Spotlight – Two Last First Dates

05 Tuesday Sep 2017

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Let’s celebrate the start of a short work week in the USA with something light, fun and humorous!

*****

Two Last First Dates

Cozy Cottage Cafe, Book 2

by Kate O’Keeffe

Release Date: August 8, 2017

Genres: Romantic Comedy, Chick Lit

Publisher: Wild Lime Books

Blurb:

To Paige Miller, Two Last First Dates sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Paige is having a rough time. She’s unhappy in her career and her One Last First Date ended in total disaster. Now, she has to figure out what to do professionally and personally. Life as a spinster with fifteen cats doesn’t sound too bad, though.

Deciding to give up on love, Paige begrudgingly befriends Josh Bentley, the friendly coffee delivery guy, while helping out at the Cozy Cottage Café. His T-shirts make her eyes roll, but their runs have become an important part of her day and a blessing to her waistline, because Bailey’s cakes are too good to pass up.

Meanwhile, her best friends offer to find Mr. Right for her, and all Paige has to do is let them. Then, the man of her dreams walks through the door. Marcus Hahn is as good-looking as he is charming, and any thoughts Paige had of being alone with those fifteen cats, fly out the window. Now, she just has to hope her friends choose him as her Last First Date.

But in the end, are Two Last First Dates enough to find The One?

While this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the series. The protagonist is different from book one, although all lead female characters appear in each of the books.

Read the Cozy Cottage Cafe series

Book 1: One Last First Date https://books2read.com/koolfd

Book 2: Two Last First Dates is available now! https://books2read.com/kotlfd

Book 3: Three Last First Dates – coming October 31, 2017 Preorder Now at https://books2read.com/ko3lfd

Book 4: A Final Last First Date – coming early-2018

Where to Find BOOK TITLE

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35127055-two-last-first-dates

Amazon (universal link): https://books2read.com/kotlfd

Read book one in the series: https://books2read.com/koolfd

*****

Excerpt:

“I’ve got some paperwork to get through, and then we need to talk about finding you your Last First Date.”

“Ah, no, we don’t,” I said, shaking my head. Had she forgotten my decision? It was infinitely better to die an old-maid-slash-reclaimed-virgin than go through that heartache again.

“Yeah, we do. Marissa and I had a meeting and we’ve decided—”

“You had a meeting?” I asked, incredulous, my eyes wide.

“We’re going to do this properly, Paige.”

I bit the inside of my lip. “Look, I told you at the beach. I don’t want to find a man. I’m over the whole Last First Date thing.”

Bailey looked at me, a smile on her face. “Is that so?”

“Yes!” Why was she persisting with this? My mind was made up; I had given up on love.

“Hold that thought,” Bailey said as she jumped out of her chair.

I’d been too lost in exasperation to notice there were a couple of customers standing at the counter, perusing the cabinet food. I stood up, collected our plates and coffee cups—with two hands and not Bailey’s skillful one yet—and headed to the kitchen.

Once behind the counter, I looked across at the customers to give them a welcoming Cozy Cottage Café smile. My eyes met a man’s at the counter, and I swear the breath was sucked right out of me.

Oh. My. God.

This guy was beautiful. Tall, broad, his olive skin set off by his crisp, white, open-necked shirt, cropped black hair, and an I’m-sent-down-by-the-Greek-gods face. Angels sang, harps were strummed, and everything around me fell into nothingness as I stared into his dark eyes. He smiled back at me, holding my gaze for a beat, two. I could hear my heart thudding in my ears, and I had to stifle a nervous, girly giggle.

Too late, I felt the crockery in my hands begin to wobble. I took a step, tried to right them, but both my hands were full. The dishes came crashing to the floor, smashing into one hundred pieces, the dregs of our coffee splattering against my legs and the floor.

Uh-oh!

I quickly squatted down and began collecting up the shattered crockery, my face burning. This was mortifying!

“Paige! What happened?” Bailey looked at me down on the ground, startled.

“Sorry. I . . . I don’t know.” Which was, of course, not entirely true. I knew exactly what had happened. I’d been too busy staring at Adonis Guy and not concentrating on carrying the dishes to the sink. I shook my head, angry with myself.

I’d let womankind down miserably; my lack of multitasking ability was clearly equal to a man’s.

A dark head poked over the edge of the counter. “Are you all right down there?”

I stopped what I was doing and looked up into those mesmerizing eyes once more. My mouth went dry. “I . . . yes, thank you.” I stood bolt upright as the heat in my cheeks intensified.

Adonis Guy pushed himself up off the counter and shot me a gorgeous grin. “What did those dishes ever do to you?” He turned to his friend. “Is this the reason you like this place? The hot waitresses throwing dishes around?”

Adonis Guy just called me hot?

Bailey laughed. “Usually we just try to dazzle you through our excellent coffee and food. So that was two lattes. Anything to eat?”

Adonis Guy looked back at me. I hadn’t moved an inch. “What do you recommend?”

“Oh, ah, me?” My blush deepened. “The, ah, carrot cake with the cream cheese frosting is out-of-this-world good.”

“That sounds delicious. Sold.” He turned to Bailey. “I’ll have a slice of that, thanks.” Adonis Guy returned his gaze to me.

His much less godlike friend shook his head good-naturedly, watching Adonis Guy quite obviously flirting with me. “I’ll grab one of those spinach and feta muffins.”

Bailey rang up their order. “I’ll get this, Marcus. I owe you one,” Non-Adonis Guy said.

I squatted down to collect the remaining broken dishes in my hands. Try as I might, I couldn’t get my heart rate to return to normal, and you could have roasted s’mores on my cheeks, they were so hot.

Marcus. His name was Marcus.

“Thank you. We’ll bring those over for you,” I heard Bailey say from my position on the floor.

I peeked over the top of the counter. Marcus and his friend had walked over to the window and were now sitting down at Marissa’s, Cassie’s, and my usual table. Of all the tables in the café, he chose my favorite. Was it a sign?

No, it’s not. I’d given up on love. I needed to remember that, difficult as it may have been in the presence of such manly perfection.

While Bailey expertly worked the coffee machine, I put the fragments of the dishes onto some newspaper, wrapped them up, and placed them in the trash. Once I’d swept up the shards, I washed my hands and paused, deep in thought. I may have given up on love, but I was still a woman. And women liked to look good, right?

I pulled my lipstick out of my bag and slipped the lid off. I held it up to my lips, peering in my small compact mirror, and stopped dead. What am I doing? One hot guy shows an interest in me and I’m throwing that all away? Talk about being flakier than one of Bailey’s cheese filo puffs.

I snapped my compact shut and wound my lipstick down, unapplied, returning it to my makeup bag. I couldn’t let the first cute guy I saw dissuade me from my new path. I’d made up my mind; I was a man-free zone.

My jaw clenched, I returned to the counter. “I’m really sorry about that, Bailey. I don’t know how it happened. You can dock my pay.”

The steamer on the coffee machine made a loud screech as she fluffed the milk for the coffee in a jug. “Don’t worry about it, Paige. Accidents happen. Just don’t let it happen too often, okay?”

“Of course.” I pulled out a couple of plates and put a slice of the cake and a muffin on each. I glanced over at Marcus. He and his friend appeared to be deep in conversation.

Bailey nodded at the plates. “Can you please take those over? I’ll bring the coffees when they’re done.”

