Jilly

Teaser Tuesday for This Love by Nazarea Andrews

I am so excited to be able to bring you guys weekly teasers from the upcoming release from Nazarea Andrews, This Love.

I recently read this book and absolutely loved it! So come back every week for a new teaser and be ready for This Love to hit booksellers on June 25!

There are also links at the bottom of this post to enter two giveaways Nazarea is having right now…good luck!

A note from Nazarea:

“We are a week away from release!!! Which means today is our last teaser! This is one of my favorite scenes, and I’m super excited to share it with you!!! 🙂

(Quick note—there is also a giveaway going on over at my blog, and in celebration of the upcoming release, Edge of the Falls is on sale!!)

Synopsis:

She wants a summer job and a ride to a wedding.
He wants an assistant and a distraction from the mess his life had become.
They didn’t know they needed each other.

When Avery sees his ad for an assistant, all she’s thinking is a summer job. But as they spend time together, in the office and out, both of them begin to realize something is there. Something that can’t happen–he’s a professor and she’s a student. And both of them have histories, pasts that won’t let go. Can two broken people pulled apart by expectations find a way to be whole?

Teaser:

I stare at her as she slides into my booth. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips still wet from tequila; her eyes sparkle with amusement and fire.

“I’m here. What do you want, Professor?”

Irritation swamps me—she knows I don’t like it when she calls me that. “You made a friend over there.” I nod at the guy, who is still staring at her.

“Jealous? You didn’t step in.”

“You took care of yourself. I won’t get involved if you can take care of yourself. But—” I lean toward her, my lips brushing her ear. “—If you can’t, don’t think for an instant I’d hesitate.”

She shudders, and I want to push her back against the booth and kiss her, want to shove her skirt up and slide into her—

I sit back, giving her—and me—room to breathe.

“What do you want, Atticus?” she asks, looking away.

That is the question. “I don’t know.”

She twists and glares at me. “That’s a cop out, and we both know it,” she snaps.

Avery starts to scoot out of the booth and I let her. I haven’t seen this side of her, not directed at me. She’s furious, all the soft sweetness gone. She’s halfway across the bar when the redneck from before intercepts her. Avery’s motions are sharp, her smile forced, and she tries to edge around him. His hand closes over her wrist, and I move without thinking.

I’m across the bar in a few strides. Redneck is still holding her, his eyes laughing as he teases and tries to get her on the dance floor. She’s stiff when I slide my arms around her waist, pulling her against me. Its a thousand kinds of crazy. But I do it anyway, nuzzle her hair. “Dance with me.”

The redneck frowns, and I want him to push. I want the excuse to fight him. But he’s a good kid—he steps back and nods.

“I was fine,” she says, and I love the tremble in her voice as my hand slips under the silk top, finding skin even softer.

“I wasn’t,” I say honestly.

She doesn’t resist as I tug her gently onto the dance floor. It’s a fast song, but I’m not in the mood for that. I pull her against me, back to my front, and we sway to the music. Her hands come up over mine, her hair falling to the side as she tilts her neck and leans into my shoulder. It’s a quiet surrender that makes my pulse spike. I lean down, kissing her neck, and her grip on my hands tightens.

Review…Skin in the Game by Jackie Barbosa

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Synopsis:

Angela Peterson was always the quiet, shy kid growing up in Harper Falls, crushing on the high school quarterback and honing her football strategy skills. Now grown up and coaching the high school team, she’s shocked when that same sexy quarterback returns to Harper Falls asks her back to his hotel room. And then tries to steal her job.

Injured NFL quarterback Cade Reynolds is in Harper Falls to take over as interim head coach, and he never thought the tall, blond bombshell he propositioned would offer up any resistance. Not to a repeat of the amazingly wild night they shared and certainly not to his coaching position.

But the Harper Falls High Eagles are Angie’s team, and even the hometown hero won’t take that away from her, no matter how hot he is. As the two engage in a battle of wits and wills, this is one game neither is prepared to lose.

My Review:

Skin in the Game is book #1 in Jackie Barbosa’s Play Action Series and this story definitely kicks the series of with a great start!

Angela Peterson can’t believe her eyes. Is that Cade Reynolds she sees sitting in her little hometown coffee shop? The very same Cade Reynolds NFL quarterback who she’d gone to high school with and had the biggest crush of her life on? What could he be doing back here? Before she can think of those answers, she finds herself sitting at the table with him and accepting an invitation to dinner…now she’s questioning of she should be upset that he didn’t recognize her from all those years ago. Guess she really had changed from the awkward, football fanatic teen he’d known back then.

