Cover Reveal – Alex

27 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour

Tags

Alex, Cold Fury Hockey series, Sawyer Bennett

We’re going to start the official work week on quite a high note as we take a look at ALEX … Check him out below – he’ll be heading your way in October. I know I’m adding him to my calendar!

*****

Loveswept (Random House) is thrilled to debut the cover of ALEX: A Cold Fury Hockey Novel by USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett! ALEX is the first in a sexy and exciting new series that’s hot enough to melt the ice…

ALEX (A Cold Fury Hockey Novel)

Loveswept Contemporary Romance

Written by Sawyer Bennett

On sale: October 14, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-553-39300-2

About ALEX:

Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy… not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.

As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships… or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.

Get your copy of ALEX (A Cold Fury Hockey Novel)

*****

About Sawyer Bennett

USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett is a snarky Southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Connect with Sawyer

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Street Team

Connect with Loveswept

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Street Team

Brazen Blast

26 Monday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest

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Amanda Usen, Gina Gordon, Hot Nights series, Madewood Brothers series, Recipe for Seduction, Seducing the Playboy

If you like your heroes hot, the sex hotter, and a swoon-worthy romance to swoop in and save your happily ever after, Brazen has the story for you. Sinfully sexy soldiers. Alpha cops who demand control. Sweet guys with a naughty side in the bedroom. At Brazen, they’ve got the hero destined to melt your… heart. Visit the Entangled website, the Brazen Blog, follow them on Twitter, Like their Facebook page, and follow them on Pinterest.

Introducing Brazen’s May 26th releases:

Work Hard, play harder…

Find out more!

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Let the game of seduction begin…

Find out more!

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Plus don’t miss the Brazen Seduction Party

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post – Love for Beginners

26 Monday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest

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Hometown Love Boxed Set, Kelley Vitollo, Love For Beginners, Lucky Break, Ophelia London, Playing at Love, Rachel Harris, sally Clements, Taste the Heat, Under the Hood series

Now we welcome Sally Clements as she talks about traits of heroes and her new book, Love for Beginners. Then we’ll take a look at the new story collection, Hometown Love Boxed Set.

*****

To Have and Have Not

Looking back over the romantic heroes that I’ve written, there are a few traits that all of them have which are, in no particular order…

Good looks – with killer bodies

Sense of humor – with a dash of witty

Determined -they know what they want

Caring – and not afraid to show it.

So it struck me, that all romance heroes have some or all of these traits, but there is also a list of things that many real life heroes have, but not many romantic heroes in books have and it might be fun to try and tease some of them out…

Romance heroes practically never have:

Beards – many have a couple of days of scruff, but rarely full beards.

Bikes – unless they’re world class, tour de France sort of heroes.

Bad backs – though lots of real life heroes have ‘em!

Unemployment – unless it’s by choice, and then they mysteriously always seem to have money anyway.

Eczema or hay fever – but hey, people have both of these!

But it’s fiction, right? My current hero, Heath Starr, is an ordinary man with a dream. He doesn’t have a beard, or a bad back, he’s funny, determined, caring and gorgeous. I love him, and hope you will too. But I’m thinking one day maybe I’ll write the perfect anti-hero and give him a beard, a bike, a bad back and hay fever – make him lose his job, and make readers love him too!

*****

Love For Beginners

by Sally Clements

Blurb:

She needs a lesson in love, and he’s the perfect teacher.

Mechanic Melody Swan is looking for a man who can share her hopes and dreams, but she swore she would never lose herself to passion. When sexy Heath Starr agrees to temporarily sub in the Under the Hood garage for his sister, Mel sees the perfect opportunity to enjoy being with a man without becoming attached.

Heath came to Meadowsweet to photograph nature, not find a hookup, especially since his last relationship ended in disaster. He vowed he’d never break another woman’s heart, and in turn, protect his own. Still, when Mel offers to serve as his outdoor guide, he can’t refuse.

