Can’t Get Enough by Gena Showalter….Review Tour Stop

From New York Times Bestselling author Gena Showalter, comes the next standalone romance in the Original Heartbreakers Series—CAN’T GET ENOUGH!

Grab your copy today!

CAN’T GET ENOUGH Synopsis:

New York Times best selling author Gena Showalter returns with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers tale, featuring a rough, tough bad boy brought to his knees by… a kindergarten teacher?

The king of one-night stands…
To inherit–and destroy–his father’s business at long last, Brock Hudson needs a temporary wife. The ruthless ex-military heartthrob has always avoided romantic entanglements. Women are sweet, but vengeance will be sweeter. Or so he thinks. Only one woman will do, but the vulnerable beauty is more than he bargained for—sexier, wittier, and utterly irresistible.

The queen of the deep freeze…
After an abusive first marriage, Lyndie Scott has sworn off relationships. But still she longs for a child of her own. Turns out, the brawler who used to frighten her with only a glance is the answer to her problems. She agrees to his proposal, with a caveat: spend every night in bed with her, then walk away for good when it’s time to divorce. Even if she’s pregnant.

A marriage of breathtaking inconvenience…
As the days pass too quickly and the nights heat up, Brock battles a sense of possession and obsession. Will the former commitment-phobe convince his wife they’re better off together, or will she pack her bags and go?

My Review:

Can’t Get Enough is the newest release in author Gena Showalter’s The Original Heartbreakers Series. I have really grown to love this series and this latest installment was, hands down, my fave. I loved it!

This story involves two people who have been crushing on each other for quite some time from afar. Both in a group of friends who have, over time, started pairing off, becoming couples. The only two left? Brock and Lyndie. Two characters I adored, both separately and together as a couple. Brock has a heartbreaking childhood that has led him to stay away from any sort of long-term, real romantic relationship. He’s sexy and brooding but has one of the biggest hearts when it comes to those he loves and holds close. Lyndie is one of the most fun heroines I’ve read in a while. She’s adorable and funny and I loved reading her. She also has a heartbreaking past leading her to her own reasons for swearing off any sort of long-term serious romantic relationship.

Now, two people have never been more perfect for each other, and seeing how strong their attraction towards one another is, fate really needed to step in here…..and did she ever! What comes next is a fake marriage and a baby making plan that had me so excited because I knew these two would never be able to keep their feelings strictly to the surface like they planned. Now, I won’t ruin anything for you but I will tell you that everything ends up so beautifully for these two and I was sitting back with a silly grin on my face after I finished reading.

I also have to say how much I loved seeing more of the group of characters we’ve gotten to know and love through the series. This is one group of friends I really hope we get to see more of in the future.

Thank you, Ms. Showalter, for a sexy, fun, fabulous story!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Get your copy of CAN’T GET ENOUGH here!

Amazon

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gena Showalter’s CAN’T GET ENOUGH – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

December 6^th

Angelically Devilish Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Booknerd1107 – Review & Excerpt

Kayns Book – Review

Literary Misfit – Review & Excerpt

NallaReads – Review & Excerpt

Rainy Thursdays – Excerpt

The Eeny Meanie Neen – Review

December 7^th

Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog – Excerpt

I Love Romance – Review & Excerpt

It’s All About the Romance – Excerpt

Read. Eat. Love. – Review & Excerpt

Romancing the Laser Pistol – Review & Excerpt

Under the Covers – Review & Excerpt

December 8^th

Always a happy ever after – Review

Book Lovers 4Ever – Excerpt

Katlyn’s Life of Books – Review

Lover of Big Books Cannot Lie – Review & Excerpt

Novel Addiction – Review & Excerpt

Reese’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Under The Covers Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt

December 9^th

A crazy vermonters book reviews – Review

Binding Addiction – Excerpt

Dog-Eared Daydreams – Review

E-Romance News – Excerpt

KDRBCK – Review

The Romance Rebels – Review & Excerpt

December 10^th

Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Francoise’s Reading Corner – Review & Excerpt

Jen’s Reading Obsession – Review & Excerpt

Nicole’s Book Musings – Review & Excerpt

Polished Bookworm – Review & Excerpt

Somewhere Lost in Books – Review & Excerpt

The Vagaries of Us – Review & Excerpt

December 11^th

Melissa’s Bookworld – Review & Excerpt

Moonlight Rendezvous – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Romancing the Readers – Review

Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

December 12^th

All Things Dark & Dirty – Review & Excerpt

Bobo’s Book Bank – Excerpt

Loves Great Reads Blog – Review & Excerpt

Panty dropping Book Blog – Review

Read-Love-Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Lovely Books – Review & Excerpt

December 13^th

Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt

Jax’s Book Magic – Excerpt

Milky Way of Books – Review

Never without a book in hand – Review & Excerpt

The Book Addict’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

The Readdicts – Review & Excerpt

December 14^th

Dirty Girl Romance – Review

Evermore Books – Review & Excerpt

PBC – Excerpt

One-Click Chocolate Chick – Review & Excerpt

The Book Lover – Review

The wandering bookaholic – Review

December 15^th

BJ’s Book Blog – Review

Books, Coffee & Passion – Excerpt

Cutting Muse Blog Review – Review

G & T’s Indie Café – Excerpt

Heroes & Heartbreakers – Review

Wrapped Up In Reading – Review & Excerpt

About Gena Showalter:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series–Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles–and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader’s Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she’s appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black–if you ask her about it, she’ll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated in multiple languages.

