Release Blitz Review - - Not Playing Fair

 

Not Playing Fair

by Terri Osburn

The NOT Series - Book 2

Publisher: Macie Rae Publishing

Release Date: August 26, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

The universe is not playing fair.

First, my new boss says changes are coming to our library that threaten the programs I run. Then a letter arrives from my mother—whom I haven’t seen in more than twenty years—saying who knows what because I’m refusing to open it. Last but not least, the man who dumped me eight months ago is telling people that I’m trying to get him back.

Universe, I assure you I am not.

The one bright spot in all of this is the new guy in my life. He’s sweet, adorable, and seems totally interested. There’s just one problem. I might have bent the truth a little when we first met, and now I need to confess before he finds out from someone else.

Maybe I can’t blame the universe for everything.

Not Playing Fair is about family, forgiveness, and the friends who stand by us through it all. Come along as librarian Megan Knox becomes the heroine of her own story, and finds love along the way.

PJ's Thoughts:

Humor, heart, emotional depth, and solid friendships abound in this new series from Terri Osburn. I'm really enjoying this group of girlfriends from Pittsburgh in Osburn's NOT series. They laugh together, cry together, and always have each other's backs. I'm eager to read all of their stories. It's Megan's turn this time and she's in for a bumpy, entertaining, and emotional ride. Surprises are on the horizon for her, in her work life, her family life, and her romantic life. She's a likeable character who had me cheering for her from the get-go. 

Osburn explores topics in Megan's journey that are easy for readers to identify with, making her journey very relatable. You better believe I was cheering when she took the initiative to set the wheels in motion for a very satisfying conclusion to her work obstacle. Then there's the way she approached her romantic tangle, both previous and present (Ryan is such a good guy. I adored them together). More cheers. 

Finally, there's her family situation, one that has had a tremendous impact on Megan for most of her life. When an unexpected twist lands her at a crossroads, the author could have taken the easy, feel-good path. I applaud her for keeping it real while allowing Megan, who has grown and strengthened over the course of the book, to steer the course. 

If you're looking for a fast read told from the heroine's point of view, with witty banter, female friendships, emotional depth, sweet romance, and a surprise or two, check out Terri Osburn's Not Playing Fair. It's the second book in her NOT series but stands well on it's own. I do, however, also recommend book one, Not You Again (click to read my review).

  

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
US: https://amzn.to/3uejZy1
WW: http://mybook.to/notplayingfair

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/NPFGoodreads

Cover Reveal - - Not Playing Fair

 

In May, Terri Osburn launched her new NOT series with the humorous and heartfelt Not You Again (read PJ's 5-star review). Today, I'm excited to share the cover reveal of the second book in the NOT series: Not Playing Fair, coming to you August 30, 2021, less than two months away. Mark your calendars for August 30 or pre-order today! 

Terri Osburn has revealed the cover and blurb for 
Not Playing Fair, book 2 in The NOT Series!



Releasing August 30, 2021

The universe is not playing fair.
 
First, my new boss says changes are coming to our library that threaten the programs I run. Then a letter arrives from my mother—whom I haven’t seen in more than twenty years—saying who knows what because I’m refusing to open it. Last but not least, the man who dumped me eight months ago is telling people that I’m trying to get him back.
 
Universe, I assure you I am not.
 
The one bright spot in all of this is the new guy in my life. He’s sweet, adorable, and seems totally interested. There’s just one problem. I might have bent the truth a little when we first met, and now I need to confess before he finds out from someone else. But when the truth finally does comes out, I’m not the only one with some explaining to do. 
 
Maybe I can’t blame the universe for everything.
 
Not Playing Fair is about family, forgiveness, and the friends who stand by us through it all. Come along as librarian Megan Knox becomes the heroine of her own story, and finds love along the way.




Cover Designer: Bookin' It Designs

Pre-order your copy today!
US: https://amzn.to/3uejZy1
WW: http://mybook.to/notplayingfair

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/NPFGoodreads






Meet Terri Osburn




Terri Osburn writes contemporary romance with heart, hope, and lots of humor. After landing on the bestseller lists with her Anchor Island Series, she moved on to the Ardent Springs series, which earned her a Book Buyers Best award in 2016. Terri's work has been translated into five languages, and has sold more than a million copies worldwide. She resides in middle Tennessee with four frisky felines, and two high-maintenance terrier mixes. Learn more about this author and her books at www.terriosburn.com. 
 
