Book Review – A Change in Tide

For Mia, a crowded subway ride changes her entire life. Retreating to the wilderness helps her cope with a world that is suddenly too loud, too turbulent.

Her existence safely contained to the small cottage on the lake, she is unprepared for the neighbor that moves across the bay

A career-ending injury has Jared permanently benched. His reputation as The Enforcer won’t survive the unanticipated responsibilities awaiting him.

Away from the public eye, he adjust to his new reality, under the quiet observation of the intriguing hermit on the other side of the water.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pk0oxc

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2oV5Q6s

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2qsJBpj

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2qsTtzG

*****

What Others Are Saying:

“A Change In Tide is a beautiful love story touching on real life problems and honest emotions. Barker has a wonderful way with words that keeps us wanting more. This book is definitely at the top of my list of favorite reads for 2017!” -author RB Hilliard

“A Change In Tide will make you hurt, make your heart race in empathy, and then put you back together again!” –author CP Smith

******

Review:

I’ve only read one other book by Barker and I remember really enjoying it. She’s really good at creating characters and growth that keeps you glued to the pages. However, I will say that this one has a bit of a misstep that bothered me (and quite a few other people according to their reviews and I’ll go into it with a smidge of a spoiler in a minute) but once you get by it things definitely get SO much better.

~There are small spoilers throughout the rest of the review so if you don’t want to know any details about the book I’d recommend stopping here. Check out some of the reviews on Goodreads, I saw many that were good without giving away too many secrets.~

Jared is at a crossroads in his life thanks to a career ending injury. Finding out that his sister is pregnant and the father has left her has him moving them both to the country for a little peace and a chance to evaluate. In the short time he’s been there, he’s only gotten glimpses of his neighbor but not enough to make an impression of her, other than she’s reclusive. Mia had a horrible event happen that has left her with severe panic attacks and agoraphobia. She also moved to the country for the peace … peace that has been disturbed by her new neighbor.

Here’s where the possible misstep comes in. The first chapter has Mia seeing Jared have unprotected sex with a woman on his boat dock and she gets turned on by it. Now Barker does use all of that in the rest of the story (but not in the way you’d imagine – there is no “surprise, I’m pregnant” or “I have a disease” moments and the other woman just disappears after Chapter 1). It all starts with Jordy, Jared’s VERY pregnant sister, arriving the next day, so of course Mia thinks she’s his SO and that he’s a cheater. The rest flows into the story in different ways but I think that the introduction of it may bother some. Another review suggested that you could always start at Chapter 2 because Barker does a good job of bringing in the relevant parts of the encounter without the play-by-play details 🙂

Mia was a professional midwife so you can see how she will end up coming into closer contact with Jared and Jordy. From that point on, there’s lots of reflection and growth as both Mia and Jared figure out where they stand and where they are going from here. There’re quite a few misunderstandings along the way, but with Jordy’s help both of them do a good job of being patient and sensitive to the other. As a group they work hard to get a grasp on the way things are changing and weathering any difficulties that come up.

A Change in Tide is a very emotional read. It’s not a quick one, but instead you have take it slowly and digest everything as the characters experience a lot of ups and downs on their way to a HEA.

******

Author Info:

Freya Barker inspires with her stories about ‘real’ people, perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy. She is the author of the Cedar Tree Series and the Portland, ME, novels.

Freya is the recipient of the RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for best first book, “Slim To None,” and is a finalist for the 2016 Kindle Book Awards for “From Dust”. She currently has two complete series and three anthologies published, and is working on two new series; La Plata County FBI—ROCK POINT, and Northern Lights. She continues to spin story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FreyaBarkerWriter

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/freya_barker

Google+: http://plus.google.com/FreyaBarkerWriter

Web: http://www.freyabarker.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/freyabarker

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/FreyaBarker

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1DmiBub

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freyabarker.writes/

*****

Book Review – Risking It All

18 Thursday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Hidden Falls series, Risking It All, T.J. Kline

It makes me so happy when I hear that a new Hidden Falls novel is releasing … and with more siblings still needing a HEA, I’m going to be smiling for a while to come 🙂

*****

Risking it All

Hidden Falls #3

by T.J. Kline

Releasing May 2, 2017

Avon Impulse

Blurb:

Andrew McQuaid wasn’t always the local playboy. Once upon a time, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with one woman-Gia Mancuso. When he made a mistake and lost her, he decided he wasn’t meant to have a happy-ever-after. Now, Gia’s come back to town, with a baby in tow, and it might just mean a second chance at forever, if he can convince her that he never stopped loving her.

Ten years after leaving, Gia finds herself back in Hidden Falls. Between helping her ailing father save the family restaurant and taking care of the baby her sister left on her doorstep, she doesn’t have time for the man who once broke her heart. But Andrew is all grown-up now, in every single way. And the part of her that has always been his can’t quite say no to his tempting kisses.

Just when Gia begins to open her heart, a devastating secret emerges that threatens to destroy her family and any future with Andrew. Are they doomed to repeat the mistakes of their past or can Andrew convince Gia that she’s always been his one and only?

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30317435-risking-it-all

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/181009-hidden-falls

Buy Links: AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

*****

Excerpt:

The soft crunch of gravel jerked her upright as headlights bathed the interior of her car in white light, blinding her. Reports of women being carjacked, kidnapped, or murdered filled her mind, and she hurried to snap the buckle of Bella’s seat again. Dropping the bottle, she lunged forward, attempting to climb over the console into the driver’s seat to get the hell away from whatever killer might be approaching her car.

It took only a few seconds to realize how big a mistake she’d made.

Gia had always been well endowed, but she’d never expected her curves to get her stuck partway between her front and back seats. She wiggled, trying to twist sideways to make it easier to pull her forward. Gripping the edge of the steering wheel, Gia used it for leverage, tucking one knee under her as she tried to force herself through. It was no use. She was hopelessly stuck, now unable to move forward or back. She was a miserable excuse for a guardian and prayed her stupidity wasn’t about to end with her and Bella on tomorrow’s news, murdered on the side of the highway, mere minutes from their destination.

