Category Archives: Sneak Peek

Spotlight – Last First Kiss

17 Wednesday Jun 2015

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Y’all I’ve seen a couple of sneak peeks for Lia Riley’s Last First Kiss and I SOOOO can’t wait to get my hands on it.  I think Annie and Sawyer may soon be one of my favorite romance couples.

And as a special treat, Ms Riley stopped by today to give us a little glimpse into how she gets in the mood to write.  Enjoy!

*****

Music inspires me as I write and it’s a common part of my process to set up a playlist. Below are some of the songs that helped me set a tone, get in the right headspace or just reminded me of Annie and Sawyer. Hope you enjoy!

Playlist for Last First Kiss

Link: https://open.spotify.com/user/12150480907/playlist/07hrhHnJrw19OybMQrmF8z

The Kooks: She Moves in Her Own Way

Norah Jones: The Long Way Home

Eddie Vedder: Tuolumne

Passenger: Beneath Your Beautiful

Willy Nelson: Always on My Mind

The White Buffalo: Sleepy Little Town

Ian Britt: The Shape of Us

Perrin Lamb: Everyone’s Got Something

*****

LFK_CoverLast First Kiss

Brightwater Series Book #1

by Lia Riley

Releasing June 23rd, 2015

Avon Romance

Blurb:

New to Avon author Lia Riley makes a splash with her first sexy, hilarious book in the sizzling Brightwater series!

A kiss is just the beginning…

Pinterest Perfect. Or so Annie Carson’s life appears on her popular blog. Reality is… messier. Especially when it lands her back in one-cow town, Brightwater, California, and back in the path of the gorgeous six-foot-four reason she left. Sawyer Kane may fill out those wranglers, but she won’t be distracted from her task. Annie just needs the summer to spruce up and sell her family’s farm so she and her young son can start a new life in the big city. Simple, easy, perfect.

Sawyer has always regretted letting the first girl he loved slip away. He won’t make the same mistake twice, but can he convince beautiful, wary Annie to trust her heart again when she’s been given every reason not to? And as a single kiss turns to so much more, can Annie give up her idea of perfect for a forever that’s blissfully real.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23507376-last-first-kiss

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/141818-brightwater  

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Teaser 1

*****

Excerpt:

“You name all those birds?”

“Oh sure. Constance, Shy, and Petunia are the Araucanas over there.” She pointed to the three white hens with impressive feathery ear tufts. “They’re the only ones that lay those pretty blue eggs. Over in the far corner are the Rhode Island Reds: Bixby, Big Mama, Miss Thing, Chatterbox, Honey, and Crazy. Then scratching in the back is Feather Foot, because, well, that’s obvious, and . . . what? Are you laughing at me?”

“You name your chickens.” God, she really was too fucking adorable for her own good.

“What, Mr. Funny—if you had a coop, you’re saying you wouldn’t name yours?”

“Sure I would.” He gave a shrug. “I’d call them all the same thing.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that? Chicken?”

“Dinner.”

Her lips twitched even as she sniffed. “That’s so not funny.”

“It’s a little funny.”

“Must be that Kane humor. I’m genetically immune.

Teaser 2 (1)

*****

Lia RileyAuthor Info:

Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult and Contemporary Adult romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.

A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn’t mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c’mon, who doesn’t love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Teaser 3

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8709/

Teaser 4*****

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

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Book Review – Crazy for the Competition

15 Monday Jun 2015

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

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The lovely Cindi Madsen has just released the next book in her Hope Springs series and you are going to want to check it out.

*****

CrazyForTheCompetition_FCCrazy for the Competition

Hope Springs # 2

by Cindi Madsen

Releasing June 9, 2015

Entangled Bliss

Blurb:

The road to trouble is paved with sweet temptation…

Always the rebel in her ultra-conservative family, Quinn Sakata dreams of quitting her dad’s real-estate business and restoring the old Mountain Ridge Bed and Breakfast in her hometown of Hope Springs. Except that Quinn’s not the only person bidding on it. Worse still, her competitor is her high school crush, Heath Brantley, who is all kinds of ripped, tattooed hotness…

So much for her “nice, conservative boys” rule.

Heath has his own reasons for bidding on Mountain Ridge, and he won’t give in without a fight—even to the red-lipped hottie with a sailor’s mouth. But when their rivalry shifts into an unexpected zing of chemistry, Heath realizes he’s in deep trouble. Because it’s inevitable that emotions will get involved, and he needs to keep his eyes on the prize before they both get hurt.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23113981-crazy-for-the-competition

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/135463-hope-springs

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks 

*****

Excerpt:

Quinn sat across from him, and they worked on shaping the wire. She passed him tools and held things in place when he needed an extra hand. Here and there she made a few half-mumbled noises that he took to mean she wasn’t sure he was on the right path. She kept her word and let him make the decisions, though.

After a few minutes straining to see the tiny wire, he reached back and pulled his glasses out of the workbench— he really only needed them for intricate parts.

“Bloody hell, you’ve got to be kidding me,” Quinn said.

He looked at her, her features now extra crisp thanks to the glasses. She had these cute freckles across the bridge of her nose, and her bottom lip was between her teeth. “What?” he asked.

She shook her head and swallowed. “Nothing.”

Really? The glasses turned her on? Hell, he’d wear them all the time, then. “What’s with the bloody? You turning British on me?”

“I’m an equal-opportunity swearer.”

“Well, Miss Potty Mouth, hand me the needle-nose pliers next to your feet, please.”

She picked them up and extended them to him. He let his fingers brush across hers, testing how far he could milk this. “Can you hold these two pieces together while I twist?”

Quinn knelt next to him. She gripped the two wires, and he took the pliers and twisted. Every time he turned the pliers, his forearm brushed her chest, even when he tried to do the honorable thing and go from another angle. The beating pulse at her neck called to him again, begging to be kissed. She smelled amazing, too, a light vanilla scent that invaded his senses.

“I’ll be damned,” she said once he lowered the pliers. “It actually looks like a butterfly. Look at you using your manly skills to spread your wings and fly.”

His lips trembled as he tried to keep a straight face—she kept him on his toes, that was for sure. “One, never say that to me again, and two, I told you I’d find a way—never doubt me, woman.”

“It was a compliment. No need to get your wings in a bunch.” She innocently batted her eyes, the amusement in them clear.

