Cover Reveal: Crashing Into You by B.D. Rowe

Crashing Into You by B.D. Rowe

Release Date: October 3, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads • Amazon

Bookish college sophomore Sydney Baker wants Evan Taylor with every ounce of her being. The hottest stud on campus, Evan is six foot four, ripped, stacked with muscles. He’s even easy to talk to.

There’s just one problem: he’s her roommate Melanie’s boyfriend.

But when Melanie tragically dies after a night of wild partying, Sydney and Evan turn to each other in a time of intense grief. And it doesn’t take long for their close friendship to blossom into something more.

Unfortunately for Sydney, secrets from the past soon put her relationship with Evan to the test. Especially when a sexy blonde freshman makes her way into Evan’s life, and tries to rip away everything Sydney holds close to her heart.

Giveaway!

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About the Author

B.D. Rowe is a Sacramento native with a penchant for crafting tales of romance, mystery, and intrigue. Crashing Into You is B.D. Rowe’s New Adult debut.

Review: A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers

A Little Too Much (A Little Too Far #2) by Lisa Desrochers

Release Date: November 12, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: William Morrow Impulse
Pages: 416
Format: eBook
Source: ARC from the Publisher
Goodreads • Amazon


In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers’ explosive New Adult novel A Little too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he loved and left behind.

Twenty-two year old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that’s all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there’s no way she’ll head back down that road again.

Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He’s even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he’s much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she’s built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she’s guarding.

As Hilary finds herself falling back into love with the man who, as a boy both saved and destroyed her, she must decide. Past or future? Truth or lies?


I loved the first installment in this series, A Little Too Far, but A Little Too Much was even better. In the last book we got to know Alessandro Moretti the, now former, priest-in-training. Riddled with guilt from his difficult past, he'd turned to the cloth to atone for his sins. Then he met Lexie and everything changed. With his previous path upended, Alessandro's now on a quest to confront his past ghost and determine what's next for him. One of which is Hilary McIntyre; his first. Years ago, when they were both just kids in a group home, he and his brother hurt her in very different ways.

Now 8 years later, Hilary is navigating through life the best she can, living in New York and trying to make it on Broadway. She's got her life together (more or less), but the effects of her childhood are never far below the surface. And Alessandro's return is guaranteed to bring them out. But neither can deny old feelings for long.

Prepare to really meet Alessandro Moretti without the looming priesthood. I couldn't help but fall for him in the last book, and he wasn't even trying then. He's still ridiculously sexy, and now not-as-forbidden. This is where how awesome he is gets cemented forever and luckily, this time, it happens with the right girl. His guilt still plagues him, but the tortured soul thing really works for him.

And Hilary matches him in every way in the difficult-past department. That was the aspect that put this book above the first for me. Both Alessandro and Hilary have extremely rich back stories, even beyond their childhood romance that are impossible not to get absorbed into. It was the first time in a long time that the "big reveal" in an NA novel was just that for me. I was hooked in every way and raced for the end while simultaneously wishing it would never come.

The development of their relationship was incredible to experience. It's once again impossible to keep from feeling with these characters and that made the ride even more enthralling. The way they struggled to open up and lean on each other is heartbreaking and wonderful and just... awesome. I have so much love for this book, it's ridiculous.

Fans of A Little Too Far will love to see Alessandro find his happiness. A Little Too Much is sexy, emotional, and beautiful, easily making my list of favorite NAs with the first. Lisa Desrochers is quickly becoming an auto-buy for me given how much I've enjoyed this series. Be sure to check it out when it releases tomorrow (November 12th)!

About the Author

Lisa Desrochers is the USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far, courtesy of HarperCollins, and companions, A Little Too Much (Nov 12, 2013), and A Little Too Hot (Jan 21, 2014). Also in stores is her YA Personal Demons trilogy (Macmillan).

She lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Website   •   Twitter   •   Facebook   •   Blog   •   Goodreads

Review: A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

A Little Too Far (A Little Too Far #1) by Lisa Desrochers

Release Date: September 17, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased by Reviewer
Goodreads • Amazon


Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.


