Spotlight – Mr One Night Stand

27 Wednesday Mar 2019

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I’d pick this one up based on that cover alone!

*****

Mr One-Night Stand

by Rachael Stewart

Blurb:

One night only.

Just think of the possibilities…

The second she sees Mr Oh-So-Delicious, Jennifer Hayes knows she needs one night of crazy. No names, no strings, no rules. Except that Jennifer’s naughty one-nighter is actually Marcus Wright—her new business partner! Now they’re mixing business with all kinds of pleasure. But when it comes to falling in love her sexy Mr Wright is either Mr Wrong or the best mistake of her life…

UK  – https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Night-Stand-Dare-Dirty-Sexy/dp/0263271293

US –  https://www.amazon.com/One-Night-Stand-Dare-Dirty-Sexy/dp/0263271293

*****

Author Info:

Rachael Stewart adores conjuring up stories for the readers of Harlequin Mills & Boon and Deep Desires Press, with tales varying from the heart-warmingly romantic to the wildly erotic.

Despite a degree in Business Studies and spending many years in the corporate world, the desire to become an author never waned and it’s now her full-time pleasure, a dream come true.

A Welsh lass at heart, she now lives in Yorkshire with her husband and three children, and if she’s not glued to her laptop, she’s wrapped up in them or enjoying the great outdoors seeking out inspiration.

Website: www.rachaelstewartauthor.com

Twitter: @rach_b52

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rachaelstewartauthor/

*****

Giveaway:

Win an e-copy of Mr. One Night Stand by Rachael Stewart
(Open Internationally)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494204/

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

*****

Spotlight – Rocky Ground

26 Tuesday Mar 2019

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Single mom meets sexy Scot … oh, yeah!

*****

Rocky Ground

A Crimson Point Novel

by Kaylea Cross

Blurb:

She’s been hurt too many times…

Single mom Tiana Fitzgerald has sworn off all romantic relationships to protect herself and her daughter. Her track record is disastrous and she’s done getting hurt. But a certain sexy Scotsman in Crimson Point has other ideas, and somehow manages to sneak past her defenses at every turn. As the hits keep coming and her life implodes, she begins to see he’s unlike any man she’s ever known. Now he’s become the greatest threat to her heart, because there’s no possible future for them. Not when he’s leaving the country in a few weeks. And when her worst fears are realized, she must risk everything by placing her trust in in his hands.

He’s determined to capture her heart.

Scotsman Aidan MacIntyre never saw the fiery, beautiful Tiana coming. The prickly redhead has gotten under his skin as badly as he wants to get under hers. But she’s determined to keep walls between them. Luckily the former Royal Marine doesn’t know how to give up. Someone from her past wants to hurt her, but Aidan will stand between her and any threat. He’ll stop at nothing to protect her and the little girl who have completely stolen his heart—and fight for them to have a future together.

Kindle https://amzn.to/2utzogE

Kobo https://bit.ly/2UWhDCe

Apple Books https://apple.co/2CC8xDz

Nook https://bit.ly/2UWXpZ8

Add to your Goodreads  https://bit.ly/2Tu7PxO

*****

Excerpt:

The molten hunger in his eyes sent a torrent of heat rushing through her body even as her old fears bubbled to the surface again. “Aidan…” she murmured, dropping her gaze to his chest.

She’d done it. Given her unspoken consent. Now her heart was trying to pound its way out of her chest.

His hand came up to stroke her hair away from her face. She leaned into his touch, craving more. Craving this wonderful, incredible man that for some reason wanted her in spite of all her imperfections.

Her heart beat an erratic rhythm against her ribs. She’d never experienced anything like this before. Not with this level of intensity. This was…something she’d only read about before. Was it because of everything they’d gone through together? Because she’d relied on him for survival?

His fingers stroked against her scalp in a drugging caress that had her eyelids drooping. “What are you so afraid of?”

She looked up at him again. God, he was beautiful. And strong. And brave.

He was also going to rip her heart out when he left.

It wasn’t easy to voice her insecurities aloud, but she felt comfortable with him. Close to him in a way she’d never felt with another man. “Of making another mistake. Of getting my heart broken again,” she whispered.

He cupped the side of her face to run his thumb over her cheekbone. “I’ll not hurt you, lass.”

Her insides squeezed at the tenderness in his voice, the yearning in his eyes. No, he wouldn’t hurt her intentionally. “But you’re leaving soon. In another few weeks.” That was going to leave a scar, no matter how gently the cut was made.

“Aye,” he agreed, his gaze locked with hers. “But I’m here now.”

His words reverberated in the deepest recesses of her heart. He was right here in front of her, and he wanted her.

