Blind Date with a Book Event with Elle Kennedy

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

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ARC Review: Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy! Not only do I love their solo books, but I have been a huge fan of this writing team since I first read Him. Good Boy is the first in the WAGs series and a spin-off of the Him series which are M/M books. Good boy is a standalone M/F story, and for those that haven't read the Him series or aren't fans of M/M stories you don't need to worry about jumping in here for this one, as you don't need to have read the Him series to understand this book. 

I have been waiting for Blake's story since his character was first introduced! I instantly loved him, and that love only grew the more I saw of him! Blake and Jess Canning had a moment last spring, but with her brother's wedding Jess can't afford to screw anything up. Since she is already known as the family mess, Blake Riley is the last thing she needs. But Blake is determined to show her that he really is a good guy who just happens to have a bad reputation. 

I already loved Blake, but I loved Jess as well! These two were fantastic, and I couldn't get enough of them! Blake is seriously one of my favorite heroes ever. He is sweet and funny, and extremely lovable. He is the jokester that everyone knows, yet he is so much more. I loved digging deeper into who his character was here. He really used his humor to mask so much of how he truly felt, and I really felt for him and how lonely he actually was. My heart went out to him, and I was so glad to see him find someone here. Jess kept up with him and these two had some of the best banter ever! Not only were they great for one another and together, but their chemistry was off the charts. They were sexy and hot together, but it was just so much more. These two were everything and I just can't say enough good things about them. 

Honestly I wasn't sure that even with my love for Blake that this book could pass how I felt about the Him series. I truly love those books and they are some of my all time favorites. But I really think that Good Boy might just be my favorite ever from these two. It was so funny and perfect, and gave me the worst book hangover. After reading Blake and Jess's book, nothing would do because these two are just perfection. Just like the team that created them. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough or anything by these two. If you are looking for a great romance filled with humor as well as sweet and sexy times, you have to read Good Boy. This is definitely the best book I have read this year, and I already cannot wait for the next in the WAGs series.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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ARC Review: The Goal by Elle Kennedy

I have loved this series since I first read The Deal. Each character is interesting and deep, and I have loved them all. Elle Kennedy has created a brilliant world that I never want to leave, and I was so excited for Tucker's story after how things ended in The Score. I will say that this book was probably my least favorite of the series though and if it wasn't for Tucker himself, I probably would have rated this one at 3 stars. 

Sabrina has always planned her life, determined to get out of the circumstances she has been raised in. Driven to succeed and get into law school, she doesn't have time for distractions While she is instantly attracted to Tucker, she knows that it can only be one night between them. But one night and Tucker's want for more with Sabrina quickly proves to be something she hadn't planned for. Can Tucker convince Sabrina that they belong together? 

I absolutely loved Tucker. He was fantastic from start to finish, and honestly he is what kept me flipping pages here. He was so sweet and patient, and I admired him so much for how he was with Sabrina and those around him. He was loyal to those he cared about, but he made his own decisions. I do think that there were times that Tucker let Sabrina push him away too much or get away with things when he should have pushed back, but ultimately he was amazing and I wasn't too upset about it. Sabrina was hard for me to relate to. It wasn't that I didn't like her, yet I didn't love her either. She herself said that at times she was aloof, and I felt that was the case here. I just didn't feel like I could ever connect with her and I wanted more out of her character. 

There was chemistry between them, but I did feel like there wasn't as much of an emotional connection as I would have liked. I think a lot of that is because things felt rushed here, as though things were a bit skipped over. These two spent more time not together than actually together, so because of that it seemed that we never got to see their relationship fully form. As much as I wanted to love this book for Tucker, Sabrina kept that from being possible. While this wasn't my favorite of the series, I did still like it and I always enjoy getting to see the characters from the previous books. This definitely won't be the last I read from Elle Kennedy, and I think fans of this series will enjoy this one.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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ARC Review: Addicted by Elle Kennedy

Addicted is the second book in the Outlaws series by Elle Kennedy. I hadn't read Claimed (the first book in the series) before starting Addicted and I didn't have any problems understanding this one. This book intrigued me right from the start with this unique world and interesting characters. There was a lot to like here and I didn't want to put it down. Yet there were also some things that I had mixed feelings on, and some of them didn't work for me at all. 