She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfans

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

So Over You by Kate Meader….Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Synopsis:

Three estranged sisters struggle to sustain their late father’s failing hockey franchise in Kate Meader’s SO OVER YOU,Book 2 in the new sizzling Chicago Rebels series. Middle sister Isobel is at a crossroads in her personal and professional lives. But both are about to get a significant boost with the addition of a domineering Russian powerhouse to the Rebels…

Isobel Chase knows hockey. She played NCAA, won silver at the Games, and made it thirty-seven minutes into the new National Women’s Hockey League before an injury sidelined her dreams. Those who can’t, coach, and a position as a skating consultant to her late father’s hockey franchise, the Chicago Rebels, seems like a perfect fit. Until she’s assigned her first job: the man who skated into her heart as a teen and relieved her of her pesky virginity. These days, left-winger Vadim Petrov is known as the Czar of Pleasure, a magnet for puck bunnies and the tabloids alike. But back then…let’s just say his inability to sink the puck left Isobel frustratingly scoreless.

Vadim has a first name that means “ruler,” and it doesn’t stop at his birth certificate. He dominates on the ice, the practice rink, and in the backseat of a limo. But a knee injury has produced a bad year, and bad years in the NHL don’t go unrewarded. His penance? To be traded to a troubled team where his personal coach is Isobel Chase, the woman who drove him wild years ago when they were hormonal teens. But apparently the feeling was not entirely mutual.

That Vadim might have failed to give Isobel the pleasure that was her right is intolerable, and he plans to make it up to her—one bone-melting orgasm at a time. After all, no player can perfect his game without a helluva lot of practice…

My Review:

So Over You is the second book in author Kate Meader’s Chicago Rebels Series and I have to say, no one writes sexy brooding hockey players like Ms. Meader. This book was fantastic!

If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for an enemies to lovers story. Well, this was part that, and part second chance romance and the combo when written by Kate Meader is a total win!

Isobel Chase is trying to find her footing, along with her two sisters, in the male dominated world of professional hockey. She has a new title in her late father’s hockey organization and as if being a woman wasn’t bad enough, the first player she is assigned to help get back on the ice is the one player she’d love to never see again. The brooding, sexy, Russian star player Vadim Petrov. It seems as though the feeling is quite mutual when the broody Russian player realizes he will have to work closely with the woman he would be happy to leave in his past.

To say the past they share is full of missteps, hurt feelings, and broken hearts would be an understatement. Of course that makes their reunion that much better and the sexual tension and pent-up emotions lead to some serious heat and fun banter between them. Man, can Ms. Meader write some freaking sexual tension. I loved these two characters, especially as their defenses start to wear down and they both start to realize maybe being thrown together wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

I also have to say how much I love seeing the relationship between the three sisters grow as the series goes on. Having two sisters myself, I know the ups and downs that comes with but I also know the silly fun times sisters share.

I can’t wait to see what Ms. Meader has in store for us next!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Giveaway:

Kate Meader will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card during release week. To enter, please go here!

Excerpt:

“This little job is the difference between you playing and not. Dancing with the Stars, Vaddy baby. It’s where all the washed-up pros end up.”

Annoyed at his reaction to her, he skated away, throwing out over his shoulder, “I will be playing, Isobel. You will have no say in that. I spoke with Moretti—it is clear why you have this job.”

Her brow crimped. Naturally, it was adorable. “Please. Enlighten me.”

“He is new and no doubt under pressure to bow to the owners. You can write your own ticket.”

“If that’s the case, I’d just appoint myself as head coach and be done with it.”

“You are also conscious of what the fans and media think, so you are starting small. Really, you could have called or texted, Isobel. Buying my contract seems like a lot of work to bring me back into your world.”

“You weren’t my first choice. But luckily your poor play this season meant Quebec was happy to offload you.”

He ignored the brief stab. The last six months had been difficult. Isobel understood this, yet they could not resist these little cuts.

“I think you wanted to be closer to me. Just like before, right, Bella?”

A blush crept up her cheeks on hearing his endearment for her.

He would test her. Make her angry and emotional. Make her cry. Because angry, emotional criers were not the stuff of coaches. If she was serious about a career in the NHL, she would hear worse.

She would get him game fit. He would get her battle ready.

He continued to needle. “Yes, I think that must be it. It seems that the female owners of the Rebels would like to abuse their position and use the players for their personal pleasure. Your sister and Remy DuPre—that is interesting.”

“Is it?”

“Harper may have duped a Rebel player into her bed, but please don’t imagine you and I will be renewing our acquaintance in a similar manner.”

That got her attention, at last. Her creamy skin blazed, her crimson mouth twitched, and even from a distance he could see those melted-shamrock eyes darken. She looked like she wanted scream at him. Burst into tears. Slap his face.

Yes, Bella. Let us see if you can handle the barbs of every player, coach, and fan who will dismiss you. Let us see if you can handle me.

Fury powering her stride, she skated over, skidding to a halt mere inches from his face. As before, she was magnificent.

“You’ve found me out, Petrov.”

“I have?”

“It’s all an elaborate ruse. We bought your contract even though you really haven’t been performing well this season. Let’s face it, you’ve sucked donkey balls, Vadikins. But I convinced my sisters that I alone could bring you back to top condition. Make you a valuable asset to the team. I also made sure I’d be the only one working with you . . .” She leaned up on the tips of her blades, a balancing act that required great skill and remarkable ankle strength. Close enough that he could have slipped his tongue between his lips and tasted hers.

Her breath was a hot puff of temptation. “So we would have all this alone time.”

With that fiery gaze, she held his own.

Unerring.

Unflinching.

Until her mouth creased, and she broke into a laugh. He remembered that laugh. Just as before, it hit him right in the balls.

She used the edge of the iPad to poke him in the chest. “You thought I’d go to all this trouble to try to get into your hockey shorts, Petrov? I’m a team owner—I can have any of these Rebel boys with the click of my fingers!” She chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. “Despite what that supersized ego of yours thinks, the only performance I want from you is on the ice. Maybe if you spent less time carousing—”

“Carousing?”

