Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review – Lost in You

20 Thursday Apr 2017

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Lost In You

The Monroes series

by Jules Bennett

The only thing that could bring Liam Monroe back to Haven, Georgia, is his loyalty to his late sister–so he’s agreed to serve as a chef at the resort his brothers have built in her honor. But he’s not staying. At least that’s the plan. . .

Macy Hayward always admired the Monroes. Adopting four kids—including the brooding, mysterious Liam—they were an example of the loving family she wanted for herself someday. Now, ironically, Macy’s got an unexpected new tenant in the apartment above her hardware store: none other than Liam.

Most of Liam’s furniture consists of weightlifting equipment, since he has no intention of settling in. He can’t wait to run away again, from his brothers and his bitter memories—and from Macy, with her relentlessly seductive curves. Still, while he’s around, he should do the poor woman a favor and teach her to cook, before she poisons someone. . .

Soon, their sessions in the kitchen are getting spicy. But Macy has roots in Haven, and she wants to plant more, including taking in a little girl who needs a home. Meanwhile, Liam has an opportunity for his own restaurant in Atlanta. Will choosing love mean giving up their separate dreams? Or will the heart find a way?. . .

Liam is the most closed off of the brothers and I think lots of returning readers are really looking forward to discovering what makes him tick.  He’s struggling with a lot of things, leaving him moody and sometimes erratic.  Proximity to his brothers and working on his sister’s dream is doing a lot to bridge some old hurts and forge a better relationship with his family.  But it doesn’t help that one of those things he’s having trouble with is an attraction to his sexy landlord and close family friend.

Macy seems like such a well put together person that you wouldn’t realize that she’s got some pretty big secrets.  She’s funny, energetic and friendly – the perfect girl next door.  Or in this case, girl downstairs.  And she’s had a thing for Liam for AGES so if she could only get behind his walls it might lead somewhere fantastic.  Whew, he has walls though!

I think that Bennett’s superb writing and fun characters will help keep the attention of readers who aren’t all that thrilled with the on/off of this relationship.  Because Liam definitely waffles.  A lot.  I kinda get where he’s coming from, because small town living makes it hard to get away from anything in your past.  Especially something as big as the car wreck that left him with a scar on his face.  And he’s has an idea of what his future would be, which doesn’t include life in said small town.  But things are starting to come together with the brothers and their business, so when you throw in a girl that he has trouble resisting… well, I think he resists a little too much  🙂  It takes him some time to work out what he really wants and where he needs to be.  But of course, he gets there in the end.   (There’s quite a bit of angst though before then so make sure you are prepared.)

 

Book Review – Truly, Madly, Whiskey

18 Tuesday Apr 2017

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

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I just can’t get enough of Melissa Foster’s work … and she’s showing us again why she seriously rocks!

*****

Truly, Madly, Whiskey

by Melissa Foster

Releasing April 10, 2017

World Literary Press

Blurb:

A new sexy standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Eight months is a long damn time to have the hots for a woman who keeps a guy at arm’s length. But Crystal Moon is no ordinary woman. She’s a sinfully sexy, sass-mouthed badass, and the subject of Bear Whiskey’s midnight fantasies. She’s also one of his closest friends.

Just when Crystal thinks she has her life under control, scorching-hot, possessive, aggressive, and fiercely loyal Bear pushes all her sexual buttons, relentless in his pursuit to make her his.

The more Bear pushes, the hotter their passion burns, unearthing memories for Crystal that are best kept buried. But there’s no stopping the collision of her past and present, catapulting the two lovers down an emotional and sexually charged road that has them questioning all they thought they knew about themselves.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075375-truly-madly-whiskey

Book Trailer Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/209272565

Book Trailer YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/cwsBu1Mef9Y

Buy Links:

AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

*****

Excerpt:

“Really, Bear. I can drop you at your place before I go to the fabric shop.” Crystal started the car, feeling more in control than she had inside the shop. She hated the way she’d frozen up when things had gotten hot between them. She wanted him. After putting herself through three years of therapy, dealing with not only the trauma of the attack, but the bullshit with her mother and the loss of her father, she was sure she could handle anything. She’d dated other guys since she’d left college without issue. Why did it have to be different with the only guy she wanted to be close to? It pissed her off that her past still owned a piece of her, and she needed to get over it before Bear got fed up and walked away for good.

“I have to go to the store anyway.” He flashed one of his smiles. “We might as well go together.”

“You need to go to the fabric store?” she said flatly, knowing he was bullshitting her. She realized her car smelled different, cleaner. The seats were shiny, the dashboard dust free. “Did you clean my car?”

“Detailed it,” he said casually, as if he did this type of thing every day. For all she knew, he did. “Changed your oil, topped off your fluids. You really need to do those things every three thousand miles.” He touched the doll hanging from her rearview mirror. “I dusted off this, too, even though I’m a little worried that it’s a voodoo doll.”

She wasn’t about to tell him it was a worry doll that she loved more than life itself.

“Bear.” She couldn’t suppress her smile about the voodoo doll as she drove toward the store. “You really need to stop acting like you have to take care of me. I appreciate you handling the inspection, which I’m paying you for, by the way. But you don’t have to do all these things for me. I already like who you are.” Even if I have a hard time showing it.

“I know you do,” he said, as cocky as ever.

Why is that such a turn-on?

“I didn’t do it to get your attention. Shit, six three, two thirty.” He flexed his biceps and winked. “You’re sitting next to Peaceful Harbor gold, baby. I’ve got your attention.”

She couldn’t suppress a laugh. “That you do, and probably half the women in this town.”

“Only half?”

He kept her laughing the whole way to the fabric store, and it was just what she needed. It really had been a long day. They’d hosted three parties, and one of the mothers was just about the most obnoxious woman on earth. She’d pushed her daughter toward pink frilly outfits for the first half hour, when all the little cutie had wanted was to dress up as a skateboard princess. Gemma realized Crystal was going to strangle the wench, and she’d calmly suggested the woman head down to Jazzy Joe’s for coffee. The rest of her day hadn’t been much better. Plus, she’d spent the morning overthinking everything about her relationship with Bear, which was probably why she’d freaked out when she’d really been dying to kiss him.

She parked in front of the fabric store. There were some things that just didn’t fit in the world as Crystal knew it, and Bear Whiskey clad in a tight black T-shirt that said Whiskey Bro’s across his massive chest, a pair of snug, low-slung black jeans, and leather boots strutting into Jennilyn’s Fabric was on the top of the list.