Part of me wanted to leap at the opportunity of talking with Marcus again. Another part of me wanted to squirm out of it, come up with some sort of an excuse to avoid the temptation. I told myself I needed to be strong. It was inevitable I was going to meet cute men. I simply needed to learn to deal with them. My inevitable spinsterhood demanded it.

After all, my track record with men had been a miserable failure.

I smoothed my shoulder-length hair behind my ears, took a deep breath, and walked out from behind the counter over to the men’s table. “Here you go, gentlemen,” I said brightly as I placed their respective treats in front of them on the table.

“All recovered from your plate smashing ordeal?” Marcus asked with a cheeky half smile on his face, looking up at me from his seat.

“Oh, yes. It’s all fine, thank you.” I tucked my hair behind my ears. “Right. I’ll leave you to it.” I turned on my heel without a second glance and walked on wobbly legs back to the counter.

Done. Easy. Well, okay, not easy exactly, but done all the same.

As Bailey took advantage of the lull and got on with some paperwork, she left me to clean up the counter and wipe down tables before my shift ended. There was only Marcus and his friend in the café, ­and I was thankful they were so deep in conversation they ignored me, so I had free range to make the place spick and span, ready for us to do it all again tomorrow.

I was putting some things under the counter when someone cleared their throat next to me. I bobbed up, ready to serve like the good Cozy Cottage waitress of almost two days I was. My tummy did a flip when I saw who it was.

“Just checking you’re not abusing any more defenseless crockery down there,” Marcus said with a fake brow furrow.

My blush returned faster than you could say hot-guy-flirting-with-me. I let out a laugh. “No, no.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m from the Society for the Protection of Dishes, and we take these matters very seriously, you know.” His face broke into a grin.

Wow, this guy looked like Channing Tatum when he smiled. This was so not a good thing right now.

I let out a light laugh, putting my hand on my heart. “I swear to give the dishes the respect they deserve in future.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

“Oh, I think you already paid,” I said.

By way of response, he offered me his business card. Dumbly, I took it in my hand, looking down at the words. Marcus Hahn, Attorney-at-Law.

“I would urge you to get in touch if you have any dishes-related concerns.”

“Oh, I . . . thank you . . . Marcus.” I blushed as I said his name.

He flashed me his Channing Tatum grin once more and I swear my legs ceased to function for a moment there. I watched as he sauntered out of the café, turning to shoot me one last smile before he disappeared out onto the street.

Resisting this guy was going to be trickier than I thought.

*****

Author Info:

Kate O’Keeffe is an award-nominated author of fun, feel-good romantic comedies. She lives and loves in beautiful New Zealand with her family, two scruffy dogs, and a cat who thinks he’s a scruffy dog too. He’s not: he’s a cat.

To date, Kate’s written the chick lit series, the Wellywood Romantic Comedy Series, and the new Cozy Cottage Café Series.

Website: https://www.kateokeeffe.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8195990.Kate_O_Keeffe

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kateokeeffe4

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

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/Kate-OKeeffe/e/B00KIZGG1O/

Newsletter Signup: https://www.kateokeeffe.com/newsletter

*****

Giveaway:

Three (3) Kindle copies of ONE LAST FIRST DATE by Kate O’Keeffe

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c48fa52758/

*****

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

Book Review – Romancing the Wallflower

04 Monday Sep 2017

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

In a Colorado mountain town, a good girl kindergarten teacher propositions a sexy bad boy uncle of one of her students…It’s all part of ROMANCING THE WALLFLOWER by Michelle Major

*****

Romancing the Wallflower

Crimson, Colorado series

by Michelle Major

Blurb:

Dedicated kindergarten teacher Erin MacDonald isn’t the type to make the first move on a man—especially gorgeous David McCay, her secret crush. But when a crisis involving one of her pupils offers a chance to help the pro baseballer turned local brewery owner, Erin goes way out of her comfort zone. So way out she makes a shocking suggestion!

David moved to the Colorado mountain town to look after his sister and her son. Now he’s a stand-in parent to his nephew, trying to fight his attraction to Erin…who just propositioned him. David is nobody’s hero. So why can’t he convince the sweet, kindhearted beauty that she deserves better than him? Is it because they’re the perfect imperfect match?

Add ROMANCING THE WALLFLOWER to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

On Sale in Print: August 22, 2017

On Sale in Digital: September 1, 2017

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Harlequin

*****

Excerpt:

“Stop staring at the hottie brewmaster’s butt.”

Erin MacDonald choked on the gulp of strawberry daiquiri she’d just swallowed. “I’m not staring at anyone’s butt,” she said as she grabbed a wad of napkins and dabbed at her chin and shirtfront. “And don’t talk so loud.”

Melody Cross, one of the second-grade teachers at Crimson Elementary, snorted. “It’s a crowded bar on a busy Thursday night. No one can hear me.”

But Melody had the kind of booming voice that could quiet a room full of squirming eight-year-olds the afternoon before summer break. The tall table they stood at was a good five feet from the bar, but Erin swore she saw the man’s broad shoulders stiffen.

“Want me to take a picture of him?” Suzie Vitale, her fellow kindergarten teacher, offered with a tipsy smile. “It lasts longer.”

Before Erin could stop her, the curvy blonde aimed her phone at the backside of the gorgeous guy who not only worked the bar but also owned Elevation Brewery. The brewpub had opened a little over a year ago and had become a popular hangout for both locals and tourists in the quaint mountain town of Crimson, Colorado.

Erin had noticed David McCay, the brewery’s owner, the first time she’d stepped into the nouveau rustic—and very on-trend for Colorado—space. He was tall and lean, with dark blond hair that curled around the collars of the flannel shirts he favored. David McCay was as handsome as a movie star and built like he spent endless hours tossing huge sacks of barley—or whatever it was beer brewers did.

Erin, who was built like she spent her days sitting cross-legged on a reading rug, had surreptitiously watched him each time she came into the bar with friends or coworkers for a random happy hour or birthday celebration. He was often tending bar or sometimes she’d spot him coming out from the back, wearing the heavy rubber boots and backward ball cap that she’d quickly learned were his uniform when actually brewing beer.

Colorado was known for its craft brews, and the fact that Elevation had made a name for itself so quickly was a testament to his hard work and talent at running a business.

At least that’s what Erin wanted to believe. Her mother liked to remind Erin that she too often assumed the best about people, which allowed them to regularly take advantage of her.

But David McCay hadn’t taken advantage of her, even though it was the stuff of her fantasies. Even though his nephew, Rhett, was now in her kindergarten class and David had been with the boy and his mother for back-to-school night. Erin had barely been able to put a sentence together with David towering over the other adults in the back of her classroom, but he hadn’t bothered to acknowledge her. Heck, it was doubtful he even knew she existed.

Except when she blinked and looked up, he was staring straight at her. Sparks of awareness flamed through her body, setting every inch of her skin on fire. He lifted one thick brow as if he could read her thoughts. Which might be impossible since it felt like all of her brain cells had spontaneously combusted under the weight of his stare.

She heard Melody giggle behind her, and Suzie gave her a little shove forward. David now stood at the edge of the bar, only a short distance from her, with movement all around him. Customers in groups laughed and talked. A waitress set her tray on the rich wood bar top. A group of women at near the edge of the bar vied for his attention. But his focus remained on Erin.

