Author Archives: romanticreadsandsuch

Review – Love, Lies, and Whiskey

01 Thursday May 2025

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Get ready to fall hard for the mysterious Seeley “Doc” Whiskey and the one woman he never thought would walk back into his life, in this sexy and emotional second-chance standalone romance. The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch is a small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horses—and people—a second chance. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and a happily ever after that will leave you breathless. 

Love, Lies, and Whiskey

The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch

by Melissa Foster

World Literary Press

Blurb:

First loves that were ripped apart, and the epic love that saves them.

At nineteen, Seeley “Doc” Whiskey fell hard for the governor’s daughter, and then she was torn away. He risked his life and his family’s legacy to get her back, only to find out that everything he believed about her was a lie. His heart has been locked down ever since.

Betrayed by everyone she loves, Juliette Chambers has been through hell and back. Now a single mother and veterinarian, Juliette moves back to Colorado to start over. The last person she expects to run into is the man who completely destroyed her.

A chance encounter turns into a moment of fury, sending them into an emotional maelstrom. Tears and accusations fly and passion ignites, but in their wake they discover a trail of secrets and lies and a life-changing blow that takes them to their knees.

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210669710-love-lies-and-whiskey 

Goodreads series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/324539 

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Audio narrated by Aiden Snow and Erin Mallon
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*****

Excerpt:

Sneak Peek: https://melissafoster.com/love-lies-whiskey-sneak-peek/ 

*****

Review:

The Whiskeys are stand up people and Doc is no different. He can be grumpy and rigid but he’s hiding a heart of gold, one bruised by a lost love. Meeting her again, learning the truth, gives them another chance and bringing out the man he used to be.

Juliette is a good match for Doc. She had a rough start but she’s created a good life for herself & her son and getting to the truth of their past also has her looking at the future with brighter eyes. And with Doc & the other Whiskey’s at her side, she’ll find out that she can face down just about anything life has for her.

Foster’s latest did not go at all like I expected. And it was a gut punch every step of the way. From Juliette and Doc’s meeting again after so long, to finding out the truth of what happened all those years ago, getting to know each other again and the troubles life sometimes gives you. It’s emotional hit after emotion hit, both good and bad. Make sure you are ready, then throw yourself whole body into this roller coaster of a read!

*****

Author Info:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.

Website:  http://www.melissafoster.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor
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*****

THE TROUBLE WITH WHISKEY (Book One) – Now Available (My Review HERE)

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FREEING SULLY – Prequel to FTLOW (Book Two) – Now Available

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FOR THE LOVE OF WHISKEY (Book Three) – Now Available (My Review HERE)

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A TASTE OF WHISKEY (Book Four) – Now Available (My Review HERE)

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~

Spotlight – Gold Coast Dilemma

29 Tuesday Apr 2025

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Gold Coast Dilemma

by Nana Malone

Blurb:

From USA TODAY bestselling author Nana Malone, a romance about a Ghanaian American heiress faced with the dilemma of choosing between culture and a love connection. 

During an opulent publishing party, Ofosua Addo crosses paths with Cole Drake for the first time. Their flirtatiously witty exchange culminates in a kiss that etches a permanent mark on both their hearts.

But Ofosua’s identity as a Ghanaian heiress comes before Cole. She loves the vibrant traditions of Ghana’s Gold Coast, and her hand is already promised to a man that even her overbearing mother loves. Yet, when her big Ghanaian wedding transforms from a fairy tale into a spectacle, she’s thrust into a whirlwind of heartbreak and self-discovery.

In the midst of it all, Cole enters her life once again, under circumstances far different from their magical first encounter. Can Ofosua and Cole’s rediscovered spark overcome the weight of tradition?

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3XvY0lP

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!

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Audible: https://bit.ly/4jkyHgd
Narrated by: Soneela Nankani and Tim Paige

*****

Author Info:

Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author, Nana Malone writes Sexy Feel-Good Romance and loves all things romance and adventure.

That love started with a tattered romantic suspense she “borrowed” from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen year old. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.

Sign up for my VIP Reader List to find out when my next release is: https://geni.us/nananl

Connect with Nana

Website: www.nanamalone.com

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/NanaMaloneGR

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Wwz3t9

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NanaMalonesSassyReaders/

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nana-malone

~

Spotlight – Play It Off

29 Tuesday Apr 2025

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Play It Off

A Kings of Campus Novel

by Monica Murphy

Blurb:

From bestselling author Monica Murphy comes a sweet, sexy story about the secret crush between a college QB and his teammate’s sister, and the obvious chemistry that keeps them in the huddle.