“Yes, it’s nicer than calling you a club-hopping, vodka-sodden manwhore. Less of that and more effort on your day job, please. And don’t worry yourself that I’m interested in ‘renewing our acquaintance.’ I’ve had better lays with the Ukrainian delegation at the last Games.”

He had to say he enjoyed this sharp-tongued, quick-witted version of Isobel. But not enough to admit it to her.

“There is nothing you can teach me.”

“So sure, Russian.”

“I am positive.”

“We’ll see.” She skated back to the edge of the rink. “Again.”

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.

Etern1ty by Erin Noelle…Blog Tour & Review

Amazon

Exp1re (Book 1)

Amazon

Numbers.
They complete me.
Nothing makes sense without them, the building blocks of logic.
A math teacher by day, a statistics doctorate student at night, my obsession to solve problems is constantly fed.
I’m exactly where I want to be in life, no unknown variables or unsolved formulas.
Until I meet her.
Lyra.
The woman beyond the numbers.
How can I stay away, when everything about her draws me in?
But how can I fall in love, when she won’t promise me eternity?

“Annie, wait,” I blurt, holding my hand up in the air. “We haven’t had a minute alone since I got home. I told you I needed to talk to you tonight.”
She ignores my protests and buries her face into my lower abdomen, trailing her freshly glossed lips down the thin line of hair that travels from my belly button and disappears beneath the flannel cotton of my pajama pants. “We have the rest of our lives to talk. I haven’t had you inside me in way too long, and I’m not waiting any longer.” Her teeth clasp around the waistband and she drags the pants down far enough to reveal my goods. She frowns at the sight of my flaccid, clearly unaroused shaft, and then glances up at me, her brow wrinkled with confusion. “You didn’t miss your fiancée?”
The way she says that word—the same way she’s said it all evening long, at every chance she could get—grates on my nerves for a reason I’m not even sure of. She hasn’t done anything wrong exactly, but she expects me to be the same man I was when I left here a couple of weeks ago—the man who was comfortable and content in his life and relationship, happy even.
I’m no longer that man. Not even close.
Meeting Lyra changed everything; my life’s formula completely flipped around. She’s the answer I didn’t know I was searching for. And now I’ve come home to a huge mess. But I couldn’t bear to devastate my mom. Not again.
And as far as Annie… I am enough of a gentleman not to embarrass her in front of all our friends, coworkers, and family members. I may have realized I don’t love her like I thought I did, and I know telling her that is going to cause enough pain; she surely doesn’t deserve to be humiliated on top of that.
“I did miss you,” I insist as I reach down and yank my pajamas back up over my hips, prompting the crease in her forehead to deepen, “but we need to talk. I have things I have to tell you about my trip.”
I pause to wet my cracking lips with a nervous swipe of my tongue. The movement draws her worried gaze away from mine and down to my mouth, and then she quickly crawls up the length of my body and kisses me. Her tongue plunges deep and determined, her chest pressed flush against mine. She smells like desperation and tastes like regret.
“Whatever happened while you were there,” she whispers against my lips in between kisses, “it’s okay. I understand. Just leave it there, in the past. We can focus on the future. With each other. Your wild oats have now been sown.”
Her mouth returns to mine as her hand wedges between our bodies and slips inside my waistband, fingers stroking my shaft feverishly, frantic for a reaction. My cock, the Judas bastard, responds despite my brain’s opposition. And that’s when I know what I have to do.

Great ending to an amazing duet. Why not 5 stars – because again, like the first book, I was hoping to have some sort of scientific element explored in this book, but alas, there was none. BUT, that is ok as the overall storyline was amazing.

Etern1ty is the conclusion to Exp1re and brings you write back into the thrill of things. We were left going “HOLY SHIT” and started off at “OH SHIT” as Lyra and Tavian are back home in their respective hometowns and needing to move forward in their lives.

There is a lot that these two go through. I was on the edge of my seat a lot during this book. I enjoyed how Erin allowed things to play out and how natural everything felt. Lyra and Tavian were truly meant for one another.

Again, my only gripe is the lack of sci-fi in this book. It’s hard ignore that part when it’s a big part of who they are. And yet neither felt compelled enough to find out the why or how behind. And that just baffles me.

But again, I loved the overall story. Just know that going into this duet, that there is no sci-fi part in this book except for the numbers. None, nada, nilch. It is straight romance with added suspense. But a great read none-the-less.

About Erin Noelle USA Today Bestselling Author

Erin Noelle is a Texas native, where she lives with her husband and two
young daughters. While earning her degree in History, she rediscovered her love for reading that was first instilled by her grandmother when she was a young child. A lover of happily-ever-afters, both historical and current,Erin is an avid reader of all romance novels.

Most nights you can find her cuddled up in bed with her husband, her Kindle in hand and a sporting event of some sorts on television.

Twitter Facebook Web Goodreads Amazon Instagram

Villain by Samantha Young…Blog Tour & Review

V I L L A I N

Cover Design by Samantha Young

The sexy and emotional companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Nadia Ray is not just a broadcast meteorologist. She’s Boston’s morning television It Girl. Successful and independent, she’s put a past she’s ashamed of behind her and is forging a future she can be proud of. However, when her new boss discovers her secret he blackmails her, intent on using Nadia’s popularity to make them the number one morning show in Massachusetts. He wants her to be part of uncovering the city’s biggest scandal – a secret billionaire Caine Carraway is hiding.

Soon Nadia is thrown into the path of Caine’s best friend: sexy, wealthy bachelor Henry Lexington. But she doesn’t encounter the dashing high society gentleman Henry is purported to be. Instead she’s faced with an insulting and defensive villain who misjudges her at every turn.