Connect with Terri
Website | https://www.TerriOsburn.com
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Amazon | https://amzn.to/32Fqn5f
Facebook | https://bit.ly/3tOyvMv
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/terriosburn/
Twitter | https://bit.ly/3xi7MKp
Bookbub | https://bit.ly/3ewpBNv
Pinterest | https://bit.ly/3gEFiEP
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Newsletter | https://bit.ly/3976UxR

Review - - Not You Again

Not You Again

by Terri Osburn

The NOT Series - Book 1

Publisher: Macie Rae Publishing

Release Date: May 24, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Four blind dates in five days. I can’t believe I agreed to this.

Actually, I can. That’s what I do. I agree to things I don’t want to do to make other people happy. In this case, my four best friends. They’re worried about me and if going on a few dates will make them happy, then I’ll do it. How bad could they be?

I probably shouldn’t have asked that.

I’m starting to seriously wonder if my friends know me at all. Each pick is worse than the last, and none of them compare to my former fiancé. But then I guess maybe that’s the point. Someone new to help me forget the old.

To help me move on.

Except I don’t need a man to prove that I’ve moved on. Why can’t my friends understand that? And why does the same beautiful stranger keep saving me from these awful encounters? The universe seems to be throwing him into my path, and the more time I spend with him the more I wish that he was one of the dates.

There’s one more date left and I can’t help but wonder if he’ll pop up again. How many chance encounters can two people have? Pittsburgh is a big city so the chances are slim.

But what if…?

PJ's Thoughts:

Terri Osburn is an auto-buy author for me. I enjoy her humor, snappy dialogue, and heart-tugging romance which are all on display in Not You Again. The first half of the book is brimming with that humor as Becca, an overworked event planner who clearly has no interest in dating, finally caves to her friends' well-meaning nudges and agrees to go on four blind dates, each engineered by one of her girlfriends. The first three are hilariously cringeworthy - obviously any second dates are out of the question - but each one has something in common: a handsome stranger who always seems to be in the right place at the right time to assist Becca in her escapes from the doomed dates. She's intrigued, quite possibly interested, but something holds her back. Eventually, we discover what that something is and it's at that point that the book takes a deep emotional dive. 

I wasn't expecting the turn in the tenor of this story but, upon reflection, it's exactly what was needed and Osburn handled the tragic situation that necessitated that turn with sensitivity and care. As events from her past were revealed, including her reasons for not wanting to date, Becca's character became more textured, more relatable, and more emotionally layered. It was clear that there were emotions she needed to confront, process, and accept before she would be able to put the past behind her and move forward, before she could even consider the possibility of once again opening her heart to love. Again, the author used care in giving her characters the time and space necessary for the needed growth and healing to occur. By the time Becca reached the end of her journey, I was fully confident in her readiness to take that next step forward into a relationship and tickled pink with the man taking that step with her. 

Not You Again is hard for me to categorize. It's a sweet blend of romance, romantic comedy, and women's fiction with a satisfying HEA. It had me laughing out loud in parts, sobbing through multiple tissues in others, and sighing happily at the end. It's a story that touched me deeply. I've read everything Osburn has published and, for me, this ranks as one of her best. 

Not You Again launches a new series that has me eager for more trips to Pittsburgh (so vividly described, especially the neighborhoods, that the city is almost a character in itself) with stories starring Becca's friends and, hopefully, future peeks into Becca's new relationship as well. I've already marked my book calendar for Not Playing Fair, Megan's story, due to be released August 30, 2021. 

 

Review & Giveaway - - In Love on Anchor Island

In Love on Anchor Island
by Terri Osburn
131 Page Novella
Publisher: Macie Rae Publishing
Release Date: February 11, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
  

Roxie Chandler is a screw up. She doesn’t look for trouble, but it finds her anyway. After creating a scandal in her hometown, she takes refuge on Anchor Island, her cousin’s adopted home in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Planning to stick around only until she finds an alternative, Roxie doesn’t expect to make friends. Or to find love.

Alex Fielding is living his dream. A small town doctor making a difference in his neighbors’ lives, he ignores his father’s demands to return to the big city and take his rightful place in the family practice. His life on Anchor Island is quiet and simple, just how he likes it, until a leather-clad rebel with a chip on her shoulder moves in next door.