Sienna

I’ve had a thing for Gavin Maddox ever since I was a freshman, but it’s a mission doomed to fail. Of all the guys I could have picked on campus, I had to go too far with the quarterback, my brother’s best friend.

We’ve spent the last two years avoiding each other. It’s not that easy when you have the same friends, not to mention I can’t forget the way it felt to be with him. But I can be civil. Polite. Detached.

I think…

Gavin

Sienna Cooper is off limits–except for that one time. I can’t forget it, but I need to forget her if I want to keep my head in the game. This is my senior year and, more importantly, my last season of college football. I can’t let anything distract me.

I’ve respected Sienna’s boundaries for this long. I can do it for another year.

…Can’t I?

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3PxU0O1

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

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Narrated by: Avery Caris & Victor Quixabas

*****

Author Info:

Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance.

A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, son, their goofy dog, and three cats. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. Or reading. Or binge watching something.

Connect with Monica

Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com

Goodreads:  http://bit.ly/MonicaMurphyGR

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1YUl0Vm

Facebook: http://bit.ly/MonicaMurphyFB

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/monicamurphyreadergroup/

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

~

Review – Gross Misconduct

28 Monday Apr 2025

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Gross Misconduct

The Comebacks, Book One

by A.J. Truman

Blurb:

As a high school hockey star, I was on track for greatness. Until an opponent attacked me on the ice, leaving me half blind.

For the past twenty-seven years, I’ve avoided hockey and its painful memories. But when my old teammates get back together to play in a local recreational league, I realize it could be a chance to rewrite history. The only person standing in my way is Jack Gross.

Hockey isn’t complete without a rivalry, and ours comes courtesy of the Blades: they’re younger, faster, and fronted by Jack, a former professional hockey player who hates my guts after a rooftop hookup gone wrong.

His cockiness and penchant for pranks make me hate him right back. But Jack has a special way of getting under my skin that makes me want to get into his pants. And well, I only have so much willpower.

As our teams get closer to a showdown on the ice, Jack begins shedding his armor of confidence. Despite getting to live the life I dreamed of, maybe Jack is as messed up as me.

The championship game could redeem the past for us both. But there can only be one winner. Will victory taste as sweet if it costs me Jack?

Gross Misconduct is a rivals to lovers, age gap, single dad, gay romance with no cheating and an HEA. It is book 1 in The Comebacks, a series about a friend group of single dads who were hockey all-stars in high school and looking to recapture the magic in their forties. Whether they win or lose, there’s always a post-game beer.

*****

Review:

Griffin had his dreams for the future taken from him at 18, but he’s managed to create a good life for himself. A job that he enjoys and 2 beautiful kids. And now he’s starting a new stage of his life, divorced and newly out as a gay man in his 40s. Then he meets Jack … and things got drastically wrong.

Jack is struggling post NHL life. He’s broke with no idea what he wants to do with his life and a difficult relationship with his dad. And finds himself battling on and off the ice with Griffin.

This was my first book by Truman and I enjoyed the heck out of it. It’s a fast read, funny and steamy and heartfelt. It has a sweet mix of found family and romance, with a bit of angst to keep things hopping. I’ll definitely be looking for another read from him.

Review – Wilder Heart

26 Saturday Apr 2025

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Wilder Heart

A Blackwood Ranch Novel

by KT Yarrow

Blurb:

Even the wildest hearts need a place to call home.

Wilder

Freshly released from prison, Wilder goes back to the one place he never thought he’d find home. But Blackwood Ranch is a home in which he doesn’t feel welcome. The ranch, and his brother, thrived in his absence, and Wilder wonders whether he belongs there at all anymore. How does a man find his place in a world that won’t forgive him for his past?

Cash

Cash has called Blackwood Ranch home for seven years, but he’s never truly had a place of his own. He doesn’t realize he’s missing anything until he meets Wilder. He wants to show Wilder that there’s more to life than survival, but getting past the man’s defenses will be a lesson in patience for the both of them. 

