The next highly anticipated novella in the Searching For series, a romantic spin-off of the Marriage to a Billionaire series from New York Times bestselling sensation Jennifer Probst.When Isabella MacKenzie tries to move on from her disastrous past, Officer William Devine is determined to show her that love is the only way to heal. This sexy enovella, the final installment in Jennifer Probst’s heartwarming Searching For series, follows the high-powered women of the popular matchmaking agency Kinnections, located in the small, picturesque town of Verily, NY.
My Review:
Searching For Disaster is the newest installment in author Jennifer Probst’s Searching For Series. I have loved loved loved this series since the very beginning and this latest installment really showcased all that I’ve loved about this town and the incredible characters who live in it.
This story was a decidedly different reading experience for me than what I’m used to from Ms. Probst. No, no, not in a bad way. In the best way possible. In this story, our heroine was a bit more damaged than the women I’m used to reading from this author and, in my opinion, really highlighted Ms. Probst’s talent and versatility as a writer. Izzy and Liam’s story was filled with high emotion and intensity that jumped off the pages and held me in rapt attention. Their story started out with a heated night that left a connection between them for over six years. Their lives went in different directions, both good and bad, and ultimately ended in the same spot at the same time. It’s hard to deny fate when something like that happens and even though Izzy was resistant at first, Liam is one hell of a determined man and won’t let this second chance slip away. It’s Liam’s determination that had me weak in the knees. That man fights for Izzy like no one I’ve ever read and holy moly, it was so damn incredible. The heat and pull between them is off the freaking charts and also one of the most intense relationships I’ve read in a while and it was delicious. I have some serious love for these two.
And once again, I have to give props to Ms. Probst for another stellar movie worthy ending! Not just with Izzy and Liam but with the ladies of this series. I was a crying blubbering mess by the time I finished the epilogue.
If you haven’t yet picked up this series, you really need to! I guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Thank you, Ms. Probst, for giving us the Kinnections ladies and then men who love them!
Five Loves
About the author:
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.
She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team atwww.jenniferprobst.com.Website: www.jenniferprobst.com
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenniferprobst
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst
From New York Times Bestseller, Kendall Ryan, comes a sexy new standalone novel.
My tempting, and very alpha friend Sterling Quinn is someone I consider off-limits.
It’s not just that we’re friends, he’s also cocky, confident, and British, which means he’s a walking aphrodisiac.
But lately he’s been giving me the look. You know the one. When he thinks I’m not paying attention, and his gaze lingers for too long.
And then we start working together, and that’s when the sexual tension between us gets so thick, I want to hack through it with a machete. I want to make all these deep feelings I’ve harbored for him disappear, because there’s no way this can end well.
The lines between business and pleasure become irrevocably blurred, and I’m stuck between a rock, and Sterling’s very, very hard place.
Rather than keep a level head about our growing attraction, Sterling wants to go all in, showing me just how explosive we can be together.
But I’ve been around long enough to know that this British bad boy is more than my heart can handle. I’m not about to be cast aside like yesterday’s underwear when he’s done having fun.
Sterling’s never been told no, and he’s not about to put his ego aside and play by my rules. But I never thought he’d fight so dirty.
I love Kendall Ryan and her quick, sweet and sexy reads. Any book I read by her, I devour in no time. And after reading the Hitched series, I had to read this one since it was about the naughty Sterling Quinn.
Sterling and Camryn already know of each other through Olivia and Noah. They’ve never really hung out together and would be considered more as acquaintances then friends. However, it’s hard for anyone to not know who Sterling Quinn is and his bad boy reputation.
Sterling is given a deadline to marry in 6 months as part of his requirements to receive his inheritance. Sterling is a divorce attorney – marriage was never in the cards for him. He became even more jaded about true love and marriage after his father left his mom when she became sick.
When news of this makes the airwaves, Camryn in hired to help him out. Become his matchmaker. And she does believe in happy ever after. In finding your lobster. Just maybe not in this manor.
Watching these two being forced to work together is quite entertaining. They both fight the chemistry. She knows he’s nothing but heartache, even without the pending marriage. He knows that he’ll hurt her in the long run. But there is no denying the sparks between them – both in and out of the bedroom.
While I loved how everything played out in this book, I hated the cliché of needing to marry in order to inherit money. It was the same as the Hitch series and felt a little played out. But it was a great read other than that small gripe.
Kendall is always great at keeping me glued to the pages and rooting for the HEA. A perfect quick read.
I twist the doorknob, and finding it unlocked, let myself inside.
Sterling’s place is compact, but modern and classy. It suits him. After a quick glance around the living space, I spot him on the balcony outside, just beyond the glass doors at the far end of the living room. He’s facing away from me, his hands gripping the railing, his head bowed.
My smile from moments ago is gone. Seeing him like this—looking distraught—brings the reality of our situation crashing back.
Sterling suddenly turns and we lock eyes. A thousand emotions are revealed in his eyes, but mostly there’s anger. There’s also a sadness in his gaze that I’ve never seen. It’s haunting.
I swallow a lump in my throat, wondering what’s going on.
“Sterling?” I ask, slowly approaching the balcony.
It’s beautiful—plush pillows and twinkling lights, and a chilled bottle of white wine all nestled together in a romantic picnic for two.
He lets out a heavy sigh and runs one hand through his hair.
“This is beautiful,” I say since he hasn’t spoken, hasn’t even moved from the spot where he’s rooted, and his stony silence is killing me. “Are you okay?”
“Just fine,” he says curtly, his gaze looking past me.
He doesn’t seem fine. He seems off. Why go through all the effort if he’s just going to act sullen and withdrawn?
And what could have possibly changed in the twenty-four hours since we last spoke on the phone? He seemed so excited—like he hadn’t a care in the world. Now it seems he doesn’t want me here.
“If this is a bad time, if tonight doesn’t work . . .” I trail off, my voice suddenly shaky.
“The meal’s already prepared.” He brushes past me, headed toward the kitchen.
Unsure what to do, I follow behind him.
He’s acting like an asshole, and I suddenly feel so stupid for getting all done up tonight. I’m not going to stand around and embarrass myself by begging for his attention.
“You know what? Never mind. This was a bad idea, anyway. I’ll see myself out.” I turn and head for the front door, anger and rejection dueling inside me.
It takes all of three seconds before Sterling’s long strides catch him up to me by the door. His grip around my wrist stops me. “Wait.”
I turn and face him. I’m halfway between wanting to flee and staying to hear his explanation.
He releases a heavy exhale. “I received a phone call just before you arrived.”
With him so near, the combination of his clean soap and his spicy cologne intoxicates me. Memories of our intimate dinner rush back. But apparently tonight is not meant to be a repeat. Waiting to see what he’ll say next, I inhale and hold my breath.
When he doesn’t continue, I ask, “Is everything okay?”
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.
The mission was supposed to be simple. Infiltrate an enemy’s stronghold outside Rome and eliminate its leader. For a Breed warrior as lethal as Ettore Selvaggio, AKA “Savage”, stealth assassinations are only one of his many cold-hearted specialties. But the last thing Savage expects to find behind enemy lines—in his target’s bed—is a woman he once adored.
