Category Archives: Sneak Peek

Spotlight – Margo & George Forever?

03 Tuesday Jul 2018

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I don’t know that I could do a big society wedding … how about you?

*****

Margo & George Forever?

by Stephanie Queen

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

There was no question in Margo’s heart of hearts that she loved George. She really did want to marry him–scratch that–she really did want to be married to him.

There was a difference.

She hoped to heaven that the teeny-tiny distinction wouldn’t be their undoing…

The stage is set for the wedding of the year in New York City featuring poor sweet beautiful Margo marrying the most eligible (read that: handsome and wealthy) bachelor, Regal Stores heir and CEO, George Regal, III. The Regal family has long presided over the social and fashion scene in Manhattan and they have embraced the marriage with enough enthusiasm to create a circus.

That could be why Margo feels like she’s in the center ring and about to be swallowed by a lion.

But the best things about George, the strong powerful CEO, are the ones he’s not known for, like his small thoughtful gifts, the crystal angel Christmas tree ornament he’d given her, the way he holds her hand at odd moments, the way he bear-hugs his grandma whenever he sees her and the way he speaks with misty eyes about his late mother.

Of course Margo wants to spend the rest of her life with him… if she could just get past the family’s ‘enthusiasm’ and THE WEDDING.

Warning: Once you open this book you’ll get heart-warming romance, smiles, laughs & fun, but also an adult-sized portion of steamy love scenes. And of course, most important of all, a very satisfying Happily-Ever-After.

Goodreads * Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

Margo didn’t mind waiting until she’d had a swig of her drink before trying to explain herself. She wasn’t sure what to say—or what she thought, if truth be told. But it was time she unbottled whatever mess was inside her.
“I’m scared witless about this wedding circus.” She paused. Her friends stared.
“I tremble at the thought of the outrageous pageantry as if I’m the queen of a minor Nordic country. I’m horrified that there will be a thousand freaking guests and I don’t know any of them—none but a handful. I have no idea what I’m supposed to say or do.”

*****

Author Info:

Stephanie Queen is the USA Today bestselling author of the romantic detective series, Beachcomber Investigations. She lives in the stunning state of New Hampshire with her family, her cat, Kitty and her fun-loving friends. Besides going to the gym sporadically, Stephanie cooks and crochets and loves chocolate covered potato chips (yes, she should go to the gym more often).

She used to be a 9 to fiver working in downtown Boston, but has thrown her stylish suits and fancy heels in a closet and now hangs out in UConn t-shirts, jeans and sneakers. “If I could come back in another life as anything I wanted, I’d be a regency era heroine.” (Not surprisingly) Regency romances are her favorite secret reads.

Website * Facebook * Facebook * Twitter

Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9822/

*****

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Spotlight – Once Upon a Summer

03 Tuesday Jul 2018

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I think summer is the perfect time for anthologies – beaches, pools, and time outside are perfect opportunities to grab little bite-size reads!

*****

Once Upon A Summer

A Contemporary Romance Anthology

With Stories By: Brooke Moss, Liz Ashlee, Clara Winter, Tammy Mannersly, Sarah Vance Tompkins, Kitsy Clare, Mark Love, Melissa Kay Clarke

Beaches, boyfriends and danger…summer is certainly hot! Grab a hold tight as these eight authors wow you with stories from sweet to sizzling! After all, every day can have some summer fun!

Breaking Girl Code by Brooke Moss

Aubrey is having the perfect evening out, with the perfect guy, on a perfect summer night. The problem is… Preston’s not her date. His real date is her B.F.F., and she’s passed out in the backseat.

Wishing on Water by Liz Ashlee

After watching everyone’s else’s lives hit huge milestones, all Hope wants is to escape to her boring, unchanging, single life. So, where’s the one logical place to escape to? A retirement home.

Art with a Pulse by Clara Winter

Artist Alice finds herself rescuing a seal on the sands of Laguna Beach with screenwriter Elijah. Can Alice put her past behind her and give Elijah the chance he deserves?

A Natural Passion by Tammy Mannersly

How will marine biologist, Dylan O’Day, solve the illegal poaching problem threatening the ecosystem he loves and protects when the gorgeous, new intern, Kyra Shine, is occupying his every thought?

You Had Me at Aloha by Sarah Vance Tompkins

Social media guru Vivienne Parker’s dream trip to Hawaii turns into a nightmare when her roommate in the luxurious surf shack is the hot Olympic athlete who just got her fired.

More Than Puppy Love by Kitsy Clare

Fireworks spark when Arianna, a city girl with an elite pet portrait business is in a wreck and asks Dave a country auto mechanic for help, but can these two beagle owners from different worlds see eye to eye?

Stealing Haven by Mark Love

Sand, sun, romance and a mystery to solve. Sounds like a perfect vacation for Jamie.

Harmony in the Key of Murder by Melissa Kay Clarke

Summer in the South can mean a different type of heat when a newly appointed investigator and a mechanical genius cross paths leading to murder and love.

Goodreads * Amazon

Video Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By_e9rrt14E&feature=youtu.be

******

Excerpts:

Harmony in the Key of Murder

“Thank you for tonight. I had a great time.” Her smile was like flipping on a thousand watt bulb.

He ran a finger along the side of her jaw. “So did I. Maybe the next time we can go to my place and you’ll let me make you dinner. I happen to make one of the best omelets in town.”

She shivered slightly from his tender touch but didn’t draw back. In fact, she leaned toward him slightly.

“Omelets? Isn’t that for breakfast?”

He chuckled softly. Cupping her jaw in his fingers, he held her as his lips searched out hers, feathering a tender kiss on their plump softness. Her breath stopped, and her eyes widened as he whispered to her, “It can be. The when of that will always be up to you, Pix.”

“Oh.”

Hunter loved the flustered look on her face and the way her eyes told every emotion she was feeling. He knew without a shadow of a doubt, her heart rate was going a hundred miles an hour. The old Hunter would have found her reaction to him as a stroke to his overly inflated ego. Now, however, he found it endearing. The fact he could affect her so profoundly made him want to be worthy of her adoration and damned, if he wouldn’t do anything in his power to make it happen. He had dated, a lot, but with Harmony he was a different man, a better man.

Taking a step back, Hunter tapped on the roof of her car. “Be safe; I’ll call you tomorrow, yeah?”

“Yeah okay, Hunter. Talk to you tomorrow.”

He smiled as he watched her leave. With a toss of his keys into the air, he hurried to his car with a light step and grin on his face. Harmony Tailor may not know it yet, but she would be his. Tonight he realized something important. Somewhere along the way, she had captured more than just his attention.

She would be his because he already was hers.

~

Stealing Haven

“You like my smile? I always thought it was kind of lopsided.”

I took his face in both hands and turned it toward me. “Maybe a little crooked. But that’s part of the appeal.” Now I initiated a kiss. His hands slid through my hair, then softly ran his fingers down my neck. Shivers of excitement coursed through me. A horn sounded nearby. He broke the kiss and turned to check the water. Another boat passed in the opposite direction. A man and woman were at the helm, mirroring our positions caught in the moment and sensuality of being on the water. I bit down on my bottom lip in frustration. I longed for more than kisses but safety came first.

“We don’t want to run into some sailboat out here,” Randy said with a grin.

I scooted back onto the bench. Maybe a little distance was in order? It might help my racing hormones. “How fast are we going?”

“About thirty. Want to go faster?”

Was he talking about the boat, or the two of us? Randy shifted. His right hand had dropped to the controls, his left lightly holding the steering wheel. He watched me, his lopsided grin worked its magic.

