Tag Archives: Monica Murphy

The Reluctant Bride by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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The Reluctant Bride by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 19, 2022.

Everyone’s for sale, including me. One moment I’m the forgotten daughter of one of the most wealthy families in the country, and the next I’m the blushing bride in an arranged marriage. My fate is sealed in my wedded union with a complete stranger.

In public, Perry Constantine is the life of the party. Easygoing. Adored. In private, he’s brooding. Dark. Angry. But so am I. It’s a contest of wills to see who will break in the bedroom first, and while I try to remain strong, I find myself craving the very man I swore to hate.

My husband.

•••••

REVIEW:THE RELUCTANT BRIDE is the first instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult WEDDED BLISS dark, erotic, romance trilogy, set in the author’s A MILLION KISSES IN YOUR LIFETIME / THINGS I WANTED TO SAY world, and a part of the multi-authored MIDNIGHT DYNASTY series. This is twenty-four year old businessman Perry Constantine, and twenty year old Charlotte Lancaster’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Perry and Charlotte) THE RELUCTANT BRIDE focuses on the arranged marriage between two powerful dynasties-the Lancasters and the Constantines, a marriage of convenience between strangers twenty-four year old businessman Perry Constantine, and twenty year old Charlotte Lancaster. In an effort to improve their status in the criminal underworld, the Constantine matriarch Caroline, and her eldest son Winston offer up twenty-four year old Perry Constantine in an arranged marriage to Charlotte Lancaster of the very powerful, very rich and notorious Lancasters. Neither Charlotte nor Perry want anything to do with an arranged marriage but Perry suspects all is not well in Charlotte’s life, and offer his protection to the woman he suspects has struggled to be seen and heard in the Lancaster family. Perry’s reputation has preceded his introduction to our story line heroine but Charlotte’s past is mired in secrets and darkness, secrets that are about to threaten Charlotte’s hold on her tenuous security. As the matriarch’s take over the wedding arrangements for Charlotte and Perry, Charlotte’s past demands everything and more. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Charlotte and Perry, and the potential fall-out as the criminal underworld retains a tight control of our story line couple.

We are introduced to both Perry and Charlotte’s immediate and extended families, many of whom cross over from the numerous instalments in the interconnected Midnight Dynasty Collection, as well as Monica Murphy’s A Million Kisses In Your Lifetime, Things I Wanted to Say, and The Wrong Brother; and K. Webster’s Cinderella Trilogy.

THE RELUCTANT BRIDE is a fast paced, emotional and quick peak at the possible fall-out of powerful connections. Charlotte is a pawn in her father’s world of business dealings and necessary connections, and Perry finds himself doing what is expected of a Constantine heir. The premise is emotional, intriguing and intense; the characters are charismatic and battling between head and heart. THE RELUCTANT BRIDE ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3opBhHg

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 10, 2022

Wren Beaumont is many things.

Beautiful.
Smart.
Sweet.
Innocent.

At Lancaster Prep, the girls love her. They all want to be her friend. Only I see Wren for who she really is.

A repressed little virgin who keeps her feelings locked up so tight she’s probably close to bursting. She thinks she’s above us all.

Even me.

I shouldn’t be drawn to her. She’s not my type.

Until we’re forced to work together in class and realize we might have more things in common than we originally thought. Soon enough I find myself completely obsessed. I will do anything for this girl to make her fall in love with me.

Anything.

••••••

REVIEW:A MILLION KISSES IN YOUR LIFETIME by Monica Murphy is a contemporary, YA/NA stand alone erotic, romance story line set in the author’s THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) world. This is prep school students Crew Lancaster, and Wren ‘Birdy’ Beaumont’s story line. A MILLION KISSES IN YOUR LIFETIME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Crew is Whit Lancaster’s cousin (Things I Wanted To Say); Crew’s brother Grant’s story can be found in the novella- THE WRONG BROTHER.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. Although the characters are seventeen and eighteen years old, the sexual situations are adult in nature.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Crew and Wren) A MILLION KISSES IN YOUR LIFETIME follows the tempestuous but building relationship between Lancaster Prep Boarding School eighteen year olds Crew Lancaster, and Wren Beaumont. Crew Lancaster is part of the school ‘legacy’, and as such his attitude is that of ownership and power, and something about newcomer Wren Beaumont irks Crew Lancaster like never before, so he makes it his mission to discover everything about our heroine whether she wants him to or not. Forced to work together on a psychology assignment, Wren and Crew slowly unravel the ins and outs of one another’s lives, an unravelling that pulls our couple closer together but all is not well at Lancaster Prep when a teacher is found to be crossing the line. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Wren and Crew, and the potential fall-out when Wren’s over protective father threatens to end the relationship before it gets started.