*****

Review:

Wilder has been thru so much and I wanted to just yell at all of the townspeople that let their childhood reach the state it did. (And there was a moment toward the end that I just wanted to punch one particular selfish old man.)

My heart went out to both of the brothers, living with the consequences of that night and struggling to figure out how to move forward. (I really wish we’d gotten a little more of Lain’s POV. It made me a little angry that things went as far for as long as they did.)

Cash is patient and supportive and good for Wilder. He shows him the love and understanding that he so desperately needs, setting him up for a chance at a good future if he’s willing to trust.

Cash & Wilder’s path to a HEA is not an easy one. There are a lot of 2 steps forward and 1 step back moments for them as they try to work thru Wilder’s adjustment to being out of prison. And having to face his past and his brother again. It’s an emotional story but a satisfying one and I just loved it – every angsty, slow burn, gut punch page.

Review – Worthy

25 Friday Apr 2025

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Worthy

Adrenalin #1

by Michele Lenard

Blurb:

Okay, I might have a reputation as a playboy, but I swear that’s not my fault.

Cade – When your small tourist town is lacking in single people, your only option for company is the temporary kind. And if given the choice between sleeping alone or sleeping around, well, can you blame me for choosing the latter?

If you think about it, I’m a victim of circumstance. A product of my environment. And that suits me just fine. Or it did, until a sexy stranger knocked me over, literally.

The newcomer is an angel to my devil. The type A to my slacker, working on a PhD thesis while I do everything in my power to delay taking over the family business. We should be totally incompatible. Yet somehow, I feel more at ease with this outsider than people I’ve known my whole life.

For the first time in—ever—I don’t want to be just a fling, but how do I win over a relationship prone genius when I’m a notorious flirt? That’s not even the worst part. Did I mention I’m crushing on a guy, and until I met him, I considered myself straight?

This opposites attract MM romance features a small-town bad boy, the studious boy next door, townspeople who love an excuse to wear a costume, and a not safe for work drinking game.

*****

Review:

Worthy is low angst, steamy, and sweet. These two together are delightful and I loved being with them as they fell in love over the course of a summer. It just grabbed me with its mix of feels and flirty fun.

My only complaint is that I’m not sure why Cade is so hard on himself. Sure, he’s slept around but he’s also young and only with those more than willing. He’s also got a lot to offer others – he’s caring, hard working, playful, and supportive of his friends & community. And Maddox sees that as well. With his help, maybe Cade will too.

It’s a slow burn romance so it won’t be for everyone. But those who do pick it up will get emotion, growth, and a LOT of heat, mixed with a good dose of small town charm, humor, and fun. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read from Lenard so far and I’m adding her to my list of go to authors.

Review – Sawyer

25 Friday Apr 2025

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Dirty dancing leads to a chance at forever in this sizzling single parent, found family, small town romance by Jessica Peterson.

Sawyer

A Lucky River Ranch Novel

by Jessica Peterson

Blurb:

As a recently divorced single mom, I have zero interest in flirting with guys while on a rare girls’ weekend away with my sisters. I just want to have fun, celebrate my new job, and listen to live music at a honky tonk.

But when I literally stumble into the most gorgeous guy ever on the dance floor, those plans go up in smoke. Growing up on the barrel racing circuit, I’m not immune to the charms of a cowboy. But this particular one is hot as hell: Sawyer’s got a mustache, some sexy tattoos, and a very filthy mouth.

Needless to say, we end up naked in his swanky hotel room. It’s the best sex of my life. And the way Sawyer treats me like a queen? Let’s just say a girl could get addicted to that kind of adoration. 

Good thing he’ll always be just a one night stand I can look back on with a smile. I’m rebuilding our life from scratch, and I need to focus on my three-year-old daughter and the dream job I just landed.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I move to Hartsville and run into a tattooed cowboy with an endearing daughter of his own. Now Sawyer wants more than the occasional playdates between our girls. But the closer we become, the more determined this sexy single dad is to keep me forever. 

As much as I am falling for Sawyer, I’m terrified. I’ve been down this road before with my ex, and I wonder if I can trust this cowboy. Will he rope the moon for me? Or is my heart destined to be trampled all over again?

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3XbADin

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*****

Review:

Oh my, the Rivers boy … *sigh* I love these dirty talking, big hearted, noble cowboys. Sawyer is trying so hard to be a good dad, good brother, and good cowboy. He’s struggling with feeling like he’s not enough and should be able to do more. But meeting Ava helps take some of that stress away for a little while.

