New-To-Me and New-To-You: Spotlight Jennifer Hanks

Least you forget I have book pimp. She recently reached out to me saying she was sending an author my way. This author had several books published and was looking for readers to take a chance to read her back catalog. Word of mouth can be gold for exposure.

Now, this situation is a bit unusual. I'm not always known for making good choices. Beth, is asking me, the lone wolf to try out an author all by myself.

GULP! 

This is reader equivalent of jumping without a parachute. I can do this? I can do this! I mean, before finding social media other than Goodreads, I did this. So let's tap back into my adventurous side. Watch out Jennifer Hanks, here I come! 

Let's start with an overview of the two series: The Dimarcos and Elite Securities

Read as a series or Standalones? 

Recommendation: Series

Both series are interconnecting and I recommend you read in order to get the character relationship development. 

Trope/Catagory/Angst?

Karen's Category: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance

Karen's Trope: Suspense, Instalove, Alpha Males, Strong Females, Family Ties

Angst: 5 out of 10

Sometimes the categories on Amazon aren't the best, but really this firmly fits into the Romantic Suspense with each book. Think: Susan Stoker, Mary Jordan or Dana Marton. 

Now a bit of cover snark. To be honest, if I'd judge a book by it's cover (never do), I'd instantly think "sweet" and "instalove" while cruising the KU catalog. I'm a big fan of instalove so no problem, but in no way would I call these stories sweet. And for book 1, Lucy, I will admit I did do a bit of judging a book by it's cover, so I was surprised in the direction the story went. Although the idea of beautiful women standing on their own is represented in the image,  it's the Elite Securities that nails the main series trope. 

Time now to turn to each individual book for my review summary:

Lucy - The Dimarco Series Book 1

Release Date: March 15, 2016

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NJqeoh

Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Review:  Lucy introduces us to the family of the Dimarcos. They are loud, in your business but love you to death. Ben and Lucy are college friends and that's where it ends. But Ben is tired of the inquisition when he comes home and enlists Lucy in a 'fake relationship' favor. However, when they get home an unsuspecting insta-chemistry with twin Christian happens. There is an irresistible pull that Christian plays push away and I want to go 'Moonstruck' on him. Lucy gets into a situation that sends the lovebirds into a tailspin, but love wins out in the end. 

Angst level was a 7 for me, maybe a bit of repetition in the storytelling. However this is a debut so wide berth given. 

4 stars

Sydney - The Dimarco Series Book 2

Release Date: August 30, 2016

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NKWeZ7

Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Review: Cameron is the perfect of overprotective alpha male, and Sydney is the unlikely female counterpart that isn't going to deter from her plan. Each one is keeping secrets from one another. But they are after the same result with putting away a scum bucket where he can't dirty their lives. 

This story ramps up the suspense aspect in Ms. Hanks storytelling. The reader gets insight into the characters associated with Elite Securities for future stories. Although there is some angst in the developing relationship, the suspense keeps the story moving for this reader. We fall deeper in love with these bossy men including their patriarchs. 

4 stars

Gianna - The Dimarco Series Book 3

Release Date: July 5, 2017

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LTHsxu

Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Review:  The story starts out with a case of mistaken identification and surprise from a one-night stand. However, this not the only mystery to be solved. Once everyone is partnered up correctly, Brody and Gianna make a go in the world of co-parenting. But the insta-attraction Brody felt isn't going to burn out but flame higher. 

Out of all the brothers, Brody is the 'yummiest' of them all. Maybe the overprotective, alpha, broody male but the way he takes to fatherhood, guard your ovaries ladies. 

The storytelling takes stride with better pacing. Readers get more story development for the family dynamics and emotions to keep the pages turning. 

4 stars

Elaina - The Dimarco Series Book 4

Release Date: December 12, 2017

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LWe6hI

Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Review:  Jake is the funny brother. Always one to make any moment lighter. When a tragic injury happens while out with his brothers, Jake takes the blame and a lot of his bright light is dimmed. However, a beautiful neighbor and interfering family just might bring this single dad back to his happy self. However, once again, trouble still lurks in the Dimarco family shadows and it's time for the brothers to save the day. 