Oh, she wanted to play? He could play. All day he’d held back, not taking opportunities he would under usual circumstances, because she wasn’t just any girl. She was in a different class and her family already disliked him, she was Sadie’s best friend, and most problematic of all, she wanted to take Mountain Ridge from him. But between the flirting and the constant challenges she threw out, he was done overthinking and worrying about making things complicated.

Letting his instincts take over, he reached up and brushed the strands that’d fallen free of her ponytail off her face. The amusement died, other emotions taking over her features. Surprise and temptation—he could work with both of those.

*****

Review:

While I won’t say this is my favorite Madsen book, it’s pretty much because she’s written some really good stories.  And you can’t love them all the same, ya know? 🙂  But I did enjoy it and that excerpt was one of my favorites scenes – gives you a pretty good idea of what the rest of the book is like.  It’s funny and sweet, but with its share of angst and issues.

I didn’t necessarily like Quinn all the time thru the book, but I did understand her and she does some growing by the end.  She has some serious issues with her family and their expectations, especially her dad.  She’s different than the rest of her family, and unfortunately for her, there isn’t anyone who really understands her – love her yes, understand her no.  She’s not had much more luck in her personal life … until she meets Heath.  But it is hard to let go of those bad experiences.

Now, Heath I absolutely loved.  He’s sexy and sincere, hard working and caring.  He didn’t have the best start in life, but he’s working on bettering it for his brothers. Unfortunately of course that’s where the conflict with Quinn comes in.  As much as they are attracted to each other, there is a big issue between them with the property.

To which, I saw a solution from about Chapter 3 but then where would all of the fun come from?  I think Madsen does a fantastic job of having them get there on their own (again, it’s kinda obvious) but her’s works a lot better since they had a chance to fall in love.  And we get to enjoy being there with them as they do.

*****

Cindi MadsenAuthor Info:

Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

Win a $20 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb55495564/

*****

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

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Book Review – Clean Lines

12 Friday Jun 2015

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

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Y’all, Joe Morris is this week’s book boyfriend – he’s caring & sexy, strong & brave, with moments of male stupidity to keep him humble 🙂

*****

ebookClean Lines

Cedar Tree #4

by Freya Barker

Genre: Erotic suspense

Cover Designer: RE&D, Margreet Asselbergs

Hosted By: Francessca’s Romance Reviews

Blurb:

When her surly teenage son moves back to live with ER physician Naomi Waters unexpectedly, her motherly instincts go on high alert. Nothing could’ve prepared her for the wave of trouble that follows him back into her life.

Sheriff Joe Morris blew his chance with Naomi a few years back when he’d moved faster than his own past allowed. At the first opportunity to get his foot back in the door, he takes it and risks everything to keep her and her son safe.

But working for a future isn’t easy when you’re fighting to survive your past.

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25295373-clean-lines?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr

Available at

http://amzn.to/1FRGNGs – Amazon UK

http://amzn.to/1SGuzWK – Amazon USA

*****

Excerpt:

On the short drive home, with Joe riding my bumper, I still have way too much time to think. And what I’m thinking is that I’ve gone and lost my mind. Who says shit like that? I behaved like some two-bit sex operator and sounded no better. If I didn’t need both hands on the steering wheel, I’d have my face covered right now; I’m that embarrassed. Emotional. Too fucking emotional. It’s either flat or deep with me and it’s exhausting. Why I have to be this emotionally unbalanced every time around Joe, I have no idea, but I’m sure the man’s had enough of crazy women for a lifetime.

When I park the car, I turn off the engine and drop my head on the wheel. Maybe this is not such a good idea. I probably should’ve stayed with Katie and the baby and not just gone running off with Joe at the first opportunity. Well, not exactly the first opportunity but still. It seems inappropriate. Doesn’t it?

The door beside me opening startles me, but even more so does the feel of Joe’s firm hands pulling me down from my seat.

“Don’t. Don’t sit there and talk yourself out of something we both know is going to happen,” he says talking to the top of my head because I am studying the tips of my toes.

“Naomi?” He leans in and I can feel the heat of his words penetrate my skin as he speaks. “I need you. I need to feel your fingers tangle in my hair, your tongue in my mouth, your skin under my hands and your pussy squeezing my cock. I need it all, honey.”

Slowly raising my eyes, I find his burning with lust and something more. Need? I trace my fingers over his lips and along his jaw before whispering, “Let’s go.”

*****

Review:

How many of you are going to be surprised when I say that this is the first book in this series that I’ve read? No one? Yeah, not a surprise. I was a little surprised at how much I liked this story. Barker somehow made a whole lot of things come together easily and without making her story clunky. Clean Lines easily stood on its own too, which only added to the enjoyment. There were characters who had their own stories before and at least a couple who are going to have one coming up, but none of it left me confused … just excited to get my hands on those stories.

I will say that I’m stunned that it took three years for Joe to find a way to fix things with Naomi. She’s got some history and it lead her to be prickly but surely in that amount of time, and with sharing friends, there would have been some way to get an explanation to her. He doesn’t seem like a guy who would be willing to let it go for that long. But that is my only complaint and Barker does try to explain it away.

Overall, though, it is a fantastic suspense romance. There’s a great amount of heat and angst between the two, plus they come with baggage that is fun to explore. But there is also a lot of danger and mystery surrounding her ex-husband and son. It made for a nail-biter in a couple of places … as well as a few spots to get your heart racing for other reasons 🙂

If sexy thrillers are your thing, I highly recommend you add Barker’s books to the top of your TBR pile. A fun read with interesting characters and a captivating plot, Clean Lines is a great place to start.

*****

Publicity shotAuthor Info:

Freya Barker craved reading about ‘real’ people, those who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, hot monkey sex and some thrills and chills in their lives – So she decided to write about them. Always creative, from an early age on she danced and sang, doodled, created, cooked, baked, quilted and crafted. Her latest creative outlets were influenced by an ever-present love for reading. First through blogging, then cover art and design, and finally writing. Born and raised in the Netherlands, she packed her two toddlers, and eight suitcases filled with toys to move to Canada. No stranger to new beginnings, she thrives on them. With the kids grown and out in the world, Freya is at the ‘prime’ of her life. The body might be a bit ramshackle, but the spirit is high and as adventurous as ever. Something you may see reflected here and there in some of her heroines…. none of who will likely be wilting flowers.