Any other arguments she had stored up vanished in the space of a single heartbeat. Before she could think herself out of it, she gave free rein to the need pulsing inside her, took his face in her hands and pulled him down to her waiting lips.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and has been nominated multiple times for the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family. 

Website  http://kayleacross.com/v2/

Newsletter  http://kayleacross.com/v2/newsletter/

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

Twitter  https://twitter.com/kayleacross

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

BookBub  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kaylea-cross

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2902054.Kaylea_Cross

*****

Book Review – All In

25 Monday Mar 2019

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All In

Bridgeport Social Club series

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Meredith Hunt is content with her solo life. She owns and runs a successful Pilates studio, volunteers at the high school every week, and recently bought a house. She can take care of herself, which is good because she has a hard time relying on other people. When she’s mugged and a handsome man comes to her rescue, she doesn’t know how to accept his help—or how to stop staring into his chocolate-brown eyes.

Ace Vance moved to Bridgeport to offer his fifteen-year-old son, Finn, a better life. Here, Finn has a chance to play football for a good team and maybe even earn a college scholarship. And Ace scored a job at a top-notch garage, where he gets to fix up classic cars. Plus, they could both use some distance from Finn’s toxic mom. The last thing on his mind is falling in love, but he can’t help offering assistance to a gorgeous redhead in need.

Thrown together by a careless criminal, Meredith and Ace can’t deny their attraction. But can they open their hearts—and their lives—to make room for love?

Shelley Shepard Gray’s Bridgeport Social Club series explores how communities can come together to support each other, whether it’s around a poker table, in a Pilates studio, or anywhere in between. Get ready to fall in love with a group of men and women who, even when they feel lost, refuse to lose hope.

Like Take a Chance, All In is more than just a romance.  There is the relationship between Ace and Meredith, but we also have Meredith learning to open herself up to others, Ace & Finn developing a better relationship, Finn settling in to a new school, and Finn’s interactions with the awkward girl next door.  (I do wish we’d gotten a bit more there.  I think that there was so much opportunity to develop not only their interactions together but also the way they are viewed by other kids.)  It all works together to create a beautiful tapestry capturing small town life.

I will say that Gray pleasantly surprised me with the ending.  I thought for sure I knew where things were going and the conflict Ace & Meredith would have to face before they could have their HEA … but I was wrong!  I love a book that doesn’t take the obvious angle.

All In is a lovely, sweet, and believable story of finding love and belonging.  Shelley Shepard Gray is a skilled writer, drawing her readers into the character’s lives and making them feel real.  I really hope she continues bringing us stories from Bridgeport.

**Those who are fans of SSG’s writing need to be aware this is a different style than her previous Amish romances.  Like with the first story in this series, I think that a lot of people think they know what to expect and then are surprised by a clean but more contemporary romance.  Just a warning 🙂 **

Spotlight – The Boyfriend Experience

22 Friday Mar 2019

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Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde’s newest fake boyfriend story is getting some FAB-U-LOUS reviews.  Check it out below and then hurry to get your own copy!

*****

The Boyfriend Experience

by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

Blurb:

He’s the total package.

Except …

Eric Miller isn’t looking for a long term relationship.  And he definitely isn’t thrilled when a friend signs him up for The Boyfriend Experience app behind his back. It’s not like he has a problem getting women on his own. But when he gets a notification that someone is in need of his . . . services, he’s intrigued enough to check out her profile and can’t resist the sexy, sassy little brunette who only wants him as a decoy for a family event.

Evie Bennett needs a boyfriend, stat. Someone who can accompany her to her family reunion so she doesn’t have to explain that she’s been recently dumped.  Again.  She’s perfectly happy being an independent woman, but what’s a girl to do when her new fake boyfriend starts to feel like the real deal?

Download your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2L6N8VO
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2B2qBoC
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TheBoyfriendExperience
Nook: http://smarturl.it/NookTotalPackage
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2UubTjo
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2UuYasj
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2UoP2We

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2GBIkJD

*****

Excerpt:

They joined the short line in front of the register, and Eric glanced from the billboard listing all the fancy beverages, to Evie.  “What would you like?”

“I’ll just take a regular cup of coffee.”

“Come on, you can do better than that,” he teased.  “You don’t strike me as being that boring.”

She raised a brow, a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes.  “You’ve come to that conclusion in the two minutes of meeting me?”

“Am I wrong?” he challenged light-heartedly.

“No,” she admitted, a smile tugging at the corner of her very kissable mouth.  “I just don’t treat myself to a fancy cup of coffee very often.  Normally, I’m too rushed in the morning to indulge myself.”

They took another step forward in line.  “Lucky for you, it’s my treat and I insist you indulge.”