This time Ms. Hanks brings humor to the relationship development. But it's not all fun and games. There is seriousness with Luke's injury and those responsible. Elaina and Jake get pulled into the tension and leaves the reader wanting to help Jake see the light. 

4 stars

My Redemption - Elite Securities Book 1

Release Date: May 21, 2018

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PYI5sV

Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Review: Now it's a turn for the adoptive family members of the Dimarco family to get their HEA. Who better to feature first than Pike. You meet him in the Dimarco family books and we get to learn all his insecurities when finding his HEA. This wounded vet has a heart of gold and Bella is just the woman to need to help heal her insecurities to find the perfect ending. 

This book expands the world of the Dimarcos introducing unique secondary characters. As always, Mom and Dad Dimarco are there to lend the right words at the right time. This story is more suspenseful scenes. However, they keep the story flowing and ready to learn more. 

4 stars

Overall Series Rating: 4 Stars

If you are on Kindle Unlimited, this is a great series binge to get hooked on and read through. It's entertaining romance with suspense.  It may have been a bit more angsty at the start of the series. However, this is storytelling growth. I found that as the author wrote more, she develops a style to apply angst to keep the reader engaged without drawing the reader over the emotional wringer. 

Jennifer Hanks definitely has a talent for storytelling and looking forward to more stories she will deliver to the romance bookshelves. 

Different is Good

This is something I ponder from time to time. My book friends know my preference in reading: hearts, flowers, unicorns, and light & fluff with no angst. Pretty simple when you think about it. I don't tend to veer too far off the reading path. But, every once in awhile, I surprise myself.  What is better? It can be when the authors I adore do it for me. 

If you follow me on Goodreads, you'll see I'm happily immersed in a Kate Cantenbary binge.  I do this periodically, like normal people do with Netflix, yet I do with authors. As I'm reading book 3 of the Walsh Family series, Necessary Renovations, I'm hit at 83% that the author may not be heading down my normal expected path. After finishing, I thought: what stories took me unexpectedly where I ventured and loved it? 

Really, do you think I'm going to spoil it and let you know if Kate did surprise me in book 3? 

Nope, just read it.

I thought I'd share some books from authors whose body of work I enjoy tremendously but took a chance on something different - and loved all the more.  So, in order of reading, here is my --

Different is Good Recommendations

Inked on Paper by Nicole Edwards

I read this during a period of time where I was recovering from surgery. I was finding it hard to concentrate on reading material. Whether it was tiredness, pain or just plain reading apathy that hit me, this book intrigued me into a non-stop experience. Without rehashing the blurb (click on the link for that), this book is a story within a story.  The muse - you choose who was the real muse to whom - created a story that unfolds in real time with the character's journey. In following Ms. Edwards, this isn't one of her more popular stories to be discussed. But for me, this dual story within a story was a interesting risk in storytelling that I throughly enjoyed. 

Feyness and Parasight by ES Carter

 

                                 

        

Really, I don't do dark. I don't do paranormal. I just don't when I look for a read. I've had a few trusted book friends recommend these sub-genres and have enjoyed. But I DO NOT seek them out. However, a book friend insisted - I'll say she shoved it down my throat and she'll laugh - that I read this paranormal offering. Now, ES Carter has within her Love By Numbers series veers into different types of tropes within contemporary romance. But these books, she took a left turn on a road circling to the right with a cliff on the other side. When readers ask me, I best describe it as: Emily Bronte and Ann Radcliffe met, smoked hash and wrote a book together. Or the best damn gothic, scary romance I've ever read. It was shocking, cringe-worthy, yet the most poetic version of murderous intent I've ever read. And with my limited library of dark reads, this will be in the foremost of my mind when someone asks because it is just that beautiful in all its gore. 