Stalker Links

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

https://twitter.com/freya_barker – Twitter

https://www.tsu.co/FreyaB – TSU

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

http://www.freyabarker.com – TSU

http://www.amazon.com/Freya-Barker/e/B00N36NDYI/ – Amazon Author Page

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

http://bit.ly/1DmiBub – Newsletter

*****

Teaser 5

Other Books In The Series

”AGAINST ME” (Cedar Tree #3)

http://bit.ly/AgainstMe – Amazon USA

http://bit.ly/AgainstMe – Amazon CA

http://bit.ly/AgainstMe – Amazon UK

http://bit.ly/AgainstMe – Amazon AUS

“HUNDRED TO ONE” (Cedar Tree #2)

http://bit.ly/HundredToOne – Amazon USA

http://bit.ly/HundredToOne -Amazon CA

http://bit.ly/HundredToOne – Amazon UK

http://bit.ly/HundredToOne – Amazon AUS

“SLIM TO NONE” (Cedar Tree #1)

http://bit.ly/SlimToNone – Amazon USA

http://bit.ly/SlimToNone – Amazon CA

http://bit.ly/SlimToNone – Amazon UK

http://bit.ly/SlimToNone – Amazon AUS

*****

Giveaway:

Up for grabs – $24 Amazon GC and the full Cedar Tree series on Kindle

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ae51915615/

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Spotlight – Blame it on the Kiss

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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I’ve read (and loved) a lot of Bielman’s books, including the first Kisses in the Sand novel – Keeping Mr. Right Now, where we first meet Honor and Bryce.  I can’t tell you how excited I was to have this book come out.

*****

BlameItOnTheKissBlame it on the Kiss

A Kisses in the Sand novel

by Robin Bielman

Blurb:

The one guy she shouldn’t want…

Honor Mitchell has lived with guilt and regret for a long time, so when she promises to do the things on her dying best friend’s wish list, she’s determined to follow through and do something right for a change. But when she’s thrown together for wedding duties with the one man who complicates her vow–just by looking at him–she has to put her faith in Bryce Bishop’s pledge to help her, no strings attached.

Bryce’s near one-night stand with his ex-girlfriend’s best friend a few months ago might have been a mistake, but helping the beautiful, free-spirited Honor with her promise isn’t. His trust in women is shot, but he can’t help but play his best man card to his advantage and help Honor tick off the items on his ex’s list, even if it puts him in a no-win situation. Because his assistance might get Honor what she wants, but suddenly being the do-good guy puts his plans–and heart–in serious jeopardy.

Purchase links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1APUmX9

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1F1ExIb

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1ITPgK8

iTunes: http://apple.co/1LlBC1z

*****

Excerpt:

Bryce stared at her. Most girls would’ve had a fit if the sprinklers had soaked them. Not only had Honor laughed it off, she looked amazing and none the worse for wear as the pink light of the toy ring glowed at her waist.

“Do not tell me you have x-ray vision and can see the color of my undergarments, because then I’d have to use this magic ring to one, make you color blind, and two, make your clothes disintegrate so everyone could see if you’re a boxer or briefs man.”

His grin came quick and easy. “You want to see what I have on underneath my jeans, all you have to do is ask.”

“No thanks.” She stopped in front of him.

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“You don’t look positive.”

“How do I look?”

He took a slow inspection down her body and back up. “You really want me to answer that?”

“Boy, you had me fooled there for a minute Captain Underpants, but I see you’re just like every other guy, which is a huge relief, I can’t even tell you.” She brushed by him and headed toward the front door.

“What does that mean?” He fell in step beside her. Something didn’t feel right inside him. He didn’t like being lumped in with all guys.

“Here,” she slipped the ring off her finger and dropped it into their bag. “Be a good partner and turn our stuff in so I can raid Sophie’s closest for something to change in to.”

“Grab me one of Zane’s shirts, would you?”

She paused at the porch to slip off her shoes and slowly rake her eyes down and up his body. Touché. “Really? Zane’s got all sorts of muscle going on and I’m not sure—”

He whipped off his shirt. Honor was messing with him, but he wanted to remind her Zane didn’t have anything on him. He took care of his body, often working out with the guys he represented. He put forth the best image possible for his agency and that included being in good physical shape.

The appreciative look in her eyes told him she liked what she saw. She’d had her hands all over his chest in their hotel room, and if he closed his eyes he knew he’d remember exactly how hot her touch had made him.

“Can I ask you something?” he ventured.

“Okay,” she said to his chest.

“Eyes up here, sweetheart.” He motioned his hand in the direction of his face.

Her cheeks reddened. “Sorry, yes?”

“Have you had your one night stand?” He fisted his hands. It didn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. But for some reason, he wanted to know. She might not be wired for it, but according to Payton, the two of them were like sisters, and if Honor promised to do the things on Payton’s list, he imagined she would keep that vow.

She gulped and again he could see her mind at work in the way she blinked and her head tilted a fraction to the side. “No.” A crease drew her brows together. “But I might be able to remedy that these next few days. A couple of Zane’s friends seem like they’d be willing to help me out.”

No doubt. “People hook up at weddings all the time, don’t they?”

“That’s what I hear.”

*****

Robin BielmanAuthor Info:

USA Today Bestselling Author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and one crazy-cute dog who loves to chew on everyone’s socks. When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also likes to run, hike, eat cupcakes, and dip her toes in the ocean. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.

She loves to connect with readers. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com.

Places to find Robin Bielman:

Site: http://robinbielman.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/RobinBielmanWriter

Twitter: http://twitter.com/RobinBielman

Goodreads: hhttp://goodreads.com/robinbielman

*****

Giveaway:

Necklace – Open for International Shipping

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/208eb8ed1127/

*****

Blame it on the Kiss Blog Tour Button

Tour Schedule:

6/10/2015
Reading Between the Wines Book Club www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com
What I’m Reading sillymelody.blogspot.com
Romance Reviews Today Blog www.romrevtoday.blogspot.com
Straight Shootin’ Book Reviews www.straightshootinbookreviews.com
Amber’s Passion for Books www.facebook.com/amberspassionforbooks
A British Bookworm’s Blog britishbookwormblog.com
Smut Fanatics Book Blog smutfanatic.blogspot.com
6/11/2015
Read-Love-Blog www.Read-Love-Blog.com
True Story Book Blog www.truestorybookblog.com
Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous ashleythebookjunkie.blogspot.com
Romantic Reads and Such romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com
The Romance Dish theromancedish.com
Short and Sassy Book Blurbs shortandsassybookblurbs.blogspot.com
6/12/2015
Book Liaison www.bookliaison.net
dazzled by books dazzledbybooks.com
Read Your Writes Book Reviews readyourwrites.blogspot.com
Fiction Fangirls www.fictionfangirls.com
Ex Libris www.stella-exlibris.com
So Many Reads www.somanyreads.com
ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING chicklitgurrl.blogspot.com

Guest Post – The Major’s Faux Fiancée

05 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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The ever awesome Erica Ridley is bringing us another story in her Dukes of War series and took time to stop by to answer a few questions.  If you haven’t already, check out my review of The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress. And then take a gander at all the goodies below for book 4, The Major’s Faux Fiancée, which I can not wait to get a chance to read … I’ll make sure that I tell you all about it when I do 🙂

*****

What do you like the most (or least) about writing romances?