She tipped her head, drawing his gaze to the soft tumble of hair falling over her shoulder and how the ends curled right at the upper swell of her breast.  “Shouldn’t I be paying for this, considering the circumstances?”

“Absolutely not,” he replied adamantly, forcibly keeping his gaze on her face instead of her chest.  “What boyfriend worth his salt would let his girl pay?”

“I haven’t hired you yet,” she reminded him cheekily.

He grinned.  He wasn’t expecting Evie Bennett to be so impudent, and surprise, surprise, he was definitely enjoying their banter, and her.  “True.  Which means I really need to step up my game and impress you.”

And honestly, when was the last time he’d wanted to make such an effort with the opposite sex?  The answer to that eluded him, because truthfully, he couldn’t remember being so fascinated and attracted to a woman beyond her physical features.  Yet there was no denying that Evie’s feisty disposition drew him in and made him want to learn more about her.  Which he needed to do anyways, if she was going to hire him.  And make no mistake, they weren’t parting ways until he’d sealed the deal, because she was in the market for a temporary boyfriend, and like his campy bio had promised, he aimed to please.

“What can I get for the two of you?” the barista asked, pulling Eric’s thoughts, and attention, to the girl waiting for their order.

He glanced at Evie.  “Don’t disappoint me,” he said humorously, referencing the boring cup of coffee she’d mentioned.

A cute, daring smile flitted across her mouth before she looked back at the barista.  “I’ll take a white chocolate mocha with an extra shot of espresso and whipped cream.”

Damn.  Was it crazy that he was totally turned on by the fact that she hadn’t ordered one of those ridiculous skinny, non-fat, sugar-free lattes that made a mockery of a designer coffee?  This was not a girl who’d opt for a salad if she was offered a burger or pizza, and thank God for that.  His attraction to her just increased ten-fold.

*****

Author Info:

Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire, and she loves everything about writing romance . She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. She has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a romance author. Carly is the author of over fifty romances, and is a NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller. She loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.

Stay up to date with Carly by joining her mailing list: http://www.carlyphillips.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Sign up for Text Updates of New Releases: http://tinyurl.com/p3upm5s
Join Carly’s Addicts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CarlysAddicts/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carly-phillips
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2QyGiLl
Instagram: https://instagram.com/carlyphillip
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Nk4bIDTwitter: www.twitter.com/carlyphillips
Website: www.carlyphillips.com
Blog:  http://www.carlyphillips.com/blog

 

Erika Wilde is a New York Times Bestselling author. She is best known for her super sexy Marriage Diaries series and The Players Club Series, and has also co-written the Dirty Sexy Series and the Book Boyfriend Series with Carly Phillips, her best friend and writing buddy for the past twenty years. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two daughters, and when she’s not writing you can find her exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For more information on her upcoming releases, please visit website at www.erikawilde.com and sign up for her mailing list for updates and news!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OLvHe9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/erikawilde1
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2Ply3lh
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2MsZBqj
Friend Erika on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2PkVyKZ
Visit her author page: http://bit.ly/2vVITpY
Join her reader group: http://bit.ly/2OLuIut
Stay up to date with Erika by joining her mailing list:http://bit.ly/2OJIsWE
Website: https://www.erikawilde.com

*****

Spotlight – Risky Play

21 Thursday Mar 2019

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I’m so happy to have Rachel Van Dyken on today to share a few words about some of the best book boyfriends – sports heroes – I know they are one of my favs!

*****

Why Sports Heroes Make the Best Book Boyfriends

Hey everyone! I’m Rachel Van Dyken, author of over eighty (holy crap) books in multiple genres, one of my favorites being, sports romance! My latest book, Risky Play, is about two broken main characters who find themselves on a last minute holiday to Puerto Vallarta.

Pro Soccer player Slade Rodriguez is trying to lay low after finding out his girlfriend and his ex teammate hooked up behind his back, for over a year. Licking his wounds he changes teams and moves to Seattle, but isn’t ready to settle down yet. Needing time to himself, he gets on the first jet out. He sits next to Mackenzie Dupont on a plane and is immediately intrigued, especially since a few hours into the plane ride, they have single engine failure. She asks him what one thing he would do different. And they kiss. Once the plane safely lands, to protect his own identity, he gives her a fake name, Hugo. What he doesn’t realize is she’s famous in her own right, so she does the same thing. After all, she’s running away from a broken engagement. What follows is a whole lot of steaminess and taking chances with a complete stranger assuming that it’s just that, a one night stand, a two night stand. Whatever it is, Mackenzie’s obsessed with “Hugo’s” intense golden gaze, the eight pack helps, and the fact that he seems genuinely interested in everything she says. He promises the universe he’s going to keep her, but sometimes the universe is against us. Tragedy strikes and they go their separate ways only to meet again in Seattle, this time, sparks fly and not the good kind The “I want to kiss you, then strangle you, then kiss you again” kind.

