Spotlight – Luke

16 Thursday Aug 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Kimberly Lewis, Luke, McKades of Texas series

I so love a good friends-to-lovers series and this one looks fab-u-lous!

*****

Luke

McKades of Texas series

by Kimberly Lewis

Blurb:

This cowboy’s about to be branded …

For years, Karlie Kyle has had it bad for Luke McKade—wishing he’d see her as something more than just a shy girl in braided pigtails. But now that she’s all grown up, she’s ready to stake her claim and brand the heart of the sexy, smooth-talking cowboy who “can’t be tamed.”

Punched with lust from the moment he sees her again, Luke is shocked when he realizes that little Karlie Jo isn’t so little anymore. When she tempts him with a proposition he just can’t refuse, he’s happy to oblige—temporarily. Karlie is willing to play along, but her heart is set on forever. As raw desire sparks something deeper, can Karlie convince Luke that rules are meant to be broken? Or will their passionate summer fling end with broken hearts instead?

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2KeGijS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MnsAs5

iBooks: https://apple.co/2N4ViyA

Nook: http://bit.ly/2NoGmee

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2mqAC88

Start the Series of Standalones Today!

Zane: http://bit.ly/2Kvi4ho

Norah: http://bit.ly/2MtbjRs

*****

Excerpt:

“Karlie, hang on a sec!”

“Just leave me alone, Luke.” She brushed him off with a wave of her hand and kept walking.

“Come on, Karlie,” he pleaded.

She started to take longer strides to put more distance between them.

“Karlie Jo, stop!”

A whistle sounded from a group of people gathered by what could only be described as a pickup truck on steroids. “Damn, what’d you do now, McKade?” one of the guys taunted and was followed by the others’ laughter. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Good ol’ Blake here can fix whatever Luke done to you.”

“Shut the hell up, Evans,” Luke shot off and called after Karlie again.

Man, did Luke sound pissed; the demanding tone of his voice grew angrier by the second. If she wasn’t so pissed off herself, she probably would have found it funny.

“Karlie Jo, I’m asking you nicely,” Luke warned. “Would you stop and talk to me for a minute?”

“Not a chance, jerkwad,” Karlie shouted back to him as she drew near to the end of the building, hoping he’d get the point and leave her alone, but “The Egotistical Texas Cowboy” was still hot on her trail.

A muffled curse came from Luke moments before she heard his footsteps pick up pace. Was he seriously running after her now? Letting her curiosity get the best of her, Karlie kept walking but turned her head to look behind her with the intentions of spouting out another warning. Instead, a sharp squeal erupted from her as Luke snatched her around the waist and, with one smooth motion, spun her around in his arms then tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Are you freakin’ kidding me!” Karlie yelled at him as she attempted to squirm free. “You put me down right now, Luke McKade!”

“No way in hell.” Luke tightened his arms around her thighs. “You’re going to tell me what’s got your panties all in a bunch whether you like it or not.”

He maneuvered his way through the vehicles, but all Karlie could see was the gravel that covered the parking lot—that and Luke’s firm ass framed out nicely in his jeans.

Focus, Karlie! Stay mad.

“And you think going all caveman and tossing me over your shoulder is going to make me talk?” Karlie laughed sarcastically. “Gee, I’m surprised you just didn’t bash me over the head with your club and drag me behind you by my hair.”

Luke shot off a short laugh. “That can be arranged if you don’t stop moving.”

“Come on, Luke. Just put me down.” She tried once more to wriggle free, but Luke’s grip was quite impressive. Karlie finally just gave in with an exasperated sigh.

“Good girl,” Luke praised, and she could tell by the tone of his voice that he was smiling.

She made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat, and he laughed.

A few seconds later, Luke came to a stop between two pickup trucks near the back of the parking lot and placed his free hand dangerously high on the back of her thigh. Whether he realized the exact position of his hand or not, Karlie sure as hell noticed. Her body still buzzed from the anger coursing through her veins, but now it blended with the anticipation of his fingers trailing just a bit higher. The thought of them grazing against her through her jeans made her stomach flutter and her breath hitch. Damn her traitorous hormones.

“I’m going to put you down now,” Luke said softly. “But don’t think for a second that I don’t have a backup plan for if you try to run away.”

Karlie snorted. “What are you going to do? Tie me up?”

Silence hovered for a heavy moment before Luke replied, “Well, I do have some bailing twine in my tool-box, and I am pretty good with knots.” He gave a gentle squeeze to her thigh.

Surprised, Karlie let out a cross between a gasp and a moan before her cheeks flamed red.

“What’s it going to be?”

She moistened her lips and took in a calming breath. “I’ll be good.”

“Wise choice.” Loosening his grip, Luke carefully let Karlie down from his shoulder, the action forcing the hem of her shirt up to her ribcage. The moment her boots hit the gravel, she took a tiny step away from him and adjusted the soft cotton fabric so it fully covered her stomach, but not before she caught Luke examine her with lust filled eyes.

“Please don’t look at me like that,” Karlie demanded softly as she crossed an arm over her chest to cover herself.

Luke’s gaze met hers and he lifted a questioning brow. “You don’t like me looking at you?”

She shook her head.

A smile danced on the corner of his mouth. “Well that’s interesting, and totally not the impression I’ve got from you this week. Tell me something.” He advanced a step in her direction, and she retreated until her shoulders bumped against metal. “What changed your mind?”

Was he for real? Karlie glared at him, bemused, as she spoke. “Um, you did and your so-called ‘help.’”

This time, Luke didn’t hide his smile. He expelled a soft sigh and shook his head. “Karlie, I was just—”

“You were just what?” she interrupted. “Trying to be nice like Norah and help me find a nice boy closer to my own age?” Her temper flared as she scoffed. “No thanks, I’m good.”