When Henry finally realizes the truth, and decides to make amends, Nadia wants nothing to do with him. But she underestimates his determination and charm and soon they find themselves embroiled in an intense, passionate affair.
An affair Nadia knows must come to an end before their feelings grow any deeper and he discovers her secrets.
After all, Henry Lexington isn’t the only one who played the part of a villain once…

OUT NOW in E-book edition!

Amazon
Amazon UK
iBook
iBook UK
KOBO
KOBO UK
Barnes and Noble

EXCERPT

If I was going to be honest with myself, I was discounting sex with the guy because of Henry Goddamn Lexington.
I desperately tried to shake him off. If I gave James a chance, something could develop between us and I wouldn’t give a rat’s ass that I weighed twice as much as he did. He obviously couldn’t care less, if the way he kept running his eyes over me when he thought I wasn’t looking was anything to go by.
“I was concentrating on my career for a while,” I finally replied. “But I need to start prioritizing my personal life too.”
“I get it.” He nodded. “After my divorce I realized how little time I’d prioritized my personal life. It was why my ex left me. I knew then I had to make some changes.”
“So … you didn’t want to get divorced?” I asked tentatively.
James shrugged. “I know it’s for the best now. But at the time, I was pretty wrecked by it.”
“Haven’t you ever considered trying a reconciliation with your ex?”
He frowned at me and I flushed, realizing what a stupid thing it was to say on a date. “Well … she started dating pretty quickly.”
“So she’s seeing someone.”
“No. They broke up a few months ago.”
“Maybe you should talk to her.”
“Okay, wait.” He held up a hand. “Are you counseling me to get back together with my ex on our first date?”
“It does sound like it,” a deep, familiar voice said from behind me.
I tensed.
No. Way.
James looked beyond my shoulder and not wanting to but drawn to, I half turned in the booth to find Henry sitting in the one directly behind me.
Our faces were so close it took me a second to recognize the anger burning in the back of his blue eyes. It was still there even as he flashed me a cocky grin and stood. “Mind if I join you?” he said, and sat down beside me, forcing me along the booth.
This was not happening!
How was this happening?
He was supposed to be in Panama or Seattle or something!
“Henry Lexington,” he held out his hand to James who shook it in bemusement. “A friend of Nadia’s.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too. Although to be honest, I’m surprised to meet you.” I could feel him looking at me but I stared straight ahead at James. I was beyond tense, bracing myself for what Henry was about to say or do. “I was under the impression Nadia was off the market.”
My jaw almost hit the table.
He did not just say that.
James looked between Henry and me. The smart man cottoned on extremely quickly. “Look, I don’t want to get in the middle of something.” He slid out of the booth and pulled out his wallet but Henry stopped him.
“Let me pay for your lunch. Compensation for a colossal waste of your time.”
The anger slipped out in his words and James paused. He looked at me. “Nadia, are you okay with this guy?”
I gave him a weak smile, grateful that he’d asked. “I’m sorry, James. Henry and I have a little unfinished business. I didn’t mean for you to get caught in the middle.”
“As long as you’re okay?”
I nodded and he pulled out money from his wallet and threw it on the table, despite Henry’s offer. “It was nice to meet you anyway.”
“You’re a gentleman,” I said as he walked away. And he was.
Why did I have to be attracted to the asshat beside me and not the one who was walking away?
I didn’t even have to look at Henry to be overwhelmed by him. He was so much bigger than me in the booth, his heat and anger pulsing as he pressed his knee against mine.
“Look at me,” he seethed.
Not wanting to be a coward, I finally did and winced at the awful look on his face. “Henry—”
“You can either play this out in public—and I can’t promise it won’t get loud—or you can get that sexy-as-fuck ass of yours out of this booth and into my car. Your choice.”
“That’s not much of a choice,” I snapped.
“Nadia …” he warned between gritted teeth.
With an exaggerated, exasperated sigh, I grabbed my purse and nudged him with my knee. He got out and despite his anger, he held out his hand, helping me up out of the booth. As soon as I was on my feet, his fingers curled tight around mine.
There was no hope of escape.

It’s been awhile since I have read Hero, but it did not take any time for the details of that book to come back to me. However, you did not read to Hero to understand any of the characters in this book. This can be easily read as a standalone.

If you read the blurb, you pretty much know what to expect in this book. So anything else I say, pretty much gives away the juicy details that you should read on your own. Samantha is always able to draw you into the story and feel what the characters are feeling and I love that so much. And this book is no different.

Villain is an enemies to lovers romance but this time it’s the guy chasing the girl. Nadia has a lot of trust issues and refuses to allow Henry to be the next man to undermine her. But Henry is determined to win her over and become more than just bed buddies. Nadia is one hell of a strong heroine and I love her tenacity to stay strong and true to herself and not giving in so easily.

Villain is definitely full of drama and at times felt it might become a bit cliché, but Samantha stays true to her form and delivered a great angsty romance with some humor added in and amazing characters. It’s definitely fast paced but a very fulfilling read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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. Villain is a companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

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.

Connect with Samantha Young online:
Website: http://authorsamanthayoung.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorsamanthayoung
Twitter:@AuthorSamYoung
Instagram: @AuthorSamanthaYoung
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/samyoungauthor

Falling For Mr. Wright by Robyn Neeley…ARC Review

Falling for Mr. Wright is out TODAY!

Synopsis:

After being dumped two weeks before his wedding, civil engineer Ryan Wright’s not interested in love. Been there, done that, had the wedding deposits to prove it. Still, he can’t help lusting after the fiery redheaded executive assistant who’s stirring up feelings that aren’t exactly appropriate for the office.

Sarah Leonard is determined to make the CEO fall in love with her. To execute her plan, she’s going to need a little help in the form of her lunch buddy, the 6’2” office hottie who just so happens to be their boss’s best friend. Who better to tell Sarah everything she needs to know to win the other man’s heart?