Cade Reynolds, after being sidelined with an injury, is back in his hometown and ready to help coach his old high school football team at the request of the coach who’d practically raised him. It feels good to be back and feels even better to have met the beautiful blond at the coffee shop this morning. He has a nagging feeling he knows her from somewhere but surely he wouldn’t have forgotten a woman like her. Maybe he can learn more about the sexy high school math teacher over dinner….or room service if he has anything to say about it.

Well, the fates certainly have surprises in store for Cade and Angie. When they realize their history and realize they will both be coaching the football team, sparks start to fly. Their chemistry is undeniable and now, being thrown into a situation where they see each other and work together, they will have to decide if they have something between them worth throwing a pass at. With emotions, and careers at stake, hopefully it won’t end in a fumble.

What a great take on a contemporary romance! I adored the sporty spin on things! It was a fresh and interesting story packed with emotions, sexiness and fun. I really enjoyed Cade and Angie as characters and the chemistry between them was done just right. She wasn’t a starry-eyed gal mooning over the larger than life sports star Cade has become and Cade wasn’t a self-absorbed jock. He was humble when needed most and was really a heart-warming hero. The ending was absolutely perfect and played out like a chick flick and I loved it! Well done, Jackie!

If you’re looking for sweet and sassy with a sporty spin on romance, then definitely pick this book up! Thank you, Ms. Barbosa, for a great read!

Four Loves

About the author:

“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer when I grew up, but there were plenty of times when I wasn’t sure I ever would be. As it turns out, it just took me about twenty years longer to grow up than I expected!

On the road to publication, I took a few detours, including a stint in academia (I hold an MA in Classics from the University of Chicago and was a recipient of a Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities) and many years as a technical writer/instructional designer for a data processing company. I still hold my day job in instructional design, but my true passion is writing steamy romances–both historical and contemporary.

I learned to believe in love at first sight when I met the man of my dreams twenty years ago and to believe in happily ever after when I married him. I live in Southern California with my husband, our three children, and an ever-changing menagerie of pets.”

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Guest Review…Phoebe Chase reviews Just What He Wanted (The Holloway Series, Book Four) by Helenkay Dimon

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Synopsis:

Travis Yardley thought he had everything he needed, but one look at Andrea Patterson shows him he was wrong. Andie is a gorgeous, curvy blonde who moves to town to manage a nearby campground. Seizing the chance to get close to her, Travis volunteers himself as tour guide and “bodyguard.’

After a bad breakup, Andie is looking to start over and determined to put her heart on hiatus. She’s working on her self-esteem, and she is not ready for the likes of Travis. He comes on strong, with all the energy of a guy almost ten years her junior, which is exactly what he is.

Even as Travis’s troubled past catches up with him, he pulls out all the stops to convince Andie he deserves a chance. And with the spring thaw hitting the Mountain View Resort, Andie discovers her own temperature rising whenever Travis looks her way…

My Review:

When I approached Jillian about doing an occasional review for Read-Love-Blog, I wanted to focus on stories that were out of my wheelhouse, my wheelhouse being quite narrow the last few years: paranormal romance, fantasy, YA, and, yeah, that’s about it. So this contemporary novella with a zaftig heroine who has 10 years on the hero was right up my alley.

Andie is a 35-year-old woman who comes to small-town Holloway after a break-up looking to simplify her life. She takes a job as manager at Mountain View campground and promptly runs into 25-year-old hottie, Travis. Travis is the nursery foreman for the company that owns the campground. Sparks fly, but Andie is hung up on the age difference and uses a few hang-ups about her body (even after dropping 20 pounds) as excuses for reasons to not get involved with Travis. I loved their first meeting. It was sweet and funny and sexy. Travis is not without his baggage. An abusive childhood means he has some issues that speedbump the happily ever after. But they do get there.

I liked this couple. I liked the accurate representation of women whose size is in double digits. And even though it’s a novella, it has emotional depth. Andie and Travis’s interactions rang true and the sexual chemistry was high. I loved the small-town setting (makes me want to pack up and hit the mountains this weekend!). This is the fourth book in the Holloway Series, but can be read on its own. I’m planning on revisiting Holloway and reading the first three books.

Four Loves

About the author:

HelenKay Dimon spent the last twelve years in the most unromantic career ever – divorce lawyer. After dedicating all that time and effort to helping people terminate relationships she is thrilled to write romance novels full time. Her books have earned praise, appeared on besteller lists and won numerous awards. Her first single title, YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY, was featured in Cosmo as a “Red-Hot Read” for August ’07 and spotlighted at E! Online. Her novella, “It’s Hotter At Christmas” from the KISSING SANTA CLAUS anthology, was featured in Cosmo as a “Red-Hot Read” for November ’09.