Luke released another sigh and pressed his lips firmly together—amusement in his eyes. The fact that he apparently found this funny set her off even more.

“You know, you can turn me down if you want. It’s fine, really. Whatever. I don’t care. But this mess of trying to set me up with other guys is ridiculous.” Her chest rose and fell dramatically as adrenaline flowed through her veins. “It’s not like I’m not some stupid kid willing to settle for the first sweet treat that comes along,” she smarted off. “Don’t try to sell me on plain old vanilla ice cream when I really want a sundae with the works.”

Luke’s lips twitched. “A sundae with the works?”

“You know what I mean.” She released a heavy breath as her irritation grew by the second.

“If you’re all done with your little rant now—”

Little rant? Oh, this man was infuriating! “No, I’m not.” She expelled a sarcastic huff and shook her head. “I don’t get you, Luke.”

“Karlie, please, just shut up for a minute so I can—”

“Don’t tell me to shut up.” Narrowing her eyes, Karlie glared at him in disbelief. “I see the way you look at me, Luke, so I can tell that you want me as much as I want you. But, apparently, you’re too much of a chicken to admit what you really feel.”

Her heart exploded against her ribcage as Luke suddenly stepped into her. She hadn’t been expecting it or the hungry look that now appeared in his eyes. With his hard body pressing against her front, Karlie found herself trapped against the pickup truck. Her breathing accelerated as she locked her eyes on Luke’s face and tried to figure him out.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” Luke murmured, bringing his hand up to rest on the side panel next to her shoulder. The sexy sound of his deep voice inches away from her sent a thrill of anticipation through her limbs. “I am not chicken.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” she managed to say around the tight ball of nerves in her throat.

Luke’s mouth quirked up into a cocky sideways grin. “Such a smart mouth.”

Karlie moistened her lips as her chest rose and fell with every dramatic intake of air.

“What would you have me do to prove it?” Luke leaned his head down to her level so that the tip of his nose brushed against hers.

Was she supposed to answer that? She couldn’t process a single clear thought with Luke being this close to her and the dominance he was exuding.

“Strip you down ‘til you’re wearing nothing but that sassy little smile?”

Holy shit.

He brushed his cheek against hers, placing his lips next to her ear. “Put my mouth on every inch of your body and find all of those secret spots that makes you moan?”

A shudder rippled through her as his warm breath hit her highly sensitive skin.

“Tease you relentlessly until you can’t take it anymore and you’re screamin’ my name?” He withdrew slightly to look at her.

Oh, sweet mercy. Karlie squirmed beneath Luke’s penetrating stare and clenched her thighs as lust rolled over her.

“Do I have your attention now?” Luke asked, his voice so low it was almost a whisper.

Tucking her bottom lip between her teeth, Karlie nodded, unable to speak.

“I do want you, Karlie.”

Her heart took off at his words—pumping so fiercely it almost hurt.

With the back of his hand, he leisurely traced the outline of her face and rested his palm against the crook of her neck. “More than I should.”

She narrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “Then what was all of that back in the bar?”

Luke grinned. “You mean you’re actually going to let me explain now?”

“Yes.” Karlie smirked and swatted at his side.

He gave a short laugh. “I needed to get you away from Norah and Andi, and that seemed like the easiest way to do it without giving away my intentions.” Holding her gaze, Luke stroked the pad of his thumb against her skin, back and forth, creating a pattern of heated goose bumps down her neck and arm.

Her smirk faded as she sobered at his words. “Which are?” In the silence she searched his eyes, hoping to find the answer within their deep blue depths.

Luke’s grin lifted the corner of his lips higher, and his eyes sparked with a desire that matched her own. Slowly, he angled his face to hers and murmured, “We’ll start with this,” before capturing her mouth with his.

*****

Author Info:

Kimberly Lewis is the bestselling author of sweet, sexy contemporary romances filled with heart and humor. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two children.

Having caught the creative bug at an early age, Kimberly fully embraced her active imagination and grew up with a fondness for reading, drawing, and crafting stories. She eventually veered away from the art world to explore other career options, but a rediscovery of her love for the romance genre reignited that creative spark and—just like that—her first novel was published in 2011. Her stories are filled with humor, emotion, and a whole lot of love.

Website: www.kimberlylewisnovels.com

Newsletter: http://www.kimberlylewisnovels.com/newsletter-sign-up/

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

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/klewisnovels

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/978131.Kimberly_Lewis

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Lewis/e/B006CIXDB2

*****

Book Review – Hometown Girl Again

15 Wednesday Aug 2018

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

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Book Review, Hometown Girl Again, Hometown series, Kirsten Fullmer

I have a very strong urge to find a restored vintage trailer now 🙂

*****

Hometown Girl Again

Hometown Series Book 5

by Kirsten Fullmer

Genre: Romance

Blurb:

How did I end up so broken? It’s a question Katherine can’t answer. First, a surprise inheritance tipped her life upside-down, and now her new RV park is a muddy mess of half-restored trailers. To make matters worse, she’s falling for her first crush all over again. The only thing she’s sure of at this point is a full-blown identity crisis.

Alex came home after a life-threatening wound ended his Army career. Now Katie is back too, and she’s building something called a glamping park? He feels like he let her down years ago, can he make it up to her now? Or are his own problems too much to handle?