Ryan agrees to help Sarah put her plan in motion, but he has no intention of helping her win anything. In fact, it’s time to show his office crush that he’s the guy she should be falling for…

My Review:

Falling For Mr. Wright is the newest work from author Robyn Neeley and is the first book in her new Bachelors in Suits series. I fell in love with Ms. Neeley’s work a while back when I read her book BATTER UP and have enjoyed her writing ever since. This book was just another example of what I love so much about her writing.

I’m a sucker for a good friends to lovers story but what I love even more is a great underdog story and in a way, this book is a combo of those.

Girl wants boy. Boy isn’t interested in her but his best friend is. Girl and best friend find themselves spending more and more time together. Girl finally realizes she’s wanted the wrong guy all along. The stars finally align.

I mean who doesn’t love those kind of stories?! There’s something about the hero, longing from afar, that just gets me every darn time. No, I shouldn’t say that. I should say that when these type of stories are written by authors like Robyn Neeley, who can bring so much emotion and layers of relate-ability to her characters, is when my heartstrings are pulled on. From start to finish I adored this book. I loved the relationship between the characters. The long-standing friendship between two childhood friends. The bond the two men share. The girl who longed for one of them while the other guy longed for her in secret. The set of circumstances that led two of them on the path to a happy ever after. Man, it was all just SO GOOD!

I wish I could go back and enjoy this story for the first time all over again!

If you’re looking for a fun and flirty romance, this is a book to put on your list! Thank you, Ms. Neeley, for another fabulous read. I look forward to what you give us next!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N

Goodreads

About the author:

Robyn Neeley is an East Coaster who loves to explore new places; watches way more reality TV than she cares to admit; can’t live without Dunkin Donuts coffee and has never met a cookie she didn’t like. If you have a must read romance suggestion or a fabulous cookie recipe, she wants to know. Visit her at www.robynneeley.com.

On The Line by Jen McLaughlin…Release Day Event and Review

There is a NEW Out of Line book by Jen McLaughlin out today–that’s right!

A NEW OUT OF LINE BOOK.

These characters are characters we met in I’ll be Home for Christmas, the Carrie and Finn novella that came out last week–but don’t worry!

Even if you have never read an OUT OF LINE book, you can pick up On the Line and read it without feeling lost. So what are you waiting for? Snatch up a copy TODAY!

On the Line: an Out of Line novel

Coming home…
I’ve hated Ben Rollins ever since he broke my heart in high school. I’ve never fully recovered from it…even though I ran away as far as I could. Now I’ve returned home, fleeing something worse than I could have ever imagined. When our Captain partners us up together, I’m forced to realize that what I feel for him isn’t hate at all. It’s far worse.

Second chances…
Sarah’s the one who got away. She never really explained her abrupt departure from my life, but to be honest, I no longer give a damn. What we’d once had was dead, and now I’m stuck with her at my side permanently, no matter how I feel about it. But when the truth comes out, and old secrets are unburied, being thrown together becomes so much more than a second chance…it becomes life or death.

And we have no intention of losing.

My Review in Short:

What can I say? I’m a sucker for a new Jen McLaughlin Out of Line story and I will continue to read this series as long as Ms. McLaughlin writes them!

Ben and Sarah were sort of a mash up of an enemies to lovers/second chance romance story. If you look at their current situation and how their past has lead them to where there are now, you’ll totally understand why it’s a mix of those two tropes…two tropes I adore, by the way. A lost young love and broken hearts have turned them from high school sweethearts into frenemies, at best. Luckily fate has sort of stepped in and they are now forced to deal with the pain from the past. One of my fave things about Ms. McLaughlin’s writing is how she manages to pull those deep feelings from her characters and get them right back to where they should be and in this case, it was back to the loving and not the fighting.

Oh, and I have to say how much I adore seeing more of the characters we have come to know and love through this series! Getting a peek at them in each book is such a treat.

Jam packed with emotion, this was another great addition to the series! Once again I have to say, if you haven’t picked up this series yet, you really must. Thank you, Ms. McLaughlin, for another great read.

Four Loves

To celebrate, Jen is having a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card giveaway! Who couldn’t use some extra cash around the holidays, right? Enter below, and good luck! Don’t forget to buy I’ll be Home for Christmas today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.
Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

FIND HER HERE:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory…Guest ARC Review

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory ARC Review by Selene

Synopsis:

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn’t normally do. But there’s something about Drew Nichols that’s too hard to resist.

On the eve of his ex’s wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend…

After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she’s the mayor’s chief of staff. Too bad they can’t stop thinking about the other…

They’re just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century–or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want…

My review:

Expectation: Cute, light read.

Reality: Complete and total adoration of the characters that had me crying right along with them.

I can summarize this novel by Jasmine Guillory in one word – refreshing. The main characters of Alexa and Drew felt more real to me than those of the last few novels I’ve read, especially because they had real jobs, real obstacles, and real concerns about relationships. At the beginning of the novel, I was enjoying the fun, flirty vibe between the characters, and by the end, I was screaming at my Kindle for these two to just work out their issues! Drew’s hangups on relationships and Alexa’s insecurities with herself were both very relatable and provided for some great internal struggle.

The love scenes in this novel were definintely hot but not overly explicit, which kept it very interesting, in my opinion. And, a hot doctor that knows all the right places to touch on a body? Yes, please!

My only gripe with The Wedding Date, and a minor one at that, is that I actually wanted to know more about the secondary characters, including: Theo, Carlos, and Maddie. They were all as real and relatable as the protagonist couple and I would have liked just a little more insight into their lives and relationships with the main characters.

If you’re looking for something sexy and fresh this Valentine’s, I would highly suggest The Wedding Date!