She pulled her list from her bag as his eyes coasted over the store. What was he thinking, coming with her? That was dedication she could not ignore. The epitome of commitment.

That is Bear.

My Bear?

She toyed with that as he draped his arm over her shoulder. She wondered what had taken him so long. She’d expected him to do it the second she’d stepped from the car, but he was probably in shock that they were actually going to a fabric store. She smiled to herself as he leaned closer and rubbed his nose along her cheek.

“Can I help you?” she asked with a laugh.

“You smell like jelly beans, and I happen to have a thing for sugary goodness.”

“You can’t seriously have that good a sense of smell.”

He pressed an unexpected, and deliciously warm, kiss to her cheek and reached into her purse, withdrawing a bag of jelly beans. “Hoarding? Or were we going to hide these later in your body and let me find them?” He moved his mouth beside her ear and whispered, “Blindfolded. With my hands tied behind my back.”

He nudged her deeper into the store. Holy crap. She’d stopped walking. Was she breathing? And was that a thing? Blindfolded? Hands tied behind his back? Oh, the control that would give her. She’d be at no risk of being overpowered. But would she want that much control? She imagined herself lying naked on her bed, watching as his greedy mouth moved over her breasts, down her belly, and she felt herself go damp.

No, no, no.

Ice cream. Ice baths. Cow poop!

Her body continued vibrating from the inside out. This was bad. Really, really bad. Like a virus she couldn’t shake. She needed an anti-Bear pill. Stat!

*****

Review:

**Warning: maybe some minor spoilers ahead**

Bear Whiskey is just about perfect.  He’s strong, caring, protective, sensitive, loyal, sexy … I could go on and on, but I don’t want to ruin him for you  😉  His only flaw that I could find is he may be a little too dedicated to his family.  He’s got dreams that he’s put on hold because of his father’s stroke and he’s taken on a lot of responsibilities over the years.  The man just doesn’t slow down!  But now he’s got a chance with the woman he’s been pursuing for almost a year AND an opportunity to design motorcycles for a premier company.  He just can’t figure out how to work it in with everything else.  His devotion to those he loves and his strong sense of responsibility is definitely not a problem, it just is making it hard for him to find a time to put his needs first.  Especially now that Crystal has stopped pushing him away.

Crystal had a pretty rough childhood and she finally manages to get away to college, only to be raped at a party.  A little broken, she heads home again to try to pull herself together again.  It’s taken her quite a few years (and some serious reinventing of herself) to get where she’s finally feeling steady enough to actually do something about the intense pull she has towards Bear.  It’s a pretty emotional journey – getting herself back on her feet and finding a way to tell those closest to her what happened.  She’s strong for figuring out how to get help and make her way through it all.  And with her friends and a good man by her side, things are looking really good.

While Bear is not quite a Tru, Foster once again proves that she can create some amazingly addictive characters.  I loved him, and Crystal, from page one.  Not just their interactions together, which are funny and sexy and full of so much understanding & love, but with their friends and family.  Because Truly, Madly, Whiskey isn’t just a romance, but it is about love for friends, family and those you call yours.  This group is so amazingly supportive of those in their sphere and they don’t hesitate to offer support of any kind when it is needed. Their little circle keeps getting bigger and better every year, and they keep proving what  awesome people they are.  It gives you such a happy feeling to see them pull together like that … but they are also family though so they aren’t afraid to give each other a little hell now and again  🙂

(Although this does continue the stories of people we met in Tru Blue, it can easily stand on its own … but if you want some serious feels make sure you pick it up once you finish this one.  I dare you not to fall in love with this amazing group of people!)

*****

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 | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

Win one of Three (3) e-copies of TRU BLUE

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81270/

*****

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

Book Review – Fighting Attraction

14 Friday Apr 2017

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I read Against the Ropes and now I’m wishing I’d kept going with this series!  Castille sure knows how to bring the big, bad alphas …

*****

Fighting Attraction

Redemption #4

by Sarah Castille

Contemporary Erotic Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Published 04/04/17

Blurb:

My sweet, sexy Penny has a dark side. Just like me.

I will have her. And then I will lose her, and suffer a lifetime of regret.

Rampage. Everyone loves him. He is Redemption’s top heavyweight fighter and the biggest gossip in the gym. But he isn’t the teddy bear everyone thinks he is. He’s hiding a dark secret-and he hates himself for it.

Twice a week, Rampage transforms into Master Jack, a notorious dom only the most hard-core submissives will play with. How can he-a Southern gentleman, bred to respect and protect women-want to dominate them?

But Penny Worthington wants him. Beneath her pearls, kitten heels, and prim British exterior beats a tortured heart…Master Jack is the only one who can set her free.

LINKS:

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

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

B&N: http://bit.ly/2j5qgYa

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

Google Books: http://bit.ly/2jsS5NG

BAM: http://bit.ly/2j5oB4J

*****

 

Fighting Attraction is the fourth book in a full-length, standalone, award-winning series by New York Times bestselling author, Sarah Castille, featuring deliciously sexy MMA fighters and the women who can’t help but love them.

PRAISE for Sarah Castille’s Redemption series:

“Powerful. Gritty. And sexy beyond belief. Sarah is a true master!”-Opal Carew, New York Times bestselling author of His to Claim

“Hilarious, hot and occasionally heartbreaking. I loved it! ” – Maryse’s Book Blog on Against the Ropes

“Castille’s follow-up to the excellent Against the Ropes doesn’t pull its punches.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review for In Your Corner

“Emotionally charged, amazingly sexy, and flat out fantastic.”-Fresh Fiction on Full Contact

Redemption Series

Against the Ropes

In Your Corner

Full Contact

Fighting Attraction

*****

Review:

So, while I dabble here and there in BDSM reading I am definitely not all that well informed on it.  I know when it works for me and when it doesn’t, and here it definitely does.

Jack has some serious conflict about himself as a sadist.  He had people close to him turn against him when the truth came out so he’s worked hard to keep it separate from his daily life.  Unfortunately it is as much as part of him as anything else which means that he feels that he has to avoid any intimacy in his life … regardless of how sexy he finds sweet Penny.  But Penny is hiding secrets of her own and a little glimpse into Jack’s world has her curious.  Making Jack let her in is a fight she’s not willing to lose.

I really liked these two together.  They have fun, definitely rock the entertaining banter, and set the pages ON FIRE.  There’s a whole mess of emotions to go along with it as well, though.  They struggle a lot with their feelings, both for each other and about themselves, but with each other’s help they might be able to figure things out.

