Spotlight – Christmas in Smithville

07 Friday Dec 2018

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I love this Christmas story – two people who doubt themselves finally finding a happy ending together.

*****

Christmas in Smithville

The Hometown Series Book 4

by Kirsten Fullmer

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Even though Gloria is determined to change her reputation, most of the women in town still think she’s a tramp. Sure, she may have dressed a little flashy and dated pretty much every single guy in town, but that’s the past. Now that she wants to make a fresh start, will Smithville give her a second chance?

Ned has heard all the gossip, but being the Sheriff’s Deputy, he sees all the kind things Gloria does behind the scenes for the folks of Smithville. It looks like the upcoming Christmas Pageant will offer him the opportunity to spend time with her, but can he overcome a frustrating stutter and talk to her, face to face?

Your favorite characters from the Hometown Series bring craziness, love, and Smithville Christmas style, to a whole new romance about overcoming your past and sharing your deepest secrets. Fall in love and be swept away with the Christmas Eve celebration of your dreams.

Video Trailer:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k5PRT6W0mHY

Goodreads * Amazon

*****

Hometown Girl at Heart

Hometown Series Book 1

Goodreads * Amazon

Hometown Girl After All

Hometown Series Book 2

Goodreads * Amazon

Hometown Girl Forever

Hometown Series Book 3

Goodreads * Amazon

Hometown Girl Again

Hometown Series Book 5

Goodreads * Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

Gloria could practically hear Ned’s heart beating; he was standing so close. What was he thinking? They’d formed a solid friendship, and now, if her instincts we right, he appeared to be crossing the friendship line. Had that been his intention all along? Was she so stupid that she’d let her guard slip and hadn’t seen that he just wanted to get her in bed? What was it about her that made men think she was fair game?

Scrubbing at a stubborn piece of food on a plate, she frowned.

Ned backed up half a step, picking up on her discomfort. “What’s wrong?”

The plate was clean, but she kept scrubbing anyway.

“Gloria?” He said her name more like a quiet demand than a question. She quit scrubbing the dish but didn’t look up.

He waited, and the silence in the small kitchen was deafening.  Finally, Gloria met his eye. Ned grinned an easy smile. “I’ll dry.” With that, he snatched up the dishtowel hanging on the oven door and reached for the plate.

She regarded him through narrowed eyes, trying to read his intent. He felt like the same old Ned; maybe she’d been wrong. With a shrug, she rinsed the plate and handed it to him. Her instincts had led her astray before. Crap, she’d never been able to tell when a man cared about her.

Ned dried the plate and reached up to put it in the cupboard.  Glancing back to Gloria, he caught her watching him, so he offered a reassuring, friendly grin.

“Damn,” she thought, turning her attention back to the dishes. The man really was dangerously good looking. Yet, here she stood with him in Nadine’s kitchen. The one woman she wanted to show she had changed. She had to prove to Nadine, and the other wives in town, that she wasn’t out to get a man. She needed to remember that, no matter how gorgeous Ned was. Besides, she valued his friendship far too much to mess it up. If she was capable of managing any type of relationship with a man, she wanted to be Ned’s friend.

Rinsing a plastic cup, she handed it off to him, and her eye caught his. Something in the depths of his gaze snagged her attention, and she couldn’t look away.  What was he trying to tell her?

“I’m firsty,” Christi’s tiny voice said from the doorway.

The cup dropped to the sink as both Ned and Gloria jerked their hands apart, both jumping back as they turned toward the little girl.

Christi stood in her pajamas, her eyes wide. “I need a dwink.”

Ned was the first to spring into action. “I’ll get you a d—drink, sweetheart. Do you want water or milk?”

“Miwk,” she said. Her little face was serious as her eyes bounced from Ned to Gloria and back.

Reaching into the cupboard by the sink, he retrieved a child’s sippy-cup and lid, then headed toward the fridge. For a moment he juggled the cup and lid to open the door and take out the milk, but he managed to make it to the table and fill the cup half full. Tossing a grin to Gloria, as if to say ‘I got this’, he twisted the cap onto the cup.

Christi padded across the room and reached for the cup.

Ned squatted down to eye level and offered her his trademark grin. “Here you go d—darlin’.”

The child gave him a serious once over as she took the cup, then tipped it up to drink.  Unfortunately, when the cup reached her mouth, the lid came off, and milk spilled all down the front of the little girl’s chin, neck, and footy pajamas.

Ned gasped and jumped back to miss the torrent of milk splashing across the floor.

“Oh dear!” Gloria cried, grabbing the towel off the counter and hurrying to the little girl’s side. “Did the lid come off?” Her eyes sprung to Ned’s, and she felt instantly silly for asking the obvious, so she turned back to the little girl. “Of course, it did. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Ned floundered, “I didn’t m—mean to… I’m so s—sorry…”

Little Christi glared up at him, her expression clearly stating that she considered the man to be a complete jerk. Milk dripped onto the floor as she stood in a widening puddle. Her fuzzy pink pajamas and even her hair were soaked in milk.