It’s been years since Savage last saw beautiful Arabella Genova. Years he’s strived to banish to his past, along with the fierce desire he once felt toward Bella . . . and the irresistible calling of her blood that stirs in him even now, despite the fact that she belongs to another male.
But when fate throws Savage and Bella together again in a race for their lives, will his long-lost love prove to be the one woman he can’t live without, or the perfect weapon to destroy him?
Midnight Untamed is the newest release in author Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series as well as novella number 15 in the 1,001 Dark Nights 2016 lineup. I have loved the midnight Breed series since first finding paranormal romance over ten years ago and I always look forward to a new release. Midnight Untamed is a prime example of all of the things Ms. Adrian does so well. This story was filled with heat, suspense, action, and even a bit of mystery and I devoured it in one sitting.
I love a good long-lost-love-reunited story and the reunion between Savage and Bella was done so beautifully. I loved that I got enough of their backstory to make me want a future for them and have me understanding all of the things that have gone on in their past. The pull between them was intense and meaningful and I loved going along on their journey of initial shock to an overwhelming feeling of rightness and ultimately ending with a sense of contentment no one could deny.
Along the way there was plenty of danger and suspense and we meet a character that I still have not been able to get out of my head. A man I really hope we get to learn more of because I can already tell his story is going to be heartbreaking and emotional as all get out! (I will say that when the 1,001 Dark Nights newsletter drops tomorrow, you’ll get a hint as to who this mystery man is and if we get to see more of him!) I won’t spoil anything for you but I know you will love this novella from start to finish as much as I did!
Whether you’re a die-hard Midnight Breed fan or a new reader, this is a story you’ve got to get on your bookshelf. Thank you, Ms. Adrian, for another amazing visit with some of my favorite vamps!
Five Loves
About the author:
Lara Adrian is the New York Times, USA Todayand #1 internationally bestselling author of the Midnight Breed vampire romance series and seven award-winning, historical romances, previously released under the pen name Tina St. John.
Lara’s Midnight Breed series is available in hardcover, mass market paperback and e-book through Random House, and in limited edition through Doubleday Book Club, Rhapsody Book Club, Book of The Month, and the Science Fiction Book Club. Unabridged audio editions are available through Tantor Media, Random House Audio, Amazon, iTunes, etc. Lara’s new releases regularly appear on all of the key bestseller lists including including the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Indiebound, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc. There are more than 2 million copies of the Midnight Breed novels in print in the United States.
Fate. Hate. Love. Lies. Which four letter word will change their lives forever?
Sydney Paige was never so mortified to hear the words “wrong number” in her life. She meant to tell off the guy who broke her best friend’s heart, but unleashed her anger on a perfect stranger instead. And now her world is turned upside down by the captivating man who wants to keep her on the line.
Brian Savage is living a life he’s quickly come to hate—until Sydney’s wild rant has him hooked and hungry for more. Soon the sexy woman on the phone becomes the lover in his bed. But Brian has secrets, and the closer he lets Syd get, the harder it is to shield her from the devastating mistakes of his past . . .
AUDIO CLIPS
Listen to two clips from the audiobook from FOUR LETTER WORD, narrated by Sebastian York and Kate Russell
Those are the words that explain this book completely.
This book definitely put me through the ringer. WOW. I felt every single thing these characters went through. Their ups, their downs and everything in between. And I loved every damn bit of it!!
I loved the premise of this book. Everything starts off with one phone. One wrong number. No one could have predicted what transpired after that. The texts, the comfort they brought.
Syd is beginning a new chapter in life. She’s trying to find the Sydney she left behind years ago. Her best friend Tori is there like she has always been. And these two I just love – their friendship is tight.
Brian is trying to get past some rough spots in his life. He hides a lot from everyone in his life. He only lets them know what he feels they need to know. And he refuses to let anyone help him along the way.
I couldn’t get enough of these two. They knew exactly how to push the other without realizing it. They both have strong personalities. Brian is very much an alpha guy. Sydney is independent and not afraid to speak her mind.
I loved every aspect of this book. Except wanting more and more of them. LOL And I am pretty sure we will get a little bit more in the next book. And I truly can’t wait for the next book because I know that will be an explosive one!
And apparently I have been living under a rock because this is the first book I have read by J. Daniels. Seriously, what I have not read anything by her before?? I truly must fix that and pronto!!
If you are like me and have not read anything by her, this is the perfect book to read and get hooked on her writing immediately. For those of you who have read her, I think you will be blown away with this book.
I’d been in Dogwood a month and had been down to the ocean only once. Insane, right? I lived at the beach and I wasn’t experiencing it.
It hadn’t been a priority, and honestly, I didn’t have a lot of free time on my hands.
When I wasn’t picking up shifts at Whitecaps, I was talking on the phone to Brian, shut up in my room or doing it lying on the couch if Tori wasn’t home.
Now I wasn’t shut up in my room or lying on the couch, quilt-covered and heart-shattered. I was no longer talking on the phone to Brian and I wanted to see the ocean. I wanted to feel the sand beneath my feet and skim the waves with my hand.
I had tons of free time tonight while Tori got laid. Might as well make the most of it.
I took the stairs down a level and stepped out beneath the deck.
A couple was sitting on a hammock going at it like their boat was sinking, sloppy-suctioning kisses and need-filled moans spilling into the air.
There had to be a handful of empty rooms in that house. They couldn’t pick one and save me the surround sound?
Gross.
I followed the sand-covered path down the beach, taking small sips of my daiquiri as I went. Deep voices grew louder the closer I got to the water. I wasn’t paying much attention to them. I was looking ahead and forward to feeling the temperature of the ocean and maybe even finding a couple of pretty shells when the voices grew loud enough to hear clearly.
Very clearly.
That’s when it happened.
I stopped, feet frozen and ears alert when one of the voices not only grew loud enough to focus on but also registered in my mind as a voice I’d possibly heard before.
“Don’t know why I gotta keep repeating myself. It wasn’t like that,” the man said, sounding irritated. “She was sweet and good to talk to. Funny and cute about shit. Real cute. The fact that she was also a stunner didn’t surprise me. I heard it in her voice. But for the last fuckin’ time, and I mean this, I’m not saying it again, that’s not what got me. I was fucked before I even saw her picture.”
“You saying you were gone for a girl you never fucking met, Brian? Not possible,” the other guy replied.
I sucked in a breath.
Brian.
A phantom heartbeat fluttered in my chest.
No way…
With gentle steps, I moved closer to the voices, reached the end of the path, and peeked around an overgrown bush, spotting the two men standing on the beach.
I watched the one guy, taller than the other, who had his back to me, cross his arms over his chest and say to his friend, “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. You talk to Sydney one fuckin’ time and you’ll know where I’m coming from. It was that fuckin’ good.”
I squeaked then. Not a gasp but a squeak I tried to conceal with a quick hand to my mouth, cup hitting the sand, but it was too late.
They both heard it.
Two pairs of eyes sliced in my direction. I stared back at the one pair coming from the one voice I knew, in my blood and my bones and the breath filling me, I knew that voice and the man it belonged to.
He stared back, eyes narrowing to focus better, focusing enough to make me out where I stood then going round and filling with surprise.
Pain lanced through me.