My favorite thing about writing romance is taking two characters who aren’t looking for love and hurtling them down the path to Happy Ever After. I enjoy characters who find love when it’s the last thing they think they want, need, deserve, or have time for. That “oh, crap” moment when they realize it’s too late and their heart got involved despite their best efforts. And then figuring out what to do about it!

What is your favorite romantic story (movie/book, fact/fiction)?

I’m not sure I can pick a single book, but I can pick an author. Some of the first historical romances I ever owned were written by Julie Garwood, and I bet I read every one of them at least six times. The heroes were strong, determined, and very alpha, and the heroines were just as strong and determined, and never failed to drive the heroes batty until they ended up in love. I really enjoy stories with humor.

If you could be any romantic character, who would it be and why?

It may not strictly be a romance, but I loved the hero in Anne Rice’s The Mummy: Ramses the Damned. Ramses was an Egyptian pharaoh cursed with immortality, entombed, and forgotten… until he awoke in the heroine’s parlor in Edwardian London. So I guess my answer is that I want to be Julie, so I could spend some serious quality time with that fascinating hero.

Which of your characters/books was the most fun to write?

Oh man, this is a tough one. I’m having a blast with my Dukes of War series. My two favorite couples to write (so far!) were Amelia and Benedict in The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation, and Jane and Xavier in The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress. I think what I like best about both of those books was that the poor hero had absolutely no idea what he was in for, and yet he didn’t have a snowball’s chance of not falling hopelessly in love.

If you weren’t a writer and could be anything you want, what would it be?

I love to travel, and I love languages, so my non-writer dream job would be traveling the world, learning and teaching other languages. I have a friend who was born in Italy, studied in Spain, then moved to the United States, and now teaches French. My kind of lady! I would happily be a fry cook, if it included travel around the globe. 😉

*****

MajorsFauxFiancee copyThe Major’s Faux Fiancée

by Erica Ridley

Release Date:  June 2015

Publisher:  Intrepid Reads

Length:  300 pages (65-70k)

Genre:  Historical Romance

ISBN: 978-1939713322 (ebook)  MSRP: $2.99

ISBN: 978-1939713339 (mmpb)  MSRP: $6.99

Blurb:

When Major Bartholomew Blackpool learns the girl-next-door from his childhood will be forced into an unwanted marriage, he returns home to play her pretend beau. He figures now that he’s missing a leg, a faux fiancée is the best an ex-soldier can get. He admires her pluck, but the lady deserves a whole man—and he’ll ensure she gets one.

Miss Daphne Vaughan hates that crying off will destroy Major Blackpool’s chances of finding a real bride. She plots to make him jilt her first. Who cares if it ruins her? She never wanted a husband anyway. But the major is equally determined that she break the engagement. With both of them on their worst behavior, neither expects their fake betrothal to lead to love…

The Major’s Faux Fiancée  is a standalone story in the Dukes of War  regency romance series, featuring roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.

The Dukes of War romance books in Series Order:

#1        The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation               Nov. 2014

#2        The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower                            Dec. 2014

#3        The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress                 Mar. 2015

#4        The Major’s Faux Fiancée                                 Jun. 2015

#5       The Brigadier’s Runaway Bride                         Sept. 2015

*****

tmff_teaser_02 copy

Excerpt:

Daphne could barely even hear the music over the thundering of her heart at what this moment meant to him. Bartholomew wasn’t just dancing with her. He was risking all the rejection and humiliation he’d had to cloister himself into his town house to avoid.

He was confronting his deepest fears just for the chance to waltz in the garden with her.

She touched the side of his face. “You don’t have to do this if you’re afraid someone might see.”

“I don’t care about anyone’s opinion but yours. If I fall…” His lips curved wryly as he met her eyes. “I think I’ve already fallen.”

Her heart thudded. “Then it’s fortunate we find ourselves in each other’s arms.”

“Indeed.” He lowered his mouth. Slowly. Giving her plenty of time to turn away.

She slid her fingers into his hair and lifted her lips to his. He was what she wanted.

His kisses were gentle. Tender. She didn’t want gentleness. Her heart yearned for him too sharply to be content with mere tenderness.

Her kisses were hungry, demanding. She wanted every taste, every sensation to be seared upon her soul. If she couldn’t keep him in her arms, she would keep moments like these in her memory. Cleave them to her heart.

His feet stilled and, slowly, he broke their kiss. Their private waltz had come to an end.

She couldn’t repress the small sound of disappointment that escaped her throat… until she realized how far they now were from the ballroom. Although still and bare, the gardens’ trees and fountains provided a dark, secluded nook, sheltering them from prying eyes and the winter wind.

They were alone. Scandalously, deliciously, alone.

She didn’t think for a moment that it meant he was finally willing to introduce her to hedonistic pleasure—no matter how many nights she dreamt of just such a liaison—but she was greedy for any part of himself he was willing to share.

He led her to a stone bench and pulled her onto his lap.

Eagerly, she wrapped her arms about his neck, thrilling at the warmth of his embrace. He could have forced her to go back inside. Yet he cradled her in his arms instead. She wished she could be there forever. Her heart beat so rapidly, pressed against his.

He kissed the top of her head, the side of her temple, the shell of her ear. Letting her know he wanted more. Letting her know it was her choice.

Of course she would choose him.

She lifted her parted lips to his. He took her mouth. Her soul. His arms were heaven. She devoured him, her tongue dancing with his. He held her closer. The heat and passion of his kisses proved the intensity of his desire matched that of her own.

Her skin grew hot. Her clothes, restrictive. She wished she could tear his greatcoat from his beautiful shoulders. Feel her mouth on his warm neck, his muscled arms, his bare chest. To taste him on her tongue and know that he was hers.

The fantasy was so intoxicating, it stole her breath. Robbed her ability to think.

His kisses heated her flesh. All she could do was lose herself in the moment. Surrender to his mouth, his touch.

And pray he never let her go.