I love writing sports romances because I think it adds this extra layer of pressure from the press to act a certain way. Not only does Slade have to deal with paparazzi but he has pressure to perform, to lead his team to the championships after training with another team. I think it brings in so many details from behind the scenes that we never think about when watching sports on TV. I’m fully dedicated to interviewing real athletes (and my last sports romance I interviewed NFL players). This time I wanted to focus on a sport that isn’t as huge here as it is internationally and really do it justice. These athletes eat, sleep, and breathe their sport, there isn’t a lot of time for a personal life and if you do have one, the balance is always going to be a struggle (not to mention the fact that Slade is still mourning). In this book, I wanted to introduce a really strong female character that wouldn’t let Slade project all those feelings and basically Mackenzie is the type of girl that doesn’t put up with his crap. I think it’s important to have strong female characters that women can look up to. I love that during the entire journey my heroine doesn’t give up. She knows her worth and demands that Slade recognize it too.

All in all it was such a fun book to write, I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

*****

Risky Play

Red Card, Book 1

by Rachel Van Dyken

Release Date: Marcy 19, 2019

Publisher: Skyscape

Blurb:

What else can a virgin do when she’s ditched at the altar? Seattle heiress Mackenzie Dupont is treating herself to a single-girl honeymoon in Mexico and a desire to relinquish her innocence to a gorgeous one-night stand. Fake names. True pleasure. But when she wakes up alone, Mackenzie realizes just how much anger is left in her broken heart.

Suffering a tragic personal loss, pro soccer player Slade Rodriguez has his reasons for vanishing without a goodbye. Right or wrong, he’s blaming the beautiful and infuriating stranger he never wants to see again. They’re both in for a shock when Mackenzie shows up as his new personal assistant. And they both have a lot to learn about each other. Because they share more than they could possibly know, including a common enemy who’s playing his own games. And he’s not afraid to get dirty.

Now there’s only one way Mackenzie and Slade can win: to trust in each other and to stop hiding from the lies they’ve told, the secrets they’ve kept, the mistakes they’ve made, and the attraction that still burns between them.

amazon us | amazon everywhere

*****

Excerpt:

I was kissing her again.

Maybe it was because it had been months since I’d had a decent kiss, since I’d jumped into the arms of anyone who didn’t know me by name.

I could be Hugo for a few days.

Hugo seemed spontaneous.

Hugo seemed relaxed.

Hugo seemed fun.

I sure as hell needed some fun.

I broke away from her kiss and trailed my fingertips down her chin. “So, now that we’ve established the plane didn’t crash and we’re here side by side, what did you have in mind?”

Ashley grinned up at me, her eyes a bit hesitant as she looked from me to the ocean. “Well, I’ve never gone cliff diving, I heard there’s a great place close by.”

My eyebrows shot up. “No offense, but you don’t seem like a thrill seeker.”

She laughed. I decided I liked the way her laugh relaxed me, made me respond with a smile and a need to kiss her again. “I’m not, trust me.” She sobered a bit. Her lips turned down.

I wanted nothing more than to press a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth just to see if it would it make it decide to smile in my direction again.

“But it would be fun, I need fun.”

I sighed heavily and looked at my feet. When the hell had I ever looked away like that? “That makes both of us.”

“Great!” She walked ahead of me into her penthouse suite, which matched mine even in color. I suddenly wondered what she did for a living. I mean I could afford it because I had been the highest paid soccer star in Europe for the last ten years.

The place was around three grand a day.

I eyed the large master suite as she ran around and then held up her hand. “One sec, I’m going to change into a suit, alright?”

“Great.” I smiled reassuringly. It would give me time to look around, not that I was stalking her, but I could never be too careful. I was still surprised she didn’t recognize me. And I knew when she did, this little facade, this freedom I felt in my chest, the easy way she let me breathe around her? It would go to hell, and I’d need another escape.

I thumbed through a few of the magazines on the table, and dropped the last one down just in time to hear the sliding bathroom door open and see a goddess emerge.

A one-piece swimsuit covered her body. It had a plunging neckline that showed off two generously sized breasts, and I immediately regretted not telling her who I was.

Because clothing tended to get pulled off, not put on, when I was in the room.

I eyed the scrap of material she called a swimsuit, my eyes raking over her muscular legs, her curvy body.

“Unless you’re jumping naked, you should change too,” she pointed out, then cleared her throat and looked away like she was insecure. Damn, the woman could make a man cut his own heart out for a taste of her special brand of sin.

