Spotlight – A Cowboy Never Quits

08 Wednesday Jan 2020

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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A Cowboy Never Quits, Cindi Madsen, Turn Around Ranch series

I just love the idea of a place that helps troubled teens … throw in a romance and it makes it all the more appealing.

*****

A Cowboy Never Quits

A Turn Around Ranch Novel

by Cindi Madsen

Publication Date: 12/31/2019

Blurb:

These hardworking cowboys give everyone a second chance…

When single mom Jessica Cook is at the end of her rope, she takes her 16-year-old daughter to Turn Around Ranch. The ranch has a great reputation for teen therapy, and Jessica prays there’s room there for her and Chloe.

Wade Dawson’s first priority is to keep the ranch afloat to help teens and their families. But he can’t seem to keep his boundaries when it comes to Jessica—she’s talked her way into a job on the ranch so she can stay near her daughter and her tenacity and courage are truly impressive. Not to mention she’s a natural beauty and sparks fly whenever he’s in her vicinity.

But as one crisis after another befalls the ranch, Wade is going to have to decide whether he can afford to let a woman get under his skin…

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2jMGE5v

B&N: http://bit.ly/2ql0wzQ

Apple: https://apple.co/2OPlaS3

Kobo: http://bit.ly/33Rce2V

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/350NnLD

BAM: http://bit.ly/2rYVR7m

*****

Excerpt:

A hint of sympathy flickered through Gruff-and-Grumpy’s eyes, but then the firmness crept back in. He reached up and readjusted his cowboy hat, which set off some kind of wave that made the other two brothers do the same.

Seriously, why do they have to look like they belong on the cover of Ride a Cowboy Weekly?

Wait. That sounded dirtier than she meant it. Not that she’d exactly take it back.

They practically dripped masculinity, their bodies speaking to hours of manual labor, and the effect kept hijacking her jumbled thoughts. It’d been so long since she’d more than half-heartedly checked out a guy that apparently now she couldn’t even handle being in the presence of handsome men.

Back when she was in her early twenties—before guys discovered she came with baggage and a five-year-old—she used to be fairly decent at flirting her way into getting a guy to help her out with things like clearing that late fee or giving her a few more weeks on the rent. Once she’d even talked her disgruntled landlord into mowing the overgrown lawn he was harping on and on about. Clearly, she’d lost it, because the expressions aimed her way were immovable ones that conveyed disbelief in exceptions or wiggle room. Or the charity she’d shed her pride to ask for.

A spinster failure-of-a-mom at thirty-one. Well, it took fifteen years, but Mom was right. Just when she’d been so cocky about how much she’d accomplished. Now she wanted to Frisbee the employee-of-the month plaque she’d received from her boss last week, for all the good it did her.

“We’re sorry you drove all the way here only to have to turn back,” Mrs. Dawson said, tucking behind her ear the sandy-brown and gray strands of hair that’d fallen from her bun. The woman had a frail sense about her, her skinniness and the dark circles under her eyes speaking to a recent—or possibly even current—health issue. “I can give you some referrals, and I’ll see if my contacts know of a good counselor in your area.”

In a daze, Jess blinked at the woman, defeat weighing against her chest and tugging down her shoulders. She truly had failed. And curse her DNA for passing on traits she wished it would’ve held back. In a lot of ways, her daughter was too much like her: stubborn to a fault, blind when it came to guys, spurred on by the words no and can’t, and turning the word guideline into loose suggestion.

If they simply returned home, it’d be harder and harder to keep Chloe from bad influences. This past year she’d struggled to fit in at school, and her solution had been to find the worst possible group of “friends.” Friends who ditched and smoked pot and encouraged Chloe to sneak out at night so she could go meet a guy like Tyler. He was two years older and a whole mess of bad influences on his own. Rebellious, disrespectful, and mysterious—the same things Jessica had been attracted to at Chloe’s age.

Not that her daughter was blameless. Chloe had made plenty of bad choices. She’d dived fully into the party lifestyle, snuck out yet again, and gone on the joyride in the stolen car while under the influence. It was a slippery slope, which was why Jess wanted her at the best place in the state.

Even the others were out of her price range. A counselor might be as well. Maybe they’d just move to a different state entirely. Leave it all behind and eat…ramen. Get a nice box hut under a bridge. Really live out the scenarios people had thrown at her when she’d refused to give her baby up for adoption.

Feeling both levels of failure, Jess shakily stood. “Thank you for your time.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Gruff-and-Grumpy said, and she wanted to shout that she didn’t want chivalry. She wanted her daughter enrolled in their program and a way to pay for it.

“It’s fine. I’ve got it. Unless you’re scared I’ll just drive away without my kid, and then you’ll have to take her.”

“Well, I am now.” An almost-smile crossed his face.

She almost returned it, but her lungs constricted more and more as she walked toward the door.

There in the corner, she caught sight of a wall of flyers on a corkboard. Along with a schedule that outlined class time, equine therapy time, and a few other events she couldn’t quite make out, she saw a neon-yellow paper with the words Help Wanted across the top. Even better, it was for a job here at Turn Around Ranch.