She craned her neck to see the flash of red and blue lights washing through the back window for the car as a thin white beam of light slashed through the window, into her eyes. She held up a hand, trying to make out any of the features of who she prayed was really a cop, even if it meant someone would witness her embarrassing predicament. The back door opened and Gia heard a deep rumble of laughter.

“What brings you back to town, Gia?”

Gia closed her eyes, wishing she could crawl under her car. How was it possible that after nearly ten years of avoiding him, she was now caught in this position by the one man she never wanted to see again, the same one who’d broken her stupidly naïve heart at nineteen?

“Andrew McQuaid,” she muttered to herself. He shone the light on her rear end, and irritation welled. “You think instead of ogling my ass you might actually help me?”

She felt the hands that had carried her to her first heights of ecstasy reach for either side of her hips. The same hands she’d sworn would never touch her again after she found out about that bastard’s cheating ways.

“Hey,” she squealed, trying to squirm away from his touch, willing herself to ignore the way her heart leapt into her throat. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Exactly what you asked me to do. I’m helping you.”

“Not like that!” She swung a hand at him, slapping her own butt in the process, but at least he let go of her.

“How exactly do you propose I help, then?”

“I don’t know. You’re the cop.”

Andrew laughed, still leaning into her car, bent over awkwardly behind her. “Honey, I really don’t see any other way.”

She glared at him over her shoulder. “Don’t call me that.”

“Fine.” Andrew moved into the car, practically sitting in the back seat, and slid one hand through an opening by her waist, in front of her bent knee. The other slid around her calf and managed to pull it out from under her. “There. I’m going to tip your right hip down, but you’re going to have to manage to twist your shoulders to fit… um…” He searched for a polite term he could call her boobs. “… the girls through,” he finished with a chuckle.

Gia felt the rush of heat flood her face. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Andrew’s hands closed on her hips again, practically cupping her right butt cheek in his palm. “Bend your right knee and I’m going to pull on three. One… two… three.”

Gia managed to twist her body as Andrew pulled her backward, and she slid through the space as if she’d never been stuck at all. Andrew dropped into the seat, carrying her with him. Gia landed in his lap with one of his muscular forearms under her breasts, the other hand cupping her inner thigh, sending a blast of heat between her legs. It was the worst reaction she could have ever imagine having.

Until she realized that hard ridge beneath her rear wasn’t his gun.

*****

Review:

I’m kinda surprised at how awful Gia’s sister is, but Kline does an amazing job of making her believably spoiled, troubled, and self-centered. She’s a truly awful person and causes a WHOLE lot of drama. While she could easily have been a little too over-the-top, she manages to work well here.

Unlike Lorena, both Gia and Andrew are hard-working, honest, family-oriented people. After their engagement went sour, Gia has been avoiding Andrew and Andrew has been avoiding his feelings 🙂 Thrown together again when Gia is back to help take care of her father and the family restaurant, it isn’t as easy to keep their distance any more. And with proximity comes the chance of fixing some old wrongs and maybe finally move on.

While there aren’t a lot of surprises with how things go throughout the book, Kline is a skilled story-teller and keeps it interesting. For all of their angst and issues, I was rooting for Gia & Andrew from the first and was angry on their behalf every time they experienced a set back. They work well as a couple, when they let go of past hurts and misunderstanding, and when they finally get everything figured out I cheered a little … OK, quite a bit. On the inside. And maybe just a bit on the outside.

*****

Author Info:

T. J. Kline was bitten by the horse bug early and began training horses at fourteen—as well as competing in rodeos and winning several rodeo queen competitions—but has always known writing was her first love. She also writes under the name Tina Klinesmith. In her spare time, she can be found spending as many hours as possible laughing hysterically with her husband, teens, and their menagerie of pets in Northern California. That is, when she isn’t running around the California Gold Country researching new stories.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

A Print Set of the Hidden Falls series book 1 & 2

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81293/

*****

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

Spotlight – Love Bites

17 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Jeanne Bannon, Love Bites

I think every Singleton needs a Phil to help them find their way!

*****

Love Bites

by Jeanne Bannon

Publisher: CreateSpace

Cover Artist: Covered Creatively

Release Date: March 5, 2017

Romance Genre(s): Sweet, Contemporary

Pages: 75

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34505013-love-bites

Blurb:

From international best-selling author, Jeanne Bannon, comes the story of Jack O’Hurley, a man who’s protected his broken heart by running away and refusing to open himself to love. After years of hiding behind any excuse not to let his walls down, he can’t help but be intrigued when he meets the most unusual woman he’s ever set eyes on. Star is certainly not what he’s been looking for but she just might be what he needs.

As Jack begins to fall in love with the eccentric Star, another woman vies for his attention. Torn between the two very different but equally alluring ladies, he puts into play his tried and true system for determining whether he will continue to date a woman — introducing each to his dog, Phil.

Crazy as it may seem, Jack trusts Phil’s instincts more than he does his own. The only problem is that none have yet to pass the Phil Test.

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Bites-Jeanne-Bannon/dp/1544058683/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Bites-Jeanne-Bannon-ebook/dp/B06XG1PYVX/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Love-Bites-Jeanne-Bannon-ebook/dp/B06XG1PYVX/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1491820039&sr=1-1

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/B06XG1PYVX/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1491820462&sr=1-2

*****

Excerpt:

Jack noticed the fur on Phil’s back stand on end and then it came, the low growl and bared teeth he’d expected. Though Phil would never bite, those who didn’t know her were sure to be petrified by this display.

Denise was no exception. She backed up, plastering herself against the now closed front door. “Is he going to attack me?”

Jack stood between Phil and his date and tried not to smile. “She. Phil’s female.”

Denise just failed what Jack liked to call “The Phil Test” as so many other women had before her.