Lexie's story will suck you in from the start, full of laughs, blush-inducing steamy moments, and self-discovery. It's sexy, fun, and full of emotion. The feelings involved, ranging from lust to love, happiness to sadness, will leap off the page and make you feel them with the characters.

As a character, Lexie is fun, likable and relateable. She's trying to find herself, confused by all she's feeling and the particularly trying situation of falling for two unattainable guys. She's fun and loving, trying to figure out where she's heading in life. Cue Rome. A year abroad was supposed to give her the experience of a lifetime. Now it couldn't come at a better time, given her recent rebound lapse. Time away from home, from Trent to clear her mind is exactly what's needed.

Except it doesn't seem to be working. That is, until she meets the soon-to-be priest, Alessandro. He's kind, beautiful, and constantly trying to overcome his own demons. But what seems like a friendship that's exactly what she needs could be anything but.

I was rooting for Trent from the get-go. He and Lexie have the kind of relationship that blends friendship and love into something so beautiful, you just want one for for yourself. Despite that, it's impossible not to fall for Alessandro, at least a little bit, too. Which is when you start to really feel for Lexie, because she has a hard to choice to make.

A Little Too Far was without a doubt one of my favorite NA titles ever. I absolutely loved this book. I'm left wanting more, but also feeling like it ended on good note. Is there a better place to leave a reader? And there's more to look forward with Alessandro's story in A Little Too Much, out next week! I got an ARC (squeee!) and it's incredible!

So if you're a fan of NA and you haven't checked it out yet, put it on your list! You won't be disappointed.

About the Author

Lisa Desrochers is the USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far, courtesy of HarperCollins, and companions, A Little Too Much (Nov 12, 2013), and A Little Too Hot (Jan 21, 2014). Also in stores is her YA Personal Demons trilogy (Macmillan).

She lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Website   •   Twitter   •   Facebook   •   Blog   •   Goodreads

Blog Tour + Review: Leave the Lights On by Karen Stivali

Leave the Lights On by Karen Stivali

Release Date: November 5, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 238
Format: eBook
Source: ARC for Tour
Goodreads • Amazon • B&N


“When love throws you a curve, swing for the fences.”

Parker Wood’s dreams of becoming a professional baseball player are shattered when he’s injured in a devastating car crash. After two years in hospitals and physical rehab facilities, he’s ready to move back to his childhood home and take over the family landscaping company. The house and business are his, now that his father has passed.

Sophie Vaughn has suffered through a hellishly public divorce from a husband who couldn’t manage to stay faithful for two months of marriage. Determined not to let her personal drama impact her successful wedding and party planning business, she buys her parents’ old house, hoping the comfort of familiar surroundings will help her heal.

When Parker and Sophie discover they’re neighbors once again, it’s as if time has stood still. Their friendship is quickly rekindled, along with the decade-long crush neither of them ever admitted having. Then the heat between them exposes a long-held secret that threatens to tear them apart…unless they can detach from their painful pasts and move forward - together.

Warning: Contains sultry summer nights, steamy pool-side encounters, and you’ll never look at a jar of peanut butter the same way again.


The friends-to-lovers scenario tends to be one of my favorite romance story lines, and Leave the Lights On didn't disappoint. From the beginning the chemistry between Parker and Sophie was abundant and it didn't take long for them to give in. Sometimes a slow burn is nice, but these two jumped in pretty quickly, which both was believable for their relationship and prevented a lot of the all-too-often used communication failures (there are still some later on, but there was a lot less internal groaning). The progression of their relationship is equal parts sweet and steamy and enough to put a happy smile on your face.

Both Sophie and Parker have suffered major betrayals in their past relationships, which is where their few struggles together tend to come from. They struggle with trusting others but mostly with the believing that they're enough for someone to want. I think it's a relateable insecurity and really helped to keep me engrossed in the story rather than getting overly caught up in whether their hang-ups are valid.

The only thing I really wish had been included was a little more character back story, especially in Sophie's case. There are very defined points in their lives that are well-illuminated, but I would have liked more stories of their growing up together, or details on the time apart. That being said, generally speaking I think it's better to have a little less than perfect than have to much. Questions from readers are better than feelings of being sick of it, right? So, although it was a bit of a bummer, it didn't take much away for me.