Mel may say she’s only looking for right now, but her body is speaking a whole different language. And Heath’s viewfinder is drawn to her time and again. When the two find themselves isolated in a rustic cabin, they could both break their promises if they aren’t careful…

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Beginners-Under-Novella-Entangled-ebook/dp/B00K48GVGA?tag=entangpublis-20&link_code=ur2&creative=9325&camp=211189

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-for-beginners-sally-clements/1119435130

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-for-beginners/id873955394?uo=8&at=11ltS7

*****

Author Info:

Sally Clements writes fun, sexy and real contemporary romance, partnering hot heroes with heroines who know what they want, and go for it!

She is a full-time author, who lives in the Irish countryside, and when she isn’t writing can usually be found in traffic, driving ‘Mum’s taxi’.

Always a voracious reader, she considers writing for a living the perfect job—the only downside is saying goodbye to her characters at book’s end!

Blog Twitter Facebook Goodreads

Entangled Bliss:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlissImprint

Twitter: @RomanceIsBliss

Steals and Deals

*****

Hometown Love Boxed Set

by Rachel Harris, Ophelia London and Kelley Vitollo

Blurb:

**For a limited time only!**

Three novels that prove love can always be found right at home

There’s nothing quite like the comfort and serenity of returning home again, especially when combined with the sizzle and excitement of finding true love. This limited-edition contemporary romance boxed set from Entangled’s Bliss line features three fun and flirty small-town stories sure to make you laugh, sigh, and smile long after you’ve turned the last page.

Taste the Heat by Rachel Harris: Colby Robicheaux knows her brother’s best friend—delectable fire captain Jason Landry—is off-limits, and anyway, she’s only back home for a short time. Jason’s looking for someone to help him raise his preteen daughter, not a fling, but Colby’s all grown up and tempting as ever.

Playing at Love by Ophelia London: When Tess Johansson’s music program gets pitted against Jack Marshall’s football program in a battle for funding, she knows only one of them can win. Jack might be the summer love she never forgot, but her job means everything to her. Competing against the enemy was never quite this much fun.

Lucky Break by Kelley Vitollo: Sydney Williams might have come home to her small town of Shamrock Falls, but it’ll take more than that to rekindle a broken friendship with her childhood best friend, Kade Mitchell. When friendship turns to sparks turns to more, will Kade be able to convince his best friend to gamble on forever?

*****

Author Info:

Rachel Harris: Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong families are a staple in each of her books…and kissing. Lots of kissing.

A Cajun cowgirl now living in Houston, she firmly believes life’s problems can be solved with a hot, sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. She homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches way too much Food Network with her amazing husband.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and losing herself in story. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads

Ophelia London: Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas and she’s lived in Dallas ever since. A cupcake and treadmill aficionado (obviously those things are connected), she spends her time watching art-house movies and impossibly trashy TV, while living vicariously through the characters in the books she writes. Ophelia is the author of ABBY ROAD; the Perfect Kisses series including: PLAYING AT LOVE, SPEAKING OF LOVE, and FALLING FOR HER SOLDIER, and the new adult DEFINITELY, MAYBE IN LOVE.

Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads

Kelley Vitollo: Kelley has been writing for as long as she can remember. She won her first writing contest in third grade for an essay she wrote on, “Tomorrow’s Leaders on the Move”. Like dreams sometimes do, they fell to the background for a while. She married her best friend, worked full time, and started her family. In 2004 Kelley, her husband and their new baby girl made a move from Oregon to Southern California and that’s when everything changed. As a stay-at-home mom for the first time, her passion for writing flared to life again.

Things haven’t been the same since.

With two incredible daughters, an awesome husband and her days spent writing what she loves, Kelley considers herself the luckiest girl in the world. She still resides in sunny Southern California, where she loves spending time with her family and sneaking away to the bookstore with her laptop.

Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads

*****

Giveaway Info:

$25 Amazon gift card and a custom made Swarovski Crystal necklace made with emerald crystal beads (to match Mel’s eyes) incorporating a sterling silver wrench charm from Sally Clements

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554361/

*****

Click on the banner below to see all stops on the series.

Spotlight – Facing the Music

26 Monday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Andrea Laurence, Facing the Music, Rosewood series

Happy Memorial Day everyone – let’s start by looking at the new book by Andrea Laurence. I can’t wait for this one!