“You guys are looking for a cook?” It was as if she’d stepped out of her body and someone else had taken control—someone crazy and reckless, personality traits she’d tried very hard to suppress through the years. When you had a kid who depended on you, impulsiveness went out the window, and recklessness wasn’t an option. Still, even as she told her mouth to hold up before it landed her in trouble, the next words were pushing from her lips. “You’re in luck. I just so happen to be one.”

Those dark eyebrows lowered again, only visible under the brim of his cowboy hat when he was giving the signature scowl he’d given her from the moment she’d stepped inside the office. “You’re a cook?”

“Oh, we’ve been looking for a cook for forever and a day,” Mrs. Dawson said, scooting to the edge of her chair.

Hope edged in desperation bobbed up inside Jess. She’d told her boss she needed some time off, and he’d been super understanding. He might not be as cool about her taking…a month? Two? Whatever. This was her daughter. Jobs came and went, but if she lost Chloe, she’d regret it forever. “Perhaps we could help each other out. If you let my daughter into your program, I’ll stay and cook while she’s here. The only other thing I need is a bed to sleep in. I’m not even picky as to where that bed is.”

“Under the stars, then?” the looming cowboy next to her said.

“Okay, I’d prefer a roof over my head. Like a lean-to, at least.”

That almost-smile quivered his lips, but he tamped it down. Why was he so determined to keep up the steely front? Or maybe it wasn’t a front. Right now, she didn’t care, and since she clearly wasn’t going to get anywhere with him, she turned to Mrs. Dawson. “I can have a list of references to you within a matter of hours. My bosses all love me.” At least that was true. At one point she hadn’t known how to balance books or create databases, but she’d learned. Cooking had never been high on her priority list, but she could learn to do that as well. There were Google and the Food Network, and she could make a box of mac and cheese like nobody’s business. How hard could it be?

*****

Author Info:

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

*****

Giveaway:

3 copies of A Cowboy Never Quits

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7853/

*****

Book Review – Until We’re More

20 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Cindi Madsen, Fighting For Her series, Until We're More

Until We’re More

Fighting for Her series

by Cindi Madsen

Chelsea is smart, funny, gorgeous, and the best friend I’ve ever had. Ever since she left, I’ve been a wreck. I’ve been focused on keeping my family’s MMA gym afloat while I train and coach fighters, anything to not miss her more. But now she’s finally back, along with her grumpy, possessive cat, and things are weird between us.

By weird, I mean I can’t stop thinking about her in that way. She’s in the room next door, and it takes all my control not to storm in there, sweep her up, and bring her back to my bed. Even stranger, I’m pretty sure she’d be into it.

And this time, I’m not going to stop fighting until we’re more.

Madsen perfectly captures Liam and Chelsea’s conflict. They both are struggling with their attraction but their friendship is so massively important that just the thought of endangering that is unthinkable. And she makes sure that readers get that – we understand how they support each other and how they suffered with the recent distance in their relationship. But sometimes things are bigger than you can control and even though it takes a while they finally give in … and it is wonderful. For a while 🙂

As is probably evident, there is a bit of back and forth here that might get old for some readers but for me Madsen uses it to really bring home how important this decision is for them. It would normally bother me, and I did want to smack them (especially Liam) more than once, but it works for this story. So while it may be a slow burn romance, Madsen makes sure that the journey is full of humor, cuteness, and touching moments to keep readers going. Before she turns on the steam!

Spotlight – Until We’re More

05 Wednesday Sep 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Cindi Madsen, Fighting For Her series, Until We're More

I’m about halfway thru this one and I am loving how well Madsen captures Chelsea & Liam’s struggle over giving into their feelings when faced with the fear about what it could mean to their friendship, which is SO vital to both of them. I know it’ll work out but I’m anxious to see how she makes it happen 🙂

*****

Until We’re More

Fighting For Her series

by Cindi Madsen

Genre New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher Entangled Embrace

Publication Date August 27, 2018

Blurb:

And this time, I’m not going to stop fighting until we’re more.

Amazon https://amzn.to/2o2Q5w6

Entangled Publishing https://goo.gl/vDBDhW

Barnes & Noble https://goo.gl/g5iMnk

Kobo https://goo.gl/11E39P

iBooks https://apple.co/2o2ohrS

Each book in the Fighting for Her series is STANDALONE:

* Until You’re Mine

* Until We’re More

*****

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Chelsea

He’s my best friend; he’s my best friend; he’s my best friend…

I inhaled another gulp of the ocean-scented air that’d welcomed me home and pushed inside the MMA gym where I’d spent countless hours sitting on the sidelines, forever suspended between whatever literary world I’d escaped into and a world of striking drills, sparring, and ripped guys talking about past or upcoming mixed martial arts fights. That beautiful junction used to be my home base, but thanks to a whole mess of complications involving one of the guys who ran the gym, I hadn’t been here in way too long. Liam Roth was a light heavyweight contender, coach and fighter for Team Domination, and he also happened to be my stoic, laconic best friend.