Then something—someone—suddenly blocked her vision. Cole Bennett, Crimson’s recently elected sheriff, was talking to David. Cole was also tall and broad, and to use one of her mom’s favorite expressions, made a better door than a window.

Erin shifted to the right as she overheard Cole mention Rhett, David’s nephew. David’s gaze hardened and his jaw clenched. Unable to stop herself, she moved forward, sidestepping a couple heading toward the back of the bar and a group of twentysomething guys who looked like they’d just come off a hiking trail, until she stood directly behind the sheriff.

She was five feet four inches tall in the clogs she favored for work, so both men towered over her and were completely unaware she was listening to their conversation. Invisibility was Erin’s unintentional superpower. She knew much more than she should about her coworkers and neighbors, simply because people didn’t notice she was there.

“Rhett is safe,” Cole told David. “But they can’t get him to come out.”

“What the hell was Jenna thinking?” David asked, then scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “No, don’t answer that.”

“She’s in trouble, David. The crowd she’s running with—”

“I’ll handle it.” He pulled a set of keys out of one of the pockets in his tan cargo pants. “I just need to tell Tracie I’m leaving for the night. I’ll be over for Rhett.”

“I have to call Social Services,” Cole said softly, and Erin felt the tension ratchet up a notch.

“Give me some time with him first, okay?”

“Can you—”

“I’ll handle it,” David repeated. He moved behind the bar and spoke to the woman filling two pint glasses from the tap.

The sheriff walked out of the bar, patrons instinctively clearing a path for him although he wasn’t in uniform tonight.

When she looked up, David McCay stood toe-to-toe with her. She realized she’d moved forward to block his path from behind the bar.

In her daydreams, she’d compared his eyes to the brilliant summer sky above the ragged peak of Crimson Mountain or the iridescent cobalt of a tropical lagoon. But now his frosty stare was more like the ice blue of a glacier, so cold a shiver passed through her.

“I don’t have time for this, sweetheart. You and your friends are going to have to play your liquid courage bar games with someone else.”

“It’s not a game,” Erin said.

“Darlin’, you ordered a froofy drink in my bar. It’s either a game or a joke.”

This close to David, the heat and frustration radiating off him made her feel different from the woman she knew herself to be. She was aware of her body in a way that was new and exhilarating. She wanted more. She wanted…something she couldn’t name. Still, the promise of it made her weak with longing.

Also braver than she’d ever been. Or maybe crazy was a better word, because when he moved to step around her, she placed a hand on his arm.

“I can help with your nephew.”

*****

Review:

I used to read Harlequin romances like I was eating M&Ms.  I LOVED those things and couldn’t get enough of them.  While I don’t pick them up with the same enthusiasm, I will find a tempting story here or there.  And I really was drawn in by the idea of Erin’s crush on David and his feeling like he’s not worthy.  Major delivered on the blurb’s promise too 🙂

There’s a good amount of growth by both of them.  Erin has spent a good portion of her life feeling … just ordinary.  And sometimes even being told so by people she should be able to trust.  With those kinds of long-held beliefs, her crush on the hottie brewmaster seems unattainable to her.

David had a rough childhood and like everybody everywhere he’s made some mistakes.  Unfortunately his past has caused him to take them a little more to heart than maybe he should.  Once he’s tuned into Erin’s attraction to him, he believes himself to be undeserving.  But to help his nephew he’ll take whatever help she has to offer.

Time spent together is decidedly beneficial for both of them.  Erin gets to see David for the man that he actually is (and not just a pretty face and a fine behind), but even better she actually gets to see herself for who SHE is.  With David’s help, she starts to believe in herself a little more and become more willing to accept that she has something to give – to the town, to her students, and even to David.

David also benefits from their growing intimacy.  Erin helps him see that he shouldn’t beat himself up so much for things that weren’t really his fault.  That he can accept his mistakes, learn from them, and move on all the better.

It’s heartwarming to have them help support each other and grow together, closer and more assured in themselves and their relatoinship.  A feel good read for sure!

*****

Author Info:

Michelle Major grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in Journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at http://www.michellemajor.com.

Connect with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

******

Giveaway:

Grand Prize: 1 Winner Will Each Receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card

 Runner-Up: 3 Runner-Up Will Receive any Backlist Michelle Major Title (Digital Version Only)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29408/

*****

Spotlight – Love Will Always Remember

04 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

I’ve got this one in my TBR pile and I’m looking forward to reading it!

*****

Love Will Always Remember

by Tracey Livesay

Genre Adult; Contemporary Romance

Publisher Avon Impulse

Publication Date Avon Impulse

Blurb:

An accident changed Leighton Clarke’s life forever.

When she awakens from a coma, her childhood memories are intact but she possesses no memories of the past six years of her life. Terrified, anxious and disoriented, she’s only calmed by the presence of the gorgeous celebrity chef with compassionate brown eyes, the man who turns out to be her fiancée, Jonathan.

Jonathan Moran is tormented over his part in the deception that he’s Leighton’s fiancé. In truth, she’s engaged to his brother! Any day now, her memory is destined to return and she’ll remember it’s his fault she was injured. Meanwhile, the more time they spend together, the closer they become until Jonathan begins to wish the pretense of them being a couple was real.

And then Leighton’s memories come flooding back…

Avon https://store.digitalriver.com/store/harperco/en_US/buy/externalrefid.9780062497765/hcstoreID.Avon

Amazon http://amzn.to/2gdulNh

Barnes & Noble http://ads.harpercollins.com/avonsite?isbn=9780062497765&retailer=barnesandnoble

Google Play http://ads.harpercollins.com/avonsite?isbn=9780062497765&retailer=googleplay

Walmart http://ads.harpercollins.com/avonsite?isbn=9780062497765&retailer=walmart

iBooks http://ads.harpercollins.com/avonsite?isbn=9780062497765&retailer=apple

*****

Excerpt:

“What can I get for you?”

An elegant brow lifted. “You’re going to serve me?”

“I do it all.” He reached beneath the bar for a towel and slung it over his shoulder.

“I bet you do,” she murmured.

He stiffened. Had she actually said that or had his fantasy life taken over for a brief moment? He glanced at her, but her cool expression gave nothing away.

“Special service from a James Beard Award–winning chef. I’ll try to contain myself.”

“I’m sure my brother didn’t waste his breath extolling my achievements, so you’ve been checking up on me?”

He braced his arms against the bar and her eyes followed the motion, lingering. He could barely breathe. He had to force the oxygen into his body. No other woman had ever affected him in this way. Why her? He didn’t understand it.

She averted her gaze. “I check on everyone who comes into my life.”

He frowned. “I was just joking.”

“I wasn’t.” She placed her purse on the bar stool next to her.

Interesting. That type of vigilance made for a very lonely existence. And it wasn’t natural. Something had happened to make her believe such action was necessary. However, he didn’t get the feeling she would be amenable to sharing that information with him.

He straightened. “Now, about that drink . . . a cosmo, apple-tini, strawberry daiquiri?”

She exhaled and her lips quirked. “I appreciate you offering me some of your personal favorites, but I’ll take a Macallan 21 on the rocks.”

He hesitated. “You drink whiskey?”

It was rare, but he did know a few women who enjoyed the smooth spirit. He suspected his disbelief would annoy her.

He was right.

“Sexist, much?”

