CURVE MY SONG (The Curvies #1)

CURVE MY SONG                               SARA GAI

Follow the amazing plus size trio, The Curvies, as they find love, drama, tears, laughs and a song to match every situation. Bree Carson loves her life, friends and little town, but something is missing. Taylor Cole returns home after ten years and old flames reignite. Can he break through Bree’s walls? 

This book is the first in a three novella set following the lives of three curvy best friends: Bree, Elise, and Skyla. The first book follows Bree and her life as she fumbles her way through letting down walls and letting love in. This novella has a lot of laughs and a little drama and introduces the readers to the rest of the characters leading into the second book, which builds up suspense for the third and final installment. These novellas will appeal to plus size or curvy women everywhere, especially those who enjoy books in the BBW (big, beautiful women), chick-lit and women’s fiction genres. It’s just one of those reads that busy women of today can enjoy while they relate to the curvy ladies who aren’t super models but representative of your average everyday beauty.


MY REVIEW:

     First loves are always good and bad because they are fun to remember.  For some when the reality of the full memory sets in it can be painful.  This is the case for Bree Carson and Taylor Cole.  Two friends that wanted more and almost had it but never quite got it.

     They were great friends because each being a part of a trio Bree being a part of what the girls call, "The Curvies" because all the girls are Big Beautiful Girls.  Don’t feel sorry for these girls they are a force of their own.  They even have their own theme song.  The other two members being Skyla and Elise.

     Taylor hangs with his two best buddies and soccer players, Alex and Charlie.  Who are the ones that connect the groups together?  That would be Alex and Skyla for they are best friends.  Although, everyone in the group knows they are in serious like but them.  Same as Elise and Charlie. 

     This short goes into the reunion of Taylor and Bree after their mega kiss on the night of the prom in high school ten years ago.  She is still angry he never came back after he said he would.  And he was just gone.

     Now all of a sudden, he is back in town.  And he is back for her.  He owns the new bar with an open mic night and her being a singer, Skyla has a plan.  She is not a trusting person on account of her for just walking away from her and her mom and then Taylor just up and disappearing.  Why should she trust him now even as a friend?  Yeah!  He hurt her.  But she’s still in love with him, the puppy dog kind.  No way the real kind.  NEVER!

     Cute book fast read.  Enjoyed the couple and the three friends are funny together.  I love how the author used music as a connection.  The only thing that bothered me was there were a lot of unanswered questions.  But this is the first in the series. 

     I give this: 3 stars.  Was free on Amazon.  Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

ICE HOT (New York Nighthawks #1)

ICE HOT                                             TRACY GOODWIN

The Nighthawks are hockey’s new expansion team. They’re ice hot. And they’re all about the chase.

Christian: They call me a hockey god because I’m a beast on the ice . . . and off. Men want to be me and women just want me. But now that the New York Nighthawks expect me to lead their team to victory, it’s all work and no play. My eyes are on the prize. Until I meet Serena Ellis, a sexy, curvalicious blonde who doesn’t know me from jack. And just like that, I’m hooked.

Serena: I don’t do one-night stands—especially with celebrity jocks who date models. Lots of models. But the god of hockey is a temptation that’s hard for mere mortals to resist. And after the best kiss of my life, I’m ready to throw my one-night stand rule out the window. Except Christian Chase won’t let me. He doesn’t want a one-night stand. He wants it all.

MY REVIEW:

     Love Plus Size books being a BBW myself.  Especially one with a good story behind it.  This had some great sexy moments, funny, and the ones I really didn’t like are when Serena’s personal insecurities were used against her like all her bullies used to do to her was used against her by the one person that was supposed to love her.

     Because if Chris was headed in that direction of loving her it shouldn’t have been a personal attack to that degree when things were not in their favor.  He could have found all other kinds of ways to do it that didn’t go for her heart and soul.  Like he found someone new or the season is starting, and she was affecting his game she would have understood.  Yeah, but NO!

     Now, I get it’s a book and of course, it needs its dramatic conflict but in real life, I’m not sure a woman would take him back.  At least not so quickly.  Then again, he’s a pro hockey player and a sexy hot one so, yeah maybe.  So, there you go. 

     Their cute meet is very funny and that here is this pro player whose is caught off guard by this sexy hourglass New Yorker woman.  With her sassy mouth who has him tongue-tied, and he’s got no game.  When you hear all the time how most athletes are so smooth.  It is pretty funny.  But when Serena returns from the restroom in the change of clothes, he gave her his reaction is even funnier.

     Now the character I just loved is Ms. Savannah.  She is just a hoot.  She is an older version of her spitfire granddaughter, Serena will be her in the future.  God used the same mold for those two.

     Serena's transformation in their relationship is an interesting journey for sure.  She infects a lot of lives with her brash style of behavior but also, her bold outlook of how a person should not worry about others outward body shape but the inner self.

     I give this: 4 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

STORY OF US (Love Unexpected #3)

STORY OF US                                    JODY HOLFORD

Declan James has been Brockton Point’s most ineligible bachelor––happy with his short-term relationships and focusing on his business. But now that his closest friends have found their happily-ever-afters, he can’t help but wonder what that might be like. And then Sophia Strombi shows up on his doorstep.

Sophia’s life is––well there’s no other word for it––a mess. She’s grateful to have some work at her brother’s best friend’s bar, and a place to stay. Since she’s working hard to get her life back on track, she’s desperately trying to ignore the fact her boss makes her heart pound in a good way. Wait––no. That’s not good at all.

Besides, she has a huge secret she’s keeping from everyone––one that’s a life-changer. 


MY REVIEW:

     Ten years ago, at eighteen, Sophia Strombi left warmth, love, and security of the family she always knew.  Under a cloud of darkness, anger, hurt, and bad feelings.  All because she wanted to go away to college.  Being from a traditional Italian family it is just not the way it is done.

     So, Sophia did it anyway.  Moving to Arizona putting her self through college.  Receiving two masters one in marketing and in business.  She gets a great job and meets a great guy.

     So, she thought.  Now she has made the decision that being away from home, Brockton’s Point, Maine for ten years, is long enough.  Her brother about the only one who spoke to her mentions a job.  His best friend Declan James bar is looking for a manager to help with those duties and marketing.  Just up her alley.

     When he sees her, he decides his "the one" has appeared so whatever she wants.  She asks for a job and time before he tells her family she’s home.  He agrees.  Their misconceptions about each other from the past must change in order to see each other as true adults.

     Being that Declan’s friends were marrying or coupling he had already decided before she had come back to town.  That he wanted to find a woman to settle with him in his house.  Sophia is not sure she is the woman for that commitment.  She has a secret that can make it all blow up.

     See how these two deal with the tug and pull of loyalty, trust or what the two of them might call loyalty with conditions.  There’s her family, there’s his best friend-her brother, and there’s their newly renewed friendship.  Things get really complicated.

     I enjoyed the way this author took real life and made it come alive with the pain and the humor.  As well as the misconceptions of what one thinks as to what is an actual fact in a family setting.  I really enjoyed the alpha male Declan.  He tried to be so hip yet was so old school.  I give this: 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.                                                              Follow us at www.1rad.readerreviews.com.