I peeled my shirt off over my body and shrugged. “Ready.”

Her eyes went so wide I had to fight not to laugh.

I knew what she saw.

I had Instagram pages dedicated to my eyes alone, don’t even get me started on my abs.

Eight.

Tight, packed abs, all tanned and golden like I was the sun god himself.

“Uh, right.” Her cheeks brightened as she clasped her hands together. “Let’s go!”

I checked her out the entire time she walked ahead of me, and when she caught me staring I just shrugged and said, “Next time wear more clothes if you don’t want me to look.”

“You should talk,” she fired back.

“Misunderstanding.” I grinned. “I wanted you to look.”

She slapped a hand against my bare chest.

I laughed, and then grabbed her hand and kissed her fingertips. “You ready to jump off a cliff with a stranger you’ve kissed twice?”

“Once,” she corrected with a whisper. “I kissed you, you kissed me, we’re even.”

The doors to the elevator opened as I whispered under my breath. “Not for long.”

*****

Author Info:

Rachel Van Dyken is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and #1 New York Times bestselling author known for regency romances, contemporary romances, and her love of coffee and Swedish fish. Rachel’s also recently inked a deal for her Wingmen Inc. series—The Matchmaker’s Playbook and The Matchmaker’s Replacement—to be made into movies.

A fan of The Bachelor and the Seattle Seahawks (not necessarily in that order), Rachel lives in Idaho with her husband, a super cute toddler son who keeps her on her toes, and two boxers. Make sure you check out her site, www.RachelVanDykenauthor.com, and follow her on Twitter (@RachVD).

Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com/home

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882127.Rachel_Van_Dyken

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card and Digital Copy of Rachel Van Dyken’s RISKY PLAY

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/07c2363f218/

*****

Book Review – Hissy Fit

20 Wednesday Mar 2019

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This book is so not what I expected … and SO much better for it!

*****

Hissy Fit

The Southern Gentleman Series, Book 1

by Lani Lynn Vale

Release Day: March 19th

Blurb:

He is the one that never looks her way.
He is handsome and strong.
He is rough around the edges and mean.
He is everything she’s ever wanted.
He doesn’t even know she exists.
Her life is a joke.

She doesn’t step on cracks in the sidewalk.
She laughs at inappropriate times.
She talks when she shouldn’t.
She is clumsy and trips on air.
She is finally on his radar.
God help her now.

GOODREADS: https://bit.ly/2EZuBee
AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2BPEgzZ
AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/2Rp1dng
AMAZON AU: https://amzn.to/2QYP7SD
AMAZON CA: https://amzn.to/2TjIaYR
B&N: https://bit.ly/2R4VkMV
Apple Books – https://apple.co/2VNY3bh

*****

Review:

The blurb is such that I wasn’t sure what I was going to get so when it landed on my e-reader I opened it up just to see.  And didn’t put it down until I was done!  I loved goofy, sweet, fun Raleigh.  From the very first page (and the subsequent awkward encounter with Ezra) I wanted to be bestest, life-long friends with her.  Klutzy, funny, and awkward, Raleigh will win your heart and you’ll be cheering when she finally gets her guy.

I will saw there were a few times that I wanted to smack Ezra on the head.  He’s either totally clueless or a bit of an *ss because he let another women get a little too handsy with him.  More than once after starting a relationship with Raleigh.  I get that maybe he didn’t realize the signals that Raleigh might be picking up but after the first time it made her huffy I would have thought that he’d get a clue.  Outside of that, though, I found him to be a pretty good guy.  He takes care of the guys on his team and his family.  And wants he sees Raleigh he’s ready to take on anything she needs him to.

While this is a more light-hearted book overall, it isn’t afraid to tackle some harsher topics when it needs to.  This is only the second book by Vale that I’ve read, but it’s not going to be my last.  (Lord Have Mercy, the next book in this series, is out soon and I’m already trying to figure out how to get my hands on it!)

*****

Author Info:

Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.

When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.

Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub

*****

Book Review – A Dog Called Valentine

18 Monday Mar 2019

Posted by in Book Review

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A Dog Called Valentine

by Roxanne Snopek

No good deed goes unpunished.

When an unwanted Valentine’s Day present is dumped at the shelter, volunteer Lily decides to foster the poor dog herself. A little attention is all he needs to blossom into a loving pet, ready for his forever home. Plus, helping a poor, rejected animal will distract her from her own problems. Win, win. Right? Wrong. Valentine needs more than a makeover if he’s going to be adopted. He destroys her home, hates to be groomed and when he behaves better for a perfect stranger than he does her, Lily swallows her pride and begs the good looking but quiet stranger for help

After losing his canine partner in a horrific moment that upended his future, sexy and stoic Shane turns to books, walks in the park and remodeling his grandmother’s home. No more intense K9 officer career, no more dogs, no more risks. But it’s hard to ignore the misunderstood mutt at the park and his well-intentioned, but clueless, handler. Shane reluctantly agrees to give her a few tips and tricks, but that’s all. He won’t care. He won’t get invested. And once Valentine finds his new home, his life can go back to normal.

But Shane doesn’t bargain on a new normal in town and, suddenly, Valentine’s Day will never be the same.

A Dog Called Valentine isn’t a very deep story but it sure was fun, with a dog that is just about the best thing ever.  He stole my heart before I was even a fifth of the way in!  Shane also had a few heart-tugging moments and I definitely understand his hesitancy in getting too involved with anyone (whether they have 4 legs or 2) but Lily’s enthusiasm and need to make sure that Valentine gets a happy home is pretty compelling.

I think there was a lot more opportunity to delve into some of the family dynamics and the romance between Lily and Shane.  Readers will get a satisfying and enjoyable read but I think there is so much material there between Shane’s issues and Lily’s family drama.  Occasionally the timeline got a little wonky too but I can easily forgive that.

With an adorable matchmaking dog (and grandma) and a sweet ending (predictable but cute), Snopek delivers a lovely little story that is perfect for a pretty day sitting in the shade … or a cool day under a cozy blanket 🙂

(Overall a solid 3.5 Stars)

Book Review – Crazy Daisy

15 Friday Mar 2019

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Short, sassy read with a damaged hero and a heroine that would take on the world for those she loves.

*****

Crazy Daisy

by Maggie Adams

Genre: Military, Contemporary Romance

Cover Designer: Crystal Creations

Release Date: February 26, 2019

Blurb:

Daisy Jones has loved Gideon McElroy her entire life. Painfully shy, she had lived for the summers spent on the small island near Wisconsin at her grandpa’s cabin, when Gideon would come to stay with his grandfather, the Colonel. While the old men reminisced on happier times, Daisy would follow Gideon like a puppy, thrilled just to be in his presence. When he enlisted, she was heartbroken but took solace in the fact that he would still come to visit his aging grandfather when time allowed.

Fate had other plans. When his grandfather passed on, and Gideon didn’t attend the funeral, Daisy knew he was gone forever.  She married, had a child, and tried not to think of Gideon or what had become of him.

Fifteen years have come and gone.  Daisy, now a widow, is the veterinarian on the island.  She sees to the animals of the tiny town and lives a simple life. But when rumors fly that a strange man is living on the Colonel’s land, she makes it her duty to investigate.

Gideon McElroy has come home to die. He knows he should have left this earth back in Afghanistan, not stitched back together to satisfy some damn surgeon’s “God complex.”  The scars left behind have given him a grotesque appearance, a good reason to stay to himself. Between his appearance, the locked fence, and Samson, his large Mastiff, he’s confident in his solitary existence until he exits this world.

But he never counted on “Crazy Daisy” and her determination to drag him back into life.

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/3LGr00

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/crazy-daisy/id1449612803

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/crazy-daisy-2

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/922853

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Daisy-Maggie-Adams-ebook/dp/B07MSLR44Q/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crazy-daisy-maggie-adams/1130295818

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43623768-crazy-daisy

*****

Excerpt:

She glanced around. Nothing much had changed except the large exercise machine in the corner facing the window. All the books, the old rugs, were in place; even the chess set was still in front of the window.  It even smelled the same – slightly moldy, but redolent with the cherry vanilla tobacco the Colonel had smoked, and the Pine-Sol he had used to clean everything.

“Gideon? Where are you?” Daisy walked through the kitchen toward the back of the cabin.  Perhaps he had been hurt. In concern, she quickened her steps. As she neared the bathroom, there was what sounded like a groan. Truly worried now, she opened the bathroom door and stood stock still.

Gideon McElroy was stark naked and hard, his cock in his hand.

“What the fuck? Woman, are you crazy?”

She heard him yell, but she was transfixed. Most of his left side was crisscrossed with scars, like he had been in a fire. Even his groin and chest looked like a roadmap. The beard obstructed his neck and jawline, but the scars continued up the side of his face and into his hairline.

And he was pissed.

Daisy mumbled an apology and frantically searched for a towel. She spotted it on the vanity base and threw it at him, backing out of the room as he tied the towel around his waist and advanced on her as she hurried down the hall into the living room.

She held her hands up to ward him off and began to babble. “I’m sorry; I thought, well, the dog was missing, and the door popped open and I wasn’t sure if you were hurt, or even here and I wanted to…” She tripped on the leg of the large armchair and fell into it. The sun was completely blocked from her sight as Gideon closed the distance between them. For a moment, she thought this must be what Belle felt like when the Beast got in her face. She could feel his breath against her cheek.

“Now I know you’re not blind,” he snarled. “But are you deaf and dumb? I told you to leave and not come back. To stay away. Now what part didn’t you understand? Or maybe you’re just crazy like people in town say?”

That hurt. She had thought the name was because she was crazy enough to take on the local VA hospital when her David couldn’t get help with the PTSD he had suffered from after Afghanistan; not that she was, well, crazy. Tears began to fall, and she cursed inwardly. She hated that she cried when she was angry. It was a sign of weakness to her mind.

“Fuck! Don’t start the waterworks.” Gideon flung himself away from her. “I don’t care why you are here, I just want you gone.” He looked around the room. “Where the hell’s Samson? How did you get past him, anyway?”

“I, er, I don’t know.  He wasn’t here. That’s why I thought something was wrong.” She wiped her tears with her coat sleeve. “I heard what sounded like a moan in the back, and I came down the hall to make sure you or Samson weren’t hurt.”

Gideon eyes lit on the basket of goodies Daisy had brought. “You’re the fuckin’ welcome wagon?”

“No! Um, well, yes, I guess, in your case. I needed to make sure Samson had, um, his shots and was chipped, so I brought the basket and some of the cookies you liked when we were kids.” Daisy shrugged. Now that she thought about it, that did sound kind of lame – here’s some cookies. Remember me?

He quirked an eyebrow and picked up the taser. “And if I didn’t cooperate, you were going to taser me into accepting the basket?”

“No!” she laughed. “The dog,” but as soon as she said it, she knew she was in trouble.

“You were going to taser my DOG?” he roared, advancing on her once again.

*****

Review:

My biggest complaint about this book was that it’s a novella instead of a full-on read.  I didn’t realize that going in and there is so much goodness that could have been explored but unfortunately there weren’t the pages.

Gideon has lots and lots of scars, both inside and out, and I would have LOVED to get the chance to explore those more.  How Daisy manages to break down his fences and get him to think about living again.  How he manages to adjust to life after war.  How he goes from giving up to trying for more.  It’s such a compelling story and while we get parts of it there is so much more there that I would have loved to get to experience it.

We do get to know Daisy a little bit more.  The girl has grit, which she needs not just to make her way into Gideon’s home (and his heart) but also to expose the horrible conditions that veterans are experiencing at her local VA.  Her husband came back from war suffering and she fought to get him the care he needed.  It’s heartbreaking but she didn’t back down and you have to admire her for it.  She takes that heart and courage with her when dealing with Gideon.

While the ending is an obvious heart grab, it also worked and I really enjoyed how it wrapped up the story … if only I’d gotten about 200 more pages before I got there 🙂  As long as you are OK with a fast (and somewhat cursory) story I think you’ll enjoy Adams’s story.  I’m pretty sure if I’d gone into it with a different understanding of what I was getting it would have been so much more satisfactory since I liked what I got, I was just expecting something different.

*****

Author Info:

Maggie Adams is an internationally bestselling romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, the romantic comedy-Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Top 100 for Women’s Fiction, Humor, on November 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the various best seller 5-star list with her Tempered Steel Series. Her series has launched the tiny town of Grafton, Illinois, into international recognition with sales in Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the UK. She is the recipient of various awards for excellence including Dayreader Reviews Best of 2015, the Readers Favorite Award 2016, the Indie Romance Convention Romantic Comedy Award 2017 and the 2017 New Apple Awards -Suspense.

She also writes paranormal romance, young adult romance and women’s fiction. Maggie’s books can be found on eBook and paperback on her website and all major book sites.

When she’s not writing, she can be found dancing, singing and cooking (usually all at the same time), and spending time with her family and friends.

Feel free to stalk her at these sites!

Website: http://www.maggieadamsbooks.com

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maggie-adams

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

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maggiesminxes

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/Maggieadamsbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthrMaggieAdms

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maggiesminxes/-

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-adams-006a8b142/

*****

Book Review – Legend

14 Thursday Mar 2019

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Legend

An Arizona Vengeance Novel

by Sawyer Bennett

Everything is clicking for the Vengeance. We may be new, but we’re well on our way to winning the championship, and I’m having the time of my life headlining the sports media as the hottest goalie—hell, player—ever. I for one am going to live up to my name . . . because I am Legend Bay.
 
Dragging my ass home from the gym, I’m blinded by some gaudy, glowing holiday lights. As usual, my hot-as-hell neighbor Pepper Nantais has gone way over the top. But just as I’m about to tell her off, something else catches my eye . . . Seems like Santa left me a present, and not one I was expecting.
 
As life takes an unexpected turn, I realize that there’s much more to Pepper than meets the eye. Sure, she’s gorgeous. And exasperating. And her taste in decorating may be a bit . . . unique.

But beneath her carefree demeanor is a fierce determination and a heart of gold. And before I know it I’ve fallen for her. Hard . . .
 
Pepper is exactly the woman I never knew I needed.

This was such a delicious story for so many reasons.  There’s the hot, single dad who is pretty hard to resist.  Even though a baby is totally unexpected, Legend throws himself into being a parent with all sorts of love and energy.  Once he gets his hands on that little girl he does just about anything to keep her safe and happy.  He just needs a little help from his formerly annoying neighbor.

And that’s another reason this was a fun read – the enemies to lovers trope.  While Pepper and Legend weren’t really enemies, she did love to get under his skin and annoy the dickens out of him.  She (and I) just thought he did need a little shaking up but he didn’t see it that way.  Which made it all the better.  And you totally knew that things were gonna lead to the bedroom eventually … and whew!  They know how to keep things steamy.

I really loved Pepper and Legend together.  She’s not really as zany as she’s made out to be, which I think helps.  She’s just a little bit original and artsy, which are not the first things that you would think of to describe Legend.  But he is strong and steady and learns to enjoy the color she brings to his life.

Unfortunately things don’t work out 100% easy for Legend when he finds out that he’s a dad, so there is a bit of mama drama going on.  All of which leads up to quite a suspenseful ending, but while that part was fun it was the human piece of Legend learning to be a dad and seeing Pepper in a new light that really made this read a hit for me.

Book Review – California Girls

13 Wednesday Mar 2019

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Susan Mallery is one of those authors that I can count on to deliver an awesome read every time.

*****

California Girls

by Susan Mallery

Hardcover: 432 pages

Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (February 26, 2019)

Blurb:

The California sunshine’s not quite so bright for three sisters who get dumped in the same week…

Finola, a popular LA morning show host, is famously upbeat until she’s blindsided on live TV by news that her husband is sleeping with a young pop sensation who has set their affair to music. While avoiding the tabloids and pretending she’s just fine, she’s crumbling inside, desperate for him to come to his senses and for life to go back to normal.

Zennie’s breakup is no big loss. Although the world insists she pair up, she’d rather be surfing. So agreeing to be the surrogate for her best friend is a no-brainer—after all, she has an available womb and no other attachments to worry about. Except…when everyone else, including her big sister, thinks she’s making a huge mistake, being pregnant is a lot lonelier—and more complicated—than she imagined.

Never the tallest, thinnest or prettiest sister, Ali is used to being overlooked, but when her fiancé sends his disapproving brother to call off the wedding, it’s a new low. And yet Daniel continues to turn up “for support,” making Ali wonder if maybe—for once—someone sees her in a way no one ever has.

But side by side by side, these sisters will start over and rebuild their lives with all the affection, charm and laugh-out-loud humor that is classic Susan Mallery.

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

*****

Review:

Mallery’s newest is definitely more women’s fiction than romance, so you need to be prepared for time spent with the sisters but hardly any with their respective men.

Well, two of the sisters – one of them definitely has a bit more of a love story going on, without shortchanging any of her personal growth and development.  There is a new(ish) man in Ali’s life and he helps her see herself differently.  She listens and learns and finds her true self buried behind years of doubt.  I really like the woman she becomes and where her life is heading.

Finola has to do a lot of self-evaluation.  With the betrayal by her husband it is easy to lay the blame totally on him but every relationship has two people in it.  No one wants to hear that some of the fault is their’s when a spouse cheats and Finola is no different.  But time and a few tough conversations has her looking at herself and exactly how much she’s invested in the people around her.

Zennie is probably the hardest for me to connect to.  I get where she’s coming from and really you can’t understand what pregnancy does to you until you actually experience it (man, those hormones!), but it’s such a unique situation.  I did enjoy how Mallery explores, at least for a while, the idea that not everyone wants or needs to be coupled up.  That is the most interesting part of Zennie’s story – her comfort with her life as it is, with friends, family, work, and hobbies.

My only real complaint is that, with three sisters all having a big part of the story, there is a lot of back and forth between them.  It is kinda hard to really get into one part of it knowing you are going to be pulled out and into another.  After a while I got used to it but I don’t think that I was ever fully able to commit.

Charm, though, is always a mainstay of Mallery’s stories and this one is no different.  There is plenty to smile about but she also delivers on the harder emotions as the sisters evaluate themselves and their lives.  It’s not easy when you have to face your shortcomings but these women manage to come out of it stronger.

*****

Author Info:

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives-family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages.Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

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*****

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