Guest Post & Giveaway - Olympic Love by Aven Ellis - Booklympics

I’ve always been a HUGE fan of the Olympics. No matter what the sport is, I’ll watch it if it is part of the Olympic Games.  To me there is something so on-the-edge-of-your-seat about the Olympics. 
These athletes train for years, some practically their whole lives, just to have this one moment. I’ve held my breath while watching a gymnast bobble on the balance beam. The excitement of who will touch the wall first on the last lap of a swimming final.  I love when the underdog wins, a superstar is born out of nowhere, and the intense drama when things are in the balance. 

And now viewing is better than ever because nearly everything is televised. Yay! (Yes, I’m already preparing for some low word count days when the Olympics are on, LOL.) If you go to  https://www.olympic.org/ you can pre-prep your Olympic viewing experience. (YES I AM SERIOUS ABOUT MY GAMES PEOPLE.) On my “must see” list for Rio? Equestrian, Cycling, Gymnastics, Track & Field, Swimming and Diving. Oh, and football (which as an American I call soccer) because I will freely admit it, there are some super cute guys playing that sport. 

So my advice for getting the most out of it? Make your must watch list. DVR, DVR, DVR! Grab yourself a home country T-shirt (come on, an excuse to shop is never wrong, right? HA!) Try to watch a few new sports to truly have an Olympic experience. Make some Brazilian food on the night of the Opening Ceremonies.  And definitely keep a scorecard on your favorite outfits during the Opening Ceremonies. We’ll compare them later.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get ready for Rio!

Thank you so much Aven for explaining just what it is I also love about the Olympics in far better words than I was ever going to manage. I intend to be watching all those sports mentioned, except Soccer as Team GB don't have a team, as well as rowing, canoeing, some sailing, or anything that is being shown live, while waiting for the next session of those sports! And I also can't wait for the opening ceremony later today!

About Aven Ellis

Coffee with cream? Check. Soundtrack for work in progress pulled up on Spotify? Done. Ready to write another romantic comedy with a swoonworthy good guy hero, a heroine you cheer for, and a guaranteed happily ever after? You bet.

Hello, I'm Aven Ellis. I write hockey (and non-hockey) romantic comedies.  I love crafting characters, their words, their heartbreak and triumph, with laughs along the way. There is no bigger compliment to me than having someone tell me they laughed when reading one of my books. I want my books to be easy reading, a beach read, and an escape when you need one. 


In addition to writing, I'm passionate about reality cooking shows, the Duchess of Cambridge, the latest scent from Jo Malone (whatever it is, doesn't matter, I want it) and hockey. Or is that hockey players? Because they're hot.  I live in Dallas with my husband, daughter, and cat. And if it’s hockey season? GO STARS. 

Twitter | Facebook | AvenEllis.com | Aven Ellis on Amazon UK

Giveaway - Win an e-copy of The Aubrey Rules (Open Internationally)

Aven Ellis has generously offered an e-copy of The Aubrey Rules to one lucky winner. 

Giveaway open Internationally, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 21/8/2016. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

Win an e-copy of The Aubrey Rules (Open Internationally)

Book Review - The Aubrey Rules by Aven Ellis

Amazon UK

Title: The Aubrey Rules

Author: Aven Ellis

Format reviewed:  Ebook

Source: Review copy supplied by author

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Publication Date: 26th August 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Some of the Aubrey Rules to Live By: 

*If I’m going to indulge in French fries, I must add extra time to the treadmill the next day. 
*Always keep your work and private life separate. 
*Being open to new experiences will never involve eating kale. 
*Never, ever date a professional athlete. 

For Chicago social media professional Aubrey Paige, the rules are everything. So much so that Aubrey has painstakingly written her rules for living into a polka-dot Kate Spade notebook that she carries with her at all times. It’s her personal guidebook to living her life. These rules are the Holy Grail—ones never to be broken. They guide her actions for everything, from dealing with workplace drama to finding a great guy to date. After all, these are her own rules, built from her life experiences and observations. So they have to be perfect, right? 

Or are they? 

Because when Aubrey meets a cute Canadian, she suddenly finds her rules being tested and challenged in ways she never dreamed possible. Beckett Riley is the shy, quiet, determined captain of the Chicago Buffaloes, a hockey team on the verge of turning the corner to becoming a winning organization. He’s Aubrey's opposite, with so many qualities that Aubrey had listed as ones she’d never want in a man. 

Yet Aubrey finds herself drawn to Beckett in ways she’s never known. And when she unexpectedly finds herself working with Beckett, she wonders if rules are meant to be broken after all . . . 

I feel I should start with a disclaimer. I am a humongous fan of Aven Ellis' books and I fear I may go a bit too gushy in describing this book to you all. What I will say with absolute certainty is I loved this book 3000% and I am completely in love with Beckett. 

My only fault with this book is that it had to end, but before that slightly off putting fact, you have a story filled with one of the best romances I have read this year. 

Beckett is a "nice guy", he is shy and awkward but also a fearsome captain for Ice-hockey team Chicago Buffaloes. He manages to in the course of the book, save the day once, produce one perfect date that made me go a bit weak at the knees, and then his plans for Valentines day, had me swooning. 

Aubrey is hilarious, she lives her life according to her "rules", but as she will soon discover rules are made to be amended and broken many times over. The Aubrey Rules listed in the blurb, are some of the key ones involved in this book, and they are all very relevant (even the mention of kale!). Each chapter starts with an Aubrey rule, but as the book goes on so does the number of edits she makes to the rule.

When I say this book is full of romance, I really do mean romance in the thoughtful gestures sense of the word and not the "50 Shades of Grey bodice ripper" meaning of the genre. It is book full of romantic moments between Beckett and Aubrey and keep making me say aww.

I have a feeling I was ultimately just a little jealous of Aubrey, after all she has met MY dream guy! I do know that Aven Eliis is making me seriously consider moving to Chicago, based on the amount of amazing book boyfriends that seem to live there. I have to believe its based on reality and that Chicago is full of men who are willing to see past the superficial, through to the real you!

In amongst the budding relationship between Aubrey and Beckett, is Aubrey's new job. She has a nightmare boss, but not necessarily in the way you would expect. You need to keep an eye on the boss, as she is definitely the villain of the book. 

Aven Ellis has proven once again that she is the "queen of book boyfriends" and of "happy ever afters" with this amazing feel good, loveable and enjoyable book. Anything that has me smiling and laughing from front to back, as well as falling in love with a fictional character (and a small crush on his team mate), is definitely a top book for me. 

Thank you so much Aven for this review copy. I am honored that you asked me if  I wanted an advance copy, and all views expressed in this review are my own and honest.