Category: Five Loves

The Lawyer and the Tramp by Soraya Naomi….Release Day Blitz & Review

 

 

 

Title: The Lawyer and the Tramp
A Chicago Syndicate Series Novel
Author: Soraya Naomi
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 3, 2017
Blurb
The Lawyer
Carmine
Montesi is a killer disguised as a refined lawyer.
He’s a
loyal member of the notorious mafia – the Chicago Syndicate – and the boss just
happens to be his brother.
He has
wealth, influence, and sinful looks and is rejected by no woman.
Until the
moment feisty Eva ruins his New Year’s Eve, when one heated encounter starts an
illicit underworld game, placing them on opposite sides.
The Tramp
Eva Conley
is an escort.
She’s
working to make the money she desperately needs to pay an outstanding debt.
That is, until he gets her fired.
He’s an
ass.
She’s the
enemy.
They hate
each other from the first time they meet.
Carmine’s
only supposed to be her assignment.
And Eva’s
the one woman he isn’t allowed to fall for.
Because
neither of them can sleep with the enemy and make it out alive…
A
standalone novel from the Chicago Syndicate world.
From Soraya
Naomi, International Bestselling Author of For
Fallon and For Luca.
Novel
Grounds Semi Annual Literary Awards 2014 winner of Best Breakout Novel For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate, #1).
Purchase Links
 
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
PAPERBACK

Soraya Naomi not only knows how to write a damn great story, but she truly knows how to write a great mafia story; she’s the master of this genre.

You do not need to read any of the previous books in this series to read this book. Previous characters do make appearances; Soraya does a phenomenal job of explaining what those characters roles are within in this mafia world and she does it without any confusion.

Now for those who have never read any of her mafia books before, I will let you know that this one is probably the least suspenseful when it comes to the mafia drama and suspense and it should be. This is Carmine’s book – he is the Consigliere (counselor/lawyer) for the Chicago Syndicate, fourth in command. While he is there for the majority of the meetings, it’s rare that he would be involved in anyof the ugly parts of the mafia.

Carmine never saw himself as a guy that would settle down and be a family man. He’s always been ok with just needing a woman to pacify he needs at that time and then going about his business. He never anticipated a woman from the escort side of Club 7 to entice him; especially after their first two encounters within the club had him feeling nothing but annoyed by her.

Eva becomes Carmine’s assignment while he is on mafia business. And unknowingly, Eva finds herself admits a mafia showdown when she is asked to snoop on Carmine during their interactions. I have to say that Soraya plays this out very well. Eva has no idea what she’s really doing and uses her gut instincts on who to trust. For the first time ever, Carmine has a difficult time on how to handle Eva and what he’s feeling.

I really like Eva. She’s just trying to make money to pay for her brother’s care and be able to live a normal life. And when she’s thrust into this mafia world, she holds herself up very well. I love that she doesn’t back to Carmine either; she challenges him at every angle.

Carmine – he’s more than I expected. He was more ruthless and cunning that I thought. He was just more than I ever anticipated. Soraya shocked me in a very awesome way with Carmine. And I really enjoyed learning every bit about him and then watching Eva turn that upside down. These two couldn’t have been more opposite if they tried; but they also brought out new sides to each other.

Soraya wrote an amazing suspenseful and emotional story. I love that The Lawyer and the Tramp was about two individual who couldn’t be any more different, especially in the mafia world. Her words will have you begging to know what happens and how things pan out; how these two interact and not kill one another every time they are together. I love it!!

Another great mafia story from Soraya!!

Author Bio

 

 

Apart from indulging in chocolate pastries much too often, Soraya Naomi is also an avid reader. She has a passionate obsession with the written word and reads many genres but favors intense, seductive, and provocative novels where the male character loves fiercely, without remorse or boundaries. She adores Dark Romances, Romantic Suspense, Historical Romances, New Adult, and PNR.
Her debut novel For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate, #1) was released on July 26, 2014. She’s honored that For Fallon won “Best Breakout Novel 2014” in the Novel Grounds Semi Annual Literary Awards.
Author Links

Touched by Mara White…Blog Tour & Review

 

 

 

 

AP new - synopsis.jpg
–Does your sister let you touch her, Gemini?
-Barely, but, yes, more than anyone else. I remember even in preschool when the teacher would grab her hand, she’d stare at the spot where their skin connected as if it were an affront to her existence. Just stand there and glare like she wanted to hurt someone.
-Junipera suffers from a rare phobia.
-Please, what does June not suffer from?
-When did she start chasing storms?
-In third grade she started obsessing about the rain. Full blown? I’d say after hurricane Katrina she never looked back. And she didn’t just chase them, June became those wild storms.

Junipera and Gemini Jones, Irish twins born during the month of June, survive a childhood of neglect and poverty by looking out for one another. Destined for a group home, the girls are rescued by a rich aunt and uncle who move them from Northern Minnesota to Fairfield, Connecticut. One sister thrives while the other spins out of control. A violent assault leaves Gemini searching for clues, but what she finds might be questions that are better left unanswered.
Praise for Touched


“Fresh, raw, relevant. TOUCHED slips under your skin with lush prose, unforgettable characters, and a story like no other.”
        -Leylah Attar, New York Times best-selling author


“Hauntingly beautiful and downright emotional, White grabs you by the soul in her latest novel, Touched, and leaves an indelible mark.”
-K. Bromberg, New York Times best-selling author

“Mara White has crafted characters so real and complex, they live and bleed. Watching their story unfold was heartbreaking, beautiful, and riveting. Touched is stunning work.”
    -Nikki Sloane, Best-selling author of the Blindfold Club Series

“Touched is a truly beautiful book. It’s raw, real, and possessing of a quiet poetry.”
        -Emma Scott, Best-Selling author of the Full Tilt Duet

“I can confidently say, without a shred of doubt, that this story and these people will stay with me for the rest of my life. I bow down, Mara White. You wrote a category 5 masterpiece.”
-BB Easton, Bestselling Author

“A phenomenal, mesmerizing and unforgettable masterpiece!
This story blew me away! I cannot put into words how beautiful this story was! Absolutely astonishing! A must read!”
    -The Book Queen

“The writing is voracious and hungry and insatiable. Touched is a story that will devour you as you stuff your face with it. I’m not only touched, I’m digested. Just read it.”
    -Suanne Laqueur, Best-Selling author of the Fish Tales Series

Touched is a story that I will soon not forget. This is my first Mara White book and most definitely will not be my last. While I had some difficulty reading this book due to how it was written, I was still able to feel every bit of Mara’s writing.

This story is completely different from what I’ve read in the past. In all honesty, I think this may be my first women’s fiction book. I had no idea what to expected when I jumped into this book. The blurb doesn’t even come close to giving you the true depths of this book. It’s about so much more.

“God makes us each how we are, June. Unique, special, different from others. You touch people with your actions, with your heart. I can see that and I just met you.” 

Gemini and Juniper are Irish twins who grew up in poverty. But they made the most of what they had. Gem was the most resourceful of the two, making sure they both had what they needed to survive. June was the more free bird of two; nothing stopped her once she had heart and mind set on something. And these two were inseparable; they were dependent upon one another in order to survive. But Gem suffered from a phobia that caused her a lot of hindrances as they grew up – she didn’t like to be touched by anyone, aside from her sister. Until they met Alaric. These three formed a bond like no other – it was very unique bond too.

“The good Lord made us the way he intended us to be. There are no mistakes in His divine hands.”

