Book Review – Right Next Door

11 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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AJ Pryor, Book Review, RIght Next Door

Happy Saturday …. y’all are going to love Damian!

*****

Right Next Door

by AJ Pryor

Blurb:

My fiancé is officially a married man. The only problem is that he isn’t married to me . . .

Addison Peacock has been stuck in the same seaside town her entire life. When her college boyfriend proposes the night before graduation, she can finally see the future she’d always dreamt about. But the sudden illness of her father causes her to put that future on hold, and her soon-to-be husband leaves, with nothing but a promise that one day he’ll return.

Now, five years later, he’s kept that promise. There’s only one problem . . . he’s already married. Crushed twice by the same man, Addison needs a distraction, someone to get her back on her feet and mend her broken heart. As luck would have it, Damian Walker has just moved in next door.

Having rebuilt his own life after a drunk driver stole his career, his heart . . . everything, Damian knows what it’s going to take to get Addison’s life back on track. But he’s not going to be anyone’s rebound. His life is complicated . . . there’s no room for one-night stands. Until Addison knows what she’s looking for, neighbors are all they’ll ever be.

One shared wall, two sun-kissed balconies, and a chance at love…a twist of fate. Could the possibility of a future be right next door?

Buy Links:

Amazon | BN| iBook | Kobo

*****

Review:

These two are just a whole bag of trouble. . . Damian is only interested in a long-term relationship but he has some secrets he’s holding onto with a death grip. Addison has had her heart trample on by her ex, but she’s having trouble letting him go. With the two living next to each other, and a lot of simmering attraction, you know that it is going to bubble over and cause all sorts of a big mess. And it is – for every step forward they make, they quickly find themselves two steps back. But Pryor does it very well, because at no time did I find myself annoyed or bored with them. Instead it is well-developed and engaging (although I do wonder how so much can go wrong for these two), with characters that make sense and are enjoyable to get to know.

There’s a lot of angst going on in this story so make sure you are ready for it – they really can’t catch a break. But it’s the good kind and I quickly found myself pulling for them to figure it out so they could get to their HEA. It isn’t an easy journey for them, and there is definitely a lot of heartbreak along the way, but I cheered for them when they finally got there and that’s a win in my book.

*****

Author Info:

A.J. Pryor lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters. If not home writing, you can find her at the beach, the yoga studio or the soccer field with her girls. An avid reader of contemporary romance, new adult and young adult novels, her Kindle is always within reach. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

https://www.facebook.com/ AJPryorauthor?fref=ts

www.twitter.com/ajpryor1

www.ajpryor.com

*****

Giveaway:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cf78adb240/

*****

Tour Info:

July 1^st

Addicted to Books Review

Obsessed With Myshelf Review

Four Chicks Flipping Pages Review

July 2^nd

Stories and Swag Review

A girl and her books Review

Sanaa’s Book Blog Review

July 3^rd

We Like It Big Book Blog Review

Stuck In YA Books Review

Home.Love.Books. Review

July 4^th

Worth Reading It? Review

Bibliophile wonderland reviews Review

Liz’s Reading Life Review

July 5^th

Deluged with Books Cafe Review

Books to get lost in Review

The Reading Cow Review

July 6^th

A Literary Perusal Review

Short and Sassy Book Blurbs Review

The Other Side of the Shelf Review

July 7^th

Author Groupies Review

Polished Page Turners Review

Read, Write, Ripley Review

July 8^th

Tina, the bookworm Review

Literary Misfit Review

Best Book Boyfriends Review

July 9^th

Sassy Girl Books Review

Indy Book Fairy Review

Oh My Shelves Review

July 10^th

Babbling Chatter Reads Review

Engaging Secrets Publishing Review

Works of Fiction Review

July 11^th

Romantic Reads and Such Review

Saints and Sinners Books Review

Ramblings From This Chick Review

underneath the covers Review

July 12^th

wild and dirty book blog Review

My Favorite Things Review

Books Can Take You There Review

July 13^th

bookshelf dreaming Review

The Bookmark Blog Review

Fic Central Review

July 14^th

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions Review

The Phantom Paragrapher Review

Spotlight – A Santini Takes the Fall

10 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest

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A Santini Takes the Fall, Melissa Schroeder, The Santinis series

Put some sizzle in your summer vacation with A SANTINI TAKES THE FALL by USA Today Bestseller Melissa Schroeder!

The latest Santini is here! Some of you may remember Elena Santini from Falling For a Santini, now it is time for one of her brothers. Can Anthony keep that “Santini curse” at bay or will the sexy dancer, Lalani Hawkins, bring him down?

*****

A Santini Takes the Fall

by Melissa Schroeder

Blurb:

A man avoiding his destiny.

Anthony Santini is happy with life. The former Marine is now working a dream job for NCIS in a dream location: Hawaii. He’s watched his cousins and now his siblings fall into the Santini Curse and that is not for him. Not yet. He’s happy to play the field and enjoy life. It still doesn’t stop his cousin’s wife from trying to fix him up.