“She won’t bite. She just doesn’t like you,” Jack said, then turned to Phil, pulling her by the collar a few feet down the entranceway hall. “Go on now. Go to bed, Phil.” He pointed the way, but the dog didn’t move. Her eyes were trained on Denise. She lifted her head and smelled the air, her fur still at attention. Then the dog sneezed and shook her head.

“I don’t think she likes your perfume,” Jack said. “Think we’d better call it a night. This isn’t going to work out.” He opened the door and without a word, Denise fled, fishing her car keys out of her purse as she made her way down his walkway.

Denise was the sixth woman this month alone Phil had sent packing. Jack flipped on the outside light and watched as she got in her car and hoped she wouldn’t drive too fast and end up nose first in one of the dips along the laneway. Once she was out of sight, he locked the door, made his way to the living room, and plopped into his easy chair beside Phil’s bed. Phil turned in a circle and plopped into her own spot, nudging the duvet until it covered her.

*****

Author Info:

Jeanne Bannon is an internationally best-selling and award-winning author and editor. She lives in Caledon, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two daughters.

Website: http://www.jeannebannon.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Jeanne.Bannon.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanneBannon

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jeanne_writes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4556168.Jeanne_Bannon

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jeanne-Bannon/e/B004HTUHAS/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

*****

Giveaway:

Jeanne is giving away PDF copies of three of her books: Love Bites, Lost and Found, and Nowhere to Run. For your chance to win, simply enter via the Rafflecopter below. The contest closes at midnight EST on May 27, 2017, and is open to entrants worldwide.

Good luck!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba86a1e6128/

*****

Tour Schedule:

May 15:

LoveBound Books: http://loveboundbooks.wordpress.com/

A Fold in the Spine: http://afoldinthespinesite.wordpress.com/

Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog: http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Obsessed by Books: http://obsessedbybooksblog.blogspot.co.uk/

May 16:

Underneath the Covers: http://underneaththecoversblog.com/

Book Lovers 4Ever: http://bl4ebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Books, Dreams, Life: http://booksdreamslife0829.blogspot.co.uk/?m=0

May 17:

Abibliophobia Anonymous: http://abibliophobiaanonymous.blogspot.co.uk/

The Bookworm Lodge: http://www.thebookwormlodge.com/

Angel Feathers: http://cherylheadford.com/

Romantic Reads and Such: https://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/

May 18:

CelticLady’s Reviews: http://celticladysreviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Bonkers About Books: http://felinewyvern.blogspot.co.uk/

BB’s Book Reviews: http://bbsbookreviews.com/

A Naughty Book Fling: http://anaughtybookfling.weebly.com/

May 19:

EskieMama Reads: http://eskiemamareads.blogspot.co.uk/

Liz’s Reading Life: http://lizjosette.blogspot.co.uk/

I Heart Reading: http://www.iheartreading.net/

Kindle and Me: http://www.kindleandme.com/

Punya Reviews…: http://punyareviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Tour hosted by LoveBound Promotions: http://www.loveboundpromotions.com/

Spotlight – Trusting Tanner

17 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Lexi Lawton, The Collins Brothers series, Trusting Tanner

I don’t think Tanner will be happy with being “friends” …

*****

Trusting Tanner

The Collins Brothers #1

by Lexi Lawton

Publication Date: May 8, 2017

Genres: Adult, Entangled: Embrace, Contemporary, Romance

Blurb:

Tanner Collins is the embodiment of perfection—tall, dark, sinfully sexy—and completely out of Juliana Shea’s league. Knowing she’d never survive a repeat of her last disastrous relationship, she parks Tanner firmly in the friend zone. But man, he’s hard to resist.

Juliana is exactly what Tanner wants, and he’s determined to win her over with his kindness and humor… But one night—a night he can’t even remember—threatens to take it all away.

With the flick of a “send” button, their hope for a future together is shattered. But Tanner isn’t the type to give up on what he wants—and he wants Juliana.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pOdTFG

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2pOnnRa

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2pmnIIi

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2pmuWfm

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2pTdYWY

B&N: http://bit.ly/2pmtx8B

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2qExjOk

iTunes: http://apple.co/2pmcdAy

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2pOs1i8

*****

Excerpt:

The swarm of butterflies from earlier reappeared in her belly, and she took a slow breath. She’d never been on a non-date with a guy she liked as much as she liked Tanner, and she had no idea what was supposed to happen now. A hearty handshake and a good night? A pat on the back and a see ya later?

“When you get lost in your thoughts, your brows furrow.” He tilted his head, studying her intently. “Not a lot, but an adorable little pull right here.” He ran his finger between her eyebrows and down her nose. “Want to tell me what you were thinking about?”

“No.” Absolutely not. No way in hell.

“Hmm.” He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “It’s really a shame this isn’t a date.”

Don’t ask. “Why?” Seriously, what was the point of having a rational inner voice if she was never going to listen to it?

“Because if this were a date, I could give you a kiss good night. And believe me, you want a taste of this.” He swirled his finger around his lips. “But I should warn you, one taste won’t be enough. They’re like potato chips.”

“Did you just compare your lips to potato chips?” She had to have misheard him. But the upward curve of his mouth told her she hadn’t. She laughed. “You really ought to seek some professional help for your lack of self-confidence.”

*****

Author Info:

Born and raised in Central New York, Lexi Lawton is an only child who found companionship in books. When she was old enough to put pen to paper, she began writing her own stories of love, suspense, and heartbreak. She hasn’t stopped since. Represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency, Lexi is actively pursuing her dreams of publication.

Today, Lexi lives in Michigan with her husband, three kids, three pit bulls, and two cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys going to the gym, spending time with her family and friends, and obsessively listening to anything by Luke Bryan.

*****

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a3541158/

*****

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

Spotlight – Trying It All

16 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christi Barth, Naked Men series, Trying It All

How can you resist the Naked Men? Christi Barth doesn’t think you should and she’s going to answer a few questions for us to help convince you … as if you need it 🙂

*****

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

“I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy” from the musical South Pacific.

Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

Lipstick. Seriously. Even to go to the gym. Even when I used to leave at 5 a.m. to drive for 8 hours across the desert to get to college (while my BFF made fun of me all the way), I’d be fully made up. You never know who you might run into. Looking good makes me feel good. Oh, and the brighter color, the better!

If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you be?

The Duchess of Cambridge. Because in actuality, I don’t want to have my most important contribution in life to be birthing an heir. But I do want to wear a tiara for a day and have someone at my beck and call. I think it’d be fabulous. Or at least, the clothes would be….

A la Twitter style, please describe your book in 140 characters or less.

Sexy. Sassy. Funny. Heartfelt. You’ll fall in love with the characters while watching them do it. True love makes everything better.

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?

I love, love, love the flirt scenes. If I could write a book that is 100% witty banter and zero drama, I’d be thrilled. Oh, wait. I also love bromance scenes. The depth of friendship (or, in my next series, Bad Boys Gone Good, actual brotherly love) that shines through ordinary exchanges can be so magical and heartwarming.

Tell us all about your main characters—who are they? What makes them tick? Most importantly, what one thing would they need to have with them if stranded on a desert isle? 😉

Summer lives in the moment – to a crazy extent. It’d be a spoiler to tell you why, but let’s just say she has a reason to appreciate every second more than the average person. She’d need to take an absolutely fabulous sun dress to the island. Riley is uber-careful, thanks to a horrific experience in high school with his best friends. He’s willing to try lots of things, from climbing glaciers to scuba-diving, but only after taking every possible precaution and calculating every possible bad outcome. So he’d probably take water purification tablets. Unless he knew that Summer would be on the island with him. Then he’d take condoms.

Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

Here’s the flat out truth – I was more than a little tipsy when the idea for my Naked Men series originated. I was at a wine tasting at Fleming’s Steakhouse (twenty-five wines in two hours – hence the tipsiness!). The idea of a series revolving around five guys who share a blog seemed like a winner. Okay, lots of hysterical things seemed like a winner that night, but this one really had legs. Like the wine (that’s a joke only for wine snobs, but I promise they’ll be ROFL over it). Obviously the guys all had to be different. I still have the paper with the original scribbled ideas: the jock, the jerk, the manwhore, the smooth talker, the big business tycoon. Then I drank more cabernet. You know – to celebrate having an awesome idea!

So the next day – after much water was consumed – I had to figure out how to turn a fun idea into a book. Because five guys typing a blog post on their laptops is, in fact, not a viable idea. The incredibly talented Sue Grafton said, “Ideas are easy. It’s the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.” Now, I’m not sure what makes being a sheep that much better than a goat, seeing as how I could eat goat cheese all day long. But you get the point. The hard part is the execution.

There had to be drama (don’t worry – there is lots of sex, too). So I turned the five guys into high school friends who survived a near-fatal accident. The three days they spent struggling to survive turned them into the men who became my heroes. It turned Riley Ness, the hero of Trying It All, into a safety-obsessed NTSB agent.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

They say ‘write what you know’. And I did that. I used to be an actress, and I wrote a backstage romance. I used to be a wedding planner, so I wrote a four book wedding planning series. But I’m on book #24 now – readers would be bored to tears if I kept writing only what I know.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

OMG, yes – you almost can’t shut me up when I get near an aspiring writer! Treat it like a job, not a hobby. You’ve had your entire life to write your first book – but your publisher may want your second book in only four months. You need to set that discipline now. Remember the old saying ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’? Well, write for the job you want. Write as though you already have three contracts. Set a daily or weekly word count and force yourself to stick to it. You can still have fun, but you need to take writing seriously to turn it into a career. If you watch Twitter and Facebook, most romance authors are writing 6-7 days a week. Despite illness, kid drama, broken air-conditioning, you name it. The words do not write themselves.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

My next release after Trying It All is Bad For Her, book 1 in the Bad Boys Gone Good series. Three big city, bad boy brothers hiding from their mobster pasts struggle to fit into a small town but danger follows, putting their new futures – and their new relationships – at risk. There is a lot of sexy fun to be had with WITSEC (not that the US Marshals service puts it that way) and fish out of water scenarios…not to mention the angst of lying to everyone you know about everything 24/7. That, um, complicates a burgeoning romantic relationship, I promise you!

*****

Trying It All

Naked Men #4

by Christi Barth

Releasing May 16, 2017

Loveswept

Blurb:

Order. Attention to detail. Never leaving anything to chance. These are the qualities that make Riley Ness such a terrific federal agent . . . and a pain in the ass to everyone else. The only time Riley lets loose is when he’s hanging out with his closest pals. So when he’s thrown together with gorgeous, flighty Summer Sheridan, Riley’s brain tells him she’s a ticking time bomb—but his body doesn’t want to play by the rules.

Riley has to be the most irritating man Summer has ever met. The brooding hunk thinks he needs to teach her a few lessons about real life, while she’d rather show him how to enjoy it. But her BFF’s all but engaged to Riley’s best friend, and besides, their intense physical chemistry is all too real. Summer just needs Riley to try to meet her halfway and take a chance with the one thing that matters: his heart.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32501084-trying-it-all

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/156100-naked-men

Buy Links: AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

*****

Excerpt:

“Living forever’s only fun if you truly live.”

That jab stung. Because it was the same riff the guys threw at him, over and over again. “I live. I just follow the rules. Obey the speed limit. Turn off my phone before the plane starts to taxi.”

Summer tossed her cloud of hair back. Gave him a knowing look. No, a knowing smirk. “Oh, I get it now.”

“What?”

“You’re not uptight. You’re chicken.”

The woman had crossed a line. He’d gone through wilderness training and survival training. He’d climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Become a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He’d pushed himself to physical and mental limits most men wouldn’t be able to attain. Being sensible? In no fucking way was it comparable to being scared.

