Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Binding Arbitration by Elizabeth Marx + giveaway


Through the corridors of the Windy City’s criminal courts, single mother Libby Tucker knows exactly how far she’ll go to save her cancer-stricken son’s life. The undefeated defense attorney is prepared to take her fight all the way to the majors.

Circumstances force Libby to plead her case at the cleats of celebrity baseball player Banford Aidan Palowski, the man who discarded her at their college graduation. Libby has worked her backside bare for everything she’s attained, while Aidan has been indulged since he slid through the birth canal and landed in a pile of Gold Coast money. But helping Libby and living up to his biological duty could jeopardize the only thing the jock worships: his baseball career.


Type: Romance, Family Saga, Contemporary/Chick Lit, 1st person (switches off between hero/heroine but well labeled & nicely done)
Publisher: Self Published, ebook/paper, 477 pages
Heat: 2 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Binding Arbitration was one of those books that did a total number on me. Oh man, it was not a pretty sight. I spent most of my Sunday afternoon an absolute blubbering mess. I'd pull myself back together, read a couple pages and burst out in tears all over again. Marx did a fantastic job of getting this reader to really feel everything her hero and heroine were going through. I was angry, and frustrated, had my heart broken and mended right along with Aiden and Libby as they struggled to deal with a painful past and going through any parent's greatest fear. Their journey was gut wrenching and heart warming all at the same time and will no doubt have you reaching for the tissues.


For a while there at the start I really wasn't sure I was going to fall for either of the main characters. Libby's a defense lawyer (yikes) and Aiden, well, I agreed with Libby completely that he was "a conceited, spoiled, spineless bastard." But somewhere along the way these two both wormed their way into my heart and completely won me over. What I really liked was neither of them were perfect. They screw up, they get defensive and bristle up to hide what they're feeling and are just real people you can relate to and understand. My heart really went out to Libby. And Aiden? He pulled himself together like I would never believe and turned into an incredible man willing to do anything to fix the wrongs in his past. 

There were a couple things that did give me some trouble. I had a hard time keeping all of the secondary characters straight and really wish I'd kept a list of who everyone was and how they were related to each other. Then there's an imaginary umpire that chats/mocks Aiden. He just didn't work for me but thankfully as the book goes on it threw me less and less when he'd pop up.

Overall, I'm so glad I had the chance to read Binding Arbitration and that I pushed through the first couple chapters that had me feeling pretty confused. The incredible emotional response Marx created and the moving storyline with it's twists and surprises vastly overshadowed any troubles I had along the way.  I'm really hoping that since there were a couple unfinished storylines that means we'll be getting another book at some point. No doubt it will be a wonderful experience as well. 

Get Your Copy



Also check out the novella Cutters vs. Jocks!

On the idyllic campus of Indiana University, Little-Libby-Nobody runs into Band-Aid, All-American-Athlete, and fireworks explode. Libby and Aidan spiral into a collision course of love at first sight versus lust you can’t fight. As the game plays out and their affection grows, they soon realize that labels like cutters and jocks can’t keep them apart.

But when Libby and Aidan find themselves in trouble they have to confront the reality of where they each fit in the others’ world. Libby believes superstar jocks don’t take cutters to Rose Well House, in the center of campus, at midnight and pledge their undying devotion beneath its sparkling dome. And Band-Aid imagines there’s no place for a pregnant, small-town waitress in his bull-pen or the major leagues. What happens when worthy opponents refuse to play their hearts out?

*FREE* at: Amazon  Barnes&Noble

About the Author

Windy city writer, Elizabeth Marx, brings cosmopolitan life alive in her fiction—a blend of romance, fast-paced Chicago living, and a sprinkle of magical realism. In her past incarnation she was an interior designer, not a decorator, a designer, which basically means she has a piece of paper to prove that she knows how to match things, measure things and miraculously make mundane pieces of furniture appear to be masterpieces. Elizabeth says being an interior designer is one part shrink, one part marriage counselor and one part artist, skills eerily similar to those employed in writing. 

Elizabeth grew up in Illinois, but has also lived in Texas and Florida. If she’s not pounding her head against the wall trying to get the words just right, you can find her at a softball field out in the boonies somewhere or sitting in the bleachers by a basketball court. Elizabeth resides with her husband, girls, and two cats who’ve spelled everyone into believing they’re really dogs.

Elizabeth has traveled extensively, but still says there’s no town like Chi Town.

Find the Author:


Woohoo! Giveaway time! 

Elizabeth has a wonderful giveaway for yall
for ebook (open INT) and print (US only) copies of Binding Arbitration.

Just leave a meaningful comment about the review or book
or a note for Elizabeth to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour!~~