Roxie and Alex get off to a rough start, but sparks fly even when they’re fighting. The more he learns about her, the more Alex wants to save her from herself. And the longer she’s on the island, the more Roxie thinks about staying. But when her prediction comes true and she screws up once again, Anchor Island may no longer be her port in the storm.


PJ's Thoughts:

They say you can't go home again but that doesn't apply to author Terri Osburn who, in this novella, returns to the fictional island, and beloved characters, she created in her debut Anchor Island series. I loved every minute of it. 

As with the earlier books in Osburn's Anchor Island series, this story is infused with humor, deep emotion, and a strong sense of community. I enjoyed how she wove characters from the original series into Alex and Roxie's journey, giving Anchor Island fans the opportunity to check in with favorite couples while at the same time offering up a fresh, new story, with new main characters, for those readers unfamiliar with the series. 

At first, Roxie and Alex appear to be an opposites-attract couple with a dash of enemies-to-lovers but these two have many more common values than they realize. Osburn gives them wonderful banter, delicious sizzle, and heart-tugging complexities. I loved the growth of both characters and the ways in which they each helped the other achieve that growth. The emotions that accompany their journey are deep, rich, and true; eliciting laughter, tears, and deep sighs of satisfaction. Also, anger and frustration. Osburn has a knack for creating realistic and complex dysfunction within families and certain characters had me ready to rally the troops to ride to Alex and Roxie's defense. 

This story may be a shorter-length novella but it has all the depth and emotional richness I expect in a full-length novel. It checked my happy reader boxes and has me hoping Osburn will decide to return to Anchor Island for more stories in the future. There's something very special about both the island and the characters who live there. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you read any of the Anchor Island books?

Do you have a favorite Anchor Island couple?

One person who comments before 11:00 PM, February 18, will receive a Kindle copy of In Love on Anchor Island.

*Must be 18 or older

Spotlight & Giveaway - - Christmas in July

I don't know about you but with 90+ degree temperatures hitting my town every day I'm more than ready for a taste of Christmas in July. Lucky for us, these eleven talented authors have eleven brand-new novellas of love, romance, and holiday happily-ever-afters. I've already smiled my way through early copies of a few of them and can't wait to read them all. I love collections like this that not only include bonus stories set within series I love but also introduce me to new authors and series I've yet to read. (I'll be correcting that error soon!)  At only $0.99 (e-book) each from now through July 22, it's the perfect time to give yourself a Christmas in July treat and download all eleven!

A Pride Christmas

 by Jill Sanders

 It's a simple road trip until a blizzard strands them in the perfect romantic setting.

  

An Unplanned Christmas 

by Lizzie Shane

She didn't plan to let him back into her heart, but nothing is going as planned.

Cliffside Bay Christmas Wedding

 by Tess Thompson

Their mothers just might wreck Rafael and Lisa’s dream wedding in scenic Colorado.

Caitlyn's Christmas Wish

 by Sandra Owens

A surprise daughter, an unlikely attraction, and a Christmas wish…

Christmas In His Arms

 by Cynthia D'Alba

A non-wedding, a snowmageddon, and an unexpected union of old lovers.

The Sweetest Things

 by Bria Quinlan

Starlight Harbor's sweetheart is done playing nice when an out-of-town journalist slanders her quirky small town. (PG-13)

Gifted: Riley & Christian

 by Savannah Kade

Surprise romance and broken rules are just the beginning of true love.

  

Mistletoe Summer

 by Abby Tyler

When a veteran and a cheer coach are forced to work together, it's love at first sight -- for their dogs. (PG-13)

Matter of Fact

 by Heidi Hutchinson

Mistletoe, rock stars, and her grumpy ex. Throw in Grandma’s eggnog and it’s a party. 

Montana Mistletoe

 by Kim Law

She has the chance to create the future she wants, but first 

she’ll have to face her past.

Among The Stars

 by Terri Osburn

She's fake-dating the most eligible bachelor in town. Or is it fake after all?