In the Outlaws series, the characters live in a post-apocalyptic world where the US has been divided into territories and different factions fight for control. Several groups of the outlaws band together to keep each other as safe as possible and share supplies as well as fight the enforcers and bandits. Jamie and her best friend Lennox were forced to leave their home behind after an attack, and have joined together with Connor Mackenzie's group of outlaws. When he asks them to go on a trip to another outlaw camp to help train soldiers for an upcoming war, Jamie and Lennox head out with Rylan, Pike and Kade. Though Connor doubts the outlaw leader Reese's intentions, he knows that they need to go to try and get answers about what is really happening. But while gone, Jamie and Lennox find themselves unable to fight the feelings that they have always felt for one another yet never explored. 

I liked Lennox and Jamie a lot. Lennox was super hot and a really great guy. He was everything you could want in a hero and more. Jamie was great as well and I loved them together. They had so much history and friendship and they had always been super close. Though they had each felt more for one another, they had never acted on it and I found that really interesting. You could tell that things were building and it was bound to explode. 

The one thing I will say though is that readers should be aware that there is a lot of sex in this book. Everyone sleeps with everyone, and no one has any problems with that. You will find just about every combination here, including M/F, M/M, and M/F/M. If any of that bothers you, you might want to steer clear of this series. Also if you have issues with the hero and heroine being with other people, you also might want to steer clear of this series as I am not exaggerating when I say that these people sleep around more than I have ever seen in a series before and it is no big deal to any of them. At times that attitude and practice bothered me, as I just didn't understand why they were all so okay with it. Later on they mention being jealous of them with other people, but at the time they had no issue with it and watched each other with other people often.

Overall, I found this world to be complex and interesting and I truly loved how different and unique this series is. But there were times that things did get a but slow and boring and I think that was in part due to how big this cast of characters is. Don't get me wrong I am interested in continuing and seeing where things go, but I wish that at times there wasn't quite so much going on. I also felt like at times there was just too much sex. Elle Kennedy is fantastic at writing scorching hot stories and I love a good sex scene as much as the next girl. But there were times it just felt like that was all that was going on. I will definitely read the next in the series and I can't wait to go back and read the first book as well. But readers should be aware of some of the things I mentioned before reading to decide if this series is right for them. If you are not bothered by multiple partners, tons of sex and combinations of sex and like a good post apocalyptic world, then I would definitely recommend giving this series a shot.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Interview with Author Erin Watt and Giveaway

Meet Erin Watt (Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy) author of Paper Princess.

My name is Jen Frederick and I live in Iowa with my husband, daughter, and very large dog. I really want a cat though. I keep telling my husband that I won’t be a real writer until I have a cat. I didn’t realize I wanted to be a fiction writer until a few years ago. At the encouragement of a few friends, I turned a NANO manuscript into a real book and I’ve been publishing ever since.

In my downtime, I love to read, craft, and cook. I used to sew for my daughter until she developed a taste for ready made garments. Now the sewing machine is stored away but someday I home to pull it out again.

The best part of writing is interacting with other readers. I love to share what I’m reading and I love to hear what has moved you. Don’t hesitate to contact me at any time!

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A USA Today bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

| Site | Facebook | Twitter |

ARC Review: Us by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Us by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy is the continuing story of Wes and Jamie. While each book can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading in order since they are about the same characters. I didn't think it was possible for me to love these guys more than I already did, but Sarina and Elle proved me wrong, and I couldn't put this book down! 

Us picks up where we left off with Him, Ryan Wesley has been drafted to the NHL and Jamie Canning took a job as a coach. They are living together and happy, but they are hiding their relationship. Though Wes is scared to come out and have it affect his rookie season, Jamie grows tired of keeping their relationship a secret. The one place that they have though is the apartment they share, and within it's walls there is nothing but the two of them. That is until Ryan's teammate moves in upstairs, and soon their safe haven is anything but. Can Wes and Jamie figure out a way to make it all work, or will their relationship be torn apart by everything that stands in their way? 

I absolutely adore both Jamie and Wes! These were the same characters we have come to know and love, and yet this book had such a different feel to it. Him was lighthearted and fun, while Us is definitely more of an emotional read. Jamie was dealing with his job not being exactly what he had hoped for and the stress of not being able to have their relationship be out. Wes was dealing with the stress of making sure that his sexual orientation wasn't found out so that it didn't affect his career and season. While the love and feelings were never in question here, there was a lot more going on than in the first book. Don't get me wrong with these two guys and Sarina and Elle writing, there were definitely funny times here too. But this story was so much more, and I loved getting to see these guys as they grew and healed both together and as individuals. 

