Sunday, 8 June 2014

Spotlight on: A.J. Walters + 4* reviews

Today we are turning the spotlight on up and coming British author, the lovely A.J. Walters. 

Some time ago AJ contacted us on our facebook page asking if we'd post a few promo details about her soon to be released debut novel, An Acute Attraction.
 We automatically said yes for 2 main reasons - One. we love to get behind new authors and pimp them out, and two...she's a fellow Brit!! 
AJ very kindly provided us with ARCs to review and you can read what Simone thought below. 

***WARNING***
Simone's review for A Constant Attraction may contain mild spoilers from
 An Acute Attraction.

An Acute Attraction 
(The Attraction Series #1)


Title: An Acute Attraction ~ The Attraction Series #1
Author: A.J. Walters
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 20, 2013


Synopsis

Meet... ...Working single mother Isabel Chambers. She's not a size 12 or as you've probably guessed, a virgin either. ...Marc Sanders an attractive, successful Harvard Professor of Medicine visiting Cambridge. He has a secret past that has been well hidden until now. An Acute Attraction is a heart warming, exciting and compelling story of love and romance, full of seductive, sensual and tantalising emotions and images, sexual exploration and passion. Isabel Chambers is an ordinary, working, single mother of two, who needs some "me" time, so, kids sorted, she books herself into a hotel for a week of rest and relaxation. Marc Sanders is an American professor at Harvard University and is in England to present research results to Cambridge University. Two people, out for adventure and excitement, meet and begin a journey of fun, thrills, lust and desire. But, is Marc all he seems to be? What is he hiding?

Purchase links: Amazon UK | Amazon US | B&N | Kobo | Lulu





Simone's Review

*ARC received in return for an honest review

Before I begin my review of An Acute Attraction, I would like to *High Five* A.J. Walters for creating a likable, real, curvy, sexy mother-of two who is our leading character. Isabel really does break that mould of most romance stories, that the lead female character is a stunning muse sent from the heavens above. This definitely made a refreshing change for me, being a mother of two with slight imperfections and insecurities, I could really relate to her character.

So on to my review:

Isabel an English single mother of 2 boys who, like most of us mums (single or married) even though we adore our children, believes ME time is so important to separate ourselves and remember that we are still important as a person, need time to ourselves to recharge our batteries and still be that person you were before being a mother and a wife. So this is exactly what Isabel does, finding herself a luxury hotel on her own to relax and unwind.

Now, who would have thought that there was going to be extras to enjoy at this hotel, in the form of  a very swoon-worthy American professor called Marc Saunders? There is an immediate attraction for both of them, Isabel cannot believe her luck but she has no confidence in herself, or her body, and doesn't  realise the effect she is having on him.


“Oh.My.God! I’m sure I could hear a celestial choir of angels signalling his arrival. Willing my heart to slow from it's rapid beating, I take several deep breaths. Calm yourself Chambers, he’s just a man. Ok, a goddamn sumptuous and heavenly looking man, but still just a man.” ~ Isabel

“Isabel, close your mouth or you will be catching flies soon.” ~ Marc

I loved Marc and Isabel's relationship and it was lovely to watch them fall in lust then finally in love. I enjoyed their funny, flirty conversations all the while fanning myself over their sexy time. Both had skeletons in their closets that they both wanted to keep under lock and key.
You will meet a few seedy, nasty characters that hold the keys to their pasts and are threatening to unlock those secrets unless Marc pays a price to make them go away for ever.

An Acute Attraction is A.J. Walters debut book and, to be honest, she really did a grand job. I found it a really sweet, romantic afternoon read with a few twists and turns and a bit of added suspense. It also ends on a cliffhanger.

I would definitely recommend this book. I'm looking forward to reading A Constant Attraction to find out what's in store for Marc and Isabel and if they find their happy-ever-after because, if anyone deserves a break it's Isabel.

Simone gives this a rating of...


A Constant Attraction 
(The Attraction Series #2)


Title: A Constant Attraction ~ The Attraction Series #2
Author: A.J. Walters
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 26, 2014


Synopsis

Funny, thrilling, romantic and spellbinding. This sequel to An Acute Attraction, will have you hooked!

When the voluptuous and curvaceous, Isabel Chambers decided to take a child-free week away to Cambridge; never in a million years did she think she would meet the 'God of a man', Marc Chambers, Professor of Medicine.
Having been convinced by her best friend, Jackie Dowling to go for it, it was probably the best thing that could have happened...or was it?

Isabel and Marc have dark pasts, for which both are wanting to overcome. However, the jealous and conniving Dr Emelie Acerbi has different ideas and is determined to spoil what connection, relationship and possible future the two have together.

Can Marc and Isabel continue to share the passion and thrills they have for one another? Or will the demons from their pasts and present get the better of them?

Let A Constant Attraction take you on an emotional journey of compassion, anger, laughter, lust and love...

Purchase links: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Kobo | Lulu




Simone's Review

***Warning!! A Constant Attraction may contain spoilers concerning An Acute Attraction due to this being the conclusion.***

Constant Attraction starts off where An Acute Attraction left off.  Marc and Isabel are still together and still very much in love. Things are going well until Emelie rears her ugly head again and is a force to be reckoned with. She has a plan and is going full force into it and no one is going to change or stop what she has in store for every one involved.

This is when the story line gets a bit more grittier and tense for Marc. While he is trying to keep this all hidden from Isabel, so she is protected and doesn't get hurt, he feels he must take charge of the situation and stop Emelie and her husband once and for all. This second instalment seemed to engage and grip me more than the first one. Although I really did enjoy the first book I do like a story with added suspense, so for me, A Constant Attraction delivered this and added a good twist at the end.

Marc and Isabel's relationship is as close as ever. Their feelings are becoming deeper and more intense, they never can get enough of each other and the sex is still as hot and intense as ever. I love the way Marc wants to love and protect Isabel forever and plans for not only her future, but with her two children as well. He really is all Mr Perfect-sexy, hot alpha male and yes, the added bonus of being a professor. Isabel really does come into her own, she leaves her dowdy, un-confident persona back at the hotel and transforms her self into a sexy, confident, strong woman. I found myself thinking (You Go Girl) you so deserve to be, and feel, like that!!

After reading both books I would definitely recommend An Acute Attraction and A Constant Attraction to readers looking for something heart-warming, sexy and fun with an added twist and some suspense to the story. Both these books are short reads and I found the story flowed well from one to the other. I will definitely be waiting to read more from this author and would like to thank A.J. Walters for providing me with the arcs to read and review for a honest review.

Simone gives this a rating of....



About the Author

A J Walters is a new contemporary romance author who has just made her first appearance on to the indie circuit. Having interests in history, romance and elements of erotica, she has brought all of these together in her debut publication; An Acute Attraction.

Wanting to break the trend of size 12 virgins in books, A J Walters has introduced a new real woman in Isabel Chambers. She’s a size 18-20, working single mother who now feels is it her time to start living her life again. At the ripe young age of 39, A J Walters also wanted to show that you can experience everything that a twenty-something would.

“I saw that a 39 year old isn’t quite at retirement age for fun, sex and finding love again. There are so many women out there that can be represented in books as well as the slim, innocent and beautiful types. Don’t get me wrong I love reading books with them in, but there is so many of them around now I felt it is time for something different. I’d like to think I brought my sense of humour across in it as well. I am ditsy, I suffer from ‘foot in mouth’ syndrome, but I can also be serious and sentimental. From the feedback I’ve had, apparently it makes for a great writing voice.” 

A J Walters currently lives in North Staffordshire, UK with her 2 children.


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