A woman avoiding love.

Lalani Hawkins has had enough heartache to last a lifetime. The professional dancer isn’t looking for love and she definitely doesn’t need a man like Santini in her life. After the worst blind date in history, she thinks she’ll never see him again.

For two people who want to avoid each other, Lalani and Anthony can’t seem to achieve that. Each time they meet, Lalani falls a little more under the Santini spell, and for Anthony, he is drawn to the vivacious dancer. But when Anthony senses her hesitation to commit, he starts to formulate a plan. Because when a Santini man decides he’s found his mate, there is no stopping him.

Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All buying options | Goodreads

For more information on all the Santini’s, including novellas and excerpts, please visit the Santini’s page on Melissa’s website!

*****

Some fun behind the scenes look at Melissa’s inspirations:

Melissa was inspired to write a ballerina after watching Misty Copeland perform.

Tim McGraw’s Shotgun Rider was the love song for Lalani and Anthony. She even used it in a scene where Lalani is singing.

Anthony Santini is the oldest of six siblings and second oldest in the extended Santini family. Vicente (book 4) is the oldest.

His parents are Marcella and Tony Santini. Tony is the second oldest in the brothers.

Lalani Hawkins is an only child and a Marine brat. She is African American/Hawaiian.

Lalani dances to Take Me to Church in a performance in the book.

Main Soundtrack for the Book

Shotgun Rider – Tim McGraw

She’s My Kind of Rain – Tim McGraw

One of Those Nights -Tim McGraw

Take Me to Church – Hozier

She’s Music to Me – Ekolu

There’s No Place Like Home – Michael Giacchino

Perfect – Darious Rucker

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

Beating Heart – Ellie Goulding

The Woman I Love – Jason Mraz

I’d Come for You – Nickelback

Until I See You Again – Wiz Khalifa

*****

Author Info:

From an early age, Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book.

Since the publication of her first book in 2004, Melissa has had over fifty romances published. She writes in genres from historical suspense to modern day erotic romance to futuristics and paranormals. Included in those releases is the bestselling Harmless series and her USA Today Bestselling series The Santinis.. Along the way she has garnered an epic nomination, a multitude of reviewer’s recommended reads, over five Capa nods from TRS, eleven nominations for AAD Bookies and regularly tops the best seller lists on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Since she spent her childhood as a military brat, Melissa swore never to marry military. But, as we all know, Fate has her way with mortals. She is married to an AF major and is raising her own brats, both human and canine. She spends her days giving in to her addiction to Twitter, counting down the days until her hubby retires, and cursing the military for always sticking them in a location that is filled with bugs big enough to eat her children.

Connect with Melissa: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Win a $20 Gift Card!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef2992/

*****

Guest Post – Sex and Insensibility

09 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour

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Lovers of Belle Terre series, Maggie Preston, Sex and Insensibility

I am so thrilled to have author Maggie Preston by today to talk with us and to share her book Sex and Insensibility – I can’t wait to get a chance to read this one. It looks exactly like something I’d love!

*****

The Characters I Love to Read and Write by Maggie Preston

Would you still love the books you love if the characters developed differently? Would we revel as much in their happily ever-after-ending? No. Why?

To me, it’s because they are the story, the reason we’re reading. The plot is what happens around them, to them, but they are what make us care. Readers connect with the characters. The plot may intrigue, the setting may inspire, the dialogue may make us laugh, the sex scenes may make us….well…let’s skip that part. Characters are why we turn the page. Readers want them to succeed or fail, grow or perish, reach the brass ring or fall into the fiery pit. And it’s their journey that readers crave.

Few character types intrigue me more than the bad boy or bad girl. Rebels without a pause button. Outsiders who don’t look in. The bad boy/girl appeals to the part of us that wants to defy expectations. Because let’s face it, most of us do what’s expected. The bad boy/girl challenges the expectation. They are usually ostracized for it and our bad boy/girl responds with strength and conviction to their own expectations rather than those of others. And whether or not they want it for themselves, readers want acceptance for them, even if it’s only with their soulmate. We want others to see how wonderful and special they are, even if they are “bad.”

The wounded soul. Desolate souls adrift without a compass or an oar, and there’s a hole in the boat. No, two holes. And sharks. They are so beat down by life they’d have to look up to see rock bottom. Theirs is a story of second chances, not just at love but at life. They are strong. They just don’t know it. Every victory they take, every step, every newfound piece of confidence is Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas morning and New Year’s Eve rolled into one glittery package. While you want them to succeed, success is not the prize. For the wounded soul, the prize is a rediscovery of their self-worth.

While the first two character types can apply to men and women equally, I think the next two are fairly exclusive to one gender, at least in fiction. There are always exceptions, and good ones at that, but for the most part, you’ll find these two stick are respective to a particular gender.