Fate brought Katherine and Alex back to Smithville, and the town-folk want to see them together again. Will the couple be able to cope with the locals well-intentioned meddling, or did their chance at love disappear a long time ago…

Goodreads * Amazon

Book trailer 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S4LEdxX12s

Other Books in the Series

Hometown Girl at Heart

Hometown Series Book 1

Goodreads * Amazon

Hometown Girl After All

Hometown Series Book 2

Goodreads * Amazon

Hometown Girl Forever

Hometown Series Book 3

Goodreads * Amazon

Christmas in Smithville

The Hometown Series Book 4

Goodreads * Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

Relieved to have found all the items on her list, Katherine offered the clerk a shy smile and collected her bags. The place was really more of a small town mercantile than a hardware store, being the only store in town that offered more than groceries, and she was glad they saw fit to carry a bit of everything.

When she reached the door, lugging her supplies, she was surprised to see Alex through the glass. He was heading across the parking lot toward her, carrying a small black and white dog, and his characteristic swagger looked more like a limp as he wrestled with the puppy.

Jumping back, her head whipped from one side to the other, looking for a place to hide.

Alex marched into the store, and she ducked behind a rack of men’s overalls. Holding her breath, she crouched and peeked between the overall straps. The little black dog had an adorable smiling face, and her heart melted, but then she noticed Alex’s blustery expression. The puppy wriggled in his grip, and he turned her way.

Her arm shot out to grab a straw hat from the rack, and she plopped it on her head, hoping it would hide her sweaty, lopsided bun.

The dog barked and squirmed, and it was obvious that Alex needed help, but Katherine knew she was a sweaty mess, and she probably looked like she’d just rolled out of bed, since she had, not to mention she smelled like gasoline after spilling on her grubby pants when she filled her can at the gas station earlier.

She’d made a big enough fool of herself already, and she wasn’t eager to repeat the disgrace, so she hunched lower behind the rack, watching with only one eye showing from under the hat

Alex was far too busy wrestling the dog to notice her, so she stayed silent, watching as they passed. Before she could make her move toward the door, however, the dog escaped Alex’s arms and bound down the aisle. Alex reached out, scrambling for the puppy, but lost his balance and fell sideways into a rack of garden trowels that clattered and crashed to the floor.

Dropping her bags, Katherine hurried to his side to see if he was okay. When she reached him, his expression was dark as the devil, so she hesitated, pulling her hand back. “Want me to get the dog?” she asked timidly, and he nodded, so she turned away. Worried about Alex, she glanced nervously over her shoulder, but he was already back on his feet, righting the rack, so she hurried after the puppy.

The little dog hadn’t gone far when she spotted him assaulting a display of chips and other snacks. By the time she reached his side, the puppy had a package of jerky in his mouth.

She scooped up the dog, unable to keep from laughing at his antics. “You’re a naughty one, aren’t you!” she chided, watching the puppy chew on jerky. As cute as he was, she had to wonder why Alex had brought him to the store, and without a leash. “I didn’t take Alex for the dog type,” she mumbled to herself.

“I’m not,” Alex growled, from behind her, causing her to whirl around in surprise. He reached for the dog.

She handed over the puppy, appraising Alex’s face and mood. “Can I help?” she asked before her brain clicked into gear. Here she’d been relieved that he hadn’t seen her, and now she couldn’t help but jump square into his business.

“You don’t— need to do that,” he assured her, his words jarred and interrupted by the wriggling dog. Then over the dog, he eyed her in question with one brow raised.

She squared her shoulders. She knew she looked a sight, but he was being flat out rude. “Would he sit in a shopping cart?” she wondered out loud.

Alex glanced toward the front of the store, then back. “I don’t know.”

“I’ll grab you one,” she offered, then hurried away without waiting for his reply. By the time she returned, Alex looked ready to strangle the puppy with his bare hands, so Katherine reached out and took the dog, and put him in the cart.

At first, the little dog seemed confused and frightened, but once he got his bearings and put his front paws on the end of the cart, he seemed happy enough. His oversized ears perked with curiosity and his tongue lolled from the side of his mouth, accentuating his goofy grin.

Alex stared at the dog, obviously unhappy, then his gaze turned to her. “Nice hat.”

Horrified that she was still wearing the stupid straw hat, she yanked it off her head and tossed it onto a shelf. “How old is he?” she asked, motioning toward the dog, hoping to take Alex’s attention away from her.

“Hell if I know,” he grumbled, glaring down at the puppy.

Her questioning glance swung from the puppy back to his face.

“I just got him yesterday. From my nieces.”

“Oh,” she replied, wondering why someone would give a dog to a person who didn’t want one.

For a moment it looked as if Alex would explain, but his mouth clamped closed, and his brows lowered into a glower, so she left it alone. Taking a step back, she motioned toward the door. “I better get moving, but…” she hesitated, then continued. “Feel free to bring him out to the RV park if you need to. I’m sure we can find a place for him to play while you work.”

“I’m here to get him a leash and a play yard, but,” Alex ‘s gaze came to hers, and her discomfort caused his expression to soften, “I appreciate the offer. I wasn’t sure what to do with him, to be honest.”

She was relieved to see him calm down. “It’s not a problem; I’ll see you in a while then.” With a wave she turned away and headed toward the door, hoping he didn’t see her collect her things from behind the overalls.

*****

Review:

While this is labeled a romance I think that it really leans more as women’s fiction. The two do dance around their feelings and attraction for a bit but it’s really about each of them individually as they find their footing in a new world. And I really enjoyed the fact that the two being together was more of a catalyst for them to do a little soul-searching. They don’t make any changes necessarily for the other but instead start seeing themselves a little differently. It makes things a little more realistic for me.

Katherine is at a crossroads in her life. A death in the family and an inheritance has her moving back to the little town her mother left years ago and that Katherine has only visited once. That summer was a great time for her but it ended in heartache and being back, not only in the town but in Alex’s orbit, has her floundering. In the years since he broke her heart, she’s isolated herself from the world and pretty much everyone in it. Being near him again has her emotions taking over and it is shaking her already mixed up world even more.

