RFTC I've Got a Secret Event with Author Juliana Stone

Juliana Stone fell in love with her first book boyfriend when she was twelve. The boy was Ned, Nancy Drew’s boyfriend, and it began a lifelong obsession with books and romance. A tomboy at heart, she split her time between baseball, books, and music-three things that carried over into adulthood. She’s thrilled to be writing young adult as well as adult contemporary romance, and does so from her home somewhere in Canada.

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ARC Review: Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone

After reading Boys Like You by Juliana Stone, I was looking forward to reading Some Kind of Normal. Each of these books can be read as a standalone, but you do get more of Trevor's back story if you read Boys Like You first. I thought that this was a short and sweet YA read, and I enjoyed it. 

Trevor Lewis had it all until one night changed everything. After having a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from an accident, he was left in a coma for months. In order to graduate he has to pass a history test, and with his brain malfunctioning at times he needs a tutor. So when he finds out that he has to spend the summer being tutored by the good girl and pastor's daughter Everly Jenkins, he is anything but excited. But the more time they spend together, the more Trevor begins to realize that Everly's life isn't as perfect as he thought it was. As they grow closer together, they both find themselves finding comfort in the last place they expected. 

I liked Trevor and Everly. I thought that they were really great together and though they were really different, they understood one another. Trevor was struggling with finding his place after experiencing something really horrible. Everything he had known and planned on was suddenly taken from him, and he had no idea if he would be able to get it back. But Everly helped him to realize that he needed to work hard and go after what he wanted. She liked him for who he was in the present and not who he had been before the accident. Everly was great, I liked that she was a good girl but that she wasn't uptight or snobby. People had made assumptions about her, but she wasn't anything like most of them saw her. I liked that she didn't judge others, and she was always supportive of those she cared about.

Overall, this was a sweet YA book and I liked it. I did find myself rolling my eyes at times with both Trevor and Everly and they handled things poorly on more than one occasion. But these were young kids just getting out of high school and I think a lot of it was just their age. I will also say that while I did like how things were at the ending, I also felt like it wasn't fully satisfying. I wanted a bit more and I was hoping to see a bit into the future. While I like the YA genre, I think that is my biggest complaint about it. I don't expect every story to end with a marriage or engagement or fully tied up conclusion, I do like to see a bit into the future after all the dust has sort of settled. There was a lot going on in this book with Everly's family as well as with her and Trevor, and it would have been nice to see a bit more of how things played out. If you are a fan of YA books though, I think you will find these books enjoyable. They are great for a quick and light read that also touch on some deeper subjects. I thought that Juliana Stone handled some tough things really well, and I was glad that she was able to show that being different doesn't have to be a bad thing.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository | iBooks |

Feature and Giveaway: Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone

What is Normal?

For Trevor normal was fast guitar licks, catching game-winning passes and partying all night. Until a car accident leaves Trevor with no band, no teammates and no chance of graduating. It’s kinda hard to ace your finals when you’ve been in a coma. The last thing he needs is stuck-up Everly Jenkins as his new tutor–those beautiful blue eyes catching every last flaw.

For Everly normal was a perfect family around the dinner table, playing piano at Sunday service and sunning by the pool. Until she discovers her whole life is a lie. Now the perfect pastor’s daughter is hiding a life-changing secret, one that is slowly tearing her family apart. And spending the summer with notorious flirt Trevor Lewis means her darkest secret could be exposed.

This achingly beautiful story about two damaged teens struggling through pain and loss to redefine who they are–to their family, to themselves, and to each other–is sure to melt your heart.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

RFTC Hall Pass Event with Juliana Stone

Juliana Stone fell in love with her first book boyfriend when she was twelve. The boy was Ned, Nancy Drew’s boyfriend, and it began a lifelong obsession with books and romance. A tomboy at heart, she split her time between baseball, books, and music-three things that carried over into adulthood. She’s thrilled to be writing young adult as well as adult contemporary romance, and does so from her home somewhere in Canada.

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

ARC Review: A Barker Family Christmas by Juliana Stone

A Barker Family Christmas is a great catch-up for fans of the Barker Triplets series from Juliana Stone. This novella gives the reader a glimpse into the HEAs of each of the "Twins" and takes place at Christmas time as well as the surprise wedding of Betty Jo and Beau. Things start off with Bobbi and Shane facing some difficulties in their relationship. Billie and Logan are adjusting to life with a small child and little alone time for themselves. While Betty Jo and Beau prepare for their wedding, something has been off with Betty Jo and everyone is beginning to notice. Will everything come together in time for the wedding?