You are definitely going to have to be OK with some sizzling kink with these too, including a seriously strong Alpha with a need to inflict pain.  But more importantly, you need to be ready for a lot of difficult times, ups & downs & abouts & arounds, because these two don’t make it easy on themselves.  Or us  🙂  But it is definitely a ride that I enjoyed!  I’m looking forward to seeing what Castille has in store for us next.  And I’ll be adding those missed books to my TBR pile too … It just never gets any shorter!

*****

Excerpt:

Jack “Rampage” Caldwell is the first MMA fighter I created for the Redemption series, and even when I first brought this Southern gentleman to life, I knew he had a secret. But Penny has a dark secret, too. After Jack discovers what she hides from the world, he makes her promise to come to him if she needs him. But trust doesn’t come easily for Penny. She breaks her promise, never expecting that Jack will find out. But, of course, he does…and crossing a sadist is never a good idea!

“I’ll call you back. Jack is here.”

Cora sucks in a sharp breath. “I’ll see you at class tonight. I can hardly wait to hear all about it.”

I end the call and swallow past the lump in my throat. It’s only been three days, and yet it feels like I haven’t seen Jack in forever. He’s wearing a white T-shirt that clings to his taut, muscle-ridged abdomen, and worn jeans that ride low on his narrow hips.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to keep my gaze above his belt.

He pins me with a direct stare, his eyes fierce and hard. I feel like he’s trying to see into my soul, but my heart is pounding so hard I’m not sure enough oxygen is getting to my brain to make any sense of what’s going on.

“Jack?”

His gaze rakes over my body, lingering on my thighs as if he can see beneath my skirt. He tenses, and his eyes narrow. If I didn’t know X-ray vision was impossible, I would swear he knows I broke my promise.

“Are you alone?”

“Yes.” My pulse kicks up a notch. “Everyone’s out for the rest of the afternoon.”

He takes a step toward me, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

“Lock the door.”

A thrill of fear shoots through me, and sweat beads on my forehead. What if he knows? Or suspects? What will he do?

“Now.” His deep, commanding Dom voice ripples through me, fanning the flames of my desire. Do I trust Jack enough to lock myself in the office with him, especially when I know what is coming? Do I trust myself?

I brush past him and lock the front door.

“Your office,” he snaps after I return.

I jump at his sharp tone and scramble out of his way as he brushes past me and through my office door, a lithe and powerful animal herding its prey.

“What’s going on?”

“Stand in front of the desk.” He gestures to the big oak desk Amanda and I refinished when we first moved into the building.

Puzzled, I do as he asks, my breath catching in my throat when he closes and locks the door behind him.

“Jack?”

He gives me his back as he draws the curtains at the side of my office. “Don’t move.”

A sting of disappointment hits me in the chest. Has he come to reject me all over again? Does he want to make sure I understand there is nothing between us? It shouldn’t bother me because I got the message the other night. I’m nothing. Nothing special. Nothing extraordinary. Not worth his time, especially since he’s on the cusp of fame. I’m just his pal. Plain old quirky Pen. But he doesn’t have to be so cold.

Worthless, no-good piece of shit.

No. No. No. My fingers tighten on the lip of the desk. I haven’t even started to heal from last night. I don’t need the past intruding on the present.

Jack leans against the door across from me, thick arms folded over his massive chest.

“Lift your skirt.”

Shock steals my breath away, and all I can do is stare.

“What?”

“You heard me. Lift your skirt. Now.”

Bang. Bang. Bang. My heart thuds frantically against my ribs. Adrenaline pounds through my veins, and I feel a rush of heat between my legs. He knows. I can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice…

“Why?” I whisper, stalling. And why is this turning me on?

“You know why,” he snaps. “You didn’t keep your promise.”

I smooth my hands over my cream skirt, silky underneath with a cotton macramé overlay, pressing it tight against my thighs. “It doesn’t matter if I kept it or not. We’re not in the club. There’s nothing between us. You made that clear the other night.”

“I fucked up the other night.” He shifts his stance. “I’m not good for you, Pen. You need to be with someone normal. A nice guy who’s going to treat you right and doesn’t want to hurt you.”

My hand fists on my thigh. “I don’t like nice guys. They don’t understand me. They’re too gentle. My life is about pain. Emotional and physical pain. It’s what I know, what I understand, what I need.”

“So you hurt yourself?”

“I didn’t—”

He cuts me off with a scowl. “Don’t lie to me.” He pauses, and his voice takes on a deeper, cutting edge. “Show me.”

My mouth goes dry at his abrupt command, and I fiddle with the edge of my skirt, at once indignant that he would try to boss me around and aroused that he did.

“What if I did?” I say defiantly. “There’s nothing you can do about it.”

His corded throat tightens when he swallows, and he fixes me with a level stare. “I’ll give you what you need.”

All the air leaves my lungs in a rush, and I feel a disconcerting wetness between my thighs. “You wouldn’t dare. I’m at work.”

“Try me.”

Electricity sparks in the air between us, and a curious mix of fear and arousal courses through my veins. Stiffening my spine, I curl my fingers under the edge of my skirt and draw it slowly, painfully slowly up my thighs. Jack stills. His eyes flick down and then back up again. He licks his lips, and his eyes darken.

I have awakened the beast.

*****

Author Info:

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/sarah_castille

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

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

AMAZON AUTHOR:http://www.amazon.com/author/sarahcastille

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6920675.Sarah_Castille

PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/scastilleauthor

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnP8FQqxprb7iggEDKfA1mw

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah-castille

NEWSLETTER: http://sarahcastille.com/subscribe/

WEBSITE: http://www.sarahcastille.com

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win one of five bundles containing the first three books in Sarah Castille’s Redemption series: Against the Ropes, In Your Corner, and Full Contact

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7498/

Book Review – Finding Purpose

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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From a troubled rocker to a troubled SEAL, it’s a week for men who need help finding their way …

*****

Finding Purpose

Colorado Veterans series

by Tiffani Lynn

Blurb:

Once upon a time, when Quincy Hannigan needed saving, he was there to hold her hand. Years have passed since she was that weak, broken girl; instead, a strong, intelligent woman stands in her place. She’s making the world a better place one arrest at a time and has everything she’s always wanted—except Judson Rivers.

When Judson’s father died suddenly, he dropped out of college and became a Navy SEAL. He left everything from his old life behind, including the girl he loved, but never told—Quincy. After ten years, Judson’s military career ends abruptly when the vehicle he’s in runs over an IED. He has his hands full learning to live with one leg, PTSD and a civilian life he wasn’t ready to return to.

