Review – Dirty Ginger

22 Thursday Jul 2021

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

Tags

Dirty Ginger, Stacey Kennedy, Three Chicks Brewery series

Dirty Ginger, an all new emotional small town standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy is available now!

*****

Dirty Ginger

Three Chicks Brewery #3

by Stacey Kennedy

Blurb:

Everyone at Three Chicks Brewery knows that Amelia Carter has the magic touch when it comes to creating the perfect beer. Her ales have customers singing her praises and begging for more. Unfortunately, when it comes to love, the only magic she seems to have is the cursed kind. After being left at the altar by her ex-fiancé, Amelia gives up on the idea of happily-ever-after to focus on making the Carter family brewery a national success.

Beckett Stone finally started to believe in happily-ever-after the day Amelia’s worthless ex bailed on their wedding, finally giving Beckett another chance with his high school sweetheart— the only woman he’s ever loved. Unfortunately, Amelia’s broken heart is just one of the obstacles Beckett needs to overcome if he wants to win her for good. He knows he’s not the man Amelia deserves, particularly with his money-pit of a house, a 1975 truck that barely runs, an alcoholic father, and a universe that seems to have a twisted sense of humor when it comes to giving Beckett a break.

But when pressure mounts to make the Three Chicks Brewery’s top beer, Foxy Diva, into a huge success, Amelia starts to fall apart, and Beckett swoops in with his gentle reassurances and hard work ethic. While the last thing Amelia wants is fall in love again, she can’t deny that her heart beats a little faster whenever she sees Beckett walk through the door. Soon, every warm caress and soft whisper of understanding becomes a balm to both of them. As Beckett makes his intentions clear, Amelia must decide if she can overcome her shattered heart and believe in the magic of true love again.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ocBU4z
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DirtyGinger
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3myU4gI
Nook: https://bit.ly/2KTpwrP
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3lvR9DU
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Tl7NhG

Add Dirty Ginger to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3eLTudU

Start The Three Chicks Brewery Series today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BSznKo
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2ZYIlOq
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/sassyblonde
Nook: https://bit.ly/3fewodK
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2ZYICkq
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2ZV5KQr

*****

Excerpt:

After Amelia arrived back home, the lingering tension of meeting Luka followed her. She skipped the house and went straight for the brewery, needing to figure out a plan on getting it back into shape. With every step she took, she kept waiting for her heart to squeeze tight, missing Luka, to feel more broken, raw, anything, but she only felt glad to keep Beckett from facing jail time. And something about that kept rubbing her wrong. She’d spent nearly three years with Luka, why wasn’t she trying to understand why he ended things so cruelly? Why didn’t she want an explanation from him? Why wasn’t she ready to let him have it and to feel the pain he’d put her through? She amounted this to getting over the worst of her heartbreak in the tropics. But there was this little part of her heart that told her there was a good chance that Luka should have been in her rearview mirror for a long time, and maybe the reason she couldn’t hate him for what he’d done was because, beyond the embarrassment and the sadness that the life she dreamed up was over, maybe the life she thought she had with Luka wasn’t real to begin with.

When she reached for the first tank, she noted the pungent smell in the brewery had improved greatly with the barn doors left open for most of the morning. The dust begrudgingly hadn’t improved. First thing first, the tanks needed cleaning.

She only got one step into the barn, when from behind her, Beckett snapped, “What did you do?”

Whirling around, she found Beckett’s face tight and muscles straining. The one bad thing about small towns was word got around fast, and obviously, he’d learned about her meeting Luka today. Trying to play dumb to avoid the conversation she didn’t want to have, she turned back to her work. “I’m about to clean my tanks,” she said.

His voice tightened. “That is not the answer to my question, and you know it.”

She refused to look back, hearing the anger in his low voice, and not wanting to see it on his face. “I did what had to be done,” she told him. To keep her hands busy, she reached for a cloth and began dusting along the stairs that led up to the top of the tank.

“That payment was mine to make, Amelia, not yours,” he said, his voice barely controlled. “If you had asked me, I would have told you that I rejected his offer to pay him because I don’t want the prick to fix his nose. He should wear that shame for the rest of his life.”

She’d never missed pina coladas on the beach more than she did right now. With a heavy sigh, she turned to face Beckett, spotting the vein in the middle of his head bulging like it would burst any second. Of course, she had expected him to show up, but she wasn’t expecting his anger. But it didn’t matter, she wanted this behind her. For good. “What is bothering you the most here, Beckett: that I paid to fix your problem or that Luka will get his nose fixed?”

Beckett arched an eyebrow. “Do I need to pick one? Can’t both piss me off equally?”

A laugh nearly escaped her, but nothing about any of this was funny. She knew all too well that fate was not in her hands. The death of her parents taught her that. But she didn’t need to sit by and let fate decide everything without fighting back either. “What did you expect me to do?” she countered, glaring at him. “Let you go to jail for me?”

To anyone else, he’d look intimidating with his legs planted wide and his nostrils flaring, but she heard the warmth in his voice behind the tightness as he said, “I expect for you to come and talk to me about it, instead of giving that bastard your money.”

Yeah, well, she could play the intimidating part too. She flatted her lips, placing her hands on her hips. “You never would have agreed to pay him if I’d asked you.”

“You’re damn right I wouldn’t have,” he growled, his face reddening.

Heat flushed through her body as she ground her teeth, turning away from him. God, he’d always been a hard wall that she’d beat her head against. But she realized in this moment that her arguments were so different with Beckett than they were with Luka. Luka got upset when she wouldn’t change something about herself for him. Beckett only ever got upset when he felt she was treated wrongly. Her stomach roiled in awareness that she’d forgotten what it was like to have someone support her. “Well, it’s done and over and now we can all put this behind us and move on.”

“Don’t kid yourself, Amelia. Nothing is behind us,” he said slowly and coldly, flicking her gaze to him. His look was all knowing. “You can’t simply brush this under a rug and hope it all goes away.”

“Why not?” she asked, throwing up in hands in frustration. “Why can’t I pay Luka off and end this entire shitshow? What is the harm in that?”

Beckett’s expression softened. A smidgen. “The harm is that you caved when you shouldn’t have.”

Her chest heaved, breathing become rough and rapid. “I caved to protect you.”

A gust of wind swept up dirt up around him as he crossed his arms, his brows knotting. “I didn’t ask you to do that. If I had wanted to pay the asshole off, I would have fucking paid him.”

“Yeah, right.” She snorted. “You have too much pride for that.”

“This has nothing to do with pride,” he snapped, reaching into his back pocket. “This was my problem. Not yours.” He offered her a check. “I won’t pay him, but I will pay you. Take it.”

“No,” she said, firmly. “My problem, not yours.”

His eyes slowly narrowed into slits. “Amelia.”

Her gut began to boil. She’d had about enough of men today. She tossed the cloth down on the stairs and closed the distance between them, getting into his space. “I get you’re pissed, really I do, but can’t you just say thank you and be done with it?”

A laughter with an edge escaped him. “Do tell me what I should be thanking you for.”

She was pushing him. She knew it. She also wasn’t about to back down. “For making this all go away. For ensuring that you wouldn’t get jail time. For protecting you like you protected me when your fist hit Luka’s face.”

A pause. His gaze flared. “I will never thank you for that.”

She stared him down, and he glared right back for many, many seconds. Years they’d been together, and from those years, she knew that he wouldn’t give, not when it came to protecting someone he cared about. The silence drudged on until she threw her hands up. “Honestly, Beckett, you’ll have to explain this to me. Why are you so mad?”