Crew Lancaster is a bully, and Wren is his current target but the acrimonious back and forth between our story line couple hides a barely veiled attraction that quickly turns into something more. From the outset, Wren’s new girl status made her popular amongst the other girls but slowly, Wren’s likability fell when the mean girls decided it was time to target our story line heroine. Wren is an innocent; naïve to many of the boy/girl nuances but an innocence fueled by the people at home.

The relationship between Crew and Wren is often testy and acerbic but Wren has no idea why Crew took an immediate dislike to our story line heroine. Working together meant a forced proximity, that pushed our couple together towards their own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

We are introduced to Crew’s family including his brothers, Finn and Grant, girlfriend Alyssa (THE WRONG BROTHER), their sister Charlotte, and Wren’s parents Harvey and Cecily, whose own relationship is combative and failing; Crews’ friends Malcolm and Ezra; Wren’s friend Maggie Gipson, as well as embattled Honors English teacher Mr. Figueroa, psychology teacher Ms. Skov, and the requisite mean girls. Charlotte’s story will be released in April 2022-The Reluctant Bride.

A MILLION KISSES IN YOUR LIFETIME is a story of power, control, money, and trust; family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is edgy and dramatic; the romance is tender and seductive; the characters are animated and intense.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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The Senior (College Years 4) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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THE SENIOR (College Years 4) by Monica Murphy

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 4, 2021.

Eli Bennett.

Magnetic. Outspoken. Infuriating.

Top ranked college quarterback. Sexy. Funny.

Oh, and now my ex-boyfriend.

When he makes me choose between him or a once in a lifetime opportunity, I surprise us both — and don’t choose him. He can’t tell me what to do. Besides, he’ll get over my so-called betrayal and we’ll be back together in no time.

But when I return from my European study abroad program, Eli is still angry. He wants me to apologize for leaving him. I want him to apologize for giving me an ultimatum. Looks like we’re at a standstill.

He’s playing the season of his life thanks to him channeling his anger into aggressiveness out on the field, and now he’s got NFL prospects. His every dream is coming true, but I know he misses me. He still wishes he had his parents’ approval. He’s on top of his game, but secretly, he’s miserable.

Until a life changing moment has us both reconsidering what we’re going to do with our lives. And if we’re going to end up…

Together.

••••••••

REVIEW: THE SENIOR is the fourth instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult THE COLLEGE YEARS erotic, romances series-a spin off from the author’s THE CALLAHANS which in turn is a spin off from the ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND series. THE SENIOR is the continuation of twenty year old Ava Callahan, and Eli Bennett’s story beginning with ADDICTED TO HIM and MEANT TO BE (The Callahans 3 & 4). THE SENIOR can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading THE SOPHOMORE book three, and the series in order for back story and cohesion as Ava and Eli’s story begins in the aforementioned series.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Eli and Ava) THE SENIOR picks up immediately after the cliff hanger of book three THE SOPHOMORE in which Ava announces she has been accepted to study in Europe , and a devastated Eli pushes her out of his life. Fast forward several months, with the start of the fall semester, and Eli’s senior year as a college quarterback underway, our hero plays his best games ever but Ava’s return forces Eli to reconsider what happened and why.Eli and Ava’s on-again, off-again relationship begins to upset everyone around, and Eli’s selfishness, continues to push Eva out of his life. Weeks turn into months, and the up and down of their relationship begins to take it toll on our story line couple.

Eli and Ava’s relationship is a disaster; a sinking ship of miscommunication, misunderstanding, ego, stubbornness, immaturity and fragility. Eli had struggled to understand Ava’s need to leave, believing she didn’t care about his wants and needs, and in the end, his crumbling psyche was unable to accept our heroine’s choices. Ava had supported Eli’s football career and choices for close to four years but when she chose herself, her relationship with Eli imploded, leaving both Eli and Ava heart broken and destroyed.

THE SENIOR is an emotional story of heart break and loss, stubbornness and immaturity, anxiety, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic and impassioned; the embattled romance struggles; the characters are broken, raw and edgy.

READING ORDER AND PREVIOUS REVIEWS
The Freshman
The Sophomore
The Junior

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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The Junior (College Years 3) by Monica Murphy-review tour

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The Junior (College Years 3) by Monica Murphy-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 9, 2021.