Alex is back home after an IED killed most of his friends and shattered his career & his leg. Struggling to find faith in himself and a life that he can accept, he’s dropped into a pretty big funk. Having Katherine in town again has him re-examining quite a few things.

I think I’m going to have to give this one a solid 3 1/2 stars … it’s a pretty good women’s fiction book, but seemed a little light on both the romance and the personal growth of the characters. It’s an easy read and enjoyable, but it didn’t seem to have the depth that I was expecting. (I haven’t read anything else in the series but I don’t know that it made much difference with Katherine moving to the town at the start of the book. Maybe there was a bit more about Alex but overall I feel like it stands on its own.)

*****

Author Info:

Kirsten grew up in the Western US and graduated from high school in 1984. She married soon there after and quickly built a family. With three young children and number four on the way, she returned to college in 1992. Her career as a draftsman included many settings ranging from a steel fabrication shops to prestigious engineering firms. Balancing family life with the workplace forced her to become the queen of multitasking. In 2001, bored with the cubical life, she moved on to teach drafting in technical college, then to opening her own consulting firm teaching 3D engineering software. Due to health problems, Kirsten retired in 2012 to travel with her husband for his job. She now works writing romance novels and enjoys spoiling her three grandchildren. Since 2017 Kirsten has lived and worked full time in a 40′ travel trailer with her husband and her little dog Bingo.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * Amazon * Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9899/

*****

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Spotlight – Bayside Heat

14 Tuesday Aug 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Bayside Heat, Bayside Summers, Love in Bloom, Melissa Foster

I love Melissa Fosters books and I get excited any time a new story comes out!

*****

Fall in love at Bayside, where sandy beaches, good friends, and true love come together in the sweet small towns of Cape Cod. Bayside Summers is a series of standalone steamy romance novels featuring alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They’re fun, flirty, flawed, deeply emotional, always passionate, and easy to relate to.

Bayside Heat

Love in Bloom – Bayside Summers

by Melissa Foster

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Drake Savage has always done the right thing, especially where beautiful and fiercely determined Serena Mallery is concerned-even when it means keeping his feelings for her to himself. Serena has always wanted more than what their small town of Wellfleet, Massachusetts has to offer, and Drake’s roots are so deeply entrenched in the Cape, it’s all he can do to watch her pack up her life and move away.

Serena has always had big dreams. As a teenager she dreamed of becoming an interior designer and marrying smart, musically inclined, sexy-as-sin Drake Savage. Now she’s finally landed a killer job with a top interior design firm, but though she has spent the last four years working side by side with Drake, he’s never made a move. Four years is long enough for her to accept reality, and her new job in Boston is the perfect way to move on.

A weak moment leads to sizzling, sensual kisses, opening a door through which they’ve both been aching to walk. But Serena’s determined not to give up her shot at the career she’s always dreamed of, and Drake has loved her for too many years to stand in her way. With true love at their fingertips and a world of unstoppable passion igniting between them, can the two star-crossed lovers find their way to their happily ever after?

BAYSIDE SUMMERS
Bayside Desires
Bayside Passions
Bayside Heat
Bayside Escape

KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/BH_k

KOBO: http://smarturl.it/BHK

iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2iDjHxC

NOOK: http://bit.ly/2hW9UG8

GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2zVhWpu

PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/BH_pb

*****

Excerpt:

By the time they reached Undercover, she was nibbling on her lower lip, and that sexy innocence nearly made him detonate.

The lot was packed. He parked at the far end, beneath an umbrella of trees, and turned toward Serena. She was still staring straight ahead, her face a mask of apprehension, which tore at his gut. Was it him, or was it her leaving that was causing her distress?

He took her small hand in his and brushed his thumb over her warm skin, memorizing it to hold him over when she was gone. The gold chain sparkled against her sun-kissed skin. “Talk to me, Serena.”

She turned to face him with worry in her eyes. He gently pulled her across the seat, close enough that he could almost feel her racing pulse between them.

“Aw, sweetheart, what’s wrong? Are you nervous about leaving?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “And about this.” Her gaze fell to the bracelet. “It’s gorgeous and sweet, but it’s also confusing. What does it mean, Drake? On one hand I feel like you’re sending mixed messages by avoiding me all day and then giving me this…” She ran her finger over the chain on her hand. “But on the other hand, you don’t owe me an explanation about what you’re up to at work, and you’ve given me presents before. This should be no different. But knowing how you feel about me makes it different.”

He touched his forehead to hers and slid his hand to the nape of her neck, holding her there as he said, “I’m sorry. I told you I was fucked up right now. I did avoid you today, but only because I can’t stop thinking about”—making you mine, kissing you, sweeping you naked beneath me and loving you until you can’t remember why you wanted to leave in the first place—“things I shouldn’t.”

“Join the club,” she whispered.

His insides flamed at the secret between them. He brushed his lips over her cheek, and she inhaled a ragged breath. It was so sexy, he did it again, earning another seductive inhalation. He drew back so he could see her face, still holding the back of her neck, and she clutched his forearm. Her breasts rose with each heavy breath, and her tongue slicked over her lips, making his mouth water. There was no denying the calculated, seductive move. Nicely played. Their eyes locked, and hers narrowed ever so slightly, suddenly brimming with confidence, and if he was reading her right, which he was damn sure he was, also ripe with challenge.

“You’re going to make a liar of me if you keep looking at me like that.”

“Sometimes a lie isn’t a lie,” she said breathily.

He couldn’t resist pressing his lips to her cheek in a series of light kisses, telling himself her cheek was safe. If he could just have this little taste, he could get through the night and figure out how to lock his desires away again.