~

More than Puppy Love

“Could you ever see yourself living in a rural area? Fitting in?” Dave’s eyes are still fixed on me as he sips his daiquiri.

“I don’t know. It’s beautiful with all of the trees, nature. Bart sure likes it. But…”

“But what?”

“I’m not sure I’d be able to sustain a pet portrait business in the country. You heard Gail. She was wary of the prices I’d charge without even hearing what they were. Would enough people be able to afford my photos? If they had extra cash wouldn’t they prefer to spend hard-earned dollars on family photos, and not pet photos?”

“Hard to make a blanket statement.”

I pause to drink my daiquiri and to check out Dave’s reaction. He’s handsome inside and out with his dark curls framing his kind face and his patient way of just letting the words sink in before he says a definitive yes or no. “What about you?” I ask him. “Could you see yourself living in Philadelphia? In any big city?” Now it’s my turn to study him. It’s not an inquisition, but it seems inevitable if we are going to admit we like each other, and visualize being a couple.

He shrugs. “I like to visit big cities—Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia. I’ve had good times in Philly—seeing Independence Hall, hiking in Fairmount Park. Lunch in Reading Terminal Market at the Amish booth was cool, too.  I love their shoe-fly pie, sweet and sour cabbage and freshly made sausages.”

“Mm, yeah, eating lunch at Reading Terminal Market is a blast.”

“But my auto body business is up here.” He looks down at his drink and rubs his forehead. “I’m not sure I’d be able to afford the commercial rents in a place like Philly.”

“There’s always the suburbs.”

“True. Honestly though, I’d love to get out of the car biz and fully into dog breeding.”

“Like me and teaching. I love it, but I love photography even more. It’s time to follow my passion. You too.”

Dave looks up and nods. “I want to do it all, but I also want to be realistic. Kennel equipment isn’t cheap. Dogs need tons of space, to run, to board, to breed.”

With the word breed, he flushes and I feel my neck heat up. I take this moment to pour us one more round.

“Nothing’s impossible,” he says after he’s gotten his drink refreshed and taken another gulp.

“Yeah. Never say never.”

He puts his big hand back on mine. It’s warmer than before, and I really like having it there. “By the way, your car is all done,” he says, giving my hand an extra pat.

“Great! When should I come get it?”

“At some point tomorrow? I’ll let you know.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

He slides his hand further up, to my wrist and then along my arm. And then he leans even closer and brushes my hair back.

And then he kisses me.

~

Art with a Pulse

Stepping out of the jeep at the rescue, my flip-flop snagged on the gas pedal and I lost my grip on my scorching hot tea latte. The plastic top came loose, and the tea spilled down the front of my top. Leaping out of the car, I managed to knock most of the liquid off before it scalded my stomach. My flesh was saved, but my vintage tee was likely ruined. I stared, sadly, down at the four-dollar puddle on the floorboard. After grabbing some napkins out of the side pocket of the driver’s side door, I bent over to wipe up my mess. The London Fog was easily soaked up, thanks to the plastic floor mats.

“Having problems?” asked a familiar voice, behind me.

My stomach did a somersault, but I wasn’t ready to turn around. That is, until I realized my rear end was on prominent display. I stood bolt upright, adjusting my tee the best I could. Nothing was going to help this disaster, so I may as well own it.

“Actually, several. Flip flops, jeeps, and hot beverages do not make good bedfellows.” I met Elijah’s sparkling, emerald-green eyes.

He chuckled, producing a half grin. I hated to admit how good he looked. Elijah was probably the only person on the planet who could look pulled together in athletic gear. I wasn’t a fan of the trend, but he looked great in long running shorts and a close fitting, breathable shirt. Although these were the only types of clothes I had seen him in, I was sure he looked amazing in anything.

“Let me take that. I assume we’re here for the same thing.” He reached for my empty coffee cup and wet napkins. Was he the last gentleman on earth? Or was Jude right and I was just bitter?

I thanked him, and he jogged over to a trashcan, then back to where I stood. Now I felt more of a heel. I wasn’t willing to claim any miracles, but I did at least owe him an apology.

“I’m sorry for snapping at you, yesterday. You were trying to be nice, and I was…”

“I know what you were feeling, don’t worry about it,” he interrupted. “The morning was stressful, enough. Then to find out your stuff was stolen. I got it.”

Suspicious, my eyes narrowed, a little. I couldn’t help it; this guy was too good to be true.

“Are you from California?” I asked, thinking I had found the answer. Elijah must have hailed from a mid-western state; a place which produced corn, cows, and people who looked out for one another. Somewhere like the place my grandparents hailed from. This would also explain the milk-ad appeal of his handsome, good looks.

~

A Natural Passion

Dylan reached out, his hand going high on her shoulder, his thumb close enough to her neck to caress her lightly, calmingly. She leaned into his touch, enjoying the feel of his hand on her skin, savoring the comfort and serenity it offered her. Without thinking it through, she moved into his arms, her own wrapping around his waist as she hugged him close, relishing the human contact. He went rigid at her touch, the solid muscles of his torso locking before he relaxed into the embrace. His free arm slid around her back, while the hand at her shoulder slipped up behind her neck, gently pressing her head to rest against the warmth of his chest.

“You shouldn’t give him an extra thought if he makes you feel like this, Kyra,” Dylan all but purred soothingly into her ear. “I may not have Jake’s extensive experience in the dating scene, but I have enough of an understanding to know if the person you care for is making you feel this way, then they aren’t worthy of your affection.”

He rested his head softly atop hers and cuddled her tighter.

As she nestled in his arms, Kyra breathed in his scent, enjoying the earthiness of his skin, the slight tartness of his sunscreen and the hint of the fresh smell of soap left behind from his morning shower. She knew what Dylan had said was true, Jake’s actions and feelings were questionable, but she was still conflicted.

In Dylan’s embrace, she struggled to think of Jake and remember why she was upset.

*****

Author Info:

“I write because if I don’t…my head will explode, and ruin the drapes.” ♥

Brooke Moss writes complex, character-driven stories about kismet, reunited lovers, first love, and the kind of romance that we should all have the chance at finding. She prefers her stories laced with some humor just for fun, and enough drama to keep her readers flipping the pages, and begging for more!

When Brooke isn’t spinning tales, she spends her time drawing/cartooning, reading, watching movies then comparing them to books, and, of course, wrangling five kids, mugging on her hubby she lovingly refers to as her “nerd”, and attempting to conquer the Mount Everest of laundry that is the bane of her existence.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Liz Ashlee is a romance novelist who recently graduated from Northern Kentucky University her B.A. in English and B.S. in Library Informatics. She has been published in Loch Norse Magazine and The Pentangle, and has won the Miller Award for Outstanding Fiction Writing. She currently lives in Independence, Kentucky, with her family and dog-daughter, Hero

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Clara Winter is the writing name of Amy Rugg.