*****

Facing the Music

by Andrea Laurence

Release Date: September 15, 2014

Publisher: Pocket Star

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Five years ago, high school sweethearts Ivy and Blake’s relationship imploded and both their lives were changed forever. Ivy became a rock star and Blake lost not only his dreams of a successful NFL career, but his reputation. Ivy’s angry song about their breakup, called “Size Matters”; hit the top of the charts and Blake became a national laughingstock. He’s salvaged his career and returned to Rosewood to be the high school football coach, regaining his status as town hero and leading the boys to the state championships.

When a tornado whips through town and destroys the high school gymnasium and stadium, a committee is formed to help rebuild and plan some charity fundraisers. Blake’s grandmother requests that Ivy return to Rosewood for the events. Forced back together for the good of their hometown and their careers, Ivy and Blake have no choice but to put aside their differences, stop running from their pasts, and finally face the music.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/RSWFCR

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1thSDBN

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1lDKwcN

Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/1jpY0vv

*****

Excerpt:

God must be rewarding him for his patience. That had to be the answer. There was no other reason why he would trip over a scenario this sweet. Ivy was outside wearing nothing but a pair of bikini bottoms and a frown.

Blake killed the engine and slowly pulled his boat up to the dock. He tied it up, taking careful steps to secure his baby and make Ivy wait as long as humanly possible. From what he could see, she wasn’t going anywhere, even if she wanted to.

He climbed onto the dock and strolled causally over to the Hudson cabin with his hands thrust into his pockets. Taking his time, Blake soaked in every delicious detail, from Ivy’s irritated scowl to the full globes of her breasts pressed beneath her inadequate hands. He’d never been so jealous of a pair of hands in his life.

His jeans tightened uncomfortably as his inspection ran over her mostly bare body. He was frankly surprised by the reaction. Not because she wasn’t a beautiful and sexy woman—she was; that was a given—but because his dick had a deep, abiding hatred of Ivy. So did the rest of him, but it was his penis that had become the center of national attention for being woefully inadequate. At the moment, however, he had ample evidence to the contrary.

*****

Author Info:

Andrea Laurence has been a lover of reading and writing stories since she learned to read at a young age. She always dreamed of seeing her work in print and is thrilled to finally be able to share her special blend of sensuality and dry, sarcastic humor with the world. A dedicated West Coast girl transplanted into the Deep South, she’s working on her own “happily ever after” with her boyfriend and their collection of animals including a Siberian Husky that sheds like nobody’s business.

Website: http://andrealaurence.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAndreaLaurence

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Andrea_Laurence

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5398672.Andrea_Laurence

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/07c2366/

*****

Book Review – All Fired Up

25 Sunday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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All Fired Up, Book Review, DreamMakers series, Elle Kennedy, Vivian Arend

Continuing yesterday’s theme, I’ve got another book that features a former military hero.

*****

He’s ready to lead the way

Parker Wilson never thought he’d go from battle-hardened soldier to romance expert, but after his stint in the Rangers, that’s exactly what happened. As the owner of DreamMakers Inc., he helps other men win in the love department, using every resource available to plan the perfect date. When a routine recon turns into an unexpected night of passion, Parker’s mission becomes more personal—and he won’t give up until Lynn Davidson is all his.

She’s more than willing to follow

Lynn is a goner from the moment she lays eyes on the delectable Parker. She’s just ditched her boring almost-boyfriend and is tired of sticking to the straight and narrow. It’s time to walk on the wild side, and what better way than in the arms of the most irresistible man she’s ever met? But when their red-hot affair is threatened, it’ll take a team effort to make their dreams come true.

I enjoyed this story for a lot of reasons. I’ll start with the DreamMakers itself – how fun is it that 3 ex-military guys start a dream date company? They really do make their talents work for them and it keeps them having a good time. It is a little kooky but totally works for me.

And the characters are a blast. Mainly we focus on Parker and Lynn but we do get glimpses of the secondary characters outside of the main story (and it is in their voice, which at first threw me a little but started to work after a bit). These lead to future stories and it definitely whetted my appetite for more.

Now, I need to stop here and say this is an erotic romance. The sex is explicit (and enjoyable and HOT) but it also includes scenes with multiple partners so if that isn’t your thing then you might want to pick another story.