I liked Ava and I liked her with Sawyer but I am not sure I quite understand why she hangs on to her concern about getting involved with him as long as she did. I get that her previous relationship was awful and toxic and abusive but … surely she understands that not every relationship is like that? Maybe it is because they got together so young that it imprinted those feelings about herself.

Their night together at the beginning was steamy, fun, and a chance for them to let go & remember themselves as people not just parents. And it is a feeling that they are able to keep going once they meet again later. They work well together, as adults and as parents, and I enjoyed their relationship a lot.

There’s not a lot of drama in this one. Mostly it’s whether Ava can let go of her issues with relationships to give Sawyer a real chance. He does have a few hang ups of his own, especially with stretching himself too thin. Overall, it’s about them creating an amazing little family together and learning to trust in others – to trust they truly accept them and are willing to bet there when needed. And I enjoy seeing them create connections and relationships with each other & those around them

Full of adorable kids, sassy women, and sexy cowboys, Sawyer is a cute (and hot) addition to the Lucky River Ranch series. Sawyer is such a good man and Ava is the perfect person to help him remember to enjoy life and I’m here for it. And I’m also here for what comes next thanks to that little tease at the end!

*****

Author Info:

Jessica Peterson writes romance with heat, humor, and heart. Heroes with hot accents are her specialty. When she’s not writing, she can be found bellying up to a bar in the south’s best restaurants with her husband Ben, reading books with her adorable daughter Gracie, or snuggling up with her 70-pound lap dog, Martha.

A Carolina girl at heart, she fantasizes about splitting her time between Charleston and Asheville, but currently lives in Charlotte, NC.

Connect with Jessica

Website: https://www.jessicapeterson.com/

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/JessicaPetersonGR

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KoS0sb

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PetersonsPupils/

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~

Review – Mr. Charming

22 Tuesday Apr 2025

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Mr. Charming

The Nest #4

by Piper Rayne

Blurb:

Three years ago, I swore to myself we were done.

Since then, Tweetie Sorenson has embraced the professional hockey player bachelor lifestyle—his social media is a highlight reel of clubs, friends, and a never-ending stream of different women.

It’s hard to believe he’s the same man who stole my heart the very night we met. With him, everything felt wild, spontaneous, and absolutely perfect. I thought he was my forever.

Then, he broke my heart. Or maybe we broke each other’s. Either way, it was over.

I’ve moved on—new city, dream job—until my boss throws me back into Tweetie’s world. I’m sent to Chicago to manage the Falcons’ social media, which means working alongside the one man I never truly let go of. FML.

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3XjDmq8

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

https://books2read.com/MR-C

Audio Full Cast Narration by: Troy Duran, Christine Lakin, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, JF Harding, Teddy Hamilton, and CJ Bloom

*****

Review:

I love this series (and pretty much everything that Piper Rayne gives me). I’ve been curious about Tweetie as we’ve worked thru the other stories … and I’m so sad that this one was my least favorite. The last half or so was great, exactly what I’d expect.

But early on, especially the journal entries, things were occasionally awkward. Part of it may be the bouncing back and forth in time. Plus I think maybe we needed a good reminder that these two were young when they first got together, with a lot of baggage from their childhoods. Although even in the present they make some choices that seemed a little … juvenile.

Buuuut, saying that, I loved that Tweetie finally got his girl and Tedi is a good match for him. I felt for him every step of the way, how he has to work with his abandonment issues and need to be wanted. The glimpses of the deeper guy that we’ve gotten over the other stories make so much sense.

As with all of the others, it’s the friendships between the guys and now their partners that elevate these stories. They love big and bold and with a lot of heart. I love seeing them support each other, tease but at the same time truly care about each other. And Tweetie & Tedi need all they can get.

There’s a lot of pain and yearning and hurt and want all wrapped up with these two and having to spend time together means that it doesn’t take long for all of that to bubble over. My heart went out to both of them as they struggle with those feelings and have to decide if they can trust in themselves & each other.