The alpha male characters are massively popular with romance readers. Navy Seal. High-powered exec. Fire fighter. Uber rich guys with six pack abs, a limitless American Express card and a private jet. They tend to be male because the vast majority of romance readers are female. For me, the alpha male appeals to that part of me I don’t talk about, the part that wants to be taken care of. Finding an honest, sexy, funny strong man to take that off the shoulders now and then is appealing. The alpha male’s take charge attitude and endless sex appeal make us feel soft and feminine. I’m not promoting a cave-man mentality. These guys know the special qualities that make us strong also make us desirable. We appeal to them as much as they appeal to us. What’s not sexy about that?

For my female character, I love to take her and put her totally out of her element. Not just a fish out of water, but a genetically modified, one-finned speckled grouper in an alternate dimension of space and time who’s running out of oxygen (or water, she’s a fish after all) while the aliens converge on her spaceship. I find these characters appeal because it ignites the survival instinct in us.

The great thing about the FOOW is she appeals to both alpha and beta males. Alpha males see her personality as a strong complement to their own. Beta males – more reserved and intellectual – love watching her solve the puzzles of life.

Regardless of the arc type, the arc is what is important. That progression to a new and better self. The character is the reason we go on the journey. They take us with them because we want to go. We are invested in their story with each page and the payout at the end makes it worth it.

*****

Sex and Insensibility

Lovers of Belle Terre Book 1

by Maggie Preston

Only a few things stand in the way of Lara Haley and Will Kenner finding their happily ever after: his ex-wife, her dead husband, three kids, two dogs, one kitten and a flaming bulldozer.

Blurb:

Lara Haley has it all. At least that’s what everyone tells her. Husband (estranged). Home (her mother-in-law’s). Family (smothering). When she finds her estranged husband’s dead body behind her Buick along with her prize-winning camellia he was trying to steal in the – ahem – dead of night, Lara decides it’s time for a change.

Will Kenner left town in the back of the sheriff’s car and never looked back. He left behind his family (estranged), the town (smothering) and most of all, Lara (sexy). Now he’s back, intent on saving the struggling town and his family. And this time, nothing will keep him from pursuing Lara.

Passion over takes common sense and sensibility for our two lovers. A hilariously uncomfortable funeral, a protest that pits neighbor against neighbor, and a few secrets are all that keep Will and Lara from finding their happily ever after. Piece of cake.

Check out an excerpt here

Purchase your own copy at Bookstrand.com

*****

Author Info:

Maggie Preston writes emotionally packed stories of second chances, with things that usually blow up along the way. Her first book, Sex and Insensibility, was released in June. Visit her at authormaggiepreston.com or follow her on Twitter @maggie_preston.

Book Review – Simmering Ice

08 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Atlantic City Hustlers series, Book Review, Simmering Ice, Susan Scott Shelley, Veronica Forand

Simmering Ice

an Atlantic City Hustlers novella

by Veronica Forand & Susan Scott Shelley

Physical therapist Annie Davidson is great at her job but unlucky when it comes to love. She’s just out of a bad relationship. A really bad relationship. All she can do is focus on work…that is until she runs into professional hockey player Alec O’Meara. She’s a touch insecure and doesn’t understand why he’s interested in her.

Despite being one of the biggest players on the team, right wing Alec O’Meara prefers finesse over force. After the tragic death of his wife, he likes to keep things loose on and off the ice. But the red-headed Annie challenges his beliefs and makes him think about taking their relationship to the net.

The passion and fun they share is addicting and makes them long for more. But her insecurities that she’s not good enough, and his anxiety over a long-term commitment will keep them apart, unless they can find a way to break through the defenses they’ve built around their hearts.

I have not been reading the Hustlers series and I have definitely been missing something great (I know, I know 🙂 ). These two are carrying so much – Annie has some serious esteem issues thanks to her parents and Alec is still working on getting over his wife’s death. But the connection between the two is unmistakable … and unavoidable. Once they meet, it is just a matter of time before they give in to the attraction.

I really liked both of these characters. They are flawed and real and not once did I want to smack them, which is saying something. There are definitely some rough patches, but that intense attraction (and some bad luck) puts them on a pretty fast time table and they really didn’t have a lot of time to figure out the other’s hot buttons. This lack of communication between the two causes a lot of their issues, but it works really well in the story. I’m with them every step and I totally see how they end up where they do.

Not having read Flirting On Ice, the first in the series, I’m not sure how this fits in, but I can say as a standalone that it works. I don’t think you’ll have any issues if this is your first meeting with the Hustlers, but you’ll probably be like me – ready for another go with the super-sexy hockey players.

