Spotlight – Stacked Up

31 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Sidney Halston, Stacked Up, Worth the Fight Series

We’ve seen this series before but I’m pretty sure we’ve not seen anyone quite like Travis 🙂

*****

Stacked Up

Worth the Fight #6

by Sidney Halston

Releasing May 30, 2016

Loveswept

Blurb:

Opposites attract in this seductive novel from the author of Against the Cage (“Funny, steamy, scorching.”—Toni Aleo), with a chiseled MMA fighter falling for a single mom who could use a real man in her corner.

Working two jobs to support her infant daughter is harder than anything Penny Richards has ever done, but it sure beats living under the rules of her stepfather, a television preacher who demands a picture-perfect family. And if Penny hadn’t struck out on her own, she never would have met Travis Calhoun. The intensely physical heavyweight brawler has a way of drawing out her wild side. But Travis lives fast, with no responsibilities—and that just isn’t for Penny.

Most of the women in Travis’s circle wear tight clothes, high heels, and tons of makeup—not pearls or plaid headbands. But once he works past Penny’s inhibitions, Travis discovers a kindred spirit who longs to trust someone with her body, and her secrets. Still, Travis can’t help but wonder if this rich girl is just slumming it before she returns to her privileged life. Now it’s up to Penny to prove that she wants her hard-edged, hard-loving fighter just the way he is.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25852653-stacked-up

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/135224-worth-the-fight

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

“Yes I know. You’re perfectly capable of taking a bus and working at a strip club. Pearls and whatever-the-fuck-thing you have on your hair, and all. And, you’re absolutely perfectly capable of kissing me so hard and so damn sweet that I can’t fuckin’ stop thinking about it. It was like you poured molasses in my mouth and I can’t stop imagining how the rest of you tastes. But that’s not the point, right? The point is that I want to drive you home, so let me, okay?”

Her face warmed and her skin erupted in goose bumps. The man certainly had a way with words. Words that deserved a slap across the face, not a thumping heart or shaky knees.

“Well, it is late.” She conceded. “And it is better than taking the bus.”

“I’m glad the thought of me driving you home is just a few steps above a shitty public bus.” He said, laughing and she couldn’t help but laugh too.

*****

Author Info:

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It”–Nike. And that’s exactly what she did.

After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative, romantic side and wrote Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading and reading and reading. She’s a reader first and a writer second. When she’s not writing or reading, her life is complete and utter chaos, trying to balance family life with work and writing (and reading). But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | Website | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a Loveswept Mug

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81051/

*****

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

Guest Post – Fighting Dirty

15 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Fighting Dirty, Sidney Halston, Worth the Fight Series

I’m so thrilled that Sidney Halston stopped by to visit today and give us a little insider look into her newest. We’ve seen a couple of these Worth the Fight books already (Against the Cage and Laid Out) and this one looks like a total knock out as well!

*****

Thank you for having me here today! Hope you all got your copy of FIGHTING DIRTY and are loving it as much as I loved writing it. Here are 3 of my favorite scenes from FIGHTING DIRTY (with a few teasers.) Enjoy…

I really enjoyed writing the opening scene. We’ve gotten to know Enzo as the conservative and serious member of the group. He doesn’t break any rules and, unlike the rest of the fighters in the series, he’s always in a business suit—unless he’s training. In the opening scene, he loses a bet to Travis and for the first time you see him out of his comfort zone. Also, JL, the heroine, sees a different side of him. Here’s a snippet.

Slowly she turned her head back to the front. There, in the center of the enormous room, buck-ass naked, with an apple in the palm of his hand and an embarrassed look in his eyes, sat the man who’d been starring in all her fantasies for the last year: Enzo Silva.

What the fuck . . . ?

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she took it out, her eyes still glued to the flawless body on display.

The text was from Travis: Close your eyes and walk away, sis.

She texted back quickly. Why is Enzo here? Naked? And why are you all here?

The reply came back almost instantly. He lost a bet. We’re here to laugh at him.

Another scene that I love is also in the beginning during their epically long date. Like in the first scene above where you finally see a different side to Enzo, in this scene- the indoor rock climbing scene—you get to see JL’s vulnerability. Plus Enzo’s protective side. I really liked writing this scene.

“Don’t laugh at me!” She glared at him, almost crying. “I hate heights.”