Sept. 13th- A Bit of Dash (Excerpt/Giveaway)
Sept. 14th- Chaotic Book Corner (Review/Giveaway)
Sept. 15th- The Avid Reader (Interview/Giveaway)
Sept. 16th- Mallory Heart Reviews (Review/Giveaway)
Sept. 17th- Kaidans Seduction (Review)
Sept. 18th- SnifferWalk (Excerpt)
Sept. 19th- I Am, Indeed (Review/Giveaway)
Sept. 20th- Sugarbeat's Books (Interview)
Sept. 21st- Beach Bum Reads (Review/Giveaway)
Sept. 22nd- Laurie's Non-Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews (Interview/Giveaway)
Sept. 23rd- A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books (Excerpt)
Sept. 24th- Blood, Lust and Erotica (Excerpt/Giveaway)
Sept. 25th- Herding Cats & Burning Soup (Review/Giveaway)
Sept. 26th- NightlyReading (Excerpt)
Sept. 27th- Tricia Kristufek (Guest Post/Giveaway)
Sept. 28th- Stitch Read Cook (Review/Giveaway)
Sept. 29th- The eBook Reviewers (Excerpt/Giveaway)
Sept. 30th- Words I Write Crazy (Review)
Oct. 1st- Community Bookstop (Review/Giveaway)
Oct. 2nd- Juniper Grove (Excerpt/Giveaway)
Oct. 3rd- Crossroads (Review/Giveaway)
Oct. 4th- Day Dreaming Book Reviews (Excerpt/Giveaway)
Oct. 5th- Black Hippie Chick's Take on Books & The World (Review/Giveaway)
Oct. 6th- My Seryniti (Review/Giveaway)
Oct. 7th- My Life. One Story at a Time (Excerpt)
Oct. 8th- Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf (Guest Post)
Oct. 9th- Book Briefs (Excerpt/Giveaway)
Oct. 10th- The Bunny's Review (Review/Giveaway)
Oct. 11th- Crazy Four Books (Review/Giveaway)
Oct. 12th- Simply Infatuated (Interview/Giveaway)
Oct. 13th- Amy's Book World (Review/Giveaway)

26 comments:

  1. Thanks Anna for reading and reviewing Binding Arbitration and taking this emotional journey with Libby & Aidan.
    I do have bookmarks, if you or any of your followers would like some, just go to my FB author page & leave a request.
    Happy reading & reviewing,
    Elizabeth Marx

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    Replies
    1. Ooo thanks Elizabeth! I do believe I'll do that. I really loved the book and watching these two grow. Will there be another book to go with this one?

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  2. This book sounds really good. Although Aiden is a real d-bag, I hope he turns it around! Thanks for the post and for the chance to win!

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    1. Oh, he's definitely one of those heroes you have to grow to love. He was a tough sell but oh man worth it in the end. Good luck!

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  3. Thanks for the free read, awesome blurb and giveaway! This book sounds like one I could get into. Even though it sounds like I will want to punch Aiden. :) Thanks for sharing!
    slinkydennis@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. LOL. You might at the start Rhonda! You very well might ;) Hope you enjoy it though :) Cutters vs Jocks too. I just picked that one up myself! Happy reading!

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  4. Great post. This book sound good. Looking forward to read this one
    Thx for sharing with us

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    1. I hope you like it as much as I did. It's really a wonderful story :)

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  5. sounds like a story of bad timing and miscommunication - I hope they get their HEA (fingers crossed for a print copy since I don't have an eReader).
    sallans d at yahoo dot com

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    Replies
    1. Di- It's definitely both. But oh so worth all the troubles and hurt. Great read.

      Hope you get a print copy! But if not there are programs to read ebooks online without an ereader. I'll do a post about that later this week :)

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  6. Yes Aidan is the kind of D-bag you want to flush, that is until BA when you really want to kiss him. Even jocks boys have to grow up someday!
    E

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    Replies
    1. Oh my goodness yes. He really did grow up well. Had me all aswoon there for a while :)

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  7. Looking forward to reading Blinding Arbitration it sounds like a fantastic read.Thank you for sharing with us and for giving us this chance to win.Have a great week.

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    Replies
    1. Hope you enjoy it Wanda! I loved watching these two and their journey.

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  8. Sounds really great. Can't wait to read it. Another one added to my ever growing TBR list. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Oh I so know what you mean about that TBR pile. Mine's a monster! :) Good luck!

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  9. I read Cutters vs.Jocks and absolutely loved it! Thanks for the giveaway and I'm just discovered another great blog!

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    Replies
    1. Glad to have you stop by Chanpreet! There's a ton of other giveaways going so feel free to pop over to those :)

      I'm going to have to pick up Cutters vs Jocks soon. I've heard nothing but good things :)

      Happy Reading!

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  10. I love that you didn't mince your words in this review! I have seen the tweets for Blinding Arbitration many times, but this review laid bare for me what I am missing!
    Sooz
    Blog - www.susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Susan! I really hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. It turned out to be a really fabulous read. Whew. Just thinking of it now still gets me a little choked up. Crazy, right?

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  11. Ok, so Aiden doesn't sound like a great guy but I would love to read this. Love coming across a character who I may not like at first but end up loving and I would so love to read about these two. Thanks for the chance to win

    june111(at)att(dot)net

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    Replies
    1. lol. Jolene he was a rough one there at the start. Whew. But the man won me over completely. You'll love him!

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  12. Binding Arbiatration sounds really good and I like sports related books. This is probably a heartbreaker.

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    Replies
    1. Oh goodness. Yes some of the parts will just tear at your heart but it's an amazing story and worth every tear.

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  13. I don't have an ereader - can I be just put in for the print copy? Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Pat- I've got no idea actually. Elizabeth is the one running the giveaway. There are free programs with kindle, etc that you can download on your computer so you can read ebooks. I use one through amazon and it's very easy to set up and get going if you win one of the ebooks :)

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I always enjoy hearing what YOU think so come on and leave a comment. Everyone's welcome :) And feel free to leave comments on old posts. I'll check in on you there too :)

Bloggers don't forget to leave your links!
~Anna

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