~ Selene

Four Loves

The Wedding Date releases 1/30/18.

Pre-Order your copy today:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks

About the author:

Jasmine Guillory is a graduate of Wellesley College and Stanford Law School. She is a Bay Area native who has towering stacks of books in her living room, a cake recipe for every occasion, and upwards of 50 lipsticks.

Visit her website for more info

Twisted Truths by Rebecca Zanetti…Release Blitz & Review

TWISTED TRUTHS by Rebecca Zanetti

Part of the BLOOD BROTHERS series.

November 14, 2017 | Trade paperback: $14.99 | eBook: $5.99 | ISBN: 978145559431

“TOP PICK! 4 1/2 stars! Zanetti proves that when it

comes to RS, she is in a class by herself!” ―RT Book Reviews

DESCRIPTION

One year ago, Denver Jones blew up his life and left everything behind. To stay alive, he had no other choice. But now, when video footage of the woman he could never forget goes viral, begging for his help, he has no choice but to go to her. Her niece has been kidnapped and Denver and his blood brothers are the only people she can trust.

But Denver isn’t the only one watching that video. The deadly forces from his past see it too-and they’ll use anything–and anyone–they can to lure Denver out of hiding to exact their revenge.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zjXVoC

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2xPyMG4

Books-a-Million: http://bit.ly/2zyPRS3

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2gPLWIQ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2gQxuAe

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/2l02mmb

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2yspj7k

Twisted Truths is the final installment in the Blood Brothers series. While this is Denver’s story, I HIGHLY recommend reading these books in order because there is an underlying plot that continues throughout the three books.

In Twisted Truths Denver comes to find that he needs to help out a former “flame” in finding her niece. Noni has been entrusted with raising her niece when the girl’s donor dad kidnaps her. And the only person she can truly trust to help her is Denver. But she enlists his help in ways that put him in danger too.

For those who have not read any of the previous books, Denver and his two brothers were raised in a home and a crazy “scientist,” Dr. Madison genetically enhanced them. They escaped many, many years ago and have stayed behind the scenes tracking down this nutjob and the crooked Sheriff. And since Noni blasted Denver’s pic all over social media, the lime light is once again on the brothers.

Rebecca does a great job of weaving the two stories together. There are a lot of twists and turns and action-packed plot. It was very difficult to put this book down. My only gripe was that a few parts seemed to be reminiscent of previous books (outing the brothers) but it did not take away from the overall story line.

If you enjoy a great plot line, with a lot of twists and great action blended with some romance, then this series is for you. Again, I urge you to read the books in order to get the full affect of everything.

Great ending to an amazing series.

EXCERPT

Slowly, numbly, she shrugged. “I knew you were dangerous and relentless in pursuing somebody,” she whispered. But a killer? Her search for him had held a romantic element, and she knew it. This guy was all edge—no romance. “Am I in danger?” Her voice quivered, but she had to know.

“Yes.” He didn’t move. Didn’t even seem to breathe.

She blinked. Rapidly. “From you?”

His eyes darkened. “No. The only thing I’m capable of breaking is your heart.”

Cold swam through her. The arrogance. “You think you broke my heart?”

His lip twisted. “I know I did.” His tone was low with what seemed like self-hatred. Dark and raw. “I’m sorry.”

Those words. She’d needed those words and hadn’t realized how badly. “Thank you,” she said, going on instinct. “Then how am I in danger?”

“I’m in danger, and anybody close to me is free game for an enemy who will keep coming until I’m dead. Until everything I care about, everything I dream about, is taken away and I want death.” He looked back down at the computer, intensity pouring from him.

Whoa. Okay. Denver didn’t have one bit of hysteria in him. His words scared her, but curiosity still rose up. “Who?”

“Irrelevant. As soon as we get Talia back, you have to forget me. Now. Back to Richie.”

She could live forever, and she’d never forget him. Not for one second had she been able to pretend he didn’t exist. But he was right. They had to find Talia, but he still needed to explain more. She had a right to know everything. “I have files on everything.” She threw her pack at Denver, and he easily caught it before it smashed him in the face.

He didn’t so much as frown. “Thank you.”

She swallowed. They were in the same room. After a year of hurting for him, he was right there in solid form. More than solid. She hadn’t imagined his hard body or intense charisma. He owned every room he walked into with no effort. She’d never met anybody like him, and here he was. Her body tingled, her heart ached, and her mind spun. Yeah. Denver was definitely there. “What now?” she asked, her eyes gritty and her throat scratchy.

“I’ll do some research.” Slowly, numbly, she shrugged. “I knew you were dangerous and relentless in pursuing somebody,” she whispered. But a killer? Her search for him had held a romantic element, and she knew it. This guy was all edge—no romance. “Am I in danger?” Her voice quivered, but she had to know.

“Yes.” He didn’t move. Didn’t even seem to breathe.

She blinked. Rapidly. “From you?”

His eyes darkened. “No. The only thing I’m capable of breaking is your heart.”

Cold swam through her. The arrogance. “You think you broke my heart?”

His lip twisted. “I know I did.” His tone was low with what seemed like self-hatred. Dark and raw. “I’m sorry.”

Those words. She’d needed those words and hadn’t realized how badly. “Thank you,” she said, going on instinct. “Then how am I in danger?”

Whoa. Okay. Denver didn’t have one bit of hysteria in him. His words scared her, but curiosity still rose up. “Who?”

“Irrelevant. As soon as we get Talia back, you have to forget me. Now. Back to Richie.”

He didn’t so much as frown. “Thank you.”

“I’ll do some research.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over twenty-five romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestseller lists. She has received a Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review for Wicked Edge, Romantic Times Reviewer Choice Nominations for Forgotten Sins and Sweet Revenge, and RT Top Picks for several of her novels. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Find Rebecca at: www.rebeccazanetti.com

GIVEAWAY

Win 1 of 10 paperback copies of Twisted Truths.