*****

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EricaRidleyAuthor Info:

Erica Ridley is a USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels. Her latest series, The Dukes of War, features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.

When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.

Get free stories and 99¢ new releases: http://www.EricaRidley.com/club99

Trivia:

Born:  Indiana
From:  Florida
Lives:  Costa Rica
Dogs or cats?  Dogs
Beer or wine?  Tequila
If there were no tequila:  India Pale Ale
Beach or mountains?  Mountains
Football or soccer?  Da Bears
Favorite movie genres:  Action/Adventure, Comedy
Favorite book genres:  Suspense, Thriller, Romance
Favorite pastime:  Traveling
States visited:  26
Countries visited:  30
Morning or night person?  Morning
Walk or run?  Rollerblade
Plotter or Pantser:  Storyboard + Scrivener
Apple or Android:  Apple
Tea or Coffee:  Coffee
Chocolate, light or dark:  Yes, please
Meat or veggies?  Vegetarian
Favorite foods:  Indian, Thai, Italian
Favorite music:  All of it
Instruments played:  Piano, guitar, violin
Biggest fear:  Snow

Social Networks:

Website:  http://www.EricaRidley.com
Blog:  http://www.ericaridley.com/news
Reader Newsletter:  http://www.ericaridley.com/club99
Dukes of War fan group:  http://facebook.com/groups/DukesOfWar
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/EricaRidley
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/EricaRidley
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/EricaRidley
Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/Erica_Ridley
Wattpad:  http://www.wattpad.com/user/ericaridley

Published Works:

2010  Too Wicked To Kiss  Kensington Zebra
2011  Too Sinful To Deny  Kensington Zebra
2012  Born To Bite  Kensington Publishing
2012  Charmed  Intrepid Reads
2013  Tis The Season  Anthology
2013  Midwinter Magic  Intrepid Reads
2013  One Enchanted Season  Anthology
2013  Let It Snow  Intrepid Reads
2014  Dark Surrender  Intrepid Reads
2014  The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation  Intrepid Reads
2014  The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower  Intrepid Reads
2015  Romance Writers of America: Première Anthology
2015  The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress  Intrepid Reads
2015  The Major’s Faux Fiancée  Intrepid Reads

Retailer Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/author/ericaridley
Apple / iBooks:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/erica-ridley/id426778365?mt=11
Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/erica-ridley
Google Play:  https://play.google.com/store/books/author?id=Erica+Ridley
Kobo:  http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=erica+ridley

*****

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Giveaway:

Erica is giving away an e-book copy of Dark Surrender to one lucky reader!

Leave you name and email address in the comments by 10 PM CT on Saturday June 20th and I will randomly choose a winner.

*****

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Spotlight – The Tycoon’s Red Hot Marriage Merger

03 Wednesday Jun 2015

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The Tycoon’s Red Hot Marriage Merger

by Christine Glover

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Designer: Sweet N’ Spicy Designs

Release Date: June 3, 2015

 

 

Join the Facebook Party!

Wednesday, June 3

6:00pm – 9:00pm CST

 

 

Can he unleash her inner vixen without losing his heart?

Geeky mathematician, Cassandra Nelson, proposes to her father’s sworn enemy to protect her family’s shipbuilding corporation from a takeover. Regatta racing tycoon, Marco Delgado, knows their union is a quick ticket into the society that shunned him after a devastating boating crash. He agrees, but expects a permanent commitment; one with sizzling side benefits. And, after a Vegas wedding, he unleashes Cassandra’s inner vixen during a steaming hot honeymoon in Argentina while aboard his yacht.

Cassandra never calculated falling in love into their equation, but there’s more than desire and passion flaring between them. Soon she believes they can have so much more than a sexy bargain on paper. But when Cassandra’s secrets are revealed, during a reception held in their honor, Marco must learn the power of forgiveness and love before they can have the future they deserve.

 

 

Mentally, she checked off her reasons for forging ahead with her plan. First, Marco had said she excited him. Second, she had ample exposure to the level of his physical excitement. Third, she might be inexperienced, but she had done her share of reading romance novels and given his days of self-denial she figured he’d reached a breaking point. Heck, seducing Marco couldn’t be harder than calculating algebraic equations.

 

He walked her closer to the edge of his bed until they tumbled onto the duvet, arms and legs tangling in a mad race to connect again. Then they synchronized their movements, born out of a knowing that had grown between them. Body-to-body, skin-to-skin, breath-to- whispered-breath they rediscovered each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print: Amazon

 

 

Christine Glover loves writing sensual, sizzling, emotional contemporary romances where two lost souls find each other and discover home. She resides in Alabama with her husband, two insane cats and her wonderful daughter. She enjoys finding the silly in the serious, making wine out of sour grapes, and giving people giggle fits along with heartfelt hugs. When she’s not writing, you can find her traveling the world, cooking gourmet food, and desperately seeking a corkscrew.

 

 

Join Christine’s Street Team!

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review – Rescuing the Bad Boy

30 Saturday May 2015

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After reading Bringing Home the Bad Boy (the first book in this series), I could NOT wait for the next to come out … and Lemmon definitely did not disappoint.  If you haven’t read either of these then run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookseller.

*****

Lemmon_Rescuing the Bad Boy_MMRescuing the Bad Boy

Second Chance series

by Jessica Lemmon

Blurb:

Not All Scars Heal

For Donovan Pate, the lake town of Evergreen Cove is a minefield of tough memories-including the day he had to let go of Sofie Martin. Years later he still can’t forget the taste of her lips and the feel of her killer curves. He knows he’s too damaged, that he should stay away for her own good. But what the head says and the heart wants are two very different things . . .

Seven years ago, Donovan broke Sofie’s heart. Now her career depends on playing nice in order to pull off the charity fund-raiser of the decade. She vows to keep things professional . . . yet working by his side every day doesn’t make it easy to fight temptation, and it isn’t long before she finds herself falling for this bad boy all over again. But loving Donovan means helping him face his past-so they can fight for a future together.

*****

Excerpt:

Her soft touch landed on Donovan’s arm, and the anger shuddering inside him shifted into an ache. She stepped closer, the warmth between them radiating enough heat to set him on fire. But like the fireplaces he built, he could handle it. He could handle the heat from her, not because he was impervious, but because he was strong enough to soak her in and not burn to ash.

She turned his arm where paint was drying. She swiped at it with her sleeve. “I made a mess.”

