Saturday, May 30, 2020

Review: Be My Brayshaw




Title: Be My Brayshaw
Series: Brayshaw Series
Author: Meagan Brandy
Release Date: June 3rd



Synopsis:
“Cross one, cross all.”
That’s the Brayshaw way.
She should have realized this before sliding into our world with secrets too big to bury.
She didn’t and now the target is on her back.
The day her lies came crashing down, I should have forced her out.
Instead, I locked her in, and with the promise I would never be hers.
I resisted, fought against us.
I caved.
I tasted what became my newfound favorite flavor and fell hard for the little liar.
But then the depth of her treachery reveals itself, and with it a reminder.
Our town is a twisted place, and with truth comes trouble.
In the blink of an eye, my world is split at its core, and I’m faced with an impossible decision, one that leads to a single outcome...
Betrayal.



OMG OMG OMG!! Where do I even start with this book?!
I stayed up late to finish it, and it brought out so many emotions that I couldn't think straight to write this review. And now? Now that it has been hours since, and I got some sleep... I still can't think straight to write this review. 😂😂 But I'm going to try...
Captain has always been the quiet one, of the three Brayshaw's. He see's things, and is the thinker of the bunch. He is always steps ahead of the rest of the town. Except where Victoria is concerned. She knows more than even Captain, sees more. She deals in secrets, about the town, and about the Brayshaws. And if you cross one, you cross them all. Those secrets led to her having a target on her back. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer. But where does Victoria fall? With truth comes trouble, and with it, Captain is faced with an impossible decision. One that leads to a single outcome... Betrayal.
First this book CAN be read as a standalone, BUT it entwines with the first three Brayshaw books, so even though they DON'T need to be read, they SHOULD be.
Next, I have loved Captain since the beginning. I wanted to get a peak inside his head- know even more about him, and Meagan Didn't disappoint. He is Brayshaw- part of a family that runs deeper than blood. He is a protector- always taking care of and looking out for the others of his family. He is constantly in his head- watching, seeing, learning. He's strong, silent, loyal to a fault, and speaks with purpose. But, he is faced with an impossible decision, that has him second guessing himself. Can he make the right choice? Or will his world come crashing down?
Victoria is known as a liar. She deals in secrets. Much like Captain, she is always seeing, watching, and learning. She knows things about everyone in town. Including the Brayshaws. Which makes her a threat. She can't be trusted. Trust has to be earned, and so does a place with the Brayshaws. And when the truth comes out, it leads to trouble. I loved learning more about Victoria. Like Captain in some ways. She's strong, and silent, and watches the world around her. But she doesn't have what Captain does. She doesn't have a family to call her own- to look out for her. She is on her own, which means she doesn't have loyalty to the boys.
This book! I love the Brayshaws. with their loyalty to one another. They always stand together, look out for and protect one another, and nothing can get between them. They fight for what is right, not just from theirselves, but for their town as well. They are family in all the ways that matter. And you don't just fall in love with them, but you love them all for everything- the good, the bad, and everything in between. They are more than just the rulers of the school- they are the Kings of the Town. If there is a problem, they try to solve it. But what are they to do if the problem resides with them? How do they stand up against someone who is sleeping down the hall from them? Captain and Victoria's story will leave you breathless, and wanting more. It will pull at your heart strings, and have your stomach in knots. It twists you up, before soothing the soul. It was sweet, and crazy, and everything Brayshaw. 5 Thorn and Ivy ⭐'s out of 5 ⭐. I cannot wait to see what the next book brings!








Add to your TBR → http://bit.ly/CapBray
iBooks, Nook, and Kobo readers, pre-order today!
Live and exclusive to Amazon on release day, June 3rd!
Wide readers pre-order here: https://books2read.com/u/mgZB87
Apple Books → https://apple.co/2VyFzOI
Website Link → http://meaganbrandy.com/bmb

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Review: Titan







Title: Titan
Series: The Dark Kings
Author: Shantel Tessier
Release Date: May 29





👑𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐍👑
I know I have a black soul. Bloodshed and danger are what I live for.