Leave the Light On is a quick, easy, and sweet friends-to-lovers that will make you smile. If HEAs are your game, look no further.

Check out all the other stops on the tour here!

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About the Author

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends, who never seem to mind the excessive quantities she tends to prepare. She attributes her ability to multitask to the fact that she rarely sleeps, which gives her more hours every day. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic tales filled with sarcasm and sexy details. Although she writes in three genres (erotic romance, contemporary romance and women’s fiction) all of her stories are love stories with happily ever after endings.

Karen has published several erotic romance novels with Ellora’s Cave including two award winning stories: Always You (published September 2011, First Place Winner of the RWA Passionate Plume Award – 2012)and Marry Me (published June 2012, First Place Winner in the NEC-RWA Bean Pot Reader’s Choice Award – 2013).

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Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1) by Wendy Higgins

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 453
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased by Reviewer
Goodreads • Amazon

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels. Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?


I actually read this book over the summer but I've been sitting on the review since. That should in no way be interpreted as a lack of enthusiasm, because I adored Sweet Evil. Rather, I think it had more to do with the fact that I knew this series was going to be a fast fave and I didn't want the agonizing wait for Sweet Reckoning, the final installment in the trilogy, to be too terribly long. I didn't even let myself buy the second book immediately (I lasted a whole month before I broke!). Somehow, leaving little breadcrumbs (reading Sweet Peril, actually writing the reviews) made the wait seem less daunting in my head. It kinda worked, I guess...

Sweet Evil has absolutely become one of my favorite books. Anna's story is a unique take on the Nephilim mythology, full of intrigue and the moral variability from the original mythology that's been lost in the genre recently. The Dukes and the sins they represent make the story stand out from any like it that I've read; the relationship they have with their children, the Neph, even more so. I loved the fact that even within the Nephilim, there's no clear cut good and evil. They all have to "work" and feelings about that range from hate to love, with everything in between represented.

As a character, Anna is likable and fiercely loyal. Adopted as an infant, she spends a lot of the book learning about her past and why she's always been different. Her journey is spurred by a night out with her best friend to see a concert. While there, she notices there's something different about the drummer, Kaidan Rowe. And Kaidan seems to know and understand how different she is.

Speaking of Kaidan... Oh. My. God. He shot to the top tier of my Book Boyfriend list so fast it was ridiculous. He's the son of Pharzuph, the Duke of Lust, and basically corners the market on sexy. He's gorgeous, a bad boy, in a band, funny, and capable of making you melt (or, at the very least, squeal enthusiastically) with ease. Think I'm kidding?

     "A vulnerable tenderness flashed across his face, more painful to see than the coldness. It took every ounce of strength I had not to beg for one last kiss. As fast as his expression had softened, it was back to stone again. 

     “What do you want from me, Kai?”      
     'For starters?' His voice lowered to sexy, dangerous depths. 'I want to introduce myself to every freckle on your body.'"

Come on. That's not even fair... He's swoony, beautiful, funny and has an English accent. That's my Kryptonite right there. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. I could gush about him for entirely too long, so I'll stop stop for now.

If you haven't read Sweet Evil yet, you should do so. Immediately. This book is really something special. Wendy Higgins has crafted a world that's full of intrigue and romance that you won't ever want to leave. She has definitely become one of my favorite authors.

I also found out she'll be doing a signing with Victoria Scott in Dallas in January at the Barnes and Noble I went to growing up! I'm ridiculously excited and will most definitely be there with books ready.

About the Author

After earning a bachelors in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until becoming a mommy. Writing Young Adult (YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood.

She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Evil is her debut novel.

Release Day Launch: The 12 NAs of Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas Just Got Hotter!

Today we get to share with you the release of 12 New Adult Novellas written by some of our favorite bestselling New Adult authors! These are 12 separate Christmas novellas (not an anthology or box set) that are all releasing today! Some of the novellas are stand-alone and some are related to that author's existing series. We're highlighting one of the 12 with an excerpt and the information about that title. Then you can check out each of the titles below!