Riley’s long strides ate up the distance between them. Furious, he spat out, “You want me to try something risky?”

“Yes. Just once. But I don’t think you’ve got the balls,” she taunted.

Riley grabbed her face with both hands. Her lips parted in surprise. And he swooped right onto them.

Her lips were soft. So soft and pliable it almost deterred him. But then . . . they were so soft and pliable that he couldn’t possibly stop. Instead of holding her still, his hands curved to cup the back of her head, his thumbs caressing those impossibly high cheekbones that gave her the look of someone made to walk a runway.

Riley nipped at her wide bottom lip. Soothed it with a stroke of his tongue that savored the sweet, lingering tang of the orange cream cheese icing on the cinnamon rolls from brunch. He wanted to keep going. To nip and bite and lick down her neck, over the side of the breasts she flashed at him all day. To gobble down her sweetness and spice just like he had those rolls.

Her moan refocused him. This wasn’t just following through on a dare anymore. This was a real kiss. A real moment of pure, physical pleasure. So he dropped his hands to the small of her back and hauled Summer tight against him.

Thanks to her ridiculous—and ridiculously sexy—high heels, everything lined up right. The notch between her thighs ground right against his dick behind the suddenly too-tight fly of his shorts. Breasts plumped against his chest. Breasts he was pretty sure he could fit entirely into his mouth . . . since he might have pictured them a time or ten since meeting her in the spring. Tight nipples insistently poked at his pecs.

The kiss kept going. Ry slipped his tongue in as she let out a kittenish purr. God, it was the sexiest sound he’d ever heard. The soft, tiny mewl fired through his blood. Fired him up. His tongue tangled with hers. Like they were two swords, fencing for the win. Because there would damn sure be a winner. The way they were grappling at each other? It wasn’t just fun. It was about proving something.

Her mouth—made for kissing. And more. His tongue slid deep. Felt her wetness. And Riley couldn’t help imagining how all that warm wetness would feel locked around another part of his body. Summer’s hands came up to fist in his shirt. Shit—for a second, he worried she’d push him away. But then those fists pulled him even closer. One smooth calf twined around his. He wanted to walk her back ten steps to the nearest tree and just sink into her.

Which was crazy. Riley didn’t even like this woman. He’d kissed her to save his pride. To defend his honor. To get her off his back. And now he wanted to put Summer on hers, spread her thighs, and—

That was it. Riley let go. Let go of the sweet ass he didn’t even remember moving down to squeeze. Let go of those luscious lips. Yanked his head back and deliberately stepped out of the semicircle of her curved leg.

“You and I both know that was the riskiest damn thing I could possibly do today.” Riley looked at her still unfocused eyes, her kiss-swollen lips. Proof that she’d enjoyed it every bit as much as he had. “Oh, and you also know now that I’ve got the balls. I’ve got the whole package.”

*****

Author Info:

USA Today bestselling author Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes award-winning contemporary romance, including the Naked Men and Aisle Bound series.

Christi can always be found either whipping up gourmet meals (for fun, honest!) or with her nose in a book. She lives in Maryland with the best husband in the world.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

Three Ebook Backlist Titles, including, The Opposite of Right, Up To Me, and Cruising Toward Love (3 winners, 1 title each)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81294/

*****

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

Spotlight – The Irish Prince

15 Monday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Billionaire Dynasties series, The Irish Prince, Virginia Nelson

OOOOOH, I think Mr. Kelley is the perfect way to kick off our week!

*****

The Irish Prince

The Billionaire Dynasties series

by Virginia Nelson

Blurb:

CEO Aiden Kelley’s life of billionaire extravagance is flipped upside down when his ex shows up with a ten-year-old she claims is his. Totally out of his element and losing the control so integral to his success, he needs help. To top it all off, the only constant woman in his life, his executive assistant, has given notice just when he needs her help to survive his newfound fatherhood.

Chelsea Houston is an executive assistant, not a nanny. The only person more clueless about kids is her boss. Helping him on a daddy-daughter road trip is her last task before he’ll accept her two weeks’ notice and she can be free of the infuriating man she’s had a crush on for longer than she’d admit.

Aiden’s carefully ordered life has never been so disorganized, and he’s suddenly tempted by the things he thought he could never have. Things like love and family. Who knew chaos could be so damn fun?

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ra04iv

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2qeGORP

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2qBKpMT

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2pHrv3c

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2pHDDRE

B&N: http://bit.ly/2qcqnY1

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2pnNq1Y

iTunes: http://apple.co/2pHLsGU

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2mSqgvu

Get your copy of the first book in the series as well!

The Penthouse Prince (Billionaire Dynasties, #1):

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pHjUlf

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2pHE6TK

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2qc9RXS

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2rbrTYW

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2pHkUFb

B&N: http://bit.ly/1zsnxeq

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2pHmiY5

iTunes: http://apple.co/1nTpm2X

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2rdmBMp

*****

Excerpt:

“Did you ever play in the street? Like, where traffic was? You know, like kickball or whatever and, when cars came, you yelled ‘Pause!’ and got everyone off the street. When it wasn’t clear, you called ‘game on’?” Another crash of thunder shook the windows, and she wondered how the kid could sleep through it. She closed her eyes, hoping for strength but only finding more fear. She really just needed to get her mind off it…

“Sure,” he said. “We called ‘pause’ when there were cars until we could play again. Still not following you, though. Do you have a point?”

“You know how I work for you and all that?”

He sighed, and she was close enough to him that his breath ruffled her hair. “Of course.”

“Pause,” she said. Before she could talk herself out of it, she went up on tiptoes and touched her lips to his.

He didn’t move, and she didn’t have the bravery to go further with it. They stood there, frozen, his breath whispering across her cheeks and her lips just barely touching his. Between the heat of his body and that coursing through her veins from her impetuous drinking, some warmth managed to seep back into her, and she felt almost safe for a second.

