Contemporary Romance – Page 286

Stout by Georgia Cates…Cover Reveal

Craft beer and the sexy men who brew it.

A beautiful neighbor. A complete stranger. That’s all she was when I moved in next door.

Adelyn Maxwell is my neighbor but she’s no girl next door. The more I come to know her, the more I discover she’s a good girl with a lovely dark side. And maybe I don’t want her to stay on her side of the fence.

I want to disturb the rhythm of her pulse.

I want to see the way her hair spills on the bed when she lies beneath me.

I want her to teach me the dirty pretty things she desires behind closed doors. And she does.

But mostly I want to leave my mark on the most intimate, untouched part of her body. Her heart.

A seemingly insignificant intersection of our lives neither of us recalls suddenly becomes a pivotal moment in our future. We aren’t strangers at all. And our paths aren’t crossing for the first time.

These twists and turns of fate will become one of two things: a wrecking ball to tear us apart or the connection to bond us together forever.

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Tap : Book 1 in The Lovibond Collection will be available on all platforms April 9th.

Available in Kindle Unlimited through April 8th.

A faceless name. That’s all she was when I agreed to play a part in deceiving her. But then the unplanned happened.

We met. And all I wanted from her was a dirty weekend . . . until that wasn’t enough and I longed for so much more.

Lawrence Thorn suddenly means the world to me. And that’s a problem. She’s my business partner’s sister. Forbidden fruit. Pursuing her can mean trouble for me at Lovibond Brewery. But I don’t care.

I yearn for her skin against mine.

I crave her smell on my body.

I want to make her laugh and then hear her moan my name.

And she does for a brief moment in time.

But Lawrence wants more than I’m able to give. And it’s a damn shame because there’s no one on earth I want more than her.

An epic love.

A miserable ending.

Unless it’s not.

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Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.

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The After Us by S.R. Grey….Release Day Blitz & Review

Title: The After of Us

Series: Judge Me Not #4 (Spinoff Novel & Standalone)

Author: S.R. Grey

Genre: New Adult/Coming of Age Romance

Release Date: April 7, 2016

Blurb

Can the ending of one dream lead to the beginning of a new one?

Will Gartner made a lot of mistakes in the past, but he finally has his life together. Leaving his reckless teenage years behind, he’s recently graduated from college and is all set to move from Las Vegas to New York to start a prestigious new job. But when an unexpected guest shows up at his farewell party, all Will’s dreams are smashed to pieces. Suddenly, he’s taking a crash course in how to be a father to the five-year-old daughter he never knew existed.

Will changes direction and heads to Harmony Creek, Ohio, and the only person who’s ever really been there for him, his brother Chase. Chase saved Will in the past, but will he rescue him yet again? Some lessons—like fatherhood—can only be learned by doing. Is Will up to the challenge?

And where does Emma Metzger fit into Will’s suddenly upside-down world? Emma knows all about his troubled past and sees his hesitation to commit to his new daughter. How can she commit her heart to a man who doesn’t know what the word means?

Chase always told Will “Follow your heart. Always try to be a good man.” But will following his heart be enough for his daughter, and for Emma?

The After of Us is a story about letting go of old dreams, and, in the process, discovering what you really needed to make you happy was right there in front of you all along.

The After of Us is a spin-off of the Judge Me Not series and a standalone novel.

New Adult Romance/Coming of Age Romance

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The After Us is the promise of second chances and letting go of what you think is the right path.

Will had quite the crazy and reckless life growing up – all choices he made. He eventually grew up and chose to make something of himself. Prove everyone wrong that’s he more than just a loser.

Will is set to take off to New York and his new job. And he’s thrown the a huge curve ball. What he doesn’t expect is to be given a second chance at the one person he let walk away before. However, life can always throws obstacles in your way. Will he choose to pursue a dream he always had or follow the path that he started out on when he wanted to prove everyone wrong?

I love watching the relationship between Will and Emma blossom. They don’t ignore the chemistry between the two of them but they also know they need to get to know one another on a different level. And watching Will interact with his daughter – that is something you can’t fake. It’s awesome watching a father and his daughter bond together.

Ms. Grey wrote a beautiful story full of hope, love and happiness. It’s a sweet story that will leave you smiling and feeling happy. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Author Bio

S.R. Grey is an Amazon Top 100 and Barnes & Noble #1 Bestselling author. She is the author of the popular Judge Me Not series, the new Promises series, the Inevitability duology, A Harbour Falls Mystery trilogy, and the Laid Bare series of novellas. Ms. Grey’s works have appeared on several Amazon Bestseller lists, including Top 100 multiple times, as well as Barnes & Noble #1 in Bestselling Nook books.

