May and June 2018 Wrap-Up

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Hello wonderful bookish friends! How did you do with your reading goals in June? What was you favorite and least favorite book(s)? Anyway, whatever you read, I really hope you had a fantastic month!

As for me, I’ve been pretty busy these past few months that I have not been doing or finishing my usual weekly/daily blog posts. However, I have been reading more and did really well in May and June so I’m quite happy with that. In May, I read 12 books and 13 books in June! I’d say that’s an AMAZING progress since I was running on 4-5 hours of sleep almost every day since getting the new puppy. I’m only now 2 books behind my Goodreads challenge and my Netgalley feedback ratio is now 56%. I’ll talk more about my Netgalley reading update on a separate post, but May and June were really awesome reading months for me… just not so much on blogging. BUT, I am working on that.

 

Let’s take a look at all the books I read in May and June. I honestly really LOVED reading most of them and some might even go on my FAVORITE 2018 BOOKS.

Remember to click the book titles to read my reviews and view the posts. 


MAY

The Dylan Dilemma by Patricia B. Tighe

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ADORABLY SWEET AND HEARTWARMING

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Tighe writes beautifully and perfectly balances her stories with humor, intrigue, romance, important life lessons, friendship, and family.  The Dylan Dilemma was no exception and I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a lighthearted and sweet YA contemporary romance. This book was a such delightful read that made me smile, swoon, laugh and teary eyed a few times.

Out of Left Field by Kris Hui Lee

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Cute, fun and entertaining

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There were some things that could have been better, but overall, Out of Left Field was a delightful debut novel. With cute moments, fun bantering, and adorable romance, this was just the fluffy lighthearted read I needed. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for Kris Hui Lee’s future works and would recommend this book to anyone in the mood of something quick, sweet and entertaining.

 

The Dating Experiment (The Experiment #2) by Emma Hart

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Hilarious and Satisfyingly Entertaining

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This book was fast-paced, easy to read, and undeniably entertaining from start to finish. It’s funny, realistic, steamy and sweet. The ending was romantic and left my heart feeling happy. It’s totally the kind of book I love curling up with. Definitely recommend you check this book out.

 

Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

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A WONDERFULLY CHARMING AND ENTERTAINING READ

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Love and Luck was a wonderfully charming and entertaining read. It’s full of heartwarming moments and by the end, I was absolutely tearing up and had all these warm fuzzies. I’m definitely looking forward to whatever adventure Welch is planning next.

 

Odd and True by Cat Winters

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Not my Cup of Tea, but Somewhat Enjoyable  

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I had a rough start with Odd and Tru, but overall, I did kind of enjoy the story. Some books are truly meant to be while others not so much. Odd and True just wasn’t my cup of tea, but it could be yours. If you’re into creepy, weird, and dark stories, then I think you might have fun with this book.

The Wright Love (The Wright Duet #1) by K.A. Linde

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Amazingly Addictive, Satisfyingly Sweet, and So Adorably Sexy

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This book was a delightful and entertaining read from start to finish. The Wright Love made my heart ache and filled it with hope and love at the same time. It’s amazingly addictive, satisfyingly sweet, and so adorably sexy. I loved every moment and cannot wait to see how Sutton and David’s story end.

If you enjoy stories with phenomenal writing, fantastic characters, realistic scenarios, amazing FEELS, and heartbreaking plot twists, then I highly suggest you pick this book up rigth now.

The Game Can’t Love You Back by Karole Cazzo

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Heartwarming, Cute, and Incredibly Inspiring

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The Game Can’t Love You Back was a heartwarming and delightful story about acceptance and taking chances. It’s funny and cute, but also genuine and wonderfully inspiring.  I loved the writing, the characters and the crazy bantering that went from horribly sour to sugary sweet. This was definitely a home run for me and I cannot wait to read more books by Cozzo.