Judson and Quincy are reunited when their mentor dies. Once Quincy realizes the depth of his pain, she knows it’s her turn to be the savior. Years of pent-up passion are unleashed, but it may be too late if Judson can’t crawl out of hell. Quincy has every intention of healing this wounded warrior before his demons are the ones who determine his fate.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lhzUvS

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2oOqXHM

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2nuAiUe

iBooks: http://apple.co/2n2y573

Books2Read: https://www.books2read.com/u/4DAqXd

*****

Excerpt:

I turn the knob and step inside. Relaxed on the love seat by the bay window, she lifts her eyes to mine. Her legs are curled up under her, hair still up, book in hand and she’s now wearing a pair of sexy black-framed librarian glasses. I feel a stirring in my pants and the shock of it must register on my face because her forehead wrinkles as she asks, “Are you okay?”

I’d love to tell her I’m great, but I don’t think she’d be quite as impressed by the beginnings of a hard-on as I am. This is the first time I’ve had any kind of action down there since the accident. The doctor told me not to worry about it, the function would eventually return, it’s mental more than physical, but I was afraid it never would. For a guy my age, no blood flow to the dick is a terrifying thought.

I cross my hands down low, trying to discreetly cover up. She’d never understand. Who gets a boner the same day he buries someone close to him?

“Yeah, I’m okay. I just wanted to come and say goodbye.”

She lifts the glasses from her face and sets them on top of the book she’s placed on the table next to where she’s seated. When she stands and takes a few steps toward me I realize my heart is pounding harder than it was when I knocked on the door, like I’ve run a few miles. It’s been far too long since I’ve had this kind of reaction to a woman.

“How long are you staying?” I inquire.

“A couple of weeks. I promised the Colonel I’d help Ms. Polly take care of everything. We have to go through some things out in the shed this week too. Are you leaving to go back East right away?”

“No. I’m moving back here. I’m staying at one of those extended stay hotels by the interstate until I can find something. If you need help going through any of his stuff or lifting some of those things, let me know. I don’t have a lot on my schedule yet.”

Her head tilts and her eyes narrow like she’s trying to figure out if my offer is genuine.

I lift up my hands in a gesture of surrender as I say, “I’m not saying you can’t do it, just that I’m available if you want help. I’ll write my cell number down and you can use it, or not.”

She watches me intently as I jot down my number and leave it on the table. Then I walk back over, place my hands on her shoulders, kiss her forehead, lingering a little longer than I should so I can absorb the scent of her again, and limp out the door. I don’t wait to see if she has anything to say or any reaction to the chaste kiss. My heart and body both ache and I wish I were a different man. A better man. One that could have a woman as beautiful and amazing as she is and be worthy of her.

*****

Review:

For me, this book is  an interesting mishmash of things – we have the first part (most of the story, actually) with Quincy and Judson coming together again and addressing their feelings for each other, plus his issues with losing his leg.  Next there’s a short bit over halfway thru where they can’t keep their hands off each other and it feels a bit like an erotic novel (not that I’m complaining, mind you  🙂 ).  And then at the end there’s some suspense and danger.  It all moves together and the story is great all around but it almost feels like separate sections instead of one continuous flow.  It didn’t bother me but I’m throwing it out there just in case it might bug you.

There is a ton of conflict and tangled emotions in the early parts.  Both Quincy and Judson have had feelings for each other for more than a decade but his time as a SEAL separated them.  Not that that stopped the love, just kept it buried, and now that they are together it’s hard to keep ignoring it.  Except that Judson’s having problems figuring out who he is since he left the SEALs, believing himself to be less of a man.  He’s struggled for a long time and cut himself off from people who cared.  Instead he’s self-medicating and drowning in negative emotions.  There are a lot (and I mean A LOT) of ups and downs as they deal with all the turmoil and try to get to a healthy place, whether that’s together or apart.

Once they do, though, it is a lovely thing.  I like how they find a life that fits them both and makes them happy.  It’s not all smooth sailing (don’t forget the whole suspense element is out there, just waiting to strike) but it does help them get a hard-won HEA that makes up for all the bumps along the way.  Plus, an epilogue that tugs at your heart while teasing at the second story in the series.

As long as the way the story moves isn’t going to be an issue for you, Finding Purpose has a lot of great things to offer.  The complicated characters and attention grabbing beginning definitely had me hooked!  I didn’t want to put it down and I’m looking forward to finding out what comes next.

*****

Author Info:

Tiffani currently resides in Florida with her husband, three daughters and chunky yellow lab. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in social science and spent five years working for Hospice. When she’s not writing or taxiing her children around she enjoys reading and attending concerts. Tiffani is also a crazed fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays, and the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs.

https://www.facebook.com/Tiffanilynnauthor/

https://twitter.com/tifffanilynn74

https://www.amazon.com/Tiffani-Lynn/e/B01E2L14R0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1486656038&sr=8-1

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15141611.Tiffani_Lynn?from_search=true

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tiffani-lynn-6da25333-81ed-4f84-8847-f8877e4e5cd4

*****

Giveaway:

$20 Amazon Gift Card, Paperback of Finding Purpose

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a3541121/

*****

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

Book Review – The Heart

10 Monday Apr 2017

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

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Sexy hero hockey player … not a bad way to head into Monday!

*****

The Heart

Ice Dragons Series

by RJ Scott

Blurb:

The team captain and the rookie firefighter never meant to fall in love; but they’ll fight tooth and nail to protect what they have.

Alex Simard, captain of the Ice Dragons hockey team, didn’t intend on rescuing a baby from a burning car. Doing what anyone else would’ve done doesn’t make him a hero. Add the press hounding him, to on-ice injury, warring Russians, and the season from hell, and he’s losing focus. Getting his team to the Stanley Cup is his priority; falling in love isn’t even a footnote on his to-do list.

Jo Glievens, rookie firefighter, never meant to fall in love with a hockey player. Her career is everything to her and right now she doesn’t want to add a man to her life. She has a plan and is sticking to it. But someone is out there planting bombs, destroying lives, and she has to make choices when this criminal’s actions hit way too close to home.

The Heart (Book #2) – Amazon US | Amazon UK

The Code (Book #1) – Amazon US | Amazon UK

*****

Excerpt:

Jo walked in on a team meeting.

Not her team; not the big burly firefighters that formed her life and mostly sat around looking all kinds of badass whenever they had a meeting.