I wanted to run. To him or away, I didn’t know which urge was stronger, and it felt like I was being pulled in both directions by forces I couldn’t fight so I stood there, staring back as my hand uncovered my mouth and skimmed my throat.
“Brian?”
He was moving before I spoke, long legs closing in fast, and before I could blink, he was right in front of me, close enough to smell and feel if my eyes were closed but I definitely couldn’t test that theory right now.
I stared unconsciously into his face, tilting my head back to do so and taking in every inch of him.
Dark hair buzzed close to his scalp, thick eyebrows and deep green eyes, several days’ worth of stubble coating his jaw, which appeared sharp beneath it and full, perfect lips, parted as he breathed slow and heavily.
Beautiful.
I knew he was.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered. “It’s you.”
He blinked, breath shuddering.
“You recognize me?” he asked.
I bit my lip to suppress a moan because, God, that voice. It melted my insides when it sweetly assaulted my ears and turned my bones to jelly. It always had but now, seeing the man behind it and the mouth responsible for it, watching it shape and twist those words so perfectly, I was done.
Done.
Toast.
A goner.
I blinked when he stepped closer.
“Syd,” he pressed, eyes desperate as they searched mine.
“Holy shit. Are you the girl?”
The other man moved beside us and slapped his hand against Brian’s back, who was keeping his eyes focused on me.
I looked to the friend and recognized Exhibit A from Whitecaps, who I now knew went by Cole.
“Uh,” I answered.
I was in shock. Was he expecting me to speak?
Cole grinned. “Small world,” he chuckled, looking between us. “Small fucking world. I’ll leave you two alone since you probably have a lot to talk about.”
He gave me a wink then shuffled past me and disappeared down the path, doing just that. Leaving us alone.
I was alone…with Brian.
Oh, God.
Oh…God. Now what?
I looked up and met pleading greens, filled with desperation I could feel against my skin.
Questions and confusion swirled in my brain. My stomach was doing nothing but flips and excited little twists.
It was Brian. My body knew Brian and it was acting up impulsively, reacting to that smooth familiar voice and more, and when he reached out and held my face, thumb sweeping over my cheek as his lips whispered, “Wild,” soft and ache-filled, I stopped thinking and feeling altogether and sprang, launching myself at him and into his arms, which curled instantly around me, drawing me nearer and higher until our mouths met in a kiss that hurt and healed so deeply my soul cried out.
Daniels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Addiction series and the Alabama Summer series. She loves curling up with a good book, drinking a ridiculous amount of coffee, and writing stories her children will never read. Daniels grew up in Baltimore and resides in Maryland with her family.
We are thrilled to get to bring to you the Release Day Launch for New York Times Bestselling Author Nichole Chase’s BEDMATES, the first standalone novel in her new American Royalty Series! Be sure to grab your copy of BEDMATES today!
From the New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly Royal comes the first in a sparkling new series about America’s favorite royal—the First Daughter.
Everyone makes mistakes, especially in college. But when you’re the daughter of the President of the United States, any little slip up is a huge embarrassment. Maddie McGuire’s latest error in judgment lands her in police custody, giving the press a field day. Agreeing to do community service as penance and to restore her tattered reputation, Maddie never dreams incredibly good looking but extremely annoying vice president’s son, Jake Simmon, will be along for the ride.
Recently returning from Afghanistan with a life-altering injury, Jake is wrestling with his own demons. He doesn’t have the time or patience to deal with the likes of Maddie. They’re like oil and water and every time they’re together, it’s combustible. But there’s a thin line between love and hate, and it’s not long before their fiery arguments give way to infinitely sexier encounters.
When Jake receives devastating news about the last remaining member of his unit, the darkness he’s resisted for so long begins to overwhelm him. Scared to let anyone close, he pushes Maddie away. But she isn’t about to give up on Jake that easily. Maddie’s fallen for him, and she’ll do anything to keep him from the edge as they both discover that love is a battlefield and there are some fights you just can’t lose.
GrabBEDMATES in ebook or paperback, releasing today!
Nicole has come back from her small writing hiatus with true vigor and definitely does not let us down. If anything, she just proves why she is amazing and waiting any amount of time frame is damn well worth that wait.
Bedmates was a heart-breaking and beautiful read. Maddie and Jake definitely whittled their way into my heart and have a special place there. These two, I just love them.
Maddie is the President’s daughter. And she’s just like any other college student – wanting to find her niche in this world. And sometimes doesn’t always think things through completely and just goes what she feel is right. Unfortunately for her, what she does, where it’s good or bad, gets blasted all over the news.
Jake is the Vice President’s son and also a wounded war veteran. Jake’s mom is a candidate for the next President and uses her son to her advantage in anyway she is able. However, Jake is done being her puppet and has ideas of his own.
I truly enjoyed watching these interact and grow as the story moved along. They both always saw each other in a different light in their younger years. And well, you just can’t deny the chemistry between the two of them. Maddie is so down to earth and truly a genuine person. Jake is very charming and just wants to help his fellow veterans.
One thing that I truly love Nicole for with this book is her ability to not sugarcoat PTSD and what our veterans go through. It’s heartbreaking but it also shines a light on a problem in our society that we so quickly sweep under the rug.
Bedmates is a great start to what I believe is going to be very entertaining and loveable series.
EXCERPT:
The hand on the back of my neck tilted my head so he could kiss me better and I melted against him. I’d waited for this moment most of my life and I sure as hell wasn’t disappointed.
The kiss wasn’t rushed, wasn’t abrupt. It was slow, lingering brushes of lips, as our breaths slid over each other. It was an intense, raw moment as we tested unknown waters and what we found only increased our determination. When his tongue swiped across my bottom lip in a request for entrance I opened on a sigh. His free hand caressed my hip before sliding around to the small of my back, tucking me against him.
The feel of his hard body pressed against me made my head spin. Every delectable inch of him was hard in just the right way. As his mouth danced over mine, fire ran through my veins. Everywhere that he touched me came alive and I wrapped my arms around his neck, hungry to feel more of him pressed to me. This was what I’d been looking for all these years. I felt alive and appreciated with each stroke of his tongue and touch of his hands.
His arm tightened around my waist and my feet left the ground. I gasped as he sat me on the unfinished kitchen island. Dark brown eyes drilled into mine as his hands slid down to cup my ass before gently spreading my legs so that he could fit between them. He pressed against my center and I couldn’t help but groan as he pulled me tight. Wrapping my legs around his hips I pushed even closer, trying to relieve the building ache.
He groaned into my mouth and I took the moment to nip his bottom lip. I’d wanted to do that forever; to feel it plump between my teeth. One of his hands squeezed my ass tighter and he grinded his erection into me, causing my head to fall backward on a gasp of pleasure. Each move against me made me gasp louder, and my eyes fell shut. With one hand he pulled my hair free from the rubber band before tangling his fingers in it.
“God, you taste good.” His voice was raw, harsh, and it sent shivers down my spine. He ran his nose along the column of my throat before nipping gently below my ear. “Should have done this forever ago.”
Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, The Accidental Assassin, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, The American Royalty Series and several short stories.
Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, two rescue dogs, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.