There are so many important characters in this book, not just Gem, June and Alaric. Each characters plays significant role in their own way. But June really stood out to me. She was an enigma. How largely she lived without ever touching anyone but still touched them each in different ways, speaks volumes about her as a person.

“For a girl who didn’t touch people and refused all physical affection, June had discovered a beautiful strength hidden in her imperfections. If she wanted to let go, she simply had to grab hold as hard as she could.”

I know that my review may seem as vague as the blurb as to how truly deep this goes. It’s a book that you have to experience on your own. I will state that titles of each chapter will be a huge help in reading and understanding as you go along. Mara flips between past and present within the chapters and it sometimes got confusing, but you are able to figure out where she is going with her story. As I said, this is a book that I will not be soon forgetting.

 

 

Alaric
Alaric was used to being tossed off, so it didn’t surprise him or especially hurt his feelings when his grandfather passed him on to another group home. Three months had been enough for the old coot. Buyer’s remorse. Maybe driving him to school every day put him over the edge. He took the high road and took in the kid, but then soon realized it was a crazy idea. Too much of a responsibility. Besides, he hated people, let alone a grandson. Alaric was needy and Thorn didn’t do needy.
He did miss the room he’d quickly become attached to. He missed choices for breakfast and the hum of the loud refrigerator. He even kind of missed how his grandfather grunted instead of speaking full words, how he’d catch him studying his face like he was trying to decipher a code. Alaric knew he looked like his father, that the fact both pleased and aggravated his grandfather. A second chance the man didn’t ask for and obviously didn’t want.
Alaric realized he was slipping in his game. He shouldn’t have feelings for a bed or a ceiling after only a few weeks of staying in the same place. The trick was, he’d let himself think it was permanent and allowed himself to believe his home wasn’t going anywhere. Turned out he was half right—his home wasn’t going anywhere, but apparently, he was. Alaric reminded himself that nothing was permanent, change was the only guaranteed constant in life.
The other thing he missed were his nightly summer visits with Gem and June. Even though they pretended not to know each other at school, in the few months he’d been there, June and Gem had snuck over almost every night to watch the television in the garage. They shared snacks and laughs, secrets and intimate moments of fun. Although he’d never hung out with girls before, he’d imagined it would be boring, tedious and maybe even petty. How wrong he was, because Gem and June were electric, their curiosity was infectious, their fearlessness—almost troubling. He was, admittedly, a little bit scared of them. Especially June, whom he’d seen eat a bug, let a spider crawl down her turtleneck, poke a dead cat with a stick and turn it over so they could see the maggots, try a sip of beer from a can someone discarded on the curb, ride Freddy Bullet’s dirt bike down the dirt hill at full speed with her legs held out to the sides, hold her head under water in a bucket of freezing water, touch tongues with a teenager from the middle school who dared her to, drive her mother’s car to the other side of the street for alternate side parking. Phew! He would never challenge June to something he wasn’t readily willing to do. Because June would do it and leave him crying in the dust.
***
Junipera and Gemini turned ten and eleven in June. Alaric was ten in August. Midway through the year, Albert Thorn felt guilty about abandoning his grandson and came back to get him. Alaric was most excited about seeing his neighbors, Gem and June. He felt closer to them than he did his only living relative. Their reunion was spectacular. They smiled so hard their cheeks hurt, eyes dancing with the possibility of another summer spread out before them.
Life wasn’t easy, but they lived it fully and sometimes secretly. Fun was a reality they trusted much more than adults or rules or the surreal transformation that was growing up. If something appeared fun, it carried with it a truth that spoke directly to their hearts. A joke. A puddle to be splashed, a doorbell to be rung and ditched, sidewalk chalk to spell out pastel curse words, the pink heart dotting the I on the word shit, slides to slide upside down and two by two or three if they could fit, wrestling matches to reenact the ones they’d seen on TV—June could do full body slams until purple bruises appeared on her hip bones—they’d gossip and whisper stories from warm lips to ears, candy, costumes, screaming, running, laughing until tears or until June wet her pants. The magic of summer and having friends to share it with; they didn’t take it lightly and reveled in its bewitching yet innocent power.
Alaric would make videos that starred June and Gem. They didn’t reenact stories, he just documented their interactions, the two girls giggling and telling inside jokes, yelling at the television to egg on their favorite characters, fighting over seats or sticks or candy—Alaric found everything they did to be fascinating. He liked to zoom in close on both of their faces, record the flashes of expression and subtle eye movements that informed their unique communication. Once he filmed June outside dancing in the rain. He and Gem stayed in the shelter of the garage overhang while Junipera soaked her white nightgown all the way through. She threw her arms to the sides and spun in circles, tipped her head back and opened her mouth. Thunder crashed around them like the crack of a cosmic whip; purple lightning split through the dark sky making them both jump and cower. June was oblivious.
“Junipera, come back in. It’s dangerous and you’ll get sick,” Gem screamed at her sister.
Alaric panned to her face, which was twisted up in concern, then back out to June, who was laughing openly at the sky in some kind of trance-like rapture. Her feet were covered in mud up to her ankles, her nightgown soaked transparent and advertising her blue underwear. Gem could even see her navel. Greenish lightning zapped through the rapacious clouds and moments later, another clash of thunder shattered their ears. Gem and Alaric bumped shoulders as fear moved them involuntarily. The lightning lit her up in intervals like the glitz of a macabre disco. The vibration of the storm rumbled low in their bellies and when the thunder struck it shook the earth beneath them.
“June, I’m serious. Get back in here!” Gem screamed. Alaric filmed her face, concentrating on her brown eyes filled with panic. “What if she gets hit?” Gem asked him, her palms turned upward in defeat.
“Well, then she’d stop dancing for sure and you and I could go save her.”

 

AP new -about the author.jpg

 

Mara White is a contemporary romance and erotica writer who laces forbidden love stories with hard issues, such as race, gender and inequality. She holds an Ivy League degree but has also worked in more strip clubs than even she can remember. She is not a former Mexican telenovela star contrary to what the tabloids might say, but she is a former ballerina and will always remain one in her heart. She lives in NYC with her husband and two children and yes, when she’s not writing you can find her on the playground.

 

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Too Beautiful To Break by Tessa Bailey…Release Week Event with Giveaway & Review

TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BREAK by Tessa Bailey 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BREAK

Author: Tessa Bailey

Series: Romancing The Clarksons, #4

On Sale: September 26, 2017

Publisher: Forever

Mass Market: $7.99 USD

eBook: $5.99 USD

Add to Goodreads

 

A love of a lifetime . . .

Leaving Belmont Clarkson is the hardest thing Sage Alexander has ever done. From the moment they met, she knew Belmont was the one, and getting up close and personal with him on his family’s epic road trip has taken her desire to a new, even hotter level. But there’s no way she can go there—not without revealing secrets that could devastate them both.

Losing Sage is not an option. Belmont’s heart is hers, has always been hers. He knows she’s hiding something from him, but nothing will stand in his way of telling her just how much she means to him. Finding her is easy—saving her from her past could cost him everything.

 

BUY THE BOOK HERE

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My Review:

Too Beautiful To Break is the fourth, and sadly last, book in author Tessa Bailey’s Meeting The Clarksons series and highlights a couple we’ve seen throughout the whole series, but knew very little about.  A couple comprised of a serious, handsome, thoughtful, broody Belmont and the beautiful, sweet, kind Sage.  The connection they shared was always in the shadows and we didn’t really know the exact dynamic between them…until now. And now that I’ve finished this story I can tell you all the build up was so worth the wait.  Oh, how I love this couple so.