Book Review – The Bolingbroke Chit

07 Tuesday Jul 2015

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Book Review, Love Takes Root series, Lynn Messina, The Bolingbroke Chit

The Bolingbroke Chit

Love Takes Root series

by Lynn Messina

Earning the nickname Lady Agony was no minor achievement for Lady Agatha Bolingbroke. It required a great deal of effort to make herself so disagreeable, but she did it for a good cause: The fewer invitations she received, the more time she had to paint. Her mother, refusing to accept an unpopular daughter—or, worse, a talented one—insists on dragging her to every event of the season. To thwart her parents and to vent her frustration, Agatha creates a wicked alter ego: a caricaturist whose mocking illustrations take ruthless aim at the ridiculousness of the ton. Her most recent target is Viscount Addleson, whom she dubs Viscount Addlewit for his handsome but empty head.

Then one of Agatha’s drawings goes too far and a villain threatens to reveal her true identity if she doesn’t comply with his demands. Now she has an impossible choice—ruin herself or an innocent young lady—and to her utter amazement the only person who can help her is Lord Addleson, whose handsome head, upon closer inspection, isn’t empty at all and whose eyes are full of mischief.

Suddenly, she finds it very difficult to be disagreeable to him.

I love the interactions between Messina’s characters – they are funny and sweet and entertaining – and she delivers again here. While we missed some of the suspense elements in The Other Harlow Girl, Messina brings it back to us with The Bolingbroke Chit. The Harlows are here and there throughout, but this time we focus on Agatha (who was mentioned in the last book but I don’t think we actually met her). Now, of course, she plays a starring role, with a wonderful new hero in Addleson.

The first half of the story is all about getting to know our couple and having them get to know each other. We (and they) learn what makes them tick and get a few surprises along the way. But the second half is all about the troubles that Agatha finds herself in. It isn’t really that much of a mystery because we know who the bad guy is, but they why isn’t there and it’s fun to figure that out along with Agatha and Addleson.

While it isn’t important to this story to have read the other stories (Messina does a great job of filling in the pertinent details), I highly recommend it because they, and this one, are some of the most fun I’ve had reading a book in a long time.

Book Review – Second Chance Summer

06 Monday Jul 2015

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Book Review, Cedar Ridge series, Jill Shalvis, Second Chance Summer

Second Chance Summer

A Cedar Ridge Novel

by Jill Shalvis

Cedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it’s the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there’s an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid-firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile . . .

The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge-and this bad boy-a second chance . . .

I have been a fan of Jill Shalvis’s work for a very long time. I have always loved how she does such a fantastic job of delivering not just a love story between two people, but also brings to her readers well-developed and intricate family dynamics. There’s always more going on and by the time you close the book you feel like you are part of the clan.

The Kincaids may be a little dysfunctional, considering how they came to be, but they truly care about each other and it is there for anyone to see. They are protective, but they aren’t afraid to give a good ribbing when it is needed … and they are always there in a heartbeat when another is in trouble. It’s a fabulous bond and one that extends to their sibling’s loved ones as well. Once you are part of the group, you become a Kincaid with all the highs and lows that brings.

Lily hasn’t had that kind of relationship in a very long time and she’s running scared of Aiden and all the complications that he brings. But the Kincaids are just as stubborn as they are loyal and he’s not going down without a fight. While he can understand her fear, he’s willing to take it on and show her that he’s worth the risk.

It’s an emotional battle for both of them, but such an enjoyable one. And I can’t wait for the next Kincaid to meet his or her match. It’s going to be a heck of a ride 🙂

Spotlight – To Tempt a SEAL

04 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Sara Jane Stone, Sin City SEALs series, To Tempt a SEAL

I couldn’t resist celebrating the 4th of July with a sexy Navy SEAL …

*****

To Tempt a SEAL

Sin City SEAL’s #1

by Sara Jane Stone

Releasing June 30, 2015

Entangled: Brazen

Blurb:

For the first time in her life, social worker Lucia Lewis is ready to live. And the masquerade ball in Las Vegas is just the place to find a ridiculously hot guy to complete her wicked to-do list. The only rule? Her elegant Venetian mask—which conceals the scars that have always held her back from the life she deserves—stays on.

Navy SEAL Cade Daniels heads to Vegas on a mission to keep his best friend’s little sister out of trouble. Except the woman he’s sent to find is all heat and flame…and perfectly capable of handling herself. And him. But the moment Lucia’s mask slips, the need to heal her, body and soul, is complete and absolute temptation.

But revealing himself could cost him the one thing he isn’t willing to risk…his heart.

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/05/to-tempt-seal-sin-city-seals-1-by-sara.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25500208-to-tempt-a-seal?from_search=true&search_version=service

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/153639-sin-city-seals

Buy Links: Amazon |B&N | iTunes | Kobo | GooglePlay

*****

Excerpt:

“Don’t tell me you came for the artwork,” a deep, masculine voice said from behind her. She closed her eyes briefly, sucking in a sharp breath at the sound that seemingly had a direct line to the parts of her body craving male attention.

Wow, that was fast. Good job, dress.

“What else would I come for?” she replied without turning to face him.