It Started With A Kiss by Melanie Moreland

Melanie has a captivating ability to tell a story and tell it very, very well. Her stories are always complete and leave the reader satisfied with 'The End'. I guess I can best summarize her stories as dramatic art. Not that it is Lifetime Channel quality. No, I classify her body of work to compare to Out of Africa or Secret Life of Walter Mitty caliber movies. In January she released a very light-hearted, non-angsty story of falling in love at first kiss. It deviated from the road her novels normal  riveting journey. And you know, sometimes you need to watch the Hallmark channel instead of HBO to let real life take a break. When someone is looking for that 'easy' love story to read, this is one that I will recommend each time. It was a risk as an author to go in such a light hearted direction but it is a serious check in my win column. 

Sweet Sixteen by Brenda Rothert

 

Just like the paranormal, I don't do the young adult/new adult stories. I think it's my age showing, but anyone under 25 just isn't my cup of tea. So what happens when an author I adore tells me she's not only writing a story about outsider and golden boy but set in high school, I take a deep breath, pull up my big girl panties and say, "I'll read one chapter". Damn if I wasn't hooked. And I truly wish I could take credit for this description - smart high school characters with real life stakes (PS thank you Brenda). Two interesting facts: It's not finished and it is currently available only through the Inklo app. Each episode is released on Tuesdays at 5pm EST, and we are only to number six as of this blog post date. I'm not sure where this story will take us. However, I have been shocked and awed as what I've read. (Check out my comments on each episode) And I am impatiently waiting for more. It is one of the most 'real' young adult stories I've read ← that is saying a lot from me. 

Although I've read authors who may wander slightly off the path, they seem to stay consistent with their brand of storytelling. These four authors did not allow me to choose different. They made the choice for me. In each one of these recommendation, it worked for me. Different wasn't only good it was great. I loved the journey and felt good about the direction I was taken.  Now, this doesn't mean that every change of pace works for me. Sometimes I'm in the mood for out of the ordinary. If you know and love something not quite in the normal standard for an author, throw out your suggestion to me on social media. You never know what may be my next 'different is good' will be. 

Sharing Joy: What is Old is New Again and I Get a Bit Mushy

I've been reflective in the past 24 hours more so than others. Although this subject has been on the tip of my tongue for days, I've been searching for the words for weeks now to express this feeling I have. I think I've found them. So I hope you aren't surprised by this mushy post as my normal sarcasm is put to the side for a bit.

I hope each of my followers has taken the time to read my interview with Panda & Boodle. Not only was it fun to do, but it was inspired by a conversation with author. She wanted to genuinely know what this new BuzzFeed Community activity was about. Because let's face it: sometimes it's hard to define what is just a promotion campaign versus not. If you look out on the interweb, you'll see such promotions: Hottest Beach Reads - sponsored by Book Bub.  I am no way knocking these type of promotions. As the author I conversed with stated, it's HARD - very HARD to get your book noticed in a sea of never ending offerings. These have their place in a needed way.

There is also promotion from bloggers to get their blogs noticed. If all you publish is cover reveal, review tour, giveaway...and no other content, it's difficult to stay noticed in the sea of those readers just scrolling by. You've got to post relevant and interesting posts once in awhile to break up the monotony of book promo posting. See my list of blogs I follow - the reason I do is they all keep me engaged as a reader.  In order to 'mix it up' what you see from most blogs is a 'Must Read 2017' or 'Summer Reading List' to keep content fresh.  Again, these are book lists that are normally relevant in the now. 

Before I continue, I'd like you to look at our last list: Ghosts and Angels: Romances We Love That Will Have You Saying "Ditto". What I'd like you to pay careful observation to is the publication dates.  My book friends aren't limiting their recommendations to what is popular now. We give them a survey topic and they get to spend time like Ron to reminisce over their libraries on the books they want to share. 

Like the idea of the song, a book can inspire you to connect with an event or a person to remember fondly. But reminiscing over a book, its like returning to an old friendship when you think about the characters and their journey. When we are doing our surveys, this magic, this recall is what happens. And we all feel warm and delighted again. 