A King is supposed to rule his Kingdom using any means necessary to demand respect.

I’m not a weak man… A King kneels to no one.

I’ve only ever cared about one other person in my life, but the thing is, she never belonged to me. And before I could tell her how I felt, she left.

Now she’s returned, needing someone to save her.

Emilee York was always meant to be mine, and I’ll see to it that happens. I always get what I want, even if that means I have to take it.

And she’s no different. She’ll be my queen, one way or the other.

👑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐄👑
When I left Sin City behind me, I had no plans to return. I avoided everyone, even my friends, to stay in my bubble. I’ve always been the kind to pull away and run when things get difficult.

But one phone call changed everything, and I was racing back. If only I had known what was waiting for me.

Titan reappeared like a ghost haunting me.

One look and I knew he recognized me. I never forgot him or what we shared. Those feelings that no one else knew existed between us.

I ignored them back then, but now they are more intense than ever.

“Get on your knees…” He demanded I kneel for him.

I tried to act like he didn’t affect me, but he knew. He remembered the way I reacted when he would touch me. And just like he was taught to do—he used my weaknesses against me.

He staked his claim, and I became his queen to use how he saw fit.

What makes it worse is that I crave him, and when I kneeled, it was willingly.

But was it for nothing?

🖤Titan is the first book in the Dark Kings Series. They can each be read as standalones. You are introduced to the Kings in Code of Silence.🖤

Cover designer: Shanoff Designs
Photographer: Furious Fotog
Cover model: Alex Michael Turner




Oh my goodness! I don't even know where to begin!!
Titan is one of the four Kings who rule over Kingdom, in the heart of Las Vegas. Danger and Bloodshed is what he lives for. And a King will use any means necessary to demand respect. Show no weakness. Kneel for no one. Not even Emilee York, the one girl who he actually cared about. She was never his to begin with. But now that she's back in town, Titan will make sure that she becomes his queen, one way or another.
Emilee had no plans of returning back to the city, but one phone call has her racing back. And just like a ghost from her past, haunting her, Titan appears back in her life, and with just one look, she knows he recognized her. She never forgot him, or what she shared. Or the feelings she had. She may have ignored him back then, but now that he rules over the city, it's harder then ever.
"Get on your knees..." He demanded of her. And just like he was taught to do, he used her weaknesses against her. He staked his claim, and she became his queen as he saw fit. Emilee kneeled willingly, but was it all for nothing?
Titan is a dark romance standalone, and book one in the Dark King's series by Shantel. But you first meet these characters in Code of Silence. Titan is one of the four dark kings. He is one of the rulers over the Kingdom in Las Vegas- a well known hot spot, that is more than just a casino and hotel - making him worth billions. But with such high stakes, also comes danger and even blood shed. If you try to cross one of the Kings, you will wind up regretting your decision. The Kings are ruthless, and have connections. And will stop at nothing to get what they want. And Titan has his eyes set on Emilee. The girl he has cared for, for years, even when she wasn't his. But now? Now there is no one standing in his way of making her his queen.
When Emilee finds herself back in Las Vegas for the first time in years she can't help the intense attraction to Titan. She may have been able to ignore him before, but now he runs an empire, and in untouchable. And now, he wants to make her kneel, just for him. But she has more than just her past haunting her. Emilee may just do something stupid and run away for good, despite how she feels about Titan.
I loved Titan. He is powerful, rich, and ruthless. He has had feelings for Emilee for years but couldn't act upon them, because she was taken. But now that she's back in town, he will stop at nothing to make her his.
Emilee came back into town, and my be in more trouble then she bargained for, and not just because she ran into the Dark Kings again. She's determined to try to get out of it, on her own. But that proves tougher than she expected. With no other choice, she asks the Dark Kings for help. But everything comes at a price. Is Emilee willing to pay it to get the help she needs?
I loved the back and forth between Titan and Em. He knew exactly what he wanted- her. She may have needed convincing, but the scenes between them were on fire. And I definitely would have loved more! Titan and Em were definitely HOT together. This book had the hot sex, the passion, the danger and the twists. It was dark, and sexy, and definitely will leave you satisfied. I can't wait to see what the other Dark Kings have in store. 5 ruthless⭐'s out of 5 ⭐.