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

About the guest reviewer:

Phoebe Chase loves books. Keep your eye on her, she may just tempt you with some stories of her own. You can catch a little of what goes on in her head at Wickedly Twisted Tales.

Twitter ~ Facebook

Guest Review…Phoebe Chase reviews Bayne by Misa Buckley

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Champagne Books

Synopsis:

Malia dreams of a life less ordinary but when her planet is visited by the Bayne, Destroyer of Worlds, she surrenders herself to him in order to give her people time to collect the tribute that the Overlord demands. Despite Bayne being as much machine as man and having a violent temper, he rescues her from the unwanted attentions of his second-in-command and gives Malia a glimpse at the battered heart lying beneath the steel and scars.
As they start their relationship over, Malia discovers a man very different to the reputation that precedes him and probes deeper. However, her investigation uncovers a dark truth: a truth that someone wants to remain hidden no matter what the cost.

Review:

In just 70 or so pages, this sci-fi romance whisked me away to another time and place. I wish this story was longer so we could really get into all the interesting twists and action.

The characters were well developed and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop from one of an arrangement to an actual partnership. Both Malia and Bayne are quite interesting. Malia with her affinity for technology and Bayne with a ruthless reputation built on a mysterious past. The twists and intrigue kept me turning the page.

The world building was good. I got a good sense of their environment and could easily picture both the station on Malia’s home world and Bayne’s ship. I think with a longer story we would have gotten more, but for the length of the story it worked well enough.

Would definitely read more from Misa Buckley.

Four Loves

About the author:

Misa Buckley is a sci fi geek who escapes the crazy of raising five children by creating imaginary characters who experience adventure, romance and really hot sex on their way to a happily-ever-after. You can keep up to date with Misa’s latest news by following her on Twitter (@MisaBuckley) or at her website (www.misabuckley.com)

About the guest reviewer:

Phoebe Chase loves books. Keep your eye on her, she may just tempt you with some stories of her own. You can catch a little of what goes on in her head at Wickedly Twisted Tales.

Twitter ~ Facebook

Frisky Friday featuring Daniel & Story from Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey

This Frisky Friday features the delicious Daniel and Story from Tessa Bailey’s OFFCER OFF LIMITS…..

Enjoy!

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“Thanks for dropping me off, Daniel. I assume you know how to let yourself out?”

A muscle working in his jaw, he returned her challenging look. “Are you dismissing me?”

She pursed her lips. “That’s sure what it sounded like.”

“It wouldn’t be disappointing.”

Ha! Mental booty dance. Who’s the expert now, homeboy? Story placed her folded clothes on the bed with a sigh, then turned to face him. “I’ll tell you what. You’ve got one minute to prove me wrong.”

His eyes narrowed. “Elaborate.”

She slipped her phone out of her pocket and held it up. “I’ll set the timer for one minute. You’ll have sixty seconds to prove you’re not just a bunch of talk.”

Daniel glanced at the bed behind her. “The things I want to do to you, Story, would take a lot longer than sixty seconds. Your phone’s battery would die well before I finished.”

“Then show yourself the door,” she managed, her body responding to his blatant honesty.

“Set the damn timer.”

He’d called her bluff. Or maybe she’d called his. Story didn’t know anymore. Only that the electricity sparking between them made her feel anxious and needy. She felt defenseless under his hot regard, the

sensuality he radiated heating her like a roaring fire. If he knew the effect his proximity had on her, she would lose any control she had over the situation. Could

she steal one minute and walk away? She didn’t have any choice, having been the one to throw down the gauntlet.

Story just barely managed to keep her voice even as her fingers unlocked the screen on her phone and she opened the timer application. “Fine. I’m not sure

what you can prove in one minute, but let’s see what you’ve got, big boy.”

“Lift up your skirt.”

The deep tone of his unexpected demand raked across her senses. Composure slipping, her eyes shot to his. “Wh-what?”

“I want your permission.”

“I don’t understand,” she breathed.

“When my minute is up, you need to remember that you asked for it. Lift your skirt.”

One thought and one thought only raced through her mind. Oh God. I am in way over my head here.

She almost called it off right at that moment, but his knowing smirk urged her on. He didn’t think she was brave enough to continue. His arrogance infuriated her, even as it made her want him more. She tossed the phone onto the narrow chest of drawers. Trembling hands dropped to the hem of her jean skirt. She reveled in the satisfaction of watching his jaw loosen, his eyes glaze as they tracked the movement of her fingers. Slowly, she gathered the material in her hands and drew the skirt up her thighs and over her hips to reveal her simple black thong.