Trying not to laugh, Gloria stripped off the sodden pajamas, soothing and assuring Christi that the deputy didn’t mean to spill her milk. After dabbing up all the milk she could with the now-soaked towel, she hefted the child up onto her hip and turned to Ned. The miserable look on his face gave her pause. “Don’t worry,” she assured both parties. “Nothing a bath won’t fix.”

As she headed across the room, Ned found his voice. “I’ll m—mop up…” but Gloria was gone, along with his chance to tell her how he felt.

*****

Author Info:

Kirsten grew up in the Western US and graduated from high school in 1984. She married soon there after and quickly built a family. With three young children and number four on the way, she returned to college in 1992. Her career as a draftsman included many settings ranging from a steel fabrication shops to prestigious engineering firms. Balancing family life with the workplace forced her to become the queen of multitasking. In 2001, bored with the cubical life, she moved on to teach drafting in technical college, then to opening her own consulting firm teaching 3D engineering software. Due to health problems, Kirsten retired in 2012 to travel with her husband for his job. She now works writing romance novels and enjoys spoiling her three grandchildren. Since 2017 Kirsten has lived and worked full time in a 40′ travel trailer with her husband and her little dog Bingo.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * Amazon * Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a91088/

*****

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Book Review – My Forever Home

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

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By combining love, four legged friends, and a happy ending, Burns brings reader a great holiday read.

*****

My Forever Home

A Rescue Me Novel

by Debbie Burns

Blurb:

Love comes to the rescue.

Vet school drop-out Tess Grasso dreams of having her own pet therapy business, but she meets one disastrous obstacle after another. There’s no denying she has a way with animals, so in the meantime she puts her skills to use at a local no-kill shelter. Between helping her furry companions and a budding relationship with fellow dog lover Mason Redding, Tess begins to find fresh confidence…

What Tess doesn’t know is that Mason is recovering from an accident, hoping to get back to his pro-baseball career. He’s afraid the truth will ruin everything—and he’s right. But in the midst of hurt and betrayal, a free-spirited stray Husky enters their lives, and teaches them a few things about faith, love and forgiveness.

Amazon: amzn.to/2M2jncH

B&N: bit.ly/2LXvQOG

Apple: apple.co/2niQZ79

IndieBound: bit.ly/2LZDkB0

*****

Excerpt:

Tess lifted her mug of tea and carried it into the kitchen and away from the wall of windows and the remarkable St. Louis night skyline. If this were her place, she’d get nothing done in the evenings as she cuddled against that couch, sipping tea, and gazing at the beautiful lights.

“I had no idea a veggie meat loaf could smell so amazing. I’m so hungry, I could eat… Wait, I don’t think you can say you could eat a bear when you’re vegetarian, can you?”

Mason laughed and said she could say whatever she wanted. He was slicing through a cucumber with a gleaming chef knife.

“After we eat, I’ll be good to get back out there and search again.”

“Me, too. I’ve been standing here thinking what it could be like if we succeed. I want the dog. No question. And I know he’ll have a better life. A much better life. But I can’t help but wonder if he’ll want to be here.”

Tess joined Mason at the opposite counter. “He will. I’m sure he will.” Her hand closed reflexively over his forearm in reassurance, and she had to refrain from jerking it away. Seeing his strength was one thing. Feeling it was another.

What would he do if she slid between him and the countertop and allowed her lips to land where they wanted?

She forced a stepped back. “Do you have honey?”

“Yeah. In the pantry.”

His pantry was relatively uncluttered, and she spotted the honey right away. A family-sized box of Cocoa Puffs on the top shelf made her smile.

“What?” He pulled open a drawer and handed her a spoon. “Are you grinning at my juvenile selection of pantry foods?”

“That’s a big box of Cocoa Puffs.”

“Aren’t they a kitchen-pantry requirement?”

“I certainly wished that growing up, but not in my house. At least not unless it was a special occasion. My parents both worked full-time when I was growing up, and I went over to my grandparents’ house every day before school. My grandma’s idea of a quick breakfast is a bread roll with butter and jam or day-old biscotti to dip in her coffee.”

“Somehow that doesn’t make you sound deprived, if that’s what you were aiming for.”

Tess laughed as she squeezed a bit of honey into her mug. “How can I help?”

“I’m almost done, thanks. I have a red on the counter and a white in the fridge, if you’re up for wine.”

“I’d like to try this,” she said, picking a Barolo, “if you like red.”

“Sure.” He pulled a corkscrew from one of the top drawers. “How about you open it while I finish up?”

Mason had a beautiful salad prepared, and a small pot of gravy was warming on the stove. When he opened the oven, she spotted a ceramic bowl of mashed potatoes, another of green beans, and the veggie meat loaf.

As Tess opened the wine, she thought of her grandma. Nonna had taught her never to belittle someone’s effort in the kitchen by equating their work to trouble. “Wow,” she said instead. “Everything looks great. I can’t wait to try it.”

“Thanks. My, uh, slow season is in winter. Cooking is a hobby I’ve wanted to take up for a while. Like I said, before tonight I’d only ever made three different main dishes.”

