Simply Just Jenna: 2017

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Book: A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart

I've read a few of Staci Harts books and I have found that she has become on of my favorite contemporary romance authors. Her latest book, 'A Thousand Letters' blew me away! I have always loved Jane Austen and while Persuasion isn't my favorite Austen romance, Harts ability to adapt Austen's spirit into this modern romance was amazing. The story is told in two perspectives (Wade & Elliot) and each character is very introspective, creating an Austen-like atmosphere while you read.

If you like emotional stories... this one might be for you! Many times I felt my heart clench as I read this novel. It was both sad and hopeful. There are some great quotes about life and family as well. This book was right up my ally and I have recommended it to some of my fellow book friends already, as well as, add it to my 'Best Reads of 2017' list on Goodreads!

Amazon
Free on Kindle Unlimited
Goodreads

BLURB

Sometimes your life is split by a single decision.

I’ve spent every day of the last seven years regretting mine: he left, and I didn’t follow. A thousand letters went unanswered, my words like petals in the wind, spinning away into nothing, taking me with them.

But now he’s back.

I barely recognize the man he’s become, but I can still see a glimmer of the boy who asked me to be his forever, the boy I walked away from when I was young and afraid.

Maybe if he’d come home under better circumstances, he could speak to me without anger in his voice. Maybe if I’d said yes all those years ago, he’d look at me without the weight of rejection in his eyes. Maybe if things were different, we would have had a chance.

One regretted decision sent him away. One painful journey brought him back to me. I only wish I could keep him.

*A contemporary romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion*

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Book: Dark Hearts by Micalea Smeltzer

Dark Hearts by Micalea Smeltzer is my third ARK from this author and my second Release Blitz event! I was super excited to read this book after reading Ray of Sunshine for FREE, the first book in Smelter's 'The Light in The Dark' series, and When Stars Collide.

Rae of Sunshine, Cade and Rae's story, is where we first meet Nova and Jace, the main characters in Dark Hears. While they are present in Ray of Sunshine and When Stars Collide they are only secondary characters. Each of these books can be read as a stand alone.

I was really excited to read Nova and Jace's story because they seemed to be the dark edgy friends of the group. I wish more of their "edginess' came through in their story. However, on the flip side, you really do get to see these characters share the vulnerabilities they hide from the other people in their life.

Dark Hearts fit very well in this series of books. While I felt that it wasn't one of Smeltzers best novels, I was happy to finally get Nova and Jace's story. This book is a bit more steamy than the others in the series, so if you're not someone who enjoys that pick up one of the other books in the series first.

The Blurb

I’ve learned that not everything is what it seems. If you start to look too close, you uncover things people don’t want you to see. It’s why I hide. It’s why no one knows the real me. But he sees me. He sees the darkness in my heart but he’s not afraid, because he’s like me. They say opposites attract, but we’re proof that like-and-like are a far more potent combination.

Novalee Clarke is hiding from a past she wants to leave behind, and Jacen Kensington is running from his.

The thing about hiding and running is eventually the thing you’re trying to escape catches up to you.

And when it does?

It changes everything.

Trailer

Giveaway

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

My Favorite Reads of 2016 - My Adult Heart Edition

I read so many books in 2016 that I didn't take a breath to tell you about them all individually, so I thought I would do a recap of my favorites. Also, so that I'm not posting a million books in one post I broke them up into categories: My Teenage Heart, My Young Adult Heart, and My Adult Heart.

Here is my list of My Adult Heart favorited from 2016...