Amy Rugg grew up reading Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and Alice in Wonderland, while watching Buck Rogers, Star Trek, and Doctor Who. Writing her own stories naturally ensued. She is a wife, mother, and former school counselor, with a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Amy is from Colorado Springs, Co and currently resides in Mission Viejo, Ca.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Tammy Mannersly is an Australian author based in Brisbane, Queensland. She loves writing romance, has a fondness for animals, is crazy about movies and enjoys a great Happily Ever After. Her passion for writing started from a very young age and led her to complete a Bachelor Degree in Creative Industries majoring in Creative Writing at Queensland University of Technology.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Sarah Vance-Tompkins was born in a small town in northern Michigan. She spent every summer exploring the sugar sand beaches near Sleeping Bear National Park. She left her heart behind when she moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California. She received an MFA in Film Production and went on to work in feature film development in Hollywood. She has worked as a reporter for a weekly entertainment trade publication, and been paid to write obituaries, press releases, the directions for use on personal lubricant bottles, and breathless descriptions of engagement rings for an online jewelry store. She lives in a small town north of Los Angeles with her husband and three cats.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Kitsy Clare hails from Philadelphia and lives in New York. A romantic at heart, she loves to write about the sexy intrigue of the city, and particularly of the art world. She knows it well, having shown her paintings here before turning to writing. Model Position, her new adult novella is about artist Sienna and her friends. Living in a Bookworld says: “Beautifully written! We get to learn things about art & painting, which is refreshing. A colorful story from a promising new adult author.” The next in her Art of Love series, Private Internship launches in September with Inkspell.

Kitsy loves to travel, draw, read romance, speculative fiction and teach writing workshops. She also writes YA as Catherine Stine. Her futuristic thriller, Ruby’s Fire was a YA finalist in the Next Generation Indie book awards. Fireseed One, its companion novel, was a finalist in YA and Sci-Fi in the USA News International Book Awards, and an Indie Reader notable. Her YA horror, Dorianna, launches fall 2014 with Evernight Teen. She’s a member of SFWA, RWA and SCBWI.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Mark Love    I am a Michigan native, who up until recently lived in the Metro Detroit area, where crime and corruption always seem to be at the top of everyone’s news. So there’s always the chance to find something that can trigger a story idea and enough interesting characters to jump start your imagination.

While I have worked in many industries and career paths over the years, one of my passions has always been writing. I was even able to parlay that passion for a while, working as a freelance reporter for a couple of newspapers in the Detroit area. Writing features and hard news helped me hone my talents. But while newspaper work was interesting and paid a few bills, it was a far cry from the fiction writing that I enjoy the most.

I’ve always been drawn to mysteries and thrillers, the kind of stories that have a fast pace, that keep you moving and keep you guessing as to what’s going to take place next. Mix those in with some elements of crime, perhaps a glimpse of the seedier side and you’ve got me. So it’s always been one of my goals to write stories like that.

Website * Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads

Melissa Kay Clarke was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and raised in Houlka, a small rural town forty-five minutes southwest down the famous Natchez Trace. She found a love of reading very early and quickly devoured everything she could. Told repeatedly that she had a wonderful imagination, she turned to scribbling her musings and wrote her first novel while in college. It was never published and has since vanished. The death of a close friend who aspired to become an author reawakened her own desire resulting in penning her first book, Shattered Dreams, published in 2013.

Melissa now resides in Meridian, Mississippi with her supportive family – husband, Robert and daughter Rebecca, two cats, and two dogs. When she isn’t writing, she spends way too much time with her online friends and feeding her ravenous appetite for the written word.

Website * Blog *  Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

$50 Amazon

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9824/

*****

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

Spotlight – Anything For Love

29 Friday Jun 2018

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If you aren’t reading Melissa Foster’s books, you are SO missing out!

*****

Anything for Love

The Bradens and Montgomerys
(Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls) – Book 2

by Melissa Foster

Releasing June 27th, 2018

World Literary Press

Blurb:

After Charlotte Sterling loses her last family member, she moves to Sterling House, her family’s Colorado mountain inn, to live a solitary life. As an erotic romance writer, her days and nights are filled with passion and intrigue—even if only fictional. She loves her busy, quiet lifestyle, and she learned early on that real men can’t live up to the fictional heroes she creates—until ruggedly handsome Beau Braden arrives to do some work at the inn and, for the first time in forever, she’s intrigued by a real man.

Beau lost his first love years ago, and he’s never let go of his guilt over her death. As he nears the anniversary of his loss, he is on the cusp of becoming the star of a home-renovation reality show. Escaping the painful memories of his past to work at the defunct old inn is just the promise of solitude he needs to clear his head before diving in to the all-too-public career. But he didn’t count on being attracted to the whimsical, adorably sexy innkeeper.

Neither Charlotte nor Beau is looking for an attachment or a fling. But the more they learn about each other, the closer they become. Romantic evenings lead to intimate conversations, and neither can deny their deep connection or the passion it sparks. They’ve never fully healed on their own, but together maybe anything is possible.

**The Bradens at Pleasant Hill and the Montgomerys have become one magnificent series! In book three, Trails of Love, the Montgomerys and the Bradens are going to be deeply intertwined. For that reason, I have combined the series to make it easier for readers to keep track of characters, weddings, babies, etc. What this means is that after the first two books (Embracing Her Heart and Anything for Love) you will see both worlds in most of the books. Some stories might weigh more heavily in one location than the other, but they are all going to cross over. In book one, Embracing Her Heart you will met the Montgomerys, and in book two, Anything for Love, you will meet the Bradens. I hope you love them all as much as I do!

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25317309-anything-for-love

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/151180-the-bradens-montgomerys-pleasant-hill—oak-falls

Buy Links:

➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/AFL_Kindle

➜iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2wkOgQ2

➜KOBO: http://smarturl.it/AFL_Kobo

➜NOOK: http://smarturl.it/AFL_Nook

➜GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2gr852M

➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/AFL_Pb

*****

Read the first chapter! – https://melissafoster.com/anything-love-sneak-peak/

*****

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.

Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

Five winners will receive a digital copy of THRILL OF LOVE

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81379/

*****

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Spotlight – Whole Lotta Frogs

28 Thursday Jun 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Y’all, I’m seeing a whole lotta 5 STAR reviews for this one – get your copy today!

*****

Whole Lotta Frogs

by Samatha Harris

Release Date: June 19, 2018

Cover Designer: T.E. Black Designs

Blurb:

My name is Lennox Brooks and I’ll admit, I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I don’t take the big risks, I cover my insecurities with snark, I’ve shown my crazy a few more times then I would’ve liked, and I’ve been trying, and failing at love pretty much since I first grew tits.

Weirdos, Mama’s boys, the over-coiffed, and underwhelming, I’ve been out with them all, just read my blog. I’ve got horror stories that would curl your toes and singe your nose hairs, but none of them compare to the toad who started it all, Ellis Walker.

He was the boy next door, the charming, infuriatingly gorgeous one who broke my heart and disappeared without a trace. Now he’s back and determined to throw my life into chaos, dredging up painful memories just when things were getting good.

But the thing is there are always two sides to every story.

I’ve spent the better part of my life hating him for everything he put me through, but without that resentment clouding my judgment how will I ever resist him?

Love is complicated, appearances are deceiving, and sometimes you have to kiss a whole lotta frogs before finding your prince.

Amazon US- https://tinyurl.com/yd87v6gz

Amazon CA- https://tinyurl.com/ycpn3s8w

Itunes- https://tinyurl.com/yb3ukce9

Barnes & Nobel- https://tinyurl.com/ycovqf2l

Kobo- https://tinyurl.com/y9uazogo

*****

Excerpt:

I got ready in a fury and reread Ellis’s invasive text three times while I fixed my hair and makeup, shaking my head each time and fighting back a smile.

I still hadn’t answered when I started walking the six blocks to Sawyer’s apartment. I’d barely stepped off the stoop of my building when my phone rang.

“You never answered my question,” Ellis said.

My lips curled up at the corners. “Of course, I didn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s none of your business.”

“Len, your nudity is absolutely my business. In fact, I’m the CEO of that luscious body and I’m a hands-on kind of leader.”

I shook my head, unable to hold back my smile any longer. “Wow, you managed to turn a creepy text into an even creepier metaphor. Kudos to you.”