“You said that, but you didn’t tell me what they are, aside from meat loaf, that is.”

“Want to guess?” Mason grinned as he carried over the salad bowl to a dining table long enough to bring to mind Beauty and the Beast. Mason had set two places, one at an end, the other in the seat adjacent to it. Tess’s heart beat at the intimacy of it.

“Absolutely. Let’s see. You grew up on a farm in rural Iowa, and your family is not Italian, so I’m guessing one of them is not lasagna.”

“You would be correct.”

“Hmm, what’s farmy to cook? I’m trying to picture the Cracker Barrel menu in my head. And before you ask, I only got to eat there when I went to Florida with my cousin’s family on vacation. Okay, let’s see. Chicken and dumplings?”

Mason chuckled. “Nope, though that’s one of my mom’s go-to winter meals.”

“Country-fried steak?”

“If we were playing hangman, you’d have a head and body.”

“Chicken pot pie?”

“And there’s a leg, or is it the arm next?”

Tess clicked her tongue and slid into the open seat next to him. “Pot roast?”

“Well done.”

“Really?” Tess waggled her eyebrows. “Pot roast and meat loaf. Two very hearty meals. Impressive.”

“I bet you hang before you guess the third.”

Tess pierced a bit of salad and silently counted off the meals she’d guessed. “Barbecue ribs?”

“Add the second leg. I can barbecue as well as the next guy, but I wasn’t counting it. Slathering a rack of ribs with some sauce and enjoying a beer while it sizzles over the coals isn’t the same as preparing a meal from scratch.”

“True, I guess.” She pointed her fork his way. “Don’t tell me. I’m going to get this.” She was halfway through a bite of salad when she smacked her palm against the table and hurriedly swallowed. “OMG, I’ve got it. I’ve totally got it. I know your third meal, Mason…” Tess paused. “I know your third meal, but I don’t know your last name. How weird is that?”

Mason sat back in his chair and took a sip of wine, appraising her, his mouth pulled up in the crooked smile that she adored. “With that reaction, this is the all-or-nothing round. Get it right, you win. Get it wrong, that’s the arms, feet, hands, everything, and you’re hanged.”

“I’m okay with that, only what’re we playing for?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that. Something bigger than who does the dishes, that’s for sure.”

Tess agreed with him. “How about winner calls it?”

His gaze dropped to her mouth for two solid seconds before returning to her eyes. “Yes, definitely.”

*****

Review:

My Forever Home is a wonderfully cozy and heartwarming read.  It is just made to tug at you, through both animal and people.  You totally understand why Mason keeps who he is from Tessa and the revelation works well with their relationship as it has developed.  And while there is the opportunity, I really appreciate that Burns avoids  melodrama and handles issues quickly and realistically.

While I feel that Mason had good development as a character, I do wish we’d gotten a little more of Tessa’s family.  Her issues with her family is what sent her on a tour of Europe, but while it is hit upon I think that it could have used a little more.  I do love her relationship with her grandmother – their closeness is so sweet and I loved the support there.

As much as I love Mason and Tessa’s relationship, it is the connection with John Ronald that is really the highlight of the book.  The look inside his mind brings happiness, sadness, and humor.  Some may not like the personification of a dog, but it works for me.

Like Sit, Stay, Love, My Forever Home is one of those easy to read, slow burn books that takes it time creating connection between the characters – exploring them as people and how they relate to each other.  Mason & Tessa manage to find each other at a time when both are ready for the next phase and it creates a delightfully satisfying HEA.  I’m so looking forward to what Burns has in store for us next.

*****

Author Info:

Debbie Burns’ writing commendations include a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews for A New Leash on Love, as well as first-place awards for short stories, flash fiction, and longer selections. Her hobbies include hiking, gardening, and daydreaming, which, of course, always leads to new story ideas. She lives in St. Louis with her family, two phenomenal rescue dogs, and a somewhat tetchy Maine coon cat who everyone loves anyway.

*****

Giveaway:

5 Copies of Sit, Stay, Love

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7708/

*****

Book Review – My Bad

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

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Something a little different for me, but I’m really happy I gave it a chance!

*****

My Bad

Bear Bottom MC series, Book 4

by Lani Lynn Vale

Blurb:

Hoax knows two things very well.

One, he’s not relationship material. Two, the nurse that treats him for erectile dysfunction is the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, and practically has ‘the marrying type’ stamped on her forehead.

Does that stop him from wanting her? No.

Unfortunately, he learned a long time ago that Army Delta Force and long-lasting relationships don’t go hand in hand.

But beautiful hazel eyes, curly blonde hair, and the prettiest lips he’s ever seen play havoc with his resolve, making him forget his earlier convictions.

All it takes is one teeny, tiny kiss for every shred of control he has to disappear, along with the problem in his pants.

Soon he finds himself doing things that he knows that he shouldn’t. He doesn’t know that he’s found the woman that’s meant to be his. Nor does he realize that her father is the man he’s idolized from the moment he joined the army at the age of eighteen. Because, maybe if he had, he would’ve tried a little harder to ignore the pull he felt between them instead of making her his the night before he deployed for six months.