He began to move up, not letting go of her hand, and she slowly followed. “This is a ridiculous date, babe,” he said with a gentle smile. “You should’ve let me pick. Who the hell takes a date rock climbing? We could’ve been having a delicious lobster meal right this second at the Manhattan in Tampa.”

Moving gingerly from one hold to the next, she noticed that when she slowed down, unsure of where to put her foot or hand, he guided her patiently. “I hate lobster!” she yelled. “And anyway, you’re having a great time.”

“And you’re having the time of your life, I can see,” he said sarcastically.

“Shut up, Enzo! I’m getting over my fucking fears! Epiphany, happening here!” Her voice was shaky, though. She was about to look down, but he hollered at her.

“I told you to look at me. Don’t look down.” Again his voice was firm, but the playfulness returned immediately. “I mean, really, don’t you want to look at my ass?”

If she hadn’t been certain she was about to plummet to her death, then yes, she would definitely have wanted to look at his ass. But right at that moment she wanted to get off the wall. “I want to go down. Not up. I know they can make that happen. The guys holding the ropes down there can do shit to make that happen. I give up. So, make it happen. Reverse this fucker.”

“No. We’re going to finish. I told them not to do that when you first let go.”

All my books have a scene where the girls are all hanging out—talking crap and drinking. I love this one, because Francesca is always funny.

Francesca pointed to the Batman boy shorts that peeked out from the hem of JL’s matching Batman camisole. “And someone actually fucked you in those?”

“They’re cute,” Violet said.

“Listen, ladies, we are in our thirties. We aren’t eighteen-year-old frat boys. Batman doesn’t say sexy.”

“I think it does,” Violet replied defensively.

“Enzo didn’t seem to mind,” JL added.

“Aha!” Jessica pointed a finger.

So there you go….my three favorite scenes. There’s a lot more but these were the three that stuck out. Can’t wait to hear from you. What are your favorite scenes from FIGHTING DIRTY?

*****

Fighting Dirty

Worth the Fight #5

by Sidney Halston

Releasing January 5, 2016

Loveswept

Blurb:

If you love the MMA romances of Vi Kreeland and Kendall Ryan, Sidney Halston’s Worth the Fight series will knock your socks off! In Fighting Dirty, a geek-chic cage fighter proves that appearances can be deceiving . . . and oh-so-tempting.

With his preppy clothes and horn-rimmed glasses, Enzo Silva is the last dude anyone expects to find in a mixed martial arts gym. A wealthy Brazilian banker who never had to fight for anything, Enzo’s stuck in the amateur circuit—but he burns to make the pros. Maybe that explains the heat he feels whenever he’s around Jamie Lynn Calhoun. The pint-size, magenta-haired bartender with the Texas drawl is everything he’s not . . . and everything he craves.

Tough as nails and independent to a fault, Jamie Lynn—JL to her friends—works hard to pay her bills and keep life simple. Enzo is doing his best to complicate that. Even though she likes to bust his balls, he’s got some kind of a nerdy-hot vibe that makes JL wonder if she might finally be able to let her guard down. It might do the boy some good to spend some time in her world, where blood, sweat, and victory are as sweet as the first taste of real love.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25058284-fighting-dirty?ac=1

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/135224-worth-the-fight

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

“What made you change your mind about going out with me?” he asked as they crossed the parking lot. “Not that I’m complaining. But you’ve been saying no for almost a year.”

“Truth?”

“Always.”

“You always seem so predictable, but you doing this . . .” She shook her head. “I guess it made me see you in a different light.”

He held her car door open for her as she tucked the canvas facedown in the backseat and then got in the car. “I’m glad it took me completely humiliating myself to get you to go out with me. Maybe I won’t kill your brother for this ridiculous bet, after all,” he said. “I’ll make reservations at the Tackle Box and pick you up at eight tomorrow.” When she looked at him for a moment too long, he said, “You don’t like the Tackle Box?”

“Do you work tomorrow?” she asked as she got back out of the car.

“Yes.”

“That was a dumb question. You’re always working. Let me rephrase the question. Can you take the day off tomorrow?”

Enzo quickly thought about all the teleconferences he had scheduled and all the reports he had to do. “I can.”

“Okay, so I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“Uh . . . I don’t understand.”