Intensity simmered on his face as he closed the distance between them, bringing the hard wall of his chest nearly against hers. She felt the heat emanating off him and was shocked when her nipples puckered in response to him being this close. Tingles raced through her all the way to the tips of her toes as he said, tightly, “I’m mad about all of it. I’m mad that you left for college, and I was too much of a fucking mess to go with you. I’m mad that you met that fucker, and he got his damn claws into you. I’m mad that instead of you being blissfully happy, I watched your heart shatter before my eyes.” His chin dipped, bringing his mouth near inches from hers, his warm breath brushing across her face. “I’m mad that instead of that prick suffering, he has your fucking money to fix his stupid face. And I’m mad that I have no way to stop any of it.”

The world narrowed on him with each and every meaningful word that passed his mouth. The affection, the protection, the sheer helplessness, all affected her in a way she never anticipated feeling again. She became tangled in the safe energy he projected. The familiarly of having him close. She took in his simmering eyes with so much emotion in them she could barely breathe. The heat of his body, the strength of him, so close to her. His sculpted lips drew her in, closer and closer, until her hands fisted his T-shirt and her mouth met his.

Beckett stiffened. He did not return the kiss.

At the coldness against her mouth, she gasped and broke away, horror making her blood run cold. “Oh my God, Beckett, I’m so sorry.”

Only silence greeted her. Was he shaking?

His eyebrow slowly arched. “Did you do that to shut me up or because you wanted to kiss me?”

Heat crept over her face. “I don’t know why I did that.” She swallowed deeply, and then began rambling, “No that’s not true. I was just thinking how nice it felt to have someone protecting me and caring about me… and it seemed familiar and safe… and your mouth looked good…”

More silence descended. Until all the shock on Beckett’s face was swept away to reveal raw, unadulterated lust, an expression she hadn’t seen from him for a very long time. It occurred to her then she missed being looked at like that – with fierce hunger. Like no other woman compared to her. Like he didn’t care what hell he had to walk through to reach her, he’d do it time and time again. Like he was just the reckless kid that wanted something and didn’t care what the consequences cost him.

She wanted to be that person she was back then with him. The one who didn’t know what heartbreak felt like. The one who laughed often and believed anything was possible. She swallowed again, swearing her heart was beating loud enough for both of them to hear.

A beat.

Then a gasp ripped from her throat as he grabbed the front of her shirt and yanked her against the hard planes of his body. He did what she didn’t do. He finished the kiss.

A moment later, her back hit the beer tank, and Beckett wasted no time devouring her neck with his hot kisses. She pushed off his cowboy hat to run her hands through his hair, feeling her sane mind unravel at his passion. Her mind shut off and only her body was thinking now. Beckett’s touch was imprinted on her skin, reminding her of teenage freedom and wild affection.

“Ew, my eyes,” Maisie screamed.

Amelia broke away from Beckett with a loud gasp, snapping her eyes open, finding her sisters standing in the barn’s open double doors. Maisie was blinking rapidly, and Clara’s back was ramrod straight. Amelia stared at them for a second before they both turned and walked away.

Beckett chuckled proudly. But Amelia wasn’t laughing at what her sisters had caught her doing two weeks after she was dumped at the altar. “There is something wrong with me,” Amelia muttered. “Seriously, something wrong with me. I can’t believe I just kissed you like that. I’m sorry, Beckett. Please forgive me.”

Right as she raised her shaky hands to cover her face, Beckett grabbed her wrists. “There’s nothing wrong with you,” he stated. The kiss he dropped on her mouth was indecent and the best kiss of her entire life. He gave her a panty-melting smirk. “Just to clarify, I’m not one bit sorry about that kiss.”

When he released her, she wobbled. Sure, back when they dated, Beckett had always known how to make her blush and kiss her just right, but this was a man’s kiss, not the kiss of a kid looking for some fun. This kiss had intent, power, and made her hunger to taste it again.

Before she could even think straight, he was striding past her sisters, giving them a simple hello like what they’d walked in on was everyday business.

Clara whirled around to Amelia, her eyes huge and mouth gaping open. She appeared to try to talk, but nothing was coming out.

Maisie gave a shit-eating grin. “If that’s not a spectacular welcome home, I don’t know what is.”

*****

Review:

Amelia and Beckett were high school sweethearts, but tragedy separated them and the years have kept them apart. Given another chance, they take the opportunity to see if their feelings are still there.

For a story that begins with the bride being left at the alter and her ex-boyfriend punching the groom, Dirty Ginger is surprisingly drama free. I enjoy a story that takes its time, letting us get to know the characters and enjoy their changing relationship. And I really appreciate a hero who can own up to his issues and who is willing to seek out help … even if occasionally he falls into old habits.

Kennedy delivers a satisfying, slow burn second-chance love story. Not having read the rest of the series, I can’t make a comparison but I can say that it kept me happily turning pages to the very end.

(While I’m sure I would have loved getting to know Amelia’s sisters, Dirty Ginger can easily stand on its own.)

*****

Author Info:

Stacey Kennedy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.

Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2GndEc8
Website: http://bit.ly/38IpidY
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/30UzJIw
Facebook: http://bit.ly/38IX6au
Twitter: http://bit.ly/38I0Zgc

GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2sXZlYo

Stay up to date with Stacey by joining her mailing list:

http://bit.ly/38L2R7T

*****

Review – Flag on the Play

02 Friday Jul 2021

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

a best friend's sibling romance, Book Review, Flag on the Play, Kay Gordon, Single Dad's Romance series

Carson Ward goes from star Quarterback to single dad the second his ex drops a newborn off on his doorstep, he needs help, and luckily for him, his best friend’s sister, Abby Lauder is ready to rise to the challenge. But can the two go from secret crushes to dirty diapers and late-night feedings without ruining the walls that have been built or will they realize that love is worth the risk? Readers will swoon for this Best Friend’s Sibling romance featuring a sexy doorstep dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Flag on the Play by Kay Gordon, the next book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

*****

Flag on the Play

a best friend’s sibling romance

Single Dad’s Romance Series

by Kay Gordon

Blurb:

Carson Ward’s life might seem glamorous but he’s a simple guy. He loves football, his family, and spending time with his friends. His biggest flaw might just be the fact that he has a secret crush on his best friend’s little sister and has for years.

Abby Lauder is a free spirit and loves seeing life through the lens of her camera. As the photographer for a professional football team, she’s used to being just one of the guys. Whether she’s taking pictures of nature or pictures of football players, she never fails to catch the perfect image. So what if her camera lingers on her brother’s best friend a bit longer than others?

When Carson’s ex-girlfriend drops a newborn baby off on his doorstep, he’s caught completely unaware. He never dreamed that he would go from star quarterback to a single dad in an instant. Luckily, he has help from those around him- including Abby. But, taking care of a newborn baby isn’t easy and it’ll require the quarterback and the photographer to spend even more time together.

Amidst the diaper changes and late night feedings, hiding their feelings from each other will be harder than they think. Besides, their relationship is taboo in far too many ways for things to really go anywhere between them…right?

Or maybe Carson and Abby will realize that sometimes love is worth the risk.

Add to Goodreads!→ https://bit.ly/3sqcwKm

Read Now! Amazon → https://amzn.to/3v81KKr

*****

Excerpt:

Silence fell over us as we headed out of the locker room and to the tunnel. I was running through a list of things I needed to get from the grocery store when I heard the unmistakable click of a camera.

Normally that sound gave me a bit of a fight or flight reaction. After years of being in the media spotlight, I still wasn’t as used to it as some might assume. It was a necessary evil with my occupation, though, and I did my best to ignore them completely.

Inside the stadium, though, the sound gave me a different type of reaction. When I glanced over, my eyes landed on where a big professional camera was pointed right in our direction. The person behind the camera, however, was what grabbed my attention.

Abby was easily the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Her shiny, light-brown hair fell halfway down her back and looked so damn soft. She had eyes that were such a light brown color that they almost appeared gold. She didn’t usually wear makeup and didn’t need to. Her natural beauty was enough.