 

The Hook-Up by Erin McCarthy

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Fun and Delicious Guilty Pleasure Treat with the Sweetest Ending 

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Overall, this was an achingly beautiful story that I never wanted to end. It was realistic, enticing, hilarious, emotional and heartwrenching. The FEELS hit me so damn much and it was simply amazing. Definitely a fun and delicious guilty pleasure treat that romance lovers would enjoy.

 

Mayfly by Jeff Sweat

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Wonderfully Unique, Weirdly Fascinating, and Thrilling Edge of Your Seat Story

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This story was a phenomenally creative, positively insightful and incredibly compelling read. Jeff Sweat crafted a unique and addictive post apocalyptic adventure that will leave you wanting more. I do hope that ending is just the beginning because there are so many more questions I need to be answered.

 

The Wright One (The Wright Duet #2) by K.A. Linde

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4.25 – A Wonderfully Charming, Positively Compelling and

Deeply Moving Conclusion!

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This was such a wonderfully charming, amazingly affecting, and positively compelling story that melted my heart and touched my soul. There were definitely moments of sadness and pain, but also moments filled with so much laughter, passion, love, strength, and hope. My heart is brimming with so much warmth and happiness that I just can’t stop smiling. I’m absolutely enamored with K.A. Linde’s gorgeous writing and cannot wait to read more of her books!

 

Can Dreams Come True by Krysten Lindsey Hager

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A Sweet, Fun and Charming Coming of Age Story

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There’s nothing better than first loves and coming of age stories. I just find them so nostalgic, sweet and heartwarming. Can Dreams Come True by Krysten Lindsay was no exception and such a delightfully fun read.

 

Ranger’s Oath (Arc of Radiance #1) by Blake Arthur Peel

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Amazingly Captivating and Satisfyingly Entertaining

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Ranger’s Oath by Blake Arthur Peel is an exciting new fantasy series with a unique and engaging storyline that takes you on a thrilling journey as you explore a world filled with magic, mystery, and danger. It’s amazingly captivating and satisfyingly entertaining with an ending that will have you anxiously anticipating the next installment.

 


JUNE

Where the Sea Takes Me by Heidi R. Kling

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Achingly Gorgeous, Incredibly Moving and Absolutely Inspirational 

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Where the Sea Takes Me by Heidi R. Kling is a wonderfully written story about second chances, hope, and love. The FEELS in this book… so ridiculously overwhelming that made my heart and soul ached. It was too much to bear sometimes, but I honestly enjoyed going on this emotionally moving and inspirational journey with Sienna and Deni.

Just One of the Royals by Leah and Kate Rooper

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4.25 – Delightfully Cute and Fun Romance with a Royally Adorable Twist! 

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With a fun and lighthearted storyline, amazing relationships, great team spirit, charming characters, and cute romance, Just One of the Royals will have you smiling the entire time. It’s sweet, funny, and will teach you a thing or two about honesty and doing what truly makes you happy.

 

A Date with Darcy (Bookish Boyfriends #1) by Tiffany Schmidt

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3.75- Lighthearted, Oddly Charming and Adorably Cute YA Teen Romance

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Overall, this was a lighthearted, fun, and oddly charming YA contemporary romance. I may not have completely fallen in love with this book, but I definitely thought the unique and quirky concept paired with an awesome and totally lovable heroine, made this a pleasant reading date. I’m ready for the next one and cannot wait to see which book boyfriend(s) I’ll get to meet.

I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting

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3.75 – Lighthearted and Adorably Entertaining

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The ending was pretty sweet and overall, I Flipping Love You was a delightfully fun read… I’m just not completely head over heels in love with it. That being said, I did really enjoy this novel, so I’m definitely still interested in reading Helena Hunting’s books… just not anytime soon.

Blood Veil (Mission #2) by Megan Erickson

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A Deliciously Fast-Paced and Thrilling Paranormal Romance

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Blood Veil was a light, fun and easy read. Although some parts felt weird and a bit off, I still really enjoyed the storyline and rooted for the characters to have their happy endings. This book didn’t blow my mind away, but I had an incredibly great time exploring this dark and exciting supernatural world filled with danger, warring vampire clans, and mysteries. It kept me positively entertained, on edge, and completely hooked. If there’s ever going to be a Book #3, I’d definitely sign up in a heartbeat.

Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley

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Wonderfully Charming, Adorably Funny and Beautiful Written

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Love Scene, Take Two is delightfully sweet, incredibly funny, and absolutely swoony. With so much heart-melting FEELS, intriguing family drama, great friendships, and cute romance, this book is the perfect rom-com story you’ll want to read this summer. I smiled so much and swooned so hard that I know this fantastically fun book will always have a special place in my heart. I definitely cannot wait to read more books from this author.

Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken

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Breathtakingly Sweet, Absolutely Fun, Deeply Affecting and a Delightfully Wonderful Story 

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With amazingly written storylines, lovable characters, and heart tugging moments, Fraternize gave me plenty of achingly delicious swoons and feels. I adored every single moment from beginning to end and had one of the most delightfully emotional and affecting experience. I have no doubt that this will end up on my top favorite reads this year and I honestly cannot recommend it enough.

Chemistry Lessons by Meredith Goldstein

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Cute and Charming YA Contemporary

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Overall, this book was a very light, fun and cute read. It wasn’t spectacularly mind-blowing or anything, but it had a nice mixture of light drama, heartbreak, great friendships, self-discovery, and first loves. It’s charming in its own way and definitely a perfect summer YA contemporary read! Oh and I really enjoyed the “whiff walks.”

Love Me, Love Me Not by S.M. Koz

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A Painfully Beautiful and Wonderfully Emotional Ride

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I thought this was a wonderfully written story. It’s terribly heartbreaking, incredibly moving, sometimes funny and sweet, and absolutely real in every way. The writing, the story, the characters, the relationships and all the emotions affected me. I really did enjoy going on this emotional journey so if you’re in the mood for a book with that and a lot of heart, then I highly recommend you add this to your TBR.

Infraction by Rachel Van Dyken

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An Amazingly Well-Written and Wonderfully Emotional Story

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I loved Miller and Kinsey together and their chemistry was just so swoony. Sanchez and Emerson were super adorable and I can’t get over how funny Sanchez was in this one. Jax warmed up to me and I fell a little for him. The ending had me crying, but it was absolutely perfect! All the fun bantering between the characters, the bromance, the friendship, the swoony and sexy moments, the unexpected twists, and even all the heartbreaking parts that made me cry the ugliest tears… I loved all of it and just about everything else. So damn in love with this!

Everything Under the Sun by Jessica Redmerski

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An Intriguing, Heartbreaking and Fantastic Edge of Your Seat Post Apocalytic Thriller with A Deliciously Swoony Slow Burn Romance!

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Everything Under the Sun Jessica Redmerski was one hell of ride that had me holding my breath and clutching my heart the entire time. It was thrilling, suspenseful, and an emotionally draining reading experience and I loved every second I spent with Atticus and Thais… even the parts that made my cry and just broke me over and over again.

Blood Match by K.A. Linde

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Satisfyingly Swoony, Dangerously Enthralling, and Undeniably Seductive

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The “Blood Type” series is my newest obsession and my absolute favorite paranormal vampire romance story. It’s riveting, suspenseful, angsty, and irresistibly enticing. Blood Match left me emotionally battered and broken and anxiously craving for Blood Cure. With so many answered questions and that excruciating ending, I’m definitely looking forward to another bloody fangtastic ride!

Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga

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A Creative, Magical, and Delightfully Spellbinding Read

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This was a delightfully spellbinding read that kept me up late into the night! It was whimsical, fascinating, hilarious, and magical. It’s a wonderfully written YA fantasy story with exciting adventures, awesome fighting scenes, engaging characters, and swoony kisses. I loved this book and highly recommend to everyone who’s looking for something creative and fun.


And that’s all folks! I know that was really long, so thank you if you made it all the way here. Have you read any of these books?

Any book recommendations for me?

Let me know in the comments down below and have a fantastic week!