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Thrown Down by Tessa Bailey…Blog Tour Stop & Review

THROWN DOWN BY TESSA BAILEY REVIEW, GUEST POST, AND EXCERPT TOUR

Vaughn and River were the high school sweethearts everyone expected to fail. And they did. But not because of any shortage of love. Oh no. The town bad boy and the bubbly class president had that in spades. What they didn’t have was the truth—or the ability to defeat the forces that kept them apart. Vaughn never left River completely, however, because the night he left town for good, they conceived a child. Now Vaughn has returned to earn back his family—and River’s love—any way he can.

Thrown Down Synopsis:

He has one last chance to deserve the girl of his dreams…

Overachiever River Purcell was never supposed to be a struggling single mom, working double shifts just to make ends meet. Nor was she supposed to be abandoned by her high school sweetheart, breaking her heart into a thousand jagged pieces. Now Vaughn De Matteo is back in town, his sights set on her…and River is in danger of drowning a second time.

No one believed Hook’s resident bad boy was good enough for River. Not even Vaughn himself. But he’ll fight like hell to win back the woman he never stopped loving, to keep the daughter he never expected, and convince himself he’s worth their love in the process––even if he has to rely on their fierce and undeniable sexual chemistry.

But even as River’s body arches under his hungered touch, the demons of the past lurk in the shadows. Waiting for Vaughn to repeat his mistakes one last time…

My Review:

Thrown Down is the second book in author Tessa Bailey’s Made in Jersey series and, being a huge Tessa fan, I am always excited with a new release from her. Once again, this was no exception and from start to finish I loved everything about it.

Since you can read what the story is about in the synopsis, I’m going to skip that and go into my feelings on Vaughn and River’s story. Oh, the feelings…

I know I can count on Tessa for interesting, strong heroines with a soft side for their men and a love for his alpha side. When I pick up a Tessa book I know I can count on dirty talking heroes with an all-consuming need for their women. It’s always highly emotional, raw, sexy, dirty, and oh-so-delicious. What I finally figured out while reading Thrown Down is what, beyond that, makes me love Tessa’s characters so damn much….it’s the moments.

There are may be a handful of moments that stand out in the sea of books I’ve read. When you read as much as I do, things muddle together in your brain but you can always recall certain moments you know you’ll never forget. I’ve added one more to my collection while reading this book: when Vaughn met his daughter. I’m not really sure I can adequately put into words just how touching it was. Written out in such an emotional and raw way with time almost coming to a stop. I could feel what Vaughn was feeling at that very moment and it was something so special I had to take a deep breath after reading it. But that’s what Tessa does. She gives us these incredible moments in each book, that when you pair it with her gritty men, multifaceted women, and off the charts heat, always adds up to a combination not many can match.

Not only the big moments are the special ones, though. There are little things in each story that just kill me (in a good way, of course!). In Thrown Down it was Vaughn and River each counting how long it’s been since he left, changing the symbolism of the motel room they once shared, a picture he kept of her….and so many more I can’t say because I don’t want to ruin anything.

I know I’ve said it before, but truly, this book lands in my top five of Tessa. Possibly second place right behind Exposed by Fate, which will never be able to be knocked out of first place 😉

Whether you’re already a Tess fan or this is the first of her books you pick up, I know you will love Vaughn and River’s story. Thank you, Tessa, for another amazing read and for more indelible moments.

Five Loves

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EXCERPT:

Forty-nine months and three days.

That was how long it had been since he’d seen her.

Vaughn swayed to the right, his shoulder slamming up against the wall. Then he kind of just hung there, counting forward and backward from one to ten. Not helping. Not helping. His stomach pitched at the sight of River walking through the drunks, like a nurse walking among the wounded on a battlefield. She could still knock his lights out on sight. Not that he’d doubted it for a second. But God, if it were possible, she’d grown even more beautiful over the last forty-nine months. Her blond hair was tied up in a ponytail, a pencil stuck through the base, in a way he remembered well enough to make his throat go raw. In a short black skirt and fitted white T-shirt, River tried to look the part of indifferent barmaid, but didn’t pull it off.

Not by a stretch.

Eyes Vaughn knew were just a shade darker than cornflower blue flitted to each table, and her fingers tugged on the skirt’s hem self-consciously every time she approached a new one. When she fumbled with the notepad, recovering with a nervous laugh, a choked sound left Vaughn. “Riv,” he whispered.

She looked up so fast, he might as well have shouted. The sudden impact of having River’s focus on him after such an extended period of time without it released a rushing sound between his ears, blocking out the sad lounge act…and apparently someone asking if he needed a table. Because when Vaughn snapped back to reality, a man he towered over by at least a foot was in his face. Snapping his fingers.

“I wouldn’t…” Vaughn shook his head to clear it, experiencing a resurgence of anger, this time for having his attention diverted from where he needed it to be. On River.

“I wouldn’t advise snapping your fingers in my face again.”

“Why’s that, huh?”