Then another crash from outside and she shuddered, pinching her eyes closed. He must’ve felt it or taken pity on her, or who knew what his motives were, but his arms closed around her and his lips slanted across hers. If she’d thought he would bury her fears and distract her, she was right. Nothing mattered outside that moment.

Lazy hunger curled through the kiss, his experience clear in the slow burn of his mouth dragging across hers. His tongue slipped into her mouth, and she twined her arms around his neck to better brace for the sexy torture of his embrace.

She felt the impact of the wall behind her and wasn’t sure if the crash she heard was her system going into overdrive or the sound of the storm. He tasted like sin, and she was starved for more. His hands gripped her hips and she pressed into his body, thrilling at the sexual tension skating across her flesh like fire.

“Chels,” he whispered, his mouth tracing a path down her neck.

“Game on,” she gasped.

He stilled, backing away to meet her eyes. Another flash illuminated his face. He looked hungry, like he could eat her up in one big bite.

The sight of that look, on his face, made her shiver with want. But he wasn’t for her and this was a ridiculous idea. She couldn’t play on his level, knew it on a bone deep level.

Not that she’d been able to resist a taste.

God. At least in two weeks she would tell him goodbye. Then she wouldn’t have to look at his face and be reminded of her moment of weakness. Or how wonderful his mouth had felt against hers.

She ducked under his arm and fled as fast as her legs could carry her, only stopping once her bedroom door separated them. Leaning on it, she bit her lip. Everything in her, down to the last cell, wanted to go back out there, climb him like a tree, and let him take her in whatever depraved fashion he might want to try.

Tomorrow, she’d probably be full of regrets. She’d crossed a line, stupidly. He was her boss.

Somehow, she half wished she could quit now, so she could—

What? Go back to her world while he lived in his, high atop the world in a glass tower of money and power? No, she’d be better off as far away from him as possible, since pursuing anything was an act of masochistic idiocy.

*****

Author Info:

USA Today Bestselling author of The Penthouse Prince

Virginia Nelson likes knights in rusted and dinged up armor, heroes that snarl instead of croon, and heroines who can’t remember to say the right thing even with an author writing their dialogue. Her books are full of snark, sex, and random acts of ineptitude – not always in that order.

*****

Giveaway:

$20 Amazon Gift Card

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a3541165/

*****

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

Book Review – Making It Right

12 Friday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Catherine Bybee, Making It Right, Most Likely To series

If you haven’t been reading Bybee’s work, you are definitely missing out!

*****

Making It Right

Most Likely To Series, Book Three

by Catherine Bybee

Montlake Romance, Contemporary

May 09, 2017, First Edition

Paperback & Kindle

Blurb:

In the final book in bestselling author Catherine Bybee’s Most Likely To trilogy, River Bend’s rebel follows in her father’s footsteps to become sheriff. But it might be time to forge her own path…

Some kids inherit a family business; Jo Ward inherited a badge. Once voted Most Likely to End Up in Jail, the town wild child has become sheriff—hell-bent on uncovering the truth about her father’s mysterious death. Life is quiet in rustic River Bend, but Jo longs for something beyond her small hometown and the painful memories it holds. All that keeps her sane is the support of her best friends, Melanie and Zoe.

But when Jo signs up for an expert law enforcement training seminar, she meets Gill Clausen, whose haunting eyes and dangerously sexy vibe just may challenge her single-minded focus. Commitment-phobic Jo can’t deny her attraction to the arrogant federal agent, and when odd things start happening around River Bend and danger surrounds her, she realizes she’ll need his help to discover who’s out to remove her from River Bend…permanently.

As Jo and Gill work together, it’s clear they make a great team. But can Jo loosen her grip on the past enough to let love in and reach for the future?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Right-Most-Likely-Novel-ebook/dp/B01L76IOSU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493653747&sr=8-1&keywords=making+it+right

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-it-right-catherine-bybee/1124940821?ean=9781503943599

BAM: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Making-Right/Catherine-Bybee/9781503943599?id=6934041908711

BOOK DEPOSITORY: https://www.bookdepository.com/Making-it-Right-Catherine-Bybee/9781503943599?ref=pd_detail_1_sims_b_p2p_1

*****

Review:

My favorite part about this story is how Bybee took what would seem like it should be a big suspense story and made it all about the characters. While we do get the resolution to Jo’s dad’s death, Making It Right gives us a better insight into what makes Jo tick outside of that. And seeing her fall in love with a really awesome guy!

Jo’s made a good life for herself, even if it isn’t the one she planned. She’s a good sherriff and good for the people of her town – firm but with a good heart. And it is about time that she found someone who will really appreciate it.

I think Gill is just fabulous for her. He lets Jo be her, but he supports her and pushes her when she needs it. He’s strong and sure of himself after years as a marine and an agent but he’s not overbearing. He’s funny and kind and smart. Exactly what tough but sensitive Jo needs.

The whodunit may be a quieter portion of the book than I expected but it isn’t overlooked. Bybee does a great job of weaving it into the romance in a way that doesn’t short-change either one. And as we find out the why and the who I really enjoyed how it helped to make Jo’s dad into a real human, instead of a virtuous ghost whose shadow Jo had been living under for so long. The truth reveals itself slowly through the later part of the book, helping us and her find out what really happened.

After years of worring over her dad’s death, and dealing with some guilt as well, having the answers she needs helps Jo not only deal with her past but be able to mover forward into a new future. Maybe one with a big, sexy, tattooed agent in it 🙂

Well-written as always, Bybee brings another great series to a satisfying close. With characters who easily suck you in and a story-line that keeps you glued to the pages, Making It Right is another must-read.

(While you’ll miss out a little about how Jo got involved with the FBI by starting here, plus some of the background between the girls, this really can easily stand on its own.)

*****

Author Info:

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.