Daniel hissed a low sound of approval and started toward her, a determined expression on his face. His hands flexed at his sides like he already imagined them moving over her skin. Panicking, she held him off with one hand to the chest.

“Wait. Your minute hasn’t started yet.”

“Start it. Now.”

Swallowing her nerves, she reached toward her phone. They both watched as her finger tapped the start button displayed on the screen. His minute began.

Time raced past, but Daniel didn’t move right away like she thought he would. His eyes dropped to her mouth and he dipped his head slowly, filling her with anticipation.

One hand came up to frame her jaw. “This isn’t a rebound.”

“Call it whatever you want,” she whispered back.

Lips traced over hers before his tongue dipped inside to sample her mouth, as if seeking the answer to a question. Seconds ticked by while he teased her, exploring her reactions to every brush of his lips, lick of his tongue. If she’d felt exposed before, the feeling increased tenfold as he learned her secrets, drawing them out of her with his kiss. Forcing her to reveal herself.

Then he took his newfound knowledge and used it against her.

With strong, capable hands, Daniel grasped her hips and backed her against the wall with lightning speed. His thigh wedged itself between her legs. No longer gentle or curious, his mouth took complete ownership of hers, fusing it with his in a kiss meant to destroy and rebuild. Despite the brutality behind it, she felt worshiped, as if his pleasure far exceeded her own, which had to be impossible.

Story might as well have never been kissed before. All at once, she felt reckless. Wild. Free. Digging desperate hands into his hair, she pulled him closer, begging him to deepen the kiss further. Daniel obliged, sinking his tongue into her mouth with a growl.

As they parted for breath, his voice grated against her lips. “If you keep working that hot little tongue against mine, I’ll have no choice but to fuck you.”

About the author:

Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

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Blog Tour….My Now & Forever by H.J. Bellus

I am so happy to be a part of the blog tour for My Now & Forever by H.J. Bellus!

I was lucky enough to ask Milly and Lacey some questions (you KNOW they were all kinds of silly and juicy questions) and the gals were kind enough to answer! There’s a great giveaway happening, too! You can enter to win an ecopy of My Now & Forever, a My Now & Forever notebook, cupcake necklace or a 425 Amazon gift card! The rafflecopter is below the interview.

Enjoy!

Me:

Ok gals, so I have to warn you, I’m not really the “serious” type of interviewer. So, I would be asking things like “If you could feed the world, how would you do it?” or “If men really are from Mars, does that mean we’ve been living a sci-fi lie?”. I have a hard time being serious! Serious isn’t as much fun! Ok, so now that’s out of the way, let’s get to business:

Lacey:

Since we can’t actually see your tattoos, can you tell us about some of them?

I got my first tattoo at fifteen to cover up some of my past. I love color and my tattoos color me. I have a blue bird that sits on the middle of my back. A crown and hearts up the side of my left ribs and a skull sits on my hip. My right arm is covered in a sleeve of vines. Each one has a meaning. Some are for the one person I ever loved, my momma. The others for the people I fucking hate in this world. They are reminders to never let anyone hurt me again. Frankly, there are too many to name. I have a colorful tat that covers my lady bits, but you will have to follow my journey to find out what it is.

What’s the absolute worst coffee concoction Milly has made so far?

Jesus! Milly can be such a creative dumbass sometimes. She made a tropical harvest mocha for me once. It had banana, coconut and pumpkin flavoring in the coffee. I fucking tossed my cookies that morning after tasting it. She can really be a dumbass, but she is my favorite dumbass.

One thing you can tell us about Milly that we don’t already know…c’mon…dish it, girl!

Milly likes to take it in the butt. Just kidding! But let’s start that rumor. Tell everyone you know. Let’s see. You all know she is a cum guzzler and completely whorish with her husband. And she has been banged by a hot mechanic. I know! She secretly has a crush on Cee Lo Green. She wants Cee Lo to bend her over and butt fuck her real good. We just need to find a stool for the duo. Sike! What kind of a biotch would I be to give up her secrets? Nice try!

Milly:

Awww….how’s that stud muffin, Cree doing? And Annie?

Cree is simply amazing and hot as ever. He is busy farming and taking care of us. He showers us with sprinkles and unconditional love. Some nights when he is working late my crazy-ass doubt creeps in. I get scared that he has left. I always text or call him when this happens and his sexy ass is home in minutes. Cree makes us Mac n’ Cheese at least once a week and we try to eat pumpkin pie as much as possible.