He also might’ve tried a little harder not to knock her up.

GOODREADS: https://bit.ly/2x2MEKB

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2CGTfQm

AMAZON AU: https://amzn.to/2KEQmjd

AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/2RkkB1D

AMAZON CA: https://amzn.to/2P5gO6g

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2P7afQs

B&N: https://bit.ly/2RpURkx

*****

Review:

There is some insta-lust/love so the relationship with these two moves pretty quickly, but Vale does it in a believable way.  They are funny and steamy and fun, and I enjoyed them as a couple. Pru is mouthy and sassy – the perfect foil for an overbearing, alpha man.  Thanks to her upbringing she can stand up for herself but she also has an appreciation for his “type”.  And Hoax is pretty much what you’d expect for a special forces military man who spends his free time as part of a MC.  Along with being dominant and overprotective, he’s also caring, sharp, and sexy.

I really liked the interactions they had with their friends and family, both independently and as a couple.  There is a feeling of belonging that isn’t impacted by blood and these people are there for each other no matter what.  Not having read any of the other books I didn’t have a point of reference for any of them, but it didn’t really seem to matter.  Everything worked really smoothly as a standalone and I felt like I got to know the characters well.

While it was a minor part of the story, I was a little disappointed in the ending.  There is this suspenseful moment that just didn’t make a lot of sense to me.  I’m not sure I understood why things happened they way they did (or at all for that matter) but since the characters and their relationship is the main part of the story, and is well done, I don’t think that it really mattered.  I’m hoping to get my hands on the next story to see if this is the style for this writer or just a thing here.  Or an issue with me 🙂

I’m not usually into the whole bad boy MC thing but the description for this one was intriguing enough that I gave it a chance.  Still not my favorite genre but I will say that Vale is really good at what she does and I’m definitely willing to give her stories another go.  (This is another book, though, where the blurb doesn’t quite match up to the story.  The whole thing with her dad was pretty much a non-issue, as was Hoax’s “treatment”.)  You do have to be OK with things being a little more down-to-earth and kinda … well, coarse.  The guys lead a rough & tumble life and the story is very much same.  It definitely works with the characters – these are not buttoned up and polished people.  And being real is definitely not a bad thing.

*****

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

*****

Spotlight – An Alpha for Christmas

03 Monday Dec 2018

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Who’s looking for a little something to spice up their holiday season?

*****

An Alpha for Christmas

by Charity Parkerson

Length: 12,000 words approx.

Blurb:

Christmas Eve night with a sexy new friend turns into the perfect Christmas. But Austin never expects his dream holiday to ruin his life.

Hoping to avoid another yearly gathering of the worst people Austin knows—his family—he volunteers to play Santa’s little helper at the department store where he works. That’s where the sexiest Santa on the planet comes to his rescue.

Will plays Santa every year at his grandfather’s department store. It’s something he oddly enjoys. This year is twice the fun when he’s paired with a mouthwatering elf. When Will finds Austin stranded in the parking lot, he’s more than willing to help. A ride turns into an amazing night together. The night turns into a weekend that changes both their lives forever. Not necessarily for the good.

It’ll take more than a good time in bed to fix Austin’s life. For the first time, Will might have to put someone else first.

This is a short and steamy story, featuring a character from Charity Parkerson’s Low Blow series. It was written to be a complete standalone, separate from the series.

Amazon US | Amazon UK

*****

Author Info:

Charity Parkerson is an award winning and multi-published author with several companies. Born with no filter from her brain to her mouth, she decided to take this odd quirk and insert it in her characters.

*Eight-time Readers’ Favorite Award Winner
*2015 Passionate Plume Award Finalist
*2013 Reviewers’ Choice Award Winner
*2012 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Paranormal Romance
*Five-time winner of The Mistress of the Darkpath

Connect with her online:

–Website: charityparkerson.com
–Facebook: facebook.com/authorCharityParkerson
facebook.com/TheMenofSin
–Twitter: twitter.com/CharityParkerso

*****

Giveaway:

$5.00 USD Paypal cash

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/47d10e9472/

*****

 

Book Review – The Rancher Takes a Family

29 Thursday Nov 2018

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The Rancher Takes a Family

The Montana McGregor Brothers series

by Paula Altenburg

Rugged rancher Jake McGregor wrangles cattle better than kids, but when he’s suddenly saddled with three grieving children, he’s determined to step up. His sister’s kids shouldn’t pay for her error in judgment in naming him guardian. Problem is, he doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing. And the woman who attempts to help with his every fumble is the one woman he wants to steer clear of…

Lacey Anderson loves a challenge, but Jake’s already broken her heart once. When his tall shadow darkens the doorway of her classroom, she’s ready to shut him out – until she meets her new students, and sees the desperation in Jake’s eyes. Emotional intelligence is so not his forte. But she’s done banging her head against that wall.

Jake, however, is finally ready to learn how to love and Lacey’s the teacher he wants. Is she willing to risk her own heart again to teach him?