This book was not always easy, and the journey for these two had me feeling so many emotions. But I knew that these guys were meant for one another, and the connection they had was so rare and special that they had to find a way to make things work. I absolutely love these characters, and I really hope that we get a story for Blake after reading this book! He was one of my favorites from this book and I would love to have him get his own book! Sarina and Elle are fantastic writers and I can't get enough of their books! Him and Us are some of my all-time favorites, and I really hope that they never stop writing both as individuals and together! If you haven't read Him or Us, I highly recommend reading these books! If you are already a fan of Him, Us is a must read!

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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ARC Review: Midnight Revenge by Elle Kennedy

I am a huge fan of Elle Kennedy's after reading the first three books in her Off-Campus series, so when I saw Midnight Revenge I couldn't wait to read it! Though this is the seventh Killer Instincts novel, it is easily read as a standalone. Since I hadn't read the previous books in this series, I was a little worried about jumping in here with book 7, but I didn't have any problems understanding anything. While I did like parts of this book though, I have to admit that this wasn't exactly what I had been expecting from Elle Kennedy, even knowing that it would be different because of the genre.  

Derek "D" Pratt is known as being the most intimidating as well as quietest member of Jim Morgan's mercenaries. He does do emotion or allow anyone to get under his skin. His past is a secret that few know about, and he has been living off grid for years. But when his teammate Sullivan is mistaken for Derek, he knows that he must once again deal with his past in order to rescue his friend. But just when Derek gets a lead on where Sullivan has been taken to, the one-night stand he hasn't been able to forget shows up and complicates the situation further by telling him she is pregnant. Derek finds himself unable to avoid Doc Sofia Amaro any longer when she inserts herself into his mission, but not only will he have to protect her and rescue his friend, he now has to try and keep his and Sofia's unborn child safe as well. 

I had trouble connecting with both D and Sofia here. I felt like we didn't really get to form any kind of connection with D before the action started here, and we didn't know much about him at all. While we did get pieces over the course of the book, there just wasn't much development until the end of the story. By that point it was a little too late to really feel invested for me. Sofia was feisty at times and at other times she came off as naive. It was a bit hard to really get behind her character when I just felt like she was all over the place. I didn't understand her being so dead set on throwing herself into the middle of a dangerous situation in her condition, when she easily could have waited. If that wasn't bad enough, she finds him and tells him and instead of heading home to take care of herself and her unborn child, the knowingly puts herself in even more danger because she is scared for D. It just didn't work, and quite honestly I didn't like her after that. While these two did have chemistry and had some hot moments, I found that those didn't work for me all the time either. They just didn't come off as natural and seemed to be thrown in where I really questioned their timing. 

Overall, I was a bit disappointed with this story and I just didn't think that it worked for the most part. Romantic Suspense is a tricky genre for me, because I need to feel a balance between action, suspense and romance. Unfortunately that was my biggest issues here. There were times that I felt like the romance was forced and I missed the connection between Sofia and D. Part of that I think was the fact that I just didn't feel like anything really developed until the very end and I wasn't attached to them through the majority of this story. I did think that there were moments of greatness here, and surprisingly one of those was the Sullivan/Liam subplot. I found myself more interested on everything those two had going on than I was about Sofia and D. So while I did enjoy parts of this book, it wasn't my favorite Elle Kennedy book. I will check out more in this series though, and I think if you are a fan of romantic suspense or the Killer Instincts series this is one worth giving a chance.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy

The Mistake is the second book in the Off-Campus series from Elle Kennedy, and while the characters are interconnected each book is a standalone story. I absolutely loved the first book in the series, The Deal, so I couldn't wait to read the next book in this series. While I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be able to live up to how great the first book was, I knew it would be good. I shouldn't have worried at all though, as this book was every bit as fantastic as the first one was. I honestly love Elle's writing, and I would be completely happy if this series would never end! 

John Logan might appear to have it all, but he knows that time is running out. While he might be a successful hockey player for his college team with the ability to get any girl he wants, he knows that his options end with his graduation. But when he meets Grace Ivers, things begin to change for him. But one mistake ruins everything, and Grace ends things. Logan isn't willing to give up on her or the connection he felt, and he is determined to show her that he is worth giving another chance. Grace is no longer a freshman though, and she isn't the same girl that Logan was getting to know. If Logan wants a chance to be with Grace again, he will have to prove to her that he deserves it. 