“I don’t know about you, but my eye’s been on a table filled with chocolate five feet away,” the mystery man said.

Chocolate. She opened her eyes. Melt-in-your-mouth sugary goodness came a close second to orgasms on her list of wants.

“What kind of chocolate?” She kept her gaze fixed on the bold red brushstrokes running through the center of the first painting.

He chuckled. “I didn’t look too closely. Does it matter?”

“The details are always important.” Like if the man behind her filled out his suit with a body that promised to make her dreams for tonight a reality. “Milk chocolate tastes different from dark. Do they have fillings that melt in your mouth or ones that explode with flavor?”

She felt him move closer. His heat merging with hers. Without the mask, she might have caught a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye, enough to know if the man matched the panty-melting voice.

“You like things that explode in your mouth?” he said, the words a low growl in her ear.

“Yes.” This man could read the phone book and leave her breathless and brimming with desire. But she wanted more than words tonight.

So she turned to face him.

And oh, God help her, she needed a taste of this man. Her lips refused to form the words “but I’m partial to caramel,” because one look and she was partial to him.

Mr. Panty-Melting Voice had a body that begged to be explored, worshipped, and painted. From his square jaw to the way he filled out his tuxedo, he looked as if he was auditioning to be the next James Bond. Maybe he was. This was Vegas, only a hop, skip, and a jump from Hollywood. And in her humble opinion, his short brown hair and green eyes were a lethal combination.

Move over, Daniel Craig…

“I’ve been watching you stare at those paintings for the last few minutes,” he said, his full lips offering a hint of a smile beneath his plain black mask. “Without even glancing at the chocolate fountain.”

“There’s a fountain?” She heard the note of longing in her voice. Chocolate, carbs—those had topped the list of diet no-no’s for the past six months. But tonight, everything was on the table.

“Yes. You might have noticed if you had moved from this spot. So I have to ask, are you waiting for your date? A boyfriend?”

“No.” Her breath caught on the one word. This man had to be someone—a movie star, a model, the perfect male specimen—he couldn’t be for her.

But the thought of walking away and finding another man to explore her fantasies? Impossible. In her mind, she would hear this stranger’s voice. She’d spend the next forty- eight hours craving the deep sound, wishing she could listen to him murmur sweet nothings in her ear as they acted out her fantasies—or even better, his fantasies. If she walked away from him now, she would spend every minute until sunrise wondering about his top four, though she had a feeling he didn’t carry around a pink Post-it note with his wicked desires spelled out.

*****

Author Info:

After several years on the other side of the publishing industry, Sara Jane Stone bid goodbye to her sales career to pursue her dream-writing romance novels. Sara Jane currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her very supportive real-life hero, two lively young children and a lazy Burmese cat. Join Sara Jane’s newsletter to receive new release information, news about contests, giveaways, and more! To subscribe, visit www.sarajanestone.com and look for her newsletter entry form.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

$25.00 Amazon or B&N eGift Card (US ONLY)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8719/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

Spotlight – Once in a Blue Moon

03 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Once in a Blue Moon, Vicki Crum

Got a sexy bad boy were for ya … perfect for this layin’ ’round the pool weather!

*****

Once in a Blue Moon

by Vicki Crum

Genre: Paranormal romance

Publisher: Rebecca J Vickery

Date of Publication: May15, 2015

ISBN: 1512032964

ASIN: BOOXPWMWXS

Number of pages: 171

Word Count: 70,000

Cover Artist: Joshua Shinn

Blurb:

Casey Montgomery’s lifelong addiction to “bad boys” has brought her nothing but heartache. Just as she swears off alpha males forever, a brief, torrid encounter with one of the hottest, Harley-riding, leather-jacketed hunks she’s ever seen leaves her reeling—and worse, jeopardizes her carefully laid plans to meet and fall in love with a nice, dependable nerd.

Jake Benedict has been around the block enough times to recognize his mate when he meets her, a gorgeous werewolf with a case of latent genes who doesn’t have a clue about her true identity. Jake is just the were to teach Casey about her ancient heritage and coax her feral side into revealing itself.

While Casey can’t resist the intense physical attraction she feels for Jake, she’s determined to freeze him out emotionally. Can Jake break through Casey’s defenses and prove to her once and for all that he’s one bad boy who’s playing for keeps?

Available at BN & Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

Casey Montgomery snapped to attention, her gaze darting toward the street, as the snarling roar of a motorcycle engine ripped through the tranquil morning. There were two things guaranteed to make Casey sit up and pant like a puppy. One was the deep musky scent of well-worn leather, and the other was that sound—the sound of speed and power that had her blood sizzling like hot oil and a wicked vision of vibrant, seductive man shimmering in her brain. It was a conditioned response she didn’t seem to have any control over.

Casey’s gaze latched onto the bike, and the broad, leather-jacketed back of the guy who guided it deftly through traffic as though he and the bike were one. She ached with the need to see him better, to learn something about him…where he’d come from and where he was headed. To climb up behind him and hang on tight, feel the warm wind caressing her face and whipping through her hair.

