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Release Blitz: Making Waves by Christina Lee

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Making Waves | Christina Lee

Franklin University #7

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Release Date: October 6th, 2022

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Blurb

Alex Larsen

Remy Duval was my high school crush and secret first kiss, but he’s also so much more. A painter, a tattoo artist, my best friend Bailey’s older brother…and Bailey’s sworn enemy. It was easier to keep my distance the past two years, but now that Bailey and I are attending Franklin University with him, I’m only drawn to Remy more. I should be loyal to my best friend, focus on classes and swim team, but the more I see Remy around campus, the harder it becomes to stay away.

Remy Duval

My brother hates me, but that’s no surprise. I’ll take the fall for ruining our family if it means doing the right thing. But as soon as my brother and his best friend show up on campus, I know I’m in trouble. Alex is all grown up, and I can’t help wanting him, especially when he’s in those tiny swim briefs that emphasize everything.

One kiss leads to more, and before we know it, we’re tumbling into secret, no-strings-attached hookups. But who knew Alex would understand me in ways few others have? And I think, just maybe, I understand him too.

I keep telling myself it’s temporary. Alex doesn’t want to disappoint his best friend, and after what my parents went through, I’m not looking to settle down. Making waves is nothing new, but the further I fall, the more I drag Alex in the deep end with me.

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Excerpt

“Wanna dance?” Alex asked with a hopeful glint in his eye.

“Nah, I’ll just observe from a safe distance.” I leaned forward. “I like watching you.”

He made a frustrated sound. “Okay, you don’t play fair.”

“And you do?” I chuckled, eyeing him.

“Ready?” Jordan nudged him, and Alex nodded.

Just as they were about to head out, Alex swung around. “Will you hold my jacket so I don’t lose it?”

“Of course.” Once I took it from him, I slipped my arms through it so it wasn’t dragged or stepped on or anything. The material was warm and soft, obviously broken in from use. But when I angled my head and sniffed the lapel, it smelled like him too. Perfect.

“What?” I asked, realizing that Alex was staring at me with a wistfulness in his eyes.

“It looks good on you,” he said, adjusting the hem against my waist.

I grimaced. “Don’t get any ideas.”

“Well, you did go to a football game, which I still can’t believe.”

“You and me both.”

As soon as I shifted, I realized that his jacket was a bit of a tight fit in the shoulders. I’d need to be careful so I didn’t tear it.

“By the way, I wouldn’t be caught dead in this thing if it wasn’t yours.”

He cracked a smile. “Thank you for your sacrifice.”

I leaned forward. “You’re welcome, Chlorine Boy.”

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About the Author

Christina Lee Logo

Once upon a time, Christina Lee was a wardrobe stylist in New York City. She spent her days schlepping clothes, hailing cabs, and on the hunt for the perfect lip gloss, which became a bit of an addiction—along with books and coffee. You could always find her perched in a corner booth of a favorite diner sipping a dark roast and reading.

She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and son—her two favorite guys. She’s been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher and while very rewarding, they still didn’t feel like an exact fit. It wasn’t until she began writing a weekly column for the local newspaper that the bells went off in her head. She could finally draw from her real-life experiences and vivid imagination to write fiction—and she’s never looked back.

Christina writes romance in different sub-genres, but mostly with LGBTQ characters because representation matters and everyone deserves a happily-ever-after.

Social Media

https://linktr.ee/authorchristinalee

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What a superb ending to this brilliant college set series

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Frat Wars 3Frat Wars: Presidential Chaos by Saxon James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not put this book down once I started reading, so much so that I finally went to bed at 3am having finished it in one go.

I’ve loved each one of the Frat Wars series but this one is definitely my favourite because it’s just such a gorgeous romance between two guys who shouldn’t work at all but who just bring support, caring and love into the other’s world most unexpectedly.

What starts off as a way to relieve the tension they’re both constantly under because of the rivalries between their Frat Houses soon turns into something special as both Zeke and Charles come to realise they’re catching feelings.

There’s still humour in this book, as with all the rest, but it’s tempered by the plotline which is focused on someone setting up Sigma Beta Psi with accusations of hazing and other illegal behaviours and making it look like it’s the rival Rho Kappa Tau President Charles who’s responsible for the rumours.

I loved watching these two young men fall in love, Charles has had a crush on Zeke for ages but the Olympic swimming hopeful is a bit slower to wake up to his feelings, when he does though, there’s no holding him back.

What sealed the deal on this one becoming my favourite in a quite outstanding series though was the way both Frat Houses put aside their rivalry to try and find out who’s causing the trouble and then the way the whole Greek Row, Sorority sisters as well, come together in solidarity with the Sigmas.

Although, as a Brit, we have nothing even remotely like Greek Societies over here, I think the friendships and lifelong connections these organisations help to flourish is a universal thing and it’s what’s at the heart of the series.

The Epilogue ten years later is brilliant, we’ve seen glimpses in the Epilogues in the previous two books but this one finally rounds things out with style.

I’ll miss these guys!

#I voluntarily read a complementary copy of this book

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Annabeth brings a fresh look to this bodyguard & rock star romance

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60575646._SY475_Hard Job by Annabeth Albert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed book one in this new ex-military bodyguard series from Annabeth but I absolutely fell in love with Duncan and Ezra in this one!

The rock star falling for his bodyguard trope isn’t a new one, in fact I’d just read Lauren Blakeley’s One Time Only which has the same theme a few days earlier, but here Annabeth manages somehow to take a fresh approach.

What the reader gets is a surprisingly sweet, but also a bit angsty, romance as Duncan, the former Navy SEAL Lieutenant son of a famous Hollywood star, fights to keep his relationship with his brother’s best friend on a professional basis.

Poor Duncan, my heart ached for him. Like his younger half-brother Danny in book one, he’s not had any kind of decent upbringing, thrown off to boarding school, private tutors and nannies, his parents are feckless and unfeeling and it’s left him clinging to his reputation in the Military as a man of honour, something his father is not.

Which proves conflicting when his friendship with Ezra becomes something much more, their chemistry is obvious but it’s the kindness and support each offers the other which makes it special.

Ezra is also much more than just a rich rock star, he’s constantly trying to keep hold of his friendships from before he was famous, the ones he knows are by his side because they want to be not because of what he can do for them.

His parents had him later in life, so he also worries about them and he’s rapidly approaching burnout when Duncan takes over as his Security Chief. Their opposite personalities cause clashes, but they also connect deeply too when both realise there is a longing within the other for someone they can rely on.

I loved everything about this book and didn’t put it down once I started reading it. Both Ezra and Duncan go through some changes, working together by having proper conversations – and a few sulky moments it’s true – to try and find a way forward.

Their secret relationship brings the tension to the plot and is used well by Annabeth to cause moments of friction between them which arise organically and never feel deliberately placed. There’s the usual 70%/Third Act hiccup but it’s thankfully resolved pretty quickly by the two men actually having a grown up discussion!

And the sex between them is a glorious mix of control and tenderness as Ezra discovers Duncan’s touch starved nature fires him up even more. The scene where Duncan gives up trying to be in charge and lets Ezra just love him is beautiful.

Now there’s just Harley’s book to come and the hints we’re given for that one have me salivating!

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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