If you want a little backstory on the Clarksons as  whole, I’m going to direct you here because frankly I can’t wait to gush over Belmont and Sage…

Belmont, from the very beginning, has been the stoic older brother with a protective streak a mile long and a soft heart as big as Texas.  We got to see glimpses of those traits throughout the series, but he always remained a mystery.  His childhood was shaped around one nightmarish incident that, in a way, made him the man he is today.  He was a great big teddy bear who maybe didn’t smile of laugh a lot, but a man you loved regardless.  He was also a man you just knew loved Sage Alexander, even if he wouldn’t admit it out loud just yet, you knew the special kind of connection and tension between them would spill over into much more than a few stolen quiet moments together.

What’s not to love about Sage Alexander? She’s kind and beautiful and has a soft grace about her that practically jumped off the pages.  They were mismatched in so many ways, but so well matched in the most important of ways.

So, when these to are thrown into a situation where they can’t deny what they feel for each other any longer, I knew I was in for an emotional ride. And oh boy, I think I cried through the entire second half of this book.

One of the things I loved most about Belmont and Sage was they were both pretty innocent when it came to relationships and handling emotions.  So seeing them experience a lot of things that come with first love was rather refreshing and a bit unexpected.  It really brought another layer to their story that made their bond that much more special and strong.  It also made me need almost a whole box of tissues.

The road they must travel down is way more than just a rough one.  Both of the have to battle childhood demons that they’ve been pushing aside for far too long but they do it….together. Man, is it something special to read.

Now, some of you may know that when Tessa first thought of this series, I was beyond excited.  It was a series unlike anything out there, and still is.  What you may not know is that we were at dinner when she told me it was going to come to fruition; I totally started crying right there in the restaurant.  What you also may not know is on another occasion I forced her to tell me how Belmont’s story would play out.  You can imagine I cried again.  But what she managed to put down on paper, and into the words of this book, far surpassed anything I could have dreamed for.  It was the most sublime of stories and while I am so freaking sad the series has come to an end, there is no better way to have it ended with these two.  And yes, I’m crying again…

Thank you, Tessa, for giving us not only the whole Clarkson gang, but the loves they’ve found on their journey and for taking us along for the ride.

Five Loves

TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BREAK excerpt:

“You don’t have to leave right away,” Sage said when Belmont turned, watching her from beneath his eyebrows. “Can you wait here while I take a quick shower?”

Maybe that hadn’t been the right thing to say. His big back heaved and the touch of his tongue in her mouth came crashing in like a behemoth wave. They had crossed an unspoken boundary on the train platform. There was no going back to before, to when they stopped at rough, crushing embraces. As if that hadn’t been…more than sexual somehow.

“Yes, I’ll wait,” he said, his voice sounding like serrated metal. “I can light the fire for you.”

I’ll say. God, why did everything sound like an innuendo now? If her body weren’t flush and sweating beneath the jumpsuit, she would have laughed about it. But there was nothing funny about having Belmont looming mere yards away, looking like one word of encouragement would snap his chain and send him barreling toward her. “That would be perfect. I’ll just be…a few minutes.”

Sage all but dove into the itty-bitty bathroom, pressing her back up against the door and willing her racing heart to calm down. Why had she asked him to stay? Her resolve would weaken with every passing second. Biting down on her lower lip, she began the excruciating task of lowering the zipper of her jumpsuit, which kicked up a protest in her triceps and shoulder muscles. When she finally got it down, she gripped the hem of her T-shirt and attempted to lift it over her head.

Her arms wouldn’t cooperate. They flat out wouldn’t rise any higher than her ribs, leaving the T-shirt suspended in midair. Her muscles burned like someone had doused them in lighter fluid and held them above a flame. Sage’s agony must have escaped in the form of a whimper, because Belmont’s boots scraped just outside the door. And her stomach hollowed with awareness, lightning racing all over her skin.

“Sage.” His voice was deep, urgent. “Do you need help?”

No. Say no. She’d only gotten finished reminding him she didn’t need him. But in this case, it would be a lie and she’d done so much of that lately. With Belmont. The most truthful person she knew. “I can’t get my shirt off.” Her nose started to ache, the tip probably turning red. “My arms hurt.”

His growl was short and broken. A beat passed before the door opened and she felt Belmont filling the doorway behind her. She flicked a glance up to the ancient mirror and confirmed what she’d seen in her mind’s eyes. Belmont towering over her like an avenging angel, outlined by candlelight. He’d taken off his coat, leaving him in a black long-sleeved shirt, which he’d rolled up to the elbows. Every inch of visible skin was shot through with strained cords of muscle, as if his frustration were written on him like a road map.

Sage still had the shirt halfway lifted, so her lower back was visible. Not a big deal to most people. But Belmont had never seen anything below her neck. Or above her knees. With the jumpsuit peeled halfway down, the band of her underwear might even be peeking out.

Breathing grew difficult as Belmont took one step closer and took hold of the T-shirt, his knuckles grazing the small of her back. “You’re wearing”—his breath ghosted down her neck—“my shirt.”

Sage only realized she’d closed her eyes when they popped open. Oh God. In the shock of Belmont arriving, she’d forgotten. “I am?” Her mouth was parched. “L-look at that.”

“I am looking.” She jumped when Belmont reached over her shoulder with his left hand and turned on the shower, the sound of spray filling the room. Then the roughness of his knuckles returned, sliding up her spine along with the shirt. “I like knowing there was a layer of me standing between you and the earth.”

Her legs took on the consistency of Jell-O. His touch was a drug, making her languid, although it was different than the way he usually touched her. There was sex this time. So much of it. And it was that major difference that allowed Sage to accept the skimming of his fingers. Accept the part of herself that lusted. They were in a dark room and time had surely suspended anywhere outside this little plot of square footage. Words ached to leave her mouth, words that wouldn’t be suitable in the sunlight. This man, so warm and brave and large at her back, knew things about her no one else did. What was one more secret? “I stole it out of your suitcase. I broke a commandment and everything.”

“Why?” He breathed into her hair, sinking heat like an anchor in her belly. The shirt came off, her arms dropped to her sides, and she was left in nothing but a bra from the waist up. Inches from Belmont. “Why, sweetest girl?”

A light steam had begun curling in the air like beckoning fingers. Maybe this is a dream. It felt like one of the fevered fantasies she woke from on occasion, sweat slicking her breasts and neck. “Because I like the way you smell and it hadn’t been washed.”

His exhale was gravelly. “Sage.”

“Yes.”

She thought he might not respond, but finally he asked a question that made her nipples turn to hard points. “Can you manage”—a long, windy inhale—“the bra?”

Sage tried. She really, truly did. Her arms felt as though they might break off and hit the floor, but she reached back until her muscles locked up, refusing to move farther. But Belmont was already there, pushing them back down, holding them at her hips.

“Jesus. Please, stop. I can’t watch it.” His touch disappeared only for a second and then the cotton material of the bra tightened over her breasts. She could feel him working the back clasp with fingers she knew so well. They’d tunneled through her hair so many times, twisted in her clothing, but had never, ever, touched her with any kind of…intent. Intent to seduce. And that’s what he was doing, intentional or not. The inhibitions she’d held close forever, circled the drain, along with the shower water. “Your back is so beautiful.” A ghost of a fingertip traced down her spine. “But I need to leave before I—”

“What?”

“Before I turn you around.” They weren’t touching, but she could sense the shudder that ran through him. “Or look in that mirror.”