Ellis laughed. “Are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Naked,” he said. “I’m about the hop in the shower and I need a visual to, you know, help me finish the job.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Unbelievably sexy you mean.” I could hear the grin in his voice.

“Whatever.”

“Seriously, though,” he said. “What are you up to?”

“Well.” I took a deep breath, the ice-cold air burning my nose. “If you must know, Sawyer offered to make me dinner. I’m on my way to his place.”

“Really?” he asked. “Great!”

I stopped short on the sidewalk my feet frozen to the pavement. People around me grunted their disapproval and moved around me as I stood glued to the concrete.

“Great?” What happened to throwing his hat in the ring?

“Yeah. I’m starved; I’ll meet you there in ten.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I love his food—man, that guy can cook. Best decision I ever made, going into business with him. Even if he’s trying to steal my woman.”

“Ellis!” I shouted into the phone. An elderly woman pulling a grocery cart behind her glared at me for my outburst. I mouthed my apologies to her then returned to my phone. “So help me God if you show up at Sawyer’s…”

“What’s the big deal? I’m friends with him. He’s friends with you. We can all have dinner together, it’ll be fun.”

“You aren’t invited.”

“Oh, Len, I’m hurt. I thought we were moving forward. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

I sighed. “Yes, we’re friends.”

“And friends sometimes eat together?” I groaned, not liking the route this conversation was taking. “Sawyer and I are friends, which I expect might change when I tell him how I feel about you. Oh, what the hell—we’ll just leave him out of this and you and I will just go ourselves.”

“Smooth, Ellis,” I said. “Real smooth.”

“I am pretty smooth if I do say so myself. Not to mention devastatingly handsome, and moderately charming.”

“Only moderately?” I asked.

“Yes, but don’t worry; I grow on you.”

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and closed my eyes. “Please tell me you are not going to show up this evening.”

Ellis laughed. “Relax. I won’t be interrupting your little dinner.”

“Thanks.” I checked the address and looked up at Sawyer’s building. The door to which was sandwiched between a dry cleaner and a greasy pizza place. “I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay,” he said. “Lennox?”

“Yeah.”

He didn’t say anything right away. I just stood there, the cold wind biting at my fingertips.

“Don’t—,” he started, his voice sounding almost pained.

“Don’t, what?”

I stood there listening to him breathe on the other end.

“Nothing.” He sighed.

I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Bye, Ellis.”

*****

Author Info:

Samatha “Sam” Harris lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband David and daughter Ava. Born in Florida, she migrated north which most people agree was a little backwards. She has been an artist all of her life, a Tattoo Artist for more than ten years, and a storyteller since she was a kid.

Sam has a slightly unhealthy love for Frank Sinatra, classic movies, and Jazz and Blues music, but her first love will always be reading. From Romance, to Thrillers, to Historical Fiction and everything in between, she loves to become a part of the story. As a writer she tells the stories that she would want to read.

Website: www.samathaharrisbooks.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/samathaharris08

Instagram: https://instagram.com/samathaharrisbooks/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14244788.Samatha_Harris

*****

Book Review – Navy SEAL’s Match

27 Wednesday Jun 2018

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Scars inside and out, from more than just his time as a SEAL, Gavin Savitt has a lot to face before he can make a life for himself in Fairhope.

*****

Navy SEAL’s Match

Fairhope, Alabama series

by Amber Williams

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 384

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

He believes he can’t be saved—she’ll prove him wrong!

Former SEAL Gavin Savitt always knew who he was—until his last deployment ended tragically. Now he’s home, his mind hijacked by trauma and the shadow of his once-perfect sight. Yet in this new hazy, unclear world, one person stands out—Mavis Bracken.

There are a million reasons why Gavin shouldn’t be with Mavis, including that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Yet he longs for her touch, her freckles and her special way with wild, skittish beasts like him. He just needs the courage to take his life back. And Mavis won’t let him give up without a fight.

ORDER YOUR COPY: Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

“I know it’d be better for you if I left.”

“You let me be the judge of that,” she advised.

“The moment you’re burdened by me,” he said, slowly, “I’m out of here.”

She didn’t agree. No. Instead, she raised herself onto her toes.

Gavin’s eyes closed and his breath hitched as her kiss washed breathily over his lips and blew him away. Answers cropped up inside him, bright like candles. His hand moved to the back of her head, no more able to snuff them out than he was to convince her to walk away.

*****

Review:

This is the first in this series I’ve read and unfortunately I feel like I missed some undercurrents because of it.  Williams does her best to explain why Gavin doesn’t feel like he belongs (thanks to his witch of a mother), but I’m not sure exactly what he did as a kid to give him such a bad rep.  Also, apparently there is some history between him and Kyle, Mavis’s brother, that goes beyond the fact that Kyle is now in a relationship with Gavin’s sister.  They used to be friends … or at least close, but maybe with some complex feelings involved?  I don’t know and that’s part of the problem.  I felt just a little lost with some of the dynamics between the secondary characters.

But I didn’t have a problem  grasping the connection between him & Mavis.  She’s one of those walks to her own drummer kind of people and is really good at observing.  And she observes a lot about Gavin, doing her best to help steer him so he can find his way.  She doesn’t push too hard but she’s there as a guide.  Both of them understand that this is something he has to do but she can help with some of the tricks to keep him together.

Gavin’s got a lot of baggage that he needs to address.  Not just his blindness and guilt over things that happened while he was overseas, but his mother is a real beast who did quite a number on him.  It’s caused him to put up some barrier between him and those who want to get close to him, but luckily for him Mavis is made of pretty stern stuff.

While I enjoyed the pacing of the story, the characters, and how everything gets resolved, I did have just a little trouble with some of the writing.  Mavis is in to some woo-woo stuff (paranormal activity & such), which is fine and works with her as a character.  But some of the writing, especially early on, threw me a bit.  Williams shows Mavis’s ability to see things about Gavin that others don’t with descriptions that are a little … flowery, I guess, is the only way I know how to say it.  It’s kinda poetic but was awkward for me because I’m more of a straightforward person.  It was pretty to read but also hard to understand and not something I’m used to in this type of romance.  I got used to it though worked with it until the story moved on.

Overall, Navy SEAL’s Match was a thoroughly enjoyable read, with moments of humor, heat, and heart.  I really liked the special connection between Gavin & Mavis and the way they went about deepening it into something lasting was a treat to read.

*****

Author Info:

Amber Leigh Williams is a romance writer who lives on the US Gulf Coast. She lives for beach days, the smell of real books and spending time with her husband and their two young children. When she’s not keeping up with rambunctious little ones (and two large dogs), she can usually be found reading a good book or indulging her inner foodie. Amber is represented by the D4EO Literary Agency.

Amber’s latest book is the contemporary romance, Navy SEAL’S Match.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

*****

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Spotlight – When You Knew

25 Monday Jun 2018

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The Top 5 Reasons You Need A Manny by Jamie Beck

Thank you for inviting me to discuss my recent release, WHEN YOU KNEW, the final Cabot novel, which series has followed the siblings of a dysfunctional blended family as they each get second chances in life and love. Gentry Cabot, the youngest sibling and former wild child, carries a chip on her shoulder from being raised by nannies. But when a one-night stand with a stranger whose name she doesn’t know results in an unplanned pregnancy, she needs childcare help pronto. Enter Ian Crawford, a humanitarian EMT looking for a quick injection of cash before he heads back to Haiti. Gentry hires Ian on a temporary basis, and once he moves in, these two opposites start to bring out things in each other that neither expects.