He’d forgotten about the paint. “Don’t… I can… There is a shower in the…” He lost his train of thought when she turned those emerald green eyes up to him. He watched her delicate throat work as she swallowed. His eyes traveled up her neck and landed on her mouth. Needing her mouth, he lowered his face, watched her eyes grow dark and wide, watched her lift her chin to meet him.

Heat. He wanted more. If only to test his own strength.

He moved his lips gently against hers, but resisted holding her to him. She held onto him though, grasping his forearms with both hands, her fingers wrapped around his elbows. Pressing her body against his, pressing her tits against his ribs.

Hell, sounded like an invitation to him. Deepening their connection, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, reached around, and grabbed her ass with both palms. When he squeezed, she sucked in a breath.

“Told you,” he rumbled.

“Told me?”

“Not a complaint, Scampi.” He squeezed again. “Perfect.”

A choked laugh left her throat. “Big.”

Still moving his hands over her backside, he said, “First thing I noticed about you at the Wharf.” He’d been plating up a chicken scaloppini when the manager walked in to show around a few new servers. Two he couldn’t remember, and Sofie. Bent over the plate, he’d peeked between the metal shelves framing that perfect ass . He’d stood to get a better look, and she’d pegged him with those moss-greens.

“Second thing I noticed was your eyes.”

Her lips parted slightly. “And the third thing?”

He kissed her. She tasted incredible. “The first time you talked to me.”

She rolled her eyes. “And what did I say?”

She didn’t think he remembered. She was wrong. “‘Can I get a side of cock?’”

Laughing, she shook her head.

He smiled back at her, unable to help himself. “Then you cleared your throat and said, ‘cocktail sauce’.”

Shaking her head, she said, “Worst abbreviation ever.”

“Kitchen guys are immature.”

She blinked up at him, studying him, like she was trying to piece him together. He didn’t want her to. Once she pieced him together and had the whole picture, she wouldn’t like what she saw.

He kissed her again, keeping his hands on her body.

“Are you testing my boundaries?” she asked, her tone teasing. He recognized that comment from the night he rescued her from Torsett.

“Mine,” he corrected.

Sofie bit her lip. “I don’t date much.”

“Me either.” At all, actually.

She shook her head, more in thought than in argument. “I don’t think I have any boundaries with you.”

He was beginning to think he had none with her, either.

*****

Review:

When I reviewed Bringing Home the Bad Boy, I said that Evan was likely to have some competition as a book boyfriend with Donovan and I wasn’t wrong.  With Rescuing the Bad Boy Lemmon delivers an addictive hero who carries just as many scars on the inside as the outside.  It’s an emotional rollercoaster from the beginning and I loved every minute of it.

Donovan is a charming rascal but his past has caused him to shut himself off from people, feeling like he has nothing to offer others.  He’s got a couple of close friends but they definitely have to do most of the work in the relationship.  Then there is Sofia.  A few weeks dancing around an attraction to each other leads to a night that changes things for both of them.  Years later, Donovan is back but he isn’t happy about it … and the attraction between the two is as hot as ever.

I love Sofia.  She’s got an amazingly level-head about Donovan and I think she handled every step of the way with a lot of style.  The ending has to be one of my favorites of all time.  As these two navigate the minefield of their past (both individually and shared), the present and how they are going to handle the future, I found myself drawn more and more to them.  Lemmon delivers it so smoothly and naturally – I can’t wait to read more from these guys.

*****

jessicalemmon_author photoAuthor Info:

A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.

*****

Giveaway:

Y’all have to sign up for this one!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2210/

*****

Rescuing-The-Bad-Boy-Release-week-Blitz[2]

Guest Post – Wrestling With Summer

29 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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We’ve seen stories with MMA heroes before but I think this is the first time I’ve had one about a pro wrestler.  And I’m thrilled that author Amelia Swan stopped by to give us a special bit of insight into Ryan.  I think you’ll find him super-sexy and appealing … so make sure you enter for your chance for your own copy!

*****

When most people think of professional wrestling, the WWE is what comes to mind. They think of pyrotechnics, video screens, catchy theme songs, and larger than life wrestlers with personalities and ring gear that make them seem more life fictional characters than actual people. The WWE is easily the biggest wrestling promotion in the world, so it makes sense that the general public’s knowledge of the discipline is limited to that company.

Ryan Steele, the male lead in Wrestling With Summer, is a pro wrestler but he’s never stepped foot in a WWE ring. He’s an independent wrestler. He buys his own ring gear, manages his own schedule, and develops his own character. Essentially, he’s calling most of the shots when it comes to his career. He performs at venues around the crowd in front crowds that range from a couple hundred people to thousands of fervent fans. He’s not wealthy, but he makes enough money to get by (and that makes him one of the lucky indie wrestlers).

I think that all of these traits combined make Ryan a good romance novel hero. He’s talented, dedicated to his work, and passionate about the things he loves. What woman wouldn’t be attracted to these qualities? To top it all off, he stays in good shape so that he’s believable in the ring. Ryan isn’t a big guy, so he makes sure he puts in time at the gym to sculpt his physique in a way that makes it look like someone who can take on someone much bigger.

*****

Wrestling With Summer_ 453x680

Wrestling With Summer

by Amelia Swan

Blurb:

Will Summer’s past stop her from giving her heart to a professional wrestler?

Summer Sullivan is in a slump. Her friends-with-benefits relationship with yoga teacher Drew is going nowhere, and she’s behind schedule on preparing for her upcoming art show. When she hears that a professional wrestler is scheduled to speak at the private school where she works, she’s convinced things have gone from bad to worse. After growing up with a father who changed from a loving family man to a womanizing, heavy-drinking deadbeat while he worked as a wrestler, Summer has wanted nothing to do with the industry.

But Ryan Steele isn’t like the wrestlers from Summer’s past. With boyish good looks and a lean physique, he doesn’t look like the big, bulky wrestlers she used to know. And with his kind heart and romantic tendencies, Ryan doesn’t act like them either.

It doesn’t take long before Summer is smitten with the charming wrestler, but even though Summer wants to be with Ryan, memories of her past keep getting in the way of their happiness. Will she be able to give Ryan a fair chance or will she let her misconceptions about wrestling stand in the way?

*****

Excerpt:

Placing the bag on my kitchen counter, I pulled out its contents. Even though the food was in plastic containers, I could smell the tangy, spicy aroma. I opened the lid of my drunken noodles and let the steam hit my face.

“I’m glad I chose Thai tonight.”

“Yeah, and you’re lucky there’s vegan Thai food in town. Now get over here. I have something I think you’d like to see.”