Her skin was warm and temptingly soft. She closed her eyes, barely breathing as he kissed her cheek again and again, so trusting and sweet. Her fingers pressed into his skin with every touch of his lips, fueling the battle raging in his head. Just one more. He kissed the tender dip just below her ear, and she sighed dreamily. Fuuuck.

“Then what is it,” he asked, “if not a lie?”

“It’s a…” she whispered.

She turned her face, and their lips brushed like a breeze passing over too quickly. The tease ignited sparks beneath his skin. He ran his hand along her thigh, aching to make her his, though knowing he shouldn’t even be tempting himself with the kisses he’d already taken.

“A…?” he said as he began kissing her neck.

She arched toward him, holding his head, keeping his mouth on her neck. Oh yeah. That’s it, baby. Show me you want me. He opened his mouth and sealed his teeth over her tender skin, sucking hard enough for her to gasp. He threaded his fingers into her hair, tugging her head to the side so he could take more of her. Her hand fisted in his hair, pulling hard—but not pulling away—causing a deliciously erotic sting and making his cock throb even harder. He needed to break their connection or he wasn’t going to stop. He’d fought to remain on the right side of the invisible line between them for years, and he was fucking that up. Sending her mixed messages only scratched the surface of why he should break their connection.

“It’s a bad idea,” she panted out.

Her words, along with the roar of a motorcycle, crashed through his reverie. He released her like he’d been burned. “Bad idea. Right. Sorry.” I’m a fucking prick.

“No—” She grabbed his hand, leaning closer. “This isn’t a bad idea. That’s what the lie is. We’re not making a liar out of you. You just had a bad idea in the first place.”

A series of successive taps on the window made them both jump.

“Fuck.” He rolled down his window, and Violet peered in. “Hey,” he ground out.

Violet’s gaze sailed over Serena, and Drake fisted his hands to keep from shifting in his seat and blocking Violet’s view of Serena’s lust-filled eyes, tousled hair, and pert nipples poking against the thin material of her top.

“You guys coming in?” Violet arched a brow. “Or coming out here?”

*****

Author Info:

Melissa writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big-family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, Wild Boys and Bad Boys After Dark, and the Montgomerys. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented– perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex and relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on social media or her personal website.

NEWSLETTER: http://www.melissafoster.com/newsletter

WEBSITE: http://www.MelissaFoster.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor

FAN CLUB: http://www.facebook.com/groups/melissafosterfans

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thinkhappygirl/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster

5 FREE eBOOKS – www.MelissaFoster.com/LIBFREE

*****

Giveaway:

2 Seaside Whisper ebook

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cf78adb693/

*****

Spotlight – To Have and To Harley

13 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Regina Cole, To Have and To Harley

Who’s up for a sexy, bad boy biker?

*****

To Have and To Harley

by Regina Cole

Blurb:

You may now kiss the biker

Bethany Jernigan owes her bestie. Big time. So when wedding planning overburdens the bride-to-be, Bethany steps in to handle the nitty-gritty. But the guy in charge isn’t anything like she imagined. He’s gruff, tattooed, and 100% male. His staff is even rougher around the edges, and it’s not long before she feels as if she’s stepped into some kind of crazy alternate reality.

Are those…bikers? Arguing about wedding favors?

Trey Harding never wanted this to get so out of hand. One little lie somehow snowballed into a world of dresses and flowers and food and holy-hell-he’s-in-over-his-head. But it’s not like he can confess he’s not the wedding planner he’s pretending to be—especially now that he’s falling for the maid of honor! His charade is becoming a farce, and as engines rev and ribbons fly, Trey’s running out of time to figure out how to tell the truth without losing his new family, his crew…or the woman of his dreams.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MS0d5m

B&N: http://bit.ly/2MXws38

iBooks: https://apple.co/2JzjH0F

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

*****

Excerpt:

He was in way over his head.

Mrs. Yelverton was a freaking saint. All his life he’d been imagining her as an evil, heartless, empty stranger who had abandoned him, and now? Now?

How could he tell her what he’d turned into?

“I, well, I’m in charge of a kind of group.” He paused to clear his throat, his hand rubbing the back of his neck to clear the tensing of the muscles there. “Yeah.”

“A group? Like a business group?”

He coughed, then took a sip of coffee. “Yeah, you could call it that.”

“What kind of business are you in?”

Damn it.

Her stare was too clear, too honest, much too direct. He was struck by a feeling he hadn’t been expecting. Somehow, someway, he was afraid of disappointing her.

Well, if that wasn’t a kick in the teeth.

There wasn’t a way around it. Was there?

Desperate, he looked around the kitchen while he took another long sip of coffee.

What to say? Because the truth—the shakedowns, the Robin Hood–style robberies, the bodyguarding—none of it was exactly on the up and up. There were definite legal and moral gray areas to what he did. And while he had no problem with it personally, he didn’t want to run the risk of disappointing her.

Who was he turning into?

Desperate, his gaze flew about the kitchen.

“Well, we do a little…” Hell, she’d never believe he cooked. Something else. Quick, you dumbass. Keep it vague. Stall. “A little organizing, you might say.”

She nodded, an interested look on her face inviting him to continue. Ah, dammit.

Keep looking. A container of herbs sat on the windowsill above the sink. Gardening? Screw that. He scanned the rest of the kitchen. Nothing. No ideas whatsoever.

“What kind of events do you organize?”

Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit.

He rested his elbow on the tabletop, knocking a magazine to the floor.

“Whoops. Sorry.” He bent down to get it.

A woman in a beautiful white gown was spread across the back of the magazine. The tagline for a bridal boutique advertisement read We help you tie the knot in style.