With that caveat, I have to say I really enjoyed the relationships – both between Lynn and Parker and also between the friends. They are fun, humorous and touching (sometimes accompanied by a punch in the arm). The guys are great together, typical of what you’d expect from a group of Alphas together. And Lynn’s friend Suz is a hoot and a half.

The relationship that builds between Parker and Lynn is entertaining and it showcases how much they enjoy spending time together, which is a very realistic feature for me. Of course there is going to be a bit of drama between the two when all of their secrets come out (it’s obvious from the beginning) but it is handled well. Although I was surprised by the ending. It wasn’t quite the kind of story twist I was expecting but it worked well with the rest of the plot.

With a sweet and spicy romance, brotherly love and the best friend a girl could ask for, All Fired Up is a hit for me. It kept me turning the pages and I ended it with a smile … and anticipation for the next story in the series.

Celebrate Military Appreciation Month with Entangled

24 Saturday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Entangled Publishing, Military romance

Entangled Publishing sent me an email that I had to share.

*****

Dear Reader,

Memorial Day is a day to honor our military service men and women who’ve so valiantly served their country in honor of our freedom. This weekend, let’s remember those who’ve sacrificed their lives for us.

With May being Military Appreciation month, we’d like to offer a few ways you can honor those who’ve served and continue to serve (adapted from National Military Appreciation Month’s website)…

1. Fly the American Flag

2. Attend a military event in your area, and share with media

3. Send a care package to a soldier

4. Adopt a hero at Soldiers’ Angels

5. Send a military shout out through Allies for GIs

6. Shake the hand of a military person in uniform

7. Read and share a book featuring a military hero

Continue on to find Entangled books featuring military heroes/themes. There’s something for everyone. We hope you enjoy. And again, thank you to those who serve our country.~The Entangled Team

*****

They have a lot of fantastic reads listed in the email and I realized that quite a few of them I’ve read and reviewed (and loved). So I decided to point out those below but check out all of their fabulous books on their site because you are sure to find something to your taste. You can also click on each picture to go directly to the Entangled page for that book.

Honor Reclaimed

This one I just finished last nite and I’ll be featuring in a couple of weeks but I just HAD to include in the list. Once I’ll get my review out you’ll know why.

Wilde Nights In Paradise

You can find the review here. Now on sale for only 99 cents!

SEAL of Honor

You can find the review here. Start of the HORNET series.

Neighbors

Find the review here.

Letters From Home

Find the review here.

Dare to Resist

Find the review here.

Falling for Her Soldier

Find the review here.

Out of Control

Find the review here.

Love Him Or Leave Him

Find the review here.

*****

And of course I have a lot of other reviews that highlight our military men and women, but you’ll have to go check out my Book Review section to find those.

Happy Reading!

Guest Post – Marrying the Wrong Man

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Elley Arden, Harmon Falls series, Marrying the Wrong Man

Now, I welcome the delightful Elley Arden, author of Marrying the Wrong Man, as she talks about romance … and sex!

*****

Romance vs. Sex

Sex isn’t necessarily romantic. We all had first times, didn’t we? And of course, what is or isn’t romantic is a very subjective thing. Making love on a bed of roses while candles flicker around the room? Most of us would agree that’s romantic. But giving into passion in the bed of a pickup truck in the middle of a rainstorm? That can be romantic, too. Just not in the classic sense.

Romance novels haven’t been “classic” in a long time. Oh, I know you can find books that follow a formula from years ago, and there are plenty of readers who adore those books. But more and more, publishers and readers are clamoring for sex scenes—detailed sex scenes—and not just one in every book.

When I started writing romance, I couldn’t imagine writing explicit sex scenes, so I skipped that part. A big patch of white marked the spot where my characters where getting busy. They could’ve been knitting for all I knew. I was truly uncomfortable enough that I didn’t give those scenes any real thought. But one night, as I stayed up long past my bedtime reading, skipping entire passages of a book just so I could get to the Happily Ever After, I realized something I NEVER would skip was a sex scene. Heck no! I read the good ones twice. And right then I knew … when it came to my writing, I had to stop closing the door and walking away just when things were heating up.