I sell drugs. Heroin to be specific. And I’m fucking good at my job. Enough to fight my way to the top position, controlling all of Austin’s supply.
So what if I had to kill the previous boss to do it. I do what has to be done. Never cared about consequences because I never had anything to lose.
Until I met Miri. My doll. She’s my weakness and somehow, my enemies found out about her.
If they hurt her, they will regret the day they ever heard my name. Boss. They call me Boss for a reason. What I say goes, including the price on the heads of anyone who dares to fuck with what belongs to me.
So let me just say that Heather has gained a new fan in me just from this two book series, alone.
Jagger takes off like bullet from where Junkie ended and never once loses it pace. It’s a quick read but not once do I feel like there was never enough description or anything left out. I felt the pain, hatred, disparity, just everything that Miri goes through – but damn is that woman a fighter and a trooper. If you once thought she was a weak and timid woman, you won’t after this book.
Jag – where do I start??? How he didn’t kill every single person that stood in front of him, is a flat-out blessing. I could feel his anger, his need for vengeance billowing out of him. But underneath all that, I could feel his love for Miri powering through it all.
Let me just say that Heather is one hell of a story teller. She wove this story together with intricate and precise detail, I loved it. Yes, there were things that were pretty easy to figure out, but I don’t think the mystery was the whole point of it. I did wish we could have gotten more from why the “traitor” chose to betray Jag but I think the reason was pretty much understood since a certain point beforehand.
I loved this story. Loved these characters and felt that Heather played it all out perfectly. Another highly recommended read!!!
BOOK TRAILER
Meet Heather C. Leigh
Heather C. Leigh is the author of the Amazon best selling Famous series. She likes to write about the ‘dark’ side of fame. The part that the public doesn’t get to see, how difficult it is to live in a fishbowl and how that affects relationships.
Heather was born and raised in New England and currently lives outside Atlanta, GA with her husband, 2 kids, and French Bulldog, Shelby.
She loves the Red Sox, the Patriots, and anything chocolate (but not white chocolate, everyone knows it’s not real chocolate so it doesn’t count) and has left explicit instructions in her will to have her ashes snuck into Fenway Park and sneakily sprinkled all over while her family enjoys beer, hot dogs, and a wicked good time.
My favorite authors are Dan Wells, Ken Follett, and Stephen King.
Synopsis
Marie’s first standalone title in five years!
He’s good for one thing and one thing only—and she wants it bad.
Honey Carmichael has never had a decent orgasm, and she’s out to change that with the one man in town known for his superior skill between the sheets.
Blake Dempsey is happy to help Honey with her “problem” as long as she knows he’s only interested in sex. His heart was broken when his high school girlfriend was killed in the car he was driving, and he has nothing to offer other than more orgasms than Honey can handle.
Which is just fine with her—until fantastic orgasms aren’t enough anymore for either of them and unexpected feelings turn hot sex into messy entanglement—and that most definitely wasn’t in the plans.
But you know what they say about plans…
A sexy, dirty stand-alone romance intended for MATURE audiences. If you can’t take the heat in Blake’s bedroom, stay out or you might get burned. You’ve been warned!
Chapter 1
Honey
“I want you to fuck me.” I’m proud of the fact that I never blink as I stare into the baby blues of the man I just blatantly propositioned. In public, no less.
Blake Dempsey chokes on a mouthful of beer, his eyes watering as beer meets lungs in an unholy alliance.
For the first time since I walked into the dark, dank bar, my resolve begins to waver as I question the wisdom of this mission. But if I don’t take the bull by the horns, literally, I might never know why everyone else makes such a big freaking deal about sex. My best friend, Lauren, has assured me that Blake Dempsey is the answer to my most pressing problem. And she speaks from experience.
Tentatively, I pat him on the back, hoping to get him breathing again so we can get back to our conversation, such as it is. Let’s face it—he’s no use to me dead.
As he continues to hack beer out of his airway, people begin to take notice of us, which is the exact opposite of what I wanted. I’d planned to come into the dive bar where Blake has his end-of-the-day beer at exactly six thirty every night before heading home—alone—make my proposition and walk out of there with him.
I hadn’t counted on him choking on his beer or having the eyes of every man in the place on me as I wait for him to recover and give me an answer. What if he says no? Men never say no to Honey Carmichael, which is part of my problem. I have a reputation for attracting them like bees to. . . well, honey. But I’ve never been tempted to keep one of them, thus my well-earned reputation as a love ’em and leave ’em kind of gal.
It’s not my fault that I’m blessed with thick honey-blonde hair, brown eyes that made the boys start simpering over me in fifth grade and a rack that’s been getting me in trouble since high school. Not to mention the long legs that somehow manage to stay tanned year round and an ass that Tommy Lonergan once referred to as a work of art. So I’ve had my share of men. So what? The one thing I’ve never had is a decent orgasm with a man, which is why I’m still alone at almost thirty and happy that way. Most of the time.
Blake finally quits sputtering long enough to look up at me with eyes still watery from coughing. “You wanna run that by me again?”
“You heard me right the first time.” I resist the urge to fidget and hold his steady gaze.
His steely blue eyes seem to look right through me, as if searching for the truth behind my blatant invitation. As he runs his fingers through a short crop of dirty blond hair, his entire torso ripples with muscles.
My mouth waters at the thought of all those muscles wrapped around me. I lick my lips as my nipples stand up to take notice and my pussy clenches in anticipation. From what I’m told by a reliable source named Lauren, Blake has the biggest cock in town and knows how to use it. That thought causes the throbbing between my legs to intensify. When desperate times call for desperate measures, I believe in hiring the best man for the job. And these are most definitely desperate times.
“What brought this on?” His sexy drawl and the relaxed way he occupies the bar stool belie the intensity of his stare. To look at him, filthy from a day of hard, physical labor, one might dismiss him as just another working man.
One would be mistaken.
Blake runs the most successful construction and renovation business in the area, and judging by his grimy appearance, he works as hard as the many men he employs. On him, the grime only makes him more appealing.
“Did you finally run out of guys to fuck in this town? No one left but me?”
I can’t deny that I’ve probably had too much sex, looking for the elusive something that has other women waxing poetic about the act. To me, it’s nothing special, two bodies coming together to expend some energy. Big deal. I’ve never understood what all the hoopla is about, a sentiment I recently shared with Lauren. After she finished laughing at me, Lauren had said, “If you want to know what the hoopla is about, you need to fuck Blake Dempsey.”
Lauren ought to know. She’d been Blake’s fuck buddy for a short time years ago and had declared him an absolute machine in bed. Lauren assures me that doing the deed with Blake will result in nonstop orgasms and pleasure unlike anything I can possibly imagine. “One night with him,” Lauren had said, “and you won’t wonder anymore.”
“You wouldn’t care?” I’d asked my friend.
Lauren had shrugged. “It was just sex between us. That’s all he’s capable of. Everyone knows that. A girl would be a fool to fall for him, so I took what I could get, and when it was over, it was over. It was a long time ago. Have at him and The Cock.”
Even though I’ve known Blake all my life and have never once considered him boyfriend material—mostly because my best friend dated him ages ago—I’m desperate enough to know what I’ve been missing out on to walk into a bar and utter a sentence that no doubt has my dear, sweet grandmother rolling in her grave.