Caleb Burke.

Charming. Funny. Sexy.

Major player – both on the field and with the ladies.

I hate him.

Well, not really. I resist his so-called charms because I recognize them. We’re a lot alike, Caleb and I. He’s afraid of commitment? Me too. A giant flirt? Same here. He knows how to party? I am the absolute queen of the party.

Until I realize it’s time for me to grow up and become a responsible adult. I’ll be student teaching next year, so to save money, I move in with my two new roommates — Eli Bennett and Caleb. Then I find a summer job — where Caleb works. Soon, I’m spending almost every single day with the guy.

He’s growing on me too. We’ve always had this unspoken chemistry brewing between us. When we finally give in to it, it’s just as spectacular as I secretly predicted. The sex, and everything else, keeps getting better and better between us too.

But can I really take this guy seriously? Or am I only setting myself up to fail?

•••••••

REVIEW:THE JUNIOR is the third instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary , new adult COLLEGE YEARS erotic, romance series-a spin off from the author’s The Callahans. This is twenty year old, college junior/football player Caleb Burke, and twenty-two year old, student teacher Gracie Hughes’ story line. THE JUNIOR can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Gracie and Caleb) THE JUNIOR follows the building romance and relationship between twenty year old, college junior/football player Caleb Burke, and twenty-two year old, student teacher Gracie Hughes. Summer break means looking for a job, and Gracie Hughes finds herself working alongside her new roommate and self-professed manwh*re Caleb Burke. Caleb is about to enter his junior year at college, and is looking forward to a summer of one-night stands but the back and forth, acrimonious relationship with his new roommate, finds our hero looking for something more permanent with Gracie Hughes. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Gracie and Caleb, and the potential fall-out as the ‘friends with benefits’ relationship turns into something more, something Gracie struggles to accept for the long term.

Gracie Hughes knows that her time with Caleb is only temporary; a summer fling with a man/boy whose all about the party and fun-his lack of maturity is a point of contention for our story line heroine. With the end of summer approaching Gracie and Caleb’s relationship jumps to the next level, a level Gracie believes is temporary and doomed to end. Caleb Hughes has a reputation as a love’em and leave’em kinda of guy, and his earlier encounters, bickering with Gracie prove they are doomed as a long-term couple.

The relationship between Caleb and Gracie begins acrimoniously as their constant bickering carries over into their relationship with mutual friends. Agreeing to get along for the sake of their friends, their current living arrangements and of course, as co-workers at the local club, Caleb and Gracie find themselves acting on their attraction but keeping their relationship on the down low. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line couples return. Eli and Ava, Jackson and Ellie, Hannah and Jake, Diego and Jocelyn, Tony and Hayden. Eli and Ava’s continuing story is next in The Senior.

THE JUNIOR is a story of friendships, acceptance, love and trust. The fast paced, character driven premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is heavy and hot-the sexual chemistry palpable; the characters are energetic, and dynamic. THE JUNIOR ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

READING ORDER AND PREVIOUS REVIEWS
The Freshman
The Sophomore

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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Things I Wanted to Say by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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Things I Wanted to Say (But Never Did) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ebRZFs

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 29, 2021.

Whit Lancaster burst into my life like a storm. Dark and thunderous, furious and fierce. Cold, heartless and devastatingly beautiful, like the statues in our prep school gardens. The school with his family name on the sign. He can do no wrong here. This is his domain.

He’s a menace on campus. Adored and feared. Hated and respected. His taunting words carve into my skin, shredding me to ribbons. Yet his intense gaze scorches my blood, fills me with a longing I don’t understand.

When I stumble upon him one night alone, I find him broken. Bleeding. My instincts scream to leave and let him suffer, but I can’t. I sneak him into my room. Clean him up. Fall for his lies. Let him possess every single part of me until I’m the one left a gasping, broken mess.

When he leaves me alone in the dead of night, he takes my journal with him.

Now he knows all my secrets. My hate. My truth. And he promises to use my words against me. I’ll be ruined if my darkest secret gets out.

That’s when I strike a bargain with the devil.

I’ll let Whit Lancaster ruin me behind closed doors instead.