The next time I was alone with my writing, I scrolled down to the white space and told myself to write get it over with. Write the worst sex scene in the history of the world. I had to get the first time out of the way before I could get any better at it. In the end, it wasn’t bad, but it was definitely missing something. I didn’t know what it was then, but I bet I know now. There wasn’t any romance. No excitement past the physical. No mystery. No escape from the drudgery of everyday life. No revelry. They did a deed. Went through the motions. Performed stilted choreography. And it was flat. Unfeeling. Like a couple unskilled teens in the backseat of a car.

After eight published romance novels, I’d like to think I’m better at it now. I’d like to think I know what I’m doing. But, sometimes I get lazy. I’m tired. I have a headache. I forget to shave. *winks* Whether it’s sex on the page or sex in real life, the romance part takes work.

Bottom line: It’s easy to go through the motions. It’s harder to make it mean something.

What do you think? Have you read sex scenes that were lacking? Does the romance of the moment turn you on more than the actual deed? When it comes to love scenes in novels do you like more, less, explicit, or tame? It’s something to think about.

*****

MARRYING THE WRONG MAN

Author: Elley Arden

Author Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May12^th, 2014

Word Count: 50,000words

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Format: Digital eBook

ISBN: 9781440579639

Blurb:

Morgan Parrish returns to Harmony Falls after her spectacle of an almost wedding and her father’s colossal fall from grace. She’s broke and infamous. But that’s nothing compared to the secret she’s been keeping.

Life is finally on the upswing for Charlie Cramer. He’s sober and chef of Chargrilled Bistro. But his peace is shattered, when the woman he loves—the woman who left him—shows up in town with shocking cargo: the baby he’d begged her to keep and raise with him.

When fate steps in and Morgan takes a job working in Charlie’s bistro, things heat up—in and out of the kitchen. Can they learn to trust each other enough to love again? And is that love enough to keep them up when everyone else is trying to tear them down?

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Add MARRYING THE WRONG MAN to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

Other books in the Harmony Falls series:

BATTLING THE BEST MAN:

Goodreads | Amazon| Barnes and Noble | iBooks

CRASHING THE CONGRESSMAN’S WEDDING:

*****

Excerpt:

I should have washed my hands of you.

“No!” He held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear any more from you until I’ve said what I’ve wanted to say for the last two years.”

She stuck out her chin and locked her jaw like she expected the words to pack one hell of a punch.

“I hate what you did,” he said. “All of it. I should’ve told you to go to hell when you broke things off, saying you wanted your daddy to be proud of you, and that meant you couldn’t be with me. I should’ve washed my hands of you then. But no, I let you cry on my shoulder too many damn times, and twice that led to … ” he sneered, “other things. Justin and I may have grown apart long before you two got engaged, but I still owed him more respect than that. I owed myself more respect than that. Falling in love with you was the stupidest thing I ever did. No wonder I ended up a drunk. You damn near destroyed me.”

Her lip quivered. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Really?” He fisted his hands and lifted his face to the sky for a roar. “Tell me you would’ve stopped that wedding had my sister not stood up and stopped it for you.”

She opened her mouth but shut it again.

“That’s what I thought.” He shook his head. “You’re sick. But the good news is, I’m not … not anymore. You might be stuck in Harmony Falls, but you better stay the hell away from me.”

Her gaze shot to the house again, but this time she gasped.

He turned in time to see Phyllis’s head. “Is everything okay? I heard yelling.”

“Shut the door!” Morgan’s whole body jerked like she was readying to run.

“I can call the cops.”

“I said shut the … ”

And then a child cried.

Charlie’s blood ran cold as Phyllis slammed the door. “Who was that?”

“Nobody.” Morgan rushed toward the house. “Leave, Charlie, or I’ll call the cops myself.”

A child. Whose child? The hairs on the back of his neck stood. “Morgan … ”

But she didn’t stop, and she slammed the door behind her like Phyllis had done, leaving him gaping in the driveway with the sound of a crying child ringing in his ears.

*****

Author Info:

Elley Arden is a born and bred Pennsylvanian who has lived as far west as Utah and as far north as Wisconsin. She drinks wine like it’s water (a slight exaggeration), prefers a night at the ballpark to a night on the town, and believes almond English toffee is the key to happiness.