“Not a problem. So, you were saying?”

His mind was blank. Totally, completely blank. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Mrs. Yelverton furrowed her brow in obvious concern. “Are you okay?”

He had to say something. He looked down in desperation. The magazine was still there, facedown beside him, the laughing woman in the white gown like an angel of salvation.

“Weddings,” he blurted out as he straightened in his seat. “We organize weddings.”

What. The. Actual. Fuck. Had. Just. Come. Out. Of. His. Mouth.

“Weddings. Wow, I hadn’t expected that.”

He coughed. “Yeah, me either.”

Mrs. Yelverton laughed. “I can imagine. How did you get into it?”

Wanting nothing more than to jump up and leave the county at a dead run, Trey shrugged, trying to play it off. “I got a chance to do some, enjoyed it, made my own business.”

“That’s really impressive! What’s the business called?”

His hand was lying atop the magazine beside him, his knuckles lining up with the ad copy perfectly. He read the words out together.

“The Iron Knot.”

Mrs. Yelverton laughed, clapping her hands delightedly. “That’s absolutely perfect. Trey, I’m so proud of you.”

Those words should have made him feel amazing. Instead, he felt like a scum-sucking bastard for lying to her.

Just then, the door behind her opened, and Trey’s chest went vise-tight, his heart clambering against his ribs in triple time.

She was long, lean, with bone-straight blond hair and elfin features complementing porcelain skin. Her blue eyes were a bit red, as if she’d been crying recently. But despite the obviously brimming emotion beneath the surface, she wore a bright smile. It was the kind of expression he’d adopted many times over the years. Pretending things were all right when everything had turned to ashes around him was the only option he’d had at times, and seeing the same kind of defense mechanism in her touched him in a way he wasn’t expecting. Physically, she was just his type, and the way she moved into the room, both cautious and confident—strong as hell despite whatever was trying to bring her down—sparked immediate interest and admiration in his gut.

This was…unexpected.

“Oh, Bethy, I didn’t expect you until late this afternoon.” Mrs. Yelverton rose and pulled the girl into her arms.

A wave of nausea overtook Trey. Was this girl…Was she…

Well, so much for that short-lived spark of attraction.

“Trey, I’d like you to meet Bethany.”

“Hi,” the blond said, and Trey stood. She looked a little intimidated as he stood to his full height.

He’d been about to step toward her for the introduction, but he stopped. No need to make her more uncomfortable. But the idea that she found him scary was oddly disappointing.

“I’m Bethany Jernigan,” she said, sticking her hand out for him to shake.

“Trey Harding,” he said, gripping her much smaller hand in his, trying to ignore the softness of her skin, the faint tremble of her touch.

“Bethany, I hope you won’t mind keeping this quiet from Sarah for now. I haven’t had a chance to tell her about it. But this…” Mrs. Yelverton drew Trey’s arm through hers. “This is Samuel.”

Bethany gasped, her hand over her mouth, and Trey looked away. “Samuel? That Samuel?”

Mrs. Yelverton nodded delightedly. “My son. He’s finally home.”

“Oh…oh my God.”

Trey hated this. He felt awkward, like a sideshow freak. His spine prickled, his feet nearly bouncing with the urge to get the hell out of there.

“Trey, Bethany has been part of our family for years now. She’s your sister Sarah’s best friend and lived with us until she went to college. Of course, she’s still got a room here. She’ll always be welcome to come back home.” Mrs. Yelverton’s smile was gentle as she looked at Bethany.

“Wait. So we’re not related?” Trey gestured between himself and Bethany.

Mrs. Yelverton laughed. “No, not by blood. But I hope you’ll be close.”

Something uncurled in his belly then, a knot of anxiety releasing as he looked at Bethany Jernigan—no relation—with new eyes.

“I hope so too,” he said. She blushed a little and glanced away.

*****

Author Info:

Regina Cole, lover of manly muscled arms, chest hair, and mini-marshmallows, has been reading romance since her early teens. When she’s not frantically pounding away at the keyboard, she can be found fishing with her family, snuggling with her hubby and tiny twin boys, or slinging mud in her magical home pottery studio. She lives outside Raleigh, North Carolina.

*****

Book Review – Set the Night on Fire

09 Thursday Aug 2018

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Cottonbloom series, Laura Trentham, Set the Night on Fire

Every trip to Cottonbloom is a treat!

*****

Set the Night on Fire

Cottonbloom, Book 6

by Laura Trentham

Release Date: July 31, 2018

Blurb:

From award winning author Laura Trentham comes Set the Night on Fire, a novel about starting over, finding your way back home—and falling head over heels. . .

Ella Boudreaux has a lot to prove to her family, friends, and foes—and to herself. So when her marriage ends she decides to invest her energy and money into a place that brings back some of Ella’s happiest memories: the Abbott brothers’ garage. Maybe, if she puts her mind to it, she can teach skeptical, stubborn Mack Abbott how to make the business a true success. Which would be a lot easier if the hunky mechanic didn’t make her motor run quite so fast…and hot.

Mack was furious when his brother, Ford, sold his share of the business. He’s in no rush to team up with a wealthy divorcée who shows up to the garage in stilettos—and the longest, sexiest legs he’s seen in forever. But Ella’s grit and determination won’t quit…and soon Mack can see that she’s been down a few rough roads herself. Neither Mack nor Ella can deny the fierce attraction that’s revving up between them. Could it be that true love has been in the backseat all along…and they’ve finally found the key?