Right or wrong, the mine, their codependency aside, Sage knew if she let him leave just then, she would regret it for all time. Her body had been woken up. By one man. He’d kept her on the razor’s edge for thousands of miles, surrounding her with his power and taking it away. Over and over. And this fever wrapping around them in the tiny bathroom was completely different from easing his anxiety. Finally, she felt like a woman standing in front of him, instead of a calming device. This was mutual and alive and she couldn’t stand it to end. Tomorrow might be a different story, but this moment was the culmination of a thousand dreams and she could no more deny herself than she could forget his face.

“Belmont, do you think of the kiss?”

“I never stop,” he groaned into her hair. “Never.”

She took a deep breath for courage. “Will you shower with me?”

 

 

THE ROMANCING THE CLARKSONS SERIES

TOO HOT TO HANDLE, #1

TOO WILD TO TAME, #2

TOO HARD TO FORGET, #3

TOO CLOSE TO CALL, #3.5

TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BREAK, #4

Series Page on Goodreads

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans, and laptop, and drove 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 and daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.  

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Lie To Me by J.T. Ellison….Review Tour Stop

We are so excited to be a part of a 2-part tour for the release of best selling author J. T. Ellison’s new psychological, Lie to Me!

About Lie to Me

  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: MIRA (September 5, 2017)

Domestic noir at its best. Readers will devour this stunning page-turner about the disintegration of a marriage as grief, jealousy, betrayal and murder destroy the facade of the perfect literary couple. New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison takes her exceptional writing to a new level with this breakout novel. 

They built a life on lies 

Sutton and Ethan Montclair’s idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.

Ethan finds himself the target of vicious gossip as friends, family and the media speculate on what really happened to Sutton Montclair. As the police investigate, the lies the couple have been spinning for years quickly unravel. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Did Sutton hate him enough to kill the child she never wanted and then herself? The path to the answers is full of twists that will leave the reader breathless.

“LIE TO ME twists you up, throws you into nail-biting action and unexpected revelations. Belt yourself in for this roller coaster ride.”–Catherine Coulter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ENIGMA

“LIE TO ME brilliantly combines a domestic noir thriller with a searing portrait of two writers trapped in a web of lies, betrayals, and murder. Sharply written and masterfully plotted, full of hard truths about the creative life and modern marriage, Ellison has written her finest novel- a breakout page-turner certain to win her a wide audience.” -Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of BLAME

 

My Review:

Lie To Me is the newest work from author J.T. Ellison, and admittedly, the first book of hers that I’ve read.  Having just finished the book I can tell you that I’ll be looking at her entire backlist for more because holy moly, this book was one hell of an incredible ride.  I loved every twist, every turn, every dark moment, on every page.

This is the story of two authors; Sutton and Ethan Montclair.  This is the inside of their daily lives, the nitty-gritty moments in their marriage; the tale of the days inside the walls of their home.  That all begins, however, after Sutton leaves Ethan.  What comes after that moment are carefully laid pieces to a complex past, which involves pain, infidelity, loss, resentment, career struggles, and a disappearing act we are all left to figure out.  As the story is unwound, I was questioning every player in this game  I had no idea who was ultimately responsible for the state of affairs the Montclair’s were in.  Did Ethan kill Sutton?  Was she even dead or had she in fact left him? Who was to believe?

We get to figure all of that out, and more, as we follow the detective in charge of getting to the bottom of the mystery, and when all the cards are laid out on the table?  Holy. Hell.  It was one of the most suspenseful and well executed ending I’ve read.  I’m still reeling. Oh, I should probably mention that the ending, while crazy intense, ends up being a happy one so not to worry!

One thing I have to give mention to is a part of this story that had me giggling.  If you’ve been in the book world for a few years, you may remember the crazy tale of the blogger who gave a bad review, the author of the poorly reviewed book who showed up at the blogger’s house, and the brouhaha that ensued.  That was definitely an instance of the truth being stranger than fiction and a similar scenario plays a part in this book. Loved that it was included!

If you’re looking for an unputdownable book, Lie To Me fits the bill!   Thank you, Ms. Ellison, for one helluva read!

Five Loves

 

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Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About J. T. Ellison

New York Times and USA Todaybestselling author J.T. Ellison writes standalone domestic noir and psychological thriller series, the latter starring Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens, and pens the international thriller series “A Brit in the FBI” with #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. Cohost of the Emmy Award-winning show, A Word on Words, Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband.

Connect with J. T.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Excerpt Tour for LIE TO ME:

Monday, August 21st: Novel Gossip

Tuesday, August 22nd: Jathan & Heather

Wednesday, August 23rd: The Book Diva’s Reads

Thursday, August 24th: Broken Teepee

Friday, August 25th: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Monday, August 28th: Books and Spoons

Tuesday, August 29th: Lesa’s Book Critiques

Wednesday, August 30th: Bewitched Bookworms

Sunday, September 3rd: Moonlight Rendezvous

Friday, September 8th: Books a la Mode

Review Tour for LIE TO ME:

Tuesday, August 29th: Jathan & Heather – guest post, “On a Good Marriage”

Monday, September 4th: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Tuesday, September 5th: Clues and Reviews blog and Instagram

Tuesday, September 5th: Books & Bindings

Wednesday, September 6th: Bewitched Bookworms

Thursday, September 7th: Why Girls are Weird

Friday, September 8th: Novel Gossip and Instagram

Monday, September 11th: That’s What She Read

Monday, September 11th: Tome Tender

Tuesday, September 12th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Wednesday, September 13th: Buried Under Books

Friday, September 15th: Mama Reads

Monday, September 18th: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Tuesday, September 19th: Moonlight Rendezvous

Wednesday, September 20th: Jathan & Heather

Wednesday, September 20th: BookBub Blog – 12 of the Best Psychological Thrillers Coming This Fall

Friday, September 22nd: The Book Diva’s Reads

Monday, September 25th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Monday, September 25th: Suzy Approved

Monday, September 25th: Snowdrop Dreams

Tuesday, September 26th: Read Love Blog

Tuesday, September 26th: Staircase Wit

Wednesday, September 27th: Becky on Books

Thursday, September 28th: A Bookworm’s World

Friday, September 29th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

TBD: Girl Who Reads

TBD: Book Nerd

TBD: Blogging with A

The Beautiful Now by M. Leighton…Release Day Blitz & Review

The Beautiful Now, the new contemporary romance from New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is LIVE! Get it for the release price of $3.99 while it lasts, or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Grab your copy here.

 

✩¸.•*´¨)✩ ¸.•*¨) ¸.✩´¸.•*´¨)✩

Dane James worked my stepfather’s fields. He was the boy next door.

Strong.

Hardworking.

Forbidden.

From the moment we met, we were star-crossed lovers—always wanting, never having. We loved each other for most of our lives, but right from the beginning destiny had other plans. She knew we would fall in love. She knew we would fall apart. Over and over again, like the curse of a recurring nightmare. Or the hope of a familiar dream.

Our past was tumultuous. Our future was bleak. But the one thing we always had was the beautiful now.

Until that was taken from us, too.

✩¸.•*´¨)✩ ¸.•*¨) ¸.✩´¸.•*´¨)✩

 

Get it for the release price of $3.99 while it lasts, or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Grab your copy here.

