, Batman!!

Old favorites - Johanna Lindsey, Liz Carlyle, and so much more Johanna Lindsey!!

New favorites - Kerrelyn Sparks, Victoria Alexander, Loretta Chase

Authors new to me - Miranda Neville, Sandra Hill, Jennifer McQuiston, Caroline Linden, and so many more!!!

I have one week until this crazy state test for my students is over.  Until then, I will be looking over this list with joy and avarice...and planning my attack!!


---And not that any of that stopped me from going to one of my favorite used bookstores today...It's a disease!!

My March Reading List

I have put myself on a two part moratorium for books until March 31st. No books bought and no new books read. I had to do this for a few reasons.
First of all, school is going to be pretty hectic until March 31st. I teach 7th grade writing, and in Texas, students will be taking their STAAR Writing Test on March 30th and 31st. I really need to focus on what's going on at school, so I'm planning on doing re-reads of my comfort books to get me through with my sanity intact. Doing this is a very good thing because I haven't tracked books as "read" on Goodreads since I'm still fairly new to the site. Also, I am CRAZILY behind with my Malory re-read and the corresponding posts-- Three birds, one stone.
Second, books cost money and there are several new books coming out on March 31st. Perfect timing- paycheck, testing is done for me, and I will need to celebrate!!


Here is a pic of my iBooks library collection for March. Let's get this done!!

Review: Breakaway by Catherine Gayle

Synopsis from Goodreads.com: 

She’s reaching for a breakaway pass.

Dana Campbell has spent the past seven years in self-imposed isolation for a crime she didn’t commit. The danger is well in the past, but her panic attacks make it impossible to have a normal, healthy relationship with a man. Even her counselor has given up on her. She has to find someone she trusts to help her fight through the panic, or her seven-year ordeal will become a lifetime sentence. There’s only one man she feels safe enough to ask.

He got caught with his head down.

As the captain of the NHL’s once elite but now fading Portland Storm, Eric Zellinger knows a thing or two about keeping his focus on the job. Questions are flying about his ability to lead the team back to the playoffs. If they don’t make it, he might be shipped out of town. It’s the worst time possible for his best friend’s kid sister to divide his focus. How can he give her what she needs without jeopardizing both the Storm’s playoff hopes and his future with the team?

It’s her only chance, but it’s his last shot.

My review:

I absolutely loved this book!! Catherine Gayle's style is straightforward but still evocative of every emotion available. I frequently found myself having to stop reading so I could pull myself together- it drew me in that much.  The pain and insecurity that Dana experiences, as well as Zee's thoughts and feelings...sigh. The various relationships that are developed with others also played a huge part of understanding the two of them and what they are going through. 

 It was just a beautifully written story of two people who need each other more than they possibly imagine, yet stumble and fumble to that point.  

If you haven't read sports romance, this would be a great place to start. Even if you aren't a hockey fan - and I can forgive you for that- give Breakaway a shot!