Heaving her purse into the back of her lime-green VW convertible, Casey slid behind the steering wheel, cranked up the engine, and squealed backwards out of her parking spot. It was fortunate that someone was waiting to pull in behind her, slowing the flow of traffic on the busy downtown Manhattan Beach street.

What madness spurred her to dash in and out of traffic for the next half-mile or so until she was directly behind the motorcycle, pursuing it down the coastal road out of town, she would never know. But pursue it she did, as if every last brain cell she possessed had turned to rot. For as long as Casey could remember, she’d had a weakness for bad boys. Her affliction went beyond mere feminine curiosity, or even a fascination with what some might call the masculine mystique. No, what Casey suffered from was a serious case of throw-your-good-sense-out-the-window-and-jump-right-in syndrome when it came to this particular brand of men.

The stranger sat the bike with the confidence and poise of a man certain of his place in the world. He had an aura around him, something indefinable, some kind of mysterious X factor that filled Casey with a wild, reckless yearning to be near him.

When the road widened, she hit the gas and swung out into the left lane, drawing abreast of him just as a red light up ahead forced them both to slow to a stop. All she wanted was a look at his face. She willed him to turn and look at her, and when he did her breath got all balled up in her chest. His eyes were hidden behind mirrored sunglasses, but what she could make out below the line of his helmet—lean cheeks and a strong, masculine jaw—Casey had to bite her lip against a raw, almost feral surge of attraction.

The light turned green, and he shot Casey a smile as he revved the powerful engine and took off. She was so rattled by the brief encounter, it was all she could do to keep the VW in her own lane as she stomped on the gas pedal and shot forward after him.

Dear Lord, what was happening to her? She’d suffered through enough disastrous relationships with alpha-male types that she’d long since sworn off anyone who could even remotely be classified as a bad boy, a maverick, a renegade. A man whose inbred machismo blinded him to any other needs but his own. Even at her lowest point, she’d never behaved quite this irrationally.

Releasing her death grip on the steering wheel, one shaky hand at a time, Casey dried her sweaty palms off on her skirt. As she did so, she spotted a place to pull off the road in a secluded little turn-out and regroup. With her heart still careening along like an out-of-control bobsled, she steered the tiny convertible over into the right hand lane and off the road.

After bringing the car to a too-sudden stop, Casey turned off the engine and flipped down the sun visor to squint into the small rectangular mirror. Sure enough, her cheeks flamed as bright as a blood-red sunset. What a mortifying turn of events. Dare she hope the man hadn’t observed her chasing him down like a wild beast?

Casey fanned her face with one hand, while taking a surreptitious glance around. She was parked in a shady nook across the road from a popular local beach. The lure of the ocean and the warm Southern California sun had drawn the usual crowd out to enjoy the early summer day. Ripples of laughter could be heard from across the way mingled with the occasional bark of a dog and the ever-constant roar of the surf tumbling against the shore.

Casey’s pulse rate had almost returned to normal when her stomach leapt at the familiar purr of a fine-tuned Harley coming from over her left shoulder. The powerful machine came to a halt about fifteen feet away in a rolling cloud of loose dirt. Casey wet her lips as she watched the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on swing one denim-clad leg over the leather seat and dismount. Her mouth fell open as he ambled toward her, pulling off his helmet to reveal a healthy head of sable brown hair highlighted by an occasional streak of gold. The streaks in his hair and his deeply tanned skin testified to what she already knew—he was accustomed to spending a lot of time outdoors.

“You all right?” he asked, casually dangling his dark blue helmet from long, lean fingers.

He stood not three feet from her car, hip cocked to the side, tall and solid and so strikingly handsome Casey thought he must be a mirage.

Easy enough to find out, she thought, opening her door and stepping out. She’d come too far. There would be no retreat from this humiliating predicament, so she might as well bluster her way through. She reached up with the intent of removing his sunglasses and quickly found her wrist caught in a firm, yet gentle grip. The sharp sound her breath made as it got stuck in her throat echoed loud in the silence.

“I just wanted to see your eyes,” she said, her voice nothing more than a faint puff of air.

One dark eyebrow rose above the thin metal rim of his shades. “Yeah? I was wondering why you nearly ran yourself off the road back there.” He punctuated his teasing comment with a deliciously sexy grin.

Who cared about his eyes? That smile was enough to turn her insides to pureed squash. That and the aroma of leather that jumped out and blind-sided her as he moved in close. Leather and something even more feral. Whatever it was invaded her bloodstream and set every cell in her body on fire.

He let go of her wrist to cup the side of her face. Casey was ridiculously touched by his gentleness even as her desire to be as close as humanly possible to this man raged out of control.

His need suddenly seemed to rear up and collide with hers. Yanking her into his arms, he pressed close, close enough that she could see every minuscule line and tiny freckle on his face.