Given her past, Gentry is conflicted about hiring a nanny, but she’s determined to build bridges with her family by working at the family business, so she hasn’t much choice. Within a day or two, the benefits overshadow her doubts. Here is her short list of reasons why you, too, might consider getting yourself a “manny:”

  1. If you, like Gentry, are a single mom, having a male role model in the house is welcome (especially if you have a son);
  1. It’s pleasant to come home to a house that’s been cleaned, and a meal that’s been cooked, by a man. Bending stereotypical gender roles is also beneficial for kids to see;
  1. Men bring a different, adventure-seeking energy to parenting, and children benefit from that balance with a cautious mother;
  1. Having a man (especially a first responder like Ian) in the house can make you feel safer, and can be very helpful if you are raising a less-abled child and need extra strength to manage certain physical aspects of childcare; and last, but not least
  2. If you’re a single mom, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the company of, and conversation with, a cute guy each day! You never know where it could lead.

While I certainly had fun writing this story, it’s ultimately about family, forgiveness, and finding a connection that makes you the best version of yourself. Here’s an excerpt from when Gentry returns home after her very rough first day back at work. When she comes home, Ian’s smooth handling of things makes her feel like a failure twice over (not that she wants to admit it). Enjoy!

*****

When You Knew

A Cabot Novel

by Jamie Beck

Release Date: June 26, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Gentry Cabot’s rebellious life comes to a screeching halt when a one-night stand leads to a sobering new reality: motherhood. Exhausted and overwhelmed, the former wild child struggles to raise an infant on her own. After a lifetime of feeling like the odd Cabot out, Gentry knows that what her son needs most is family. For his sake, she plans to rebuild bridges with them, but first she needs a little help on the home front.

Humanitarian worker Ian Crawford has devoted his life to service. Forced to temporarily return stateside, he’s eager to head back to Haiti to expand the nonprofit he just founded in his late father’s honor. He can’t do that without money, so when Gentry offers a hefty paycheck for a short-term gig as a live-in nanny, he can’t afford to say no. Ian expects to deal with a barrage of privileged problems. What he doesn’t expect is how quickly being a makeshift father transforms him.

Despite his growing attachment to Gentry and her child, Ian still has his dreams, and Gentry wants a full-time dad for her son. When the baby’s father reenters the picture, will Gentry and Ian embrace the family they’ve formed or end up worlds apart?

*****

Excerpt:

Gentry walked through the front door and dropped her bag on the floor without looking at him. Ian watched her shuck off her shoes, which she flung into the corner, where they lay piled atop each other like blue silk firewood.

Expensive shoes, no doubt. He’d learned a bit more about her today when he’d had sixteen free minutes to scroll through her blog. Replete with photos of—and stories about—Colt; it also showcased clothes and accessories, baby and beauty products, and evidenced an endearing mix of enthusiasm, hubris, clever observation, and a fair amount of empathetic commiseration with her followers.

The last few paragraphs of the post she’d written last night had caught his eye.

I swore I’d never hire a nanny. I had my reasons, none of which matter to anyone but me. Still, they mattered to me as much as air and water, and yet … now I’ve gone and hired a nanny.

I could make excuses. He’s a temporary fix. Desperate times and all that blah, blah, blah. But why bother with explanations?

If I begin with a truth—the fact that, like all new moms, I don’t know what the heck I’m doing—then there’s no good reason to stick to preconceived ideas about what I should or shouldn’t do. That kind of mindless adherence to things that sound good in concept but don’t work well in real life won’t help me or my son.

No siree.

We’re all winging it, so we might as well roll with it and, in this particular case, enjoy the perks of being proven wrong.

He’d wondered what caused her anti-nanny stance to begin with, and then he’d wondered exactly what perks she intended to enjoy.

Now, though, Gentry’s stained shirt and drawn expression warned him to tread with caution.

He braced to be the target of her dark mood. Farrah had given him some practice in this department. He used to point out the harsh realities he’d seen in his work to give her a different perspective on her problems. Turns out that tactic had only made him seem unsympathetic. Today he’d be careful not to make comparisons.

Gentry forced her frown into a weak smile. “Thanks for watching him later than our deal. I promise I won’t make it a habit.”

Six forty-five. Not horribly late. Not like he had anything, or anyone, else waiting on him, either.

She arched her spine, hands clasped behind her back, as she walked farther into the living room. Even a conservative—if stained—top and pencil skirt couldn’t hide that sinfully sexy body when her hips and chest were thrust into that position. Not that he should be thinking about that now—or ever.

Still, he couldn’t help but smile at the contrast between her attire and her ankle and forearm tattoos.

“No problem.” He pointed at the faint beige spot on her blouse. “Rough first day?”

She glanced at her chest; then her chin rose above a half shrug. “Some people are clumsy.”

Some people? A sufficiently vague response. He noticed this about her in the short time they’d spent together. Evasive when it came to admitting to any imperfection or lack of control. He wanted to know what happened, but she craned her neck in search of Colt. “Where’s my son?”

“Asleep.” The little fusspot had kept him hopping. Countless dirty diapers, hours of crying, and two spit-ups. But Ian still managed to keep the place clean and throw something together for dinner. His success made him grin.

She bugged her eyes. “Already?”

“Yes.” Was she pissed off? “A few minutes ago.”

“How?” Her posture deflated. “He’s usually ramping up into a good evening fit right about now.”

“Guess I wore him out.” Ian hadn’t considered that she might want to spend time with him. “Sorry. Did you want me to keep him up to see you?”

“No. I’m sure he’ll wake up before long anyway.” As her gaze roamed the spick-and-span condo, it grew even gloomier.

Good thing he’d never needed much praise. He glanced around, unable to guess the source of her mood. When he looked back at her, her dewy eyes stopped him cold. “Is something wrong?”

“Of course not. What could possibly be wrong? Everything here is perfect.” She marched into the kitchen and yanked a fresh bottle of wine from the refrigerator, then paused with the door open. “What’s this?”

She removed the kale and quinoa chicken salad he’d tossed together.

“Dinner.” He rested his hands on his hips, confused. Would this state be his new norm until he returned to Haiti?

The Tupperware landed with a plunk on the counter as tears pooled in her eyes. “Excuse me.”

She brushed past him in a blur of confusing fury and sorrow, racing into the powder room.

He froze. Contrary to her claims last night, maybe Gentry Cabot was crazy. Closing his eyes, he considered some options. A: bolt to his room to avoid what promised to be a weird cyclone of emotion, because if Gentry was anything like Farrah, he was in a lose-lose situation no matter what he said to soothe her. B: attempt to validate whatever problem sent her running. Not his strong suit, but surely the nicer thing to do.

He drew a breath before padding over to the powder room and tapping on the door. “Gentry? You okay?”

She opened it almost immediately, unable to mask her red-rimmed eyes. “Sorry.”

Ian didn’t know a single man that didn’t falter in the face of a teary woman, and he was no exception. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Nope.” She slipped past him and returned to the kitchen, where she filled her wineglass.

She hadn’t bitten his head off or blamed him—a positive sign that perhaps he’d picked the right option. He’d roll with it and try to help her relax.

“It’s nice out.” He approached her with caution. “Go sit on the deck and get some fresh air. I’ll fix you a plate.”

*****

Author Info:

National bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold more than one million copies. She’s a 2017 Booksellers’ Best Award finalist, and critics at Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing, she enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking, and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.

Fans can learn more about her on her website: www.jamiebeck.com, which includes a fun “Extras” page with photos, videos, and playlists. She also loves interacting with everyone at www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks.