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Book Review – Blood Match by K.A. Linde

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As the provocative, sensual Blood Type series continues, the rare bond between Reyna and Beckham is threatened by betrayal, greed, and twisted secrets.

A desperate human. A powerful vampire. A world divided.

Reyna Carpenter was promised paradise. She was delivered into hell.

Giving up her body for money was supposed to be the hardest part of becoming a blood escort. She never expected to lose her heart to her dark, enigmatic boss, Beckham Anderson. After being taken by a depraved captor who plans to rule the world, Reyna will do anything to return to Beckham.

She just has to find the will to survive this game.

From the pawn, rises a queen.

Note: Reyna and Beckham’s story begins in Blood Type and continues in Blood Cure.

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Satisfyingly Swoony, Dangerously Enthralling, and Undeniably Seductive

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This addictive series is seriously going to be the death of me! Blood Match was an absolutely delicious torture. I’m honestly surprised that my heart is still beating cause I’m in complete and utter shock after that ending and died about a thousand times. If the insanely wicked cliffhanger in the previous book had me thirsting for more, the one in this is making me have the worst withdrawals and I am TOTALLY DYING. Dying for more Beckham and Reyna, for more blood, more steam, more swoons, more revenge, more suspense, more laughs, and just more of EVERYTHING!

Blood Match was a satisfyingly swoony, dangerously enthralling, and undeniably seductive read from beginning till the end. Even though it started a little slow, I loved every single moment of this book. The writing was engaging and incredibly captivating. With pulse-pounding action, thrilling suspense, juicy secrets, heartbreaking betrayals, steamy romance, and shocking twist and turns, I was on edge and completely hooked the entire time. The storyline definitely had me guessing, but I did have this really bad feeling about a certain character. I knew blood would be spilled and something really horrific would happen, but damn… I never expected that ending at all. It was cruel and sinful, but oh so good at the same time. K.A. Linde is a ridiculously brilliant writer who knows just how to torture me in the sweetest ways. Those last few moments crushed my heart, shattered my soul, sucked the life out of me and left me bleeding dry. I really hope I can survive the wait cause I want… no I NEED to know what happens next.

The romance was without a doubt one of the best part of this series. It had me feeling all kinds of swoons and there’s really no other way to say this, but I’m obsessed. I just love Reyna and Beckham together. Their chemistry and attraction go beyond lust and sexual tension. It’s more than just an addictive and all-consuming relationship. They care deeply, love passionately and would do anything to protect each other. They’re emotionally connected and so perfectly imperfect together. I adore them both as a couple and as they are and rooted for them with all my heart. I’m seriously hoping K.A. Linde gives Reyna and Becks the most epic and happiest happy ending… these two deserve nothing less.

The “Blood Type” series is my newest obsession and my absolute favorite paranormal vampire romance story. It’s riveting, suspenseful, angsty, and irresistibly enticing. Blood Match left me emotionally battered and broken and anxiously craving for Blood Cure. With so many answered questions and that excruciating ending, I’m definitely looking forward to another bloody fangtastic ride!