I quickly grabbed two pairs of chopsticks and brought everything we needed for our Friday night ritual feast to the coffee table. Kate and my open laptop were waiting for me when I got there.

I eyed her with lighthearted suspicion. “Uh-oh, what did you find?”

Kate smiled mischievously, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, and shoved a piece of fried tofu in her mouth. She nudged the laptop in my direction.

There he was. Almond-shaped eyes with teal irises. Shaggy but well-kept brown hair. A lean, ripped body. He wore only a silver pair of briefs with his last name written in a navy blue cursive across his ass and black boots that came up to his knees.

I was totally not prepared for Ryan Steele to look like a god among men.

I pushed the laptop back in Kate’s direction and shrugged, fighting to pry my eyes off the screen. “He’s all right.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “He’s all right? Ryan Steele is gorgeous.”

I picked up a piece of broccoli with my chopsticks. “But he’s still a wrestler.”

*****

AmeliaSwanAuthor Info:

Amelia Swan writes contemporary, erotic, and new adult romance. She’s interested in characters that are smart, sincere, and somewhat artistically inclined. Her and her husband currently reside in Northern New Jersey with their cat and dog. In addition to romance novels, Amelia is interested in yoga, fitness, veganism, and professional wrestling.

*****
Giveaway:

Enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Wrestling With Summer

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4b1c86cc1/

Review – Fighting for Keeps

28 Thursday May 2015

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Toady’s feature is part of Harlequin’s Heartwarming line and it is that … with a sexy, big-hearted fighter at its center.

*****

Fighting For KeepsFighting for Keeps

Jennifer Snow

A Brookhollow Story

He’s kryptonite. And she needs all her strength… 

Noah Parks is the ridiculously gorgeous, motorcycle-riding, cage-match-fighting equivalent of kryptonite for Lindsay Harper. And she’s going to need every last ounce of her strength now that she’s the legal guardian of her brother’s five orphaned children. For the sake of her new family, it’s time to give up her carefree single ways. Stop being the cool aunt and become a parent. And fight this crazy attraction to Noah. Sure, there’s a side of him she can’t help falling for…the one who volunteers as a firefighter and helps at-risk youth. The irresistibly kind and caring side. But she is a nurse, after all. She can’t love an MMA fighter, a man she regularly has to scan for physical trauma… Can she?

Buy it at Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

“I wanted to ask you something.”

Lindsey waited. He was silent.

“Go ahead,” she prodded.

“I was wondering if you would have dinner with me tonight.”

Seriously? The guy was wearing a hospital gown and booties and had half his body inside an MRI machine, and he was asking her out? Clearly the relaxation meds she’d given him were working. She hesitated. She wasn’t sure of Noah’s exact age, but she suspected he was at least four or five years younger than she, and given his chosen career, he wasn’t even on her radar of potential men to date. A fighter who put constant stress on his body and mind was not someone she would consider as a life partner—and at thirty-five, she thought maybe it was time to start taking relationships seriously.

“I have to work.”

*****

Review:

I liked this story, but I didn’t love it. This is part of a series and I understand that returning readers may be pretty affected by the death of Lindsay’s brother and sister-in-law, but (you guessed it) once again I joined in the middle so I had no ties to them. Unfortunately I didn’t have ties to any of the other characters either and I’m not sure if that would have helped things.

All the way to the end I was doing pretty good. I understood where Lindsay was coming from on her objections to Noah’s fighting. It’s not a pretty sport and I don’t know how I would handle being romantically tied to someone who does it for a living, so her hesitation to get involved with him didn’t bother me.

And his persistence, while it could be stalkerish, is actually an endearing characteristic. She gave off just enough of a vibe to show her conflicting emotions that he knew she wasn’t completely against it. I like Noah – he’s dedicated and caring, has overcome a very difficult background and has made a place for himself. I was right there with Lindsay as Noah showed her the man behind the fighter, and I gave him a little piece of my heart as well.

My problem though is with the resolution of their conflict. I think there could have been more build up to the final decision. I liked it, I just didn’t understand it. It seemed a little too sudden to be believable – it was all one way thru the book and then it switches. I just wish we had a little more set up to it.

Overall though I enjoyed Fighting for Keeps and will look for more by Snow and in the Brookhollow series.

*****

Author pic (1)Author Info:

Jennifer Snow lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and four year old son. She is a member of the Writers Guild of Alberta, the Romance Writers of America, the Canadian Author Association, and SheWrites.org. She is also a regular blogger on the Heartwarming Authors site and is a contributing author to Mslexia Magazine, WestWord Magazine and RWR. She has also taught RWA Chapters courses online. Her 2013 Holiday Romance-The Trouble With Mistletoe was a finalist in the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and the Heart of Denver Aspen Gold Contest.

Her publishing credits include two holiday novellas, previously published by The Wild Rose Press, now re-released or being re-released as self-published editions through Amazon. The Mistletoe Fever was an Amazon bestseller for two weeks in the category of Kindle Short Reads. Her six book small town, Brookhollow series is published through Harlequin Heartwarming and she has a new MMA sports romance series releasing through Berkley/NAL Intermix in 2015. RT Reviews has given each of her Brookhollow series books 4 stars.

She also hosts an annual SnowGlobe Award contest in recognition of holiday themed romance stories, with over forty entries each year, with participants ranging from new authors to NYT Bestselling authors, such as Brenda Novak and Sarah Morgan. More information about the contest can be found at http://www.snowglobeawardcontest.vpweb.ca

She is active on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and various blog sites and has a monthly author newsletter.

Website | Twitter

*****

Tour Schedule:

May 18th

Laurie Michele

www.lauriemichele.wordpress.com

Review

May 19th

Books are Love

www.hello-booklover.tumblr.com

Review

May 20th

Around the World in Books

http://www.aroundtheworldinbooks.ca/

Review

May 22nd

The Reading Head

http://www.thereadinghead.com

Review

May 23rd

My Book Filled Life

www.mybookfilledlife.blogspot.com

Review

May 26th

MJ Austin Books

mjaustinbooks.com

Review

May 28th

Romantic Reads

https://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com

Review

May 29th

Kelly Smith Reviews

http://kellysmithreviews.blogspot.com

Review

June 5th

Devi Nair Reviews

devinair.reviews@gmail.com Review

June 10th

Books and Bindings

http://valkyri3fatality.blogspot.com/

Review

Spotlight – 50 Acts of Kindness

27 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Happy hump day – check out this romantic comedy … it looks like a hoot!