Annie is still perfect! We are working on getting her cussing under control. You can tell she has been hanging out with us girls way too much. I still remember the night she called Olive a “twat waffle”. I thought Cree was going to choke each of us with his bare hands!

She is the lead in the spring play and totally jacked about playing t-ball this summer.

Willow, Lacey and I still volunteer in her classroom on a regular basis and provide entertainment for ever party. Lacey wanted to slip a laxative into PJ’s snack on the field trip. I convinced her it was inhumane or something like that. PJ really is a little asshole. Who knows what happened…the little shit was running to the bathroom all day on the field trip.

I was wondering if you ever made any coffee concoction at the shop using the magic sprinkles?

I was having a shitty morning at The Shop. Cree called in the middle of it and I went mental on his ass. Ten minutes later he strolled into the shop with sprinkles. He locked the door and flipped the switch on the open sign. I sat on the counter nursing my burnt hand and sore, chapped-ass nipples while he made me my favorite coffee. I hate being back at work, but everyone insisted I should work a couple of hours a week. Something happened when Captain started dancing and sprinkling my coffee with sprinkles. Those sprinkles on the white, fluffy cream lit my lady bits on firaaahh! I pounced on my husband like a dirty, slut ravaging every piece of him. The mixture of the coffee, sprinkles and Cree ignited some pretty crazy shit. Shit that would be considered illegal in most countries. Sprinkles are now served daily with the Blended Heaven drink.

…….Now onto the juicy stuff (mwahaha)

Last completely adorable thing The Captain did?

We had to wait awhile to take our honeymoon. I wasn’t ready to leave the farm and we had to make arrangements for Annie. We were scheduled to be gone for seven days. Seven days away from the farm and our family. The first four days flew by and then I was ready to be back home. Cree knew how much home meant to me, so he took me home without a complaint.

The first night of our honeymoon Cree surprised me with my bucket list thingy. Captain had packed it in his luggage. He made sure I checked EVERYTHING off of my bucket list thingy twice! The man is perfect and fucking delicious in an elevator!

If you had to use only three words to describe the last time you guys did the deed, what would they be?

Embarrassing, hot and unforgettable.

The dumbass convinced me that the front windows of his truck were tinted. We were out with the gang at the local bar and got pretty horny. We snuck out to the truck. Like I said, the dumbass convinced me the windows were tinted. We went to ravaging each other. Cree had me pinned down and was banging the shit out of me. We heard hollering and cat calls. Yep, we had an audience cheering us on. The only face I spotted was Old Man Jenkins and he was cheering along with the crowd.

Pretty much…embarrassing, hot and unforgettable.

You guys still venture out on the tractor (wink, wink)?

As much as fucking possible. There’s just something about green and yellow that heats up our relationship. Cree makes sure to buy me a new skirt every trip to town.

One thing Cree would absolutely die with embarrassment over if it ever got out? (…c’mon, it’s just between us, no one will ever know!)

Cree and I are the most competitive jack-wagons known to mankind. Cree is an absolute football fanatic. One night while watching a game we bet. Cree put all his pennies on Denver and I bet on Dallas just to piss him off. The loser had to run to the mailbox naked. Remember, we have a very long lane. I enjoyed watching Dallas whoop Denver. I let Cree wear his water boots to take his run of shame. Armed with the spotlight I didn’t miss a beat of my very sexy pirate jogging down the lane. At one point, he was jogging backwards whipping his member around in circles. This is where it gets funny! Cree ran into his godmother in the middle of the night, naked and in our lane. Donna (his mom’s best friend) had a flat tire and was making her way up to the farm for help. Did I mention he ran into her at the mailbox at the end of the lane? Being the gentlemen, Cree walked her back to the house trying to cover his junk the whole time. I literally PMP’ed down both legs watching my naked husband walk back up the lane. Donna promised not to tell a soul, and I was caught off for 2 days! Best bet of my life.

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Book Tour….Conquer Your Love by J.C. Reed

I am pleased to be a part of J.C. Reed’s Conquer Your Love Book Tour and bring you her delicious cover, excerpt and a chance to enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card and print copy of Conquer Your Love…

Enjoy!

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Meeting Jett was like bad luck. Dangerous. Unpredictable. And better avoided. In his game, the stakes are high. But are they worth the risk?

Brooke Stewart, a realtor in New York, finds forgetting is hard, but forgiving is harder. When the man she trusted, betrayed her, the only way to forget is to move on. Brooke is determined to start a new life, until she meets him again: the green-eyed, sexy as sin, six foot two sex god. The man who played dirty. The man who played her.