There is this feeling I get after we hit publish on a list. We love seeing readers react to our suggestions and sharing. I personally enjoy reading the comments and other readers suggestions. But this isn't what hits me in the feels.  It's when we see a delighted response from an author.  

Not in the 'Oh we've been noticed by the cool kid'. Nope, it's when an author says, "Thank you for mentioning my book 'X'. I'm stunned and smiling like mad right now." That author quote is from a book was published in 2013. There is no active promos. Nope, just a genuine '...recommend this book because...' from our book friends. And that reaction from the authors that they recognize we don't just love the right now, but we love and recommend a wonderful reading memory.  It's this reaction - happiness in recognizing a worthy story - gets me grinning. 

I think as book bloggers and fans we forget, and we often concentrate on the hot-right-now. Every day there are new readers that haven't seen or heard of these fantastic reads.  These new readers may find by going through a catalog, but maybe there is a bit of hesitation on their part to click because we aren't talking about it. I guess what I hope is that readers - both old and new to the genre - find some really enjoyable entertainment with our lists.  Our themes may run current with what is happening such as LoveIsLoveIsLove for Pride Month.  However, our content will stay authentic to the recommendations of our book friends. 

Fangirl Activated: SASS Author Event Baltimore MD July 2017

TRIP OF A LIFETIME! 

Really you say.  Yes, really this is one author signing that I will not be able to duplicate ever again. You see it's not the authors, books, or signing events that made it so special. 

It was the bookfriends 

I may not be able to connect with in person again. 

Approximately a year ago, a very special Aussie friend, Jackie, said that she was planning a trip to the USA and would any of the admins in our reader group be attending the Baltimore event. 

Say What?!?!???

Although I had every intention to try to make the trip to Riveting Reads Australia in October 2017, my husband had other plans for our wedding anniversary. Yes, the one time love of my life came before books. Jot that down in your calendar.  With having the opportunity to not only spend time with Jackie but also Erin, I made sure NOTHING was going to spoil this trip in July 2017. 

Well, meeting two friend grew into many friends in attendance.  Those I have talked about on books with on social media. Those that I have met at other events. Those new friends I made at this event. As I have stated before, it's these irreplaceable friendships that I've been blessed to form that are the BEST of the memories for any author signing event. 

We laughed, we drank, we ate birthday cake (special decorated), and we talked books. 

It was an AMAZING three days I will not forget. 

Now, by the way, there were authors I met.  I got to connect with authors I stalk interact with on social media and met new ones.  Here are some highlights:

• J. Daniels: What a sweet person and I probably had her wondering about my sanity. If you've not read her Alabama Summer and Sweet Addiction series - you are missing out! 
• Melanie Harlow and David Romanov: First, poor David. He was the target of a giveaway in our reader group. I gave him a first hand experience on fangirling. If you've not read their co-written story, Strong Enough, it's a 5 star debut in same-sex romance. 
• Sam D. Hunt: I had the opportunity to spend Friday Evening Event at her hosted table and won lots of goodies playing dice. If you are into menage theme, her duet, Taken by Two/Torn by Two, is a #mustread. You'll want to check out an upcoming BuzzFeed list about that ;) 
• Sawyer Bennett, Helena Hunting and Chelle Bliss: Each one of them are go-to with each new release. Always entertaining and great story telling. 

Next is the most prized physical possession I got at SASS.  If you've checked out our BuzzFeed list, LoveisLoveisLove, you will see that Tessa Bailey's debut for Wound Tight is mentioned.  I picked it up for my plane ride and WOW! what a brilliant tale. Completely relatable characters. Anywho...I digress. So one part of the Brain Trust was with me, and insisted on my special nickname be used.(and a story for another day.)

As far as author events, this was smoothly run, had more than just a signing to offer and I have it on the calendar for 2018. Maybe I will see you there!