Elley writes provocative, emotional, contemporary romances, where Mr. Not-My-Type ends up being Mr. Right.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Win some awesome prizes:

A $15 gift card for Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winners choice) plus a signed copy of Crashing the Congressman’s Wedding AND Battling the Best Man! (US residents only)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef13/

*****

Click on the banner below for a tour schedule.

Spotlight – Worth the Fall

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Tags

Claudia Connor, McKinney Brothers series, Worth The Fall

We’re going to finish off the week before the lovely three day weekend here in the US with a little bit of a bang – first up is a sneak peek at Claudia Connor’s Worth the Fall. Make sure you come back later today though because we’ll be featuring a second book too. Both great reads to look forward to.

*****

Loveswept (Random House) is thrilled to share an early teaser from WORTH THE FALL: The McKinney Brothers by Claudia Connor. Discover the story of Abby and Matt—and how one magical week between them can turn into something more… something worth falling for. Read on for more about the book and a sexy teaser!

Blurb:

WORTH THE FALL

The McKinney Brothers: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance

Written by Claudia Connor

On Sale September 9, 2014

978-0-553-39091-9

Prepare to be swept away by a talented debut author with a passionate, powerful story to tell.

They meet on a beach. . . . Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.

They only have a week. . . . Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories they deserve. Matt’s been sidelined by a combat injury, and haunted by the best friend he lost and the promise he made: to remain a SEAL—focused and dedicated. This leaves no time for what he’s always wanted: a family.

But a week is all it takes. . . . Matt opens her heart while Abby soothes his soul. And though they plan to say good-bye when the week is over, something magical happens on that beach, something neither can forget. Something utterly, completely worth falling for.

*****

Excerpt:

Settle down. He’s only a man.
Using the upper body strength she’d honed at the gym, she strained to crank the stubborn umbrella. She could do it. She’d done it yesterday. For God’s sake.Don’t look completely incompetent.
“Need some help?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
He moved in behind her until he stood so close she felt the loose strands of her hair catching on his chest. Abby inhaled hot skin and male deodorant—a heady, masculine combination that had her struggling to focus.
“Let me help you.”
“I can do it.” She tried to sound forceful and confident, but it came out breathy and—
“I know you can, but I can help.” His words whispered against her cheek. His arms came around her and he easily raised the umbrella, his body brushing hers with each turn of the crank. Then his arms were gone, leaving a strange void.
She turned to face him. He was so close. Nothing between them but the warm breeze. His sunglasses hung around his neck, revealing chocolate-brown eyes. Beyond beautiful, deep and rich, fringed with black lashes. A strong man with soft eyes. Eyes that could talk a girl into anything.
“Hey, Matt. Where’s our castle? I brought my football. Can we throw in the water?” Jack shot off his questions, oblivious to the fact the two adults in front of him stood like frozen statues.
Matt’s eyes held her captive another long second before he turned his attention to her son and she let herself breathe.
“Yeah, sure. One sec.” He walked the few feet to where he’d left his beach chair and came back with two. “There.” He set up the chairs under her umbrella. “You’ll like it better with a chair.”
“Thank you. If you tell me how much, I’ll—”
“You’re welcome.”
“Matt—” She reached for her beach bag, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“Abby.”
Her mind went blank at the feeling of his hot hand on her skin and the sensation he was touching her everywhere.
“Matt!” Jack was about to burst a blood vessel.
“Coming.”
Abby tried unsuccessfully to unglue her eyes as he walked down to the water. Matt’s sleek body dove through the waves as he played with Jack, and each time she held her breath, waiting for him to resurface. When he did, he burst through the water looking like a Greek god, chiseled out of smooth stone and coming to life right before her.
But the way he smiled at her son and gave him high fives made him even more beautiful. And the way she’d felt standing between his arms . . . Ridiculous, but still the word “safe” came to mind.
“Abby?”
He stood in front of her, drops of water clinging to his arms and chest, dripping down the ridges of his stomach.
Jack ran up beside him. “We’re swim buddies. Right, Matt? Matt says you should always swim with a buddy.”
Matt’s raised eyebrows and the smirk he was fighting told her she’d been busted for gawking. “Do you want to come out? The water’s great.”
“Um, no. No, thanks. I’m not a strong swimmer. I mean I can swim, I just—”
“I’ll be your swim buddy.” He grinned and she caught a hint of dimples.
Oh, Lord.
“The ocean still hasn’t grown on you, huh?”
She swallowed hard. “It’s growing.”