My breath leaked out of me like a balloon that hadn’t been tied, complete with the screechy noise. Liam stood in the middle of the caged-in area with no shirt on, the sweaty sheen coating his body accentuating all the muscles upon muscles. Really, universe? Couldn’t you at least hook a girl up and help make my goal a little attainable?

I hadn’t been back to San Diego in six months, and goal number two—right after proving I was upper management material—was to only think of Liam in the most platonic of ways. No more having romantic-type feelings for him. Nope, I was over that. Done being a slave to unrequited love. Of course, it was much easier to stay on track from hundreds of miles away.

The scent of rubber and worn leather invaded my senses and the familiar tap, tap, tap of gloved fists made me yearn to settle into my usual chair and turn into the girl I used to be. The one who avoided her actual home by watching her best friend train for hours. Past Chelsea hadn’t had much of a social life besides that, but since it meant being around Liam, that version of me hadn’t cared.

Current Chelsea was working on grabbing life by the balls, although she still preferred nights in, and there hadn’t been much ball grabbing, which was a whole different issue. I’ve been doing so well, though. I went out on that date a month and a half ago.

For the record, I knew better than to grab the balls. Not that I’d gotten near enough to do that, and not that I wanted to do that. The point was to put myself out there and engage in life instead of letting it pass me by, which included dating with the intention of bedding. Eventually. When I found the right person. If that ever happened.

Full disclosure: I’d accidentally compared my last date to Liam, and naturally the guy fell short, but again, I was trying.

If at first you don’t succeed, jump on a dating app and swipe, swipe again.

Vaguely I noticed no one was seated behind the front desk. Prying information from Liam—especially over the phone—was like convincing a baby to release their death-grip on a sucker, but I’d gleaned that nowadays, Liam’s sister only occasionally worked at the gym yet still came in often, since her newish boyfriend was also part of Team Domination. As much as I wanted to see Brooklyn, I was sorta glad no one manned the desk right now because it made it easier to hang back and soak in the action. Aka, ogle the fighters, and I had my eyes on one in particular. The very same guy I’d watched strike and hit more times than I could count through the years, and my pulse skipped to the rhythm of his motions.

A digital clock on the wall ticked down the time the fighters had left in this training round—three minutes to go, which meant they’d started these drills two minutes ago.

Three minutes to figure out what to say to him, which felt so foreign and…icky. After a few long months of hardly any contact when I’d almost given up on him, Liam had actually started picking up the phone once in a while. Things were still more stilted than they used to be, and thanks to that, a combination of missed calls on both sides, and then deciding it’d be fun to surprise him, he had no idea I was coming. Maybe part of that also stemmed from my worry that he wouldn’t be as excited as I was, and I definitely didn’t want to hear him tell me I should stay put, several states away.

My heart dropped and tightened at the same time, which left the organ struggling to function properly. Things hadn’t been the same between us since shortly before I left. For years we’d fended off assumptions and accusations of being more than friends. Again and again we’d explain that we were just friends and why was that so hard to believe? Back then I’d even meant it, and I had no doubt he did, too.

Then, about a year ago, my feelings went rogue on me. I’d tried to stop them. But, hello, he was tall and buff and he had this longish, forever-tousled blond hair that made him look like a certain Norse god who wielded a hammer. While I’d always noticed Liam was hot, suddenly I couldn’t notice anything but that.

I didn’t have many friendships, and I couldn’t risk messing up ours unless he felt the same. Problem was, Liam had never been what you’d call forthcoming with the emotions, and I debated the best way to test the waters, while also being terrified of what I’d discover if I actually got brave enough to dip in a toe.

One night he went to give me a goodbye peck on the cheek, the way he’d done dozens of times through the years. (Back in high school, I was the sole proprietor of the mushy farewells, but eventually he began reciprocating.) My daydreams got tangled up with real life, and in an uncharacteristic moment of impulsivity, I turned my head so that our mouths would line up instead. Last second, I came to my senses—with a side of chickening out—and he caught the corner of my lips.

I froze, my heart bruising my ribs with every too-strong, too-fast beat.

Visions of him pulling me closer for a purposeful, square-on-the-mouth kiss flashed through my brain as a sizzle worked its way through my veins.

He shook his head, a hint of confusion in his features. Then he gestured to the swollen, purplish-blue eye he’d gotten from a sparring session gone too far. “Sorry, my depth perception must be off.”

He backed away, as if he needed to ensure no more accidental brushing ensued, and I pretended that my squashed hope wasn’t twitching like a dying bug.

In order to keep myself from screwing up our relationship, I’d resorted to drastic measures. Not that I was testing him or anything, because an amazing job opportunity had come up, and in a lot of ways, it seemed like the escape I’d been looking for. If it hadn’t been for Liam, I would’ve probably put more space between my toxic family and me the second I graduated high school. So when I’d mentioned the job and told him it included having to relocate to Denver, I’d watched his face, hoping to see anything that might lead me to believe his feelings ran deeper. I could stay for more, but I couldn’t keep waiting and hoping and wrecking my career goals and social life on something that’d never happen.