Here’s what early readers are saying:

✩ “This is the best book that I have read in 2017 yet!!” — Heidi

✩ “I truly wish I could give this one more five stars, I would definitely give 10 if I could. This is one of those books, you just know from the beginning is going to pull at your heartstrings and it really does. I’ve read of ton of books this year and this one just moved to the top of my favorites list.” — Catherine

✩ “The Beautiful Now is exactly that – Beautiful. It’s love story of epic proportions.” — Courtney

✩ “What I loved was that their story transcends the span of 22 years and shows that love can last forever even when all the odds are stacked against you. That there is always a way even when we think all hope is lost. That even when we do what we think is best and hurt the ones we love that their is forgiveness to be found and second chances are a blessing not to be taken lightly. And when faced with the harsh realities of life, love can still prevail over all.” — Jennifer
✩ “I started reading – and I kept on reading. I couldn’t stop. It was all so heartbreakingly sad and beautiful and sweet and frustrating and I just could not stop.” — Bianca

ALL THE STARS!!!!

Damnit, Michelle. You pulled at this momma’s heart strings, big time. How I made it through this book without ruining my kindle from the tears falling, is beyond me. This book is just so much of everything, I have no idea where to start or what to say.

The Beautiful Now is exactly that – Beautiful. It’s love story of epic proportions. It’s not just about the love between a man and a woman, but a mom and dad and their child. It’s about the love we have for another that runs so deep, we’d do anything so that the other person is living a happy life, even it means we have to give up our lives for them. Damnit, I am crying writing this review. This is what book did to me. All the feels.

Michelle’s previous book, The Empty Jar, she made my heart ached; with this book, my heart took another beating of epic proportions. And it hurt for some many different aspects in this book. But she also mended it and made my heart sing. I laughed at the silly nuisances between Brinkley and Celina; I cried over the heartache that these two had to endure; I felt hope and love between them all.

I love that Michelle tells this story from Brinkley’s POV in both the past and present. It helps show the undying love between Dane and Brinkley; how something that deep can never be severed – no matter the time, no matter the reason. It’s soul crushing. Even though they knew everything was against and they could never be, they still chose to try. But fighting the inevitable, hurt them more in the long run.

Dane – wow, that man is something is else. I love that he never cared what anyone else thought. He lived his life the way he wanted and chose not to let anyone’s opinion sway him. His strength bled into Brinkley. He was her rock.

As a mother, this book really hit home for me. I pray I never go through anything that Brinkley did with her daughter. But that unconditional love is something as a parent you just can’t explain, it is just there from the beginning and only grows stronger with each beat of their little heart. The closeness that Brinkley and Celina share as mother and daughter is raw and honest and it’s one I have with my own daughter – I would give anything for her. She’s my sunshine, my reason.

This was another emotional read from Michelle. She doesn’t hold back on taking you to the heart and soul of a story. She gives you everything that reaches deep within you. I highly recommend this book to everyone. But know that going in, your soul will get blasted and come back feeling refreshed.

Thank you Michelle for writing another epic story about life and love. My heart goes through the ringer with your books, but I am forever grateful to experience everything I do with your books. I felt this book deep in my bones. <3

“We didn’t have a future. We couldn’t possibly. We both knew it. But we had the now. The beautiful now. And that was better than nothing.”

Stud Finder by Lauren Blakely…ARC Review

Stud Finder releases TOMORROW! 

 

Synopsis:

Man seeking woman: Hot, rich, smart, witty, self-made multimillionaire Internet genius seeks classy, intelligent, sexy, fun-loving woman who’s interested in settling down and sharing all the good things.

There. Best. Ad. Ever.

I will absolutely find the woman of my dreams, someone who’ll love me for me. Even if my sister thinks I need help dating, I’m confident I can pull this off, courtesy of the great worldwide web.
Let me just hit the upload button right now…

***

No. Just no. As a woman and a professional matchmaker, I can’t let Dylan Parker run this ad. He’s the catch of all catches. That’s why his sister has asked me to help her ridiculously good-looking, insanely rich, but socially clueless brother find a woman. As a broker of happily ever afters, I’m known as the Stud Finder since I make a great living pairing wildly successful women with men who won’t fleece them but will adore them. After all, what woman in her right mind wouldn’t fall in love with Dylan?

I mean, besides me. It totally won’t be me.

 

My Review:

Oh man. Ohmanohmanohmanohman.  I mean, where to even start?

First thing’s first:  If you’ve never read a Lauren Blakely book, you are missing out.  Every story she puts out is so amazing for so many reasons.  It’s like a sexy rom com movie, written out into a book.  Truly.  So, if you haven’t read her yet, I implore you do so….you will not be disappointed!

Moving on to the fans of Lauren Blakely: I can only preach to the Blakely choir!  This novella was everything we love from a Lauren Blakely story and more.  Fun, multi-dimensional characters, real dating relationship issues, meaningful connections, all of it, packed into a novella I won’t soon forget.

I loved Dylan and Evie SO MUCH!  Both as their own people and together as a couple.  I loved the personalities that made them captivating individuals and I loved what they each brought into making them a dynamic couple.  Of course, it isn’t an easy road in realizing they were so utterly perfect for each other and it wasn’t an easy admission for either one of them to accept the attraction and to take the leap but that’s what made me love them even more! Life is all about taking those chances and living for the moment and few people make that so apparent in her writing than Ms. Blakely does. Kudos to her for reminding us to grasp every moment life gives us.

Whether you’re already a fan of Ms. Blakely, or I’m preaching to the Blakely choir, this is a story I know you will love as much as I did!

Five Loves

 

 

Book Links:

Amazon  | 1,001 Dark Nights

 

Biography:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had eight books on the New York TimesBestseller list and sixteen on the USA TodayBestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire. She recently released SINFUL LONGING, the third bestselling title in her NYT Bestselling SINFUL NIGHTS series. In January, she’ll release BIG ROCK, a sexy romantic standalone romantic comedy. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign).

Visit Lauren Blakely’s website and follow her on:

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The Beautiful Now by M. Leighton….ARC Review

THE BEAUTIFUL NOW
M. Leighton
Coming September 26, 2017

Dane James worked my stepfather’s fields. He was the boy next door.

Strong.
Hardworking.
Forbidden.

From the moment we met, we were star-crossed lovers—always wanting, never having. We loved each other for most of our lives, but right from the beginning Destiny had other plans.  She knew we would fall in love.  She knew we would fall apart.  Over and over again, like the curse of a recurring nightmare.  Or the hope of a familiar dream.

Our past was tumultuous.  Our future was bleak.  But the one thing we always had was the beautiful now.

Until that was taken from us, too.

SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER TO GET AN EMAIL THE MINUTE IT GOES LIVE:  http://smarturl.it/MLeightonNews 

 

 

 

 

ALL THE STARS!!!!

Damnit, Michelle. You pulled at this momma’s heart strings, big time. How I made it through this book without ruining my kindle from the tears falling, is beyond me. This book is just so much of everything, I have no idea where to start or what to say.

The Beautiful Now is exactly that – Beautiful. It’s love story of epic proportions. It’s not just about the love between a man and a woman, but a mom and dad and their child. It’s about the love we have for another that runs so deep, we’d do anything so that the other person is living a happy life, even it means we have to give up our lives for them. Damnit, I am crying writing this review. This is what book did to me. All the feels.

Michelle’s previous book, The Empty Jar, she made my heart ached; with this book, my heart took another beating of epic proportions. And it hurt for some many different aspects in this book. But she also mended it and made my heart sing. I laughed at the silly nuisances between Brinkley and Celina; I cried over the heartache that these two had to endure; I felt hope and love between them all.