I loved these two! I had loved Logan in The Deal, but I couldn't wait to get to know him better here. He had so much more to his background than I had ever expected, and I felt really bad for him and all that he was dealing with. He was so resigned to his fate, and I hated how things were looking for him. Grace was exactly what he needed, and I really enjoyed them together right from the start. Grace was really easy to like, and I thought that she was perfect for Logan. I was glad that she made him work for it after how he had made her feel, but if I am honest I did think that she overreacted when it came to the whole thing. He knew that he had messed up, and I was glad that she ultimately gave him another chance and was able to move past it. These two were not only adorable together, but they had so much heat and chemistry between them. I couldn't get enough of them and I didn't want to put this book down! 

Overall, I am loving this series and this is one of those that I recommend to everyone who loves romance. It has everything you could ask for, and there is something that everyone can relate to with each story. Elle does a great job of bringing the steam, humor, and plenty of emotion and I am becoming such a huge fan of hers. If you haven't checked this series out yet, you are missing out! I can't wait for the next book and I am looking forward to reading whatever else Elle Kennedy writes in the future.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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ARC Review: The Score by Elle Kennedy

The Score is the third book in the Off-Campus series from Elle Kennedy. Each book contains interconnected characters but can be read as a standalone. I have to admit that this book was so unexpected. I mean I knew that it would be great and that I would love it, but Dean's story had so much to it that I never would have seen coming! I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to get the next in this series. If you are a fan of the series so far, this is an absolute must read. If you are new to the series, you are seriously missing out and should go out and get them all!

When Allie Hayes and her boyfriend of almost four years call things off again, she decides this is going to be the last time. Needing to avoid Sean so as not to be tempted to take him back, her best friend Hannah and her boyfriend Garrett offer to let her stay at his place while they go out of town for the weekend. The only problem is that brings her face to face with player Dean Di-Laurentis, who has been trying to get into her pants since they met. Allie doesn't do casual though, and is strictly a relationship type of girl. But when things heat up between her and Dean, she begins to wonder if maybe a fling is exactly what she needs. The more time they spend together though, the more Dean begins to wonder if maybe Allie is worth giving up other women for and if she is the one to finally make him settle down. 

I absolutely loved Dean and Allie. Before the details for this book were released, I thought that Dean would end up with Sabrina. They had a vibe going in The Mistake that I thought would turn into something very different, but I have to say that Elle Kennedy knew better and what she did here was absolutely brilliant! Dean and Allie could not have been more perfect for one another, and it was clear while reading this story that these two were it for each other. I really enjoyed getting to know both Dean and Allie better, and there was so much more to both of them than I had ever imagined. These two were seriously hot together though, and I couldn't believe that my Kindle didn't burst into flames with the steam from these two. While I enjoyed their sexy times though, I really loved how emotional this book ended up being. The connection these two shared was fascinating to me, and I couldn't put this book down because I loved watching them get to know one another beyond just physically. 

Overall, this book was fantastic and I really hope this series never ends. Elle Kennedy never disappoints, and I have no idea how she continues to constantly just get better with each book she writes, but she does it every time. Dean and Allie's story is filled with all the sexy and sweet times as well as the humor that we have seen from her previously, but this book was so much more emotional than I ever expected. There were some twists here that I absolutely didn't see coming, and kudos to Elle for being able to completely shock me when that is something that doesn't happen often for someone who reads as much as I do. Needless to say, I need the next book now to see where things go next in this series and for these characters. While I saw part of it coming, there was something so shocking here that I need the next book and answers, and I need them asap! If you are new to Elle's books, you should definitely check them out. If you are already a fan, The Score is just as fantastic as her previous books and it is one that is not to be missed.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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Audiobook Review: The Deal by Elle Kennedy, Narrated by Lorelei Avalon

I absolutely love the Off-Campus series from Elle Kennedy, and I couldn't wait to listen to The Deal narrated by Lorelei Avalon. This was my first experience with her as a narrator, so while I knew what to expect when it came the story I didn't know what I was in for as far as a listening experience. Though Lorelei Avalon wasn't my favorite narrator I have listened to, I love this story so much that I still enjoyed the experience. I have to say that I'm not convinced she was the right choice for this book though, and I wish that there had been a different narrator chosen to bring this story to life. 

Hannah Wells is surprised to finally have found a guy that makes her hot after a horrible incident in her past. The only problem is that he has no idea she's alive. When the star of the hockey team Garrett Graham asks for her help, at first she says no. But when he figures out that she is hot for a football player, he proposes a deal where in exchange for tutoring he will pretend date her to get her crush to notice her. Hannah finally agrees, and she begins spending more time with Garrett in order to help him pass their midterm. But soon they are both starting to feel the lines blur between pretend and real, and Garrett starts to realize that he needs to convince her that what she really wants is him. 