Altenburg delivers a sweet second chance romance about an unprepared guy who steps up to take care of his orphaned niece and nephews.  And it is absolutely adorable how these big strong guys are responsible for the oh-so-cute kids.  They each have a connection with a different kid and it wonderfully sets up future stories.  Even better it’s done with just the lightest amount of drama – all three guys are opinionated, but they handle any disagreements pretty well.

There’s also only a little drama on the romance side of things.  Jake and Lacey had a high school relationship but thanks to some miscommunication and assumptions it ended with hurt feelings.  Now, years later, they are thrown back together again thru the kids.  And I am so happy that Altenburg made it so the relationship was about the couple and not some desperate need for a surrogate mom.  Instead Jake is just taking advantage of the situation to reconnect with Lacey and give a relationship as adults a chance.

The relationship portion flows pretty easily and the story is as much about the new family dynamic.  You’ll totally go “awww” over these kids and how the men work to make the adjustment to their new situation as easy as possible.  They do the best they can to help the kids, as they all are having to get used to their loss and the new normal of their lives.  I’m very much looking forward to the next brother’s story so I can spend time with this group again.

Book Review – Buried Lies

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

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Looking for a little more from your next love story?  Cross’s Crimson Point series definitely delivers!

*****

Buried Lies

A Crimson Point Novel

by Kaylea Cross

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Blurb:

She left her painful past behind.

Poppy Larsen is finally free. She moved to Crimson Point to make a new life for herself, full of bright possibilities. A whole new world awaits her, if she can find the courage to trust again—even her gorgeous neighbor, the town sheriff. But darkness lurks in the picturesque Oregon Coast town, concealing a deadly threat that’s closer than she ever imagined.

Now a killer is watching her from the shadows.

Sheriff Noah Buchanan can’t help but be intrigued by his new neighbor. She’s hard working, sexy as hell, and unlike most of the women in town, she hasn’t thrown herself at him. After it becomes clear that she plans to put down roots here, he finds himself falling more and more for Poppy and her big heart. When someone from her past tries to hurt her, it triggers all his protective instincts. But the real danger is hiding in plain sight. When the unthinkable happens, Noah is thrust into a race against time to save her before it’s too late.

Amazon US | Apple Books | Kobo | Nook

*****

Review:

This is my first by Cross (although it won’t be my last) and I found it to be a tad more romance than suspense, so keep that in mind when you pick it up.  Both parts, I felt, were handled well but if you go in thinking you’ll find an edge-of-your-seat nail-biter, you’ll be a bit disappointed.  Don’t get me wrong – I felt like the mystery worked really well, even if there are quite a few obvious false flags floating around, and I was definitely engrossed when things came to a head with the danger to Poppy.  It’s just that a good part of the beginning of the book is about her hesitation to get involved with Noah and how irresistible he is.

The dynamic among the friends is actually as appealing as the romance for me and I loved how easily they accepted Poppy into their group.  They are all just as honorable as Noah and, like him, care about the people and the town.  It makes it believable that Poppy starts to open up to them, especially Noah.  Cross does a good job of relating Poppy’s hesitancy in getting involved and, while she is a little reserved because of her past, she is also smart and hardworking.  Her appeal as a character makes it rewarding as she starts to trust the others.

While the suspense portion of the story isn’t that big, it is set up well and you get a good feel for the bad guy.  I wouldn’t say that I was sympathetic but I definitely understood where he came from and why he did the things he did.  You know that there is no way that Noah won’t save Poppy, but her experience so engrossing that it bothered me to even try to imagine what she went through.  I don’t think it will satisfy die-hard mystery or suspense readers but it does a great job of adding a little kick to the love story.

Not having read the first book, I’m not sure how well we are supposed to know Poppy and Noah coming into this story.  If it is anything like this book, which set up the next in the series quite nicely, I’m sure that returning readers had an opinion.  It didn’t take me long to get involved, though, so I’m sure you are just starting the series too.  (Being a new reader, I will admit that I felt really bad for Noah’s friend Carter and the troubles he’s experiencing because of the brain injury he suffered serving overseas.  I hate to think about how much I’d feel for him if I’d read both!  But that’s a thing for the next book 🙂 )

*****

Author Info:

NY 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 | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

*****

Giveaway:

5 ecopies of BURIED LIES

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cf78adb735/

*****

Spotlight – A Gentleman for Christmas

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

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Reviewers are calling this one an awesome holiday read!

*****

A Gentleman for Christmas

by Prescott Lane

Blurb:

A gentleman can’t always follow the rules.

Some say “chivalry is dead.”

I don’t think so.  Most women I know like a gentleman.

Protective, opens doors, treats women with respect, typically follows the rules.

But a gentleman doesn’t fall for his best friend’s woman. Current or ex.

And that’s what I’ve done.

During the Christmas season of all times — that magical time for decorations, gifts, family . . .

Yes, the girl who was off-limits for so long, who I’ve loved all my life, has come back in town and possibly back to me.

I can’t follow the gentleman rules this time.  There’s too much at stake.  I let her go once.  I won’t let her go again.

What happens under the mistletoe, stays under the mistletoe.

Or does it?