CONTACT LINKS:

www.catherinebybe.com

catherinebybee@yahoo.com

catherinebybee.blogspot.com

facebook.com/AuthorCatherineBybee

twitter.com/catherinebybee

pinterest.com/catherinebybee

instagram.com/catherinebybee

*****

Giveaway:

(1) $100 Amazon Gift Card and (4) prints of winner’s choice from the Most Likely series

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/OGE4NTQ0ZjZlMzNlZTkwZjg3NzA4NjViODVkZjBlOjM0/?

*****

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

Book Review – Run to You

11 Thursday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Rachel Lacey, Risking It All series, Run to You

Run to You

Risking It All #1

by Rachel Lacey

ONE LITTLE LIE. A WHOLE LOTTA TROUBLE.

Moments after meeting the most gorgeous guy ever, Gabby Winters promptly gets stung by a zillion yellowjackets and falls-not gracefully-into a stream. Yup, Ethan Hunter is trouble with a capital “hot,” and Gabby definitely needs to keep her distance. Except in the small town of Haven, there’s nowhere to hide from Ethan’s sexy, infectious grin . . . and all the residents are conspiring against her.

At the center of the town’s matchmaking is Ethan’s grandmother, who’s convinced their relationship is a done deal. Rather than break her heart, Gabby and Ethan find themselves cornered into pretending to be falling in love. The problem: there’s serious sizzling attraction between them. And if this charade continues, they won’t fool just the entire town – they might fool themselves too . . .

No one is going to be all that surprised by how this one goes – they try a fake relationship, the feelings start getting real, there is a freak out moment from one or both of them, then the make-up and HEA. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t an enjoyable read. There are some great characters here beyond the main couple. We get Ethan’s friends (who are obviously going to get their own books) but there are also a darling spitfire of a grandmother (who will just steal your heart) and quirky townsfolk to add color.

Ethan and Gabby are good together and their agreement is a double-edged sword. While they probably wouldn’t have gotten together otherwise, they have a connection that they might have been willing to work with a little better without the parameters they set for it. They both have issues that they need to work through with Ethan’s fear of being like his dad & Gabby’s bad relationship history and they help each other come to terms with it. It takes some doing, and of course some drama, but they eventually get there. I have to admire Gabby’s gumption – the girl stands tall when she needs to and that means a lot.

Spotlight – When Danger Bites

10 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bravo Team Wolf, Heather Long, When Danger Bites

Today brings us a … different kind of animal 🙂

*****

When Danger Bites

Bravo Team Wolf

by Heather Long

Publication Date: May 8, 2017

Genres: Adult, Entangled: Select Otherworld, Paranormal, Romance

Blurb:

Buttoned-up Corporal Kaitlyn Amador is dangerous on every level. As a human, she poses a threat to Marine Captain Jax Raymond’s special Force Recon unit. Though the team has a reputation among the other recon units, only their commanding officer knows their secret. As a woman, the danger posed is entirely different. Jax can survive the temptation for only so long before his wolf takes over and pursues what it wants.

Military intelligence specialist Corporal Kaitlyn Amador is the first woman in the Marines to be assigned to a recon team. And everyone’s watching her. Her mission? Not only prove herself worthy of her place in the group, but uncover the mystery of why Bravo Team is so successful. A mission that gets more difficult every time she’s near Jax…

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2qO4goP

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2pOrblw

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2pmgNyP

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2p8uIfL

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2qOU12Z

B&N: http://bit.ly/2pmuptS

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2p8vuJy

iTunes: http://apple.co/2pmqux3

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2pi0cvf

*****

Excerpt:

“That’s a long drive.” A hint of reproach toughened his tone, but he didn’t chastise her about the tires.

“Not too bad, but it’s nice to be out of the car.” In more ways than one. She’d changed into her blues at the last rest stop. Prior to that, she’d been in jeans. She kind of missed those jeans right now. It would be nice to just hang out with him, two random strangers…

“I bet.”

“How about you?”

“On my way back from leave.” He didn’t sound like he wanted to talk about work, assignments, or deployments. “Tell you what, let’s table the work convo.”

Kat chuckled. A man after her own heart. “Kind of hard to ignore the work aspect, considering I’m wearing a uniform.”

“I’m really good at pretend.” The promise of something wicked danced in his eyes.

“Are you, now?”

“Hell, yeah, and I’ve decided we’re going to have a good time over lunch. We’ll laugh, we’ll talk, and we’ll get to know each other.” God help her, he was temptation on a stick. Why couldn’t she have met him back at Quantico?

Where was the harm? I’m on my way to a secret assignment to investigate a classified force recon team. I can see lots of harm. Still, they were only having lunch.

Lunch and pie. “So you have a plan?”

“Absolutely. The only question I have is, are you onboard?”

Their food arrived, and the burgers smelled mouthwateringly good. Kat’s stomach rumbled audibly. With food in front of her, she could pour all her pent-up interest into eating.

Licking her lips, she unfolded a napkin then met his gaze. “I’m totally onboard,” she told him, especially since she could use a break before she immersed herself in Bravo Team culture. “But only for the burger.”

“Hard to compete with Martha’s burgers,” he agreed as he pulled his burger to him. The first bite she took was so good, she damn near groaned. The meat was hot, the onions crisp, and the tomato sweet. Damn. Then her gaze locked with Jax’s as he raised his burger. She found herself mirroring the action, and they both bit into their burgers at the same time and sighed. It went beyond intimacy, the way his eyes seemed to caress her and the warmth invaded her veins.

Trying to laugh off the crazy sensation, she lowered her burger. “Okay, that was a little more food porn than I’m used to with my meals.”

“We need to feed you more, then.”

“Sounds—meaty.” And I sound like an idiot. She grimaced. “I’m terrible at the flirting thing.”

“No, you’re not. Flirting is just play, and I think you’re playing fine. Besides, porn isn’t playing. Porn is good.” To illustrate his point, he took another big bite and lifted his eyebrows as though to invite her to join him. Lifting her burger, she repeated their earlier move and held his gaze as they took another bite. It was so ridiculous and fun in the same breath, she almost laughed.