“Eight in the morning,” she clarified. “I asked you out, so I pick. That’s the deal, okay? It’s my treat. I pick where we go and what we do.”

“I don’t think—”

“You hate giving up control, don’t you?” she asked wryly, already knowing the answer. “Don’t worry so much. Just be ready. It’ll be fun—spontaneous. You’ll like it. I promise.”

He let out a breath. “Fun and spontaneous isn’t something I’m very comfortable with,” he admitted. But then he decided, What the hell? He’d already survived taking the biggest leap of faith of his life by moving from Brazil to Florida, something that was so completely out of character his parents thought he was still mourning the end of his marriage. So, going on a date with a beautiful woman and letting her take the lead . . . what could possibly go wrong?

“Okay, fine. I’ll text you my address,” he said as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. She folded herself into her crappy fifteen-year-old Honda Civic, which was mostly red, except for some patches where the paint had chipped off. The bumper was held together with a hot-pink bungee cord, and there were bumper stickers plastered everywhere. He couldn’t picture her with any other car but this one; somehow it suited her perfectly. But she was absolutely out of her mind if she thought he’d be going anywhere with her in that clunker tomorrow.

*****

Author Info:

Sidney Halston lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in South Florida with her husband and children.

Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | Website | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

$50 Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8883/

*****

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

Spotlight – Laid Out

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Laid Out, Sidney Halston, Worth the Fight Series

I’m hoping you guys remember Sidney Halston’s “Worth the Fight” series (which started with the oh-so-awesome Against the Cage). Lucky for us, she’s keeping them coming!

*****

Laid Out

Worth the Fight # 4

by Sidney Halston

Releasing August 18, 2015

Loveswept

Blurb:

Perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and Cecy Robson, Sidney Halston’s scorching new MMA romance proves there are no holds barred when it comes to seduction.

Growing up an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command.

Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true—but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23636580-laid-out?from_search=true&search_version=service

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/135224-worth-the-fight

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

She was kicking a rock out of the way when Cain grabbed her hand and pulled her to a nearby tree, causing her to yelp as she struggled to keep her balance. At nineteen, Cain was thin and lanky—all limbs. She was still short and stumpy. He turned her around brusquely and pressed her back against a tree, the bark digging into her. She looked up at him and saw an intensity in his eyes she’d never seen before. His cheeks were flushed and the vein by his neck pulsed. Suddenly she became nervous. He’d never looked at her this way—the way the cute guys looked at the pretty girls.

Lately she’d felt flustered when Jeremy was nearby, with his mess of curly dark brown hair and dimpled smile. Feelings that hadn’t been there before were now creeping in. In fact, she could’ve sworn Jeremy had been flirting with her lately—complimenting her clothes and hair, brushing against her “accidentally,” inviting her to the movies without Cain around. But these brief flirtatious moments were with Jeremy. Not with Cain. Never with Cain. Cain was just her friend. A little gangly, a little quiet, a lot overprotective.

That was until now.

Suddenly there was an awareness that had never been there before.

When he licked his lips, her pulse sped up. A foreign feeling—desire—began to take root. He reached toward her hair, and she flinched a little before he tucked a stray strand behind her ear. The tender action surprised her. For the first time, she noticed how clear his blue eyes were, how his hair was so blond it almost looked white. All of a sudden, he didn’t seem like just this boy who was always around. Unfamiliar feelings began to erupt throughout her body. She felt her cheeks flame and her heart race.

When he finally spoke, his voice shook a little. “I’m your friend because I want to be your friend. Not because of your parents or your dumb threats. I don’t like it when you call yourself fat. You’re not fat.”

She nodded and murmured, “Okay.” She drew her lower lip into her mouth and nibbled as her wide eyes gazed at his. Cain reached over and pulled her lip out of her mouth. “You’re nervous.” It wasn’t a question. He knew her well enough to be aware of her tells.

“I . . . uh . . . what are you doing, Cain?”

“I don’t want you to kiss just anyone to get it outta the way.”

Words failed her, so she just nodded again. There was a moment where neither spoke. He just looked at her as if trying to decide on his next move.

“I should be the first person you kiss,” he finally said as his tongue flicked out a little and wet his lips.

She gasped and looked up into his eyes nervously. His eyes never left hers, but his reddened ears and neck showed that he was also nervous. She too knew him well.