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Qs1li3

Download your copy today!

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

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/AGentlemanForChristmas

Nook: https://bit.ly/2yWXz9B

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2OzxTF1

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2DtYxhM

*****

Excerpt:

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”

Otherwise known as the original bros before hoes commandment.

I’m not advocating calling women hoes.  It’s an expression, so put away your Encyclopedia of Political Correctness.

There are rules in life.  The Ten Commandments were just the beginning.  We have rules for everything.  How to drive.  How to dress.  How to walk across the damn street.  So why not rules for love?  That’s how all this started — a set of rules between my buddies and me.

The Bro Code.

Obviously, bros before hoes is rule one.  We vowed never to let a girl come between us, which meant if one of us liked a girl, she was forever off limits.

Little did I know our teenage pact would launch my multi-million dollar career.  A little tweaking here and some socially acceptable rewording there and The Gentleman’s Handbook was born.

I’ve written books and given seminars on everything from how to find love, to how to propose, to how to have a successful long-distance relationship.  You name it, and I’ve got rules for it.  Personally, I’ve never been much of a rule follower, but that’s my little secret.

The funny thing is I’ve never been in love.  Well, there is this one girl, but we won’t talk about her.  It does no good to think about someone you can’t have and never will.

My lack of emotional commitment hasn’t slowed down my career one bit.  Currently, I have two books on the New York Times Best Sellers List.  My seminars sell out like a Drake concert.

I always find it interesting that the rules started between a group of male friends, but it’s mostly women that come to hear me speak.  Occasionally, you see the poor sap boyfriend who was dragged along to listen, but for the most part it’s all women.

This time of the year is no exception.  December first until January first is important for guys.  Holidays are big for a lot of couples.  If you don’t know what you’re doing for your lady, you better figure it out and fast.  In fact, my rule is that you should be paying attention all year long.

Trust me on this.  If you remember something she mentioned she liked three months ago and surprise her with it at Christmas, she’ll spread her legs before Santa even has time to slide down the chimney.  Let’s be honest, that is always at least part of the goal for guys.

So my current work in progress tackles Christmas.  A how-to guide for the holidays.

The Gentleman’s Rules for Christmas.

*****

Author Info:

Prescott Lane is the Amazon best-selling author of Stripped Raw. She’s got seven other books under her belt including: First Position, Perfectly Broken, Quiet Angel, Wrapped in Lace, Layers of Her, The Reason for Me, and The Sex Bucket List.  She is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and holds a degree in sociology and a MSW from Tulane University. She married her college sweetheart, and they currently live in New Orleans with their two children and two crazy dogs. Prescott started writing at the age of five, and sold her first story about a talking turtle to her father for a quarter. She later turned to writing romance novels because there aren’t enough happily ever afters in real life.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottLane1

Twitter: www.twitter.com/prescottlane1

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lfhlrh

Instagram: instagram.com/prescottlane1

http://www.authorprescottlane.com

*****

Book Review – Mr. Winterbourne’s Christmas

26 Monday Nov 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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Heart, heat, Christmas festivities, and two men who finally find someone they can belong to, all combine for a fabulous holiday read!

*****

Mr. Winterbourne’s Christmas

Winterbourne Series Volume #2

by Joanna Chambers

Length: 30,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Blurb:

Lysander Winterbourne has been living happily at Edgeley Park for the last eighteen months. By day he is Adam Freeman’s estate manager, by night, his lover…but Adam never speaks of his feelings and Lysander has no idea whether their relationship is any more than a convenient arrangement for Adam.

When the two men are invited to Winterbourne Abbey for a family Christmas, matters quickly come to a head. Snowed in at the Abbey with a house full of guests, Lysander has to face up to shocking revelations, long-held secrets and a choice he never expected to have to make…

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | KOBO | Barnes & Noble

Volume #1 – Introducing Mr. Winterbourne – CURRENTLY FREE 
Amazon US | Amazon UK

*****

Review:

While Mr. Winterbourne’s Christmas can technically stand on its own I really thing you need to read Intoducing Mr. Winterbourne to really enjoy the relationship between Lysander and Adam.  It’s a novella but so it is a short read but makes up for it in content.

Lysander has his eyes opened to the elitist attitudes of his friends and family when he’s roped into taking Adam around town for a few days.  As he’s taking a closer look at the people he’s known for years, he’s also getting a chance to get to know Adam better.  Adam is also seeing below Lysander’s polished surface and finding someone he wants to get to know even better.  If they can only trust each other …

The relationship between the two may have developed quickly – the entire story is one day – but it is well-written and believable.  The connection between the two is portrayed very well, as is the fear of sharing their true selves.  But while IMW is well-written, it is a little open-ended and leaves the reader with a few questions that are answered in MWC.

Mr. Winterbourne’s Christmas picks up a year and a half after IMW and I kinda wish we’d gotten to see those months.  Chambers does a good job of conveying their connection, as well as their uncertainty of where the future is going and why they are hesitant to talk to each other about it.  While Christmas with Lysander’s family doesn’t really do much to further deepen their relationship, it creates that moment of truth that main two need in order to settle in completely to their relationship.  It also introduces other characters (& couples up a few of them) and lays the ground work for possible future stories.