Amz: https://www.amazon.com/Set-Night-Fire-Cottonbloom-Novel-ebook/dp/B078X17ZDW

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/set-the-night-on-fire-laura-trentham/1127802341?ean=9781250131317

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/set-the-night-on-fire/id1333504213?mt=11

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/set-the-night-on-fire-7

GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Laura_Trentham_Set_the_Night_on_Fire?id=-PRFDwAAQBAJ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36797817-set-the-night-on-fire

*****

Excerpt:

“How the—” Mack caught the curse in his hand. “You’re not a mechanic, Ms. Boudreaux.”

“Call me Ella.” At his stony stare, she shrugged and continued. “You don’t need another mechanic. You have plenty of mechanics. What you need is someone to market you.”

“And you know enough about cars to do that?” His skepticism hit her like a kid pulling her pigtails behind the monkey bars. Annoying.

She shouldn’t rise to the bait. Unfortunately, her mouth was less mature than her mind, and she reeled off facts her brother had recited with pride.

“That Datsun 240Z you were under? It’s a seventy-three with a 2.4-liter straight-six and side-draft carburetors. It can hit sixty in 8.2 seconds with 151 horsepower. Top speed is a hundred twenty-five miles per hour. Not that anyone should be driving that fast on parish roads.”

He looked . . . stunned. She confined herself to a small self-satisfied smile. She had a feeling nothing much surprised Mack Abbott, or if it did, he made sure the world didn’t realize it.

“How did you . . . How do you know all that?”

“That’s not important. What is important is that I can help you.”

“We don’t need help.” He shook his head and re-chinked the breaks in his wall of grump.

“Yes, you do.”

“No, we don’t.” The playground-level annoyance continued with his childish denials.

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes, probably not helping to diffuse the situation.

“Name your price.”

“That’s not how this is going to work, Mack.”

“I say how things are run and done in this garage. Not you, Ms. Boudreaux.”

“I have a quarter stake and an equal voice.”

“Except, we handle things democratically around here and my brothers will have my back. Every. Single. Time.”

Dangit. He had her there. Pushing against Mack was like trying to move a mountain. She glanced at the twins. If she couldn’t move Mack, then she’d have to go around him. She wanted to stalk out and slam the door, but forced herself to mosey as if she wasn’t bothered at all by the situation or the man. He followed her to the door. She stopped with one foot out and one in. The breeze caught her hair, and she tossed her head to get it out of her eyes.

“You might vote me down, but at least give me a chance to be heard.”

“Name your price,” he repeated in a growly, grizzly voice that was meant to grind down her dissension.

Where she found the gumption she didn’t know, but she gave his cheek two pats and said, “You can’t afford me, tough guy.”

*****

Review:

I love Mack. He’s taken on a lot, plus the stress that comes with being the de facto head of the Abbott family, after the passing of their father. He’s working hard to keep things moving as they have been … but things are changing and it is all brought to a head with the sale of a part of the business to Ella. He’s happy with his younger brothers finding good women to settle down with but the garage belongs to the Abbotts and that’s one change he’s not going to just accept.

Ella has her reasons for buying Ford out and I admire her gumption in not letting Mack intimidate her. Her fake it until you make it attitude makes her one of my favorite heroines. She’s not going down without a fight and she definitely keeps Mack on his toes, which he so very much needs.

Both Mack & Ella come into the situation with baggage but I love the fact that once they get over the animosity of how their partnership began there really isn’t too much drama. There’s a little difficulty in figuring out how to move from enemies to lovers but there isn’t so much back & forth that it gets annoying. Instead they handle it with the maturity that reasonable people should 🙂

(Returning readers will enjoy the resolution of a few issues in the latest Cottonbloom book, but Trentham does a great job of giving new readers a complete & enjoyable story.)

*****

Author Info:

An award-winning author, Laura Trentham was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although, she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years.

She writes sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. KISS ME THAT WAY, Cottonbloom Book 1, won the Stiletto Contest for Best Long Contemporary and finaled in the National Readers Choice Award. THEN HE KISSED ME, Cottonbloom Book 2, was named an Amazon Best Romance of 2016 and was a finalist for the National Excellence for Romance Fiction. TILL I KISSED YOU, Cottonbloom Book 3, is a finalist in the Maggie contest. LEAVE THE NIGHT ON, the latest Cottonbloom book, was named an iBooks Best Book of the Month and a Recommended Read from NPR.

When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she’s shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry that is almost as big as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand.

Website: https://www.lauratrentham.com

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

Or join my reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1733284316920632/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraTrentham

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lauratrentham/

Follow me on Bookbub for new release or sale announcements:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-trentham

*****

Giveaway:

The first five (5) books in the Cottonbloom series!

Kiss Me That Way, Book 1

Then He Kissed Me, Book 2

Till I Kissed You, Book 3

Leave the Night On, Book 4

When the Stars Come Out, Book 5

Contest is open to International entries! US winner will receive autographed copies.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/746772684/

*****

Tour Schedule:

July 30

The Reading Café (Review) – http://thereadingcafe.com

July 31

Romance Reviews Today Blog (Review) – https://romrevtoday.blogspot.com

SOS Aloha – http://sosaloha.blogspot.com

August 1

Cara’s Book Boudoir – http://www.carasbookboudoir.com

Ever After Book Reviews (Review) – https://everafterbookreviews.blogspot.com

August 2

Community Bookstop (Review) – http://communitybookstop.blogspot.com

StoreyBook Reviews (Review) – http://www.storeybookreviews.com

August 3

Reds Romance Reviews (Review) – https://redsromancereviews.blogspot.com

Katherine’s Book Universe (Review) – https://www.katherinesbookuniverse.wordpress.com

August 4

Moonlight Rendezvous (Review) – http://www.moonlightrendezvous.com

Nicole’s Book Musings – http://nicolesbookmusings.blogspot.com

August 5

My Novelesque Life (Review) – http://mynovelesquelife.wordpress.com

August 6

Bigreadersite (Review) – http://bigreadersite.wordpress.com

Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews (Review) – http://www.smutbookjunkie.com

August 7

Cathy’s World (Review) – http://cathygeha.tumblr.com

August 8

2014 & Beyond! (Review) – http://2014andbeyond.com

Paulette’s Papers – http://paulettespapers.com

August 9

Romantic Reads (Review) – https://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com

August 10

Francoise’s Reading Corner (Review) – https://bookishattic.wordpress.com

Vacation

02 Thursday Aug 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

I’m going to be offline(ish) for a little over a week so things are going to be quiet for a bit. I do have a review of Laura Trentham’s newest due next Thursday so make sure you check that out – from what I hear this one is fabulous and is getting some ah-mazing reviews already!