If you’re hungry for a sexy, dark, addictive, and thrilling adventure that will have your heart racing, then sink your teeth into this amazing series.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher and Inkslinger via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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“Please.” She wasn’t above begging. “I’ve waited so long.”
“I won’t bite you,” he said, his face sliding down between her legs. A fang nipped at the sensitive artery in her inner thigh. “But I bloody well want to.”
Did she even care if he bit her? It would be a relief after what she’d endured. A relief to feel that connection so acutely. But she wouldn’t press him this time. She remembered how they’d gotten carried away. He’d taken too much, drank too deeply, and she could have died. They needed to take it slow.
The blood. Not the sex. She needed that right now.
His finger slicked through her wetness and began to massage her clit. She vibrated from the sensation. She didn’t know if she’d be able to hold out before he was inside of her.
Then his eyes found hers again. His boxers disappeared and then his cock was in his hand. He massaged the length of himself as he watched her walk on a tightrope. Any second she was going to fall off and into oblivion. Nothing and no one had ever made her feel so good. No. No one had ever made her feel.
“So . . . close,” she ground out.
One powerful thrust seated him to the hilt within her. She cried out as he stretched her to the max. No warning or preamble just his cock inside of her, filling her to completion.
Her walls clenched around him. She was so close, but instinctively, she knew he wasn’t going to let her release without him.
Then he started moving. A slow pull out and a quick drive inward. Once, twice, three times.
“Not yet,” he said, his eyes commanding.
She tried to hold back. She could wait. Oh God, she could wait.
Then he started up the rhythm again. Setting his own course, owning and claiming her body. Reclaiming everything that he’d lost in that one moment of stupidity on her part. In his one moment of weakness.
She could see in his eyes the weight that loss had cost him. The toll it had taken on him for giving into his urges, for finally relinquishing his hold on himself. His eyes said he’d never do it again. His eyes were a promise.
“Becks, come with me,” she cried, clutching the sheets.
He grasped her hips and owned her body where he refused to own her blood. Taking everything she would give him, but not everything he wanted. Not everything she wanted.
She was so close. She looked in his eyes and knew they would finish together.
Reyna woke up screaming.
She jolted upright in her overly plush king-sized bed with its too many pillows and too much softness. Her hair was plastered to her face. Sweat coated her body, soaking through the thin white shirt she’d worn to bed.
Her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and she looked around the small room. Everything was in place. Nothing had changed. Not a damn thing.
Beckham wasn’t here.
It had been a dream. A sick dream. A desperate horrible dream.
Her hand moved to her cotton panties and found the slicked wetness still there. The ache still building in her lower half from lack of release. The aftereffects of the dream. It had felt so real. So very real.
She had felt him moving inside of her. She had seen the love in his eyes. She had known his remorse.
But none of that was real.
That was her imagination at work. Conjuring his face just to torture herself with his absence. Remembering the feel of his body and the love in his eyes, only to know that he hadn’t found her. Aching for one more view of him.
It had been fifty-five days since she’d last seen his face.
Reyna made a mark in the notebook next to the bed.
Fifty-six.

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A startling new vision of paranormal romance: When a human ventures into the world of vampires—a decadent milieu of blood-bonds and betrayal—she discovers that not all is what it seems.

For Reyna Carpenter, giving up her body isn’t a choice. It’s survival.

In a civilization laid waste by poverty and desperation, Reyna accepts a high-paying position with the wealthy and hungry vampire elite. Her new job is as the live-in blood escort for the intimidating, demanding, and devilishly handsome Beckham Anderson. He’s everything she expected from a vampire, except for one thing—he won’t feed off her.

Reyna soon discovers that behind Beckham’s brooding, wicked façade lies a unique and complex man. And that, in a dark and divided world, she is more valuable than she ever would have believed.

For with each passing night, Reyna can’t shake the sensation that it’s Beckham who’s afraid of her.

Note: Reyna and Beckham’s story continues in Blood Match.

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The stunning conclusion to the Blood Type series finds the world in chaos and turmoil with one final battle left to determine who will survive—humans or vampires.

She had the world on her shoulders. Now she has nothing.

Reyna Carpenter was twenty-one when she became a live-in blood escort for the ruthless and darkly handsome vampire Beckham Anderson. She thought this was just a small price to pay for feeding her brothers back home.

But nothing went as planned. Not even her tumultuous relationship with Beckham. And now she wonders if anything will ever be the same again.

As she finds herself in the midst of a losing rebellion, she and her trusted friends must flee from a city conquered by the vampire elite. With their plans blown to pieces and everything they knew and loved gone, their future hangs in the balance.

Despite all she has lost, Reyna must rise from the ashes, reclaim the life that was stolen—and complete her mission, once and for all.

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KylaK.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

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WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

 

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I really hope you meet Reyna and Beckham and fall in love with their story. It’s honestly been such a long time since I’ve been this obsessed with a paranormal romance.

Have any of you read this book/series? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

As always, thanks for reading my review!

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