She was also tiny. She couldn’t have been an inch over five-four with a curvy body that matched her small stature well. She caught eyes of people wherever we were and it irritated me more than it should’ve. Despite her small appearance, Abby had a big personality. She laughed all the time and made friends with everyone she met.

You’d think after working with her for more than two years and knowing her for almost six, I’d be over my infatuation with her, but it never seemed to go away. Not really. I was good at ignoring and pretending, though.

Because I had to. Trevor made it clear to everyone when she started working as the Wildcats official team photographer that his little sister was off-limits.

It sucked.

“Hey, Abs.” I offered her a bright smile, pushing back my attraction to her. “Make sure you pick the best ones of me and the worst ones of this troll to use, okay?”

Trevor let out a bark of laughter and used one hand to shove me back as he approached his little sister. “She would never do me dirty like that, would you, short stuff?”

“You know better than to ask that question,” she replied with a snort as she lowered her camera and ducked away from her brother, who was probably about to give her a noogie of some kind. “I pick only the ugliest of your ugly face.”

“Don’t make me call Mom,” he warned, laughter in his voice. “She won’t take well to you hurting her baby boy’s feelings.”

Abby rolled her eyes. “The sad thing is that you’re right.”

It was weird to see the two of them together and to think that they were related in anyway. Other than the color of their hair, Abby and Trevor looked nothing alike and the contrast between their overall appearance was almost laughable.

Watching them together always made me miss my own little sister. Parker and I were close but while I was in Denver playing football, she was in Sacramento and working for a pro-hockey team. We were close and always had been, so it sucked that we didn’t get to see each other more. The little brat was happy, though, and that was all that mattered.

“Exactly.” Trevor flashed his sister a smug smile before jerking his chin towards her. “What are these pictures for?”

She shrugged and glanced down at the camera she was holding. “Everyone wants to see what the Wildcats are doing to prepare for the season, so I’m snapping a little bit of everything.”

“Are you ready for another season?” I asked as I adjusted the duffel bag on my shoulder.

Abby nodded and a bright smile crossed her face, making her even more beautiful.

“I enjoy the traveling, but I get more time to explore than you guys do.” She glanced behind her when we heard others coming down the tunnel. “Let me go snap some photos of these guys. See you both later?”

“See you at home,” Trevor confirmed with a nod and I just smiled at her.

“See you later, Abby.”

*****

Review:

There’s so much to like about Gordon’s newest release (besides the fact that Carson going ga-ga over his newborn daughter is one of the sweetest things ever!) Both Carson and Abby are nice people trying their best to push down their feelings for the other. There’s the whole big brother thing going on but it is also against their employment contracts. And while yes, those are both big concerns, the biggest is the fear that their feelings may be one sided. But a little time spent alone together might just show them how good things could be.

This is definitely a slow burn, so don’t go into it expecting anything else. Over the first part of the book, we get to know Carson & Abby and join Carson while he learns what it means to be a new dad (so cute!) When circumstances throw them alone together, things definitely heat up. So do the complications. But it makes it all the better as they work their way to their own HEA.

Flag on the Play is a sweet, low angst, fast read – perfect for a day at the beach, by the pool, or just lounging on the sofa.

*****

Author Info:

Kay Gordon is a married, mother of two living near the west coast. She spends her days teaching young, impressionable minds in public school and evenings typing away furiously once her children are in bed. She loves to take her characters on a journey, making that happy ending even better!

Her favorite genre to read is Contemporary Romance but won’t hesitate to try anything with promise. One of her favorite past times is to read the book and then go see the movie while forcing her husband to listen to her point out all of the differences in real time. She’s still not over what Harry did to the Elder Wand in DH2.

When she’s not teaching or writing, Kay loves to spend time with her family and friends, although she doesn’t ever say no to a good nap. She’s an avid lover of hockey and can be seen cheering for her beloved Nashville Predators- no matter how much they frustrate her.

Kay always welcomes feedback and comments (or even just a healthy argument about why Backstreet Boys are better than *Nsync) so please don’t hesitate to reach out!

*****

About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love.

From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after.

Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!

Follow the @IndiePenPR FB Page for all the Single Dad’s news: https://www.facebook.com/IndiePenPR

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

Review – Flipping Love You

30 Wednesday Jun 2021

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series, Erin Nicholas, Flipping Love You

Flipping Love You, an all-new STEAMY and laugh-out-loud, surprise baby standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!

*****

Flipping Love You

Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series

by Erin Nicholas

Blurb:

He’s the tattooed bad boy her mama warned her about.

She’s his hot mess–but mostly hot–next door neighbor.

Until a two-night-stand gives them the surprise of a lifetime…

Jillian Morris is a workaholic who forgets to watch the time. And to eat. And to change her shoes. And to keep even a house-plant alive. And to have any kind of a personal life.

Now an eccentric millionaire has left her eight million dollars. And eight penguins. Yes, real live penguins. She’s a wildlife vet who specializes in penguins, so that makes sense. Kind of. She can, and does, keep penguins alive and well. She now just has to move them cross-country to her friend’s new animal park.

So if anyone deserves a one-night (or two) stand with a hot, younger, tattooed bad boy on a motorcycle, it’s her. Or so Jill tells herself when Zeke Landry flips his bike in front of her motel.

If only she’d known who he really was.

And that he was the fall-hard-and-fast type.

And the protective type.

And that one night would turn into more like nine-months of being …sigh…very personal.

Fall in love today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/34weUFK

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3yLhyW6

Nook: https://bit.ly/3uxusE3

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3g9PCD0

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3yZSU4i

Add Flipping Love You to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3c3dmaB

*****

Excerpt:

He lifted a hand to run it through his wet hair.

Her eyes followed the motion, seemingly riveted on his arm. He wasn’t sure if it was the tattoo or what exactly. But he did know that Jillian was fascinated with his ink. She had traced all of it with her fingers and tongue last night more than once. And he had a lot of ink.

“I’m the guy who’s remodeling your house.”

Her eyes widened. “We’re going to be neighbors.”

He let his grin grow slowly. “Yup.”

She tipped her head back and groaned.

But it wasn’t one of the hot oh-my-God-yes groans she’d been giving him last night. This was more of oh-crap groan.

“You’re clearly not as excited about that as I am,” he said dryly.

Her head came up and she met his eyes. Now there was no roaming over his half naked body. She shook her head. “It just feels complicated to live next door to the guy I’m hooking up with once a month.”

He was confused. “We’re hooking up once a month?”

“Well, that was what I was going to propose anyway. Friends with benefits, you know? After last night I thought that could be kind of fun.”

“That would be fun. Very, very fun,” he said. “But why only once a month? I’m up for that kind of fun way more often.”

“Sure. But then it turns into more like dating or a relationship or something rather than just getting together for hot sex.”

“And I take it the relationship and dating thing is something you’re trying to avoid?”

“Very much so. And living next door to you means that we’ll see each other occasionally and since you’ll be saving me from alligators on a regular basis, we could potentially turn into actual friends. And that makes the hooking up even more complicated.”

Having the sun up hadn’t made him feel any less attracted to, slightly confused by, surprised by, and definitely amused by this woman. “But friends with benefits has friends right in the title.”

This all sounded good to him. Having a neighbor he could get naked with whenever the urge struck, who didn’t want anything else from him, sounded pretty great.

“I’m just really not interested in a relationship,” Jill went on. “I’m not good at them. And I don’t really have time for them. And I don’t put the effort into them, which ends up bothering the other person after a while. Which is understandable. I’m not blaming anyone. I just really like to have everything laid out and everyone on the same page. And I like sex. It would be really perfect to be able to have amazing sex, but only when it’s convenient.”