Things will be back to normal starting the 13th (I hope) and I’ve got lots of great books on my schedule for both reviews and spotlights so I’m excited about heading into the rest of the year!

Spotlight – Half Empty

01 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

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Catherine Bybee, First Wives series, Half Empty

I love Catherine Bybee’s books and after reading this excerpt I’m ready to get my hands on this one!

*****

Half Empty

by Catherine Bybee

Release Date: July 31, 2018

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Blurb:

Trina Petrov’s marriage-by-contract was only meant to be temporary. But when tragedy strikes, Trina is left one of the wealthiest women in the world. To recover from the shock, she takes some time off in Italy, swearing not to fall for any men while there. But that doesn’t mean she can’t fall for anyone on the trip home . . .

Country-music superstar Wade Thomas is lying low in a hotel bar when he gets the cold shoulder from the woman next to him. He’s used to fans fawning at his boots, and Trina is a refreshing change—so is the fact that she has no idea who he is.

As things begin to heat up, Trina discovers that the circumstances of her late husband’s death are not what they seemed. Now she’s in trouble, and Wade isn’t about to let her out of his sight. Getting close to love and danger could get them killed . . . or it could sweep them both off their feet.

*****

Excerpt:

They closed the bar and took their last round to the hotel lobby.

Wade had to admit he was a bit more than tipsy, and Trina wasn’t exactly sober. She’d tucked her feet under her on the lobby sofa as she described Venice in a way that made him want to visit.

“There isn’t one car?” he asked.

“No place for them. You only get around on foot or boat. Which is probably best to help counter the pasta you consume while you’re there.”

“So why did you pick Venice?”

Her eyes drifted away, something Wade had noticed happened a lot when she was lost in thought. A hint of sorrow quickly came and went, almost as if she caught herself. The smile she flashed felt forced. “I wanted isolation so I could study.”

“Study?” She rattled off something that went completely over his head.

Her dark brown eyes glistened with her smile. “I’m learning Italian.”

Wade blew out a breath. “Oh, thank God. I thought maybe that last beer was one too many.”

“I like languages.”

“As in many?”

“A few.”

He was happy to speak English. “I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be. Most Europeans are fluent in a minimum of two languages.”

“Are you from Europe?”

“No. Born and raised in Southern California. My grandparents on my mother’s side are from Mexico. Spanish was always spoken in our home.”

“So you speak Spanish as well?” He squirmed in his chair.

“Yup.”

“Now I’m feelin’ a bit inferior.”

“Language is my hidden talent,” she said.

“So how did you end up in Texas?”

Her gaze met his before she wrinkled her nose and gave a quick shake of the head. “It’s a long story.”

“Which is your way of saying don’t pry.”

She stretched out her arms. “It’s my way of saying that we’ve had a pleasant conversation, and bringing up my recent move will change all that. I’d just as soon keep this light.”

Wade wasn’t expecting her reply. “Now you’ve piqued my interest.”

“Another time,” she said.

He offered a smile that usually had women crawling all over him. “Am I going to have that chance?”

“Chance for what?”

“Another conversation.”

Her eyes bored into him as if he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. “I told you, I’m not interested.”

He lifted one eyebrow, flashed a dimple. “What if I told you I was rich?”

She burst out in laughter.

His smile fell.

“Sorry…” She appeared to pull in her mirth. “You’re gonna have to do better than money.”

“Good lord, woman.”

“Sorry.”

He scratched his head. “I’m famous.”

She bit her lip. “That explains the arrogance.”

Wade placed a hand on his wounded chest. “I am not.”

Trina tossed her head back, and her deep laugh filled the empty lobby. “My name is Wade Thomas, you don’t know who I am?” Her mimicry of him was off by several octaves.

Her laughter tickled his gut.

“I can teach you the two-step.”

She pinched her lips together, trying to contain herself.

His pride was starting to dim.

“I’m not bad looking.”

She looked him up and down … twice. “I’ll give you that.”

He lifted both hands in the air. “Finally.”

For the span of a full minute, she stared. Her smile slowly started to fall, and he knew she was talking herself out of dating him.

“Tell you what. I’m flying home tomorrow. Private charter, because I’m rich, famous, and arrogant.” He moaned on that last word.

“And good-looking.”

Now they were getting somewhere.

“I can give you a lift home.”

Trina blew out a breath. “I’m avoiding going home,” she reminded him.

“And I was thinking I needed a quick stop in Nassau … where the plane might not be able to leave right away. That tropical depressed storm and all.”

She pointed a finger in his direction. “I like the way you think.”

*****

Author Info:

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written twenty-eight books that have collectively sold more than 4.5 million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope 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 Not Quite series, the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series.

Website: http://www.catherinebybee.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinebybee

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2905789.Catherine_Bybee

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card and Digital Copy of Catherine Bybee’s HALF EMPTY

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/07c2363f194/

*****