We get a look at baseball players Decker & Easton throughout this story and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens when the guys move into the condos above Peepers. Looks like Ruby may have her hands full 🙂

*****

Author Info:

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Connect with Piper Rayne

Website: www.PiperRayne.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15810938.Piper_Rayne

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Piper-Rayne/e/B01ND0R15R

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

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~


Spotlight – Dances with Pucks

21 Monday Apr 2025

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When a health issue ends Christina’s dancing career, she finds herself on a new path as a co-owner of an NHL team. But, when a friend needs help at her dance studio, the last thing she expected was for the hottie taking private lessons to wind up on her brother’s hockey team. Readers who love secret, workplace romances will enjoy Dances with Pucks by Debbie Charles, a steamy, sports romance.

Dances with Pucks

Texas Tornadoes series

by Debbie Charles

Blurb:

CAM

Guarding the net is not my only goal

While other players relax on the golf course, my off-season is spent in the ballroom. Dancing keeps me limber and the memory of my mom alive. My father dismissed hockey as a career and moved on to a new family. Joke’s on him. I’ve made it to the NHL, and I’ll clear close to a mil at age twenty-four. The only thing left on my life plan is a family, and I have my eye on the beautiful dance instructor who keeps me on my toes.

CHRISTINA

I prefer numbers to people. They’re far more predictable.

Numbers make sense; people don’t.

After a health issue ended my competitive ballroom dancing career, I took over management of my family’s financial empire. Then my brother insisted on bringing pro hockey to Austin, so here I am, co-owner of an NHL team and agreeing to give free financial advice to the players. When a friend needs help at her dance studio, the hottie taking private lessons is more tempting than a macro-enabled spreadsheet, until his headshot pops up on my brother’s hockey roster. Talk about a conflict of interest. Worse, he wants what I can’t give him—kids. Maybe just a fling…

Dances with Pucks is a workplace romance between two incredibly flexible people, which means things get steamy, stretched, and sometimes twisted. It introduces the Texas Tornadoes, the hottest, coolest expansion NHL team in hockey.

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*****

Excerpt:

As he raises me to his shoulder, my leg extended, and begins to twirl, my only thought is how close his hand is to my *****. I moan, and he inhales deeply. If he’s smelling me, I’ll be so embarrassed. That might be worse than if my arousal leaks down onto his hand.

He clutches me tight for an instant before allowing me to slide down. I wrap my arm around his back, the arch of my spine more pronounced than before. I’ve forgotten the move. My *** craves his **** against it and my legs are splayed wide to get maximum friction where I want it. I’m too high, though, so I’m splayed across his belly, his big hand inches above where I need it to be. He releases his left hand where it had moved under my knee and I slide down, leading with one tiptoe so I can slow my slide over his ****.

I am shameless and over this lesson almost before it’s begun.

I don’t spin around and instead shimmy my *** against him.

His hand tightens around my waist as he pulls me even closer. We breathe in unison. My back brushes his chest with every inhale.

“Christina?” he asks into my hair. I’m sweaty and horny and I don’t care about resisting any more.

I whisper, “Cam. Please.”

Spinning me around, he responds with a husky, “Thank ****,” as his hands go to my head and his lips meet mine.

He kisses far better than anyone I’ve ever experienced. I’m lost. My brain skitters along the hard floor under us before I remember that my bedroom is literally feet away. But I’m afraid to break the spell. I want to sink into these sensations, this pleasure, and wallow in it.

My hands roam his hard muscles. Arms, back, chest, shoulders are all explored as our lips and tongues play. I tunnel under his shirt, craving skin to skin, and he moans. I flick his nipple with a fingernail, and he shudders around me.

He also starts to explore. His fingers knead the muscles of my upper back, around the base of my spine, and my ***. He skims as far down my legs as he can reach and mutters against my mouth, “God, I want these wrapped around me.”

I nod.

He raises his head, looking a little surprised. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. It’s been a while, though, so please take it slow.” I’m not ready to share my specific worries about penetration, angle, or position, but I’m safe with him. This is a man who worries he’ll drop me a few feet from a simple lift.

Nor is this the time to talk about keeping this whole thing secret. Maybe I can get my fill of him today and then move on. I’ll worry about all that later. Right now, I need the pleasure his body has been taunting mine with for weeks.

“If you need me to do something different, tell me.” He’s done asking for permission, however, because he peels the straps of my leotard down to my hips in one move. Plucking the knot of my filmy wrap skirt open, he tosses it aside and gets me naked except my shoes in seconds.