I can’t think about what Gran would have to say about me unashamedly propositioning a man. All I can think about since the conversation with Lauren a week ago are the words “machine” and “nonstop orgasms.” The best orgasms I’ve ever had are the ones I’ve given myself, thus my need for Blake and his legendary cock.
“Are you gonna answer the question?” Blake drawls.
I snap out of the fog to realize I’ve been staring at him while he waits for me to answer him. “What was the question again?”
“Did you run out of other guys to fuck? Is it down to me?”
I hold back a wince at his judgmental tone. I’m not proud of the number of men I’ve test driven, seeking the hoopla. “What do you care?”
“I don’t.” It’s a well-known fact that Blake Dempsey doesn’t care much about anything other than his family, his business, the people who work for him and a few select friends. He shrugs as he drains the beer bottle and puts it on the bar next to a ten-dollar bill. “It’s your business, not mine.”
When he stands to his full six-foot three-inch height and looks down at me, I nearly swallow my tongue. My nipples stretch against the confines of my bra and tank top, as if they’re reaching for him. I hold my breath waiting to see what he will do.
He brings his head down close to my ear. “Follow me home.” His tone is gruff and sexy and authoritative.
I shiver as my heated core weeps in anticipation. My eyes travel from broad shoulders to lean hips and below where the outline of that legendary cock has me licking my lips once again. Soft faded denim hugs him in all the right places, and it’s all I can do to refrain from reaching for the button and giving it a tug to get things started.
My mouth waters as I pictured his big cock springing free of his clothes, ripe for my mouth, my pussy and anywhere else he chooses to put it.
“Honey?”
Once again I shake off the sexual stupor and force myself to meet his gaze. If thinking about sex with him gets me this hot, I can’t imagine what the actual deed might entail.
“Are you coming?”
Even though Lauren had assured me he wouldn’t say no, I’m still insecure enough to be surprised that he accepted my offer. Oh my God, I’m really going to have sex with Blake Dempsey. Resting a hand on his sculpted chest, I say, “Oh yeah, I’ll be coming, and so will you, big boy.” The cocky statement, exactly what he expects from me, covers the quaking going on inside.
A throbbing pulse in his chiseled jaw is the only sign of emotion in his otherwise blank expression as he takes me by the hand and heads for the door.
Mindless of the prying eyes of the other customers, I scramble to keep up with his long-legged stride.
“Where’s your car?” he asks when we’re outside in the fading sunlight.
Heat from the long summer day rolls off the blacktop in scorching waves, but I shiver from the almost predatory way he looks at me. “There.” I point to my tiny silver car with the decal on the side hawking my photo studio.
“I’ll wait for you.” He drops my hand and stalks to his big black truck with his own company emblem on the side. His long strides eat up the pavement. I watch him go, fascinated, by the way his jeans hug his muscular ass. I can’t wait to see if his ass looks as good naked as it does in denim. Who am I kidding? It’ll look even better.
I order my quivering legs to move. They finally get the message, and I rush to my car, managing to drop my keys in the dusty dirt parking lot. I bend to get them and am scorched by awareness. As I stand up, I venture a glance at his truck and find him watching me intently, his entire focus on my ass. The quaking begins anew as I get into the car and fumble some more with the keys before managing to get the car started. At this rate, I’ll need an insane asylum before I ever get what I want from Blake.
His truck leaves a cloud of dust in its wake as he pulls out of the parking lot onto Highway 90, heading out of downtown Marfa, Texas. The sun is a ball of fire in the sky as I follow him at a safe distance. The last thing I need is to smash into his back end because I’m such a nervous fool. It’s not like I’ve never come on to a guy before. I have. Too many times, but this guy has always been so remote and off-limits that it took all my courage to walk into that bar and say the line that Lauren and I rehearsed until I got it just right. My hands are trembling and sweaty as I reach for my phone.
“What’d he say?” Lauren asks when she picks up on the first ring.
“I’m following him home.”
“To his house?”
“Yes.”
“This is huge! He never takes women to his place.” Lauren lets out a shrill squeal. “I’m so jealous!”
Instantly alarmed, I swerve before I right the car. “You said you didn’t care!” I can’t lose Lauren, the closest thing to family I have left. “I’ll call it off right now if you don’t want me to go with him.”
“I’m not jealous about him. I’m jealous that you get to be with The Cock.”
I swallow hard. “It can’t be that different from all the others.”
Lauren’s dirty chuckle comes through the phone. “Oh, Honey. . . You have no idea what you’re in for. Tomorrow, when you’re walking bow-legged, remember I told you so.”
A bead of sweat slides down my backbone. Propping the phone between my ear and shoulder, I turn the AC on high and follow the black truck as it hangs a left onto Antelope Hills Road. “You always did exaggerate, Lo.”
Lauren snorts with laughter. “You’ll know soon enough that I’m not exaggerating. Call me in the morning. I want every, single detail. In fact, if you could take notes, that’d be great.”
“Shut up.”
“Honey. . .”
The unusual seriousness in Lauren’s voice has me immediately on guard. “What?”
“Ever since your Gran died, you’ve been looking for a place to call home again. It’s not going to be with him. No matter what happens, don’t forget that. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you.”
Blake’s story is well known around town. He blames himself for the car accident our senior year of high school that had claimed the life of his girlfriend, Jordan Pullman, who’d also been a friend of mine and Lauren’s. The loss of Jordan had rocked our entire class, but no one more so than Blake. Even after the police ruled that the accident was the fault of the other driver, Blake continued to blame himself. He’d kept his distance from people—especially women—ever since, throwing his considerable energy into his business. Occasionally, he took a lover, but he never kept her for long.
My story is equally well known. Abandoned at the church when I was days old, Nora Carmichael, who’d never married, took me in and raised me as her own. Because Nora was in her early sixties when I came to live with her, I always called her “Gran.” She died ten years ago when I was only twenty, leaving me to fend for myself in an unforgiving world. I’ve done okay, all things considered, but it’s been a struggle.
“Call me in the morning?” Lauren says.
“I will.”
“Remember: Only sex.”
“I gotcha.”
“Did you use the ‘I want you to fuck me’ line?” Lauren asks. We’d debated a number of ice-breaking lines and had settled on the most direct of the many choices.
“Sure did.”
“I need to try that one on Garrett.”
Poor Lauren has been lusting for years after Garrett McKinley, accountant to Blake’s company and most of the other businesses in town. “What’s stopping you?”
“Um, only the fact that he thinks I’m a brainless floozy.”
“You’re neither brainless nor a floozy. Look at what a booming business you’ve made of the flower shop. How can he think you’re brainless?”
“Maybe because I act that way any time he’s in the same zip code as me?”
“I still say you should hire him to do your books. Then he’ll find out how full of brains you really are.”
“Not happening. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.”
I watch Blake pull into a driveway a block in front of me. The door on a two-car garage goes up and Blake pulls in. “I gotta go. We’re at his house.”
“Just sex,” Lauren says one more time.
“I heard you the first ten times. Bye, Lo.” Ending the call, I repeat Lauren’s refrain. “Just sex.” The last place in the world I’m going to find my home is in the arms of the most remote man I know. Determined to take this one night, and only this one night, with him and “The Cock”—a thought that makes me giggle nervously—I follow Blake’s hand signal to pull into the empty half of the two-car garage.