Then his mouth crashed down over hers.

*****

Author Info:

Vicki Crum writes both contemporary and paranormal romance. She lives with her husband of 40 years in a small, enchanted seaside community in Southern California. She has two grown daughters and two adorable grandchildren, Bella and Jackson, whom she loves to distraction. Vicki loves to talk to her readers.

Connect at:

http://vickicrum.wix.com/author

www.facebook.com/vickicrum.author

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8422368.Vicki_Crum

*****

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Book Review – Caught

02 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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Book Review, Caught, Clare James, Elite PR series

In CAUGHT, a new Entangled Brazen release, racecar driver Jarod Cage must put his future in the hands of celebrity publicist Vivian Blake to save his career. Which is becoming a problem, because the heat between them is about to redline. But when you go this hard and fast, putting on the brakes is the most dangerous thing you can do …

Want to get to know Clare better? Check out her Dear Reader letter!

*****

Caught

Elite PR series

by Clare James

Blurb:

Watching sex tapes at the office is just part of PR professional Vivian Blake’s job, especially when she has to clean up a celebrity’s image. Except that her newest client isn’t quite that easy. Racecar driver Jarod Cage is beyond hot, and his onscreen “performance” is already compromising Viv’s cool professionalism.

While Jarod hasn’t exactly been discreet about his personal life, he never thought his reputation could cost him both his sponsor and his racing career. Now he has to put his future in the hands of a tiny, pixie-like publicist. Which is becoming a problem, because the heat between them is about to redline. But when you go this hard and fast, putting on the brakes is the most dangerous thing you can do…

Available at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Goodreads

*****

Review:

You have to get past the extremely unprofessional first meeting between these two for the story to work. And I do mean unprofessional … but super hot. Jarod definitely has moves both on and off the track. And that’s what got him into trouble in the first place 🙂

Caught is sexy and fun – together Jordan and Viv are sassy and sizzling. They keep telling themselves that they aren’t getting involved, but what they say out loud isn’t what’s going on on the inside. The sparks that fly while they butt heads is definitely caused by more than just opposing views and when they let that attraction free it gets quite steamy.

There is more going on between the two besides just the sex, though. Jarod has had people trying to get a piece of him his entire life and it is hard to trust that someone isn’t out to get something from him. And Viv doesn’t have the best track record with men … especially men as complicated as her racecar driver.

They have a lot of work ahead of them, not just trying to clean up Jarod’s image, but in trying to find a way to forge a real relationship. One that is based on more than just their hormones. It’s not going to be easy when neither is willing to let their heart rule and take a chance on someone else.

*****

Author Info:

Clare James writes contemporary romance and new adult novels with spunky heroines and sexier-than-sin heroes. Her books have made several best-selling lists including the tender love stories in the *Impossible Love* series; the steamy romantic comedy *Dirty Little Lies*; and the touching family drama *Wednesday*. Her new title, *Caught*, is the first in a series about the women of Elite PR and their very naughty clients. It will be published with Entangled Publishing’s Brazen line in June 2015.

A former dancer, Clare still loves to get her groove on – mostly to work off her beloved cupcakes and red wine. She lives in Minneapolis with her two leading men – her husband and young son – and is always on social media chatting with readers.

Connect with Clare: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Clare is offering up a fabulous prize during the Caught Release Day Blitz event. One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a $25 Gift Card for Amazon or B&N (winner’s choice) and two Runner-ups will win an eBook copy of one of Clare’s backlist titles (winner’s choice)! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef2991/

*****

Spotlight – Kingsmen MC Series

01 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour

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A Lil' Less Broken, A Lil' Less Hopeless, A Lil' Less Lost, Bitter Sweet Beginnings, Bitter Sweet Cravings, Bitter Sweet Deception, Kingsmen MC series, Tara Oakes

MC romances are all the rage right now and here is your chance to check out a series that is getting A LOT of great reviews on Amazon – all of them are 4+ stars! You’ve got a few weeks to get caught up, because the next one (Bitter Sweet Cravings) is releasing later this summer. Time to start reading …

****

Kingsmen MC Series

by Tara Oakes

A Lil’ Less Broken

WARNING

This novella is intended for those 18+ of age and contains strong language, sexual content, adult situations and a shocking ending that will be continued in book #2 ‘A Lil’ Less Lost’.

Lil’s and Jay lived their very own fairytale biker romance. He was her first love, her only love. She was what he needed, what he wanted.

Insecurities, fear and misconceptions lead Lil’s to make a heartbreaking decision to abandon that life and love behind, before it consumes and destroys her as it did her mother years earlier.

But.. moving on isn’t so easy when you are deeply connected to your past.

When Lil’s finds herself in a whirlwind of danger her knight in shining armor, er…, her badass biker on a Harley bails her out. But at what cost?