Website: http://www.jamiebeck.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerjamiebeck

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8020971.Jamie_Beck

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card and Digital Copy of Jamie Beck’s WHEN YOU KNEW

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/07c2363f190/

*****

Spotlight – Back to the Start

19 Tuesday Jun 2018

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After reading Wanting More, I’m super excited to have this one in my TBR pile.  It’s out today so you have the chance to get your own copy 🙂

*****

Back to the Start

The Dangerous Love series, Book 4

by Elle Keating

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 19, 2018

Format: Digital eBook

Blurb:

Morgan Kelley has left Boston and is settling in Philadelphia…to a city that harbors her most painful secrets. Will these secrets destroy Morgan’s new beginning or will coming clean give her the second chance she’s longing to have?

Jake McGinnis has the life he has dreamed of since childhood: a professional football career with adoring fans, financial security, and the unwavering support of his family. From the outside looking in, he has everything. But nothing could be further from the truth. Because there isn’t a day that goes by that Jake doesn’t think about his first love… and what his world would look like if she was still by his side. When he hears that she is relocating to start a new job less than a mile from him, the pain of their breakup feels fresher than ever. For eight years, he has wondered why their relationship ended and now she’s settling in his city. A city that isn’t big enough for the two of them.

For Morgan Kelley, moving to Philadelphia means living closer to her family and practicing veterinary medicine with two of her closest friends. It’s also her chance to start over and move on from her failed marriage. There’s only one con: the close proximity to Jake McGinnis. Once upon a time being near him was all she wanted, but now he is practically a stranger… and it’s all her fault. Faced with awful memories and the possibility of bumping into him at her favorite coffee shop, Morgan is haunted by the real reason she once broke both of their hearts. Deep down, she knows she won’t be able to embrace this new chapter of her life without finally telling Jake the whole truth.

But how will he react when she shares her secret? Their love story once felt inevitable, unshakable. Is this where it ends for good, or is it the beginning of a second chance?

Additional Info:
• 250 pages
• Dual POV
• Contemporary romance set in and around the Philadelphia Area
• Though part of the Dangerous Love Series, Back to the Start can be read without reading the first three books.

Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/user/authorellekeating/playlist/48GeRw0dVVRoJFXF5iLwaX

Find the Book:
iBooks: https://apple.co/2kuM7un
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2xlTjCy
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2xfZE2i

*****

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Jake

Stand up straight. Stare dead ahead. Smile at your sister.

Jake McGinnis watched his sister, Carina, sway to the music. Her fiancé of only five minutes brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and wiped away the tears from her still-flushed cheeks. But they were happy tears. Which meant Josh Graham was a lucky man. As long as Carina’s fiancé kept a smile on her face, he was allowed to live.

“Look how happy your sister is, Jake. I’ve never seen her so in love,” his mom said.

Though Jake towered over Lucrezia McGinnis by at least eight inches, he would always be her little boy. It wasn’t like he was a momma’s boy or starved for her approval. She had always encouraged him to make his own choices and follow his dreams. Even when he was five and he declared that he was going to be an NFL quarterback, she didn’t shoo him away or tell him to have a plan B when that dream didn’t materialize. Instead, she had told him that he would have to work hard to make it to the pros, and then when he thought he couldn’t take anymore, he would need to work even harder. He leaned into his mom and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Lord knows Carina deserves it.”

“And so does that young man. He too deserves to be happy and in a family who loves him,” his mom said, nodding at the couple on the dance floor. “Josh is a good boy.”

His mom had moved to the States over forty years ago, but her Italian accent was still incredibly thick. Jake loved the sound of her voice, how comforting it was. So much so that it almost made him let his guard down. Almost. Jake returned his attention to his sister and the scene behind her. The Avalon Yacht Club’s floor to ceiling windows allowed him to see the sun setting over the bay, giving the large reception room a golden hue.

Josh took Carina’s hand and kissed her ring finger. The diamond sparkled. His sister’s smile took over her entire face. Jake had to admit that the man had class. Just last week, Josh had driven to his future in-laws’ house and asked for their daughter’s hand. After he received their blessing, Josh called each of Carina’s siblings and her best friend and her mom and invited them to come witness what turned out to be one hell of a proposal.

At first Jake had thought it was strange that Josh wanted to pop the question at his best friend’s wedding reception. Jake wasn’t an expert at weddings and etiquette, but he had wondered if proposing at someone else’s reception was some sort of party foul. But then he had seen the bride’s face, how happy she was when Josh dropped to his knee and told Carina and over a hundred and fifty guests that he wanted her to be his wife. There hadn’t been a dry eye in the place. Even Jake had gotten a little choked up.

But the moment had passed. And now it was taking everything he had to keep his shit together. Because just twenty feet away stood the reason that he felt like he was going to crawl out of his skin and put his fist through the wall behind him.

Deep breath. Straighten your tie. Unclench your hands. Don’t look at her.

He fucking looked.

And regretted it the second he laid eyes on her.

He had prayed to feel indifference. That the sight of Morgan Kelley wouldn’t invoke anything in him. But pain hit him harder than any linebacker ever could and the anger…it made his blood boil.

It was the anger he clung to. It was the safest choice and an emotion that he was well acquainted with. Anger had driven him these past eight years. Every time he had pictured her face, he would sprint a little harder. Each moment he had allowed himself to think of how she tasted, how she had melted into him the first and only time they were together, Jake would hit the weight room and lift until his arms were about to give out or his coach told him to fucking stop, whichever came first.

It was anger, not lust, not love, that had prompted him to fulfill his desires with many women over the years. At first, he had chosen women who resembled her. It wasn’t intentional; it was his subconscious that ached to be with her again, to look into her dark blue eyes and get lost in them, to touch every freckle that sprinkled her nose, and to fist her long, blonde hair. When it had finally hit him that he was seeking these women out for one reason and one reason only, he changed his requirements. From that moment on, the women he fucked had to be different from Morgan Kelley in every way. He didn’t want to see her face when he made a woman’s back arch with pleasure. He didn’t want Morgan’s eyes looking back at him, destroying what was left of his heart.

“May I have this dance?” Patrick McGinnis asked. His dad’s voice made Jake snap to attention. He forced a smile and tried to pretend that he wasn’t falling apart. Jake took his mom’s hand and placed it in her husband’s.

“Of course,” she said. His mom gave Jake a kiss on the cheek and whispered, “Now, are you going to ask her to dance or are you content with just staring at her from across the room?” His mom winked at him and made her way onto the dance floor with her husband.

Jake had no intention of asking Morgan to dance. It was tough enough to be in the same room as her. On the drive here, Jake had sworn to himself that he wouldn’t speak to her. Or look at her. Or imagine what her life had been like these past eight years…without him. His stomach twisted into knots, which pissed him the hell off.

Feel nothing…please.

Morgan glanced in his direction and then turned her back on him. He watched her signal the bartender. Memories of that day she had broken up with him came flooding back.

Her crying.

Her wincing, as if in pain.

Her saying the words he would never forget.

“We need to…break up, Jake. I can’t do this anymore.”

No. She wasn’t going to dismiss him again. In an instant he was at the bar, standing directly behind her and wondering what the fuck he was doing.

*****

Author Info:

Elle Keating is the author of romance novels with sexy heroes and fierce females. Her first book, Thrill of the Chase (Dangerous Love, #1), was published by Forever Romance’s digital imprint, Forever Yours, in 2015. Cut to the Chase (Dangerous Love, #2) soon followed. Most recently, Elle self-published Wanting More (Dangerous Love, #3) and a standalone novel, Keeping His Commandments.