By the time I make it out of my car and into the laundry room that adjoins the garage, he’s removed his work boots and stripped down to boxer briefs that hug his tight ass.
I stare at the muscles on his back that taper down to that most excellent butt—and wonder if we’re going to get busy right here. I clear my throat to remind him I’m here.
He seems in no particular rush as he tosses his clothes into a front-loading washer, adds detergent and starts the cycle. Then, as if I’m not there, he goes into the kitchen.
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to follow him, but I do it anyway.
He hands me a piece of paper. “Tell them to send my usual and get whatever you want.”
I somehow manage to tear my gaze from the most lickable male chest and ripped abs I’ve ever seen to glance at the red and green print on the paper. I recognize the logo of Pizza Foundation. “They don’t deliver.”
“They do for me. I pay extra.”
“I’m not hungry.”
He shoots me a meaningful look. “I worked all day, and if I’m going to be expected to work all night, too, I need fuel—and so do you.”
A burst of heat creeps from my chest to my face as the implications of his statement settle on me. All night. Whoa.
“Make the call. I’m going to grab a shower. There’re drinks in the fridge. Help yourself.”
For a long moment after he leaves the room, I stand motionless in the middle of a nicer-than-expected kitchen. What the hell am I doing here? Did I really go to the bar Blake Dempsey frequents and ask him to fuck me? “You’ve lost what’s left of your mind.”
I could cut my losses and leave while he’s in the shower. Sure, the few times a year that I run into Blake at the grocery store or post office or at the home of a mutual friend would be awkward from now on, but I can live with that if it means saving some face.
My cell phone chimes with a new text message that jostles me out of my temporary paralysis. Digging into my purse, I pull out my phone. From Lauren: No matter what, don’t chicken out. You’ll be sorry forever if you do. Trust me on that!
As always, Lauren’s timing is impeccable. Sucking in a deep breath and releasing it, I call in the pizza order and then take a beer from the fridge. If there’s ever been a time for liquid courage, this is surely it.
Copyright 2016. HTJB, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book was H.O.T! I am absolutely in love with these characters and dare I say maybe have a new favorite couple to add to my list? I love Honey Carmichael and Blake Dempsey together so much. They are fun, sexy and really are written like two friends who cross that invisible line into love. I seriously read this book in two days and if I did not have kids, it would have been one day!
Honey Carmicheal is a girl who has slept around with many men and never once got the big “O” until her friend Lauren tells her to invite their friend Blake Dempsey to her bed. With six words uttered to Blake, her life changes. Another thing I loved about this book is finally a female who is written as a “slut” but not judged for it throughout the book. It is who is she is and she never makes up an excuse or reason for it. Isn’t about time a woman can sleep around like a man in a book and not have some tragic reason she is like that? She was simply never ready to settle down- until she started to fall for Blake. Blake is a man who everyone knows is a one and done kind of guy but that is what she wants not a commitment. Surprising they find themselves moving from the past together, seeing a future and falling for each other. I just felt every emotion they did as the story went on and isn’t that the best kind of book!? Oh and the nicknames Blake comes up for Honey made me want to change my name. Yep that good!
I had moments in the book where I laughed out loud, said “Noooooo!” and got so frustrated but it goes to show how invested you can get in the love story of these two. It was refreshing to read a book that you could feel like you were on the same ride as the characters. I WANT more Marie Force…just think about it *wink-wink*.
Five Loves
Author Bio
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 contemporary romances, including the Gansett Island Series, which has sold more than 2.3 million books, and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books, which has sold more than 1.2 million books. In addition, she is the author of the Green Mountain Series as well as the erotic romance Quantum Series, written under the slightly modified name of M.S. Force. All together, her books have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide!
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Heating up reading lists this Fall will be Kate Meader’s highly anticipated Sparking the Fire, the “sexy and sassy” (#1 New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux) steamy third novel in the Hot in Chicago series, where former lovers unexpectedly reunite for a sizzling affair that will have the director yelling, “Quiet on the set!”
AN OLD FLAME STILL SIMMERS…
Wyatt Fox, resident daredevil at Engine Company 6, needs a low key job to keep him busy while he recovers from his latest rescue stunt. Consulting on a local movie shoot should add just enough spark to his day. But then in struts Molly Cade: the woman who worked his heart over good, and then left him in the Windy City dust.
BUT WILL A NEW SHOT AT LOVE LEAVE HER BURNED?
Actor Molly Cade, America’s fallen sweetheart, finally has her shot at a Hollywood comeback with a dramatic new role as a tough-as-nails firefighter that promises to propel her back into the big time. And she’s not going to let anything stand in her way—even a certain brooding, blue-eyed firefighter she’s never quite been able to forget…Their story is straight out of a script: irrepressible, spunky heroine meets taciturn, smoldering hero. But these two refuse to be typecast, and when the embers of an old love are stoked, someone is bound to get burned…
Sparking the Fire is the final installment in Kate Meader’s Hot in Chicago Series, and while I hate typing that the series is over, it ended with one of the best books I’ve read this year.
This book kicks off with one of the sexiest and delicious prologues my eyes have ever had the treat of reading. A week full of anonymous role-playing between two strangers both at a crossroads in their lives lead to this final night and it was a beginning I knew would lead to one hell of a story. And did it ever. Wyatt and Molly never thought they’d see each other again after that night, but five years later some kismet puts them back together and they soon realize the memories of that week never dulled and the flame that burned for each other never burned out.
Let the fun begin…
I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and a damaged hero. Mix in a smart and sassy heroine and a family dynamic like Wyatt’s and this book is a complete winning combination. Wyatt’s broody, I’m-not-worhty-of-love, lone-wolf-in-a-pack, protective, loyal, intense personality was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I adore that man. Watching him evolve from not thinking he’s worthy of someone like Molly and not feeling like he deserved all the life his family breathes into his days to finally accepting that he is worthy and deserving was just incredible. I can’t even tell you how many times I “aww”ed and sighed dreamily while reading. Wyatt definitely holds a spot in my top ten book boyfriends of all time.
Molly is such a perfect match for him. She’s opposite him in many ways but very much the same in others. She is smart, strong, funny, determined, sassy, and very real. She’s also vulnerable and in need of Wyatt’s brand of loyalty and protection, protection of both her emotions and her safety.
The range of emotions I experienced while reading these two was off the charts and simply sublime. Oh, and I wouldn’t be doing my job right now if I didn’t mention the heat between them is off the freaking charts! Sexual tension and chemistry in spades, written so damn well, it’s impossible not to fan yourself and feel like you need a cigarette after reading!
I also have to say how much I loved how Ms. Meader included Wyatt’s family into this book. I adore this crew. This colorful, playful, diverse, and fiercely loyal family are characters I will surely miss but will undoubtedly be on me re-read list for years to come.
This entire series is a series you need to read. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed! And, yes, this is 100% a Laughing Cow book. Possibly even a Laughing Cow book with a nice glass of wine….yep, I just upped it up a notch there!