Add Titan to your TBR:


💀𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬💀



Sunday, May 24, 2020

Review: Jackson


Title: Jackson
Series: Rydeville Elite series
Author: Siobhan Davis
Release Date: May 27


The devil came to me in disguise. Too bad I didn’t notice until it was far too late.

Vanessa:
The devil doesn’t always wear an evil mask.
Sometimes, he appears in the most beautiful form.
Like the super-hot bad boy with the dirty-blond hair and a wicked glint in his blue eyes who swept in out of nowhere, stealing all the air from my lungs.
I thought he was my savior.
But he’s my ruination.
And he’s just taken a machete to my heart.

Jackson:
For years, my rage seethed under the surface. Hidden behind a cloudy haze of my poison of choice.
But now, the fog has cleared.
And I’m out for blood.
I will annihilate those responsible for taking my sister from me.
Except he’s not here, so I go for the next best target.
The woman he abandoned.
Until it suited him to drag her into this messed-up elite world.
Sucks to be her.
Because when I’m done with Vanessa, she’ll wish she was dead.

An interconnected standalone dark romance set in the Rydeville High Elite world. 120k word full-length novel. Due to mature content and themes, this book is recommended to readers aged eighteen and over. Some scenes may be triggering.


Although this is a standalone Dark Romance (Trigger Warning: Some content may be triggering), it is best to read this series in order since it's all interconnected in the Rydeville Elite world. 

For years, Jackson's rage simmered beneath the surface. And now, he's out for revenge, out for the blood of those who were responsible for his sister. Except, the one responsible isn't around, so he will be going after the next best thing, his daughter. When Jackson is done with her, she will wish that she was dead.
The devil doesn't always wear a mask, sometime's he appears under a pretty face. A truth that Vanessa know's all to well. But when Jackson, a super hot bad boy, with dirty blond hair and blue eyes gives her the time of day, how could she say no? She thought he would be her savior, but instead he wound up being her ruination. 

I have been dying to find out the story behind Jackson since book one. He was broken, and gave Kai a run for his money in the jerk department. He was hell bent on his plan for revenge, regardless who he hurt in the process. I felt for him, and everything he had been through. 
And I loved how strong and resilient Vanessa was. Whatever she had been through she survived and came out stronger in the end- and that included Jackson as well. They were a perfect match for each other, she was able to stand up to him, and when he pushed her, she pushed back. I loved their back and forth, and all the moments between the two characters.
I also loved seeing past favorite characters make appearances as well. And can't wait to read more about this crazy dark world, and these characters! 

Some of the content was a little hard for me to read- having been through similar situations myself, it was dark and twisted and I still enjoyed reading this story, and about these characters!If you love dark and twisted romance books, you need to read this series!  4 corrupted ⭐'s out of 5⭐. 


Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3g4Jr2m


Pre-order your copy today!
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Jacksonsd


Sunday, May 17, 2020

Review: The Hunter




The queen of enemies-to-lovers strikes again. I devoured every page, hooked on the sizzling chemistry between Hunter and Sailor. A ten star read." --Parker S. Huntington, Wall Street Journal bestselling author


The Hunter, an all-new compelling and must-read contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is available now!




Boston’s debauched elite is going up in flames, and it’s the Fitzpatrick family that set it on fire.

Hunter
I didn’t mean to star in a sex tape, okay?
It was just one of those unexplainable things. Like Stonehenge, Police Academy 2, and morning glory clouds.
It just happened.
Now my ball-busting father is sentencing me to six months of celibacy, sobriety, and morbid boredom under the roof of Boston’s nerdiest girl alive, Sailor Brennan.
The virginal archer is supposed to babysit my ass while I learn to take my place in Royal Pipelines, my family’s oil company.
Little does she know, that’s not the only pipe I’ll be laying…
Sailor
I didn’t want this gig, okay?
But the deal was too sweet to walk away from.
I needed the public endorsement; Hunter needed a nanny.
Besides, what’s six months in the grand scheme of things?
It’s not like I’m in danger of falling in love with the appallingly gorgeous, charismatic gazillionaire who happens to be one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors.
No. I will remain immune to Hunter Fitzpatrick’s charm.
Even at the cost of losing everything I have.
Even at the cost of burning down his kingdom.


Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/hunterlj
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/35OcjXC
Amazon Audible: https://amzn.to/2zrjEjR

Add THE HUNTER to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Qav1lR



Oh my goodness, I have no idea where to even begin with this book!!
The Hunter is an enemies to lovers roommate romance. 
Hunter ends up on a flight from Todos Santos back to his hometown of Boston, after he ends up in a sex-tape, unknowingly. His father wants him to not only remain sober, but celibate for the next six months- while not only working in his office, but also taking night classes. Could things possibly get any worse? On top of that, he needs his own babysitter- which is none-other than a feisty red-head Sailor Brennen.
Sailor didn't want to get stuck on babysitting duty. Not for some rich playboy, not for anyone. But getting public endorsement for her archery was just too sweet of a deal to pass up. So now, she is a nanny to none-other than Hunter Fitzpatrick. Not like there is any chance of falling for his charm and gorgeous good looks. 
Hunter is a charming, gorgeous, gazillionare playboy. He not only has the good looks, and the charisma, but also the money. He can have any girl he wants- whenever he wants. So it was a real blow, when he got in trouble at Todos Santos, to not only be cut off from alcohol, and girls- but also his money. And then to be stuck with a Nanny. A goody-two shoes one at that. A stickler for rules, who won't let him get away with any thing, and who is immune to his charms. What is Hunter to do?
Sailor is laser focused on her archery. Nothing else matters, definitely not boys. So when she was asked to babysit Hunter, she wanted to refuse. What could possibly be in it for her? Public endorsement for archery... How could she say no? Come to find out Hunter was more than the media and his father portrayed him to be. Sure he was a rich playboy, used to getting what he wanted - but he was also charismatic, and smart, and funny. And she found out she actually liked spending time with him. 
I loved this book. I loved Sailor and Hunter's banter, and back to forth. I loved seeing more to Hunter than just his playboy ways, and loved seeing Sailor open up. The chemistry between them was smoking, their interactions were funny, and the story sucked me in from the beginning, and I can't wait to see what is next from LJ. If you like strong heroines (LJ's are always some of my favorites!) and rich play boy jerks then you definitely need to pick up The Hunter today! 4.5 Carrot Top ⭐'s out of 5 ⭐.







Excerpt

Why?” I asked, blinking at him in confusion. I had two left legs and the coordination of roadkill. I couldn’t dance if my life depended on it. I’d tried dancing at the only party I’d ever gone to—sophomore year—and was subjected to such thorough humiliation. People took videos of me dancing and forwarded it to half my school. Saggy Sailor, they’d graffiti-ed on my locker. Apparently, my back looked hunched and droopy when I danced.
Because…” He tilted his chin down, his voice low, smoldering. “You’re obviously bored, and my family is watching us, and I’m partial to fondling you.”
It’s the dress,” I muttered.
I’d actually prefer fondling you out of it.”
I sliced my gaze sideways, noticing that Aisling and Persy hadn’t picked up on my exchange with him. They were now watching a video, probably of the reality show they were arguing about. Even though Hunter was just after a friendly dance to show his family we were getting along, I couldn’t unglue my butt from my chair.
No fondling.” I crossed my arms over my chest, buying time.
No promises. Get up.”
Did you tell anyone we live together?” I accused, my eyes narrowing into slits.
He stared at me, wide-eyed, mouth parted. “Negatory.”
Did you tell anyone we were dating?”
This is the lamest twenty-questions game I’ve ever participated in. No.
Well, people are talking about us.”
That’s what people do. They fill the air with useless words to entertain each other. It’s called gossip, and it sucks all the asses in the world. Doesn’t mean it was me. Our building employs more than a hundred people. All of them work for my father. That means he’s spreading whatever the hell he wants to spread.”



About LJ Shen
L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to twenty different countries.