I really enjoyed seeing each of these couples deal with everything that they had going on. Shane and Bobbi were struggling, and the worst part is that Bobbi was hiding from Shane. They needed to just talk and get everything out in the open, and I was so glad when Shane refused to let Bobbi to continue to hide. She needed to hear that he loved her always and that they were supposed to be together no matter what. Logan and Billie were in desperate need of some alone time together, and it was clear that these two had a lot to make up for. They love their family, but sometimes a couple just needs to be able to have a night out. Their evening was far from what they planned, but it ended up working out and being exactly what each of them needed. I really enjoyed seeing Betty Jo and Beau as their wedding approached. I loved her surprise for Beau and I could tell right away what was going on. But I also really enjoyed seeing her friendship with Matt. It was a great part of the story, and really got me interested in seeing what the future holds for him.

Overall, this quick holiday novella was good and I enjoyed spending a little bit of time with the Barkers and their guys. I liked seeing all the secondary characters as well, and thought that this was a great catch'up to this series. I am intrigued by some of these characters and hope that each of them will get their HEAs as well. If you are a fan of this series, you definitely will not want to miss this story. I look forward to reading more from Juliana Stone in the future.

**ARC Provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

ARC Review: Jack by Juliana Stone

Jack is the second book in Juliana Stone's the Family Simon series. Each book in this series can easily be read as a standalone, and I hadn't read the first book when I read Jack. I had no problems getting into Jack or understanding anything. I really liked the Simons in this book though, and I will definitely be going back and reading the first book as I await the next in the series. Jack was different that what I had recently read, and I really enjoyed the story a lot.

The last thing Jack Simon needs while campaigning to become a Senator is to be around his famous singer ex-girlfriend. When she shows up at his fundraiser he is shocked and angry. Although the pull between them is still there, Jack is determined to stay away from her. But when he decides to go on vacation to clear his head, he finds out that his meddling sister has set him up yet again. His ex Donovan is also staying at the same beach house in Belize courtesy of his sister Grace. Jack and Donovan end up falling into familiar patterns of arguing and before long they are giving into the passion between them. But when Donovan runs leaving only a note like the last time they were together, Jack is not willing to let her end things so easily again. When Jack shows up and surprises Donovan, he strong arms her into going to his family's home away from the prying public. Can Jack and Donovan have a second chance together? Or will secrets from their past and new obstacles in their present keep them from having a future together?

I had my moments with Jack. I understood where he was coming from with his anger towards Donovan. He had been kept in the dark and didn't have a clue what all had happened. Donovan had never opened up to him and had ran. But I also thought at times that he was a bit harsh and rude to her, especially when she was laying her heart out on the line for him. But I liked that he was finally able to admit his feelings had never gone away no matter how hard he had tried to bury them, and I loved that he was still protective of her. You could tell that he was putting up a front and trying to convince himself as much as anyone else. Donovan had been put in a bad position by several people, and honestly I can understand why she made the choices that she did. She might not have done what was best for everyone, but she did what she thought was right. She had never quit loving Jack though, and I hated that she felt like she didn't deserve him. It was good to see her decide to go after what she wanted with him and to stop settling because of what others thought and said. I thought that Jack and Donovan had really great chemistry, and their bickering was just proof of their passion and feelings.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought that there was chemistry and attraction between Jack and Donovan, but the heat level on this one was pretty minor. Even thought the sex is implied, most of the physical action is behind closed doors. While I normally like more steam than that, this book was really good and I didn't end up missing it too much. I thought that Jack and Donovan's second chance at love was interesting, and I couldn't wait for everything to be out in the open so that they could finally move forward. I really loved the secondary characters in this story, and I can't wait to read more in this series and get to know them all better. I am super curious about Jack's cousin Maverick, and I really liked his friendship with Donovan. I can't wait to see what Juliana Stone has in store for him and the rest of the Simons. I definitely recommend this series if you are a fan of Contemporary romance stories, especially if you like reading books in a series with interconnected characters. I look forward to reading more from Juliana Stone and can't wait for Maverick.

**ARC Provided by Author's Taproom**

Purchase: | Amazon |

ARC Review: Boys Like You by Juliana Stone

Boys Like You is Juliana Stone's first young adult novel, and it is also the first book of hers that I have ever read. But I have heard great things about her and I figured that this one would be good after reading the blurb. I really enjoyed this story, and it was a nice and refreshing book. I liked the writing style, and I really liked the characters. This was my first Juliana Stone book, but it won't be my last.