PLAYLIST

https://open.spotify.com/user/foreverromance/playlist/2vYDDAUJzwq0jdoK9vnLqa

The Series

Series Page on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dcQsPD

Author Information

Author Website: http://bit.ly/2dh9aFd

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2dsZaXB

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2d1uVYf

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2oilsB8

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2dKHNGd

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dsUdOr

Follow Forever Online

Website: http://bit.ly/1W6ZY8C

Facebook: http://bit.ly/1Zmyycz

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2aF6B0X

Instagram: http://bit.ly/1Xco7tE

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/23uLXQZ

#ReadForever

The Bed Mate by Kendall Ryan…Blog Tour & Review

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kendall Ryan comes a new story in her Room Mate series…

I might be a typical guy, but these last few years, my love life’s been anything but. From crazy ex-girlfriends to one night stands who are stage-five clingers, my relationships go bad faster than the milk in your fridge. The only constant has been my best friend Maggie.

Fresh off a bad breakup of her own, I invite Maggie to my guy’s skiing weekend knowing she needs an escape from reality. But then something funny starts to happen. I start noticing things about her that I never noticed before.

She’s beautiful and doesn’t know it, she’s funny without even trying, and now she’s suddenly single for the first time in forever.

Sharing a hotel room with her proves to be the tipping point in our very platonic friendship. Suddenly I want to put my hands, my mouth, and my … other parts … all over her gorgeous body. I want to claim her, make sure no man touches her ever again. But then her groveling ex shows up, and Maggie’s torn.

Am I ready to screw up the best relationship I’ve ever had for a shot at something more?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

ADD TO GOODREADS

Amazon US

Every now and then, Sam would shoot me a sympathetic look, knowing that I had no idea what they were talking about, but in truth, their company was a welcome break. Between what the woman in the shop had said and the lady on the plane’s insinuation, my mind was going a mile a minute and I was beginning to look at Sam in a way I definitely shouldn’t be.

Okay, so, yeah, he was sexy. That was a no-brainer.

I shot him a furtive glance, taking in the corded muscles of his forearms and the lock of dark hair that constantly flopped onto his forehead. And sure, he was sweet and attentive. He looked after me and made sure I always had a fresh drink and that I wasn’t cold or hot. He held the door for me and pulled out my chair when we went to restaurants. Hell, he’d been looking forward to this trip for months and he’d sacrificed an entire day just to make sure I got here safe and didn’t spend my time sulking.

Still, that didn’t mean he had feelings for me. He hadn’t argued when I’d mentioned us being like brother and sister or anything.

No, this whole line of thinking was ludicrous. Sam was a good friend. That was all…wasn’t it?

After all, Trevor had loved me once and he never did any of that.

Admittedly, that wasn’t the best example, but it proved my point all the same. In Sam’s shoes, Trevor never would have missed the chance to hit the slopes with his friends. He hadn’t even skipped the business trip that fell on my twenty-fifth birthday years back.

But Sam was there, my brain supplied helpfully.

Again, not an indication that he had feelings for me. People were just different. Sam was one of the good ones. And if he liked me surely I’d have known by now. He’d have told me or…something.

“Is that your phone?” Sam turned to me and I blinked, only realizing that I’d been so encompassed in my own thoughts that I’d totally zoned out.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“Don’t you hear that vibrating noise? I think it’s your phone.”

I listened hard and then heard the low, gentle hum he was talking about.

“Yep, probably you-know-who again.” I sighed, but fished the phone from my tiny handbag all the same on the off chance it was a family member with an emergency.

It wasn’t Trevor, though. He had called—I had seven new missed messages from him since I’d left for the airport, but I also had three missed calls from my friend Deanna. I hadn’t spoken to her in more than two weeks because she’d been away on a long-awaited safari, but now more than ever I really needed to hear her voice.

This is what Kendall is so great at – writing amazing novellas that leave you smiling and feeling all sorts of gooey inside.

I devoured this book in one reading – it’s a very fast paced read and extremely entertaining. It’s a best friends to lovers romance without all the drama and drawn out angst you get in other books like this. It was a sweet read and a perfect addition to the 1,001 Dark Nights series.

Kendall played this story out perfectly and left me loving both Maggie and Sawyer not only separately but even more so together as a couple.

And this book is perfect for this time of year – it’s not a holiday read, but with background in the snowy mountains of Colorado and everything happening around the holidays, it helps get you in the mood.

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.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

Subscribe to Newletter

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

At Your Service by Lexi Blake….Release Day Blitz & Review

Juliana O’Neil’s promising future was burned away in the heat of battle. She had been an officer with a bright future in the military, but now she is struggling to survive. Her husband gone and her career in shambles, she finds a job at Top as a hostess and tries to put together the pieces of her life. The last thing she needs is any kind of male attention, but she can’t help but be amused at her neighbor and coworker’s lothario antics. Not that she would have anything to do with him, at least not for more than one night.

Javier Leones doesn’t understand monogamy. No woman could ever be enough for his endless libido, but he has to admit Juliana has his attention. For reasons he doesn’t fully understand, he can’t seem to get the gorgeous redhead with the sad eyes out of his head. After one scorching night together, he realizes he’ll never be able to get her out of his system. But with his reputation, he fears she’ll never see him as more than a one-night stand.

When their passions collide, these new lovers will be forced to confront Juliana’s past and come to terms with Javier’s present. Will they find their way or will this reservation be canceled at the last minute?

Amazon | iBooks | Google Play | Barnes & Noble

I don’t think there is a book out there by Lexi Blake that I have read that I have not truly enjoyed from start to finish. Lexi is the queen of writing hot, sexy romances with the perfect mix of drama and suspense added in.