An avid reader of gritty, dark romances, her favorite authors include Pepper Winters, Penelope Ward, and Anna Zaires.

When she isn’t torturing her heroes and heroines (don’t worry, there’s always a happily ever after), Elle is a public school administrator and enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children in New Jersey.

Connect with Elle: Website | Amazon | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

*****

Book Review – Rainy Day Friends

18 Monday Jun 2018

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

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Who’s looking for that perfect vacation read?!?!

*****

Rainy Day Friends

A Wildstone Novel

by Jill Shalvis

Harper Collins – June 19, 2018

Blurb:

Following the USA Today bestselling author of Lost and Found Sisters comes Jill Shalvis’ moving story of heart, loss, betrayal, and friendship

Six months after Lanie Jacobs’ husband’s death, it’s hard to imagine anything could deepen her sense of pain and loss. But then Lanie discovers she isn’t the only one grieving his sudden passing. A serial adulterer, he left behind several other women who, like Lanie, each believe she was his legally wedded wife.

Rocked by the infidelity, Lanie is left to grapple with searing questions. How could she be so wrong about a man she thought she knew better than anyone? Will she ever be able to trust another person?  Can she even trust herself?

Desperate to make a fresh start, Lanie impulsively takes a job at the family-run Capriotti Winery. At first, she feels like an outsider among the boisterous Capriottis. With no real family of her own, she’s bewildered by how quickly they all take her under their wing and make her feel like she belongs. Especially Mark Capriotti, a gruffly handsome Air Force veteran turned deputy sheriff who manages to wind his way into Lanie’s cold, broken heart—along with the

rest of the clan.

Everything is finally going well for her, but the arrival of River Brown changes all that. The fresh-faced twenty-one-year old seems as sweet as they come…until her dark secrets come to light—secrets that could destroy the new life Lanie’s only just begun to build. 

Read the first Chapter, http://jillshalvis.com/books/rainy-day-friends/

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36260406-rainy-day-friends

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/190905-wildstone

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2BovOZU

BN:  http://bit.ly/2BZL1hH

iBooks:  https://apple.co/2AsDNpk

Other: http://jillshalvis.com/books/rainy-day-friends/#order

Paperback:  http://jillshalvis.com/books/rainy-day-friends/#order

Series Buy Link: http://jillshalvis.com/series/wildstone-series/

*****

Review:

I’ve taken a little break from reading Shalvis’s books and I have absolutely NO idea why.  They are always well paced and delightfully written, with the perfect combination of humor, emotion, and spice.  The characters never fail to be interesting and I always feel like I finished one of her stories having made new friends.

Lanie has been dealt a bit of a blow from life, both with a pretty difficult upbringing to a marriage that didn’t go the way she expected.  She’s trying her best to hold herself together but sometimes she unravels a bit, much to the reader’s glee.  Watching her try to resist Mark and the rest of the Capriottis is a hoot, since you know she’s going to fail.

Being first a military man then a law enforcement officer & single dad, plus a lifetime of dealing with his family, has given Mark a lot of patience.  Which he’ll need to take on Lanie 🙂  He’s definitely one of my favorite heroes of this year – strong, caring, dedicated, and just so darn cute with his girls.

Lanie is going to have to come to terms with a lot – about herself, her deepening attachment to the Capriottis, her upbringing, and the fall-out from her marriage.  But if she can find a way to work through it all, she just might find herself a perfectly wonderful HEA.  It’s not going to be easy, and she faces quite a few bumps, but Shalvis has her handling it with style, humor, and a few neuroses along the way 🙂

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

Author Links:  WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

Win a print ARC of RAINY DAY FRIENDS

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81378/

*****

Tour Schedule:

June 18

The Reading Cafe – Rev
Tfaulcbookreviews – Rev
IreneChart – Rev
Books & Spoons – Promo
Romantic Reads and Such – Promo
Book Reviews & More by Kathy – Rev
Evermore Books – Rev
E-Reading After Midnight – Rev
Ripe For Reader – Promo
Romancing the Readers – Promo
Nerdy Dirty and Flirty – Promo
Sofia Loves Books – Rev
Book Lover in Florida – Promo
The Book Junkie Reads . . .  – Rev
Joyfully Reviewed – Promo

June 19

Ali – The Dragon Slayer – Rev
I am, Indeed – Rev
What Is That Book About – Promo
Karen’s Killer Book Bench – Promo
Nicole’s Book Musings – Promo
All Things Bookaholic – Rev
Forget the Housework I’m Reading… – Rev
Rachel Brimble Romance – Promo

June 20

So Many Books – Promo
Buried Under Romance – Promo
Books and Bindings – Rev
Cat’s Guilty Pleasure – Promo
Bookgasms Book Blog – Rev
Reviews by Room With Books – Rev
Hearts & Scribbles – Promo
Nadine’s Obsessed with Books – Rev
OMGReads – Rev
Books, Coffee & Passion – Promo

June 21

Reese’s Reviews – Promo
Forever book lover – Promo
Debbie’s World of Books – Rev
Em & M Books – Promo
The Book Drealms – Rev

June 22

Jen’s Reading Obsession – Rev
Teatime and Books – Promo
Moonlight Rendezvous – Rev
My Reading Journeys – Rev
Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – Rev
One-Click Chocolate Chick – Rev
Sascha Darlington’s Microcosm Explored – Rev

Spotlight – Her Super-Secret Rebound Boyfriend

14 Thursday Jun 2018

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Another one that looks super cute and is going on my TBR list … that thing is getting too big!

*****

Her Super-Secret Rebound Boyfriend

by Kerri Carpenter

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 11, 2018

Publisher: Entangled Publishing – Lovestruck

Format: Digital eBook / Print

Digital ISBN: B07CL2K66R

Print ISBN: 9781640635593

Blurb:

To get over being dumped, Lola McBride crashes a high school reunion looking for a rebound fling. Instead, she finds Luke Erickson who convinces her to pretend to be his girlfriend at his family reunion. Who said reunions had to be zero fun in this sweet romantic comedy releasing June 2018 from Kerri Carpenter and Entangled Publishing!

It wasn’t shy librarian Lola McBride’s idea to crash someone else’s high school reunion. Her best friend made her do it, insisting that having a little fun with a super-hot rebound would make her forget about her recent breakup. That’s when she meets the hottest guy she’s ever seen.

Architect Luke Erickson had no idea attending his ten-year reunion would turn out to be so fun. He catches the sexy brunette in a lie, and he counters with a proposal—He’ll keep her secret if she helps get his family off his back by pretending to be his girlfriend at an upcoming family reunion.

From one reunion to another, Lola and Luke are suddenly spending a lot of time together. Good thing they’re only pretending, or this super-secret relationship could get really complicated.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available at:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

*****

Excerpt:

Maybe he knew her. Maybe they’d gone out in high school? Surely not. He’d remember someone who looked like this.

“Can you believe we’re already having our ten-year reunion?” he asked.

“What? Oh, right. Yeah. I mean, no.” She laughed. “I mean, no, I can’t believe it’s been ten whole years.” She quickly averted her eyes.

She was adorable.

He stuck out a hand. “I’m Luke Erickson.”

She shook his hand. “I’m Lo…” She glanced down at her nametag as if she needed a reminder. “I’m Kelli Martingale. Nice to meet you.”

Her words were cut off when she stepped forward, hit the side of the table, shaking all the contents on it. Luke jumped to save a particularly wobbly red Jell-O dessert, causing most of the Jell-O mold to mold right onto his favorite white shirt.

Kelli gasped. “Ohmigod. I’m so sorry.”