“Maybe, but it’s borne out by my fifteen years in the restaurant business.”

“Isn’t it wonderful to still be able to discover something new after all that time? An old dog can still learn . . . something.” Her sweet smile had him struggling to contain his grin.

He grabbed a lowball glass off the stack, added a couple of ice cubes and poured the drink. “M’lady.”

She took a sip. Her lashes fluttered and her jaw moved laterally as she coated her tongue with the flavors. The blood rushed straight to his dick again—it must have an E-Z pass—leaving him momentarily light-headed. Thank God he was standing behind the bar.

She set the glass down on the black cocktail napkin he’d provided. “What do you drink besides your beloved apple-tinis?”

She had jokes. One corner of his mouth tipped upward. That’s all he’d allow her. “Macallan’s good, but I prefer bourbon. Jefferson’s Presidential Select.”

“I’ve heard good things about Jefferson but I’ve never had the opportunity to try some,” Leighton said. “The stock is limited, right?”

“Yes, but I tracked down a case of the Seventeen.” He smiled, recalling the night he’d shared a bottle with Adam and Mike last year. “I’d be willing to part with a little bit.”

Silence met his offer. Then— “Maybe I can get Thomas to try it. He tends to stick to craft beers.”

His brother.

Her fiancé.

Right.

Big guilt keep on churning . . .

He turned to put the bottle he’d used on the back bar shelf where it belonged. “Yeah, well, my brother’s taste has always left a lot to desired.”

Only after the words were out did he realize how they sounded. He turned back in time to see the hurt on her face morph to anger. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant.”

Her expression cut into him like an extremely sharp gyuto knife. She held up a hand as if to halt his words. “Then it’s a good thing your opinion makes no difference to our life at all.”

“No seriously. Leighton.” He rushed around the bar and reached for the hand that had fallen to her lap. He didn’t question his need for her to understand his words weren’t aimed at her. He dipped his head until he forced her to meet his eyes. “I swear, I wasn’t talking about you. My brother should be on his knees kissing someone’s ass every day, thanking his lucky stars that you’ve agreed to marry him.”

She stared at him, stone faced, and he feared he may have ruined whatever accord they’d managed to form.

Which was probably for the best.

But when her features began to soften and forgiveness seemed to follow, relief made him giddy and he couldn’t have stopped what he did next even if his very survival depended on it.

One taste. That’s all he needed.

He touched his lips to hers.

Time stopped.

He’d been wrong. He’d need much, much more.

He deepened the kiss, tasting, nibbling then moaning when her lips parted and she let him in. Her soft tongue glided against his and desire roared through him.

Her arms snaked around his waist and clutched his ass. She scooted forward on the stool, spreading her thighs and pulling him between them. His fingers skimmed along her jaw and slid through her hair, like air moving against silk.

His heart was pounding so loudly it drowned out any protests his rational mind tried to put forth. He didn’t care who she was, who he was, or why this could never be. He’d never experienced this kind of raw passion with anyone and in that moment, his only concern was giving her as much pleasure as she was giving him.

“Chef, do you want us to leave you—” Gib’s voice acted as fingers on a chalkboard, jarring and cringeworthy.

Leighton’s eyes flew open, and fear and disgust contorted her features. She pushed against his chest, catching him off guard, and he fell back into a neighboring bar stool.

Before he could process what was happening, she’d jumped from the stool and was running—quite a feat in her heels—to the front door.

He hurried after her. “Leighton!”

She pushed out into the night and paused looking left and right.

He saw the metal scaffolding falling and a roaring filled his ears.

Oh no! No! GODDAMMIT!!

He started to run. “Leighton, wait!”

He was too late.

*****

Author Info:

A former criminal defense attorney, Tracey Livesay finds crafting believable happily ever afters slightly more challenging than protecting our constitutional rights, but she’s never regretted following her heart instead of her law degree. She lives in Virginia with her husband—who she met on the very first day of law school—and their three children.

Avon http://www.avonromance.com/book-author/tracey-livesay/

Website http://www.traceylivesay.com/

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/tlivesay

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7789871.Tracey_Livesay

Amazon http://amzn.to/2geRwqN

*****

Giveaway:

From 8/29-9/12 – one winner of the prize bundle across the entire tour.  Giveaway is being hosted on Rafflecopter.  Open to US & Canada shipping addresses only.

Prizes: One signed paperback copy of a previous title in the Silicon Valley series, one wine glass filled with chocolate, and a Tracey Livesay pen.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/637fbedf95

*****

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

Spotlight – The Protectors Series

01 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Celebrate the Release of PROTECTING THE GIRL NEXT DOOR and PROTECTING THE MOVIE STAR along with the entire THE PROTECTORS series! 

Four former Marines, each trying to protect the one they love. The Protectors series tells their stories. Fans of contemporary romance will not be able to put this series by New York Times Bestselling Authors, Noelle Adams and Samantha Chase, down. 

Add PROTECTING THE GIRL NEXT DOOR and PROTECTING THE MOVIE STAR to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Be sure to enter the giveaway for a $15 Amazon gift card! One runner-up will receive their choice eBook from Noelle’s backlist.

*****

Protecting the Girl Next Door

The Protectors #3

by Noelle Adams and Samantha Chase

Release Date: August 30, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Price: $2.99

Blurb:

Protecting the Girl Next Door was originally published as Forever Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.

I like women, and I like adventure. I always have. The last thing I want to do is settle down with the girl next door and live a boring, domestic life. So I have no idea what I’m doing here, posing as a first-grade teacher.

It’s the most ridiculous undercover security job I’ve ever had to work. Corralling a bunch of six-year-olds while I try to do my job and keep anyone from knowing how clueless I really am. I manage to fool everyone. Except Kristin.

She’s an actual teacher, and she’s determined to find out what I’m really doing here. She doesn’t trust me, and her daughter doesn’t like me. And the worst part is that I’m starting to like them. A lot.

So now, instead of being the tough guy, I’m stuck with rowdy children and Christmas pageants and falling in love. It’s not the way I thought I’d spend Christmas.

Find out more at: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Protecting the Movie Star

The Protectors #4

by Noelle Adams and Samantha Chase

Release Date: August 30, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Price: $2.99

Blurb:

Protecting the Movie Star was originally published as Home Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.

The story of my life isn’t pretty. I come from the wrong side of the tracks. I’ve been a criminal. I’ve been homeless. I almost killed my father, and I might be responsible for the death of my best friend.

I should not be wanting Evangeline.

Her life story is the stuff of dreams. She’s America’s sweetheart – beautiful, talented, and famous – and she doesn’t want anything to do with me. I’ll protect her from a stalker since it’s my job, but that’s all I’m allowed. No touching, no lusting, no falling in love. I’m all wrong for her, and she’s completely off-limits.

But I’ve never been good about following the rules.

Find out more at: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

*****

Be sure to check out the entire THE PROTECTORS series!

Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister

The Protectors #1

by Noelle Adams and Samantha Chase

Release Date: August 9, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Price: FREE

Blurb:

Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister was originally published as Duty Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.

The only woman I want is the one I can never have.

Harper. My best friend’s sister. I’ve wanted her since I was eighteen, but she’s always been off-limits. Now I’m home after years in the Marines, and nothing has changed–except everything has. Her brother is dead, and she’s on a hopeless quest for answers about his death.

And I want her just as much as ever.