Sexy, handsome, and arrogant Jett Mayfield knows he has made mistakes. He could have any other woman, and yet it’s Brooke he wants. When second chances collide with secrets and Brooke is threatened by the past, Jett is determined to protect her. She accepts his help unwillingly because she needs him but she wants to play his game on her own terms. And she has no intention to forgive or let him back into her bed.

When the man she is supposed to hate is the one she should trust, will he conquer her…or lose her forever?

A woman who can’t forgive.

A man who has made mistakes.

Two lives that are about to cross again and more secrets laid bare.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

J.C. Reed is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of SURRENDER YOUR LOVE. She writes steamy contemporary fiction with a touch of mystery. When she’s not typing away on her keyboard, forgetting the world around her, she dreams of returning to the beautiful mountains of Wyoming. You can also find her chatting on Facebook with her readers or spending time with her two children. To get in touch with Jessica use the contact form below. She tries to respond to each and every email in a timely manner.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Review…Drawing the Line by Kimberly Kincaid

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Synopsis:

When Detective Jason Morgan is tasked with keeping a local restaurant owner safe as part of a make-or-break case, he rises to the challenge. The job is his first priority, and he owes it to the memory of his father, a detective killed in the line of duty, to do it at any cost. But Jason never expected Serenity Gallagher to be so beautiful, so serious…or so tough to protect.

Serenity has moved from place to place at the whim of her capricious mother all her life. The last thing she wants is to leave the diner she finally calls home, even if it means being stuck with a sexy blue-eyed detective. But she’s the only witness to a horrible crime, and the man behind it wants her very, very dead. Going into protective custody means survival, no matter how much Serenity hates hiding.

As Jason and Serenity bide their time together, they are shocked to discover they have much more in common than the surface reveals. But keeping her safe is Jason’s number one priority, no matter how much he’s drawn in by the woman beneath the witness, and Serenity’s past makes it difficult to trust. As the stakes get higher and the spark burns hotter, can Jason and Serenity draw the line?

My Review:

Drawling the Line is the first work I have had the pleasure of reading from author Kimberly Kincaid and I have to say, she is now on my list of go-to authors! Really enjoyed this novella!

Serenity Gallagher has just walked into an honest-to-goodness nightmare unfolding in her diner. Mac’s, the diner she has built with her recipes and home cooking and the place she calls home. Her cook is lying on the floor, bleeding to death and while on the phone with 911, she finds herself a victim right alongside him. After leaving the hospital, and being anxious to return to Mac’s, she finds she can’t exactly do that…not with the suspect out on bail. She finds herself in a safe house under the watchful blue gaze of the handsome detective who she is used to seeing weekly for lunch at Mac’s. If she thought him as delicious as one of her apple turnovers before, imagine how she’ll feel after having to be in close quarters, alone with him for the next few weeks.

Jason Morgan can’t believe his favorite diner is the scene of a crime. Who would want to ruin what the beautiful and talented owner has made here? As determined as he is to find the answer to that, he’s just as determined to keep her safe. He has seen too many people close to him hurt, first his father killed in the line of duty then his partner shot, and he refuses to let Serenity become more of a victim than she already has become. He’s always admired her from afar and now, being forced to keep her in protective custody, his protective custody, he will do what it takes to keep her safe. One problem…he knows the longer he spends with her, the harder it will be to ignore his attraction to her.

Being forced into a stressful situation together, Serenity and Jason have a whole lot of time on their hands to get to know one another. Will they be able to start something meaningful from a dismal beginning? Surely, if you have the right ingredients to start with, a delicious dish is bound to be served, right?

This story was jam-packed with drama, suspense, passion, mystery and lots of sizzling heat! I started it and ended up finishing it in one sitting….of course I did have to get up a few times to indulge in some sweets along the way! Jason is a delicious, loyal, trusting, caring and handsome detective who I enjoyed tremendously. Serenity is a beautiful, sassy, no-nonsense kind of gal who I admired a lot. She isn’t looking for anything but the truth, even if it is hard to swallow. I appreciate that kind of heroine! Together, they were perfect. I liked that when the book picks up, Serenity and Jason already know each other and have a history. It made the story more believable, to me, because it wasn’t as thought they met one day and fell in love the next. I feel that’s the problem with some novellas, but certainly not the case here! I truly enjoyed every step of Jason and Serenity’s journey!

As I said earlier, Kimberly has a new fan in me! I will be on the lookout for more from her and say get this delectable story on your summer reading list…you will be happy you did!

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Four Loves

About the author:

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

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Teaser Tuesday for This Love by Nazarea Andrews

I am so excited to be able to bring you guys weekly teasers from the upcoming release from Nazarea Andrews, This Love.