These novellas are sure to get you ready for whatever you have planned for the holidays.

About A Season for Hope:

Being dumped just before the holidays was my worst nightmare. I’d spent so many years thinking Preston Wright was the one for me that when he told me it was over, I thought I’d rather die than face the future.

I never expected someone like Judd Kohler to come crashing into my life. Literally. He was coming out. I was going in. My face got in the way. You get the picture. It was an accident. Running into him twice in one day, though? It started to feel like fate.

My mother always says Christmas is a magical time of year. A season for hope. All I know is that just when I thought I’d lost mine, hope somehow found its way back to me.

Just in time for Christmas. 

Excerpt from A Season of Hope:

I lean into his hand, my flesh burning under his touch. His fingers twitch slightly, as if he wants to pull me closer.
I want to kiss him, but I’m scared. I don’t want to be rejected again. I don’t want to misunderstand. And I don’t want to fall too fast just because I’m so hungry for something to heal my broken heart.

But I’m helpless to stop it.

When he leans down, he stops short, waiting for me to make a decision. I lift my head ever so slightly and he closes the space between us, his fingers tangling in the hair at the nape of my neck. He takes my mouth more forcefully than he did last night, and my body lights up at the first meeting of our lips.

Our lips open and explore. Our tongues dance, tasting for the first time.

My hands slip around his waist. I’m so aware of the fabric at the edge of his shirt, wanting nothing more than to slide my hand under and up. To feel the warm skin underneath and the hard muscles I know I’ll find along his back.

I want it so badly, I almost can’t control the desire.

He releases my lips and moves his kisses along the line of my chin. When he gets closer to my ear, he whispers, “You’re so beautiful.”

I immediately want to tell him he’s wrong. That he must not see me for some reason. But I hold it in, letting myself hear him. Not quite believing, but for the first time in a long time, wanting to believe.

About Sarra Cannon:

Sarra Cannon writes contemporary and paranormal fiction with both teen and college age characters. Her novels often stem from her own experiences growing up in the small town of Hawkinsville, Georgia, where she learned that being popular always comes at a price and relationships are rarely as simple as they seem.

Her best selling Young Adult paranormal series, Peachville High Demons, has sold over 140,000 copies and been featured on Amazon's Top 100 eBooks for Children & Teens. The first book in the series, Beautiful Demons, will be adapted into a graphic novel by Sea Lion Books later this year, and a spin-off series will begin in 2014.

She is a devoted (obsessed) fan of Hello Kitty and has an extensive collection that decorates her desk as she writes. She currently lives in North Carolina with her amazingly supportive husband and her adorable son.

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About Magan Vernon and Off the Market:

Website • Goodreads
Etta Davis must decide if a second chance with an old flame is worth taking her house, and her heart, off the market.

About Zoe Dawson and Brave: 

Website • Goodreads
His heart was closed, his emotions buried, he was a man on the edge of self-destructing. This Christmas, snowbound in Colorado, little did he know that courage would be found in another searching for the strength to be brave.

About Tiffany King and Cross Country Christmas:

Website • Goodreads
A hilarious, heartwarming Christmas tale about finding love in the least likely situation.

About Chelsea Cameron and Christmas Catch:

Website • Goodreads
She swore she was never going back to the tiny fishing village she came from. So did he. But when they’re both dragged back to Saltwater, Maine, they might realize it’s where they belong. Together…

About H.M. Ward and A Little Christmas Romance:

Facebook • Goodreads
A sexy and sweet holiday treat.

About Breena Wilde and Frosted Midnight:

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Willow St. James needs a miracle and an encounter with Austin Merrick at midnight on Christmas Eve may be just the answer she's looking for.

About A. Meredith Walters and Warmth in Ice:

Facebook • Goodreads
Clay and Maggie struggle to build a future while overcoming the demons of their past. And during the heat of a Florida Christmas they are reminded that theirs is a love worth fighting for.

About Sawyer Bennett and If I Return:

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What was supposed to be a quiet Christmas holiday turns into a life changing event for Hope and Jack. The only problem? Jack is headed off to war, and there is no guarantee he will come back.