Monroe Blackwell is broken and has withdrawn into herself after something terrible happened. She can't find it in herself to even pretend to care, and her parents decide to send her to stay the summer with her grandma because they don't have a clue what to do with her. Louisiana is much different than New York, and Monroe spends most of her time inside sleeping rather than actually going out or doing anything. When her grandma tells her that there is going to be someone working on parts of the house and property, Monroe doesn't expect it to be the young and hot guy that shows up. Nathan is also broken and instantly sees the pain behind Monroe's eyes. Nathan and Monroe start to grow closer to each other and begin spending more time together. As they begin to open up to each other, they realize that what they share is unlike anything either of them have ever felt before.

I really liked both Monroe and Nathan. They were young and had both been through a lot. They were suffering and felt guilt, and neither of them had been dealing with it. I liked that they were able to open up to each other and help the other start to heal and live again. These two had a connection that was clear to see and I liked that they were able to find their way with the other's help. Things didn't start off so smooth for these two, but the more time they were around each other the more they started to really get to know the other. Monroe was sweet and supportive, and I loved how she stood up for Nathan. She was able to see the good in Nate and also show others that he had made a mistake and was feeling horrible about it. Nate was charming and cute, and I liked that he was patient with Monroe. He didn't try to force her to talk about what had happened, and he let her come to him most of the time. I thought that these two had really great chemistry, and they were really good together.

Overall, this was a light and easy read despite the horrible things that both Nate and Monroe had experienced. It was cute and sweet, and was one that I finished quickly because I was lost in the story. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing style, and I thought that Juliana Stone did a great job of making these characters really come to life. They seemed so real to me, and they were really easy to relate to. I also really liked the secondary characters as well, and would be interested in getting to know them better as well. I thought that this was a really good YA read, but I think that older readers will enjoy this story also. If you are a Contemporary romance fan looking for something quick and light, this sweet story is one you should give a shot. I look forward to reading more from Juliana Stone in the future.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |

Feature and Giveaway: Boys Like You by Juliana Stone

One mistake.

And everything changes.

For Monroe Blackwell, one small mistake has torn her family apart –leaving her empty and broken. There’s a hole in her heart that nothing can fill. That no one can fill. And a summer in Louisiana with her Grandma isn’t going to change that…

Nathan Everets knows heartache first-hand when a car accident leaves his best friend in a coma. And it’s his fault. He should be the one lying in the hospital. The one who will never play guitar again. He doesn’t deserve forgiveness, and a court-appointed job at the Blackwell B&B isn’t going to change that…

Captivating and hopeful, this achingly poignant novel brings together two lost souls struggling with grief and guilt – looking for acceptance, so they can find forgiveness.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

My Favorite Book Couple with Juliana Stone

Juliana Stone's love of the written word and 80's rock, have inspired her in more ways than one. She writes dark paranormal romance as well as Contemporary Romance and spends her days navigating a busy life that includes, a husband, kids, a dog and a cat.

Places to find Juliana:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

ARC Review: The Day He Kissed Her by Juliana Stone

Lily St. Clare and Mac Draper have intense chemistry. Lily shared a one night stand one New Year’s Eve with Mac. Although very uncharacteristic of her, she was very drawn to Mac. The next day she took off and gave Mac the wrong number. Mac never forgot about Lily and being the bad-boy that his is, he is usually the one that does the loving and leaving. As fate would have it, through mutual friends they meet again at Crystal Lake. When Lily sees Mac she is shocked and tries to make a getaway but that doesn’t work out like she hoped.

Mac is a very tortured soul. He had a very rough upbringing and he still holds on to many of his issues. He is constantly fighting to control his temper and loses himself in the bottle. He has a very strict philosophy about not getting attached and not putting too much of himself into anything. He doesn’t realize that Lily is carrying her own scars and she understands him better than anyone. She is also not easily hurt or pushed away when Mac lets his demons overtake him. Mac is fun, exciting and sexy. He knows that he wants to get to know Lily and that the summer he is spending in Crystal Lake promises to be an interesting one.