Amazon US

Trailer

A Lil’ Less Lost

WARNING

This novella is intended for those 18+ of age and contains strong language, sexual content, adult situations and a direct continuation of it’s prequel ‘A Lil’ Less Lost’.

Do fairytale’s always have a happily ever after? Jay and Lil’s had just found the love they once shared and foolishly lost. But, a horrific turn events threatens to end it forever. Jay must race against time to save his ol’ lady Lil’s and their baby before tragedy strikes. In this sequel we learn more about Jay, the deep love he has for his soulmate, and just how far he is willing to go to protect her.

This novella is approx. 50,500 words and does not contain a cliffhanger ending like it’s prequel. However, an epic love story like Lil’s and Jay cannot possibly be wrapped up in two tidy little novella’s… now can it?

Amazon US

Trailer

A Lil’ Less Hopeless

WARNING

This novella is intended for those 18+ of age and contains strong language, sexual content, and adult situations.

Jay and Lils’ epic tale of true love has unfolded, first in ‘A Lil’ Less Broken’, followed by ‘A Lil’ Less Lost’, and now concludes in the third installment of Tara Oakes’ thrilling Kingsmen MC saga.

Jay has proven his loyalty over and over… that he is willing to do whatever necessary for his one true love, his Lil’ one, Julia. She just so happens to have an uncanny ability to find herself in need of that loyalty time and again.

What happens when the tables turn and it is Lil’s who must risk it all to save her ol’ man? To prove once and for all, to him, and to the MC they call family that she is no longer the little girl they’ve known. But instead, is a fierce ol’ lady determined not to stand idly by as everything she has worked so hard to regain is threatened.

Amazon US

Trailer

Bitter Sweet Deception

WARNING

This novella is intended for those 18+ of age and contains strong language, sexual content, and adult situations.

The Kingsmen M.C’s saga continues in this newest installment of Tara Oakes’ tantalizing new series. In the first three novella’s you’ve come to know and love the characters within the club. Jay and Lil’s have had their epic love story play out over the pages of “A Lil’ Less Broken”, followed by “A Lil’ Less Lost” and finally, “A Lil’ Less Hopeless”. While their fairytale is far from over, the next arc in the series concentrates on some of the other intriguing characters that have been woven throughout Jay and Lil’s storyline.

The question on everyone’s mind is…. WHO IS CHARLIE? And what is she hiding?
Planting herself deep within the club’s inner circle, Charlie came to Chisolm with one goal in mind… to destroy the Kingsmen, M.C., no matter the personal cost. An unknown hatred fuels her mission to take them down. Pairing herself up with one of the club’s bad boy’s, the M.C.’s enforcer, Clink, seemed like just the ticket to get her in the door.

Once inside the club she had been eyeing from afar, she comes to realizes things are very different from what she had imagined them to be. Villainizing the group as a whole for an injustice that was done to her many years earlier no longer seemed to fit with growing attachments and relationships she was forming.

And then there’s Clink. He may very well be the wild card thrown into the mix that derailed Charlie’s plans from the get go. Originally, serving as nothing but a way in to the club, and a body to warm her sheets at night, Clink has thrown Charlie for a loop. Determined from an early age to never need a man, Charlie can’t help but find herself drawn to him in a carnal and ethereal way. She’s tried to fight it, to deny it, but it was in vain. He calls her sugar… but, she’s anything but sweet.

A chance twist of luck placed Charlie right in the middle of club politics, where she was able to help free the club’s Vice President, Jay, from serving time for murder he did not commit, but willingly confessed to in Book 2. Her risk earned her the hard earned respect and admiration that is hard to come by in the world of the M.C.

Now that she finally has a place of her own in life, a place where she belongs and is wanted… is she willing to give it up? Give Him up? Willing to let it all slip through her fingers? Find out in Book 4 of Tara Oakes’ Kingsmen M.C. series, “Bitter Sweet Deception”

Amazon US

Trailer

Kingsmen MC Collection(Books 1-4) Amazon US

Bitter Sweet Beginnings

Warning

This novella is intended for those 18 years or older due to mature and sexual content.

You’ve seen Charlie and Clink’s romance blossom and grow. You’ve seen it implode when the secret of her true identity was revealed. To know where a couple is headed, you have to know where they’ve been.

Take a look at what drove Charlie to do the things she did in the name of revenge, what had gotten her to that point. Find out what in her past made her into the person she became, and led to the choices she made.

Clink thought he had finally found his rightful Ol ‘lady. She was everything he could have dreamed. He let down the guarded wall he has so careful built over the years to let her in and take another chance on love. When her identity was revealed it shattered his world and made him regret ever letting her into it. She wouldn’t be able to break his heart if he took it back.

This is a short companion novelette to lay more background in to Clink and Charlie’s life before the Kingsmen MC, book 4.5 to help you better understand this couple before we see their resolution in book 5, BITTER SWEET CRAVINGS, due Summer 2015.

Amazon US

Trailer