Someone is trying to kill her now, and she won’t let me keep her safe. I have to protect her anyway, even if she doesn’t trust me, even if she hates me for it. A man protects what’s precious to him, whether or not he can ever claim her for his own.

And Harper has always been precious to me.

Find out more at: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Protecting the Enemy

The Protectors #2

by Noelle Adams and Samantha Chase

Release Date: August 9, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Price: $2.99

Blurb:

Protecting the Enemy was originally published as Honor Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.

Twelve years ago, I gave up the love of my life because my family made the relationship impossible. Now that Ali has come back to me, I’m not going to give her up again.

It’s been years since I’ve seen her, and I know she’s hated me all this time. I never expected to see her working as an event planner for one of my father’s business partners. But here she is, always snooping around and getting into trouble. I’m supposed to be providing security, but I can’t stop thinking about her.

She’s up to something, and it might put her in danger. She sees me as the enemy now. Maybe I am, but I’m not going to lose her again. I might be hired to protect the man she’s working against, but my heart only wants to protect her.

Find out more at: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

*****

Author Info:

Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she reads any book she can get her hands on and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.

If you’d like to contact Noelle, please contact her at noelle.s.adams@gmail.com. Or connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card! One runner-up will receive their choice eBook from Noelle’s backlist.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29410/?

*****

Spotlight – Escape to You

31 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

I came on this one late, but I had to share – I’m definitely anxious to get my hands on a copy!

*****

Escape to You

Montana Heat series

by Jennifer Ryan

Genre Adult; Contemporary Romance

Publisher Avon Romance

Publication Date August 29, 2017

Blurb:

A Montana man always protects the woman he loves.

He discovered her during a Montana blizzard, freezing cold, impossibly vulnerable, a little boy by her side. Undercover DEA Agent Beck “Trigger” Cooke is astonished to recognize Ashley Swan—award-winning actress, famous beauty—and missing for over a year. To keep her and the child hidden from a sadistic madman, he secrets the pair away to his isolated home.

No longer a prisoner, and protected at Hope Ranch, Ashley recovers and learns the tall, tempting federal agent may have a dark past, but it hasn’t destroyed his sense of honor.

As they shed past roles and find common ground, Ashley and Trigger can’t help but fall slowly, carefully, in love. But danger still lurks outside the boundaries of Hope Ranch, for until her crazed captor is brought to justice, and Trigger’s undercover past is laid to rest, none of them will ever be truly safe…

Avon https://store.digitalriver.com/store/harperco/en_US/buy/externalrefid.9780062645265/hcstoreID.Avon

Amazon http://amzn.to/2w6JqFV

Barnes & Noble http://ads.harpercollins.com/avonsite?isbn=9780062645265&retailer=barnesandnoble

Google Play http://ads.harpercollins.com/avonsite?isbn=9780062645265&retailer=googleplay

Walmart http://ads.harpercollins.com/avonsite?isbn=9780062645265&retailer=walmart

iBooks http://ads.harpercollins.com/avonsite?isbn=9780062645265&retailer=apple

*****

Excerpt:

“What’s wrong?” Trigger asked.

The softness in his voice made Ashley look up at him. Way up. The man was so tall.

She found her voice under the wave of fear gripping her. “I know you don’t mean to, but you’re scaring me.”

“Look at me, Ashley.”

She sucked in a breath, found a shred of bravery from the tatters of her will, and raised her gaze to meet his.

“I will never hurt you.”

She fell into the depths of gray and flecks of blue in his eyes and drowned in the sincerity and promise she found there. Deep down, she believed him. Part of her needed to believe him, because she needed something real to hold on to before she sank any deeper into despair and the paranoia that everyone wanted to hurt her.

She nodded. “If he finds me, he’ll kill me.”

“He’ll have to get past me first.”

*****

Author Info:

Jennifer Ryan is the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted, McBride, and Montana Men series. She writes suspenseful contemporary romances with outrageous plot twists, deeply emotional love stories, high stakes and higher drama. Her stories are filled with love, family, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find. Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.

Avon http://www.avonromance.com/book-author/jennifer-ryan/

Website http://jennifer-ryan.com/index.html

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Ryan/520021168037391?ref=hl

Twitter http://twitter.com/JenRyan_author

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4693347.Jennifer_Ryan

Amazon http://amzn.to/2xBr7GG

*****

Giveaway:

Running from 8/29-9/12 – one winner of paperback copy of Montana Heat: Protected By Love across the entire tour.  Giveaway is being hosted on Rafflecopter and is sponsored by Avon Romance.  Open to US shipping addresses only.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/637fbedf97

*****

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

 

Book Review – Hard Miles

30 Wednesday Aug 2017

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

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , ,

Hard Miles 

Chisholm Falls, Book 1

by Trish Arcangelo

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Date of Publication: 8/23/17

ISBN: 978-1-5092-1555-3

ISBN: 978-1-5092-1556-

Number of pages: 180

Word Count: 45,550

Cover Artist: Diana Carlile

Blurb:

It’s a rough ride from dark past to second chance.

On the run from her psycho ex, Laurel Wheeler stops in Chisholm Falls, Texas for snacks at a gas station just before it’s held up by two desperate criminals. When one robber begins firing, a handsome stranger named Jase Miles saves her life. Hoping to make a little money and thank her rescuer at the same time, the broke Laurel agrees to a secret deal regarding Jase, who’s the town pariah.

But what starts as deception quickly turns complicated. Laurel begins to fall for the brooding man who hides his pain behind a mask of indifference. And Jase begins to fall for the sweet woman who, unlike everyone else in town, doesn’t treat him like a monster. Then a careless mistake shatters the fragile trust and their growing bond… perhaps beyond saving.

Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

She walked toward him then, with purpose. Once she was standing directly in front of him, so close that he couldn’t pretend to ignore her, she’d said, “Just go with it.”

Laurel intended to kiss him then. He knew it. She was going to kiss him in front of everyone, a declaration. It would have been an act of kindness, her falling on the sword of a debt she thought she owed. The thought made him sick. He didn’t want her kisses of pity. He wanted her to kiss him because she was driven to, because she was mad for him. And though he’d do it again, even now he kicked himself for stopping that kiss. If pity was the price of admission to another taste of those lips, maybe it would have been worth it.

But he stopped her. He put a hand out to halt her and then led her toward the storeroom, his hand on the small of her back like a brand. Warmth pooled in his dick from just that small touch. As soon as the door to the storeroom snapped closed behind them Jase whirled her around until her back flattened against the brick wall, snarling. “What game are you playing?”

Her eyes went wide and the stunned look on her face almost had him apologizing, almost had him begging to try the kiss again. “No games,” she whispered.

He slammed his hands against the wall on either side of her head. “Defending me at every turn, as if you’ve been made my personal savior. I don’t need any paybacks for the gas station. We’ve been over this.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh? Then what the hell was that little performance out there?”

Laurel’s expression turned angry. God, she was even hotter when fiery and indignant. Jase was careful not to press too close so he could hide his raging erection.

She said, “Fine, I was just trying to help, you ungrateful—”

His stomach and his erection fell. “You what?”

The answering look on her face said she realized her mistake.

“So it was pity?” He spat, shoving away from her.

“That’s not what I meant, Jase.”

He pulled her to him again, unable to decide what he wanted. “Isn’t it? Well, then, by all means, baby, pity me.” And then he covered her lips with his.