•••••

REVIEW:THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) by Monica Murphy is a contemporary, stand alone, young adult/new adult/ adult, dark, erotic bully romance focusing on Whit Lancaster, and Summer Savage.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there may be numerous triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives covering approximately twelve years THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) follows the acrimonious, bully relationship between Lancaster heir Whit Lancaster, and Summer Savage. At the ages of fourteen Summer Savage met Whit Lancaster at a Lancaster party, and in the ensuing years never forgot that fateful encounter. Three years later, the fall-out of a society scandal found Summer Savage struggling at the prestigious Lancaster Prep School, a school where she would become the target of bullies but more specifically the target of the boy she could never forgot. Becoming persona non grata at a school for the elite, meant Summer awakening each day worried about the who, how and why of each personal attack, attacks seemingly orchestrated by Whit Lancaster. Exiled from most of the school population, it was only a matter of time before the administration took a dislike to Summer Savage. What ensues is the tempestuous and caustic relationship between Whit and Summer, and the ongoing fall-out of betrayal and vengeance, aimed at our story line heroine, as she struggled to move on from the demons of her past.

Summer Savage has struggled with issues of low self-esteem in the wake of her family life spiralling out of control. Following a society and media nightmare, not of her making, our heroine is ‘hidden’ away for all intents and purposes but coming face to face with the boy that has continued to star in her nightmares and dreams was about to push our heroine to the edge of reason, as she battles between head and heart knowing that Whit Lancaster would be her ultimate fall. Whit Lancaster is an entitled bully who controls Lancaster Prep, and in this controls the entire student body and staff. When Whit places a proverbial target on our heroine’s back, it is only a matter of time before the fall-out destroys what is left of Summer Savage. Whit Lancaster uses emotional, physical, and sexual control in his position of power that he lauds over our heroine, and the school, at every opportunity. He is feared and loved in equal measure, using his name and family position to rule at the ripe old age of seventeen.

The relationship between Summer and Whit is angry and spiteful, and I struggle to call it a romantic story line. The bullying, humiliation, emotional and mental abuse is continuous; the sl*t shaming is excessive. Whit Lancaster cannot stop obsessing about Summer Savage, and in this, he is determined to know all of Summer’s secrets in an effort to claim every part of our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intense, dramatic and not without some question of consent-the relationships and friendships play out like a game wherein Summer Savage is the ultimate pawn.

The mean girls (and boys) and relentless bullying is tantamount to assault; the adults and parents are unforgiving, ruthless and cruel. Summer Savage is not the perfect heroine but an embattled life makes for questionable decisions, decisions that often place our heroine in the direct line of fire. She didn’t deserve the humiliating treatment, treatment that affected her choices going forward, often taking the blame for catastrophic events in her life.

THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, abuse, bullying, power and control. THINGS I WANTED TO SAY (BUT NEVER DID) may be a difficult story for many readers. I struggle with the bully romances, in general, as the victims and intended targets do not deserve the abuse at the hands of piers, strangers, family or friends, and in the wake of real life, sometimes the bullies hit too close to home. The premise is dark, heart breaking and emotional; the characters are broken and cruel; the romance is questionable on so many levels. Monica Murphy is a gifted writer-she was able to break my heart, and make me cry in a matter of a few pages.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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The Sophomore (College Years 2) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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THE SOPHOMORE (The College Years 2) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3xFMDKC

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 10, 2021

Jackson Rivers.

My not so secret crush.

He’s popular. Gorgeous. Talented.

Also my biggest weakness.

I’ve stood by him for years. Been a friend every time he needed one, but he doesn’t see me. Not like I want him to.

Move on, my friends said. Find someone new. Someone who sees your worth. Someone who gets you. I know they’re right. I’m only a friend to him. He’s never going to see me like I see him. So I take their advice, and try to move on.

But Jackson is always right there. In my face. Running to my rescue. And when I meet someone else, Jackson isn’t having it. For some reason, he’s suddenly determined to stay in my life. Right by my side.

Now he says he wants me, but does he want an actual relationship? Or is that he can’t stand the thought of losing me to another guy?

It’s time to find out what Jackson truly wants…and I’m going to make him work for it.

For me.