I love that Michelle tells this story from Brinkley’s POV in both the past and present. It helps show the undying love between Dane and Brinkley; how something that deep can never be severed – no matter the time, no matter the reason. It’s soul crushing. Even though they knew everything was against and they could never be, they still chose to try. But fighting the inevitable, hurt them more in the long run.

Dane – wow, that man is something is else. I love that he never cared what anyone else thought. He lived his life the way he wanted and chose not to let anyone’s opinion sway him. His strength bled into Brinkley. He was her rock.

As a mother, this book really hit home for me. I pray I never go through anything that Brinkley did with her daughter. But that unconditional love is something as a parent you just can’t explain, it is just there from the beginning and only grows stronger with each beat of their little heart. The closeness that Brinkley and Celina share as mother and daughter is raw and honest and it’s one I have with my own daughter – I would give anything for her. She’s my sunshine, my reason.

This was another emotional read from Michelle. She doesn’t hold back on taking you to the heart and soul of a story. She gives you everything that reaches deep within you. I highly recommend this book to everyone. But know that going in, your soul will get blasted and come back feeling refreshed.

Thank you Michelle for writing another epic story about life and love. My heart goes through the ringer with your books, but I am forever grateful to experience everything I do with your books. I felt this book deep in my bones. <3

“We didn’t have a future. We couldn’t possibly. We both knew it. But we had the now. The beautiful now. And that was better than nothing.” 

 

 

 

 

Join us September 27th at 7:30 pm EST!!

 

 

King of Code by CD Reiss…Blog Tour & Review

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King of Code, an all-new intriguing and sexy standalone from CD Reiss is available NOW!

king-of-Code-v4-full

King of Code by CD Reiss
Publication Date: September 18th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance

From New York Times Bestselling author, CD Reiss, comes a sexy tale of secrets, intrigue, betrayal, and a love worth crossing a continent for.

Taylor Harden is a man on the edge.

The edge of fame. The edge of untold wealth.

The edge of utter humiliation.

He built an unhackable system, and in front of everyone, it’s hacked.

His reputation goes from king to goat in a split second. Boom. Like that.

Some dude in Barrington, USA (AKA Nowhere) has locked down Taylor’s code, and if he doesn’t get it back, he’s going to be wearing a monkey suit for the rest of his life.

Except, this guy? This hacker from Nowhere? He’s not a guy.

Harper Watson’s all woman. And she has a plan for Taylor, his code, and his body.

 

I am going to be brave and admit this out loud to you all: this is my first CD Reiss book. Yes, I know, I am an idiot for not reading any of her books before. I have no excuse as to why except I am an idiot – I’ve said it, you can all agree and now we can move on. LOL

Since my husband is a huge tech nerd, when I come along books that are about hackers or the tech world, I am immediately intrigued and have to read the book. Not because I want to see if the author is correct in their tech verse, but because that world is interesting to me. So yea, the synopsis pretty much had me begging to read this.

I have to say that I am so happy I finally got to read a book by CD Reiss. Her writing style keeps me glued to the pages and vested not only in the story, but the characters. With this particular book, I was definitely more taken in by the plot line than the characters so I think that aided in my being able to overlook the ability to not connect on the emotions with these characters.

Taylor Harden is the King of Code. He’s on the cusp on releasing his newest and best computer system, when it’s somehow how hacked right before going live. This system was built to not be hacked, until it was hacked. And now Taylor is on a mission to track down this hacker and save his reputation and his company.

Harper Watson grew up in small town in the middle nowhere with wealth and privilege at her finger tips. But she learned early on, that life gives no guarantees, to anyone. Harper now holds the code that Taylor so desperately needs. But she’s not willing to just hand it over to him.

I really enjoyed the suspense of this technical tug of war between Taylor and Harper. Harper has her reasons for choosing to Hack Taylor’s system. When Taylor discovers that his hacker is a she, that changes things for him. Things he had intended on. And this is where the title comes in to play, twofold. Taylor is great behind the computer. But when it comes to interacting with others outside of that realm, that’s where he’s learning to decode things in a whole new way. And with Taylor by his side, he learns to decoded emotions he never felt before.

This book was WOW for me. I loved everything about it. Again, I didn’t feel too much in this book since I was so engrossed in the plot but I can’t fault the author for that. It didn’t hurt the book in anyway for me and I enjoyed every bit of it. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

Excerpt:

“About time!” the older lady shouted.

“Is Harper back?” I asked, handing the bags to the blushing redhead.

As if summoned, Harper came through the swinging door, keeping it open so everyone could get past. She looked at me through the screen.

“You coming in?” she asked.

“We need to talk.”

“Did the decryption key work?”

The door slapped closed behind her as she came out, and we were alone. The way the setting sun hit her cheeks made her glow, and the strands of gold hair at the edges looked translucent. She belonged on a postcard.

I kept forgetting she was holding me hostage. I kept forgetting I needed to think strategically. I had more at stake with this girl than I’d ever had with another.

“Did you doubt it would work?”

“Not really. I’m just making conversation.”

“What are the thorns about?” I pointed at the thorn bed that had eaten my phone and went down the stairs to the yard.

She came after me. “Don’t you have these where you’re from?” She snapped a dry twig off the end.

“Roses? Yes. Impenetrable, groomed thorn bushes in our yards? No.”

“It’s not normal to give the gardeners in town something to do?” We walked around the perimeter.

“You are not normal.”

“It still blooms in spring. It’s really nice. You should see it.”

We were at the back end of the yard, where the very top of the factory’s roof cut the horizon.

I took her hand, pulling her to a stop. “Harper.”

“Taylor?” Her hair flew in her mouth when she turned, and she drew her finger across her cheek to get it out.

What was I supposed to tell her again? That I knew we’d interviewed her. That I didn’t give her the job despite her having a leg up on everyone else we saw.

But was I contrite? Accusatory? Was I just going to relay information? What did I want out of her after I told her I knew?

“Thank you for helping today,” she said. “If you’d asked me when we met, ‘Would Taylor Harden help clean the factory?’ I would have said, ‘No, not for any reason.’ But there you were. Pushing a broom. Scooping up shit. Not being an asshole.”

“My watch was at stake.”

“Yeah. Whatever. You can say what you want to keep your reputation as a shithead intact.”

“I have a reputation as a shithead?”

“You know you do.”

I did know it, and I reveled in it.

She faced me and put her other hand out. I took it, holding both hands between us. I couldn’t help it.

“Well, you guys are such a bunch of sad sacks I had to help. And let me tell you, every guy in Barrington has a little asshole in him. Trust me. I’ve played pool with them.”

“I want to say…” She stopped herself as if she really didn’t want to say. “Let’s get together tonight and get you another decryption code. But… saying this is stupid.” She bit her lip.

“Say it anyway.”

“The sooner you get four codes, the sooner you leave.”

I looked at our hands so I wouldn’t have to look at her.

“I’m not sure if I want that,” she said.

KING OF CODE AN.jpg

Read Today!

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About the Author

CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up she’s at the well hauling buckets.

Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.

She’s frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn’t ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
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Connect with CD Reiss:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iwpkPQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDReiss.writer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdreisswriter
Instagram: https://instagram.com/cdreiss/
Website: www.cdreiss.com
Newsletter: https://cdreiss.com/cd-reiss-mailing-list-signup/

Checkmate: This Is Beautiful by Kennedy Fox…Release Day Blitz & Review

Title: Checkmate: This is Beautiful
Series: Checkmate Duet Series (Logan & Kayla, #2)
Author: Kennedy Fox
Designer & Photographer: Sara Eirew
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope: Second-Chance Romance
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2pbTtV1

The anticipated conclusion of the Logan & Kayla saga in the Checkmate Duet Series from duo of romance authors under the USA Today bestselling author pseudonym, Kennedy Fox!