I suck in a breath. The mirrors reflect a three-quarter view of the back of me, so he can see all of me at once. And while he’s in his prime, both age-wise and being a professional athlete, I’m no longer the lithe competitive dancer I once was. I’ve filled out, although I stay fitter than most thirty-year-old women.

“God, you’re gorgeous. Even more beautiful than I imagined.” His voice is reverent, allaying the few worries my thoughts had room for. It’s time to bask in this experience.

He lowers to his knees; I assume to take my shoes off. But no, he runs his hands up and down my legs, testing the muscles with light squeezes. “Your legs are my greatest fantasy.”

Well, that’s hot. And original. I brace my hands on his shoulders. Even with him kneeling before me, the power dynamic of me naked and him clothed is a little overwhelming. I tug on his shirt. “Off, please.”

He does that young guy thing, grasping it behind his head with one hand and yanking it up and off, flinging it aside.

My hands return to his shoulders. Warm, smooth skin covers muscles that are hard even at rest. I could fondle him all day.

He has other ideas. Tucking a hand behind my knee, he braces me by holding my other hip and slides my knee over his shoulder, opening me to him.

Copyright 2025, Debbie Charles

*****

Author Info:

A lifelong romance reader, I cut my teeth on Johanna Lindsey, Jude Deveraux, and Kathleen Woodiwiss, along with Silhouette and Harlequin for palate cleansers. Opting for a career that provided both a food and travel budget, I earned a BA, CPA, and MBA, and spent far too long being a corporate drone, then consulting other corporate drones. Along the way, I was one of the few 1990s NBA season ticket holders never to see Michael Jordan play (’93-’94). I also attended a few NFL games, the Belmont Stakes, the NHL playoffs, the World Series, and managed to see more than 20 MLB parks, several of which have since been demolished. More recently, I’ve enjoyed the Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars. Throughout those years, I made sporadic attempts to write my own romance. I now have 9 spicy Regency romances under the pen name Maggie Sims (www.maggiesims.com), and am ready to tackle contemporary romance, starting with hot hockey romances set in Austin, where I now live with my husband and three furbabies.

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Spotlight – Luka

18 Friday Apr 2025

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Luka

Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series

by Alisa Jean

Blurb:

From rivalries to secret glances across the rink, dive into a story filled with passion, ice, and a little bit of chaos.

As the hottest left-winger in the league, I was the handsome golden boy for the L.A. Quakes. But after suffering horrific injuries during a game, my life is on a breakaway to disaster. My biggest fear is a darkness from my past is about to repeat itself. All I want to do is hide from the world, but fate has another plan.

Feisty beauty Liliana Alvarez doesn’t suffer fools lightly, especially when it comes to her kids in her new non-profit outreach. She’ll drag me, kicking and screaming, if necessary, from the hole I’ve crawled into if it’s the last thing she does. For some reason, she is patient enough to wait for me to heal and something sparks between us, wounds, and all. But her abusive ex-boyfriend threatens to shatter our hopes of a happily ever after.

Can enemies-turned-lovers help save each other or is the ice tilted against us?

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*****

Excerpt:

LUKA

Easing open the door, I slip through, bolting to the welcoming darkness of the closed Quakes’ Cove bar. I lean against a wall, shrouded in shadows, and stare down at the rink below. It’s late morning, and the rookies are doing drills under the watchful eyes of Jason Tolls, Linc, and a couple of other player development coaches. My friend looks in his element. Happy. Shit. I miss him, as well as Sonny and Bri. But I don’t go out much. Between scaring a kid at the grocery store and panic attacks that strike out of nowhere, I keep myself hidden away. The guys have their lives, and I don’t need to ruin their happiness by freaking them out. They wouldn’t care, but I do.

“Hey.” The soft, whispered word makes me glance away from the ice. F**k. Catherine Bishop, the Quakes’ owner, and Linc’s girlfriend, steps into the bar and stands next to me. I turn my face away, seeking refuge in the shadows.

“Oh, no you don’t.” Catherine’s finger touches my chin and turns my head so I’m facing her. “You will not hide from me.” She stares directly into my eyes. Her family did everything in their power to help me recover, starting with the best sports ophthalmologist so I wouldn’t lose my eye. Then a world-class plastic surgeon to keep my scarring to a minimum. I have a functioning eyelid, thanks to them. “Your features were way too pretty and perfect. The scar helps. You now look kind of like a bad boy. Women will go crazy.”