Seriously, do you have any idea how hard it is to date when you have a ginormous, overprotective best friend? The few guys who’d actually hit on me ran in the other direction once they met Liam.

Instead of saying he didn’t want me living that far away, Liam told me a fresh start would be good for me and that the job sounded perfect, and the fact that he was so blasé about it made it clear I needed some space before I went and did something that’d ruin everything. And the time away had been good for me. I’d grown a lot over the last six months. I’d learned how to be bolder—although I was still working on that, particularly when it came to my job—and how to make new friends.

It gave me a chance to attempt to date and experience what it was like to spend time with people other than Liam.

Naturally, the move wasn’t without a downside or two. I occasionally missed the beach and the MMA gym and even my dysfunctional family, although that was a slippery, complicated slope. While the distance erected a natural barrier, I’d feel bad I wasn’t there for my mom the way I should be, tell myself that maybe things would be better now that we’d had space, and finally answer one of her calls. Before I could fully get out the words “Hi, Mom,” I’d be wrapped up in her net and end up sending money to placate her, as well as my guilt.

As for the number one con, though, the one that surpassed them all…?

He was standing in the center of the caged-off rectangle, still hammering out fighting drills.

What if he’s not excited? What if he’s moved on and is Mr. Popular now, so many friends he doesn’t have time for me? Even in my head that didn’t seem right, not because he couldn’t be a local celebrity with a nonstop social life but because it so wasn’t him.

For the first time since I’d asked—i.e. practically begged—for my boss to add me to the team that would be opening a branch here, doubt over my decision crept in. Not great, since I already had enough doubt I could pull off showing the marketing firm I worked for that I was managerial material.

I have six weeks to prove that I’d be a great manager, and that I’m an asset to whatever team I’m on.

Six weeks to enjoy San Diego and spend as much time as possible with Liam—without falling for him all over again and making things weird. Again.

No big deal. I’m the picture of self-control.

Just ask that box of doughnuts I plowed through on my drive halfway across the country. Okay, so I’d meant to only eat a couple, but that was different. Doughnuts obviously loved me back.

First things first, I needed to summon some of that boldness I claimed to have gained over the past several months and see where Liam and I were even starting from.

My gaze returned to my guy—er, my guy friend—and blood rushed through my head in that way that made it hard to think straight, and I just… Well, I was right there with every girl who’d ever swooned in Liam’s presence, which was a lot. I used to watch in amusement as they would turn into babbling idiots around him, and I’d even teased him about his groupies, but right now, it didn’t strike me as very funny. I had all the empathy for any girl who went and fell for Liam Roth. Especially since he was so damn hard to get over.

The five-minute buzzer sounded, Liam’s unwavering focus on his training broke, and slowly—like that serious slow-motion-type shit you see in romance movies—his eyes scanned the area and landed right on me. My heart stopped for one second. Two seconds…

A grin curved his lips, and then my feet were propelling me forward, and he was rushing down from the caged-in training area, and a floaty, fuzzy sensation took over my body.

Just when the hugging I desperately wanted to commence was finally within my reach, Liam stopped short, his arms dropping to his sides.

Oh no. My worst fears have come true. We don’t even know how to act around each other anymore.

He frowned as he glanced down at himself—since he was looking at his muscles, I figured that made it okay for me to follow suit. You know, in case he had any questions. Why, yes, your abs do look crazy-amazing and I have imagined licking them.

So much for my thoughts behaving themselves. Self-control was…a process.

“I’m all sweaty from training.” Liam glanced over his shoulder, in the direction of the locker room. “I’ll hit the showers real quick and then—”

I flung myself at him, not caring. Needing my arms around him and his arms around me, because conflicted feelings or not, I’d missed him with a nearly consuming longing that begged to be appeased. “You look… I mean, training is obviously… And I’m so happy to be…”

Great. Now I was the babbling idiot in his presence, something I hadn’t been since I was twelve. Guess that was karma, paying me back. In addition to being a bit flustered by his hotness, it went deeper than that. This was my Liam, my rock, my friend who’d always been there for me. The guy I could have fun doing absolutely nothing with.

He tightened his grip, hugging me so vigorously my toes left the ground. “Damn, I missed you.” His deep voice rumbled through me, unfurling heat in my gut, and just like that, my goals turned hazy all over again.

He’s my best friend; he’s my best friend; he’s my best friend…

*****

Author Info:

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

Website http://cindimadsen.com/

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

Instagram http://instagram.com/cindimadsenbooks

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/cindimadsen

Goodreads https://goo.gl/D6R5vm

Amazon https://amzn.to/2LjYRih

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of UNTIL WE’RE MORE by Cindi Madsen, we’re giving away for a $25 Amazon gift card!

https://www.subscribepage.com/UntilWereMore

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open internationally. One winner will be chosen to receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Entangled Publishing. Giveaway ends 9/6/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Entangled Publishing will send one winning prize, Pure Textuality PR will deliver the other. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted.