*****

Review:

While I really enjoyed this story, there were a couple of issues for me.  I felt that Jase was a little TOO hard on himself.  I know that small towns have long memories and it is really easy to fall into the trap of the hive mind in blaming him for something that happened in the past.  However, I just didn’t see it in his interactions.  Maybe it is because he was so good at isolating himself but I would have liked to have seen a little more of why he felt the way he did.

I’m also not sure what Laurel thought would happen after she took money from Jase’s sister.  I can get how it started but she definitely should have done something about it WAY before she did.  Readers realize this is going to blow up and she should have too.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed these two together.  When Jase lets himself, he’s a good person and is good to those around him.  Laurel may have had it rough but she’s got a good heart and the gumption to try for a better life.  A little battered, neither of them has had the best time of it but they find the support in each other that they need so together they can finally find a happy place.  And readers will enjoy being there with them when they do.

*****

Author Info:

Trish has been an avid fan of romance fiction since she “borrowed” a book from her mother’s stash when she was just a teenanger (it was Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey).  She’s been devouring all genres of romance ever since.  She nursed a long time dream to write stories of her own and finally realized there was no time like the present.  After completing and publishing her first book, a fantasy romance, in early 2015, she is now writing a contemporary romance series.

A native Texan, Trish lives just outside Austin with her incredibly supportive husband and their incredibly spoiled dog.  Aside from romance fiction, her other loves include dogs, warm weather, wine, playing trivia, and spending too much time on social media.

http://www.trisharcangelo.com/home.html

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13272014.Trish_Arcangelo

https://www.facebook.com/TrishArcangelo/

https://twitter.com/trisharcangelo

*****

Giveaway:

1 Autographed copy of BREAKOUT and a $10 dollar Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112ffc1652/

*****

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

Tour Schedule:

August 23 Interview
Authors’ Secrets
August 23 Spotlight
Just Another Bookaholic
August 23 Spotlight
Books,Dreams,Life
August 24 Spotlight
Share My Destiny
August 24 Spotlight
Books and Tales
August 24 Interview
The Book Junkie Reads . . .
August 25 Spotlight
Mythical Books
August 25 Spotlight
The Authors Blog
August 25 Spotlight
Saph’s Books
August 28 Interview
A Writer’s Mind
August 28 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, and Sissy, Too!
August 28 Spotlight
Silver Dagger Scriptorium
August 29 Interview
Vicky at Deal Sharing Aunt
August 29 Spotlight
Reads 2 Love
August 29 Interview
T’s Stuff
August 30 Spotlight and review
Romantic Reads and Such
August 30 Spotlight
Readaholic
August 30 Spotlight
For Love of Books4
August 30 Spotlight
SImply Kelina

Spotlight – Sunsets at Seaside

29 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

I just adore this series and from what I’ve seen so far, this one is going to be a hoot!

*****

Sunsets at Seaside

Seaside Summers Sweet with Heat #4

by Addison Cole

Releasing August 23, 2017

World Literary Press

Blurb:

Jessica Ayers has lived a sheltered life with little more than cello lessons and practices taking up her day. Now a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she escapes the prim and proper symphony to vacation in the Seaside community in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, to determine if she is living life to the fullest or missing it altogether.

For the first time since developing the second largest search engine in the world, billionaire Jamie Reed is taking the summer off. He plans to work from the Cape and spend time with his elderly grandmother—and falling in love is not in his plans.

From the moment Jamie and Jessica meet, the attraction is white-hot. Once-overly-focused Jamie can think of little else than sweet, smart, and alluring Jessica, and Jessica discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. But when Jamie’s business encounters trouble and his attorney and best friend intervenes, he proves that the brown-haired beauty is too distracting for Jamie. To make matters worse, it appears that Jessica might not be who she says she is, turning Jamie’s life—and his heart—upside down. In a world where personal information is always one click away, Jamie must decide if he should trust his heart or watch the woman he loves walk away.

Sunsets at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Sunsets by Melissa Foster

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34993164-sunsets-at-seaside

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/203990-sweet-with-heat-seaside-summers

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

*****

Excerpt:

“Come on. Come on. Come on.” Fifteen seconds. She clenched her eyes shut and squeezed the phone, as if she could will the win. It was only seven thirty in the morning, and already the sun had blazed a path through the trees. She was hot and frustrated, and after fighting with her orchestra manager for two weeks about taking a hiatus, and her mother for even longer about everything under the sun, she was ready to blow. She’d come to the Cape for a respite from playing in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, hoping to figure out if she was living her life to the fullest, or missing out on it altogether. Finding her father’s baseball autographed by Mickey Mantle was her self-imposed distraction to keep her mind off picking up the cello. She’d never imagined she’d find it a week into her vacation.

She opened her eyes and stared at the phone.

Five seconds. Four. Three.

A message flashed on the screen. You have been outbid by another bidder.

“What? No. No, no, no.” She pressed the bid icon, and nothing happened. She pressed it again, and again, her muscles tightening with each attempt. Another message flashed on the screen. Bidding for this item has ended.

No!

She stared at the phone, unable to believe she’d been seconds away from winning what she was sure was her father’s baseball and had lost it. She hated phones. She hated eBay. She hated bidding against nonexistent people in tiny little stupid phones. She hated the whole thing so much she turned and hurled the phone over the deck.

Wow.

That felt really, really good.

“Ouch! What the…” A deep male voice rose up to her.

Jessica crouched and peered between the balusters. Standing on the gravel road just a few feet from her building, in a pair of black running shorts and no shirt, was the nicest butt she’d ever seen, attached to a tanned back that was glistening with sweat and rippled with muscles. Holy moly, they didn’t make orchestra musicians with bodies like that. Not that she’d know, considering that they were always properly covered in black suits and white shirts, but could a body like that even be hidden?

He turned, one hand rubbing his unruly black hair as he looked up at the pitch pine trees.

Yeah, you won’t find the culprit there.

His eyes passed by her deck, and she cringed. At least he hadn’t seen her phone, which she spotted a few feet away, where it must have fallen after conking him on the head. His eyes dropped to the ground…and traveled directly to it.

Jessica ducked lower, watching his brows knit together, giving him a brooding, sexy look.

Please don’t see me. Please don’t see me.

He looked at the cottages to his left, then to the pool off to his right, and just as Jessica sighed with relief, he crossed the road toward the steps to her apartment. His eyes locked on her. He shaded them with his hand and looked down at the phone, then back up at her, and lifted the phone in the air.

“Is this yours?”

She debated staying there, crouched and peering between the railings like a child playing hide-and-seek, hoping he really couldn’t see her.

I’ve been seeked.

Darn it!

*****

Author Info:

Addison Cole is the sweet alter ego of New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. She writes humorous and emotional sweet contemporary romance. Her books do not include explicit sex scenes or harsh language.

Addison spends her summers on Cape Cod, where she dreams up wonderful love stories in her house overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

Visit Addison on her website or chat with her on social media. Addison enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Addison’s books are available through most online retailers in paperback, digital, and audio formats.

Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

Two Digital Copies of DREAMING AT SEASIDE (Book 2)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81358/

*****

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

Spotlight – Wild Ride Cowboy

28 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

In Wild Ride Cowboy, Alex Donnelly returns to Copper Ridge, Oregon to keep a promise, but the last thing he expects is to fall for his best friend’s sister, Clara Campbell. Fans of Maisey Yates’ Copper Ridge series will love this sweet, sexy romance releasing August 29th!