Nope, it was the key members of the Ice Dragons hockey team that had congregated in her friend Kat’s living room. Of course, it was also Ryan’s living room given Kat and Ryan were recently engaged, and it was their new house. Hence why Ryan would be there.

“Excuse the noise, we’ll study upstairs again where it’s quiet,” Kat said.

“It’s a team meeting then?”

“Less meeting, more smack-down and telling Alex like it is. Poor guy can’t stay at his own place because of all the media attention, so he’s staying here, but he’s pissed and probably scared of being off-ice for far too long.”

“It’s fine,” she said, although she wasn’t exactly concentrating on what Kat said, so had missed most of it.

And all because, from there she could see the center of attention, one Alexandre Simard, or Simba as his teammates liked to call him. She only knew that Simba was his nickname because he’d done those ridiculous car sales ads for a local Toyota dealership a couple years back. They’d made this whole thing about his blond hair, and his name, likening him to a lion based on his hockey nickname.

She’d seen the ads so many times she could almost recite them from memory; too much down time at the firehouse between calls.

Of course, his face had been fixed firmly in her mind after she and Mitch had been the ones who dragged his trapped and heavy ass out of that car, the flames burning through his jacket and the jersey beneath. He’d been the one who looked up at her and asked, not about himself, but about the baby.

The damned man had crawled back into the burning car for the dad. He could have died. Jo had been furious at his actions; the last thing professionals needed were civilians getting involved, but when the action of the call had faded she’d thought past the rookie checklist for civilian interaction on scenes. Instead, she’d gone from seeing him as a man who’d helped to sell cars, played a game for a living, to a man who risked his own life for a child and father.

With no thought for his own safety.

He was pretty much a local hero if you listened to the news, a tall, gorgeous, blond-haired, blue-eyed hero. Could the guy be any more of a cliché? And why did he have to look so sexy and handsome, even when he was angry?

“They’re all mad,” Lieutenant Dennison had said when they were working on getting the car clear. “Hockey players, all mad,” he elaborated when she’d stared at him not really understanding at first.

Seems like they weren’t just mad for putting themselves in danger, but they were mad-angry as well. So, it wasn’t so much a meeting she’d been warned was happening at the same time as her study session, as much as a heated debate.

There was some language she didn’t understand, although it was deep and guttural and likely Russian, and then one hell of a lot of cursing. She caught some of it, a shouting match over ice time and why couldn’t their fucking captain understand the concept of fucking rest.

She didn’t watch hockey that much, sometimes caught highlights on shift down time, but being the probie at the firehouse kept her busy. That would all be ending soon when she passed probation and her exams, but for now, it sucked. She kind of wanted to watch hockey, the way that her fellow officers and the paramedics talked about it, the game was fast and changed on a dime. Burlington had an expansion team, or so she’d read in the paper that morning. In fact, she’d learned a lot about hockey the past few days. Ever since the accident actually, because the articles on it were everywhere.

To be fair, every article she’d read about the Dragons’ captain and him risking his life had begun with the words Alexandre ‘Simba’ Simard, Captain of The Dragons, the NHL’s newest expansion team…she’d looked it up, knew what expansion meant, that it was a new team, only five or so years old, and that this year they’d started strong before setbacks had them trailing in the rankings.

Not to mention they’d lost their captain for at least four weeks. Maybe six. One writer pointed out the team didn’t have the chance to label it as a generic upper body injury, meaning other teams wouldn’t know the captain’s vulnerabilities. Nope, there were pictures and news reports of burns and a fractured radius.

According to news reports, the team losing their captain was vital, and Jo could understand that. Captains were key pieces in their teams, the leader, the one that everyone looked up to. He was also a real American hero, or at least that is what the news was painting him as. Without thought for his own safety, he’d rescued a father and baby from their car only seconds before the fire spread.

Brave. Not everyone was a firefighter like her, not everyone would have risked their own life to rescue others. Not everyone was trained like her. Brave, stupid, they were different sides of the same coin.

She glanced into the main seating area, the one with the views out over Burlington, in the beautiful place that Kat and her fiancé had bought. They’d only just moved in, but this was the third time Jo had visited. The view included shouting, sexy, angry hockey players; men who were clearly pissed at something.

“You’re not coming back early,” one strong, steady voice said, and Jo recognized Ryan, Kat’s other half, as the owner of the voice.

“Fuck you, Flynn,” the captain snapped.

“This is not up for discussion, you hard headed idiot,” Ryan shouted louder. Seemed it was that kind of meeting where each person shouted louder than the last just to be heard.

She counted it as a win that they hadn’t spotted her; there was something compelling about being able to see them in person. Kat was watching with amusement on her face. Of course, her fiancé was one of them, and she probably knew more about the whole thing than Jo ever would.

*****

Review:

I’ve read quite a few of Scott’s books and somehow she surprises me every time.  They don’t only have new characters but they each have their own feel as well.  With The Heart we spend quite a bit of time learning about Alex and Jo individually as well as seeing themgure things out as a couple.  And because of that it feels a bit more like a character piece than your typical romance.

Alex is doing a lot of juggling between his duties as coach (and friend). trying to figure out his new relationship with Jo, and the aftermath of the accident.  Jo is also working out things with Alex, as well as being a probie firefighter and some family issues with her dad’s recent death.

It makes it all so real because that’s the way normal people deal with falling in love.  Not only do you have the new person and all the feels that go with that, but you also have your normal everyday life and the responsibilities that go with it.  Scott keeps it going together smoothly with interesting characters, engaging writing and just enough drama to keep you on your toes.

*****

Author Info:

RJ Scott is the bestselling romance author of over 100 romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men and women who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end 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 bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

mailto:rj@rjscott.co.uk
www.rjscott.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/author.rjscott?ref=ts&fref=ts
www.goodreads.com/author/show/3432558.R_J_Scott
twitter.com/Rjscott_author
www.librarything.com/author/scottrj

*****

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon Giftcard

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3e0e9a43124/

*****

Tour Info:

March 29 – Foxylutely Books, Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books

April 7 – Nicole’s Books Musings, Making It Happen

April 10 – A Page To Turn Reviews, Books Lovers Reviews & Recommendations, Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews, Romantic Reads and Such

April 12 – Wicked Reads

April 14 – Xtreme Delusions

April 17 – Lustful Literature

Book Review – Crazy for You

06 Thursday Apr 2017

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

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I’m so happy to have Rachel Lacey here to answer a couple of questions before giving us a look at her newest book!