While he wanted to offer a huge fuckkkkk, he could tell that she felt horrible. So, he shrugged as she quickly tried to help him clean up. Together, they got as much of the Jell-O off his shirt as they could. Then she grabbed a mound of napkins and began running them over his chest.

He shivered. Actually fucking shivered. What the hell? This Jell-O must be extra cold. Kelli must have feel it too, because she paused, hands plastered against his chest, as she met his gaze. Her mouth fell open and formed an O.

Suddenly, it wasn’t his shirt he was worried about; his pants began to feel a tad too snug. He wrapped his hands around her wrists and tried to offer a smile. Although, with the new, um, pain he was experiencing in his lower half, it probably came out as more of a grimace.

“I think I have it from here.”

A red blush tinted her cheeks. “Of course. But I really am so sorry.” Then she dug in her purse and pulled out a pair of thick black glasses. “I’m not usually a klutzy person,” she explained as she put the glasses on. “My roommate thought I looked sexier without my glasses, so she forced me to take them off. But I’m blind as a bat without them.”

He took her in, and if he thought his pants were feeling tight before, he was pretty sure that all oxygen was leaving his body now. All he could say about the glasses was…holy fuck.

Her roommate thought she was sexier without them? Hells to the no. Definitely wrong on that one. The bombshell dress plus the thick sex kitten hair plus the gorgeous face plus the most seductive glasses in the history of eyewear equaled a speechless, hard Luke.

See, if Kennedy High taught him one thing, it was how to do math. Another equation was already becoming clear. Kelli plus Luke was going to equal one hell of a reunion.

Copyright© 2018 Her Super-Secret Rebound Boyfriend

Kerri Carpenter

*****

Author Info:

Award-winning romance author Kerri Carpenter writes contemporary romances that are sweet, sexy, and sparkly. When she’s not writing, Kerri enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, taking Zumba classes, rooting for Pittsburgh sports teams, and anything sparkly. Kerri lives in Northern Virginia with her adorable (and mischievous) rescued poodle mix, Harry. Visit Kerri at her website, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or subscribe to her newsletter.

Connect with Kerri:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Amazon  |  BookBub

*****

Giveaway:

Kerri is offering one lucky Grand Prize winner a Glitter Toss Prize Pack featuring a $50 Amazon Gift Card, $25 Dunkin’ Donuts Gift Card, a Glitter Toss tote bag, and more! A second lucky winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, plus eCopies of Flirting with the Competition, Kissing Mr. Wrong, and Tempting Mr. Wrong. And a third lucky winner will receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card, plus eCopies of Flirting with the Competition, Kissing Mr. Wrong, and Tempting Mr. Wrong. To enter to win one of these amazing prizes, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29535/

*****

Spotlight – Knocked Up

13 Wednesday Jun 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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After reading the sneak peek for this one it immediately went on my TBR list!!

*****

Knocked Up

by Stacey Lynn

Publication Date: June 12th, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes baby in a baby carriage. Just not necessarily in that order….

Braxton: I should probably be dead or in jail right now. Instead, thanks to some tough love, I worked my ass off and now I own a string of tattoo parlors throughout the Pacific Northwest. And yet the one thing I’ve always wanted—a family—still seems out of reach. When my best friend gets married, I’m just hoping to blow off some steam with the super-hot maid of honor. But after Cara Thompson tracks me down to tell me she’s pregnant, she’s more surprised than I am when I tell her I’m all in.

Cara: For the first time in my life, I’m living for myself—not for my parents and their ridiculous expectations. I gave up on my MBA, dropped out of the Ivy League, and moved to Portland to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. And what’s the first thing I do? Get knocked up. For a tatted-up sex god, Braxton Henley seems way too eager to “be there for me.” Is this guy serious? Maybe. He sure is patient. Because he won’t back down until I admit what I know in my heart: that our one night stand might’ve led me to the one.

Read Today!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2L5kBQl
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2GtBFvz
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2IpB301
iBooks: https://apple.co/2IPWt5P
Nook: http://bit.ly/2Kyr3hr
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2IrQtwG
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Isbknw
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2rR7j0S

*****

Excerpt:

I quickly take everything off and drape the paper sheet over my lap, leaving my socks on, and when I’m ready, the edges of the sheet tucked under my thighs and backside, Pam knocks on the door.

“Ready?” she calls as she’s already pushing open the door.

“Yup.” I sound like I’m about ready to croak, and Braxton’s deep, rumbling chuckle worsens my rattled nerves. He kissed me!

I raise my hand to my mouth and as my fingertips press my lips, they’re taken away, gripped in Braxton’s warm hold. He smiles down at me knowingly and I force my attention on Pam.

She pulls the internal monitor out of the drawer, along with a bottle of lubricant and a condom, and Braxton’s grip on my hand turns almost bone-crushing.

“Is that—”

“Yup.” I cut him off.

“Um.”

“Now you see why I wanted the external one,” I mutter quietly.

I can’t look at him. My cheeks are on fire, and for some absolutely insane reason, other parts of my body are warming and this should not be happening at my midwife’s office.

“So,” Pam says, turning around and back to business. Except it’s hard to take her seriously as she waves what looks like a massive vibrator in her hand. “We’re going to insert this inside of you.”

“Holy shit,” Braxton mutters. And God, kill me. Please kill me now.

If Pam hears him, she ignores him as she steps toward me, and pulls out a set of stirrups from beneath the table. “I’m going to need you to lie down, Cara, and spread your legs, and slip down to the edge of the bed for me.”

“I feel like I’ve heard this before,” I say, unable to stop myself. My filter has evaporated along with my self-respect and all of this is so absolutely humiliating.

Pam pauses, glances at me and then at Braxton and nods, understanding. But I swear, as her gaze sweeps down Braxton’s arms, even she blushes. Which is great . . . my midwife thinks my non-boyfriend baby daddy is hot.

“I feel like I’ve said this before,” Braxton says, and both of our eyes whip to him. My gracious. He’s smiling, shoulders shaking like he’s holding back the world’s most boisterous laugh, and it’s all I can do to not kill him while he’s standing there, glancing between the monitor-slash-vibrator and my spread legs and I can’t hold it in anymore.

“This is embarrassing.”

Pam is back to business, already spreading the condom over the phallic-shaped instrument, and then she drizzles on the lubricant.

Braxton’s breath brushes over my cheeks. His dark locks tickle my temple as he whispers, “I feel like I should be offering to help with this.”

“Shut up,” I grit, my stomach muscles clenching from trying not to die or laugh. “This isn’t funny.”

“Oh. This is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, I’m not going to lie.”

My fingers squeeze his hand and Pam is in front of me. She holds a small black box in her other hand and the tip of the wand against my center. “I’ll go slow, and it might be cold, okay?”

“Yup.”

“Sweet Jesus,” Braxton whispers. “I don’t know whether to be terrified or turned on right now, Cara.”

*****

Author Info:

Stacey Lynn currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and four children. When she’s not conquering mountains of laundry and fighting a war against dust bunnies and cracker crumbs, you can find her playing with her children, curled up on the couch with a good book, or on the boat with her family enjoying Minnesota’s beautiful, yet too short, summer.

She lives off her daily pot of coffee, can only write with a bowlful of Skittles nearby, and has been in love with romance novels since before she could drive herself to the library.

If you would like to know more about Stacey Lynn, follow her here:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/staceylynnbooks
Twitter: @staceylynnbooks
Website: http://www.staceylynnbooks.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/stacey-lynn
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JrBDLk
Stay up to date on Stacey’s latest news! Subscribe to her Newsletter today! http://www.staceylynnbooks.com/contact

*****