I absolutely love Garrett and Hannah! Garrett is sexy and charming. He is cocky in a likable way and I love that he isn't a jerk. Not only is he a talented athlete though, but he is super smart. I really like that he isn't your typical jock. He is more than just the sexy guy that is a great hockey player, and there is a lot more to him. He is such a well rounded character and I think that Elle Kennedy did a great job of giving him a ton of depth and making him easy to feel invested in. Hannah is smart and witty, and easy to relate to. She made Garret work for it and it was so fun to watch these two. The tension and chemistry between them is so strong and the sparks were flying between them right from the start. 

The one thing that I will say though is that I felt like the narrator wasn't able to really convey the witty banter and how fun and flirty these two could be. This didn't have the same feel as reading the book did, and I think a lot of that was because the voice didn't fit the story. Not only did the narrator do both the male and female POVs, but her voice was older and too robotic for this story. I really like when audiobooks use a male and female narrator for a dual POV story, so I was really disappointed that this audiobook did not. I felt like that was a huge missed opportunity and it really hurt my enjoyment here. Lorelei Avalon's voice was already older than the college/NA aged characters and came off as robotic, so when you have her doing a male's voice and her tone goes even deeper it just came off as odd. Usually I love audiobook versions of my favorite stories since they bring the books alive in a way that simply reading them can't. But unfortunately this wasn't what I had hoped for with The Deal. While I didn't necessarily care for this narrator or version of the audiobook, I found myself lost in the story regardless. The Deal is one of my all-time favorites and no matter what it is just such a fun and enjoyable read that it is impossible to ruin the experience. I highly recommend this book and if you prefer to listen to your books, then I would still give the audiobook a shot. But if you have the choice, I think that this book is much better read traditionally since the audiobook doesn't do the story justice in my opinion.

**Audiobook Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Claimed by Elle Kennedy

This is my first book by Elle Kennedy and is apparently also the start to her new Outlaws series. By way of background, the book presents a dystopian world in which some major event wiped out most forms of modern life to which we are accustomed. There are essentially two groups of people in the book, the city folks and the outlaws. The people in the city are “protected” but oppressed by the controlling military government which has become increasingly depraved. The people outside of the city, the outlaws, exist by evading the city military known as the enforcers. That is basically their task in life, avoid the enforcers, stay alive. There are no overarching principles to life as an outlaw, you’re just trying to make it tomorrow. As you can imagine, living everyday like it’s your last can lead to some pretty wild ish. That’s the background you need. Don’t be intimidated by the sci-fi themes, the book is not too farfetched and even though this isn’t my usual scene, I had no problem getting into things.

The main characters in this book are Hudson and Connor. Hudson is a refugee from the city. She escaped from the city because even though her brother was a top enforcer and her father was a founder of the city system, the depravity of the enforcers was threatening even her safety. Hudson ventures into the land of the outlaws and runs smack dab into Connor. She basically begs him to take her into his group of outlaws because she knows she can’t survive on her own. In addition to seeking safety, Hudson also wants the freedom that comes with the outlaw life. She has known nothing but the control of the city and she basically wants to get buck wild and naked. I mean, seriously.

Connor is the typical brooding alpha male commander type. He’s smart enough to know that taking on Hudson is probably going to bring trouble for him and his posse of outlaws but she’s hot and he does it anyway. Of course things escalate pretty quickly. Hudson is looking to get loose and Connor and his crew lead an extremely loose lifestyle. It’s only a matter of time before Hudson is observing orgies to participating in threesomes. All along Connor makes it clear that he isn’t looking for or interested in an attachment to Hudson.

I’m all for kink, smut etc. But I struggle with books where the Hero doesn’t mind sharing. I’m just not the right person for threesome books. The focus of this book is not at all on threesomes, it’s more about Hudson’s sexual exploration and Connor’s emotional exploration. But still, I just don’t like the sharing, it’s a turn off for me personally. Also, the sex was more about sex for the sake of sex and not because of any emotional attachment. That definitely serves a purpose but I enjoy romance with my sex and I just didn’t get enough of it for my taste. I’m still giving this book 4 stars because it was so well written, I loved the action and I loved what happened after Hudson’s true identity was revealed. The bottom line is that I was thoroughly entertained by this book and captivated by the story. So even despite my threesome aversion, this book is on my recommended reading list. I’ll probably check out future releases in the series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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