A toss of blond hair snagged Vaughn’s gaze as his angelic ex-girlfriend zigzagged through the crowd, drawing more than just his notice. Ah no, quite the opposite. She was putting on an unwitting show for every man in the room, attracting lecherous looks by virtue of being her beautiful self, light in a dark tunnel, same way she’d always been.

Finger snapped in front of his face. Again. “This is my place and I asked you a question.”

“This is your place?” Vaughn asked. God, one hour back in Jersey and already his accent had thickened from water to oil. “You hired River Purcell to clean up tables?”

“That’s right.”

Vaughn plowed a fist into the underside of the man’s jaw, watching him fall backward onto the sticky concrete floor with detachment that slowly morphed into satisfaction. So much for calm, he thought, shaking out his right hand.

About Tessa:

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Palm South University: Season Two Episode Five by Kandi Steiner…..Release Day Blitz & Review

Title: Palm South University: Season Two Episode Five

Author: Kandi Steiner

Release Date: April 5, 2016

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Drama. Lies. Sex.

Welcome to Palm South University.

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up in South Florida. At a school where fraternities and sororities don’t exactly play by the rules, relationships are bound to be tested. Parties and sex are definitely key ingredients in the Palm South recipe, but what happens when family issues, secret lives, and unrequited love get tossed in the mix?

Follow Cassie, Bear, Jess, Skyler, Erin, Ashlei, and Adam as they tackle college at a small, private beach town university. Written in television drama form, each episode of this serial will pull you deeper and deeper into the world of PSU.

Where the sun is hot and the clothes are scarce, anything can happen.

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You can also grab the Season One Box Set today!

Tweet as you read using #PalmSouth and join the Facebook Discussion Group here.

GAH!! I am so addicted to this series, it’s crazy!! It’s a drug that I will happily overdose on. HAHA

In this episode, we see how Bear, Skyler and Ashlei are after spring break and getting back into the swing of things.

Bear’s little brother, Clayton, finally comes to visit him at PSU. I love seeing the close bond between these two. Bear’s protectiveness of his younger brother is very apparent and absolutely warms my heart. However, Bear has blow to his heart when something unexpected happens with Shawna. Needless to say, I am not happy with her.

Skyler – she is just the sunshine in this whole bunch. She is like the glue that holds them all together. She is always making me smile.

Ashlei is dealing with the fallout of what happened in the last episode. And just when things couldn’t get sh*tt*er, they do. Jess happens – word vomit happens. Drunken stupidity rears its ugly head. However, it forces Lei to do something she never expected to do – come clean with her best friend.

I am quite intrigued what happens in the next episode. It is the last for this season and I really hope we aren’t left dangling too far out on the ledge.

“Hey guys!” Cassie says cheerily when they reach us. I watch as her face transforms from ecstatic when she sees me to curious when she notices Clayton to absolutely terrified when she realizes Adam is behind us. Or maybe that’s nervous I’m seeing. Maybe both.

Something is weird between those two.

“Hey,” I greet, pulling her in for a hug. “Cassie, this is my little brother, Clayton.”

Clayton reaches out for her hand, sliding his sunglasses down his nose just enough to peek at her over the top of the shades. “Well hello, Beautiful. You can call me Baby Bear. How do you feel about younger men, sweetheart?”

Cassie’s mom blushes and covers her smile as her dad lets out a loud belly laugh. Her dad is odd-looking, sporting the same fiery red hair that Cassie has except with bronze skin and not a freckle in sight. Her mom, on the other hand, has light blonde hair and green eyes with pale skin, the apples of her cheeks peppered with freckles. It’s like Cassie is literally the perfect mix of the two.

“Damn, I need to step up my game,” Grayson says, reaching out his hand to shake Clayton’s next. “Sorry, Baby Bear, but this little lady is taken at the moment.”

Clayton shrugs. “We’ll see what the story is in four-and-a-half years when I turn eighteen.” Cassie’s parents laugh again, but Adam’s mouth is still in a thin line, his eyes hard on where Cassie’s hand is grasped firmly in Grayson’s.

Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer.

Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).

When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.

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The Randy Romance Novelist by Meghan Quinn….Teaser Tuesday

We’re so excited to announce the upcoming release of The Randy Romance Novelist by Meghan Quinn! Check out this teaser and preorder your copy today!

THE RANDY ROMANCE NOVELIST by Meghan Quinn

Scheduled to release: April 12, 2016

Romantic Comedy

Cover designer: Meghan Quinn
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1P3pJkb
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01BDSLWNG
iBooks: http://apple.co/1TAd5wf

BLURB:
It finally happened, I lost my virginity. Cue applause and cheers.

For a while life was all rainbows and kittens prancing in a sky full of cotton candy clouds…that was until the demands of the real world set in.

My best friend is getting married and she asked me to be her maid of honor. She’s not worried about flowers, or the dress, or the food at the venue. No, she’s worried about the bachelorette party, what kind of penis crown she will wear, and the nipple size of the stripper who will be attending.

I’m in way over my head trying to balance life with a boyfriend, planning a penis party, and writing my romance novel. Something is bound to give.

This is my life after my happily ever after…

About the Author:

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor

Find me on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7360513.Meghan_Quinn

Visit my website: http://authormeghanquinn.com/

The Matchmaker’s Playbook by Rachel Van Dyken…Release & Review

Wingman rule number one: don’t fall for a client.

After a career-ending accident, former NFL recruit Ian Hunter is back on campus—and he’s ready to get his new game on. As one of the masterminds behind Wingmen, Inc., a successful and secretive word-of-mouth dating service, he’s putting his extensive skills with women to work for the lovelorn. But when Blake Olson requests the services of Wingmen, Inc., Ian may have landed his most hopeless client yet.

From her frumpy athletic gear to her unfortunate choice of footwear, Blake is going to need a miracle if she wants to land her crush. At least with a professional matchmaker by her side she has a fighting chance. Ian knows that his advice and a makeover can turn Blake into another successful match. But as Blake begins the transformation from hot mess to smokin’ hot, Ian realizes he’s in danger of breaking his cardinal rule…

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

The Matchmaker’s Playbook by Rachel Van Dyken from Becca the Bibliophile on Vimeo.

I absolutely love this book! I love going into a book and thinking I know what is going to happen but then being absolutely blown away by how the author delivers the whole story.

Rachel really knows how to suck you into a book and keep you glued to the pages. Had it not been a holiday weekend, I would have devoured this book in one sitting – no doubt. This book is amazing. The whole concept of Wingmen Inc is brilliant and the gentleman who run it are geniuses – one literally is. They are both hilarious and really know how to work people.

“So who better to teach women how not to get played than an actual player?”

Ian and Lex are two men I would love to have as friends in my life. Whether they will admit it or not, they both have hearts of gold and look for each other like brothers. They respect the women who come to them and need their help. Yes – they are players outside of their work, but they never mix business with pleasure and that says a lot about them.

And then comes along Blake – the woman who Ian swears has got to be there worse case ever. She is stuck in the 90’s with everything she has and is a virgin. So what happens when he finally gets her out of the baggy clothes and shows everyone that there actually is a hot female athlete underneath there?? And her mouth – HA!! Blake definitely gives both Ian and Lex a run for their money when she holds her own against them.

“Asshole, party of one? Oh, look, at table!”

I absolutely loved the banter between Lex and Ian. These two had me howling the whole time. Add in Ian’s bestfriend, Gabi and OMG – I almost peed myself a few times laughing so hard. These characters meshed so well together. And everything felt so real an natural. Their interactions, their conversations – everything was perfect!!

I can’t say enough how much I LOVE this book. The characters, the plot, the writing – everything was dead-on perfect. Another hit for Rachel and a fabulous start to an amazing series!

Blake let out another pitiful groan. “I don’t think it fits.”

“They measured you. It fits. Just, tell me if it looks okay so we can go.” I checked my watch. “Gabi said dinner was at six, and it’s already a quarter till.”

“This is too much pressure.” Her voice was frantic. “I can’t do this. I mean, how do I know if it looks good? They’re boobs.”

I groaned. “Boobs always look good. Believe me.”

“Boobs are gross!”

Said no man ever. Even the gay ones.

One of the salesladies eyed me up and down. “Are you two okay?”

“Great,” I chirped. “Just having a very heated discussion about the beauty of breasts.” I dipped my chin to Blake’s chest. “What are you? A double D?”

Scowling, she marched off.

Thank God.

“Blake,” I hissed.

No answer.

I’d never had such a difficult client. If anything, they jumped when I told them to, asked how high, and then kept jumping until I was satisfied. Blake fought me at every turn.

“Open the door before I crawl underneath it. I’ll pick the bras, you can close your eyes if you want so you don’t have to watch me look at you, alright? My stomach literally just ate my liver. I need protein. Open. The. Door.”

The door slowly creaked open. Taking advantage of the small crack of air, I pushed it farther, then clicked it shut behind me and turned around.

Blake was facing me, hands on hips, face beet-red, body . . . freaking perfect. My tongue almost lolled out, like a dog.

Most girls starve themselves to have abs like that, which was disgusting. But her abs? They had muscle, actual muscle, but still appeared feminine.

She also had a nice tan, just enough to show that she spent time outside or maybe just had naturally darker skin.

My throat went completely dry as I continued to stare.

“Well?” Her voice was weak. “How awful do I look? On a scale of one to ten?”

I’d convinced her to buy some new workout clothes to replace her old ones. I knew I’d never get her to actually completely change her style. She liked workout clothes? Fine, at least buy the kind that fit and actually point to the correct gender. I tried to steer her away from the boyfriend sweats and sweatshirts, but she eventually wore me down, so I told her if she bought at least five new Pink outfits that had spandex in them, I’d let her get one pair of ugly slouchy sweats. You’d think I’d just given her a million dollars, from her reaction.

Currently, she was sporting a short pair of bright-blue yoga shorts.

And a black push-up sports bra that did wonders for her boobs.

And the world just in general.

Holy shit.

I gulped as I became more and more irritated with the fact that my body was reacting as if it had never seen a girl without her shirt on before. “Blake, it’s great.”

“You sound bored!”

I had to, damn it! What did she want me to do? Sound interested? Turned-on? Intrigued? Curious? I was all those things. I just tried to ignorethe insanity bouncing around in my head and blurted, “Your boobs look really good. Perky, happy, just . . . awesome.”

Did I just call her boobs “happy”?

“You think?” She stared down at her breasts, then grabbed them.

Holy shit, was she seriously feeling herself up? I braced my hand against the door and sucked in a breath.

“They still feel comfortable,” she said.

“Do they?” I managed to choke out while she continued bouncing them a bit in her hands. Dear Lord, did she know what she was doing? Waving a flag in front of a bull. My jeans suddenly tight in all the wrong areas, I tried to envision Lex naked, anything to get my dick to clue in to the word “client,” meaning I was in a no-play zone.

Another first.

It was because I was hungry.

And Marissa? Melissa? Hadn’t satisfied me. I’d gotten off, and made sure she did too, but the entire experience left me feeling empty, bored, and—if I was being completely honest? A bit depressed. Besides, her tits paled in comparison. I had to wonder what the hell I’d been doing all my life if this was the first time I was having such a strong reaction to boobs.

Something about Blake had me wondering if I’d been satisfied at all up until this point. And I had no idea what the hell was so confusing about her, and about the situation. I was unable to put my finger on it, and the more I thought about it the more my head hurt.

Hunger does weird things to guys.

“Yeah.” More bouncing, then turning and staring in the mirror. I wasn’t sure what was worse. Her staring at her own boobs or touching them. “I’m just no good at this stuff. I didn’t grow up with a mom, and I hit puberty really early. The girls made fun of me, and the boys pointed.” Her shoulders slumped inward again.

Could we please go back to the bouncing? I was a fan of that Blake. The one that rolled up like an awkward armadillo? Not so much.

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Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!

You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken or join her fan group Rachel’s New Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com.

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Remembering Everly by J.L. Berg….Release Day Blitz

After that cliffhanger ending in FORGETTING AUGUST, we have been absolutely dying to get our hands on REMEMBERING EVERLY! And today it’s finally here – pick up the second part in the Lost & Found duet now!

About REMEMBERING EVERLY

After two years in a coma, August Kinkaid has forgotten the darkness in his past. But his past hasn’t forgotten him. His beautiful former fiancée, Everly, remembers every tumultuous moment of their stormy relationship. The sizzling passion. The web of lies. And the terrible secret Everly’s been hiding since her last fateful night with August.

Now the truth is out and August remembers everything. As his long-buried memories come flooding back, he begins to understand why Everly would want to move on with her life. Why she would give her heart to another man. And why August should try to forget her once and for all.

But he can’t give up on the only woman he’s ever loved. Even if he has to reopen old wounds–and face the darkest demons of his past–August will do whatever it takes for a second chance with Everly. He let her slip away once. He’s not about to spend the rest of his life remembering Everly when he could be holding her in his arms forever . . .

Add it to Goodreads here!

Get your hands on REMEMBERING EVERLY today:

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Need to catch up on the Lost & Found duet? Pick up FORGETTING AUGUST:

Get a sneak peek at the first chapter!

Secrets.

They had the ability to destroy lives, obliterate relationships and sabotage even the strongest partnerships. Big or small…it didn’t matter. Even the tiniest white lie had the power to corrode—to shatter and dismantle everything you loved.

I’d carried a secret so big, for so long that sometimes I felt physically weak from its weight. I had thought I could carry its burden to my grave—that eventually its truth would die along with me.

But secrets never die.

They live on far longer than we do, and they always find their way to the surface.

Mine certainly did.

Sitting alone in the apartment I shared with my fiancé, I gently rolled the smooth green stone between my thumb and forefinger, over and over, remembering the day it was returned to me.

In all our years together, I’d never seen August so cold. So lifeless.

It frightened me to my core.

But I still hadn’t told anyone. It had been three days and I had yet to tell my fiancé or best friend about the events that had taken place in that bridal shop. As far as Ryan and Sarah knew, August had rudely interrupted my bridal appointment to tell me he had his memories back—that was all.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Why hadn’t I elaborated? I didn’t want to admit my shame. I couldn’t share this secret, my darkest lie. What would they think of me? I was the reason August had been in that hospital bed for two years. And the worst part? I’d lied about it—to everyone.

Get your hands on REMEMBERING EVERLY today:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | BAM

Need to catch up on the Lost & Found duet? Pick up FORGETTING AUGUST:

Enter to win!

J.L. Berg is giving away an Alex & Ani bracelet, a Starbucks giftcard, and a signed print copy of FORGETTING AUGUST! You can enter via the Rafflecopter below!

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About J.L. Berg

Author J.L. Berg is a California native living in the South. She is the author of the self-pubbed Ready series, which has sold over 100,000 copies. Married to her high school sweetheart. She and her husband have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose stuck in a romance book, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate.

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All Chained Up by Sophie Jordan…Blog Tour Stop & Review

ABOUT ALL CHAINED UP:
Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.

Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .

My review:

All Chained Up is the first book in author Sophie Jordan’s Devil’s Rock series. From the cover alone I was excited to read this book and it was a great read filled with heat, emotion, and action. I loved it.

From the moment they met, Knox and Briar’s relationship was complicated. He was a prisoner in the jail she was working in and even though she knew he was completely of limits and wouldn’t dream of acting on this unexpected and taboo attraction she felt for him, she couldn’t help herself from wondering what it would be like if they had met under different circumstances. Sure he was gruff, cold, and obviously dangerous, but there was something under his hard exterior that called to her…almost a kindness. That kindness would show itself when Briar found herself in a life or death situation and Knox goes from inmate to hero. That act gets him paroled and now, all those “what-ifs” become possibilities. Would she ever see him again? The better question is, what would she do if she did…

I love when an author has the ability to make me fall in love with a character who hardly even speaks for the first few chapters. Know was one of those characters. Ms. Jordan wrote him in such an amazing light and even though he clearly had done something bad in his past, I wanted redemption for him. I wanted to know there was a heart in there somewhere. Oh, and there is. It takes him a little while to let it show but when he did, it was awesome. I loved him and Briar together. Talk about two opposites attracting! But despite their differences, they meshed so well together and the heat and attraction between them is intense and smoking hot. I will certainly never look at Cherry Garcia ice cream the same way again 😉

I am so excited to see where this series goes. Ms. Jordan sets up for one helluva story in the next installment and I’m dying to know how it all plays out.

Thank you, Ms. Jordan, for an amazing read!

Four Loves

ABOUT SOPHIE JORDAN:

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as i
nteresting as literature – teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her firstbook, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller’s List.

LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Tour Schedule:

Week 1:

3/21: Krista’s Dust Jacket – Review

3/22: Live to Read – Character Casting

3/23: Take Me Away to a Great Read – Review

3/24: Fiction Fare – Q&A

3/25: My Secret Romance Book Reviews – Review

Week 2:

3/28: The Irish Banana Review – Review

3/29: Resch Reads & Reviews – Playlist

3/30: Behind Closed Covers – Review

3/31: The Book Cellar – Top 10 Reasons Sophie Jordan Rocks

4/1: Stuck In Books – Review

Week 3:

4/4: Read-Love-Blog – Review

4/5: Reading Is Better With Cupcakes – Pocket Letter

4/7: Eater of Books – Swoon Thursday

4/8: The Cover Contessa – Review

Giveaway:

3 Finished Copies of ALL CHAINED UP (US Only)

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A Mess of a Man by A.M. Hargrove & Terri E Laine…Blog Tour & Review

From USA TODAY BESTSELLING authors of Cruel and Beautiful, A.M. Hargrove and Terri E. Laine bring a new full-length standalone New Adult Contemporary Romance. This novel includes mature content, not suitable for younger readers. (Rated R)

Womanizer, Man Whore, Player, Heartbreaker are all familiar names to Ben Rhoades. He prefers Money Man or Sex God, but he doesn’t let other people’s opinions rule him. And he’s only gotten worse without his compass, his best friend, whose devastating death at a young age has taught him a valuable lesson about not getting too close to anyone … ever. Until one smart and stubborn woman with eye-catching curves throws him for a loop and refuses to be tamed.

Samantha Calhoun has her life on track even after the shattering break-up with the guy she’d thought she’d wanted to marry. With her chin held high, she focuses on her career, building her business and making a success of it all. Only a chance meeting has her lost in a set of alluring steel gray eyes that have her steps faltering and her heart leaping out of her chest. Forewarned by not-so-flattering rumors plus his no-holds-bar rules, she tries desperately to play his game while guarding her heart.

Only they have no idea of the journey they’re about to undertake when their lives collide. Ultimately they’ll tackle the biggest test of their lives because she is his game changer. The one, who through the ensuing wreckage, can domesticate the mess of a man that he is.

So I will start off by saying I am probably in the minority when it comes to my rating on this book. And please don’t take that as a bad thing, but I had a hard time getting into this book. But let me explain why.

The plot for A Mess of a Man is a good one. I enjoyed the characters a lot. Ben and Sam are two very different people yet have many similar characteristics. They both have huge hearts, strong and deep rooted friendships, and are very head strong. However, their views on love vary.

I enjoyed the interactions between these two. The attraction between them is immediate but they also know what each other is expecting – one doesn’t do the commitment thing and the other has never been a serial dater. So what happens when neither can get the other out of their head but no that nothing will come of this??

All that right there is why I enjoyed this book. I loved the camaraderie between Sam and her friends. Those girls are absolutely amazing and are the epitome of true friends. And Ben has the same connection with Cate – friendships that are just truly one of kind and built strong.

What really hurt me with this book was the writing. I could easily tell this was written by two different authors. The flow of the book damaged the overall take on this book for me. I am not saying that it was written well, but there weren’t smooth transitions between chapters and POV’s. At times I felt confused on things and it took me a bit to figure out what exactly was going on. It really took the sails out the whole book for me. I felt let down because I was expecting so much more.

Please do not think that because this book didn’t do it for me, that it won’t do it for you. As I said earlier, I am probably going to be in the minority on this book and say that is was just ok for me. Will I read a book by these two authors again – HELL YES!

There is finality to the sound of the door closing behind her. A sort of tormenting peace knowing the end has come. It’s not like I should have expected things to go on this way for long. How could they?

I stare holes in the walls as if I can still see her, the one woman I let in.

Sweeter than peach cobbler, she hardly has a bad thing to say about anybody—until now. Her parting description of me, beginning with ass and ending with hole, reverberates through my hollow heart, as I stand here rooted to my spot. I’m not even shocked, as this isn’t the first time I’ve been on the receiving end of that sentiment. I’m only surprised because I don’t think I’ve ever heard her so much as mutter a single curse word before. And the first time I do, it’s aimed squarely at me.

My hands tighten around a tumbler filled with amber liquid before I toss back its contents hoping for oblivion or something close to it. This road is so familiar. Only this time is different. I never cared like I do now. She means more to me than a quick fuck. Hadn’t I been about to tell her just that? How could things have gone wrong so fast?

Don’t be a dumbass. You can still fix this.

Instead, I stubbornly stay embedded to my spot because nothing can change the outcome. It’s a truth she and I know will haunt me until my last breath. And it’s created a wall between us I’m unable to climb … even if you gave me a damn ladder.

I’ve never been much of a risk-taker when it comes to matters of the heart. I can fill a bank account with a number having many zeros behind it from my astute choices in the market. But I can’t be a man a woman stays with. Hadn’t I warned her about that too?

Unable to see past my own shitty existence, I long for her to come back. I want to believe it’s all been some kind of mistake and I can forget what I know to be true. As the seconds continue to tick by, the inevitability that things are really over sinks in. My window of opportunity quickly closes as fast as her car door slams and the engine fires to life.

She’s so close, yet miles away. The longer I let the minutes expand between us I know distance won’t make the heart grow fonder. But maybe it’s for the best. Love, or whatever masquerades as it, just isn’t enough for the dirty, fucked up truth. Right when things were better than I ever expected, facts messed it up.

Groaning, I launch the crystal glass worth a small fortune at the door I can’t seem to force myself towards. A beautiful show of light plays off the shards as they cascade down in an explosion of fireworks. Visually, it’s what I feel inside as desolation constricts and then obliterates my chest because the best thing I ever had is gone … leaving me with only the certainty I’m meant to be with her.

I love you, I whisper for the first time and in place of goodbye. She left me and will never hear it. I can only pray we both survive what’s to come.

A.M. Hargrove:

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, USA Today bestselling author, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn’t do something soon, it would be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So she made a quick decision to quit her job and reinvented herself as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author.

She fancies herself all of the following: Reader, Writer, Dark Chocolate Lover, Ice Cream Worshipper, Coffee Drinker (swears the coffee, chocolate, and ice cream should be added as part of the USDA food groups), Lover of Grey Goose (and an extra dirty martini), #WalterThePuppy Lover, and if you’re ever around her for more than five minutes, you’ll find out she’s a non-stop talker.

Terri E. Laine:

Terri E. Laine, USA Today bestselling author, left a lucrative career as a CPA to pursue her love for writing. Outside of her roles as a wife and mother of three, she’s always been a dreamer and as such became an avid reader at a young age.

In her early years, she and her best friend would tell each other stories over the phone when they were bored. They called them their “soap operas” and generally revolved around whatever boy they liked at the time.

Many years later, she got a crazy idea to write a novel and set out to try to publish it. With over a dozen titles published under various pen names, the rest is history. Her journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. She looks forward to many more memories to come.

Connect with A.M. Hargrove:

Website: http://www.amhargrove.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amhargrove1

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/amhargroveauthor

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A.M.-Hargrove/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove

Connect with Terri:

Website: www.terrielaine.com

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

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TerriELaineAuthor

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

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TerriELaineAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14299771.Terri_E_Laine

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Terri-E.-Laine/

Unseen Messages by Pepper Winters….Release Blitz

From New York Times Bestseller Pepper Winters comes a timeless love story answering the question of what happens when everything is stripped away.