Thank you, Ms, Meader, for this incredible series and for giving me late night giggles with “tyrannical spooning”. You rock!
Five Loves
Fire Giveaway:
We are excited to do a Fire Giveaway to celebrate the third in Kate Meader’s Hot in Chicago series, Sparking theFire. This giveaway will include Flirting with Fire(Book 1) and Playing with Fire (Book 2). You can visit all sites on the blog tour to enter the Fire Giveaways – but keep in mind you can only win once! U.S. only.
To be entered, comment on this blog post with the title of the last book that made you cry
About the Author:
Kate Meader was raised on romance. An Irish girl, she started with Catherine Cookson and Jilly Cooper novels, and spiced it up with some Mills & Boon. Now based in Chicago, she writes romances of her own, where sexy contemporary alpha heroes and strong heroines match each other quip for quip. When not immersed in tales of brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, Kate lives on the web at katemeader.com.
Praise for Sparking theFire, Book 3:
“The tale of hot firefighters and the women—and one man—who love them has come to an end. Meader ends this series with role playing, fierce family loyalty and multiple orgasms. The male protagonist goes through a transformation that showcases his vulnerability, insecurities, possessiveness and protectiveness. The many instances of a family sticking together through it all are more than enough to tug on the heart strings, but the steamy sex and sentimental pillow talk make this book a must-read.”
—RTBook Reviews Four Star Review, Scorcher
“Can a firefighter and a movie star really make it work? Meader (Rekindle the Flame, 2015) immerses you in Wyatt’s tight-knit family of foster siblings that she’s built throughout the Hot in Chicago series, and readers will feel like part of the family in no time. Her descriptions of Chicago will leave fans wanting to travel to the Windy City and fall in love with their own firefighters.”
HOT TIP: Kate is also offering a $25 Amazon gift card during the Sparking the Fire release tour. It will run Monday September 26 to Friday October 7. Enter here.
Photo & Cover Design: Regina Wamba / MaeIDesign and Photography
Models: Ty Sundeen & Lindsey Jo Angelo
Synopsis
Sadie Jenkins’ most recent site of preservation is a sunken WWII cargo ship off the coast of the Bahamas. When a giant corporation threatens to blow it up to make way for an underwater gas pipeline, Sadie is forced to prove to the Head of Government the importance and value of her site. And when assistance comes from a bad-boy welder who works for the corporation, she ends up battling not only the people trying to demolish her site, but her heart as well—because its latched on to the one man who can save her ship or destroy it.
Connell Murphey is the best underwater welder this side of the Atlantic and thrives when the stakes are highest. When Slade Industries offers him a dangerous gig with a big pay off, he can’t wait to sign on. When a local marine preservationist gives Slade trouble—her site’s protection would cost him millions to go around it instead of through it—Slade offers Connell the deal of a lifetime: twelve million has his name on it if he gets close to Sadie and testifies to the Head of Government that her site isn’t worth saving. Should be easy money.
That is, until he meets Sadie. She’s a force to be reckoned with and the only woman who has ever been able to not only keep pace with him on a dive but completely surpass him on every level. She’s smart, sexy, and their chemistry is off the charts. The more he gets to know her, the harder he falls but he’s already in too deep with the deal he made with Slade.
When the time comes, will he be able to turn down the money and choose the girl of his dreams, or will too many lies kill his only chance at forever?
Depths of Salvation is the second book from author Molly E. Lee and after falling in love with her debut, I was so excited for this book. Well, let me say, Molly once again nailed it and I loved this story from start to finish. Dare I say even better than the first? Totally didn’t think it was possible but she did it…
In this book, Molly delivers once helluva kick ass heroine and a damaged hero I couldn’t help but love. Sadie is a smart, driven, funny, no-nonsense woman I would love to meet and hang out with in real life. She has no problem fighting for what she believes in and what’s right. I loved her tenacity and her willingness to always go the extra mile for the people she holds close. On the flip side, Connell is almost opposite Sadie in some sense but the same in others. He’s not nearly as open with his feelings and is quite broody but in an endearing way. The circumstances that put these two together had me both nervous and happy. Happy because I knew their interactions would be amazing and intense but nervous because I knew someone was bound to get hurt. Now, don’t worry, kick ass endings is also another one of this author’s specialties so I can assure you it all works out for the best! Reading the evolution of Sadie and Connell’s relationship was simply fantastic. I loved seeing Connell open up to Sadie and have her bring his defenses down. I loved the emotion that poured out of the pages and I knew no matter what happened, these two would be able to weather any storm headed their way. The heat and chemistry between them was delicious!
On top of two amazing characters, one of the other aspects I love about Molly’s writing is her ability to deliver interesting and fresh story lines. I mean a marine preservationist and a dive welder? Who else has written anything like that? It adds such an interesting layer to this story and was done so damn well. I just loved it so much! This is totally a Laughing Cow story! (If you have no clue what I’m talking about with that reference, click HERE)
This is one of those authors I am so thrilled to be able to read form the very beginning of her career and I have no doubt she will continue to deliver amazing books as the years go on. Thank you, molly, for a fantastic book!
Molly E. Lee is an author and editor best known for her debut novel EDGE OF CHAOS, and as a fourth year mentor at Pitch Wars – a program which connects promising writers to established authors in the community. Molly writes New Adult Contemporary and Young Adult Urban Fantasy featuring strong female heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. In addition to being a military spouse and mother of two + one stubborn English Bulldog, Molly loves watching storms from her back porch at her Midwest home, and digging for treasures in antique stores.
From the New York Times bestselling authors of Stuck-Up Suit and Cocky Bastard, comes a sexy new standalone novel. Money or love? Which would you choose? You probably just answered the question in your head thinking it’s an easy decision. For me, it’s not. Did I mention it’s a lot of money? A hell of a lot. I needed to go far away to think it through. As I embarked on an impulsive trip, I hit a detour when I met sexy Carter in the airport lounge. We struck up a heated conversation. Then, he left. I thought I’d never see him again. But fate had other plans. Surprise! He was the pilot of my flight. The bigger surprise was the adventure that followed after the plane landed. Carter was dangerous and always on the move. Even though our connection was magnetic, I knew it was only temporary. He would give me tickets, and I would follow him around the world to exotic places. A bevy of flight attendant exes and rumors about Carter’s reputation were never far behind. I didn’t know what to believe. But I was addicted. Nothing else mattered anymore. And I was going to get hurt. Because a part of me wanted to be the one to finally ground the playboy pilot. At the very least, he was taking me on a thrilling ride. All good things must come to an end, right? Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.
My Review:
Playboy Pilot is the newest work from a writing duo I just adore. I have loved every book they’ve put out together as well as separately, and this was no exception. And that, right there, is the problem. Bear with me here, this may go a bit off topic but I promise I have a point…
So, I’ve been writing reviews for over four years and every time I read a book like this, a book I just love and want to buy a copy for every one of my friends to own, I sit down to write the review and I get all clammed up. It should be easy, right? Writing a review for a book you LOVE! It’s easy to tell you what I loved and why I loved it but how can I really explain it in a different way than all the other reviews saying the same thing? (Hope I haven’t lost you yet…lol!) Well, I think I figured it out…
I was talking with one of my closest friends a few weeks ago about a book we both just read. We got on the phone to discuss it. It was a great book with fun characters and a good storyline. There wasn’t anything wrong with it but there was that little bit lacking. And then she said this: “you know, this book, and a lot of others, are like eating potato chips. They’re really great, it’s a treat you don’t have every meal, and you can eat a whole bag in one sitting before you realize you’ve eaten that much.” And there was my “aha” moment.