•••••••

REVIEW:THE SOPHOMORE is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult COLLEGE YEARS romance series -a spin off from the author’s THE CALLAHANS and ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND series. This is nineteen year old, college sophomore and singer Jackson Rivers, and eighteen year old college student Ellie Jessup’s story line. You do not have to have read The Callahans to follow but I recommend reading the series for back story and cohesion as The College Years focuses on the secondary characters from the previous series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ellie and Jackson) THE SOPHOMORE follows the friends to lovers relationship between nineteen year old, college sophomore and singer Jackson Rivers, and eighteen year old college student Ellie Jessup. Ellie has been in love with Jackson Rivers for as long as she can remember but Jackson’s attitude runs hot and cold as it pertains to our story line heroine. A summer touring to promote his music culminates in a concert where Jackson screws up royally with regards to our story line heroine, a screw up for which he is about to pay dearly. Returning for his second year in college, Jackson reconsiders his future as both a member of the college football team, and his music but struggles with his relationship with Ellie Jessup. As Jackson tries to keep his distance, our hero sees green whenever anyone else vies for our heroine’s affection but a final ultimatum by Ellie forces Jackson to look long and hard at what he wants, and Jackson wants Ellie more than he could have ever imagined. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jackson and Ellie, and the potential fall-out as Jackson doesn’t believe he is worthy of love, or his own happily ever after.

For several years Ellie and Jackson have danced around one another but Jackson has always held himself back, giving mixed signals, pushing and pulling at the heart of our story line heroine. Jackson’s summer on tour showed a different side to life, the potential for fame and women, and Jackson took full advantage of what was offered. Ellie Jessup knew that Jackson owned every bit of her heart but Jackson’s attitude often portrayed an indifference regarding our story line heroine.

The relationship between Jackson and Ellie is a friends to lovers that struggles in the face of a lack of communication, fear of rejection, and thoughts of failure. Jackson is unable to commit to our heroine believing he is unworthy , and Ellie battles between head and heart knowing there will come a time when she will have to say good bye-forever. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line couples and characters play secondary and supporting characters.We are introduced to Ellie’s classmate Carson, a potential love interest for our story line heroine, as well as a cameo from Drew and Fable Callahan (One Week Girlfriend et al)

THE SOPHOMORE is a story friends, family, and relationships; of conflict and confusion; of acceptance and love. The premise is impassioned and compelling; the romance is tender; the characters are spirited and moving.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one THE FRESHMAN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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The Freshman (College Years 1) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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The Freshman (College Years 1) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3sibZe2

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 22, 2021

I started flirting with a guy while waiting for my car to be serviced. Now granted, he wasn’t just any guy. Tall. Dark. Hot. Mysterious. Can you blame me for wanting to talk to him? He’s in town visiting his parents. So am I. He goes to the same college as I do. Such a coincidence. Almost as if our meeting is destined…

But I shouldn’t believe in that sort of thing. I am single as a Pringle and always ready to mingle. Until I keep running into Mr. Tall, Dark and Mysterious everywhere I go. Tony Sorrento. Turns out he’s on the football team. I mean, I’m not one to chase after a sexy jock but, okay. I’m down. And did I mention he’s only a freshman?

Our fathers are business rivals, and they forbid us from dating. We need to keep this on the low. Can we remain friendly? Sure. Maybe turn our friendship into friends with benefits? Most definitely. Here’s the thing though. I didn’t plan on catching feelings for him so quickly. Seems like he’s falling pretty hard for me too.

Defying our fathers’ wishes is only asking for trouble, but is being with Tony worth the risk?

••••••••

REVIEW:THE FRESHMAN is the first instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult THE COLLEGE YEARS romance series-a spin off from the author’s THE CALLAHANS. This is eighteen year old, college freshman Tony Sorrento, and twenty year old junior Hayden Channing’s story line. You do not have to have read The Callahans but I recommend reading the series for back story and cohesion as The College Years focuses on the secondary characters from the previous series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tony and Hayden) THE FRESHMAN follows the forbidden relationship between eighteen year old college freshman Tony Sorrento, and twenty year old college junior Hayden Channing. Hayden and Tony had never met before the day they found themselves at the local car dealership but unbeknownst to our couple, Tony and Hayden’s father were business rivals, and as such were forbidden from seeing one another. Upon their return to college, Tony would run into Hayden, on the first of many meetings that would eventually lead to a romantic affair but as Tony’s love for Hayden grew, threats of another nature would force Tony to chose sides between the woman with whom he was falling in love, and the family he hadn’t been close to in a very long time. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Tony and Hayden, and the potential fall-out as keeping their relationship a secret is about to be exposed.

Hayden Channing struggles with the age difference between herself and Tony but more so the possibility that her relationship with Tony is about to affect her father’s business. Tony knows that once their relationship is exposed, there may be no going back but the Sorrento family dynamics is slowly deteriorating from within.