*****

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I loved writing all the fun, adventurous things Ryan and Emma did together in CRAZY FOR YOU – rock climbing, cliff jumping, motorcycle rides, etc. They were so much fun to write, and it was the perfect balance to some of the heavier themes in the book. These two characters really bring out the best in each other, constantly pushing each other out of their comfort zones.

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

Dream On by Aerosmith – “Dream until your dreams come true!”

Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

Chapstick! I have a weird obsession with it.

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

Contemporary Romance Author. Wife. Mother. Animal Lover & Rescue Advocate. Hufflepuff. Powered by wine, chocolate, and books!

If you could have dinner with any three authors (alive or dead), who would you choose and why?

First, JK Rowling because she is a literary genius and a fierce feminist, and I’d love to chat with her about anything and everything. Next, Mary Higgins Clark because she was my very first “favorite author,” and I’d love to thank her for that. And of course Nora Roberts because she is my hero and gives great advice. All three of these ladies have inspired me so much, and I would love to just soak up all the knowledge they could impart.

What are your favorite types of stories to read?

My favorite books make me laugh *and* cry. I want ALL THE FEELS while I’m reading!

*****

Crazy for You

Risking It All #2

by Rachel Lacey

Releasing: March 28, 2017

Forever

Blurb:

“Rachel Lacey is a sure-fire star.” — Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author

SHE’S TAKING A WALK ON HIS WILD SIDE

Emma Rush can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a thing for Ryan Blake. Haven’s resident bad boy is just so freakin’ hot-with tattoos, a motorcycle, and enough rough-around-the-edges sexiness to melt all her self-control. Now that Emma’s over being a “good girl,” she needs a little help being naughty . . . and she knows just where to start.

Before Emma’s brother enlisted in the military, he made Ryan promise that he would protect her from everything–including himself. When her brother doesn’t come home, Ryan needs to turn his screwed-up life around to honor his pledge. But he knows he’s still not the right kind of guy for someone as sweet as Emma. Only he can’t stop wanting to be with her. Wanting her. Falling in love with a good girl may be the craziest risk this bad boy can take . . .

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30842422-crazy-for-you

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/180210-risking-it-all

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

*****

Excerpt:

Whoa. Emma closed her eyes and let out a shriek as Ryan guided the motorcycle onto Main Street and picked up speed. The cold wind whipped her face, taking her breath away. Beneath her, the engine rumbled and roared like a wild thing. Holy sh*t. She was on the back of Ryan Blake’s bike, and it was amazing.

The wind bit through her thin, knit gloves, hitting her fingers with an icy blast. Actually, every part of her was freezing, but she didn’t care. She wrapped her arms more firmly around Ryan’s waist, anchoring herself to him so she didn’t tumble off the back of the bike, and somehow her hands slipped beneath his jacket. Ahh. That was better. Toasty warm, and also…her hands were on his T-shirt. Even through her gloves, she felt the hard contour of his abs, and nope, she wasn’t cold now.

And this was absolutely freaking amazing.

She hung on tight as he guided them over Haven’s twisting mountain roads, deserted at this hour. Overhead the moon shone like a beacon, illuminating the night in its soft, silvery glow. The roar of the engine and the slap of the wind against her face shocked her senses. It was thrilling, invigorating, so completely different from riding inside a car.

She’d never have done this if Mandy hadn’t dared her, and now she felt like her eyes were open for the first time in years. This was what she needed. Somewhere along the way, as she sat at the bar talking to Ryan, she’d realized she was having fun, really having fun. And she wanted more. She wanted it all, every last wild and crazy fantasy.

All too soon, her building came into view. Ryan cut the engine and guided them quietly into the driveway, coming to a stop behind her silver Toyota RAV4. He turned his head to look at her, so sexy in his helmet and riding glasses. “So how was it?”

“Even better than I thought it would be.” She gulped for air. His lips were way too close to hers, and she was still a little bit drunk on beer and a whole lot drunk on her first motorcycle ride. Mandy’s words echoed in her ears. Bonus points if you kiss him. Just stand up a bit, lean over his shoulder, and…

Emma leaned forward, her chest sliding up his back as she tipped her face to his. Holy hell, she had completely lost her mind, but she was going for it. Every nerve in her body went haywire.

Clunk. Her helmet smacked into his, drawing her up an inch short of his lips.

*****

Review:

Crazy for You has so many things I just love – friends-to-lovers, best friend’s sister, good girl/bad boy … that’s just a start  🙂  We’ve already seen the first book in this series, Run to You (and I’ll have a review up for it soon!) and Lacey just keeps getting better with this trio of troubled heroes!

Emma and Ryan are so adorable together.  Even while they spend a good part of the book trying to convince themselves that their friends-with-benefits relationship hasn’t turned into something more!  Years of knowing one another, plus the bond of losing their families at a young age, give them a special understanding of each other.  And it’s so delightful to see Ryan help step out of her comfort zone while she helps keep him guessing on where they’ll go next.

While the trouble that comes to this relationship isn’t surprising, it’s the falling in love part that will capture readers’ hearts.  Lacey does an amazing job of keeping the characters’ interactions fun and the feels coming from the beginning all the way to the wonderfully delightful epilogue.

*****

Author Info:

Rachel Lacey is a contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She’s been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in warm and sunny North Carolina with her husband, son, and a variety of rescue pets.

Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon eGift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81257/

*****

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

Book Review – Finding Our Forever

05 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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I’m always so giddy when I see a new book by Brenda Novak …  🙂

*****

Finding Our Forever

Silver Springs, Book 1

by Brenda Novak

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak welcomes readers to the town of Silver Springs, where surprises wait around every corner!

The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in Aiyana, the ranch’s owner, that she’s really her daughter? Cora’s not sure she can do that, not unless she’s confident the news will be welcomed. And once she gets to know Elijah Turner—Aiyana’s adopted son and ranch manager—that decision becomes even more difficult.

Although Elijah can’t deny his deep attraction to Cora, he’s always struggled with trust. Anyone with his past would, and there’s something about the ranch’s newest employee that isn’t exactly as it seems. But if the feelings she awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, she might be just what he’s long been waiting for.

Goodreads | Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

*****

Review:

Not having been adopted (or even been close to anyone that I knew was adopted) it is hard to imagine what kind of questions Cora has about herself.  To finally be able to put that restlessness behind her is a temptation she can’t pass up.  Eli comes from kinda the opposite point – he knows where he came from, it just isn’t a happy place.  Their pasts have left both of them with some baggage that they have to figure out how to handle.  Baggage that is only complicated when they start to fall for each other, thanks to their ties to Aiyana.