I really liked both characters. Lily and Mac carried a lot of baggage with them. They are very drawn to each other and they had great chemistry. I also liked the supporting characters and wished I had read the previous books in the series so I could know more about them. I especially liked Liam, Mac’s nephew. He really gave Mac a different perspective on life and family. There are many dark and serious issues that are a part of both Mac and Lily’s life’s. It was very sweet to see them fall in love. My only complaints are that Lily was flat. Many of her emotions are easily divided into uncertainty and lust. At times, she seemed a little flat and underdeveloped. But other than that this was a very enjoyable, fun and sexy story. I enjoyed seeing Mac and Lily finally get their happily-ever-after and especially with the bonus surprise at the end.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Casa for the Holidays Blog Tour and Giveaway

Today we've got something special for you all from Sourcebooks. With the holidays just around the corner, Sourcebooks has put together a fun Casa for the Holidays Virtual Blog Tour. Four Sourcebook authors (Juliana Stone, Carolyn Brown, Grace Burrowes and Terry Spear) are stopping by to chat about their favorite Christmas recipes as well as their newest releases. Don't miss out on the fun. =)

Feature and Giveaway: Conceal by Juliana Stone

No one said going home would be easy...

Black sheep and all around trouble maker, Betty Jo Barker is back home and hoping for a do-over. Things are finally looking up until Beau Simon comes to town. The man pushes every button she owns and manages to awaken long dead emotions she'd rather leave buried. Beneath the surface she knows she's a wreck--her scars run deep--and she can't help but wonder, is Beau Simon the one who can fix her?

Beau Simon, the brightest star in Hollywood has come to New Waterford for one reason only. He's determined to have Betty Jo Barker star in his next film. He knows she's perfect for the part, but a past encounter might prove more than a little difficult to overcome. As Beau turns on the charm, hoping to win over this complicated woman, he realizes it won't be easy.

Only time will tell if what lies beneath can ever be overcome. Or if love can heal all...

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  Smashwords | Kobo | iTunes |

My Favorite Book Boyfriend with Juliana Stone and Giveaway

Juliana Stone's love of the written word and 80's rock, have inspired her in more ways than one. She writes dark paranormal romance as well as Contemporary Romance and spends her days navigating a busy life that includes, a husband, kids, a dog and a cat.

Places to find Juliana:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Guest Post with Author Juliana Stone and Giveaway

Today I am happy to welcome back to RFTC one of my most favorite people, author Juliana Stone. Juliana is celebrating the release of Collide, book 2 in her Barker Triplets series and has stopped by today to chat. Please give Juliana a warm welcome.

Juliana Stone's love of the written word and 80's rock, have inspired her in more ways than one. She writes dark paranormal romance as well as Contemporary Romance and spends her days navigating a busy life that includes, a husband, kids, a dog and a cat.

Places to find Juliana:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

ARC Review: Collide by Juliana Stone

I can't begin to tell you just how excited and anxious I was to read this book. I've been dying to read about Shane ever since we were introduced to him in Offside. I've clamored for every little tidbit the author shared with us and did some serious groveling to get a copy of this book early just because I couldn't wait for it. I just had to know what the deal with Shane was and just what happened between him and Bobbi. I admit I am a complete junkie when it comes to reunion stories and this one did not disappoint at all. Bobbi and Shane were freaking hot together. Seriously. The air between these two is electrified and I was dying for more of them.

Years ago Shane was the town bad boy. Always in trouble, his life was going nowhere and fast. Throw in his volatile relationship he had with Bobbi and it was just nothing but trouble. After spending three years incarcerated, Shane is back and is trying to turn his life around. A life that doesn't involve the feisty Bobbi Jo Barker.

When Bobbi and Shane were together they were nothing but trouble together and everyone knew it. Their relationship was volatile but also full of love and passion. After Shane was locked up, Bobbi decided to turn her life around. She became more serious and started dating squeaky clean Gerald. She thought she but her and Shane's tumultuous pass behind her, but with him back in town now she's not so sure.

With her wedding to Gerald looming all that much closer Bobbi can't help but realize that Gerald really isn't the man she wants to be with for the rest of her life. She's afraid to admit that she may still have lingering feelings for Shane. She can't stop thinking about him and everything they went through together. As her wedding day approaches Bobbi finally realizes the truth she has been hiding from everyone least of all herself, that she still has feelings for Shane, she knows she can't go through with the wedding.

The passion between these two is explosive, yet you can see that they love each other even though they are trying to deny it to themselves. Both are hung up on the mistakes that they made in their past that they are afraid to take a chance on beginning anything real now. They try to convince themselves that they will be able to have a sex only relationship and that's just not the case with these two. The love that they both feel as well as the passion just can't be denied. These two may have had a volatile past but they are both older and wiser now and willing to work together to make everything work.

I can't say how much I loved this book. Not only is it hot and sexy but is also a great story about redemption. I couldn't put this book down and read it in one sitting. It was just so freaking good. Juliana Stone is definitely one of my favorite authors and I just can't get enough of her contemporary work. Collide is a winner of a book and is definitely going on my all time favorite list.

**ARC copy provided by author**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords |

Weekly Winners

Below is a list of all of the winners from the past week.