Have you seen the Laughing Cow commercial about snacking? The one where the cartoon cow asks what happened to the art of snacking? (I’ll put a link below in case you haven’t) She shows you that there’s other snacking options that eating a bag of chips, like little fun crackers and cheese. Playboy Pilot was the Laughing Cow snack. It was the snack that you finished and thought how nice it was to break away from the chips and enjoy your snacking moment in a different way.
Playboy Pilot’s characters were multifaceted and have a depth to them that jumped off the page. The story was unique and fresh and new and I freaking loved it. I loved how Carter and Kendall met, how their pasts affected where there were at this very moment, how they both were at a crossroads of sorts, how they both couldn’t explain why they felt what they did and knew it was nuts but took a chance anyway. I loved Carter’s quirk of putting moments in his life to Beatles songs and Kendall’s willingness to take a blind leap into the unknown. But most of all, I loved how these writers made me feel for these characters. From start to finish, every damn thing about this book was awesome. These characters weren’t the chips you just munch on…these characters were the Laughing Cow snack with fun flavors and new tastes.
So, if you’ve gotten anything at all from this sort of crazy review it’s that I loved Playboy Pilot and highly recommend it for your shelf! It was totally a Laughing Cow book for me.
Five Loves
Excerpt
“Carter? What are you doing?”
Shit.
I laughed under my breath and banged the back of my head against the wood. “Praying?”
“Do you always breathe like that when you’re praying?”
“It’s an intense prayer.”
“What are you really doing?”
“I think you might know what I’m really doing, Kendall.”
“Can I come in?”
Still fully erect, I tucked my cock back into my pants as best I could before opening the door.
Her eyes trailed down to my massive erection. “I’m sorry….to make you resort to that.”
“It’s okay. My hand and I haven’t spent time like this since I was a teenager. I think he missed me.”
“What were you thinking about?”
“You.”
“Yeah…but what specifically?”
“It was this fantasy of fucking you on the dance floor back at the club.”
She looked down at me again. Her expression was serious when she asked, “You need some help?”
“I thought you said we weren’t going to go there.”
“I can’t have sex with you. But I want to touch you. I could take my clothes off, let you finish what you started. You know…help you.”
Looking up at the ceiling, I shook my head. “You have no fucking clue, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“How crazy you make me. There’s no halfway with you. Jerking off with your naked body right in front of me…not being able to do what I really want to you…would be torture. I don’t have that kind of willpower, not with you, not anymore. Even when I kiss you, all I can think about is burying myself inside of you. But you naked in front of me? Too much, Kendall. When you strip down for me, I want it to be when you’re ready to let me have you. Otherwise, it’s better if I don’t know what I’m missing out on.”
Looking filled with remorse, she waved her hands. “Okay. I get it. I’m sorry…for interrupting.”
“Go back to bed. I’ll be right there.”
After Kendall left, I closed my eyes in regret. Was I crazy for turning her away like that?
Now that she knew what I was up to in here, I couldn’t relax. Still needing release like a motherfucker, I turned on the shower and got in. Ironically, I jerked myself to thoughts of her naked body against the bathroom door and imagined she was watching me.
Fuck my life.
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Meet Penelope Ward
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eleven novels. Her books have placed on the New York Times bestseller list fourteen times. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 10-year-old boy. Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. With more than a million books sold, her titles have appeared in over fifty Bestseller lists and are currently translated in ten languages. She lives in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
From his dirty-blond hair and breathtaking smile, to the abs from heaven and the irresistible V in his waistline, everything about Bodi Olympic-gold-medalist Banks screams hot piece of @$$.
Yet there’s more.
Dark shadows lurk behind his soulful, serious eyes.
I’m enamored. He’s captured me.
How can running an art foundation with Bodi Banks turns into a slow-burning, epic romance, even though he tries to push me away at every chance? How can I stay away from a broken, routine-driven man whose soul cries to be forgiven for a crime only he believes he committed? Or is that a lie?
**STROKED LONG can be read as a stand alone.
Let me just start this review off by saying I abso-freaking-utely love Meghan Quinn. Every single book that I have read by her, I have couldn’t out down once I started. And Stroked Long is right up there!!
Stroked Long is the second book in her Stroked series. While there is Meghan’s typical humor and quirks, it’s not as prominent as her first book. This book has a slight bit more serious tone to it due to the lead male, Bodi. But do not fear, Ruby brings her crayola box of colors and sunshine to this story.
Brodi went through a really horrific incident when he was a kid and that has caused him to become socially awkward with some OCD tendencies. However, he turned to swimming as his one constant to keep him calm and in control. Through swimming, he’s been able to keep his oddities private and allow him to somehow move through life. Or so he that’s he thought he was doing. Til Ruby came into his life.
Ruby is a very colorful and sporadic individual. She’s full of life and owns her quirkiness. She’s a bundle of color and holds nothing back. She teaches art at the Boys and Girls club and let’s just say she has the patience and heart for this job like noone else.
Ruby and Brodi find themselves working together on foundation project that Brodi’s sister came up with but can’t run due to her own schedule. And thus begins their working relationship which slowly turns into an expected friendship. These two made me smile, ALOT. Their interactions were so sweet and innocent. Brodi is very awkward when it comes to meeting new people so all of this is totally out of his element. But it’s Ruby’s personality that makes everything so easy and simple.
I loved this story from start to finish. I love the slow build and watching these two interact with one another. Ruby won me over immediately with her ability to make anyone around her feel comfortable and at ease. She’s got a heart that is so pure and full of love -you can’t help but be drawn to that. And Brodi, he tug at my heart strings. Seeing his struggles and the war within himself, my heart just hurt. But these two together – they’re perfect – made for one another. But it’s not an easy road getting there. But love always prevails.
Another superb book by Meghan. And I can’t wait for Hollis’ book – he’s been one everyone has been waiting for!
BLURB:
Reese King: Olympic medalist, underwear model, Greek god.
His body is chiseled from rock, sculpted by the weight room, and refined by water.
On a daily basis his skin is completely bare for everyone to see, tan and defined, only covered up by a minuscule piece of spandex. There is no denying his sex appeal.
I hate to admit it, but I’m head over heels infatuated with him.
There is one HUGE problem though. His achingly gorgeous abs, inked up arm, and cocky swagger belong to my boss, the high-profile, reality star bitch from hell and certified heinous human being, Bellini Chambers.
What I think is going to be an easy job assisting a glorified wench turns into a cluster f*ck of epic proportions.
About the Author:
Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.
Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.
Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!
From New York Times Bestseller, Kendall Ryan, comes a sexy new standalone novel.
About Nichole Chase:
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eleven novels. Her books have placed on the New York Times bestseller list fourteen times. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 10-year-old boy. Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. With more than a million books sold, her titles have appeared in over fifty Bestseller lists and are currently translated in ten languages. She lives in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