This is not the first of Novak’s books I’ve read … and it DEFINITELY won’t be the last!  I love how she somehow makes Finding Our Forever real and pretty drama-free, but still engrossing.  There is so much growth and discovery for both Cora and Elijah and yet when everything comes to a head they don’t let things overwhelm them.  It would have been so easy for Novak to have them weighted down with hurt feelings and damaged pride, but instead they handle things with grace and sensitivity.  There are so many possible options for where to go with future books and, as a fan of damaged heroes, I’m looking forward to all the possibilities!

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has penned over 45 novels. A two-time Rita nominee, she’s won The National Reader’s Choice, The Bookseller’s Best, The Bookbuyer’s Best and many other awards. She runs an annual online auction for diabetes research every May at http://www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $2 million. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

Connect with Brenda – Website | Facebook | Twitter

*****

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/82ae250c58/

*****

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

Book Review – The Hard Truth About Sunshine

31 Friday Mar 2017

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We’re going to end the week with a book that … well, it’s a heartwrencher but SO worth it!

*****

The Hard Truth About Sunshine

by Sawyer Bennett

Release Day: March 28

Standalone

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett has written her most gripping and poignant tale yet. Provocatively heart-breaking, audaciously irreverent and romantically fulfilling, The Hard Truth About Sunshine exposes just how very thin the line is between a full life and an empty existence.

Despite having narrowly escaped death’s clutches, Christopher Barlow is grateful for nothing. His capacity to love has been crushed. He hates everyone and everything, completely unable to see past the gray stain of misery that coats his perception of the world. It’s only after he involuntarily joins a band of depressed misfits who are struggling to overcome their own problems, does Christopher start to re-evaluate his lot in life.

What could they possibly learn from one another? How could they possibly help each other to heal? And the question that Christopher asks himself over and over again… can he learn to love again?

He’s about to find out as he embarks upon a cross country trip with a beautiful woman who is going blind, a boy with terminal cancer, and an abuse victim who can’t decide whether she wants to live or die.

Four people with nothing in common but their destination. They will encounter adventure, thrills, loss and love. And within their travels they will learn the greatest lesson of all.

The hard truth about sunshine…

Warning: This book deals with some tough issues including suicide and sexual abuse.

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34078139-the-hard-truth-about-sunshine

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jAJ31R

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2l4OenI

B&N: http://bit.ly/2kZxgKO

iBooks: http://apple.co/2k409nt

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2jHejr5

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kWpkd2

*****

Excerpt:

Jillian holds my gaze for a moment, her eyes drilling into mine before she gently tugs on the material of my jeans near the shin rod of my prosthetic. “What happened to you?”

She doesn’t look away. Not down at the fire, not down to my legs. She stares right at me. Although my gut is turning slightly at the thought of telling her what she asked, I forge straight ahead. For the first time, I tell someone who is not medical personnel or a shrink my story.

“I was driving a military Humvee and the right front tire ran over a roadside bomb,” I say, and Jillian makes a sound of distress low her in throat as her eyes turn sad. “It completely obliterated my buddy sitting in the passenger seat.”

To my surprise, Jillian scoots over closer to me and lays her head on my shoulder. She pushes her hand in between my ribs and my arm, curling her fingers over my bicep. It’s a show of support. Solidarity. That she’s settled in for the long haul of this story, and she wants to hear it all.

“It didn’t blow my leg off,” I tell her, and I can feel her body jerk slightly in surprise. Her fingers squeeze my bicep. “The fingers yes, the leg no. It just shattered and shredded it badly, but the doctors tried hard to save it.”

“Obviously, they couldn’t,” she whispers the obvious.

“They tried for three months,” I tell her, reaching down to grab my phone laying near my left hip. Jillian lifts her head up, watching as I pull up my pictures. I scroll backward, but it doesn’t take long to find what I’m looking for because I don’t take a lot of photos. I hold the phone out so she can see. “This was taken about a month after my injury.”

Jillian makes a strangled sound as she looks at the photo of me in bed. My eyes are half open because I was bombed out on so many heavy-duty pain medications, and I have a grimace on my face. I vaguely remember this picture being taken, and I think it may have been by my brother, Hank, when he came to visit once during that first month. He came a few more times after that, and then he didn’t.

Jillian’s eyes roam over the photo. My leg is encased in the external fixator with several rods leading from the outside of the cage right into my skin, where it’s drilled through and into the bone to hold the pieces together. The wounds on my leg are all open to the air, red and some of them dripping with puss and lined with blisters. I’ve got IVs in both arms and a PICC line in the right side of my neck to deliver the hordes of antibiotics and pain meds I needed to keep me alive and functioning. I took the maximum dosages they allowed me, preferring to try to be oblivious to what was happening. Yet, the pain was so great it just couldn’t be fully erased.

Jillian turns her head to look at me, and I lay the phone back down. “How long were you like that?”

“Three months. But they couldn’t get ahead of the infections, which were delaying the bones from knitting. I was in so much pain that I wanted them to amputate.”

“You had to make that decision?” she whispers.

I nod. “Yup. I mean… the doctors were at the point they felt it was the right way to go, although they were willing to keep trying if I wanted. But I wanted it gone. I was tired of being in the hospital and being in so much pain. I just wanted it gone.”

“Do you regret that decision?” she asks me bluntly, but with that still-sweet melody her voice makes. The question doesn’t bother me, because even her hard questions sound lovely.

“Yes,” I tell her without any shame. “I wonder what would have happened if I held on just a little bit longer. Not long after the leg came off, the pain receded and I became more lucid. Once I’d forgotten how bad the infections smelled, I regretted it.”

“Three months is an awful long time to be in pain like that,” she points out the obvious.

I shrug. “And the rest of my life is a long time to wonder ‘what if.’”

*****

Review:

I’ve read quite a few of Bennett’s books and a few of them have taken me on a ride of emotions before … but I think that was just to prepare me for this one  🙂  While there are deep moments, there is also a good amount of humor and fun.  It took me up and down and around.  And I enjoyed all of it!

I really loved this little group of troubled souls, road-tripping their way across the US for all different reasons.  It starts out as a chance for Connor (dying of cancer) to knock a few things off his bucket list, but everyone ends up learning something along the way.  And while Christopher is our main character, you quickly find yourself attached to everyone as he (and us) discovers a little more every day about the others, and himself.