*****

Author Info:

Claudia Connor attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. Always a lover of happy endings, she enjoys movies, reading, and spending her days putting on paper the stories in her head. She lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.

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Spotlight – Hiring the Player

22 Thursday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour

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Allie K. Adams, Campus Players series, Hiring the Player

I’m super excited to share the latest Campus Players book, Hiring the Player by Allie K. Adams. It looks very sweet and fun.

(Just a reminder you have until Monday to comment on the Wingmen Warriors post to enter the contest. Name will be drawn and winner notified then … and since there are only 5 comments so far your chances are quite good!)

*****

Hiring the Player

by Allie K. Adams

Blurb:

When life gets you down…
Kayla Riggs is three weeks from graduation and has yet to have one college experience worthy of a memory, let alone a story to tell people later. Her BFFs make a deal with the player next door—show Kayla how to have a little fun before she settles into a life of mediocrity.

Hire a player to pick you up…
Jake Swanson only has a few weeks left as a cadet for the Bainbridge Island Fire Department before he can take his practical exams and be hired on permanently. The last thing he needs is a group of crazy women insisting he grant his cute-yet-boring neighbor three insane wishes—one for each week left of school. The only kicker is that she can’t know about the wishes or the deal is off.

When they offer him a deal he can’t refuse, he agrees to show Kayla how to have a little fun, and in turn has a lot more fun with her than he expected, or wanted. Now he must choose between keeping his word, or losing his heart.

Smashwords Amazon

*****

Author Info:

Allie K. Adams is the bestselling author of several award-winning stories. An active member of the search and rescue, as well as previously served as a reserve deputy, Allie has firsthand experience in most of the dangers she writes about. Known for her highly erotic, deeply intense suspense romances, she can be found most days in front of her computer, saving the world one sizzling story at a time. She grew up in Seattle and now currently lives in southwest Montana with her husband, two kids, and two fluff ball dogs.

She loves to hear from readers and encourages them to reach out to her through her website at www.alliekadams.com.

If it doesn’t sizzle, it isn’t hot enough.

Website: http://alliekadams.com
Twitter: alliekadams
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/allie-adams/b/735/482
Blog: http://alliekadams.com/blog

*****

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Book Review – Smokin’ Hot

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Lynn LaFleur, Smokin' Hot

Deep in the heart of Texas, the firefighters are hotter, sexier, and totally out of control. . .

Singe

Stephen is an adrenaline junkie. And then he meets Julia and her sexy curves. He’s on fire with the need for her, a Texas-sized blaze that jumps from one to five alarms the moment their lips touch. . .

Smolder

Marcus lost everything–his wife, his family, his business. Then nearly his life fighting fires. But out of the ashes he found something that never stopped burning. And this time he won’t let go…

Spark

Childhood friends Talia and Dylan have been putting out fires as long as they’ve been in denial about their feelings. But one night everything changes, a fire’s lit, and it’s too hot to ever go out…

Wow, Lynn LaFleur knows how to give her readers HOT HOT firemen with a lot of heart. There are three novellas and each is a standalone story but there are relationships between the characters because they all live in the same city and are volunteer firefighters together. It is nice to have a little bit of a follow-up to the previous stories but not have to read them all in order to enjoy each one.

And each of them is a sensual treat. Her men are different but still wonderful heroes – they are caring, generous and strong of character. Her women are just as compelling – with their own issues and troubles. Together they make for complex reads in tiny little packages. And those reads are blistering both in the bedroom and out, so be prepared for some sizzle.

I often have trouble with novellas because I feel like I miss out on something due to the length – the flow is rushed or the characters are well defined or the plot feels incomplete – but LaFleur skillfully shows that she’s figured out how to tell a complete and addictive story in a small number of pages. Smokin’ Hot is perfect for those looking for a bite-size bit of fun, full of fire and emotion.