I can’t help the snort which escapes me. “In my dreams.”

She nudges me with her shoulder. “How’s your mom? I miss Maja.”

“She’s good. I spoke with her this morning.” Catherine came over a few times and took my mom out to lunch or dinner so she could have a break from me. I’d been such a hurting asshole that my boss took it upon herself to look after my mom. They hit it off. Why not? They’re both powerful women. Catherine shattering glass ceilings and my mom raising three kids on her own after my dad lost his mind.

She gestures to the ice. “How’re the rookies? See anyone impressive?”

I break our eye contact, relieved to go back to the shadows and study the players below. Some of them are in their young and gangly stage, like Bambi on ice. But some of the older kids are filling out and showing the promise of their mature athletic bodies to come.

“Your giant six-six goalie looks promising. He’s going to kill it in the AHL for the Tsunami. Linc must be drooling. For his size, the kid is agile, and he knows how to stay deep in his crease. He’ll be a brick wall for our opponents.”

“Yeah, I have high hopes for him. I also like the left winger, Berglund.” She slants her gaze my way. “He reminds me of you at his age—fast, full of energy, great hockey sense.”

“Looking to replace me? Afraid I’ll scare the fans?”

She glares at me. “Stop it, or I’ll tattle to Linc that you’re feeling sorry for yourself.”

Catherine never takes my bullshit. I sigh. “Too soon to joke?”

“If I thought you were joking, it’d be okay, but I know you weren’t.”

How does she read me so well? “Fine. You’re right.” We watch the rooks in peaceful silence. I can almost relax.

“Hey Ribi, good to see you.” An L.A. Quakes’ blogger calls out in passing.

Suddenly, my heart starts pounding. I break out into a sweat and dizziness swamps me, making me sway. My whole body shakes. F**k. I can’t have a panic attack. Not here. Not now.

“Oye gilipollas,” a tiny woman shouts and storms into the bar. I automatically translate the Spanish into English—Hey, a**hole. Before I could blink, the petite Latina stabs her finger into my chest, while glaring at my face, stopping my anxiety attack in a flash.

LILIANA

Frustrated as hell, I flew out of the Quakes’ Foundation’s office and storm past a man and woman lurking in the shadows of a closed bar, watching guys skating below. Weirdos. I didn’t know who he was until someone yells, “Ribi.” I assume it’s some sort of nickname for Luka Ribic, my MIA hockey player. Not about to miss this opportunity, I spin on my heels and go in for the kill.

“Oye gilipollas,” I shout, stabbing him in the chest with a finger. I have to reach to hit my target. The big guy is almost a foot taller than me. He must have understood my Spanish because he blinks at me like I’m a crazy woman. This smug a**hole has the nerve to smirk at me. “I came to talk to the Quakes’ Foundation. Maureen claims you’ve been out on medical leave. What a load of doody!”

“Doody?” The spark of humor reaches all the way to his light brown eyes.

*****

And don’t miss the first book in the series!

Lincoln – A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 1 

L.A. Quakes’ fans stomped their feet to cheers of “Caveman!” when I made incredible saves in the crease, leading the team to two Stanley Cup victories. I thought I could go on forever, but at thirty-six, the clock’s counting down even for Lincoln Cavanaugh. Social media and fan sites are filled with rumors of me being traded. Or worse. My future looks as uncertain as a loose puck on the ice.

My fate rests in the hands of Catherine Bishop, daughter of the team’s owner and a power to be reckoned with. And what fine hands they are, along with everything else about her. A chance encounter leads to sparks between us, but is falling in love with this incredible woman worth the risk?

Because with her by my side, I’m once again an unstoppable force between the pipes, and victories pile up like never before. However, our love is a ticking time bomb because Catherine has dreams of making history as the first female and person of color to own an NHL team. Sleeping with a player would make that all go up in smoke. I fear when the truth comes out, it will be the final buzzer for us.

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Author Info:

Alisa Jean is the pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White and C J Bahr. They first teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima (don’t ask) while polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on to better beverages and writing novels. Separately, Marla prefers to murder characters in the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time best friends joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of hockey. Wonder twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed characters with heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.

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Giveaway:

$10 Amazon 

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