He’s drawn to Jillian, who has an amazingly bright outlook on life even though she is slowly going blind.  She, along with Connor, has been the most open about therapy and embraced all of them, regardless of their prickly nature.  Conner is facing death head on and trying to experience life a little bit more before his time.  Barb is as negative about the whole process as Christopher but she too starts to open up, just a little, and we find out that her scars are so much deeper than what you can see on her wrists.  Christopher also has signs on the outside of his body of what he’s been through, but nothing compares to the turmoil underneath.

While they are each dealing with some of the heaviness that life has to offer, they are handling them in different ways.  But together, they might manage to get to a place where they can face life, and all that it brings, with their heads held high.  To find a way to laugh, love, and enjoy again.

This book is definitely not for everyone.  But if you think your heart can take it then grab a box of tissue, put your feet up, and go for a journey.  You’ll laugh and cry and sigh and you might even find bits of them in you.

*****

Author Info:

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | INSTAGRAM

*****

Book Review – One Wild Night

30 Thursday Mar 2017

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One Wild Night

A One and Only Texas Novel

by Melissa Cutler

Return to beautiful Briscoe Ranch Resort in Melissa Cutler’s next steamy installment of the One and Only Texas series, One Wild Night.

Get ready for the ride of your life…

A cowgirl at heart, Skye Martinez has a rebellious streak she’s determined to shake. Especially since she’s poised to take the reins of her family’s business at Briscoe Ranch Resort. It’s time for her to settle down and get serious about her future…right after one last night of fun with a handsome stranger she meets in the resort’s stable. But when a midnight horseback ride turns into a red-hot weekend with one of country music’s biggest stars, Skye’s world is rocked beyond her wildest dreams…

Gentry Wells rode his bad boy image all the way to the top of the country music charts. But churning out hits has dried up his creativity, and he can’t remember the last time his life was his own. Skye is a sexy distraction he can’t resist, especially since she breathes new life into his music. They bring out the wild side in each other, which is great for Gentry’s career—but a major threat to Skye’s. Too bad he’s fallen in love with her. With their hearts and futures on the line, can Gentry convince Skye to turn their joyride into a real chance to ride off into the sunset together?

“Melissa Cutler is a bright new voice in contemporary romance.” — New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde

I really enjoyed seeing Gentry find his way.  He’s lost himself over the years as he’s fallen into being the bad boy of country music, but it’s just not him anymore (if it every really was all that much).  While struggling to find himself in his music again he’s roped into playing at a wedding where he meets Skye.  And things just click … in all sorts of ways!

Skye is also struggling between being the girl she thinks she should be and the freedom that her heart craves.  It’s not easy for her and a sexy man in boots is temptation she isn’t looking for.

While I liked Skye OK and I understood where her conflicts came from, it really was Gentry that held me.  And it definitely was entertaining seeing him convince Skye to walk on the wild side  🙂  Oh, I should warn everyone that they do put the wild in One Wild Night so those who like their love stories a little tamer might want to skip this one.  But if you are up for some spice then come join Skye and Gentry as they find themselves, each other, and a HEA that works for all their miscellaneous sides.

(While this is part of a series, it can easily stand on its own.  It’s my first full length book by Cutler and I had no problem keeping up.)

 

Book Review – Twist

29 Wednesday Mar 2017

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This one doesn’t come out for another couple of weeks but you’ll definitely want to preorder it … and maybe pick up a few others in the series while you wait  🙂

*****

Twist

A Dive Bar Novel

by Kylie Scott

Blurb:

From New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott comes the second sizzling stand-alone novel in the Dive Bar series!

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot bearded bartender Joe Collins only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, fascinating, and pretty much everything he’s been looking for in a woman—except that she lives across the country. Soon they’re emailing up a storm and telling each other their deepest, darkest secrets…except the one that really matters.

When Alex pays Joe a surprise visit, however, they both discover that when it comes to love, it’s always better with a twist.

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*****

Excerpt:

I watched the streetlights cast shadows on the angle of his cheekbone, the furrow of his brow. Strange how his manly beauty had grown on me, redefining or rather stretching my usual boundaries.

Perhaps some people’s allure came from the inside out. A good thing. Their ways and their words did the wooing instead of their physical appeal. Not to diss Joe’s impressive physique. As nice as a pretty face was, though, the personality, the person beneath the skin, should matter more. Anything else was pretty shallow and unlikely to last. Guess that was the difference between my scratching an itch with a stranger and the way this man had me tied up in knots. And not even neat, sea-worthy knots. I’m talking, haven’t washed or brushed your hair in forever and there’s a big old mess back there.

Shit.

At the bar, he’d flirted with me. Full-on flirted with me, his supposed platonic friend who was not his type. No way did I know what to do. Normally Valerie would be first on my hit list of people to call. But she’d just tell me to jump him, regardless of what else was going on, or any possible consequences. Plus, with him beside me it would be kind of uncool. But a couple of whisky sours or no, I was pretty certain I hadn’t imagined his interest.

As Mom had always said, however, best to be sure.

“What are the renovating plans for tomorrow?” I asked.

“Rip out the old fittings and prepare the space for new.”

I nodded. “So we’ll be doing some pounding and screwing?”

“Ah, yeah.” The man cast me a look out of the corner of his eye. “Sound okay?”

“Absolutely. Can’t wait to get my hands back on that big hard hammer.”

*****

Review:

This is such a fantastic premise – and very fitting for today’s world.  I do appreciate that Scott didn’t take it someplace too dangerous.  Instead there is a bit of a misunderstanding about who exactly Alex has been emailing, with the expected hard feelings, but Joe is a good man and things quickly turn around.

None of these people are perfect and both Alex & Joe have their hesitations for putting themselves out there.  While their face-to-face introduction leaves A LOT to be desired, there are all of those emails that built a good foundation for their friendship.  They just have to believe in themselves and each other … but of course trusting is never easy.

Twist is full of humor, heart and heat.  It’s fun to be with these two as they move from a virtual friendship to a real one, with lots of sparks and playfulness along the way.  While they let life get in the way and freak them out for a bit, eventually they figure things out – and it fits them so well  🙂

(This is the first of Scott’s books that I’ve read but it definitely can stand alone.  She does such a great job of keeping you in the know wither everything relevant that you can easily jump right in.)

*****

Author Info:

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/

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

FACEBOOK FAN GROUP:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/599197093487040/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KylieScottbooks

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

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6476625.Kylie_Scott

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