*****

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Book Review – Until You’re Mine

28 Wednesday Mar 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Cindi Madsen, Fighting For Her series, Until You're Mine

Until You’re Mine

Fighting For Her series

by Cindi Madsen

You might’ve heard of me, Shane Knox, the guy who rose quickly through the MMA fighter ranks, only to crash just as fast. No one cares about personal reasons when it comes to losing fights and money. I’m determined to get back to where I was. For you to hear my name again. I’ve finally convinced the owner of Team Domination to take a chance and get me back in fighting—and winning—shape. What I didn’t bargain for is the guy’s spitfire of a daughter. Factor in her two professional-fighter brothers who are acting as my coaches and the fact that my career hangs in the balance, and Brooklyn’s the last girl I should be fantasizing about.

The closer we get, the more I want Brooklyn. The stakes are high, and I know there’s a big chance of both of us getting hurt, but I won’t stop until she’s mine.

I picked this one because of Cindi Madsen’s name on the cover and she didn’t let me down. Shane’s brash, cocky attitude is fun and not annoying, while Brooklyn definitely can give as good as she gets. Together they throw sparks for all sorts of reasons and it’s a treat to be there to witness it. There’s also a good amount of family drama on Brooklyn’s side, as well as some minor setup to the next story with one of her brothers. It all flows well together and helps to flesh out the complications of a relationship with Shane.

And speaking of complications … I should warn people that Brooklyn is in a relationship for part of the book. There is no physical cheating but the interactions between her and Shane have caused some reviewers to lower their rating. To me it was a little (naturally) awkward, especially the inevitable break-up, but it seemed a realistic reaction to the situation they find themselves in. Just a heads up, though, if this is something that might bother you.

With family issues to resolve and an attraction that she’s finding difficult to resist, Brooklyn’s summer may not be going as smooth as she’d hoped. But it definitely turned into a darn entertaining read for me 🙂

Spotlight – 12 Steps to Mr. Right

26 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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12 Steps to Mr. Right, Cindi Madsen

We’ve seen quite a few of Cindi Madsen’s books before (just put her name in the search bar and you’ll see what I mean 🙂 ). It just makes my Monday to be able to have her newest for you!

*****

12 Steps to Mr. Right

by Cindi Madsen

Publication Date: September 26, 2016

Genres: Adult, Entangled: Contemporary Select, Romance

Blurb:

12 steps to finding Mr. Right, composed by dating coach extraordinaire Savannah Gamble

1: Admit to being powerless over your attraction to the wrong type of guy. (Like Lincoln Wells, who broke your heart after an unforgettable one-night stand.)
2: Believe Mr. Right is out there.
3: Take inventory of past mistakes. (See step #1.)
4: Make a list of qualities you want in a man. (Avoid charming baseball players/reason you made these rules in the first place)
5: Take charge of your own life.
6: Learn to love yourself.
7: Sort the hookup guys from the relationship guys. (Avoid a painful brushoff after an amazing night together.)
8: Never, ever settle. (Even if the chemistry is off-the-charts.)
9: Don’t believe you can change a guy. (Once a commitment-phobe, always a commitment-phobe)
10: Communicate your needs.
11: Open your heart & love fully. (Still working on this one…)
12: Don’t ever, ever stray from the steps.

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

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2cTyaDO

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

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

B&N: http://bit.ly/2cJpI99

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2cw7x7o

iBooks: http://apple.co/2cJpZJq

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2cQ2nSk

*****

Excerpt:

“Savannah? Savannah Gamble?” a different, deeper voice said from behind me. Scooping up my coffee, I spun around.

And squeezed my cup so hard the lid popped off. Scalding liquid sloshed over my hand and onto the floor, barely missing my shoes. Hot, hot, hot.

Linc grabbed napkins and started patting my fingers, at which point I became fairly certain he wasn’t, in fact, a mirage or figment of my imagination. I set my coffee cup and bag aside so I could help clean myself up.

Only I got caught up staring into familiar blue eyes instead. Hot.

That was the problem with Lincoln Wells. Between the light brown hair he usually kept on the buzzed too short side and those striking blue eyes, he was the kind of hot that’d scrambled my brain for an entire year in college.

“Sorry,” he said, wadding the napkins into a ball and making a perfect toss into the nearby trash can. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

One corner of his mouth curved up—oh the hours I’d spent daydreaming about that sexy crooked smile—and then he pulled me in for a hug. “I can’t believe it’s really you.”

On autopilot—or maybe force of habit—I hugged him back. Like in college, he was all lean muscle, although he’d filled out a bit, broader in the shoulders and chest. My heart skipped a few beats, and I told myself to stop those rising tendrils of attraction right in their tracks. No thinking about how solid or warm he was, or how long it’d been since I’d been this close to a guy in general, much less a good-looking one.

I pulled back and grabbed my coffee and muffin so I wouldn’t be tempted to reach for him again. “Wow, it’s been a long time. Are you in town for a visit or—”

“Ivy didn’t tell you? I moved back. Last weekend, actually.”

Admittedly she and I had been missing each other lately, playing phone tag due to crazy schedules, but news like this? It deserved a meet-up involving alcohol at the very least.