I recently read this book and absolutely loved it! So come back every week for a new teaser and be ready for This Love to hit booksellers on June 25!

There are also links at the bottom of this post to enter two giveaways Nazarea is having right now…good luck!

Synopsis:

She wants a summer job and a ride to a wedding.
He wants an assistant and a distraction from the mess his life had become.
They didn’t know they needed each other.

Avery Emili needs two grand. Two grand and a plane ticket–her sister is counting on her to get to Jamaica for her wedding. But the semester is over, and tutoring college freshman and high school students has dried up until the fall.
Atticus Grimes needs help–the messy split with his wife left the twenty-eight year old professor scrambling to keep things together as the semester winds down. Now he’s got a research grant he has to actually do research for and all he wants to do is drown himself in a tall bottle of bourbon.
When Avery sees his ad for an assistant, all she’s thinking is a summer job. But as they spend time together, in the office and out, both of them begin to realize something is there. Something that can’t happen–he’s a professor and she’s a student. And both of them have histories, pasts that won’t let go. Can two broken people pulled apart by expectations find a way to be whole?

Teaser:

From Nazarea:

“This week’s exerpt shows a little bit of the softer side of both Atticus and Avery! 🙂 Enjoy!”

Somehow, we end up cuddling. My legs are draped over his lap, his fingers tracing little patterns on the arch of my foot, over my tattooed skin. It’s making it really hard to concentrate on who is getting eaten on the TV—although I’ve seen Jurassic Park often enough that I could probably quote it under any other circumstance. He seems unaware of what he’s doing to me.

Doubtful, but he’s doing a damn fine impression.

Halfway through the movie, I finally quit arguing with myself and say fuck it. I catch his arm where it’s resting casually on my thigh and pull. He stares at me, assessing me, and I flash him the brightest smile I can muster. “I promise to be good.”

He rolls his eyes, but stretches out behind me on the couch, my head pillowed on one of his arms, the other wrapped around my waist to hold me against him. His breath sifts through my hair, and I let out a deep breath I didn’t realize I was holding. His grip on me tightens a little.

The anxious feeling that’s been chasing me through the whole night vanishes as I settle in his embrace. The last thing I see is a little girl screaming as a T-Rex attacks her car.

Later, I feel the couch shift and shiver in the sudden absence of his grip. I look blearily at the clock, stunned to realize it’s almost three. I look at Atticus, who shrugs before scooping me off the couch. “I watched the commentaries.”

Who watches commentaries? Either he’s the biggest geek in the world or he’s pretty happy spending time with me.

Both make me irrationally happy.

He lays me down on my bed and tugs my blanket up over my feet. “Thanks for the cookies, Avery.” He leans down to kiss my forehead, and the warm feeling that’s been covering me for the past several hours begins to dissipate.

“Don’t go.” The words slip out before I can stop them, and I see his eyes widen, see the hesitation.

Also, there are two giveaways happening!

One on Goodreads and one on Nazarea’s Blog

Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey Release Day Post & Giveaway

Happy release day to Tessa Bailey and Officer Off Limits!

In celebration, Tessa is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card! Enter in the rafflecopter below…good luck!

Synopsis:

“His need to possess her is non-negotiable.

Story Brooks’ fiancé just called off their wedding two weeks before the happy day. As if that isn’t bad enough, her semi-estranged father, an infamous NYPD hostage negotiator, has suffered a heart attack. Not wanting to examine her lack of emotion over the broken engagement, she hops on a plane to reconnect with her father before it’s too late.

Playboy hostage negotiator Daniel Chase has never, not once, been refused by a woman, so when a debate over hospital snack foods with a delectable kindergarten teacher ends in flat-out rejection, he makes it his mission to seduce her. His only obstacle? She’s the daughter of his mentor who implicitly forbade Daniel from pursuing her.

Despite her father’s warnings and Daniel’s troubled past, Daniel and Story can’t resist their intense attraction to one another. But when the reason for her fiancé’s abrupt wedding cancellation comes to light, can Story and Daniel’s already forbidden relationship survive?”

Officer Off Limits on Goodreads

Buy Officer Off Limits on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

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Swoon Romance’s Summer of Love YA Blog Tour

I am pleased to be a part of Swoon Romance’s Summer of Love Blog Tour and bring you exclusive teasers from each book featured on the tour!

Enjoy!