Zeke gave a soft snort. Convenient hot sex. It really did sound pretty amazing.

“If you just want to walk through my door, only wearing a robe and nothing underneath to save time, I’m not gonna kick you out, cher,” he told her. He was half-teasing. But only half.

She finally gave him a hint of a smile. “I can just show up on your front porch anytime I want?”

He reached up and cupped the side of her head. He brought her in close and put his mouth against hers. “Any freaking time.”

*****

Review:

I’ve featured a lot of Erin Nicholas’s books, but have only managed to read a couple. Don’t ask my why, I’ve really enjoyed the ones that I have read. And Flipping Love You is no different. Her characters are quirky, charming, and fun. The plot is interesting, the sex is steamy, and the ending is satisfying.

Jill is adorable in her efforts to keep her life outside of her penguins as uncomplicated as possible. Her solitary, independent life has worked for her until now but moving to Autre puts her in the path of the Landrys and their loud, boisterous, loving hearts. Especially, one particular Landry – sexy, funny, irresistible Zeke. It doesn’t take her long to learn that things are done a little bit differently on the bayou … and realize that maybe that’s not so bad.

Nicholas’s newest is a humor laden, relatively drama free, sizzling romance that is a perfect summer read. Returning readers are sure to love the chance to catch up with old friends and see Zeke meet his match. (But if this is your first visit to Autre, like me, you can easily keep up. Although you may be tempted to get ALL the books, like me 🙂 )

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

Website: http://bit.ly/2NkB2uF

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2tdTM8e

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2QLd1Pr

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3a3rnm4

Instagram: http://bit.ly/36NqV9y

Website: http://bit.ly/2FM3Doo

Stay up to date with Erin Nicholas by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/38a5Fv5

*****

Review – The Wicked Aftermath

09 Wednesday Jun 2021

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Dark Knights at Bayside, Melissa Foster, The Wicked Aftermath, The Wickeds series

Get your tissues ready, Foster’s newest is a heart-wringer!

*****

The Wicked Aftermath

The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside

by Melissa Foster

Releasing June 9, 2021

World Literary Press

Blurb:

When the person you blame for your grief is the only one who can save you from the pain…

Tank Wicked lost his sister and has since vowed to save everyone else in his path. He lives by the creed of the Dark Knights motorcycle club, sworn to protect and respect his community. He selflessly saves lives as a volunteer firefighter and treats the men and women who work for him at his tattoo shop like family. But life isn’t a balance scale where good deeds negate bad things to come, and one foggy night life guts Tank once again. When a car careens over the side of a bridge and into a river, Tank springs into action, plunging into the water to rescue the passengers. Four people go into the river, but only three come out alive.

Leah Yates is just trying to make it through each day. When the man she blames for her grief becomes the only one who can pull her from the depths of despair, she discovers that even hope comes at a price. Maybe this time she won’t have to face it alone.

THE WICKED AFTERMATH is an emotionally gripping story of love, loss, and hope, with a rich and entrancing happily ever after. Set on the sandy shores of Cape Cod, the Wickeds feature fiercely protective heroes, strong heroines, and unbreakable family bonds. If you think bikers are all the same, you haven’t met the Dark Knights. The Dark Knights are a motorcycle club, not a gang. Their members stick together like family and will stop at nothing to keep their communities safe. Some of the Wickeds’ love stories will be hilariously fun and deeply emotional, others will tear at your heartstrings and include injections of humor, but they will all leave you wishing you could climb between the pages and join them. All Wicked novels may be enjoyed as standalone romances.

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53970833-the-wicked-aftermath

Goodreads series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/269450-the-wickeds-dark-knights-at-bayside

Buy Links:

KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/WA_Kindle

APPLE: https://smarturl.it/WA_Apple

NOOK: https://smarturl.it/WA_Nook

KOBO: https://smarturl.it/WA_Kobo

GPLAY: https://smarturl.it/WA_GPlay

PAPERBACK: https://smarturl.it/WA_Pb

Audio coming July 2021, narrated by Lance Greenfield and Jennifer Mack

Amazon: https://smarturl.it/WAa_Amazon

Apple: https://smarturl.it/WAa_Apple

Audible: https://smarturl.it/WAa_Audible

For more Dark Knights, check out The Whiskeys: https://melissafoster.com/series-the-whiskeys-dark-knights-at-peaceful-harbor/

For more Bayside Summers fun: https://melissafoster.com/series-bayside-summers/

*****

Excerpt:

Read Sneak Peek here, https://melissafoster.com/the-wicked-aftermath-sneak-peek/

*****

Review:

I kinda feel like the blurb doesn’t do this book justice. I almost passed this one by because I was expecting a whole lot of drama but that’s not what Foster gives us at all. The emotion is there in loads but there is actually very little angst. Instead we get a touching story of loss, grief, healing, and love. I’ll be honest, I cried at least twice so be prepared.

Tank, like all the Wickeds, is a stand-up guy with a big heart. He takes his duty of protecting others seriously and that soon includes Leah and her little family. It’s beyond sweet seeing them getting closer (and those little girls wrapping ALL the Wickeds around their little fingers), supporting each other, and becoming a unit of their own.

Leah hasn’t had a lot of support outside of her brother since her father died years ago. It doesn’t take long for the Wickeds to show her what it means to be one of them. It might have happened under tragic circumstances but it gives her just what she needs.

There’s a decent amount of heat but so much more heart in The Wicked Aftermath. They aren’t kidding that it will “tear at your heartstrings” but Foster always knows how to make everything right and give a happy ending that is truly satisfying.

*****

Author Info:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling 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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster

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

Newsletter: http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/

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

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author

*****

SERIES LINKS:

A LITTLE BIT WICKED (Book 1)

➜KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Kindle

➜APPLE: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Apple

➜NOOK: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Nook

➜KOBO: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Kobo

➜GPLAY: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_GPlay

➜PAPERBACK: https://smarturl.it/ALBW_Pb

Also available in audio book (narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Aiden Snow)

➜AMAZON: https://smarturl.it/ALBWa_Amazon

➜APPLE: https://smarturl.it/ALBWa_Apple

➜AUDIBLE: https://smarturl.it/ALBWa_Audible

CRAZY, WICKED LOVE (Book 3) – Rel March 2022

➜KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Kindle

➜APPLE: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Apple

➜NOOK: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Nook

➜KOBO: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Kobo

➜GPLAY: https://smarturl.it/CWL_GPlay

➜PAPERBACK: https://smarturl.it/CWL_Pb

Audio pre-order coming soon!

Review – Each & Every Summer

25 Tuesday May 2021

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Each & Every Summer, L A Tavares

If given an opportunity to connect with your first love again, would you do it?

*****

Each and Every Summer

by L A Tavares

General Release Date: 25th May 2021

Word Count: 76,038

Book Length: SUPER NOVEL

Pages: 297

GENRES: CHICK LIT, CONTEMPORARY, ROMANCE, SWEET ROMANCE

Blurb:

Time heals some wounds.

The first time Lyla Savoie Kenney found love—boundless, passionate love—it wasn’t with a person but a place. She found deep-rooted endearment there, and in keeping with tradition, it caused her first real heartbreak too.

Lyla grew up on the beaches at Begoa’s Point, a campground she and her father visited each summer for seventeen years. She spent each non-summer month counting down the days until she could return, until going back was no longer an option. Begoa’s Point closed with no explanation.

Fifteen years later, now a widowed mother with a child of her own, Begoa’s Point is reopening its doors. Lyla is surprised when she is abruptly moved off the waiting list and given a reservation at the camp, but even more surprising is what she finds when she arrives.