The relationship between Hayden and Tony is one of immediate attraction but their father’s rivalry is threatening any possibility of a happily ever after. Hayden continues to struggle with Tony’s age, and Tony struggles with what is happening back home. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most if not all of the The Callahan leading couples. We are reintroduced to the original supporting characters, all of whom will have their own story to tell: Jackson and Caleb.

THE FRESHMAN is a fast paced, wonderful and exciting story line of forbidden romance; a slight age-gap love affair that is reinforced by Hayden’s continuous need to reflect on their differences. The premise is entertaining and captivating; the romance is tender and seductive; the characters are energetic and familiar but I struggled with the immature nature and attitude of the parents, often times reminiscent of what you would find in a young adult story line.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Fighting for You (The Callahans #5) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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Fighting for You (The Callahans #5) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 11, 2021

Diego Garcia.
Class bully.
Football star.
My boyfriend.

I fell hard and fast for the resident bad boy and he fell just as hard for me too. We were the perfect couple, until things turned sour.

Senior year and we’re both super busy. He has football. I have volleyball. Soon enough, I hear the rumors – Diego’s cheating on me. After everything we’ve been through, I’m devastated. Breaking up with him was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. He doesn’t love me. Besides, only a few more months of school, and then I’m going away to college. And Diego will be permanently out of my life.

Until I find out I’m pregnant. And now we’re forever tied together

••••••••

REVIEW: FIGHTING FOR YOU is the fifth instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young adult THE CALLAHANS erotic, romance series focusing on the second generation of the Callahans and their extended family and friends-a spin off from the author’s ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND series. This is high school seniors Diego Garcia, and Jocelyn Douglas’ story line. FIGHTING FOR YOU can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as Jocelyn and Diego’s story begins in book three ADDICTED TO HIM.

NOTE: FIGHTING FOR YOU is a young adult story line ( characters under eighteen years of age) with adult sexual situations including a teenaged pregnancy, that may not be suitable for more younger readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jocelyn and Diego) FIGHTING FOR YOU follows in the aftermath of Jocelyn’s discovery that she is pregnant with her ex-boyfriend Diego’s baby, and with it the realization that she may have lost Diego, forever. Diego is a star player on his high school football team, and as such laps up the praise and attention of the female student body but Jocelyn and Diego’s relationship had hit a bumpy road, and with hit, the school girls threw themselves at our hero, ensuring his reputation and conquests found the ear of our story line heroine. Having loved and lost, Jocelyn struggled with issues of trust, and one final threat to her relationship with Diego meant Jocelyn was willing to go it alone. Months will pass before Diego and Jocelyn reconnect for the sake of their child but the months were heart breaking for our story line hero. What ensues is the back and forth, struggling relationship between Jocelyn and Diego, and the fall-out as dysfunctional family dynamics, secrets and lies, manipulation and vindictiveness threaten any potential future for our story line couple.

Diego Garcia is and was the proverbial high school football star, feeding his ego and reputation by flirting with every available girl but Diego’s actions are about to destroy the one true love and relationship he has ever known, and with it the possibility of seeing the child he may never know. Struggling with a dysfunctional home life, Diego makes a permanent break, and finds himself alone for the very first time. Jocelyn Douglas comes from a wealthy and connected family but our heroine’s reputation is destroyed by a teenaged pregnancy, and the antics of a mean –girl who is determined to take down our story line heroine. Believing she and her child are better off without Diego Garcia, Jocelyn finds herself a single parent but a parent missing the man she will always love.

The relationship between Jocelyn and Diego is a high school romance broken by the desperation of a high school bully, and the teenaged pregnancy of two students too young to commit to anything beyond the present. Diego Garcia has never stopped loving our story line heroine, and in this, the truth about the rumors continue to fuel the rage and heart break of the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of familiar secondary and supporting characters: Drew and Fable Callahan (One Week Girlfriend); Eli Bennett and Ava Callahan: fellow football players Caleb, Wyatt and Tony: Jocelyn’s friend Ellie, and Jackson Rivers; Diego’s long suffering mother Rosa, his brother Mateo, their cousin Marty; Jocelyn’s parents, as well as mean girl and bully Cami Lockhart.

FIGHTING FOR YOU is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; of betrayal and vengeance; secrets and lies; abuse, manipulation, teenage pregnancy, rumors and heart break. The premise is emotional and dramatic; the romance is fated but destructive; the characters are broken, sensational and struggling.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Close To Me
Falling for Her
Addicted to Him
Meant to Be

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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