About Shelly Crane and Wide Spaces:

Website • Goodreads
When they found each other, they knew that life had given them a second chance. But a life together that saved them will become a life they think is lost forever.

About Addison Moore and Winter Kisses:

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Having a one-night stand with your ex is never easy. She thinks its revenge sex. He thinks its make-up sex. Things can only go wrong from here.

About Marquita Valentine and All for You:

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The only thing West Diaz wants for Christmas is McKenzie Walsh's forgiveness, but she's not ready to make nice, until, that is, he willingly humiliates himself in public to prove he's not the same guy who bullied her in high school. But can one simple act overcome years of torment?

About Sarra Cannon and A Season for Hope:

Website • Goodreads
After a devastating breakup, Bailey Houston just wants to give up on life. But can sexy med-student Judd Kohler teach her that Christmas really is a season for hope?

Blog Tour: Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hey everyone! Welcome to day 5 of the Sentinel blog tour, featuring Elixir!

Check out the complete tour here.

Elixir (Covenant #3.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: November 27, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology, Romance
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 80
Goodreads • Amazon • B&N

Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex.

Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for.

Even if it means making war against the gods.

Favorite Quotes

    "I'd completely understood that she needed to be moved and quickly, but I didn't agree with how Apollo had done it.
    He'd hit her with a god-bolt. And I'd punched him.
    I was surprised that I was alive.


    "Dont't get me wrong. I like Alex. I think she's a pretty cool kid," Solos went on. "But isn't it more humane to put her out of her misery instead-"
My fist connected with his jaw before I even knew what I was doing. His head jerked back as he staggered to the side. I shot forward, grabbing him by his shirt, and slammed him into the wall, rattling several paintings.
    "Aiden!" Marcus yelled.
    "We are not going to harm Alex," I snarled, lifting the Sentinel onto the tips of his boots.


    "You don't know shit. You sure as hell don't know the lengths I will go to to keep her safe."


    "As entertaining as you going all grrr on Solos is, we need to talk," came Apollo's booming voice from inside the den. "So knock it off, Aiden."


    "Oh, you going to hit me again? I kind of liked it that first time."


    "I am not one of your servants, brother. Next time I will break that finger off and shove it so far up your-"
    "We have an audience." Apollo gestured toward us, and I was sure we all wore the same expression of shock and awe. "And no one wants to hear about the things you like to do in your spare time, Dionysus."


    Apollo looked around the room for help. Solos stepped back, raising his hands. "Don't look at me - I'd like to keep my face in one piece, thank you."
    I smirked.


    "You've always been so strong - unique. Only you controlled your life. No one made decisions for you. But this - not even questioning or fighting what's happening - is weak."
    Alex's eyes flew open. "I am not weak."
    "Then prove it!"


    Apollo had said he knew what this kind of love was capable of. And I finally understood why Paris had risked his country and his blood for Helen. Selfish, yes, but I understood. I would burn down the world if that meant Alex would be safe.


    "Did I ever tell you about the first time I saw you?"
    She shivered. "No."
    Closing my eyes, I felt her snuggle closer. My hand curled into the thick material of her sweater. I rested my chin on her head. "I was sixteen and you were probably fourteen."
    "I can't remember fourteen."
    "That's okay. I remember for the both of us."


    "Did you know me then?" she asked sleepily.
    "No." I held her closer, as if I could somehow pull her inside me and keep her safe. "But I knew, in that moment, you were amazing."


    "Love is such a wild and reckless creature. It cannot be planned or threaded. It cannot be controlled. Love can coexist with Fate, or it can undo it. Love is the only thing more powerful than Fate."


    Solos still stared. "Aiden has gone Rambo on us."


    Alex would get no more doses, and when the Elixir wore off, I would do what I felt was the worst thing possible. I'd place her back in the cell, and then I'd wait.
    I'd fight.
    Alex. Seth. A whole slew of gods if necessary. No one was going to take Alex. No one was going to give up on her or hurt her - not even Alex.

Giveaway!

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About the Author

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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