*****

Wild Ride Cowboy

A Copper Ridge Novel

by Maisey Yates

Publisher: Harlequin

Release Date: August 29, 2017

Series: Copper Ridge #9

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 9780373803644

Blurb:

He’s come back to Copper Ridge, Oregon, to keep a promise—even if it means losing his heart…

Putting down roots in Copper Ridge was never Alex Donnelly’s intention. But if there’s one thing the ex-military man knows, it’s that life rarely unfolds as expected. If it did, his best friend and brother-in-arms would still be alive. And Alex wouldn’t have inherited a ranch or responsibility for his late comrade’s sister—a woman who, despite her inexperience, can bring tough-as-iron Alex to his knees.

Clara Campbell didn’t ask for a hero to ride in and fix her ranch and her life. All she wants is the one thing stubborn, honorable Alex is reluctant to give: a chance to explore their intense chemistry. But Clara has a few lessons to teach him, too…about trusting his heart and his instincts, and letting love take him on the wildest adventure of all.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

*****

Excerpt:

Reluctantly, she covered the coffee with a white to-go lid then turned to walk out the door. She didn’t make it very far, though, because she ran right into a brick wall.

Well, it wasn’t really a brick wall. It just felt like one. Large, hard and uncompromising. But breathing. Which brick walls definitely didn’t do.

“Clara Campbell. Fancy meeting you here.”

Clara blinked and stared up into Alex Donnelly’s forest-green eyes and felt a strange response that seemed to originate in her stomach and travel upward to her chest, where it twisted, hard and sharp.

After looking at Asher, his understated physique and much softer brown gaze, the sight of Alex was jarring. Too intense. Too masculine. Too a lot of things.

His dark hair wasn’t military short anymore. It was long enough to hang into his face. He pushed it back off his forehead and again, something twisted, low and deep inside of her.

And then it wasn’t only his features that seemed too sharp. It was seeing him at all. She had been studiously avoiding him ever since he had moved back to Copper Ridge. If ever she’d caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye, she’d gone the other way.

The last time she’d seen him up close had been at Jason’s funeral.

Pain washed through her, canceling out all of the good Asher feelings from only a moment before.

No wonder she’d had such a strong, immediate response to the sight of Alex. The man was dragging a bunch of her baggage in with him. Another thing she liked about Asher. He was separate from her life. From her pain.

Alex was all wound up in it.

“Hi, Alex,” she said, clutching her coffee cup tight, the warmth bleeding through to her palms. Which she was grateful for at the moment since her stomach had gone ice-cold at the sight of him.

“I’ve been meaning to stop by,” he said.

“That’s really okay,” she said, and she meant it. More than okay. Jason’s death meant that she was alone. Both of her parents were already gone. They’d had children later in life, and when her mother had gotten sick, her father had done everything he could to make his wife comfortable as her health declined. She’d died when Clara was twelve. And there had been no amount of preparation that could soften the blow. No amount of expectedness that could have made it feel less like a giant, ugly hand had reached into their life and wrenched the beauty out of it, leaving nothing but a dark abyss.

Copyright © 2017 Wild Ride Cowboy by Maisey Yates

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  BookBub

*****

Giveaway:

Harlequin is offering one (1) lucky winner a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29404/

*****

Book Review – You Say It First

24 Thursday Aug 2017

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

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , ,

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fool’s Gold romances Susan Mallery, comes the first standalone title in the Happily, Inc. Series—YOU SAY IT FIRST! You’re invited to visit Happily, Inc., a wedding destination founded on a fairy tale. Where people live… wait for it… happily ever after.

Order your copy today!

*****

You Say It First

Happily Inc series

by Susan Mallery

Blurb:

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fool’s Gold romances invites you to visit Happily Inc, a wedding destination founded on a fairy tale…

Sculptor Nick Mitchell grew up in a family of artists and learned from his volatile father that passion only leads to pain. As he waits on a new commission, he takes a day job as a humble carpenter at a theme wedding venue. The job has its perks–mainly the venue’s captivating owner, Pallas Saunders. Although he won’t let love consume him, for ecstasy with an expiration date, he’s all in.

Pallas adores Weddings in a Box. But if she can’t turn the floundering business around, she’ll have no choice but to cave to her domineering mother and trade taffeta for trust funds working at the family’s bank. Then when a desperate bride begs Pallas for something completely out of the box, her irresistible new hire inspires her. Nick knows she doesn’t belong behind a desk, and she knows in her heart that he’s right—where she really belongs is in his arms.

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

Get your copy of YOU SAY IT FIRST here!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2v8LYiZ

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2vPA7bW

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2whleC3

Nook: http://bit.ly/2uYd5yk

Book Depository: http://bit.ly/2ic2aiq

Powell’s: http://bit.ly/2idcg2G

iBooks: http://apple.co/2uYHtbC

BAM: http://bit.ly/2woIihs

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2wovrMh

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2uONR9o

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2woHZDA

Audible: http://amzn.to/2woIxJE

*****

Excerpt:

The afternoon passed quickly. Alan stayed with Catherine, the beauty team arrived and did their thing. At five, the ushers were seating the guests, and at five forty-five, the beautiful bride walked down the aisle. Pallas stood in the back next to Alan as they watched the ceremony move smoothly forward.

“See,” he whispered. “It’s fine.”

“You were right.”

“Three of my favorite words. I’m going to make you repeat them again and again.”

Pallas left to check on the catering. Silver had her trailer set up and was mixing the signature drinks; the bride’s specially hired DJ had already started setting up his equipment. Nick, who only needed to be a courtier for the procession, had already changed back into street clothes.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

“Much. I still think the server costumes are a little slutty, but that wasn’t my call. We have food, we have drinks, we have music.” She glanced over to where the DJ had set up his equipment. “I’m going to start breathing more deeply now.”

“Good.” Nick put his arm around her. “Want me to take your picture with the zebras?”

“Maybe later. Do they seem calm? They were tense when they arrived.”

“I gave them valium. They’re fine.”

She spun toward him and grabbed his arm. “Don’t joke about that. I mean it. I’m one crisis away from snapping.”

“Sorry. No drugging zebra jokes, although that really kills my best material.”

Pallas returned to the main building and waited for the service to end. She made sure everyone made their way to the reception area and was grateful when Catherine gave her a thumb’s-up.

While the wedding party took postceremony pictures, Pallas made sure the guests had plenty to drink and that the appetizers were circulating briskly. She was so focused on that she almost didn’t hear the loud shrieks from the far side of the open area. Almost.

“Oh no! They’re loose.”

Pallas hurried to the gates just in time to see three zebras running down the road.

“Should have let me drug them,” Nick murmured as Carol and Cade got in his truck and hurried after them. Pallas spotted four teenage boys laughing by the temporary fencing. She narrowed her gaze and started toward them.

*****

Review:

With her Fool’s Gold series, Mallery is known for bringing readers quirky, humorous stories that somehow manage to be lighthearted with depth.  And with Happily Inc she does it again!  SQUEEEE!  As we’ve come to expect, her characters are great with the zingers but can bring you to tears … and not just with laughter.  They have issues – real ones that you can totally get behind – and they have to deal with them before they can find their happy.