Daniel
Book of choice from Kendra Elliot

Maureen
Sugar Rush by Rachel Astor

Pam
Ashes and Wine by Taryn Elliott

Laurie
Shamrocked by JoAnne Kenrick

Cathy
The Scottish Witch by Cathy Maxwell

Erin
Maureen
Barefoot in the Rain by Roxanne St. Claire courtesy of Forever Romance

Annisa
Tempting the Best Man by J. Lynn

Melody
To Hell and Back by Juliana Stone

Jill
Elizabeth
Bag of Swag (Fall in Love Blog Hop)

Sebrina
Last Chance Beauty Queen by Hope Ramsay (Fall in Love Blog Hop)

Yadira
The Bride Wore Scarlet by Liz Carlyle

Anne
Twilight Hunter by Maggie Shayne

Yadira
Lord Gray's List by Maggie Robinson

All winners have been notified via email. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and entered. =)

ARC Review: To Hell and Back by Juliana Stone

To Hell and Back was another great story by Juliana Stone packed with lots of action and suspense. I love that even though it's a novella it's still packed with so much. Each page is full of so much info and story. My only complaint is that it's a novella. I am really loving the characters of Logan and Kira, much more so in this installment and I just want more time with them. It just seems that once I wrap my head around everything that is happening the story is over and I'm left with a bunch of unanswered questions. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a good thing.

I remember when I read Wrong Side of Hell I wasn't completely sure of Logan and Kira's relationship and their true feelings towards one another. Oh my goodness, that was definitely not an issue in To Hell and Back. I was blown away with how much these two love and care for another. I love that both will do everything in their powers to keep the other safe. It's definitely sigh worthy.

Logan is everything that I love in a hero. He's passionate, caring and willing to do anything to keep his woman safe and happy. What's not to love about that? As for Kira, she has come a long way in such a short time. She is pretty kickass and I love her loyalty to Logan. Both characters are such a pleasure to read about. I find myself completely engrossed with their story and rooting for them to find the happiness that they deserve and want.

I really hope we get to see more of these two in the future because I really feel like their story isn't finished.

**ARC copy provided by Edelweiss**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

ARC Review: Offside by Juliana Stone

I have been on a complete contemporary kick lately and Offside definitely did not disappoint. I really liked this book and I definitely can't wait to get my hands on more contemporaries from Juliana Stone. I loved the characters she created and the town they all live in. I'll be honest, I'm not the biggest hockey fan and I honestly don't know much about the sport except for what I've seen watching The Mighty Ducks movies, but I didn't feel lost or overwhelmed at all. I really enjoyed this book and it definitely got me wanting to watch some hockey.

I think what I loved most about this book is that it features a girl hockey player. Now I'm not sure if there are really any pro girl hockey players out there but I don't care. Billie-Jo Barker was a hockey phenom until she got a bad concussion while playing. Now she's back home and itching to play hockey again so she decides to join the local hockey league. The only problem is because she's a woman no one wants to play with her. Everyone treats her like she's a freak for even trying to play a "mans game." They call her names, trash her car and pretty much just treat her like crap when all she wants to do is play the game she loves. Logan Forrest is one of the only people that stick up for her. Everyone is freaking out about her playing in the league and refusing to play with her so Logan decides to put her on his team. He knows that Billie can stick up for herself and is a damn good hockey player. Who cares that she's a woman?

Billie has been in love with Logan for years and even spent one glorious night with him years ago, though Logan believes he was Betty-Jo. When they start to get closer and start flirting with one another Billie is worried that he is only attracted to her because she reminds him of her sister.

Logan has never forgotten the night he spent with Betty-Jo or how she treated him afterwards. He's vowed to not get involved with another Barker sister but the more time he spends with Billie the harder he's finding it to keep his hands off of her.

I really enjoyed both Logan and Billie. My only issue is that I feel like I didn't see them together enough. I would have liked to have seen more of their relationship play out on the pages rather than behind the scenes. While I loved these two together it just felt like something was missing.

Billie-Jo was a great character and I like that we were able to a good sense of who she is. She comes off as this really tough put together chick but there is so much more than that. She's very vulnerable and is dealing with so much. She and her sisters don't get along, her father has dementia and she's just trying to figure out what to do with her life now that she can't play professional hockey. I loved that we were able to see this side of her.

All in all this was a great start to a new series. I definitely can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the books in this series. I am in love with Shane and I can't wait to find out what happened to him and Billie's sister Bobbi.

** ARC copy provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon | Smashwords | All Romance |