Charm and Consequence by Stephanie Wardrop

Buy from Amazon

Synopsis:

One superior smirk from Michael Endicott convinces sixteen-year-old Georgia Barrett that the Devil wears Polo. His family may have founded the postcard-perfect New England town they live in, but Georgia’s not impressed. Even if he is smart, good looking, and can return Georgia’s barbs as deftly as he returns serves on his family’s tennis courts. After all, if Michael actually thinks she refuses to participate in lab dissections just to mess with his grade, he’s a little too sure that he’s the center of the universe. Could there be more to Michael Endicott than smirks and sarcasm? If Georgia can cut the snark long enough, she just might find out.

Teaser:

I try to read and forget the major feats of hypocrisy I’ve witnessed in the last forty-eight hours, from tree-huggers eating meat to Michael blowing me off after winking at me to Alistair preaching against lust and leering at my sister’s ass. I also try to shrug off the ironic awareness that while Alistair Colwin is obviously a sexist dork, he is downstairs watching a morally unobjectionable movie with his girlfriend, while I am doing homework on a Friday night, reading Hamlet, in fact, just to ensure that the whole night is a laugh riot.

So which one of us is the dork, really?

I wonder what Michael is doing tonight that’s so much better than sitting in a dark movie theater with me and Tori and Trey. And where he gets off blowing me off and acting like he’s the most important and upright person at Longbourne High School when he’s only at LHS because he got kicked out of the Pemberley School for some reason. There’s much speculation about it, but maybe it’s no mystery after all; maybe he became so insufferable that even the snottiest prep school in New England bounced him out on his preppie little posterior.

Not that I think about Michael’s posterior, preppie or otherwise.

Or any other part of his anatomy.

Author Links:

Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Tumblr

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Advantage Heartbreak by Kelly Hashway

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Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Meg Flannigan thought she’d made up her mind about love. But with two guys still vying for her attention, she wonders if she made the right decision. Ash is everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend: loyal, loving, and totally hot. But then there’s Noah: fun, sexy, and the more he sticks around, the more Meg wants him there.

What’s a girl to do?

Make up her mind, before it’s too late. Gorgeous freshman Liz has set her sights on Ash, and Noah is beginning to remind Meg of her last boyfriend—the one who broke her heart. Can she figure things out before she ruins not one, but two relationships? Or is she doomed to serve up heartbreak?

Teaser:

I freeze. Noah’s lips are moving in slow motion toward me. He’s giving me the chance to say no.

“Noah.” That’s all I can manage.

He pulls away. My head leans back against the wall, and I close my eyes. What am I doing? How is he able to make me feel so confused? My emotions are a jumbled mess right now. I look at him, begging for answers. “Why didn’t you kiss me?” I’m not complaining. I’m glad he didn’t do it. I just want to know why he didn’t do it.

“I told you. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. You wouldn’t have stopped me. I think you would’ve even kissed me back. But that’s not how I want to kiss you. I want you to want to kiss me.”

What if I do?

Author Links:

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Advantage Heartbreak on Goodreads

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Secondary Characters by Rachel Schieffelbein

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Synopsis:

When Mabel’s best friend, Amber, drags her along on a double date she finds herself falling for Lance, the obnoxious class clown whom she swore she’d have no interest in. The only problem is, she’s not sure if she’s really the girl Lance is into, or if, like every other guy she knows, it’s really Amber he’s after. One thing is clear, if Mabel wants to be the lead in her own love story, she needs to start acting like it.

Teaser:

I try really hard not to stare at Mabel’s profile during the movie so she doesn’t think I’m a psycho, but it isn’t easy. I love the curves of her face, the slope of her forehead, the way her nose turns up, the pout of her bottom lip.

I’m all tense and my heart is pounding like crazy. I think hers is, too. Unfortunately, I don’t think it has anything to do with me.

She looks totally freaked out. She seemed nervous when the movie first started, but now her eyes are wide and she’s biting her bottom lip. Her teeth dig into it to the point where I’m afraid it might actually start to bleed.

Every time she jumps I flinch a little. All I want to do is put my arm around her and let her bury her head into my chest and close her eyes. But I think putting my arm around her out of the blue might freak her out more than the movie is. So I just sit here like a jackass and do nothing.

Maybie jumps again, her hand flinging up to cover her mouth. She has a great mouth, wide with dark pink lips. Her hand flies back down to her arm rest. She’s gripping it so tight her knuckles are turning white. I resist the urge to pry her hands off the seat and hold them. Instead I try to come up with another idea.

Author Links:

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About the Publisher:

Swoon Romance is a digital-first imprint from Month9Books founder and publisher, Georgia McBride. Our stories are full of second chances, forbidden love, sexy encounters, hidden feelings, happy ever afters and flirtatious first love. It’s easy to get lost in one of our books. Go ahead . . . swoon.

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