Pallas’s has to do with her mother.  For some reason her mom is really hard on her and nothing Pallas does is good enough, although she’s spent her whole life trying.  She’s at a crossroads in her life, though, having just inherited a wedding planning business while her mom wants her to work for the family bank.  Pallas has to decide what is right for her.

Nick’s issues have to do with his father and returning readers from Fool’s Gold will be familiar with the backstory (but new readers should have no trouble catching up – Mallery’s a pro at giving you the info you need).  His stay in Happily Inc is just a stop on his way to whatever he’s doing next, giving him a chance to connect with his brothers.  He definitely didn’t plan on Pallas and the kinds of feelings he’s developing for her.  He’s seen what that does to a person and he has no intention of getting that involved.   If you are familiar with Mallery’s work you know how that turns out … when does anything go as you expect it to?  🙂

For me the fluidity of Mallery’s stories really keeps me coming back for more.  I mean, the snappy dialogue and fun people are definitely at the top of that list, but she knows how to wrap everything together so that it works seamless towards that HEA.  Both Nick and Pallas work on their family issues (although Nick’s can’t be 100% resolved because he has brothers who need their own stories) and their concerns over the future, including whatever hangups are involved with committing to their relationship.  It’s pretty common in Mallery’s stories but she makes it seem fresh when she does it.  Every.  Single.  Time.  I don’t know how but she’s gotta have some kinda of magic going on.  And I am so ready to see what she has in store for us next!

*****

Author Info:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship, romance. She’s best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her online at SusanMallery.com.

Website: www.SusanMallery.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanmallery

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SusanMallery

Instagram: https://instagram.com/susanmallery

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/susanmallery/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/susanmallery

Newsletter: http://www.susanmallery.com/join-mailing-list.php

*****

Giveaway:

$100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9172c1a0378/

*****

Tour Schedule:

Susan Mallery’s YOU SAY IT FIRST – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

August 21st

Booked All Night – Review & Excerpt

I Love Romance – Review & Excerpt

Katy and Zetti’s Book Ramblings – Excerpt

August 22nd

A Southern Girls Bookshelf – Excerpt

Booknerd1107 – Review & Excerpt

Ficwishes – Excerpt

Readaholic – Excerpt

August 23rd

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

It’s all About the Romance – Excerpt

Rachel Loren’s Love of Reading – Review & Excerpt

Stephanie’s Book Reports – Review

August 24th

Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt

Books and Things Blog – Review & Excerpt

K.T. Castle – Excerpt

Reading Reality – Review

Romantic Reads and Such – Excerpt

August 25th

Living In Our Own Story – Review & Excerpt

Lover of Big Books Cannot Lie – Review & Excerpt

Nose Stuck in a Book – Excerpt

Thoughts of a Blonde – Excerpt

August 26th

Mean Girls Luv Books – Review & Excerpt

Melena’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

August 27th

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Forget the Housework, I’m Reading… – Review

Nicole’s Book Musings – Review & Excerpt

August 28th

Mama She’s Crazy About Books – Review

The Butterfly Reads – Review & Excerpt

Two Book Pushers – Review

August 29th

Little Bookworm Reviews – Review

Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance – Excerpt

Shannon’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Tales From A Bookworm – Review & Excerpt

August 30th

Collector of book boyfriends – Excerpt

Inside The Mind of an Avid Reader – Review & Excerpt

Jen’s Reading Obsession – Review & Excerpt

August 31st

Miss Riki – Review & Excerpt

Remarkablylisa – Review & Excerpt

Sofia Loves Books – Review & Excerpt

September 1st

Bookishly Yours – Review & Excerpt

Fire and Ice Book Reviews – Review

Romancing the Readers – Review

TBR Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

September 2nd

Cesya MaRae Cuono, Author – Excerpt

Dog-Eared Daydreams – Review

Moonlight Rendezvous – Review & Excerpt

September 3rd

E-Romance News – Excerpt

Francoise’s Reading Corner – Review

Ramblings From This Chick – Excerpt

Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt

September 4th

Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

I’m A Book Shark – Review & Excerpt

Pervy Ladies Books – Excerpt

Shannon’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

September 5th

From the TBR Pile – Review & Excerpt

My Nook, Books & More – Review

Renee Entress’s Blog – Review & Excerpt

The bookworm chronicles – Excerpt

September 6th

A geordielass honest blog on reviews – Review

Book Reviews By Lexi – Review

Lattes & Paperbacks – Review & Excerpt

KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt

September 7th

Brittany’s Book Blog – Excerpt

JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Review & Excerpt

OMGReads – Review & Excerpt

Romance as a first language – Review & Excerpt

Sascha Darlington’s Microcosm Explored – Review & Excerpt

September 8th

Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt

G & T’s Indie Café – Excerpt

Smokin Hot Reads Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Book Maven – Review

The Lovely Books – Review & Excerpt

Spotlight – Dead End Road

24 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by in Blog Tour

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

*****

Dead End Road

Vengeful Things Book 1

by Lori Whitwam

Romantic Suspense

Limitless Publishing

Blurb:

A writer, a musician, an unexpected love…and a killer who wants to destroy it all.

Reclusive author Abby Delaney never dreamed she’d meet her rock-n-roll fantasy Seth Caldwell in her quaint, lakeside town…or that his love might be deadly.

Seth is weary of road trips, endless parties, and dead-end relationships, but what choice does he have? Songwriting and performing are all he knows. Then he meets Abby and finally finds a heart he can’t stand to break.

But forget small-town tranquility. An attempt is made on Seth’s life, and another mysterious death hits eerily close to home.

Everyone’s a suspect, he’s taunted with ominous messages, and it’s only a matter of time until the killer finds his mark.

What if the only way to keep Abby safe is to do the one thing she can never forgive—walk away?

As the noose tightens, one thing becomes clear…

If the killer isn’t found soon, Seth and Abby will take their love to the grave.

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/DeadEndRoadTBR

Purchase for only 99c for a limited time! Also available on Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2g5gGYy

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

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2w4BPGu

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2vgcloc

*****

Author Info:

Lori spent her early years reading books in a tree in northern West Virginia. The 1980s and 90s found her and her husband moving around the Midwest, mainly because it was easier to move than clean the apartment. After seventeen frigid years in Minnesota, she fled to coastal North Carolina in 2013. She will never leave, and if you try to make her, she will hurt you.

She has worked in public libraries, written advertising copy for wastewater treatment equipment, and managed a holistic veterinary clinic. Her current day job, conducted from her World Headquarters and Petting Zoo (her couch) is as the Managing Editor for Limitless Publishing, as well as editing for a select group of indie authors.

Her dogs are a big part of her life, and she has served or held offices in Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees rescues, a humane society, a county kennel club, and her own chapter of Therapy Dogs International.

She has been a columnist and feature writer for auto racing and pet publications, and won the Dog Writers Association of America’s Maxwell Award for a series of humor essays.

Parents of a grown son, Lori and her husband were high school sweethearts, and he manages to love her in spite of herself. Some of his duties include making sure she always has fresh coffee and safe tires, trying to teach her to use coupons, and convincing the state police to spring her from house arrest in her hotel room in time for a very important concert. That last one only happened once—so far—but she still really, really appreciates it.

WEBSITE: http://www.loriwhitwam.com/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ripleygold

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

*****

HOSTED BY: @HEAPRMore

http://heapr.blogspot.com