Like a fool, she bobbed her head up and down mostly because the words were stuck in her throat. It felt like he stared at her lips for an eternity until he finally leaned forward, causing her to press herself further back against the tree, her hands gripping the bark. He tilted his head to the side and she imitated the action.

Should I open my mouth? Leave it closed? What about my tongue? What should it be doing?

Softly, almost feather light, his lips brushed against hers. Her eyes instinctively closed tight, and she stopped breathing. It was less than ten seconds but it was forever. In that moment she fell into the category of girls who’d had their first kiss. She kept her eyes closed for far too long, and when she opened them he was standing upright, his face even more flushed. Her own tongue snuck out of her mouth to taste her lips. She swallowed and looked at him, her eyes as wide as saucers. What just happened?

Then, with the same intensity in his expression, he leaned back down, but this time he pressed harder against her lips causing her lips to part slightly. His body moved closer to hers, and then she felt his hands grip her waist and his tongue touch her lips before it moved into her mouth and brushed hers for a brief second, his fingers digging into her skin at her waist. She instinctively melded into him, her body seeking him out.

Again he moved away and looked at her. His expression never changed, and neither did hers. Her eyes were wide; she touched her lips, as if to determine whether the kiss had really happened. They just looked at each other, neither saying anything, her heart beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Finally she spoke and said the only thing that came to mind. “Wow, my cup runneth over,” she whispered. It was a phrase he teased her about constantly, but it was exactly how she felt: she could barely contain her happiness.

He chuckled, and the smile did her in: she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Hard. He wrapped his arms around her waist and walked them the half step back against the tree again. Their noses bumped. It was awkward, but as first kisses went . . . it was perfect.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Vi.” It was the last thing he said to her before leaving for war.

*****

Author Info:

Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | Website | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

One Loveswept Mug

One Flirt Mug

Ebook copies of:

JUST A LITTLE CRUSH by Renita Pizzitola

CRUSHED by Lauren Layne

AGAINST THE CAGE by Sidney Halston

POSSESS by Laura Marie Altom

AFTER MIDNIGHT by Kathy Clark

MAKE YOU BURN by Megan Crane

MY HIGHLAND LOVER by Maeve Greyson

BREAKING NOAH by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

A FASHIONABLE INDULGENCE by K.J. Charles

FORBIDDEN by Jacquelyn Frank

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/235babe7233/

*****

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Book Review – Against the Cage

16 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Against the Cage, Book Review, Sidney Halston, Worth the Fight Series

For Chrissy Martin, returning to her Florida hometown always seems to bring bad luck. The day starts with a breakup text, followed by a jailhouse phone call from her troublemaker brother. Now a routine traffic stop has ended with her accidentally punching an officer . . . in a delicate place. Then Chrissy realizes that the hot cop on the receiving end of her right hook is none other than the man from her teenage fantasies.

Jack Daniels knows how to take a hit. After all, when he’s not chasing reckless drivers, he’s kicking ass in a mixed martial arts ring. So what takes his breath away isn’t the low blow, but the woman who dealt it: a gorgeous knockout with legs Jack wouldn’t mind being pinned under—who just so happens to be his best friend’s nerdy little sister, all grown up. Soon their instant chemistry leads to a sizzling affair, but Jack and Chrissy are fighting an uphill battle if they want to make love last beyond the final bell.

For her debut Loveswept book, I found Halston’s Against the Cage to be strong. One of my favorite storylines is friends to lovers, and it’s even better when it is a sibling’s friend, and this one is perfect for that. Add in a little ugly duckling theme with Chrissy and I couldn’t wait to read this one.

Now, you do have to be prepared for some steamy bedroom scenes (and against the wall and in the kitchen and outside …) so keep that in mind. It’s very hot and Jack is a little dominant (understandably given the type of guy he is, which just makes it hotter), but Chrissy definitely gives it right back to him.

I love these two together. You can tell they’ve had a contrary relationship for years but that tension is now warping into one of the sexual variety. They are funny and sassy and smart. It’s fun to watch them push each other’s buttons, getting each other all hot and bothered. It takes a little maneuvering to figure out a new dynamic with each other but they get there and it makes for a very happy ending.

(It looks like there is another book coming out this fall, Full Contact, and I really hope that is Slade’s story. But there are a lot of interesting fighters introduced (and the potential for even more in the future) so I’m good with whoever the book is about.)