This second-chance romance will have you gasping and cheering this two on from the first to the last page! Are you ready to play the final game?

***

Kayla Sinclair is a saint and real life Angel.
She wears her heart on her sleeve and inspires me to be a better person.
Rescuing dogs, feeding the homeless, volunteering at the local food pantry are just a few of the ways she gives back to others, although no one has ever been there for her.
Falling for her was inevitable, losing her will destroy me.

Letting someone in didn’t come easy, but she made me want to try for the first time in years.
Her bubbling personality and kind spirit make it impossible to forget a girl like her.
But when tragedy strikes and she loses all memory that our relationship ever existed, my worst nightmare comes to life.

I’ll do anything to remind her of the love we shared. I know it’ll be an uphill battle, but I won’t walk away without a fight. Whoever said all is fair in love and war never played by my rules.

Checkmate, Angel.

*Recommend for ages 18+ due to sexual content and adult language.*

**This is book w in the Logan & Kayla Saga–a second-chance romance. Must read This is Dangerous first. However, you don’t need to read any of the other Checkmate duet series to enjoy this one, but it’s recommended as they are both introduced in the earlier books.**

Bravo and hats off to the duo that is Kennedy Fox with this duet. You stole my breath at the end of This Is Dangerous and you totally revived me with this book. In all actually, you made my heart sing with this book.

This Is Beautiful is truly that – simply beautiful and heart warming. Can I just say for the record that Logan is the man we all wish we could have in our lives – he made my ovaries burst! This man is truly dedicated to Kayla and stops at nothing to prove that to her; even if it means breaking his own heart so that she can truly enjoy life once more.

Kayla loses the last two years of her life, which means she doesn’t remember Logan at all. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Imagine what it would be like to return to your life and remembering nothing of the past two years – talk about feeling like you are in a time warp. I can’t even imagine what it’s like knowing two years passed by and having no recollection of any it, except for pictures and what people tell you.

Logan is torn between wanting to show Kayla how much they loved each other, how strong they were together and letting her figure it out all on her own. Their roles are reversed now – Kayla did the chasing the first time around and now it’s Logan trying to win the love of his life back. The physical attraction is something neither can deny, but when Kayla struggles to feel that deep love she apparently once had for Logan, things become very difficult for them. Do you stay and try to force those feelings to come back or cut your losses and move on?

Lyra and Brooke (Kennedy Fox duo), you two broke me with this book, but in a good way. It’s been quite some time that I have felt such deep emotion with two characters – my heart was weeping for Logan – I could feel his agony over trying to find his angel within Kayla. And Kayla – I just can’t imagine being her in shoes, ever. To lose a chunk of your life like it never happened just truly sucks. But in the midst of all that heartache, you made my heart sing and smile.

Bravo Ladies. This is definitely my favorite couple and duet of this series. A beautiful ending to an amazing series and the best duet within the series!!

 

iBooks: http://apple.co/2s5M11F
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2qMr5ck
Barnes: http://bit.ly/2sqMwRj
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This is Beautiful Release Day Giveaway

LINK FOR MOBILE USERS:
https://gleam.io/pWIlM/this-is-beautiful-release-day-giveaway

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OUR BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE IN AUDIO FORMAT TOO!
CLICK HERE!

Many people have asked up what’s coming after the Checkmate Duet Series.
We are planning to release A WEEK WITH A BAD BOY together under Brooke and Lyra on October 19, 2017! We can’t wait! It will be exclusively on Amazon and enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

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make sure to add this to your TBR list! http://bit.ly/2fFJpmG

***

Early 2018 we will start releasing the BISHOP BROTHERS Series!
It’s an interconnected stand alone series that will follow Courtney’s 4 brothers! Yes, all 4! We’re so excited about this and can’t wait to tell you more. If you would like to know the titles, please CLICK HERE! We’re still in the early planning stages but will update our “coming soon” page with more info as soon as it’s set in stone.

Brooke Cumberland & Lyra Parish are a duo of romance authors who teamed up under the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym, Kennedy Fox who share a love of You’ve Got Mail and The Holiday. When they aren’t bonding over romantic comedies, they like to brainstorm new book ideas. One day, they decided to collaborate and have some fun creating new characters that’ll make your lady bits tingle and your heart melt. If you enjoy romance stories with sexy, tattooed alpha males and smart, independent women, then a Kennedy Fox book is for you!

Instagram: instagram.com/kennedyfoxbooks | @kennedyfoxbooks
Twitter: twitter.com/kennedyfoxbooks | @kennedyfoxbooks
Facebook: facebook.com/kennedyfoxbooks/
Website: www.kennedyfoxbooks.com
Merch Shop: kennedyfoxbooks.com/shop
Email: kennedyfoxbooks@gmail.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cngqYT

The Honey Trap by Karli Perrin….Release Day Blitz & Review

Synopsis –
After catching her childhood sweetheart cheating on her, Sophia Hamilton is hell-bent on stopping other women from getting played like she was.
And so the played becomes the player.
Fast forward two years and Sophia is now one of San Francisco’s most successful honey trappers. Getting paid to expose cheating men has become the norm but just when she thinks she has seen it all, she is offered a unique proposition which threatens to turn her entire world upside down.
Mason Hunter is a hotel tycoon, millionaire and cheater. Or is he? 
Sophia has six weeks to find out.
She quickly discovers that Mason isn’t the only one keeping secrets and she becomes caught up in a tangled web of lust, lies and misplaced loyalties.
Lines are crossed. Rules are broken. The real Mason Hunter is about to be exposed.
The hunt is on.
Purchase links – 
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074LQG95B

It’s been a looooong time since Karli came out with her next book (life got in the way) but she comes back with an amazing book!! Yes, I am one of her beta readers but no, this review isn’t because of my love her. It’s because this book is truly freaking amazing!!

The Honey Trap is a unique and enthralling read. I was immediately taken in from the start of this book and loved every bit of it til the end. And I have to say that Karli’s writing has improved greatly since her last book.

This book truly took me by storm. It was nothing like I expected and the characters were so easy to fall in love with. The Honey Trap is a company that people use to hire women to try an gauge if their husband is cheating on them. Sophia and her best friend, Lori, not only work for the company but are roommates. And these two are so awesome together – they make me laugh – ALOT!!

We meet Mason when Sophia is set out to trap him. But things don’t go down the way everything is planned during that first meeting – at least not how Mason’s wife think they should go down. And Mason’s best friend, Buzz, oh he is a hoot to boot.

I really won’t say much more about this plot. Karli’s has an interesting take on this plot and I love how she plays everything out. Sophia, Lori, Mason and Buzz are characters that I find myself loving so much and wanting them in my life.

Everything about this book, rocks – the story, the twist (never saw coming), the characters and everything in between is just perfect. Everything fits together like a puzzle and that’s what makes this story so good. This story flows beautifully and flawlessly.

Karli – you my dear friend, have rocked this story, hard core!

EXCERPT

 

Prologue
In the beginning, I used to feel guilty when I seduced a married man.
I used to feel dirty when I kissed them.
I used to feel ashamed when their wives divorced them.
But now I feel nothing.
I am not to blame.
I am merely the catalyst.
I am the loaded gun.
I am the honey trap.