Which is probably why she’s been so persistent in trying to get me to go to Azure. But if he moved back to town last week… Ivy had probably put off telling me, afraid of how I’d react.

Linc ran his gaze down me, and the only reason I straightened, patted my bun, and wished I’d showered and worn something besides yoga pants was because I wanted him to see what he’d missed out on. Not because I wanted to impress him or anything. I didn’t want him to look at me as more than a friendly acquaintance. The cool girl he used to hang with in college.

Who he’d had drunken sex with one night.

*****

Author Info:

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

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a354896/

*****

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

Book Review – The Bad Boy’s Baby

17 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Cindi Madsen, Hope Springs series, The Bad Boy's Baby

The Bad Boy’s Baby

A Hope Springs Novel

by Cindi Madsen

There are certain words that have always described Cam Brantley: Town bad boy. Soldier. Protector. But never, ever dad. Until he returns home from his latest military tour to discover the girl he had one smoking-hot night with is now mom to the adorable two-year-old Zoey. Who has his eyes.

Plenty of words could describe Emma Walker these days. Mom, dutiful granddaughter, budding designer, the town’s golden child. But when her longtime crush Cam Brantley comes back to town, she knows the perfect word to describe herself: screwed.

Cam and Emma are both shocked to discover he truly wants Zoey in his life. But Cam’s not sure he’s ready to be a dad, and Emma can’t gamble her daughter on maybes. As the long-simmering heat between Cam and Emma reaches a boiling point, he’ll have to work past his demons in order to be the man both girls need.

I’ve read quite a few of Madsen’s books and loved every one of them – I’m not sure how I missed this series, but this is the first I’ve read (not that it caused me any issues). Although I do kinda wish I’d read Heath’s story because I think it would have helped with understanding some of Cam’s history with his dad, but otherwise this one stands alone really well.

Because of the way that Cam grew up, readers totally understand why he is anti-relationship … and why he reacts so strongly to the idea of having a daughter but not being involved with her. Watching him get a crash course in fatherhood is super sweet and helps ease him into the idea of a family. He’s still got concerns and fears but spending time with Emma & Zoe makes it super hard to resist them. And for us to resist him 🙂 Because a strong, Alpha, ex-military man falling in love with his precocious little girl? Absolutely darling!

Book Review – Crazy for the Competition

15 Monday Jun 2015

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Cindi Madsen, Crazy for the Competition, Hope Springs series

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

*****

Crazy for the Competition

Hope Springs # 2

by Cindi Madsen

Releasing June 9, 2015

Entangled Bliss

Blurb:

The road to trouble is paved with sweet temptation…

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

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

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

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

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

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks

*****

Excerpt:

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

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

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

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

She shook her head and swallowed. “Nothing.”

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

“I’m an equal-opportunity swearer.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

Review:

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

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

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

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

*****

Author Info:

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

Win a $20 Amazon Gift Card

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

*****

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

Spotlight – Ready to Wed

01 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest

≈ 1 Comment

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Cindi Madsen, Ready to Wed

I’ve read a couple of Madsen’s books – Resisting the Hero, Falling for Her Fiance, and Act Like You Love Me – so I know she writes fantastic stories. And this one looks to be just as fun.

*****

Ready to Wed

by Cindi Madsen

Release Date: 7/22/14

Genre: Contemporary

Blurb:

Dakota Halifax loves to be in love. In fact, as one of Las Vegas’s premier wedding planners, she’s built a whole career around romance. Which is why her own wedding has to be nothing short of perfect. And then her fiancé jilts her. While she’s waiting in her wedding dress. On a cruise ship already out at sea.

Once back on dry land, Dakota tries to pour her heart into her business and weekly wedding advice column, Get Ready to Wed. But how can the heartbroken celebrate others’ true love? When she reconnects with her childhood best friend, surprisingly sexy and all-grown-up casino bouncer Brendan West, Dakota wonders if maybe she can fall back in love with being in love. But then her ex reappears, begging for another chance and suddenly Dakota questions if she’ll ever understand love. Can someone once-burned and twice-shy ever find her way down the aisle again?

Goodreads Book Link: http://bit.ly/ReadytoWedGR

Amazon Buy Link: http://bit.ly/ReadytoWedAM

Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://bit.ly/ReadytoWedBN

Entangled Page: http://bit.ly/ReadytoWedEP

*****

Author Bio:

Author Website: http://cindimadsen.com/

Author Blog: http://cindimadsen.blogspot.com/

Author Twitter: @CindiMadsen

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CindiMadsenBooks

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1029223.Cindi_Madsen

*****

Giveaway:

Signed copy of Cinderella Screwed Me Over

$25 gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554388/

*****

Schedule:

July 22

Book featured at Margay Leah Justice

Book reviewed at My Life. One Story at a Time.