While both MWC & IMW are sexy, they are just as much about the emotions between them.  These two complement each other well, with Adam being staid & reserved and Lysander more playful & charming.  But they also live in a world where they have to fear discovery and punishment, which I feel like Chambers kept in mind well as they struggled to find their way.  With a satisfactory resolution here, I’m intrigued to see what Chambers has in mind next!

*****

Author Info:

Joanna Chambers always wanted to write. She spent over 20 years staring at blank sheets of paper and despairing of ever writing a single word. In between staring at blank sheets of paper, she studied law, met her husband and had two children. Whilst nursing her first child, she rediscovered her love of romance and found her muse. Joanna lives in Scotland with her family and finds time to write by eschewing sleep and popular culture.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

*****

Giveaway:

Backlist Ebook from Joanna Chambers

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3e0e9a43496/

*****

November 19 – Boulevard des Passions, My Fiction Nook, OMGReads

November 21 – Diverse Reader

November 23 – Mirrigold

November 26 – Romantic Reads & Such, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews

November 28 – Drops Of Ink, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, We Three Queens

November 30 – Kimmers Erotic Book Banter, Lillian Francis, BooksLaidBareBoys

Spotlight – The First Rule of Hook-Ups

20 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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The reviews coming in are almost exclusively 4 & 5 stars.  Get your copy and find out why Alexa and Raphael are getting all the feels … with a good dose of heat!

*****

The First Rule of Hook-Ups

Breakup Bash series

by Nina Crespo

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Someone once told me that there are worst things than being left at the altar. Well, not many, in my experience. That was six months ago, though, and my life has moved on. Heck, I have a new job lined up and I’m leaving town.

But, I can’t deny that my love life kind of sucks.

That’s why I let my friends convince me to join them for Club Escapade’s Breakup Bash. And we might just be disillusioned enough to actually enjoy it. Last time we were here, it was for my bachelorette party. That night, I met one of the dancers – Raphael – and when he flirted with me, I almost forgot I was engaged. And there’s a part of me that never forgot him.

Now, it seems my friends have wandered off and I’m thinking about calling it a night. Until the music begins and I see Raphael, my secret fantasy, on stage. And this time, I’m definitely not engaged…

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo | Google

*****

Excerpt:

Raphael and Alexa have their first argument and learn how to make up.

~

She held it away. “It’s rude to take someone’s coffee.”

“Is it? What about cheating on your husband, boyfriend, or whoever that was?”

Shock and sadness momentarily shadowed her expression. “I’m not a cheater. Brad, my ex-fiancé, was.” She plunked the cup on the nightstand, whipped back the covers, and got up.

The dark brew rocked dangerously close to the edge.

Hell. He hadn’t considered the guy she was supposed to marry had turned into a jackass. Rafe set his coffee next to hers. He snagged her arm before she reached the bathroom. “I shouldn’t have made an assumption about who you were talking to on the phone.”

Alexa’s gaze remained on his chest, but she let him pull her close. Her cell phone jingled. Concern overshadowed her defiant expression. “I’d better get going.”

The prospect of engaging with whoever called had dimmed the radiance that had grabbed him the first time he’d laid eyes on her.

On impulse, he cupped her face. “Not until you accept my apology. I’m sorry.” He kissed her.

Little by little, the rigid line of her lips softened, and she leaned against him.

Warmth and sweetness saturated his mouth as he plunged his tongue into hers and conveyed what he wasn’t saying aloud. He was sorry. Sorry for trying to take her coffee. Sorry she had to leave and deal with whatever weighed her down. But he wasn’t sorry that Brad had fucked up. Did that make him a bastard right along with her ex? Rafe grasped her hips and pressed his rigid cock against her. All he had to do was free himself and glide into her softness and heat.

He’d bring them both pleasure and erase her unhappiness. She eased back. “I can’t be late.”

“I’ll make it worth your while.” He nuzzled and nipped her throat. Yeah, his intention was to enjoy one night with her and move on, but kissing Alexa was a game changer every damn time. She’d remained in his mind, ever since the first time he’d laid eyes on her. He needed to figure out why. After he got her back in bed.

*****

Author Info:

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions — the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Let Nina’s sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after.

Stay connected with Nina on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, BookBub, or through her newsletter.

*****

Giveaway:

Set of Nina Crespo’s book cover wine charms

$20 Amazon Giftcard

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cf78adb720/

*****

Book Review – Wicked Whiskey Love

19 Monday Nov 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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Yes, we have seen Bones recently but it definitely doesn’t hurt to revisit a Whiskey story (and I somehow signed up for two tours by accident because I love these stories SO very much 🙂 )

Plus you have a chance to win a copy of Tru Blue and if you haven’t read Truman’s story yet … well, I’m not sure why that would be … enter to win a copy today!

*****

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

Fall in love with Bones Whiskey in WICKED WHISKEY LOVE, an emotionally riveting, sexy new standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. A magnificent love story for those who enjoy fiercely loyal and insanely sexy alpha heroes, smart, sassy heroines, families, bikers, babies, and more!