Chapter One
I focus on his wedding ring right before I close my eyes. His eager lips meet mine and I can almost taste his excitement. My mind goes into distraction mode as his tongue darts in and out of my mouth.
Tonight is what we call a half trap. This is where our clients are satisfied by photographs of their boyfriends or husbands kissing another woman. We wear a wire at all times so they also receive a recording of their partners planning to go home with us. Most women believe that planning to cheat is just as bad as actually cheating but some women need more. Some women refuse to believe that their man would actually go through with it. In other words, some women are stupid.
A full trap is where we take the men back to our place. Only, it’s not our place. It’s actually an apartment which the Honey Trap Agency (HTA) rents. Waiting inside are their scorned girlfriends or wives and sometimes the occasional lawyer. We also have an agency bodyguard on standby just in case things get heated but usually the men are too busy begging for forgiveness.
Our safety is a priority. If it’s a full trap then we always insist on ordering a cab. Our driver, who is actually another bodyguard, will be parked up around the corner. They take our call then wait for five minutes before picking us up, which is always from a public place. On the rare occasion that a man insists on driving or calling their own cab, we end the trap and only charge our client for a half trap. We make a lot of money but nowhere near enough to put ourselves in any real danger.
I finally pull away when his hands begin to work their way down my back. I open my eyes and watch him for a moment, looking for any signs of indecision or guilt but they don’t come. This guy’s willing to go all the way. He smirks. “Wanna come back to my place, darlin’?”
I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to take me home to talk about the weather but I ask anyway for the recording. “What have you got in mind?”
He leans closer. “Have you ever had a multiple orgasm?”
I stop myself from rolling my eyes. “No,” I reply, feigning innocence. Guys love the whole virginal act.
“Then I’ll be your first.”
Only in his dreams. If his wife doesn’t leave him after tonight then they deserve each other. I grin seductively. “Let me go and freshen up first. I’ll be back in a minute.” I wink at him before walking away, swaying my hips as I go.
As soon as I step inside the restroom, I reach into my purse and take out my mini bottle of mouthwash. I always use too much but I like how it burns the taste of them away. After successfully numbing my entire mouth, I remove my wire and place it inside my purse just as the door opens. One of the agency photographers walks in and checks that we’re alone before stopping in front of me. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “Did you get it?”
“Of course I got it.” She takes out her camera and scrolls through several photographs. The first few are close-ups of his face so he can be clearly identified. The rest are shots of us kissing.
I call my boss as we both exit out of the back. “It’s done.”

Author links – 
Instagram – @karliperrinauthor
Twitter – @karli_perrin

Play On by Samantha Young…Release Day Blitz & Review

PLAY ON

Cover Design By Hang Le

Nora O’Brien chased a dream from Indiana to Scotland, so sure it was the right thing to do. Three years later she was left in her adopted country with nothing to her name but guilt and regret.

Until Aidan Lennox entered her life.

Older, worldlier, a music producer and composer, the sexy Scot should never have made sense for Nora. But somehow in each other they found the light they were looking for, the laughter and the passion—the strength to play on despite their past losses.

But when life dealt Aidan another unlucky hand, instead of reaching for her he disappeared. The agonizing loss of him inspired something within Nora. It fired her spirit— the anger and hurt pushing her forward to take control and reach for her dreams.

Finally pursuing a career on stage while she put herself through college, everything is how Nora wants it. She’s avoiding heartbreak and concentrating on her goals.
Sounds easy but it’s not. Because Aidan is back. And for some reason he hates Nora.

He’s determined to be at war with her.

And she has absolutely no idea why.

OUT NOW in digital and paperback edition!

EXCERPT

The searing glance Aidan had given me before he drove off killed the smile as anticipation enveloped me.
Not long later, I got a text with his address and a time. I texted back a simple “I’ll be there” response.
And now here I was.
With my palms sweating.
I pressed the buzzer to his apartment and some seconds later heard his delicious voice, “Hello?”
“It’s me.”
The door buzzed and I smiled as I stepped inside, thinking that sometimes he was a man of few words.
Aidan lived on the second from the top floor and when the elevator binged open, it was facing his apartment door—he was standing in it, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the doorjamb.
My breath caught as I took him in. He was pure masculine, rugged perfection. Every time I saw him, he grew more attractive. His soulful eyes were focused on me as mine took in the fact that he was wearing a different T-shirt from earlier and ragged jeans. His hair was still wet so I knew, like me, he’d just had a shower.
Shivers tickled down my spine at the reason why. I stepped out of the elevator before the doors closed on me and approached him slowly, still drinking him in, disbelieving really that this kind, funny, smart and unbelievably sexy man was gazing at me like he thought I was all those things too. His eyes drifted down my body slowly and then rose, lingering over every detail, until they came back to my face.
“I like this dress,” he said.
I smiled softly. “You’re easily pleased.”
Aidan took my hand and led me inside his apartment, but I didn’t have a chance to look at it because he was speaking again, distracting me. “No, I didn’t used to be.” He closed the door, locking it behind us. “I used to be an arsehole.” His expression was almost one of wonder as he looked down at me. “A picky, womanizing arsehole.”
I tensed, not really enjoying the idea of him and other women. And picky? I remember Sylvie telling me her uncle dated the most beautiful women she’d ever seen.
Christ.
I tugged on my cardigan, wondering what possessed me to wear it.
“Don’t.” It was as if he sensed my sudden insecurity, sliding an arm around my waist and drawing me to him. My hands fluttered down on his hard, warm chest, and I tilted my head back to keep eye contact. “You’re perfect.”
“My hair is too short.” I touched the strands at my nape. “It used to be long.”
“I remember.”
“I cut it because of Jim,” I told him sadly…
Aidan squeezed my waist in reassurance.
“But I loved my hair too,” I said, feeling stupid about the whole thing. “I know it’s only hair … but I’m mad I cut it.”
He studied me so long, I was almost afraid to ask what he was thinking, but I shouldn’t have been. Aidan released my waist with one hand to brush his fingers through the bangs that had grown out past my ears. His fingers curled around my ear, his thumb stroking my cheekbone, and his eyes caught mine with a fierceness that made my belly squeeze. “You could shave it all off, Pixie, and still be so bloody beautiful, I can’t concentrate on anything else when you’re in the room.”
Wow. I exhaled slowly on his name, “Aidan.”
His eyes closed as if he was in pain and he dropped his forehead to mine. His cologne washed over me, the heat of him prickling my skin like I’d stepped out of an air-conditioned room into the hot sun. “I want to hear you say my name like that when I’m inside you,” he murmured against my lips.

Play On is a perfect example of why I love Samantha Young and her storytelling. She has a way with her writing that just draws you into the stories and has you never wanting to leave them.

Play On is told in three parts. And they are torturous, agonizing and heartbreaking parts. This book is story about growth, learning your strengths and becoming the person you are meant to me. Nora’s life isn’t easy and Samantha doesn’t sugar coat anything.

Nora meets Aidan and these two really don’t fit together, at least not on paper. But somehow they find themselves together and it’s surreal, an off the charts chemistry in so many ways.

I want to say so much about this book, but I can’t. This is one book that you have to read yourself to see what I mean. I will warn you that you go through so many emotions, a lot. I cried, I laughed, smile and did it throughout the book – my heart was an emotional mess by the end. But it was damn worth it.

For those of you have read Samantha’s work before, you will absolutely love this story. And for those of you who have never have the opportunity to be graced by her words, definitely read this book. You won’t be the same afterwards.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book!!

 

 

About Samantha Young:

 

Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows. Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017. Play On is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland.

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.
Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

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