Guest blogging at What is That Book About

Book featured at Escape by Fiction

Book featured at 3 Partners in Shopping

Book reviewed at Always YA at Heart

Guest blogging at Joyfully Reviewed

Book reviewed at Wolfel’s World of Books

Book reviewed and Interviewed at Steamy Guys After Dark

July 23

Book reviewed at Sleep Deprived Book Lovers

Book reviewed at In My Humble Opinion

Interviewed at Simply Ali

Guest blogging at Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf

July 24

Book reviewed at Refreshingly Riki

Book reviewed at What I’m Reading

Guest blogging at Kate M. George

July 25

Book reviewed at Bookish Things and More

Guest blogging at Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Book featured at Talking Books Blog

Book featured at Lisa Loves Books

July 28

Book reviewed at Fictitious Delicious

Book featured at Book Nook Nuts

Book featured at Queen of All She Reads

Book featured at Booklover Sue

July 29

Book featured at Girls with Books

July 30

Book reviewed at Book Lunatic Ramblings

Book reviewed at Michelle Chew Writes

Book reviewed at Becky on Books…and Quilts

July 31

Book reviewed at My Devotional Thoughts

Book reviewed at I Heart Reading

August 1

Book reviewed at The Autumn Review

Book featured at Romantic Reads and Such

Book reviewed at Forever Me Romance

Book reviewed at So Many Reads

Book featured at A Book Addict’s Delight

Book featured at A Little Bit of R&R

Book reviewed at The La La Land of Books

Book Review – Resisting the Hero

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Accidentally in Love series, Book Review, Cindi Madsen, Resisting the Hero

Resisting her brother’s best friend is futile…

Faith Fitzpatrick isn’t looking for a hero. Burned one too many times in the past, she’s now sworn them off completely. And when her brother’s best friend, Connor, convinces him to join the dangerous SWAT team, Faith has never been more anti-hero. What’s wrong with having a safe job? There’s nothing safe about Connor. Confident, sexy, and sporting a six-pack that should be illegal, he’s everything she doesn’t want.

When his best friend’s sister moves to town, local cop Connor Maguire knows he’s in trouble. Faith is feisty, funny, and talks trash like nobody’s business. She’s also his partner’s sister—and so totally off limits. Working on the Fall Festival together, they agree to a truce and become friends. But the more time Connor spends with Faith, the more he’s willing to risk the wrath of her brother. If he could only convince her to take a risk on him, too.

So you totally know where this one is going to go from the first chapter – Faith and Connor get together, she can’t take the stress of his job so she runs, he gets hurt on the job, she comes back to him having decided it is better to be with him than not … but that doesn’t mean that the journey isn’t a blast. Having read the first two books in the “Accidentally in Love” series (Falling for Her Fiance and Act Like You Love Me), I already knew that Madsen’s books are full of warmth and humor and fun. And Resisting the Hero doesn’t disappoint.

Connor is your typical modern rake – he’s charming and smooth and quite the playboy. But of course he has his reasons. And he’s all sorts of hero material, with a noble streak a mile long. So, in true romance tradition, all it takes is the right woman to have him giving up his womanizing ways. Faith fights her attraction to Connor as hard as she can but the man is downright irresistible – sexy, funny and full of life. It doesn’t take long before she’s second-guessing herself on why she shouldn’t date a cop.

Full of sizzle, heart and humor, Madsen once again delivers a delightful and entertaining story. It’s got the sexy, the funny and the warmth … I don’t think you could ask for more.

Entangled Bliss January Release Day

13 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Sneak Peek

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Tags

Cindi Madsen, Falling for Her Fiance, Falling for Her Soldier, Farrah Taylor, Love Songs for the Road, Ophelia London, Playing at Love, Resisting the Hero

Today is release day for some cool new Entangled books in their Bliss line. Check out all of the details below (I’ll have review and blog tour stops on some of these coming soon too!).

*****

Three amazing new Bliss releases are out January 13 with heroes you won’t be able to resist: Falling for her Soldier by Ophelia London, Resisting the Hero by Cindi Madsen and Love Songs for the Road by Farrah Taylor.
Starting January 13 Cindi Madsen’s Falling For Her Fiance is on sale for just $.99!
Ophelia London’s Playing at Love will also be on sale for $.99 AND has a brand spanking new cover so go check it out and show it some love!
All three January Bliss authors will be teaming up with our December Bliss authors, Annie Seaton and Barbara DeLeo, for a fantabulous New Year’s Bliss Bash on January 14 from 8pm to 10pm EST. There will be plenty of giveaways, excerpts and lots of other fun so join us on the Bliss Facebook page.

*****

Resisting the Hero by Cindi Madsen

Resisting her brother’s best friend is futile…

Faith Fitzpatrick isn’t looking for a hero. Burned one too many times in the past, she’s now sworn them off completely. And when her brother’s best friend, Connor, convinces him to join the dangerous SWAT team, Faith has never been more anti-hero. What’s wrong with having a safe job? There’s nothing safe about Connor. Confident, sexy, and sporting a six-pack that should be illegal, he’s everything she doesn’t want.

Find Resisting the Hero Online:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books | Goodreads

*****

Falling for her Soldier by Ophelia London

She fell for the nice guy, but will she fall for the real guy?