Wicked Whiskey Love

by Melissa Foster

Blurb

After escaping abusive parents and, later, an abusive relationship, Sarah Beckley has spent a lifetime watching snakes shed their skin. With two small children to care for and another on the way, she’s finally found a home in Peaceful Harbor with the brother she hasn’t seen in more than a decade. She’s still searching for her sister, but life is good. If only she could stop thinking about the sinfully sexy doctor/biker who has taken to her children like a loving uncle–and to her like a hungry man.

Trust doesn’t come easily for Sarah, but Bones Whiskey is patient and protective, amazing with her children, and he looks at her like she is the only woman he could ever want–and more. With two little ones underfoot, Sarah expects him to move on quickly, yet with every tender kiss and each trying moment with the children, Bones surprises her. But will the fiercely loyal biker stick around when Sarah’s worst secret is revealed, or will he shed his skin, too?

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble KOBO iBooks GPlay Paperback

*****

Review:

Like all the Whiskey stories, Wicked Whiskey Love is about family, not necessarily the one you are born with but the one you surround yourself with.

Sarah definitely didn’t have the best of the first but she’s doing everything she can to reconnect with her siblings and make a better life than she had for her kids.  Being adopted by the Whiskeys is definitely doing a lot to help her regain her trust in people and her faith in herself.

Bones may not have always had every physical want met but he had what was important.  He knew his place in life and he had people that loved & cared for him.  His parents and the Dark Knights made sure that he grew up knowing right from wrong and was willing to fight for others when needed.  It’s the Whiskey way and it’s turned out some dang fine men.

Sarah is skittish about trusting people, but Bones is patient and he’s going to convince her that he (and his family) want the best for her, will be there for her & her family when she needs them.  It truly touches the heart to see her slowly open up and accept that she’s worth their attention & affection.  (And Bones with her kids will have you swooning – so adorable!)

While Bones does a lot of the work in winning Sarah over, it is a group thing and seeing the collective Whiskeys step up to be there for each other is just so very awesome.  They may not do things the conventional way but the Whiskey way has a lot of heart & good intentions and that’s what is important.

*****

For more hot Whiskey love, check out Melissa’s other Whiskey novels.

TRU BLUE
TRULY MADLY WHISKEY
DRIVING WHISKEY WILD
MAD ABOUT MOON (Releasing April 2019)

And don’t miss RIVER OF LOVE, the first story in which the Whiskeys were introduced!

“Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!”New York Times Bestseller Lauren Blakely

“You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that’s fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won’t want to stop reading. Every book’s a winner!” NYT Bestselling Author Brenda Novak

“Melissa Foster writes worlds that draw you in, with strong heroes and brave heroines surrounded by a community that makes you want to crawl right on through the page and live there.” – New York Times bestselling author Julia Kent

Tru Blue

There’s nothing Truman Gritt won’t do to protect his family–Including spending years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. When he’s finally released, the life he knew is turned upside down by his mother’s overdose, and Truman steps in to raise the children she’s left behind. Truman’s hard, he’s secretive, and he’s trying to save a brother who’s even more broken than he is. He’s never needed help in his life, and when beautiful Gemma Wright tries to step in, he’s less than accepting. But Gemma has a way of slithering into people’s lives and eventually she pierces through his ironclad heart. When Truman’s dark past collides with his future, his loyalties will be tested, and he’ll be faced with his toughest decision yet.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble KOBO iBooks

Truly, Madly, Whiskey

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

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

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

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble KOBO iBooks GPlay Paperback

Driving Whiskey Wild

Special Forces veteran and Dark Knights Motorcycle Club member Bullet Whiskey lives to protect his family, their bar, and the residents of his small hometown. He’s rough, unapologetic, and haunted by a secret, painful past. He’s also a master at keeping people away, and when his sister hires gorgeous and sweet Finlay Wilson to help expand their biker bar, he knows just how to get rid of her.

After losing her boyfriend and her father, Finlay moves back to her hometown to be closer to the little family she has left. She needs her temporary job at Whiskey Bro’s to get her catering business off the ground, and she’s determined not to let the gruff, arrogant mountain of a man Bullet Whiskey scare her off.

Finlay is everything Bullet has never wanted. She’s afraid of his dog, afraid of motorcycles, and sweet enough to give him cavities, but as she weaves her way into the hearts of everyone around him, he’s powerless to resist her charms. Passion ignites, but trust doesn’t come easily, and when their pasts collide, Bullet finds out the true meaning of protecting those he loves.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble KOBO iBooks GPlay Paperback

*****

Author Info:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big-family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, Wild Boys and Bad Boys After Dark, and the Montgomerys. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented– perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex and relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on Facebook
or her personal website.

Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Website Facebook Twitter Google+ Goodreads Pinterest Amazon Author Page

****

Giveaway:

Tru Blue ebook – 2 winners – Open Worldwide

(Ends on Sunday, November 25th)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b25fc618422/

*****

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*****

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