*****

Author Info:

USA Today best-selling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

*****

Giveaway:

$20 Amazon Gift Card

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554951097/

*****

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

Spotlight – Puppy Love

09 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Kelly Moran, Puppy Love

Awww, who can resist a man who’s good with animals??

*****

Puppy Love

by Kelly Moran

Pub. Date: 2/28/2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

After a passionless marriage under the scrutiny of high society, Avery Stowe is taking back her life. All she wants is a little privacy and a quiet place to raise her autistic daughter, Hailey. Redwood Ridge, Oregon, seems to offer all the right ingredients. Except for the problem of the local sexy veterinarian. The last thing she needs in her life is to fall for his irresistible allure, even if he is a nice guy who keeps doing her favors. But the well-meaning patrons of her new hometown have other ideas, and it appears playing Cupid is one of them.

Cade O’Grady has never met a woman he couldn’t handle, but when Avery Stowe walks into his office late one night cradling an injured puppy, he’s struck stupid. Which might explain her total lack of interest in him. But now that she’s working for his family’s clinic, he doesn’t have to lust from a distance. He might just have a chance at convincing Avery—and her too-guarded heart—that falling for the right man isn’t a mistake . . .

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * Apple * GooglePlay * Kobo * Nook

*****

Excerpt:

Finished with a round of patients, he headed up front where Aunt Rosa was reading a romance book and Avery was typing away on the computer. “Whatcha doing now?”

Avery didn’t glance up from the screen. “Making a supply list in Excel.”

Hell. Why was that hot? She wasn’t his usual type.

Okay, to be honest, any female with too many brain cells wasn’t his type. It wasn’t out of a sense of shallowness he sought that variety, but preservation. Until he found someone who made his heart beat like Heather used to do for Drake, he’d stick with superficial. No point in getting hurt or hurting someone else. But ever since Heather died, Cade tried less and less to settle down or find that person. He was aware of it, aware he was doing it, and damn if he ever questioned his actions until now. People rarely recovered from that kind of love. Why search for it?

Perhaps it was Avery’s long legs in those black leggings, or her pink sweater the same shade as her cheeks when she blushed, or her brown hair—more chestnut really in the sun—piled on top of her head and held in place with a pencil that seized his interest. He bit back a sigh. Nope. It was her brain, her humor, and her strength.

Hot.

Aunt Rosa glanced at him over the top of her book, a knowing smirk on her face.

Busted.

“A supply list?” Bully for him. His voice sounded normal. He still had no freaking clue why, but if he wasn’t bumbling like a moron around Avery, he was saying moronic things. Where the hell was his swagger?

“Mmhm.” Type. “So we don’t over order things or run out. Gabby and Brent can just check off what they need and I can order from the supplier.” Type, type. “Did you know you had ten cases of cat litter? Insane.”

He scratched his jaw. “Uh. No.”

“Putting Zoe’s stuff on here, too. Her shampoos and whatnot for grooming.” Type.

“She’s making a supply list,” Rosa beamed, waving her hand like this was an epiphany. I told you I’m all-wise. I hired her!

Cade frowned at his aunt. She’d been the office manager, for Christ’s sake. She should’ve been doing this.

Flynn came up to the desk and tapped Avery’s shoulder. “Have you seen my backup bag? Gabby and I need to head out to Miller’s farm.”

Avery nodded. “In the supply room, stocked for you. Your new bag should be here Monday.”

At Cade’s questioning glance, Flynn signed, “A goat chewed my other one when Gabby was busy chasing a barn cat.”

And this was why he wasn’t the house call vet.

Flynn tapped Avery’s shoulder to get her attention again. “Marry me?”

She laughed. “Not today, but you’re welcome. Shoo, now.”

What. The. Hell.

As if sensing Cade’s thought train and derailing it, Avery said, “He asks me to marry him daily. Hourly, depending on what I’ve done.” Type, type. “Relax, Dr. Cade. He’s joking. Besides, I don’t do office romance.” Right, Flynn? she signed.

Flynn grinned, the asshole, and strode into his office, only to emerge moments later with Gabby and his travel bag.

Cade flipped him off behind Avery’s back as he was walking out the door.

“Saw that.” Type.

Of course she did. All moms had eyes in the backs of their heads. And that was the other thing. She had a kid. Not that he didn’t like kids. He did. Maybe even wanted a couple of his own someday. But it wasn’t just one person involved when dating someone like Avery. It was two.

And they weren’t dating. Not even a little. He hadn’t asked her out and, aside from that first day when her gaze had shown interest, she’d seemed immune to him.

That hadn’t happened in…ever. He found it oddly refreshing.

With Flynn and Gabby gone, Cade glanced around. “Where’s She-rah?” The cat was usually perched on top of the printer, plotting world domination.

“Avery put her on time-out. She’s in the back room.” Rosa’s grin grew to oh shit size, and he figured his aunt had read all his previous thoughts. Like a Vulcan mind meld. Which was never a good thing.

Wait. A time-out? He looked at Avery. “You put a cat on time-out?” He didn’t know whether that was cute or genius.

Avery never stopped typing, which was beginning to infuriate him. “Yes, she was scaring Thor.”

Cade looked down, just noticing Thor’s head in Avery’s lap from the other side of her chair. The Great Dane looked at him as if to say, Neener, neener. “Dust bunnies scare that dog.”

“Well, the cat needs manners. Plus, Thor and I are working on his courage. Aren’t we, boy?”

Thor barked. And not in fear. Yes, my liege.

*****

Author Info:

Bestselling author Kelly Moran says she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there’s always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself, and no one is safe from becoming her next fictional character. She is a Catherine Award-Winner, Readers Choice Finalist, Holt Medallion Finalist, and earned one of the 10 Best Reads by USA Today’s HEA. She is also a Romance Writers of America member. Her interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don’t tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and two dogs. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well. She loves hearing from her readers.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Print Copy of Book, $5 Amazon

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9196/

*****