Ex-ballerina Ellie Bell has twenty-four days left until her self-imposed man-less year is up. No more falling for the wrong kind of guy—charming, sexy, bad. Why can’t she find someone sweet like Charlie Johansson, her soldier pen pal? His e-mails meant the world to her, and she can’t stop thinking about him…until she meets Hunter, whose muscles and cocky smile threaten to have her relapsing.

Before Charlie “Big Game Hunter” Johansson’s last tour of duty, he’d gone through women like crazy. But after connecting on a real, emotional level via letters with his best friend’s sister, Charlie’s ready for a relationship—with Ellie Bell. But then her brother introduces him as Hunter. Proving he’s no longer a player by becoming Ellie’s dance partner for an Army benefit seems like it could convince both siblings he’s changed, but the harder he falls for Ellie, the harder it is to come clean. Can he convince her to fall for the real him before it’s too late?

Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books | Goodreads

*****

Love Songs for the Road by Farrah Taylor

A rock star. The nanny. A love that could rock their world.

The only thing rock star Marcus Troy loves more than making music is his kids. So finding just the right nanny to take on tour with them is important—as is proving to his ex he deserves joint custody. Falling for his employee wouldn’t just be fodder for the paparazzi: it could ruin everything.

Too bad the perfect nanny turns out to be beautiful, vibrant Ryan Evans. Ryan’s never left her small Montana town before, so she jumps at the chance to see the country. And as much as accidental fame doesn’t gel with shy Ryan, what does is her relationship with her capricious, smoking-hot, shockingly good dad of a boss. Marcus is nothing like what she expected. But when the whole world’s watching them, will life in the spotlight be too hot to handle?

Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books | Goodreads

*****

On sale for $.99!

Falling For Her Fiancé by Cindi Madsen

What’s a little fake engagement between best friends?

Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed.

Adrenaline-junkie Wes can prove to both his ex and his family that he’s well and truly moved on, and serious-minded Dani can prove to her boss that she’s worthy of the promotion he seems to only want to give to a family-oriented employee.

But amid the fake swoons, fake kisses, and forced proximity, neither expects the very real feelings that develop. There’s nothing more dangerous than falling for your best friend…but what if the landing is worth the fall?

Find Falling For Her Fiance Online:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books | iBookstore

(Check out my review here!)

*****

Playing at Love by Ophelia London

When it’s glee vs. gridiron, can love level the playing field?

Show choir teacher Tess Johansson loves three things: music, her job, and sharing that passion with her students. But when a school budget crisis forces funding to be pulled from either the sports or music programs, she finds herself going head to head with Jack, the gorgeous new football coach who broke her heart fifteen years ago.

Jack Marshall wants two things: to be closer to his young daughter and to make his mark as a football coach. Taking the new job, with the promise that he’d have time to build a solid team, gave him both. But now he must win the season with a group of boys who aren’t anywhere near ready or he’ll lose everything he’s worked so hard for. Being pitted against Tess, the summer love he never forgot, is like being fourth and long with only seconds on the clock.

On opposing sides of a fierce battle and with everything at stake, Tess and Jack find themselves torn between doing what it takes to win and doing what it takes to be together.

Find Playing at Love Online:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books | iBookstore

*****

New Year’s Bliss Bash January 14 8pm – 10pm EST

Join five, yes FIVE!, fantabulous Bliss authors at our New Year’s Bliss Bash celebrating our December Bliss releases, our January Bliss releases and a whole lot of other fantabulous other happenings going on this new year.

Who will be here you ask? We will be welcoming:
Cindi Madsen Books
Ophelia London, Author
Farrah Taylor Romance
Annie Seaton
Barbara DeLeo

There will be plenty of virtual drinks, party hats, giveaways and fun to be had. So invite all of your friends to join the fun.

It’s all happening on the Bliss Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/582014125208993/

*****

About Cindi

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the author of YA novels All the Broken Pieces and Demons of the Sun, adult contemporary romances Falling for Her Fiancé and Act Like You love Me, and the women’s fiction novel Cinderella Screwed Me Over.

Find Cindi Madsen Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

*****

About Ophelia London

Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas and she’s lived in Dallas ever since. A cupcake and treadmill aficionado (obviously those things are connected), she spends her time watching arthouse movies and impossibly trashy TV, while living vicariously through the characters in the books she writes. Ophelia is the author of DEFINITELY, MAYBE IN LOVE, ABBY ROAD, and the Perfect Kisses series including: PLAYING AT LOVE, SPEAKING OF LOVE, and FALLING FOR HER SOLDIER (Jan 2014). Visit her at http://ophelialondon.com. But don’t call when The Vampire Diaries is on.

Find Ophelia London Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

*****

About Farrah Taylor

A reading specialist with a masters degree in Early Childhood Education, Farrah Taylor has taught first grade in Northwest Montana for over a decade. She is thrilled to be publishing her first novel, Love Songs for the Road. Farrah, a lifelong music lover who has spent far too much of her savings on concert tickets, is glad to finally be seeing a return on the investment. She lives with her husband, Ty, and son, Latham, in Polson, Montana.

Find Farrah Taylor Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook