Twisted Circles by Claire Contreras….Excerpt & Review

by Courtney

Twisted Circles by New York Times bestselling author, Claire Contreras, is now live!

When someone tells you who you are, do you believe them?

The first question the cops asked me was if anything out of the ordinary happened to me lately.

When I woke up this morning in the room of a mental institution I couldn’t remember a thing – not my name nor how I got there. Not how I left or how I ended up in that interrogation room.

The only thing I knew came from the contents inside my bag. A wallet, a student ID, a key that opened an unknown door, and two notebooks.

They tell me my name. It matches my IDs.

They tell me my story. I shut my eyes and try to piece it together, but can’t.

They tell me why they picked me up in the first place. They thought I was my sister. My brain stays stuck there. I try to rewind and fast-forward, as if my memories were on a videotape, but it’s no use. I can’t recall having a sister.

They put me back in the car and drop me off in front of a mansion they call The Manor and I discover what the mysterious key in my backpack opens the front door, and just as quickly wish I’d never unlocked it at all.

Twisted Circles is a complete standalone that takes place in the same “world” as Half-Truths.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/34LhA1K

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TwistedCirclesCC

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3g4kyU9

Excerpt

“What the hell did I just see?” My voice was hoarse, the screams I’d contained ripping the tone from it.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you . . . ” I shook my head, covering my face. “You’re not going to tell me. You wouldn’t tell me. You’re the president of this freakish cult. Of course you wouldn’t tell me.”

“I don’t know.” His voice carried and brought my gaze back to his. “I really don’t know.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“That’s too bad.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t change the fact that I’m not lying.”

“I should have left with your brother.”

“My brother?” His expression turned serious. He glanced away for a long moment, staring at the portrait beside us. I had no idea who it was, but it was a man wearing a black little hat and a cross. A priest of sorts. Adam looked at me again. “My brother can’t help you.”

“And you can?” I nodded toward the back of the room. “You won’t even tell me why I just saw what I saw.”

“I don’t know the answer to that.” His jaw set.

“Your brother said you were going to bury me.”

“What else did Nolan decide to tell you?”

“Not much.”

“He shouldn’t have spoken to you. He knows better.”

“Free country and all.”

“Not in here.” Adam’s lip tilted. “You’re under our command in here.”

“Are you going to do to me what they’re doing to that woman?”

“No.”

“Are you going to bury me?” I swallowed, waiting.

“Yes.”

Yes. No hesitation.

“Are . . . are you going to kill me?”

“No.”

“You’re going to bury me alive?”

“Yes.”

Again, no hesitation. My heart skipped. Where was I and who were these people? I realized that I could scream, I could punch him, I could try to run, but I wouldn’t get very far.

“Is that part of the initiation?” I licked my lips, mentally preparing myself.

“Yes.”

“Were you buried?”

“We all were.”

“Has anyone died?” My lip quivered again. I blinked my eyes, more tears fell. I wiped them quickly.

He didn’t answer, but with the way his lips set into a hard line, he didn’t have to.

Claire delivers another mind-blowing, suspenseful story. Twisted Circles is just that – a lot of twists and with everything circling back to one another. WOW!

Twisted Circles is a standalone in the Secret Society series and is told in dual POVs. You don’t need to read the first to read this one or have any background on anyone or anything to have a full understanding of what is happening. Readers are thrown back into the college environment with the many different secret groups with a lot of suspense and twists.

I love that Claire focused more on the psychological aspects, the inner workings of the secret society and how all of that is intertwined. However, it is the mystery surrounding Eva that I loved the most about this book. Claire plotted this out beautifully. I enjoyed how things unraveled yet opened another door. It kept me glued to the pages and had me constantly trying to work things out.

Claire does a phenomenal job of keeping readers interested in the Secret Societies and wanting to know more about them. I love how she brings in things from her own personal experience to enhance the story. I love that this story is just as fresh as the first one.

Twisted Circles is the perfect suspense story with a touch of romance to keep her romance fans pleased. But for us suspense readers, you will love that this book is highly focused on the suspense and the romance blends in but never overtakes anything. Bravo, Claire!!

Meet Claire

Connect with Claire

Claire Contreras is a New York Times bestselling author. Her books range from romantic suspense to contemporary romance and are currently translated in seven different languages.

She was born in the Dominican Republic, raised in Miami, and now lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, two adorable boys, and French Bulldog. When she’s not writing, she’s usually lost in a book.

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Excerpt…Love Disregarded by Rachel Blaufeld

by Courtney

Love Disregarded, an all-new, second chance standalone romance with all the feels from Rachel Blaufeld is available now!

When I first met Aston Prescott, I thought I’d be able to let go of him.

I was naive.

He belonged to the private club where I worked, and despite the vast difference in our social status, I still fell for him. I thought he fell for me too, and that our love would overcome any obstacles.

But our relationship was discounted by everyone around us. Our families didn’t support us, and our friends avoided us.

So we moved on with our lives, but then everything fell apart.

The man who once abandoned me is now seeking comfort in my arms, and this time, I’m not sure if I can give in.

Because if I do, I may never be able to let him go again.

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Excerpt

“Remember when we first met? Christ, we were young.” I ran my hand through my hair, feeling it stick up at the ends. Cass would have sneered and told me I needed a haircut.
Bexley, who was standing right in front of me, didn’t say a word. We were facing each other, but she left enough space between us so I couldn’t touch her. My hand shook, wanting to close the divide.
“I was a kid then,” she said. “A foolish, smitten girl looking into a window of a world I knew better than to think I’d ever belong to.”
“Nah, you did belong. Do belong. The only foolish person was me. What I mean is, you were the first person I’d ever come clean to, been honest with, you know? I’d never really told anyone about my mom before and her antics. The endless lying in bed. The pining-away bullshit. At least, I thought it was bull, but she was the one who knew what was up. I chose to believe my dad, and that’s on me.”
“You can’t beat yourself up over that. Not your dad, but your mom. Each of them tried to pit you against the other.”
Bexley finally moved toward me and ran her hand down my arm. Her fingers ghosted over mine, and I grabbed hold of them before she could pull away. My grip might have been tighter than necessary, but the fear of her slipping out of my grasp attacked my heart.
“Look, I know he did us dirty, but back then, he held the keys to everything I wanted. Thought I wanted. Money, prestige, power. I’d been raised to think that’s what made life worth living, but I was wrong. And when he took you away from me, it was a loss like I’d never felt, a sacrifice I shouldn’t have had to make. Or you.”
A small tear formed in the corner of her eye. I waited for it to fall, but it floated on a precipice—like the current status of my life.
“I can’t go over all of it again. It hurt like hell then, and it still hurts now,” she said, sniffing back more tears. “I tried my best to move on, and that’s all I could do.”
“I know, but I hate that it happened. That I allowed it to happen at all. And to think I did this to you. My dad took you from me and me from you, and with the way he was, I thought you were better off. It’s no defense. Believe me.”
My heart and head pounded in synchronicity from the stress of dredging this all up. The fact I was here . . . with Bexley. It was all too much.
“I can’t. I said I can’t. Let’s not talk about it anymore,” she begged.
She moved back toward the couch and sat down, dropping her head in her hands. Her separation was an immediate shock to my system.
“I want a chance to make it right.” I knelt at her feet, my jeans cutting into the back of my knees, and I welcomed the pain. “Look at me. Please.”
This time, her tears fell heavy and hard. “Why now? I can’t believe this. What are you doing here? Now, of all times?”
“You can believe it. I’m here.” I brought a thumb to each cheek and wiped the wetness away.
“You’re probably going to go to prison. Then what? We’ll have our second chance with me visiting you behind bars? Oh, that’s so romantic, Aston”

About Rachel
Rachel Blaufeld is a bestselling author of Romantic Suspense, New Adult, Coming-of-Age Romance, and Sports Romance. A recent poll of her readers described her as insightful, generous, articulate, and spunky. Originally a social worker, Rachel creates broken yet redeeming characters. She’s been known to turn up the angst like cranking up the heat in the dead of winter.
A devout coffee drinker and doughnut eater, Rachel spends way too many hours in local coffee shops, downing the aforementioned goodies while she plots her ideas. Her tales may all come with a side of angst and naughtiness, but end as lusciously as her treats.
As a side note, Blaufeld, also a long-time blogger and an advocate of woman-run anything, is fearless about sharing her opinion. She captured the ears of stay-at-home and working moms on her blog, BacknGrooveMom, chronicling her adventures in parenting tweens and running a business, often at the same time. To her, work/life/family balance is an urban legend, but she does her best.
Rachel has also blogged for The Huffington Post and Modern Mom. Most recently, her insights can be found in USA TODAY, where she shares conversations at “In Bed with a Romance Author” and reading recommendations over at “Happy Ever After.”
Rachel lives around the corner from her childhood home in Pennsylvania with her family and two beagles. Her obsessions include running, coffee, basketball, icing-filled doughnuts, antiheroes, and mighty fine epilogues.
When she isn’t writing, she can be found courtside, tweeting about hoops as her son plays, or walking around the house wearing earplugs while her other son, the drummer, bangs away.

Connect with Rachel

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3gxyFBQ
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Review….Hard To Handle by K. Bromberg

by Courtney

Hard to Handle, book one in the Play Hard series, an all new series of standalone books by New York Times bestselling author, K. Bromberg, is LIVE!

At first, the request seemed simple—sign a new athlete to the agency.
Then I found out the new athlete was none other than the most wanted man in hockey today: Hunter Maddox

Gifted. Sexy. At the top of his game. And the only man who has ever broken my heart.
If signing him will help save our family business, I’ll swallow my pride and do what’s asked.

But when it becomes clear his uncharacteristic antics off the ice are a hint of something deeper, keeping things strictly professional between us becomes more than complicated.

But I know better than to cross that line.

I’ll never date a client. Not even for him.

***
Win the Stanley Cup and do it before time runs out.

Not a small feat, but it’s what’s motivated me since the start of my career.

And time is running out.

Enter Dekker Kincade.

Feisty. Dogged. Damn gorgeous. The one I let get away.

I have no idea why she’s traveling with the team, but hell if resisting her is going to be easy.

But I have a job to do, and I refuse to lose sight of that end game. Even if she confuses me. Even if she sees parts of me I’ve hidden from the world.

I can’t lose focus. Not even for her.

Download today!
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Excerpt:

I stare at Hunter. At his shirt plastered with sweat and how it clings to his body, despite the chill of the ice his skates are standing on. He has his warm-up pants on and is without a helmet, his hair curling at the ends from the sweat.
And all I see in his eyes is anger I didn’t put there. Or maybe I did. Rejection can do that to a man . . . but there’s something more here. Something I walked in on that doesn’t make sense.
“Don’t give me that look, Kincade,” Hunter mutters as he skates over to the penalty box where his electrolyte drink sits.
“What look?” I ask.
He half laughs, half snorts and meets my gaze across the distance. “Disappointment. Disproval. Disdain. I’m the king of all of them, so save your breath—or in this case—your glare, because it’s not going to work with me.”
“Are we working on emotions that start with the letter D today?” I ask. A hint of my embarrassment and anger over how I acted last night creeps into my voice, but I mask it with sarcasm. “If that’s the case, I’m more than impressed with your answers thus far.”
He clenches his jaw in response and then skates back over to line up more pucks so he can shoot them. And he does, one after another, each shot taken with laser precision and a healthy dose of fury behind it.
He goes through the first ten lined up and then stops to catch his breath.
His talent and skill are undeniable, but so is the beer bottle in my hand.
“Just because you’re the captain and star of this team, doesn’t mean management won’t frown upon this,” I say, unable to let this go.
“Screw the management.”
“No one likes a player who’s hard to handle and honestly, Hunter, you’re becoming hard to handle.”
“No one likes unsolicited advice from someone who has no bearing on his career, either,” he counters, the rebuke stinging but deserved.
The problem is, I do care about him. Doesn’t he get that’s where my hostility stems from?
And only a crazy person would say that, Dekker.
I put my hands up in surrender to both him and my own thoughts. “You know I only want the best for you.” I take a few steps in his direction in the first row of the stands. I’m close enough to catch the hitch of his movement and to see uncertainty flicker in his eyes. It’s almost as if he needs to talk but doesn’t see me as someone he can trust. I hate that. “What is it, Hunter?”
“Nothing. It’s . . . never mind.”
But I see it, and he knows I see it. The question is what do I see, though?

Hard to Handle is Kristy’s newest release and the first book in her sports romance series. This book was so much more than I had thought it would be.

I had no doubt that this book would be a huge hit and that I would love it. What I had not anticipated was to feel so much and to actually shed a tear or two – it’s a sports romance. But I was wrong to think that Kristy wouldn’t deliver more than that a sports romance.

Hard to Handle is the start of a series that I think everyone is going to love. It’s about four sisters who have this love/hate relationship but all work together under their dad’s sports agency. They all have their strengths and it’s these family dynamics that keep things entertaining on that front. Dekker is the one assigned to snatch up Hunter Maddox, currently the best hockey player in the world. But there is a bit of history between Dekker and Hunter and that’s what makes this all the more entertaining.

Hunter Maddox is at the top of his game. He’s the captain of his local NHL team and is leading them to the Stanley Cup this year. But recently, his attitude both on and off the ice has really started to spin out of control and no-one knows why. He hasn’t seen Dekker in three years, since she walked away from him.

This story grabbed me from the beginning and kept it claws sunk in deep. This second chance/enemies to lovers romance is filled with so much passion, angst and so emotional. Kristy weaves this amazing story that handles the dynamics of family values, sports and juggling all of that. I do have to say that my absolute favorite part of this story was Hunter and Jonah’s relationship – this is the part that truly shocked me and added another layer to this amazing story.

Hard to Handle definitely starts this series off with bang. I cannot wait to see what Kristy brings us in next three books for the other sisters. This series will be everyone’s next addiction, whether you love sports romance or not.

Meet K. Bromberg:

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary romance novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate but can’t help to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow and her mind scattered in too many different directions.

Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over one and a half million copies of her books across eighteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by the streaming platform, Passionflix, with the first movie (Driven) out now.

With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero. You can find out more about him or chat with Kristy on any of her social media accounts.

Connect with K. Bromberg:

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Website: www.KBromberg.com
Subscribe to her newsletter: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Make Me Hate You by Kandi Steiner

by Courtney

“This is a return to the Kandi Steiner of 2016 who brought us Weightless and A Love Letter to Whiskey. Prepare for the burn.” — Author Sarah E. Green

Make Me Hate You, an angsty, emotional stand-alone romance from bestselling author, Kandi Steiner,is LIVE!

If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

Every sip of air is shallow and burning, because in the arms of my best friend’s brother, I’m the closest I’ve ever been to sin.

His eyes flick to my lips, and I remember the first time I tasted him, seven years ago before I left this town and vowed never to return. His hands grip my waist, and I remember the pain when he rejected me, when my entire world crashed down at his command. His jaw clenches, and my senses come alive with one stinging reminder.

I’m not his to kiss, and he’s not mine.

I tried to stay away from Tyler Wagner, putting an entire country between us. But when his sister’s wedding brings us back to the same town, to the same house, I can’t avoid him, no matter how hard I try.

He’s always there, his dark eyes bewitching, luring me into their depths. The memory of us pulls me under like a rip current, and when he flashes that smile, I lose my breath, along with my will, unable to escape his grip and find the surface.

Now, hours before our plus ones arrive for the wedding, I’m in his arms, begging him to make me hate him, knowing he never could.

If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

And I’ll take him down with me.

Make Me Hate You is a best friend’s brother romance that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Pre-order today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XLic4v
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/MakeMeHateYouKS

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Xo2Gg1

Excerpt:

Seven miles and an hour later, and all the anxiety I’d felt the night before was completely gone.

At least, until I rounded the foyer into the kitchen and saw I wasn’t the only one up early on Sunday morning.

Tyler sat at the kitchen island, still in his navy blue sweat pants and simple white t-shirt, with one foot planted on the ground and the other hooked casually on the lower bar of his stool. His hair was an absolute disaster, the boyish waves sticking up this way and that. He had both hands wrapped around a mug of hot tea, his eyes focused on the iPad he had propped up in front of him, and BlueTooth headphones in his ears.

At first, he didn’t notice me, and I slowed my steps, standing silently at the entry of the kitchen and watching him. I’d done everything I could last night to avoid his gaze, to not look at him, and now that I had a stolen moment to observe, I found my chest tightening again, my mouth dry and sticky.

His brown eyes were hidden beneath bent brows, expression serious as he watched whatever was on the screen. Small lines creased the edges of his eyes — lines that weren’t there when we were kids. He’d grown into a man somehow, overnight, it seemed. Then again, it had been years.

I’d seen him on social media, watched from afar as his YouTube channel took off. I’d seen pictures of him on Instagram — traveling through Europe, hiking in Australia, swimming in hot pools in Iceland. I didn’t follow him, of course, but his profile was public, which allowed me to flip through picture after picture on the nights when I was a pathetic mess.

But, pictures and videos didn’t do justice to the actual man who sat studiously at that kitchen island.

He was something between the boy I used to love and the man I’d never know, familiar and unreachable all at once.

Tyler shook his head at something, letting out a frustrated sigh and kicking back the bar stool a little before taking a sip of his tea. His eyes flicked to me then, back to the screen, and then, he did a double take, this time fixing his gaze on me and leaving it there.

Something changed in his eyes when he looked at me, like a shadow passed over them and held him captive. I was dressed in jogger shorts and a modest tank top, but from the way he watched me, I might as well have been completely naked.

That’s what his gaze did to me, what it always had done.

It stripped me bare.

Make Me Hate You is Kandi Steiner at her best. She’s not only the queen of Angst Romance but she’s a leading lady in romantic stories that will make your heart swell.

I will make this review brief because I am too afraid that I will give away too much of this story because I want to tell everyone about it and how amazing it is. IT IS FUCKING AWESOME!!!

Kandi delivers another authentic, real and raw second chance/best friend’s brother romance that hooked me from the very start. I devoured and soaked up every word of this book and loved every aspect of it.

Both these tropes are as old as time, but when written with a different spin, it’s feels so fresh. Kandi writes with her heart and soul and her readers feel that deep in their own heart and soul. You feel every emotion her characters go through, even if it’s not from their POV.

There are things that happen that not every reader will love, but for me, it’s what makes this story all the more real and authentic. Yes, we read books to get away from the real world, but sometimes it’s the rawness of a story (whether good or bad) that gives the book the depth and a deeper connection to the characters.

Jasmine and Tyler are characters that will stay with me for a long time. Their story, their friendship, their souls will take readers on one hell of a roller coaster ride. I enjoyed the camaraderie and the history between everyone. This book felt so natural and true-to-life that I blasted through it. Make Me Hate You is another top read from Kandi Steiner!!

About Kandi:

Kandi Steiner is a bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional roller-coaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She 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 it 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, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.
When Kandi isn’t 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 live music, traveling, anything heavy in carbs, beach days, movie marathons, craft beer, and sweet wine — not necessarily in that order.

Connect with Kandi:
Mailing List: bit.ly/NewsletterKS
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Website: www.kandisteiner.com

Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
www.kandisteiner.com/events

Contemporary Romance Excerpt Five Loves June 2020 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Standalone Uncategorized

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Review…Jackson by Siobhan Davis

by Courtney

“Jackson has everything you expect from a Davis novel: Incredible writing. Multi-dimensional characters. Plot that has you frantically flippings pages. It was devious and dark. Explosive. Hot. Passionate.”- Coralee June, International bestselling author

Jackson, an all-new standalone dark romance in the fan-favorite Rydeville Elite Series from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis, is available now!

The devil came to me in disguise. Too bad I didn’t notice until it was far too late.

Vanessa:

The devil doesn’t always wear an evil mask.

Sometimes, he appears in the most beautiful form.

Like the super-hot bad boy with the dirty-blond hair and a wicked glint in his blue eyes who swept in out of nowhere, stealing all the air from my lungs.

I thought he was my savior.

But he’s my ruination.

And he’s just taken a machete to my heart.

Jackson:

For years, my rage seethed under the surface. Hidden behind a cloudy haze of my poison of choice.

But now, the fog has cleared.

And I’m out for blood.

I will annihilate those responsible for taking my sister from me.

Except he’s not here, so I go for the next best target.

The woman he abandoned.

Until it suited him to drag her into this messed-up elite world.

Sucks to be her.

Because when I’m done with Vanessa, she’ll wish she was dead.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FsDKKc
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Jacksonsd
Watch the trailer for Jackson: https://smarturl.it/JacksonTrailer

Start the Rydeville Elite Series with Cruel Intentions: http://bit.ly/2MYSgOg

Excerpt

“Enjoy your day off, bitch,” Chloe says as we pull down the blinds and lock the diner up after another busy day.
“Don’t work too hard,” I singsong. I’m in a great mood because I get to sleep late in the morning and I have a full day off to myself.
A throat clearing interrupts our banter. “Is this a good or bad time?” Jackson asks, and the rich undertones in his voice send shivers dancing up my spine.
“Oh, this is a good time,” Chloe answers for me, and I spot a devilish glint in her eye. “A very good time.” She thrusts her hand out. “I’m Chloe. Van’s best friend. You must be Jackson.”
I glare at her. Okay, I’ve got zero game, but that doesn’t mean Chloe has to rub it in.
“You told your bestie about me.” He smirks, and I can’t decide which one of them I want to punch more.
“Didn’t you tell Sawyer?” I ask.
“Guilty. Guess that makes us even.” He flashes me that panty-melting smile, and my lace thong evaporates from my body. Like poof, and it’s gone.
“Oh fuck,” Chloe murmurs, totally getting it now.
“Yep,” I reply, not removing my eyes from Jackson.
“You’re fucked, girl,” she adds, her eyes shamelessly raking over every inch of Jackson’s semi-naked torso. He’s in shorts and sneakers again, and damn, if that isn’t such a good look on him.
“Not yet she isn’t,” Jackson purrs, “but if she keeps looking at me like that, I’ll have my cock buried balls deep inside her before we’ve even gotten upstairs.”
I fan my face while Chloe looks like she might faint. “I’m trying to work out if that’s a threat or a promise,” Chloe admits.
“It’s a promise,” Jackson says, winking at me. “I don’t do threats.”
“He’s a keeper,” Chloe decides, tugging on my arm. “And I’m detouring to Jon’s place because I need his dick now.”
I fight a smile.

Jackson is the fifth book in the Rydeville Elite series, but the second inter-connected standalone. You don’t need to read the previous books, however, I would highly recommend that you do to get a better all-around feel for these characters and second characters. Siobhan does try her best to do a quick synopsis on certain things to help understand parts of the plot, but it is a lot to summarize and wholly understand.

This book surrounds Jackson Lauder and his urgency to exact revenge on those who caused his sister’s suicide years ago; the very men who are the founding fathers of the Elite organization. And he’ll do whatever is necessary to see those who caused her harm, pay the price. And that includes seducing an old acquaintance.

Jackson and Vanessa partied in the same circles when they were starting out in high school. However, they were never what you consider as friends. They were both big drinkers, dabbled in drugs and were quite promiscuous. But now that they are older, they realize they both did not act in the best ways and are trying to start over.

I won’t go into details about either of their pasts beyond that because it’s their pasts that shape things in this book and prompt things to happen. The blurb explains that Jackson will be using Vanessa for his own personal revenge and that’s all you need to know.

Siobhan plays this plot out well and with lots of twists and turns. Just when you think you know how things are going to play out, there is another surprise thrown into the plot line. And it’s not an out of nowhere surprise that doesn’t make sense, but it’s one that takes the plot even deeper and has the reader pondering what happens next.

There are a lot of previous characters mentioned in this book, which is a necessity. As I said earlier, Siobhan does her best to keep new readers abreast on how everyone and everything interconnects and not become too overwhelming. This series is very addicting and I feel with these new standalones, Siobhan keeps things interesting while keeping Elite organization just as enticing as they were in the first book.

There are also characters from another series that are mentioned. I love that she has found a way to inter-connect another series with this one without taking away from either one. If anything, it will make new readers want to read that other series (Kennedy Boys).

I cannot wait to see what Siobhan brings us next.

About Siobhan
USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult romantic fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime!
Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

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Excerpt & Review….Ruthless Princess by Rachel Van Dyken

by Courtney

I’m going to say this not once, but many times. Everyone should read this book. RVD wrote one of the most epic mafia romance’s I have ever read. She came in swinging to remind everyone why she’s the queen of mafia. Amo Jones, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Ruthless Princess: A Mafia Royals Romance about best friends turned enemies, by Rachel Van Dyken, the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Eagle Elite series is LIVE.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend…

I never thought my father would ask this of me, to become the second generation at Eagle Elite University, to rule with an iron fist, and to take care of anyone who gets in our way.

But ever since the incident.

Ever since Him.

There’s been a war in our little clique.

After all, a house divided cannot stand.

He’s the problem, not me.

He used to kiss me like I was his oxygen.

Now he looks at me like I’m his poison.

But we both drank it, again and again, never believing there would be a day when our love would start a war.

And our friendship would shatter into a million pieces.

Then again, the worst thing you could do in the mafia is hang on to hope that your life will be normal.

The second worst thing?

Fall in love with your best friend.

Enemy.

And heir to the Nicolasi throne.

Download your copy today!

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Excerpt:

He licked his lips and repeated what he always did when we had to perform, when we had to do our jobs. “I won’t be gentle with you.”

Our foreheads touched, my chest heaved with exertion like it was hard to breathe when he was so near, but really it was the promise that killed me, a promise that he wouldn’t enjoy touching me ever again, that I was more curse than cure, and yet, I knew it was all we would ever get, these fleeting moments where we did our job too well. “Then make it hurt, baby.” My voice cracked. “Make it hurt.”

His lips parted in a groan as he spun me into his arms and crushed his mouth to mine. It was part pain, part pleasure as he pulled my hair then slid a hand up my shirt like nobody was watching when everyone was.

We broke apart, mouths swollen, my lower lip was bleeding.

A reminder for both of us—this was no cease-fire, this wasn’t real, it was all a carefully constructed show.

“Mmmmm…” I smirked. “Looks like Junior’s not playing around tonight, ladies.”

Screams went up as Junior grabbed my ass and squeezed so hard, I knew I would bruise later. He roughly pulled me against his chest and nipped at my neck.

I told my body it didn’t feel good.

I told my heart we were safe.

And I forced myself to believe the lie every single time we touched.

Because to do otherwise—would destroy me.

RVD is going back to her mafia roots and I could not be more excited. Her Eagle Elite series is what made me a hardcore RVD fan back in 2013. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book she has written since, but her mafia stories hold special place in my heart and I jumped at the change to read an advance copy of her newest series.

Ruthless Princess is the start of Mafia Royals series and Rachels throws down the blades from the very start. You do not need to read the Eagle Elite series to read this series because it is a whole new group of characters – kids of the Eagle Elite. The Mafia bosses do make appearances, however it’s more with showing of a lineage and helps give you and understanding how all these kids related. It is a lot to taken in, but Rachel does it with ease so you are not lost.

And when I say kids, I say that very loosely. They are adults now – all in their college years. But growing up in the mafia makes you mature much faster than a child normally would. Rachel definitely lets her characters rule the pages and does not hold back on anything. There is a lot of blood, sex and intense scenes. And I LOVED EVERY DAMN BIT OF IT!!!

Ruthless Princess is truly Serena and Junior’s story. But Rachel also uses it to set the stage for what is come of all the cousins within this series. She does is gracefully and never deters from the main story – Serena and Junior’s their forbidden romance.

I will not into details about anything. Just know that not once is there a slowdown in this book. Rachel brings the perfect mix of suspense, steam and even some humor to keep things entertaining on the lighter side. The new Mafia Regime is not holding back on anything and they are determined to not repeat the mistakes of their fathers.

As I said before, you can read this book as a standalone and not have a problem. However, I can’t promise you that after reading this, that you won’t want to go back and read the Eagle Elite series. Rachel does a phenomenal job of introducing the next generation in the Elite mafia and holds back on nothing.

Another great series that will give RVD fans something to look forward to every year with a new mafia progeny.

About Rachel:

Rachel Van Dyken is the number one 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!

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Excerpt & Review…..Black Tangled Heart by Samantha Young

by Courtney

“Readers are in for a thrilling and emotional ride with this one! The storyline is engrossing, the characters are complex, and the chemistry is off-the-charts palpable. It’s my favorite book by Samantha Young to date.” — K.A. Tucker, international bestselling author of The Simple Wild

Black Tangled Heart, by New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young, is LIVE!

To my siblings, Jane was a friend. A pseudo-sister, the girl we grew up with.

To me? She was everything.

Our passion consumed us.

When our world fell apart, I thought our love would be the thing that held us together.

She was the love of my life. But she abandoned me when I needed her most.

And I’ll never forgive her.

For years I’ve been planning my revenge against the people who took everything from me.

Jane won’t be an exception. I’m coming for her.

She knows it.

She says she wants to help me serve my version of justice on the people who hurt me.

I’ll let her.

She probably thinks it will save her from me.

It won’t.

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Excerpt:

I stared dully at my painting. My creative mood had left the building, under the weight of the many questions going around and around in my head. Adrenaline made it hard for me to sit still. Cursing Jamie under my breath, I grabbed my laundry basket and headed toward the front door. Peering through the peephole, I double-checked his door was shut before I left my apartment. Glowering at his door as I passed, I hurried downstairs. How the hell had he maneuvered himself into my building? And why?

To my gratitude, the laundry room was empty as I crashed around inside it. I hauled out my stash of detergent and softener from my allocated locker and started separating my whites. That rat bastard. My heart raced, sweat gathered under my arms, and it agitated me. An encounter with Jamie was the equivalent of fifteen shots of caffeine.

And I hated that he knew I was lying to Asher. Something he could easily hold over my head.

“You are a very angry laundry doer.”

Jamie’s deep, rich voice startled me. Trying to control my breathing, I glared over at him standing in the doorway. Arms and ankles crossed as he leaned casually against the jamb. He wore a T-shirt and jeans. Nothing had changed there.

He was still the sexiest man I’d ever seen.

God, I hate him.

“What the hell are you doing in this building?” I turned my back on him, marching over to the stacked washers and dryers.

“I had no idea you lived here,” he lied, his voice growing closer as he crossed the room toward me.

Attempting not to react physically, to not hunch my shoulders in tension, I stared unseeing at the machines. What was I in the middle of doing again?

“What a surprise to find out you’re my neighbor.”

I snorted in disbelief and turned around, shocked to find him already in my personal space. “Liar.” I dragged my gaze insolently down his body and back up. “Move away. And I mean that in more ways than one.”

“Oh, does my presence bother you?” His wicked smile caused somersaults in my belly.

“What are you doing here?” I ignored his proximity. Okay, I tried to ignore his proximity.

In answer, he stepped into me and I stumbled against the machines at my back. Jamie pressed the palms of his hands on the dryer, caging me in. My breath caught and held as his scent flooded me. That dark, earthy scent was enticing, and my body betrayed my emotions.

Feeling panic rise, I pushed at his chest, but he wouldn’t budge. “Jamie?”

Those ocean eyes wandered over my face, cold, calculating. “He doesn’t know who I am. You haven’t told him.”

I lowered my hands. Touching him was even more discombobulating. “No.”

He bent his head toward mine until our noses almost touched. I sucked in a breath. “I wonder why you’re keeping it from him?”

Determined not to let him see how much he affected me, I glared up at him. He’d only have to touch me, hold my hand, to realize I was trembling. His face was so familiar. His lips were lips I’d thought I’d kiss for the rest of my life. Why did the pain of it never dull? Why did it still feel like a shard of glass through my chest? “Did you leak those tapes of Foster Steadman to Asher’s mom?”

Something menacing flashed in his eyes before he banked it. “And if I did?”

“Are you being smart, Jamie?”

“Are you asking out of concern for me or for your billionaire boy toy?”

“Jamie.”

“Never mind. I don’t care.” The bastard dipped his nose to my throat, and I tensed against the stacked machines. He inhaled, his nose brushing my skin, and my fingers bit into the washer behind me. “You smell different,” he whispered, lifting his head to my ear. “Expensive perfume. You’ve come up in the world.”

I felt his breath caress my skin seconds before his teeth touched my earlobe. Gasping, I instinctively pushed my palms against his stomach as he bit down hard, causing a flush of heat between my legs.

With a dark chuckle, Jamie released my ear after one last nibble and whispered, “Is he the jealous type, Jane?”

Black Tangled Heart is the epitome of a great romantic story. It is a riveting, captivating, heart-stopping and heart-pounding story of passion, grief, revenge beautifully mixed with a rough edge of suspense to keep readers on their toes the entire time.

You can truly never go wrong when picking up a book by Samantha. She writes the most complex characters and her stories are told in a monumental way that leave you feeling as though you lived through it personally. And Black Tangled Heart is the perfect example of just that.

Jane and Jamie’s story plays out from childhood to adulthood and readers can easily see how relationship progresses over time. This story is filled with passionate and steamy scenes along with some very tense scenes. Everything plays out at a perfect pace and keeps readers glued to the pages.

I will not go into any details because this book needs to be read without knowledge aside form the blurb. Readers need to experience every scene without any notion of what it is to come. This story was nothing like I had anticipated and that’s what made it so much more better than anything she has written to date.

This book has easily made it’s way to one of my top reads of 2020. Black Tangled Heart needs to be one book that everyone reads!

About S. Young:

Samantha Young is a New York Times and #1 International bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. She has since published over thirteen romance titles including the New York Times Bestsellers Into the Deep, Hero, and her most recent contemporary romance Fight or Flight. When writing Adult Paranormal romance she writes under the pen name S. Young.

Connect with Samantha Young:

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Release Day Blitz…Black Tangled Heart by Samantha Young

by Courtney

Black Tangled Heart, by New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young, is LIVE!

To my siblings, Jane was a friend. A pseudo-sister, the girl we grew up with.

To me? She was everything.

Our passion consumed us.

When our world fell apart, I thought our love would be the thing that held us together.

She was the love of my life. But she abandoned me when I needed her most.

And I’ll never forgive her.

For years I’ve been planning my revenge against the people who took everything from me.

Jane won’t be an exception. I’m coming for her.

She knows it.

She says she wants to help me serve my version of justice on the people who hurt me.

I’ll let her.

She probably thinks it will save her from me.

It won’t.

Download your copy today or read for free in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon:

Amazon Worldwide:

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2y7DmRe

Excerpt:

And I hated that he knew I was lying to Asher. Something he could easily hold over my head.

“You are a very angry laundry doer.”

He was still the sexiest man I’d ever seen.

God, I hate him.

“What the hell are you doing in this building?” I turned my back on him, marching over to the stacked washers and dryers.

“I had no idea you lived here,” he lied, his voice growing closer as he crossed the room toward me.

Attempting not to react physically, to not hunch my shoulders in tension, I stared unseeing at the machines. What was I in the middle of doing again?

“What a surprise to find out you’re my neighbor.”

“Oh, does my presence bother you?” His wicked smile caused somersaults in my belly.

“What are you doing here?” I ignored his proximity. Okay, I tried to ignore his proximity.

Feeling panic rise, I pushed at his chest, but he wouldn’t budge. “Jamie?”

Those ocean eyes wandered over my face, cold, calculating. “He doesn’t know who I am. You haven’t told him.”

I lowered my hands. Touching him was even more discombobulating. “No.”

He bent his head toward mine until our noses almost touched. I sucked in a breath. “I wonder why you’re keeping it from him?”

Something menacing flashed in his eyes before he banked it. “And if I did?”

“Are you being smart, Jamie?”

“Are you asking out of concern for me or for your billionaire boy toy?”

“Jamie.”

With a dark chuckle, Jamie released my ear after one last nibble and whispered, “Is he the jealous type, Jane?”

About S. Young:

Connect with Samantha Young:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaYoung/

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Catch Me When I Fall by A.L. Jackson…..Exclusive Excerpt

by Courtney

Catch Me When I Fall

A Falling Stars stand-alone romance from A.L. Jackson

Coming June 1st

“Royce,” she begged.

All it took was my name raking up her throat for me to completely lose it. No control left.

Fuck it.

Only thing that mattered was getting closer.

I lifted her from the ground, one arm around the small of her back and the other wrapped up in her hair. I pulled her to my hungry mouth, kissing her wild, lips and tongues and teeth.

Cherry coated her sweet tongue, and need thrummed her heart into a fury.

“You were right, what you said. You were right,” she whispered frantically. “I want you to take away the pain. Take it . . . just for a little while. Just for tonight.”

Fuck.

I was a bastard.

A monster.

But I couldn’t stop.

I let my lips travel over her jaw and tumble down her throat, both my hands holding her by the face. The girl’s head rocked back on the wall where we were right out in the open, gasping and panting for air as I devoured her sweet flesh.

The girl completely surrendered.

Shit.

This was bad. So bad.

I ripped myself back, which was a goddamn travesty in itself. “We have to get out of here. Right fucking now.”

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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, and FALLING STARS novels. Watch out for her upcoming stand-alone, CATCH ME WHEN I FALL, releasing June 1st.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

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The Hunter by L.J. Shen….Excerpt & Review

by Courtney

“The queen of enemies-to-lovers strikes again. I devoured every page, hooked on the sizzling chemistry between Hunter and Sailor. A ten star read.” –Parker S. Huntington, Wall Street Journal bestselling author

The Hunter, an all-new compelling and must-read contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is available now!

Boston’s debauched elite is going up in flames, and it’s the Fitzpatrick family that set it on fire.

Hunter

I didn’t mean to star in a sex tape, okay?

It was just one of those unexplainable things. Like Stonehenge, Police Academy 2, and morning glory clouds.

It just happened.

Now my ball-busting father is sentencing me to six months of celibacy, sobriety, and morbid boredom under the roof of Boston’s nerdiest girl alive, Sailor Brennan.

The virginal archer is supposed to babysit my ass while I learn to take my place in Royal Pipelines, my family’s oil company.

Little does she know, that’s not the only pipe I’ll be laying…

Sailor

I didn’t want this gig, okay?

But the deal was too sweet to walk away from.

I needed the public endorsement; Hunter needed a nanny.

Besides, what’s six months in the grand scheme of things?

It’s not like I’m in danger of falling in love with the appallingly gorgeous, charismatic gazillionaire who happens to be one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors.

No. I will remain immune to Hunter Fitzpatrick’s charm.

Even at the cost of losing everything I have.

Even at the cost of burning down his kingdom.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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Excerpt

“Why?” I asked, blinking at him in confusion. I had two left legs and the coordination of roadkill. I couldn’t dance if my life depended on it. I’d tried dancing at the only party I’d ever gone to—sophomore year—and was subjected to such thorough humiliation. People took videos of me dancing and forwarded it to half my school. Saggy Sailor, they’d graffiti-ed on my locker. Apparently, my back looked hunched and droopy when I danced.
“Because…” He tilted his chin down, his voice low, smoldering. “You’re obviously bored, and my family is watching us, and I’m partial to fondling you.”
“It’s the dress,” I muttered.
“I’d actually prefer fondling you out of it.”
I sliced my gaze sideways, noticing that Aisling and Persy hadn’t picked up on my exchange with him. They were now watching a video, probably of the reality show they were arguing about. Even though Hunter was just after a friendly dance to show his family we were getting along, I couldn’t unglue my butt from my chair.
“No fondling.” I crossed my arms over my chest, buying time.
“No promises. Get up.”
“Did you tell anyone we live together?” I accused, my eyes narrowing into slits.
He stared at me, wide-eyed, mouth parted. “Negatory.”
“Did you tell anyone we were dating?”
“This is the lamest twenty-questions game I’ve ever participated in. No.”
“Well, people are talking about us.”
“That’s what people do. They fill the air with useless words to entertain each other. It’s called gossip, and it sucks all the asses in the world. Doesn’t mean it was me. Our building employs more than a hundred people. All of them work for my father. That means he’s spreading whatever the hell he wants to spread.”

The Hunter is the first standalone contemporary romance in Shen’s newest series, Boston Belles. And she truly started this series off with a two-bunch and kept things moving at a high-pace octane.

L.J. Shen really knows how to write entertaining and quirky characters. Hunter and Sailor could not be any more opposite if they tried. Sailor keeps to herself and has always focused solely on her archery. Hunter lives in his life in the spot life and has no problems with all the attention he gets.

Hunter is the epitome of the classic playboy with broken pieces hidden on the inside. He keeps everything closed off and keeps people far enough away that they never see the pain he feels. Hunter puts on a great façade with his playboy antics and his “don’t give two shits’ mentality because he can get away with anything – well almost anything. When a sex tape gets out – that is the final nail in his coffin.

Sailor has been training harder and harder to make the Olympics’ Archery team. She’s never really cared for a social life and has truly only had 2 best friends her whole life. Her life has always been her family, her two friends and archery.

And now Sailor is Hunter’s only hope to prove to his father that he’s not just some playboy. Sailor wants nothing to do with Hunter and he does not make it easy to forget that he is around. I love the banter between these two so much. They are complete polar opposites in every single thing. But they force each other outside their norms without realizing it. They also gradually see and learn how to adapt to one another in ways they never anticipated.

The Hunter is an amazing enemies to lovers romance. Shen does a phenomenal job of showing that not all attraction has to be immediate and it can be something that is gradual as you get to know a person; their inner beauty can truly shine outwards.

Shen truly sets this series up perfectly with The Hunter. The story of Hunter of Sailor is written extremely well and Shen litters the other characters and their attributes perfectly without taking away from the main story. I cannot wait to see who’s story is next.

About LJ Shen
L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to twenty different countries.
She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

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Release Day Blitz & Review….Through The Lens by K.K. Allen

by Courtney

Title: Through the Lens

Series: Bellecurve #3

Author: K.K. Allen

Genre: Standalone New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 1, 2020

Blurb

“He thought I was his muse. Turned out, he was mine too.”

Maggie Stevens is done feeling objectified.

After spending her entire life in the spotlight and climbing the high fashion ranks as a model in LA, she’s willing to leave it all behind for a fresh start.

Moving to Seattle seems like the perfect solution.

A clean slate.

New adventures.

Endless opportunities.

All is going according to plan. Until she meets the drop-dead gorgeous cooking instructor who delights in adding to her misery.

Desmond Blake is determined to make a name for his culinary school—one that speaks to his hard work and undeniable passion.

When his food photography hobby garners attention from an unexpected source, his dreams are finally within reach. The obstacle he never sees coming is the sharp-tongued bombshell with a distaste for all he stands for.

When Desmond accidentally captures a photo of Maggie during a moment of weakness, he starts to see there’s more to the fashionista than meets the eye…

Sometimes what can be seen through the lens is a skewed version of reality. A bent perspective. Manufactured, therefore losing all sense of authenticity. And sometimes all it takes is a different angle to see what’s right in front of you.

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Through the Lens is an amazing contemporary romance read that everyone will enjoy! The story also encompassed more than I had anticipated and it made the story that much more relatable and enjoyable.

Maggie has been pondering changing careers when she realized modeling was not where heart truly was. After a very unexpected leave from modeling, she moves to live with her sister to try and figure out what she wants to do next.

Desmond has always known his passion in life is cooking and photography. He runs a very profitable and productive culinary school but wants to take it one step further. But when his photography catches the eye of a prominent producer, his dreams are closer to coming true.

I enjoyed this story from start to finish. Desmond and Maggie’s story is such an authentic one, it is impossible not to fall in love with their story. They go from being fre-enemies to coworkers to more. I love how things progressed naturally and organically between them. I enjoyed all the banter and interactions between them as is just added to the chemistry bubbling underneath the surface.

Through the Lens was exactly what I needed right now. Everything flowed perfectly with the right amount of angst, humour and steam. Ms. Allen truly knows how to make her characters and stories so relatable and real. You can never go wrong when reading a K.K. Allen book.

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Author Bio

K.K. Allen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author who writes heartfelt and inspirational contemporary romance stories. K.K. graduated from the University of Washington with an Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences degree and currently resides in central Florida with her ridiculously handsome little dude who owns her heart.

K.K. published her first contemporary romance, Up in the Treehouse, in 2016 which went on to win the Romantic Times 2016 Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best New Adult Book of the Year.

With K.K.’s love for inspirational and coming of age stories involving heartfelt narratives and honest emotions, you can be assured to always be surprised by what K.K. releases next.

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