Weston Accardi, the first boy Lyla ever gave her heart to, is the proud new owner of the Begoa’s property. He has changed—and not just because a prosthetic leg now exists where a natural limb once did. He is no longer the carefree rebel he used to be but has grown into a responsible businessman.

Their past, however, refuses to remain such, cycling back to smother the fire they’ve tried so hard to rebuild since her arrival to the reopened campground.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57628379-each-and-every-summer

*****

Excerpt:

The campground was quiet. Not silent, but quiet. Silence on the grounds was a rarity. Birds chirped and critters snapped twigs and crunched leaves as they ran through the abundant foliage, sounding off their small, happy-to-be-out-of-hibernation squeaks. The fire Weston Accardi kept lit continuously, day and night, crackled and popped as it chewed into the pieces of wood he fed it.

Soon the soundtrack of the campground would transform from its current nature-inspired sounds to a blend of noises that belonged to the incoming camping families. Children would run and play, shrieking at decibels specific to summertime. Their laughter and yells would echo through the plush pine trees as parents unpacked the camping gear and essentials from the overloaded trucks to prepare the site that they would call home for the duration of their stay. Music—both played through Bluetooth speakers and strummed on old guitars—would travel from the dirt driveways beneath each RV and become one with cloudless blue sky above.

Each currently bare site would have a tent or RV secured on it, and every available rental trailer or cottage would have people occupying them. Every single one, Weston thought as he thumbed through countless pages of reservations. He’d requested the bookings be printed and delivered to the site he’d claimed as ‘The Owner’s Headquarters’ during the off-season renovations. The rest of the employees had WiFi access within the offices and laptops or tablets to view the information and spreadsheets, but Weston found nostalgic peace of mind by holding the printed reservations in his hand the exact way his father before him had done while sitting in the very same chair. A half-grin slid onto Weston’s cheeks. He was pleased with the turnout of reservations for the grand reopening of Begoa’s Point Family Campground. His father would have been too, had he been alive to see it.

Weston tucked the most recent reservation listings into the worn-out openings of the accordion-style folder and tossed it inside the door of his RV, which was situated in a wooded area well away from the hustle and bustle of the main grounds. When his parents had owned the campground more than fifteen years before, they had chosen a site at the center of the grounds directly within earshot of anything and everything going on within their property’s perimeter. They’d preferred it that way—involved, hands-on. In many ways, Weston liked that too, maintaining full control, but when the sun went down, he preferred a hushed space to retreat to in order to separate himself from his work and enjoy the serene nature that surrounded him.

“Achilles.” Weston followed the call with a quick, wet-lipped whistle and a pat of his palm against the thigh of his cargo shorts. He grabbed a leather leash from the picnic table with a clink as the metal clasp sounded against the tabletop. The dog’s ears perked up like antennas receiving a signal. His tail picked up speed, wagging in long, swift motions that swept the sand off the patio mat that covered the land just outside the RV. “Want to go on a run?”

The dog leaped from the shaded dirt area he could usually be found in—a spot he’d claimed to hide away in from Maine’s hot summer rays. He darted toward his owner and pushed his large head into Weston’s hips with a force that almost knocked him over.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Weston used his palm to ruffle the fur between the German Shepherd’s ears. Achilles bounded around in circles with an impressive agility comparable to that of a show dog. With his energy and antics, no one would guess he was missing part of his hind leg. Then again, like pup, like owner. Most people hardly noticed that Weston was an amputee as well. He was a man who ran multiple miles per day, every day, with his dog stuck to his side. He walked all over the campground and was hardly ever seen in a golf cart unless there was an emergency that he needed to handle sooner rather than later. He maneuvered around using his left leg prosthetic as if it were his own natural limb.

Weston stretched out his back and his existing leg before clipping the dog’s leash around his waist. The dog usually ran free, but the leash stayed on Weston’s person in case the need arose for him to use it. Weston took off down the winding dirt path into a long trail of cookie-cutter cottages—empty now but soon to be filled with families ready to embark on their summer camping adventures. There would be some newcomers, but most of the reservation list was composed of returning families from his parents’ time of owning and operating the same campground prior to its untimely closure.

He and Achilles ran uphill, turning a corner to jog past the recently updated tennis and basketball courts, as well as a newly renovated shower and bath house. A custodial worker waved as Weston came around the bend of the road and jogged past.

“Good morning, Larry!” Weston called. Larry tipped his hat in Weston’s direction. Weston had made it a point to learn the name of every employee—a rule of his father’s that he’d inherited and valued. He continued his journey down the pathway toward the beachfront bar and restaurant, stopping where Mark Jenson was readying the place for the upcoming grand reopening. The outdoor bar itself was a new addition, built while the cabins and sites were being remodeled, but Mark was an original employee. A longtime friend of Weston’s father, Mark had run the bar and restaurant during Begoa’s Point’s first run and had agreed to come back to manage the new facility.

“Morning, boss.” Mark moved large boxes of glasses from the ground to the bar top as the sun beat down on the tiki-themed hut while he worked. He wiped his brow on his forearm. His sweat-soaked shirt clung to his skin at his chest and back. “What are we having today?”

“The usual will be fine.” Weston slowed and came to a full stop. Achilles followed suit, coming to a halt, then lying down in the small bit of shade the bar provided.

Mark grabbed a silver bowl from a below-bar cabinet and filled it with water before stepping out from the service area and coming around the bar to serve it to Begoa’s Point’s most prominent VIP. Mark stayed on one knee for a moment, scratching below the dog’s chin. Achilles stood and started lapping water from the bowl, leaving more water on the ground in a messy puddle than he’d swallowed.

Mark returned to his position behind the counter, filled a cup with ice and water and slid it across the bar into Weston’s hand.

“Where are you headed to today?” Mark leaned into the bar.

“All over the grounds, I think. The usual path.” Weston paused to take a sip of the ice-cold water. “At least as far as the marina. I just want to make sure everything is ready to go for the opening.”

“That’s what you said yesterday.” Mark raised an eyebrow. “Then again, it’s what you will probably say tomorrow and the day after that too.”

“I like to be prepared.” Weston sent his now-empty plastic cup back across the bar.

“You will be. You are your father’s son, after all. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Weston looked at Mark, analyzing the new lines that sank into his skin, but other than a few signs of aging, Mark looked almost the same as he had when Weston’s parents had owned the campground before its closure, leaving Mark and many others without a job.

“Thank you for coming back, Mark. This place wouldn’t be the same without you, even after all these years. I’m sorry we ever put you out of a job in the first place.” Weston turned his eyes downward in sadness.

“It’s not your fault, Weston—”

“It is, actually,” Weston interrupted, adjusting his ballcap, with his gaze still glued to the floor. He watched the dog, if for no other reason than to avoid Mark’s eyes. “You know it and so do I.”

“It’s not. You knock that off right now.” Mark’s voice teetered on scolding, and he wagged one aging finger in Weston’s direction. “You know that your dad used to come down to the old bar every night for last call. Every night. He sat on the same barstool each time, and you know what he told me?”

Weston shook his head. He had been only seventeen when his parent’s ownership had come to an end, so he’d not reached the legal drinking age where he could spend those waning nighttime hours with his dad, occupying Mark’s bar stools. His ‘no’ wasn’t an entirely honest answer to Mark’s question, however. He knew what Mark was going to say—what his dad had used to say—but he wanted to hear it. If he couldn’t hear it from his own father, Mark’s affirmation was the next best thing.

“He said it was his dream to see you run this place. So maybe it didn’t happen as he’d expected, but it’s happening, and you should be proud of that. You’re not a kid anymore, Weston. You’ve grown and should be so proud of who you’ve become. Your father would be.”

“I remember that. He used to come down here every night but never had a sip of alcohol.” Weston smiled at the seemingly small memories of his father, but they were anything but insignificant. They were everything.

“I remember watching you run around these grounds, from learning to walk all the way to chasing after the girls on the beach in your teenage years.” Mark continued to speak, but Weston’s mind was elsewhere, time-traveling down a winding path to his childhood.

*****

Review:

The reopening of Begoa’s Point gives Lyla and Weston more than just a chance to reconnect, but also to heal old wounds and to remember those important days of their childhoods. Those days that helped to make them into the people they are today. Those days that also broke their hearts.

I usually don’t like stories that jump back and forth between the present & the past but Tavares handles it really well. It feels organic to the moment and is short, while still being important to what is going on now. And it is satisfying to get those glimpses of youthful enthusiasm and growing up that happened all those summers ago.

With Each & Every Summer, Tavares gives us a read that just resonates with the feel good, slow moving summer vibes of our childhood. It’s the perfect backdrop to two people addressing their pasts, looking towards their future, remembering who they were and thinking about who they want to be, while capturing that love they once embraced so completely, as only teenagers can.

*****

Author Info:

When it comes to romance, L A doesn’t have a type. Sometimes it’s dark and devastating, sometimes it’s soft and simple – truly, it just depends what her imaginary friends are doing at the time she starts writing about them.

L A has moved to various parts of the country over the last ten years but her heart has never left Boston.

And no, the “A” does not stand for Anne.

Follow LA on Facebook and Twitter.

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Leanne54Tavares

A. Tavares – https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11760

*****

Giveaway:

Enter for your chance to win a fabulous gift package from romance author L A Tavares and get a FREE eBook from the author!

L.A. Tavares’ Each and Every Summer Giveaway – https://upvir.al/114965/lp114965

L.A. TAVARES IS GIVING AWAY THIS FABULOUS PRIZE TO ONE LUCKY WINNER. ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A LOVELY GIFT PACKAGE AND GET A FREE EBOOK FROM THE AUTHOR! Notice: This competition ends on 8th June 2021 at 5pm GMT. Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.

*****

Review – Maybe We Will

04 Tuesday May 2021

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Maybe We Will, Melissa Foster, Silver Harbor series

From Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of She Loves Me, comes a sexy and heart-warming novel about finding love—and family—where you least expect it.

*****

Maybe We Will

Silver Harbor #1

by Melissa Foster

Releasing May 4th, 2021

Montlake Romance

Blurb:

When chef Abby de Messiéres returns to Silver Island with her sister to get their late mother’s affairs in order, she expected to inherit her mother’s bistro along with their childhood home, not to discover a half sister they never knew existed, and a handsome vacationer camped out on her mother’s patio.

Workaholic Aiden Aldridge has been sent to Silver Island on a work-free vacation, armed with a “Let Loose List,” and ordered to get a life by the much-younger sister he raised after the death of their parents. After years of focusing on his sister’s well-being, he’s blindsided by his intense attraction to the gorgeous, free-spirited Abby.

Aiden might not know much about chilling out, but he’s excellent at striking deals. He helps Abby with the restaurant in exchange for her help in tackling the items on his list. Sparks fly as Aiden and Abby work, and play, side by side. Intimate conversations lead to steamy kisses and undeniable passion. But there’s more to Aiden then Abby knows, and when the truth comes out, their new romance is put to the test, as the two find out if true love really can conquer all.

The Silver Harbor series is published by Montlake Romance and will be available in paperback and audio formats at all book retailers, and exclusively in digital format for Kindle and Kindle apps. Download a free Kindle reading app here: http://bit.ly/FreeKindle_App1

Sneak Peek, https://melissafoster.com/maybe-we-will-sneak-peek/

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54907204-maybe-we-will

Goodreads series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/297812-silver-harbor

KINDLE: https://smarturl.it/MWW_Kindle

PAPERBACK: https://smarturl.it/MWW_Pb

FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED

Available in audio! (Narrated by Aiden Snow and Jennifer Mack)

AMAZON: https://smarturl.it/MWWa_Amazon

AUDIBLE: https://smarturl.it/MWWa_Audible

*****

Review:

Aiden has a good, tho not necessarily trouble-free, life. He took over as parent to his sister at a very young age and has spent all of his time raising her & running his business. His big heart and sharp mind has served them well over the years but, now that she’s happily settled into a relationship, she wants him to take some time off and learn to relax. Unfortunately that’s not easy for him … until he meets Abby, who’s zest for life instantly captivates him.

Abby is in town to settle her mother’s affairs, and maybe find herself. What she didn’t expect is the gorgeous guy having breakfast on the beach one morning. They soon find themselves getting to know one another, working on her family’s restaurant, and just letting go & having fun.

Maybe We Will is definitely for those readers that appreciate a slow burn. There’s not a lot of drama or angst, just a chance to sit back and enjoy two people falling in love. And while she definitely knows how to turn on the heat, Foster also knows how to deliver charming characters and enjoyable stories. Her newest is no different

(While all of Foster’s books can technically be read on their own, I think that you’ll enjoy them more when you are familiar with the side characters and their backgrounds.)

*****

Author Info:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & 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
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster
Newsletter: http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author

Book Review – Always

30 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Always, Book Review, RJ Scott, Single Dads series

I always look forward to a new Single Dads book and Scott once again gives readers all the feels!

*****

Always

Single Dads #4

by RJ Scott

Release – March 29th, 2021

Blurb:

Lives change in an instant, but with family found and forever love, there is always hope.

Impetuously putting his life on the line, Adam saved a child trapped in a car wreck and suffered career-ending injuries. Living with chronic pain, and at his lowest moments, he had friends who wouldn’t let him give up, a family who had his back, and even though his future was different from what he’d always planned, he at least had hope. When Cameron and Finn land on his doorstep, he never dreamed that he would fall in love with the small family or that maybe he’d get to be a hero again.

Cameron goes from being a devoted husband to a single dad overnight. With his neatly planned future in ruins, he will do anything to make a new life for his son, even if it means moving to the other side of the country. Renting a room from Adam is the first step in making a home for him and Finn, but falling for the former firefighter was never part of the plan.

The shadows from Cameron’s past might take a long time to touch this fragile future, but will he have to face the consequences alone when they do? Or will there always be hope?

All buy links will be here: rjscott.co.uk/Read-Always

SINGLE DADS series

Single – rjscott.co.uk/Read-Single

Today – rjscott.co.uk/Read-Today

Promise – rjscott.co.uk/Read-Promise

Always – rjscott.co.uk/Read-Always

Listen (Coming late Summer)

Pride (Coming Christmas)

*****

Review:

Scott delivers a slow-burn story that isn’t big on action but has tons of emotion. Both Cam and Adam are struggling to find a path that works for them and meeting each other, spending time together and growing closer, could lead them to a wonderful future … if they can trust in themselves and each other.

Adam is still trying to figure out what his new normal is, and dealing with overly concerned friends and family is just making it worse. Living with constant pain and the devastation of losing his career is bad enough, but the pity and kid-glove treatment from those that love him just adds to his troubles. He hurts, emotionally and physically, but maybe new people to help is just what he needs.

Cam is dealing with the aftermath of his husband’s criminal activity and betrayals. An old friend from his past has found him a place to lie low until things calm down and he can figure out his next steps. He’s a good dad and a good man, who just got taken in by the wrong person, and he needs time to remember who he used to be. But a strong, undeniable attraction to Adam was not part of the plan.

I have enjoyed every book in this series and Scott once again delivers are winner. Adam and Cam are likable and caring people, who find themselves a bit battered by what life has thrown at them. But Adam’s house proves to be a place where they can get their feet under them, relax and learn to believe in themselves and others again. Their growing closeness, slowly developing into a supportive and caring family, makes the heart happy and leads to a HEA epilogue that gives all the smiles.

*****

Author Info:

RJ Scott, author of M/M romance.

Writing love stories with a happy ever after – cowboys, heroes, family, hockey, single dads, bodyguards

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott has written over one hundred romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.

She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing. The last time she had a week’s break from writing, she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.

Website – http://rjscott.co.uk

Newsletter – http://rjscott.co.uk/rjnews

Email – rj@rjscott.co.uk

BookBub – http://bookbub.com/authors/rj-scott?follow=true

Amazon – http://amazon.com/author/rj-scott

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/RJ_LoveLane/

Goodreads – http://goodreads.com/rjscott

Instagram – http://instagram.com/rjscott_author/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/Rjscott_author

Facebook Group – http://facebook.com/groups/Rjscott

Facebook Profile – http://www.facebook.com/author.rjscott

Book Review – Heart Smart

19 Friday Mar 2021

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Emma Lee Jayne, Heart Smart, Work For It series

Heart Smart, an all-new enemies to lovers contemporary romance from Emma Lee Jayne, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!

*****

Heart Smart

Work For It #2

by Emma Lee Jayne

Blurb:

Dr. Maximillian Ramsey has a problem ….

I’m a jerk. Everyone I know or have ever worked with agrees. “Misanthropic asshole” is the term I hear most often.

I don’t care what other people think as long as they leave me alone to focus on my research on soil microbiology. Plus, I walk with a cane thanks to a childhood accident. I have scars on my face. And if that isn’t enough to scare people off, my bad attitude and general grumpiness seal the deal. Which is just the way I like it.

Except, I’ve been short listed for one of the most prestigious academic fellowships around. To win it, I’ll have to give a series of speeches. On a stage. With an audience. While being filmed.

Yeah. None of that is going to happen.

Unfortunately, my boss has a plan. He brings in one of the communications lecturers to give me a “make over,” help me write the speeches, and manage my social media.

But the last thing I need is some nosy, bossy, gorgeous woman meddling in my life.

And Holly is the solution…

I’m a mere communications lecturer at a prestigious research university. I’m used to being outclassed and under-educated compared to the PhDs who surround me.

But I’m good at what I do. Brilliant, actually.

When Max’s boss (who happens to be my ex-husband) begs me to help transform this beast of a man into someone worthy of the fellowship, I have my work cut out for me.

It’ll take a lot of badgering, blatant manipulation, and some outright thievery to get Max to cooperate. All of which I handle with the enough professionalism and restraint that should earn me a fancy grant.

What I can’t handle is how unexpectedly attractive I find the stubborn and brilliant man.

This is a battle of wills and wits, and neither is prepared to admit defeat …

“Okay, people, you do not want to miss Heart Smart by Emma Lee Jayne! It’s fun and flirty and the chemistry crackles. Warning, though! It will keep you up past your bedtime!” – New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner

‘Heart Smart’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #2 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Download your copy today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2IYAhYZ

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3m020af

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2J1C8g0

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3fpR6YQ

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/3joCMlj

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3b0S9yw

Audiobook: https://bit.ly/389p15L

*****

Excerpt:

He stands up and shrugs out of his wet duster. I take it from him. It’s still dripping, so I walk into the back to hang it up in the work area where it can drip on the linoleum instead of the wood floors. When I turn back, I see Max has also shucked his jacket and draped it over the back of a nearby chair.

And he’s unbuttoning his shirt.

My steps slow. Then stop.

He’s looking down, so he doesn’t see my mouth drop open as he shrugs out of his oxford shirt. He’s wearing a white T-shirt on under his oxford.

I never, not in a million years, would have thought wearing a white shirt under a dress shirt would be inherently sexy. It shouldn’t be.

It’s oddly formal. It calls up images of old-world elegance and cuff links.

But it’s also just . . . hot.

Because while all of Max’s other clothes are ill-fitting—including the pants he’s still wearing—the crisp white undershirt is snug. It highlights every one of those perfect muscles I’ve been trying not to think about since I saw them at his house that day.

Every. Single. One.

From his stupidly broad shoulders to that narrow waist.

I’m still staring—who am I kidding? I’m still drooling—when he looks up from carefully draping his shirt over this jacket.

I must look like a pervy cartoon with bugging eyes and a long, dangling tongue, because he clears his throat and says awkwardly, “I don’t like having hair caught in my collar.”

I nod mutely.

“So I took off my shirt.”

I nod again. Still dumbstruck.

But surely I’ll be able to speak again sometime in the next couple hours.

“I hope that’s okay.”

I clear my throat.

Because the whole struck-dumb-by-his-muscles thing is starting to get ridiculous.

“Yes.” I swallow. “Absolutely. Whatever you need.”

God, I hope that didn’t sound like a proposition.

I clear my throat again and quickly add, “To feel comfortable. You should do whatever you need to feel comfortable. That’s the point, right? You should be comfortable and I should be . . .”

Silent.

I should be silent.

Because, oh my God. Dumbstruck was so much better than this rambling mess.

“Firmer is better,” he blurts.

“Excuse me?”

He blushes and presses his lips together, before saying, “When you’re washing my hair. Or touching me. A firmer touch is better than a light one.”

I nod, the pieces falling into place. I had read that people with sensory issues and people on the spectrum sometimes find light touches over-stimulating.

“Thank you for telling me.” I want to say more. Something that will get him to open up to me. But is that really a good idea? Do I really need more ideas about how Max likes to be touched?

Um . . . that is a big, fat no. No, I do not. Because I’m only touching him to cut his hair and trim his beard. I do not need to be getting ideas beyond that.

*****

Review:

Max is grumpy, anti-social, impatient, and too smart for his own good. And more often than not he comes across as a jerk. But he also has a kind heart, when he grasps the social cues, and has a passion for helping the world. With the understanding of the right person, he’s definitely a keeper.

While Holly develops a pretty good grasp of what makes Max tick most of the time, she also realizes she’s pretty much his opposite. While she also has a passion for helping others, she also considers herself majorly flighty and of pretty normal intelligence. She’s definitely no match for uber-smart and overly organized Max.

I love these two together. Holly does a great job of poking Max just a little bit out of his norm but still appreciating the way he’s wired. And Max fully embraces Holly’s enthusiasm and heart, even when she’s irritating him. Adorably fun, and funny, Heart Smart had me til the very end.

(There are some complaints that the main point of the book – Max’s makeover – is mostly glossed over. Holly cleans him up and gets him an easy to understand speech to give but there really isn’t a lot of time spent between Holly & Max actually helping him be better at interacting with people. While I admit that’s true, the interactions between them that we do get a fun and lead to a satisfying HEA so, for a light-hearted romance, I cant complain too much. There’s also some concern for how Jayne handles the neurodiverse in the story but I’m not familiar enough with it to be able to comment. If that’s a possible trigger, please be aware.)

*****

Author Info:

I write the kinds of books I want to read. Fast-paced books with lots of world-building, snarky heroines, and swoony heroes. I love story, pop culture, gossip, and baked goods. I’m a modern-day hippy and certified LEGO nerd.

I live in the Austin, Texas hill country, with my geeky husband and two extremely geeky kids. We have dogs, chickens, cats, and more LEGOs than should be allowed by law. Oh, and I stress bake. So if my characters talk about food a lot, that’s why.

Emma also writes as Rita award winning author Emily McKay.

Find Emma Lee Jayne online

Website: http://emmaleejayne.com/

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3aWXAhO

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3aYlucC

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/3866I1W

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3523Y3x

*****

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO

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

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

Newsletter: https://smartypantsromance.com/newsletter/

Book Review – Mr Right Across The Street

12 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Kathryn Freeman, Mr Right Across The Street

Fun, but full of angst, Freeman delivers a story with a good mix of drama, humor, and feels.

*****

Mr Right Across The Street

by Kathryn Freeman

Blurb:

Mia Abbott’s move to Manchester was supposed to give her time and space from all the disastrous romantic choices she’s made in her past. But then the hot guy who lives opposite – the one who works out every day at exactly 10 a.m., not that Mia has noticed thank-you-very-much – starts leaving notes in his window…for her.

Bar owner Luke Doyle has his own issues to deal with but as he shows Mia the sites of her new city he also shows her what real romance looks like for the first time. And when he cooks up a signature cocktail in her honour, she realises that the man behind the bar is even more enticing than any of his creations. And once she’s had a taste she knows it will never be enough!

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08MX8VJX1

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MX8VJX1

*****

Review:

I’ve seen quite a few complaints about how often Mia is talked about as being “different” than the other girls. It didn’t bother me as such, I just saw it as part of how poorly she thought of herself and ties directly to her past troubles on the romance front. She’s got all sorts of issues, with believing in herself & in others, and it creates plenty of ups & downs. But with patience, and help, she may figure it out.

It’s enjoyable getting to know Luke as Mia does, seeing how he’s turned into the good time guy he is today and the big-heart that he hides underneath his easy smile. He’s fun and funny, a good friend and has plenty of potential to be a great partner. While the reformed rake is an oft-used romance plot, I felt that Freeman does it pretty well. We understand why he’s the way he is and that he’s just been waiting for the right person to shake him up, to get him to see his life a little differently, and to want something more.

You definitely have to be in the mood for a bit of drama to enjoy Freeman’s latest. Both Mia and Luke have been burned in the past and are letting it affect their current romantic choices – trust issues, ex issues, self-esteem problems … the road to a HEA has quite a few bumps but Mr Right Across the Street delivers plenty of smiles as well!

*****

Author Info:

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a sexy hero.

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes come in many disguises.

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

*****

Book Review – Best Laid Plans

22 Monday Feb 2021

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Best Laid Plans, Book Review, Garnet Run series, Roan Parrish

Who wants a book that is just full of all the feels?

*****

Best Laid Plans

Garnet Run, #2

by Roan Parrish

Imprint: Carina Press (Carina Adores)

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Romantic Leads: Male/Male

On-Sale: February 23, 2021

Format: Trade Paperback

Price: $14.99 US

ISBN: 9781335924803

Blurb:

A man who’s been moving his whole life finally finds a reason to stay put.

Charlie Matheson has spent his life taking care of things. When his parents died two days before his eighteenth birthday, he took care of his younger brother, even though that meant putting his own dreams on hold. He took care of his father’s hardware store, building it into something known several towns over. He took care of the cat he found in the woods…so now he has a cat.

When a stranger with epic tattoos and a glare to match starts coming into Matheson’s Hardware, buying things seemingly at random and lugging them off in a car so beat-up Charlie feels bad for it, his instinct is to help. When the man comes in for the fifth time in a week, Charlie can’t resist intervening.

Rye Janssen has spent his life breaking things. Promises. His parents’ hearts. Leases. He isn’t used to people wanting to put things back together—not the crumbling house he just inherited, not his future and certainly not him. But the longer he stays in Garnet Run, the more he can see himself belonging there. And the more time he spends with Charlie, the more he can see himself falling asleep in Charlie’s arms…and waking up in them.

Is this what it feels like to have a home—and someone to share it with?

Get Your Copy Today

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335924803_best-laid-plans.html

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335924803

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Laid-Plans-Garnet-Run/dp/1335924809

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-laid-plans-roan-parrish/1138272513

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/best-laid-plans/id1529725794

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Roan_Parrish_Best_Laid_Plans?id=ogL6DwAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/best-laid-plans-80

*****

Excerpt:

Through the glass front door, Charlie saw an ominously smoking car grind to a halt in the parking lot. It looked like it had originally been a late-eighties two-door Chevy Beretta but had since been Frankensteined of multiple vehicles’ pieces, many of them different colors and some of them clinging desperately together, helped only by electrical tape and grime.

Charlie winced, fingers itching to put the car together properly—or, perhaps more practically, drive it to the junkyard and put it out of its misery.

Marie was bagging Bill Duff’s purchases when the door burst open. In stepped a man Charlie’d never seen before.

He certainly would have remembered.

Long, dark hair fell messily over his shoulders. He was slim and angular, with a slinky walk that made him look like he was made of hips and shoulders. The cuffs and collar of his long-sleeved T-shirt were worn rough and the knees of his jeans blown out. He looked like ten miles of dirt road.

Charlie raised a hand at the newcomer.

“Welcome to Matheson’s. I’m Charlie. Can I help you find anything?”

The man’s light, kohl-lined eyes darted around, as if Charlie might be talking to someone else, then, looking confused, said, “Uh. No.”

He hurried off down aisle one and Charlie let him alone. Some people didn’t want help or attention while they shopped, and Charlie was just glad of a new customer—and a young one at that. Business was okay, but with each passing year overnight shipping and Amazon ate further into his profit margin, particularly with customers under forty.

The stranger walked up and down the aisles, muttering inaudibly, swearing audibly, and consulting his phone every minute or so, as if the answers he wouldn’t accept from Charlie lay there.

After the better part of half an hour, he approached the register, arms full, though there were baskets and small carts available.

“Find everything okay?” Charlie asked as the man dumped his purchases on the counter.

“Uh, sure.”

He sounded distracted and was glaring at the items he’d chosen.

“You need any help with…” Charlie gestured at the hardware equivalent to marshmallows, cheese, and spaghetti before him.

The man raised a dramatic dark eyebrow but didn’t say anything. His eyes, Charlie could see now, were gray, and his skin was pale, as if he were a black-and-white image in a color world.

That pale glare lanced him, and he looked away, ringing and bagging things up.

The man swiped his credit card like he was ripping something in half and had to do it again when the machine didn’t get a read. He glared at it.

When Charlie handed him his bags he couldn’t help needling the man a little.

“Need any help getting things out to your car?” he asked, as he’d ask anyone.

The man glared down at the bags he was holding, then up at Charlie.

“No,” he said, like the word was his favorite one and, in his mouth, capable of expressing every feeling and thought he had.

“Okay, then,” Charlie said, purposefully cheery. “Have a good one.”

The man narrowed his eyes like there was a barb hidden in the words he simply hadn’t found yet.

“Uh-huh,” he said, and wrinkled his nose suspiciously, backing out the door.

“Who was that?” Marie asked. Charlie turned to see her lurking in the doorway from the back room.

“I don’t know,” Charlie said.

But he was damn sure gonna find out.

*****

Review:

Based on the blurb, you’d probably expect quite a bit of angst here but Parrish has a surprising light hand with it. There are a few growing pains as Charlie and Rye get to know each other and fall in love, but it handled with minimal drama and a fair amount of sweetness & compassion.

For having a life big on struggle and light on close connections, Rye has an amazing understanding of people. He may be blunt and a little prickly but he’s got a big heart and a surprising perception of the complexity of relationships. Living with a lot of different people, with a lot of different quirks, has given him amazing insight into what makes people tick.

Charlie has spent so many years making sure that the rest of the world is happy and getting exactly what they want that he’s forgotten about himself. With a little help from Rye, he starts to explore who HE is and what he wants. And what he wants most is more time with Rye.

Best Laid Plans is a delightful and emotional read about two people finding each other, learning about themselves, feeling seen (and supported) for the first time, and inevitably falling in love.

*****

Author Info:

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

Website: https://www.roanparrish.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoanParrish

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roanparrish/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parrishorperish/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14070842.Roan_Parrish

Garnet Run series available now

Book 1: Better Than People

Book 2: Best Laid Plans

*****

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories featuring beloved romance tropes, where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

A new Carina Adores title is available each month in trade paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.