So far, I've read Christmas in His Arms, The Sweetest Things, Montana Mistletoe, and Among the Stars and they are all gifts filled with humor, heart, and happily-ever-afters that I'd be happy to find under my Christmas in July tree. Terri Osburn's Among the Stars highlights everything I enjoy about her writing: sass, sizzle, witty banter, and heartfelt emotion. Kim Law's Montana Mistletoe is another emotional addition to her Wildes of Birch Bay - one of my favorite contemporary romance series. The Sweetest Things by Bria Quinlan is a quirky, feel-good story with an intriguing (and likable) cast. I don't know if she plans more stories in Starlight Harbor but I sure hope so because I want more of these characters! Cynthia D'Alba's Christmas in His Arms combines two of my favorite tropes: reunited lovers and snowbound romance. I couldn't get enough of these two. I've downloaded the rest of the novellas shown above and am eagerly anticipating reading them all.

Have you read any of the Christmas in July novellas yet?

Are any of the authors above new to you?

Three randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, July 13, will each receive their choice of three of the above Christmas in July novellas in Kindle format.

Review - - Ask Me to Stay

Ask Me to Stay
by Terri Osburn
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

Author Liza Teller’s new book is something of a mystery. She’s been hired to ghostwrite the memoir of Ray Wallis, an elderly stranger eager to share a very personal and surprising life story. The moment Liza arrives on beautiful Haven Island off the South Carolina coast, she has to ask: Out of all the semi-successful writers with stalled careers in the world, why her?

Kendall James, the dedicated ex-military man in Ray’s employ, has the same question. Why is this New Yorker in a frilly blue dress so important to Ray? But as protective and suspicious as he is, Kendall can’t help falling for the tempting outsider. And he isn’t falling alone.

As Ray’s life story unfolds, Liza and Kendall’s chemistry ignites. And all of it could be explosive. On an island this small, Liza soon discovers that there isn’t much room to hide—from the secrets of Ray’s past or from her desire for a man unwilling to give her the one thing she truly wants.

My thoughts:

I've been reading Terri Osburn's novels since her 2013 debut, enjoying the humor, heart, complex characters, and deep emotion in each story. All of those characteristics are on display in Osburn's newest book, Ask Me to Stay, though the feel of this standalone women's fiction/contemporary romance blend is different from anything Osburn has previously published. Set on a remote, private island off the coast of South Carolina, the slower pace of this story matches the ambiance of the state's Lowcountry. But don't mistake slow with boring. This story is anything but. It may evoke the soothing feeling of floating down a lazy river on a sultry, summer day but, just as with those lazy rivers, unseen secrets lurking beneath the surface keep this story moving forward and kept me fully invested in Osburn's intriguing characters and their winding journey. 

In a story such as this, it's imperative that the characters are interesting, engaging, and capable of pulling readers into their world. Osburn does a masterful job of doing just that. There are no superfluous characters in this book. Each one - whether primary or secondary - is brought to life through their words and actions, creating conflict, eliciting emotion, and pulling me deeper into their story with each revelation. I loved the push and pull between Liza and Kendall and I enjoyed their gradual evolution from adversaries to friends to much more. Their banter sparks and their chemistry sizzles but there's plenty of sigh-worthy tenderness there too. I love how Osburn opens a window into her characters' emotions, fears, and vulnerabilities though their interactions with others, not telling but showing, as we see during Liza's appearance at the island's book club meeting or her interactions with Kendall's dog, Amos. No mere canine wallpaper, the affable Pit bull is integral to Liza's evolution, her relationship with Kendall, and her overall journey. I adored him.

Ray is the linchpin that pulls this story together and could also blow it apart. It's no easy feat to reveal the truth of his life while still making him a sympathetic character that readers will forgive and accept into their hearts. With Ray, Osburn took me through a range of emotions from sweet affection, to curiosity, to disbelief, to anger, to eventual forgiveness. And tears. Such a flawed character she created but she made me care about him despite his flaws and she made me cry. I love when an author can do that.

Ask Me to Stay has my enthusiastic recommendation. I hope it won't be Terri Osburn's only foray into this type of women's fiction/contemporary romance blend. I thoroughly enjoyed it.




Have you read any of Terri Osburn's books? Do you have a favorite?

Who are your favorite authors writing this type of book? Robyn Carr, Susan Mallery, and RaeAnne Thayne are a few of mine.

One person who comments before 11:00 PM, March 7 will receive a Kindle copy of Ask Me to Stay.

I have a second giveaway to add to today's post. The author of Ask Me to Stay has graciously offered a signed, print copy of the book to one randomly chosen person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, March 7. (open internationally)