*****

50ActsOfKindess-logo50 Acts of Kindness

By Ellyn Oaksmith

Romantic Comedy/90k

Blurb:

Being overly kind isn’t in Kylie Harrow’s nature. This has never been more evident than when Kylie vents her frustrations to an innocent employee—and the whole scene is posted online, tanking her career and earning her the dubious distinction of “World’s Worst Boss.” But when she flees home to the South, Kylie finds her childhood home has changed. The high school quarterback is now the hot and handsome sheriff. Her mother has turned her home into a nudist colony. And worst of all, having heard about her daughter’s exploits, her mother won’t let her in the door until Kylie completes fifty kind acts in fifty days.

The task seems easy enough at first—and may even help repair her media image—but it quickly turns into a hilarious quest that leads Kylie down a bumpy road filled with new challenges. What started as a gimmick to save her career evolves into a mission to save a spunky old woman and her little dog from homelessness. As Kylie learns about the nature of kindness, she finds the path to happiness and, for the first time ever, maybe even love.

Buy Links:     Amazon      B&N      iBooks      Kobo      Smashwords(Print)

*****

Excerpt:

“We are a technology marketing company. People don’t want to see our underwear or ultrasounds or try to run a meeting while you jump up to pee.”

“I’m due in two weeks.”

Her whine was still grating on my nerves, but my recorded words sliced like knives. Was I the equivalent of that rooster my mom had that pecked at the hens? One morning mom found him dead, pecked to death. I thought, “Please do not let this be my barnyard reckoning,” even though things were clearly sliding in that direction.

On screen I plowed forward. “I cannot do your job and mine. It’s killing me. I need you on the ground running. Oh no wait, you can’t run. Which is why you missed the flight to Miami where you got ‘dehydrated.'” I did air quotes around “dehydrated.”

Holy cow. I was so angry it blinded me to very fact she was recording.

“I was dehydrated.”

We were both so very tired. “Which is why you ended up lounging in Miami while I ran yet another meeting solo. I stayed up until three a.m. doing the PowerPoint you’d forgotten.”

“I ended up in the hospital.”

“And missed the flight back to New York and yet another day of work. If you are dehydrated, drink water. It’s not rocket science!”

I remembered this day clearly. Sleep-deprived from a red eye, I’d left Betsy in New York, begging her to prep for a meeting the following day. When I got back, the slides weren’t ready. She’d gone home. I’d miss another night’s sleep to finish them.

It was the perfect storm, and she’d caught it.

I leaned forward to downsize the screen. “2.7 million views?” She’d titled it “World’s Worst Boss?!” There were lots of comments, many expletives, and a passionate, nine exclamation points in a row.

Bob dug a crust from his eye. “It’s not something to be proud of.”

My mind raced. How to spin this before he threw something out? I managed a casual shrug. “I’m in marketing. I can’t help it.”

“This makes us look so bad.”

It was crunch time. There was no room for complaints or excuses. “Does it though? Does it? What I see is that we expect a certain professionalism and energy from our employees, a requirement that, pregnant or not, they perform to the best of their abilities.” My delivery was very rough, but it was a message she needed to hear.” He wasn’t buying. I grabbed for a straw. “Isn’t posting this on YouTube a violation of my privacy?”

“I don’t know,” Bob said wearily. “That’s 2.7 million negative hits with MLJK’s name attached.”

My heart clenched. I needed a cigarette. Now. “Whatever happened to ‘any publicity is good publicity’?”

He ignored my lame joke. “She’s threatening to file suit. I checked with legal. We can tie her up in court, but the claim is legit.”

I inhaled sharply, forgetting, in my growing panic, to exhale.

“Breathe, Kylie.”

“S-s-suing us?” Great, now I was stuttering.

“You called her fat. She says you created an unhealthy work environment.”

My jaw dropped. This was not the time to point out that, as a former chubette, I never, ever use the F-word. “The operative word here is work. I was running on vapors.”

Bob got up and looked out the window at his fabulous view. “Stella, by the way, corroborates everything you’ve said.” My eyebrows shot up in alarm. “Yes, I’ve talked to her. I’ve talked to a few people, but the point is that sooner or later we all have to deal with this. Pregnant women deserve…” He stared off into the silver buildings and cloudless sky. When I’d entered, the view had felt empowering. Now it was an invitation to jump. “Latitude. We are a family-friendly company.”

I snickered bitterly. MLJK years were dog years. Most of the senior partners were divorced. “And what about women who aren’t ever going to have children? We just put up and shut up?” I knew this sounded whiney, but I couldn’t help myself. I felt like a tightrope walker studying the tiny figures below, waiting for me to fall. Then it struck me. I felt like this most of the time.

He gazed at me, his eyes weary. “Come on. You’re what, not even thirty? You don’t know that.” Bob was still in his marriage of origin.

“Look at me Bob. My relationships have the longevity of a fruit fly. I have nothing left at the end of the day.” I have nothing left right now.

“Maybe it’s time to branch out.”

Clearly he pitied Betsy. It was time to grab the controls. “I can fix this. I can smooth things out. Get my assistant her own assistant. At least until she’s had it.”

“Her baby is not an it,” he snapped.

“Did I say ‘it’?” I’d been talking so quickly. It? Good move Kylie.

“Yes,” Bob said quietly, losing his starch. Crossing his arms he glanced at a framed photo: a gap-toothed, pig-tailed toddler on a swing, pushed by his beaming, very pregnant wife. “You’re going to have to leave until this dies down.”

For a second I felt nothing but a weight pressing on the top of my head, a dull ringing in my ears. “This isn’t Survivor. You can’t let random strangers on YouTube vote me off because I lost my temper.”

“They’re not. Lance is.”

The CEO? I was in a tippy canoe, and by golly, there went my paddle.

I made a tiny bubble of an objection as I sank. “She wasn’t doing her job.”

“Effective immediately,” he said. I knew what preceded those two words. Terminated.

This wasn’t a break.

This was permanent.

*****

Author picAuthor Info:

Ellyn Oaksmith is an award-winning writer who began her career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles. Her first book, Adventures with Max and Louise, was published in 2012. Fifty Acts of Kindness is her third book. She’s currently at work on her first YA novel, Chasing Nirvana. The best part of her work day is spent watching vintage YouTube footage of Nirvana concerts and calling it research.

Ellyn is part of the Girlfriends Book Club which has been featured in The New York Times and USA Today. She lives in Seattle with her family, a rescue dog and a rather rotund cat.

http://www.ellynoaksmith.com/

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