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

Connect with L.J. Shen





Friday, May 15, 2020

Release Blitz & Review: The Two Of Us



THE TWO OF US
Love In Isolation series
By Kennedy Fox
Release Date: May 15




𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏?
If you’re an heiress to a billion-dollar fashion company, then you quarantine in a glamorous cabin and finish your final semester of NYU online. The best way to focus on her upcoming valedictorian honor is away from her family, classmates, and the paparazzi. Cameron St. James is ready to get out of the big city and head Upstate for seclusion, despite her parents’ pleas to stay home.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅?
If you’re barely making ends meet, then you isolate yourself in your best friend’s mountain cabin with breathtaking views and no neighbors for miles. It’s the perfect safe place away from three roommates who don’t take the life-threatening epidemic seriously. Elijah Ross is ready to work remotely and focus on his next big promotion, assuming he’ll still have a job after this.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕?
You improvise and do whatever it takes to avoid each other, though it proves to be impossible. The cold evenings alone turn into movie and popcorn nights together by the fireplace. Days turn into weeks, and eventually, more than just a friendship blossoms. As the unknown haunts them, they lean on one another for comfort—until someone pops their safety bubble and threatens everything.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒐𝒇 𝑼𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒄. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆, 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓.




Buy Links:
Amazon Worldwide → https://bit.ly/2xqwOwL

Google Play → https://bit.ly/2JiVnhz








What do you do when the entire nation is on lock down in the midst of a pandemic?
Cameron St James, heiress to a billion-dollar fashion industry heads to her remote family cabin, to get away from friends, family, and paparazzi, while trying to finish her final NYU semester online.
Elijah Ross heads to a friends mountain cabin, to get away from his roommates who aren't taking the pandemic seriously, and working remotely.
Both Cameron and Elijah were ready to be alone. Neither anticipated having to share the three story cabin- especially with each other. Childhood enemies, now stuck together, try to avoid one-another. But as the days turn to weeks, they try to fight their growing desire and physical attraction to one another, and leaning on each other for comfort amidst the unknown. 

"I've been waiting for you," he repeats, closing the gap between us. "For a long fucking time." 

The Two of Us is a  Enemies to Lovers, Brothers Best Friend trope romance- both of which I love. When childhood enemies get stuck in isolation with one another, they must figure out not only their concerns, and worries, about the pandemic sweeping the nation, and the unknown about the world they live in- but the unknown with themselves as well. They try to fight their physical attraction for one another, but something more than a friendship blossoms between them, as they spend the cold nights curled up with popcorn and movies together. 
The book was written tastefully, and well-done to cover the real issues of the pandemic without it being too overwhelming, and scary- much like the real world actually is. 
There was more to Cami then the paparazzi portrayed. She wasn't just another perfect celebrity that was all about the fashion, and clothes- being an heiress to a fashion industry- but she did charities, and fundraisers, and more. 
Eli wasn't wealthy by any means. He didn't grow up with the same lifestyle as Cami, which is where their feud started. They both felt unworthy of the other- him because he didn't have the money that she was used to, and her because she grew up thinking she had to date certain guys, and act a certain way- and that Elijah was beneath her. 
They were like Ying and Yang- where Cami had shortcomings, like knowing how to cook, Eli made up for, and vice-versa. The banter between the characters were cute, and I really enjoyed it. And the scenes between the two were HOT. 
All in all this was a great read. 4 playful ⭐'s out of 5 ⭐.





Meet Kennedy Fox:

Brooke Cumberland and Lyra Parish are a duo of romance authors who teamed up under the USA Today pseudonym, Kennedy Fox. They share a love of Hallmark movies & overpriced coffee. When they aren’t bonding over romantic comedies, they like to brainstorm new book ideas. One day, they decided to collaborate under a pseudonym and have some fun creating new characters that’ll make you blush and your heart melt. If you enjoy romance stories with sexy, tattooed alpha males and smart, quirky, independent women, then a Kennedy Fox book is for you! They’re looking forward to bringing you many more stories to fall in love with!
Keep up with all their social media platforms for updates & info!