“There is a message for everything. From handwritten to verbal, seen and unseen. Messages exist all around us.”

But what if you don’t see?
What if you don’t understand?
What if, by ignoring the message, your life is never the same again?

Estelle Evermore morphed from nobody to somebody overnight.

Galloway Oak put his past behind him and endeavored to make his fortune using his trade.

Two strangers.
One plane.
Multiple unseen messages.

From sky to island, they find neither fame nor skills can save them. Stripped from society and left alone to survive the elements, the very task of staying alive outweighs all other needs.

Until survival turns to desire.
And desire turns to danger.

About Pepper Winters:

Pepper Winters is a NYT and USA Today International Bestseller. She wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestsellers, best BDSM series voted by the SmutClub, and recently signed a two book deal with Grand Central. Her books are currently being translated into numerous languages and will be in bookstores in the near future.
To be the first to know of upcoming releases, please join Pepper’s Newsletter (she promises never to spam or annoy you.)

NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/120b5

Or follow her on her website

www.pepperwinters.com

She loves mail of any kind: pepperwinters@gmail.com

You can stalk her here:

Pinterest/Pepperwinters
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Twitter @pepperwinters
Blog pepperwinters.wordpress.com

Need You For Mine by Marina Adair…ARC Review

Need You For Mine is out TODAY!

Synopsis:

Need You For Mine

Every red-blooded male in St. Helena wants Harper Owens…as a friend. Despite her efforts at seduction, Harper seems to be destined to end up alone. The only guy with a knack for unleashing her inner vixen is firefighter and resident rule-breaker Adam Baudouin. Agreeing to a faux-mance could help him secure a promotion—and save her family’s lingerie shop, the Boulder Holder. But playing with fire has consequences. Especially when the flame comes courtesy of St. Helena’s own Five-Alarm Casanova…

None of Adam’s quick-and-easy hookups have prepared him for a connection this extraordinary. There’s more to the milk-and-cookies art teacher that he’d love to explore. But first he has to convince her to trust the town’s most notorious playboy. Even tougher—he’ll have to trust himself to be the real-life hero this warm and sexy woman deserves.

My Review:

Oh man. Every time I pick up a Marina Adair book I am reminded just how much I adore her writing and this, hands down, was one of my favorite ones to date. From start to finish, this sassy, sexy, sweet romance had me hooked!

The last thing sexy firefighter Adam is looking for is an actual girlfriend. A friend that’s a girl? Sure. But a romantic kind of girlfriend? Nope. So imagine his surprise when he starts seeing local children’s art teacher and long time acquaintance Harper in a different light. Harper always knew Adam was a sexy player…but it didn’t stop her from appreciating the view whenever he came into sight. Now fate has stepped in and made things a bit of a mess for both of them. A mess the only way out of is to pretend they are dating. Neither one of them are prepared for the very real feelings that develop over a very fake situation…

Things I love in a book: fake romance turned real romance, the playboy player who never wanted to be tied down finally wanting a relationship, the girl next door finally finding love, stories in small towns, fun banter between siblings and family. Which one of those things does Need You For Mine have? ALL OF THE ABOVE! So I’m sure you can imagine I was tickled pink the entire time I read. I love this town. I love these people. I love Ms. Adair’s writing and how she brings it all to life. Adam is a player through and through but he’s also loyal, kind, and damn sexy. Harper just wants what every gal wants: a good man to love her, the chance of love and a family. So to say these two were opposites is an understatement. But after many times spent together including an underwear modeling session, some seriously sexy body painting, and planning the town’s picnic, they didn’t stand a chance against falling in love. Along the way, Ms. Adair adds her signature elements making these characters so multifaceted and, oh my, I loved it. Harper’s affection for cookies, Adam’s banter with his brothers, the grandmother crew, saving Harper’s family’s lingerie shop, the stolen moments Harper and Adam share…it’s all just so damn good! I tried so hard to not devour this book in one afternoon but alas, I failed. From start to finish, this was another shining example of the talent Ms. Adair is.

I highly recommend this series to any romance fan. I know you’ll love it as much as I do! Thank you, Ms. Adair, for another amazing story. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Five Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

About the author:

Marina Adair is a #1 National best-selling author of romance novels and holds a Master of Fine arts in creative writing. Along with the Sugar, Georgia series, she is also the author the St. Helena Vineyard series, the Heroes of St Helena series, and her upcoming Sequoia Lake series. She currently lives with her husband, daughter, and two neurotic cats in Northern California.

As a writer, Marina is devoted to giving her readers contemporary romance where the towns are small, the personalities large, and the romance explosive. She also loves to interact with readers and you can catch her on Twitter at @MarinaEAdair or visit her atwww.MarinaAdair.com. Keep up with Marina by signing up for her newsletter atwww.MarinaAdair.com/newsletter.

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