First and foremost, you can read this book as a standalone. But I do highly urge you to read the other books in this series because they are just too damn good to pass up. I promise after read this book alone, you will find yourself one-clicking her other books.

At Your Service is Javier’s book. I was extremely curious to see how Javier’s story would pan out – he’s the playboy chef at Top and doesn’t apologize ever for his actions. And we get to see those actions up close and personal in this book.

Juliana is wounded vet that has returned home from service. She lost her dominant hand and now isn’t sure where to go from here. She is hired as a hostess at Top, where she meet Javier and his great womanizing ways. But for whatever reasons, Javier can’t get Juliana out of his head. And well, she just wants to stay away from him, but he isn’t having that.

I have to give a huge massive shout-out and high-five to Lexi for writing about a female vet in this book. We always get the wounded male hero stories but we rarely read about the females heroes we have and Lexi does a fantastic job of writing about a very strong and independent female war veteran. Kudos Lexi!!!

Javier and Juliana’s relationship is quite a rough and tumble journey in ways. He’s got to prove to Juliana that he’s truly not the womanizer she sees. And I love that Juliana fought for Javier too. And like always, Lexi has the added the suspense that just makes everything all the more enticing. Another fabulous story from Lexi Blake!!

All alone with the storm. Maybe she should call Kai. And ask him to get out in the middle of this? That seemed pretty selfish especially since she knew exactly how poorly driving in storms could go.

A hard flash of white light made her jump back.

Nope. She wasn’t going there. She was going to stay in the here and now, and that meant finding a flashlight and trying to get some candles lit. Someone was out there working on getting the power back on, and then she would ride out the storm watching rom coms and falling asleep on the couch. It was going to be okay. Deep breath. It was going to be okay.

A few moments later she’d found her one flashlight and had a nice set of candles out, and she was faced with the problem of lighting the suckers. Oh, she had a big box of matches, but she’d never struck a match without her left hand.

A lighter would be easier. She could figure out a lighter maybe. Jules tried holding the box against the table with her stump while she struck the match with her right hand. She fumbled, the action so unnatural it made her slip up and break the match.

And the second one.

And the third one.

Tears pierced her eyes, but she wasn’t going to shed them. She was going to figure this out or she would make due with the flashlight. It was all about adapting. That was what she had to do. Adapt.

She wasn’t going to let this beat her. Normally she was tough. It had happened and she dealt with it, but between the storm and the conversation with Suzanne the day before about her mother and the sweetness of flirting with a handsome man she couldn’t have, she was feeling awfully vulnerable. She wasn’t going to sit here in the dark and cry.

A knock on the door made her gasp and jump.

Fuck. She wasn’t like this. She hated this…this anxiety she got when it rained. It was weakness and she couldn’t abide it.

If you walk away from this you’ll ruin your life, Juliana. Don’t think I’ll watch you do it. You go through with this and you do it on your own. Am I understood?

Sometimes she felt like she was still seven years old, and if she could just get her mom’s attention everything would be okay.

Jules gripped the flashlight and walked across her apartment to the door. It was likely one of the neighbors coming to check on her. Actually, that was an excellent idea. She could go down and see if Mrs. Gleeson needed some company. There were some elderly residents she could check on and a single mom she’d met at the end of the hall. She could see if she could be of any assistance and that would get her through the night.

She opened the door expecting to see anyone but the man she saw standing there.

Javier Leones. He had a flashlight in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. He was wearing jeans and a button down that he’d left undone enough she could see a nice swath of golden brown skin. His hair was deliciously mussed, as though he’d taken a shower and simply rubbed a towel over it to get it dry.

He was big and male and so sexy it hurt to look at him, and Jules realized she could do something else to take her mind off things.

Those plump, sensual lips of his broke into a bright smile. “I thought you might like some company. I know I would. I actually don’t have any candles, so I was sitting in my living room with this sad one flashlight. You look like a woman who likes some candles.”

But she couldn’t light them. She hadn’t figured that part out.

His face fell and he walked into her place, closing and locking the door behind him. “Hey, what’s wrong? It’s okay if you don’t have any candles. It’s cool. Two flashlights are better than one.”

He set the flashlight and wine bottle down and moved into her space, his hands coming up to cup her shoulders. “Jules, what’s wrong?”

She had to be stronger than this. She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

His jaw tightened. “Don’t. Please don’t. I live with a stubborn asshole who won’t let me help him in any way. I get that we’ve only known each other for a few weeks, but I thought we were friends. You help me out all the time. You’re kind to me. Fucking let me be kind to you. I spend every day trying to help someone who won’t let me. Please let me feel like I’m worth something.”

If he’d said anything else, joked about the weather or told her to suck it up, she could have, but he’d opened a door. He’d been vulnerable and honest, and she found she couldn’t pay that back with stubbornness.

“I have candles and I can’t figure out how to light them.” Tears rolled down her face. She was vulnerable. All the time. Even when she pretended like she wasn’t.

“You can’t…” he began and then he looked down. Instead of stepping back and giving her space, he drew his hand down her arm, warming her skin where he touched her. It was dark but the moon was full and gave enough light to see the outline of his face. There was no look of horror there. He caressed her arm until he got to the place where she’d been split apart and sewn back together unwhole. He brought it up and wrapped it against his palm, his fingers closing around it until the whole thing was surrounded with his warmth. “You haven’t figured out how to do it yet. Probably hasn’t come up or you would know what to do. How long since you lost your hand?”

“A year and a half,” she said. He was touching her there. No one had touched her there except her doctors and therapists.

Come to think of it, no one had touched her at all since before the accident. Had it really been so long since she’d felt warm flesh against her own? He was so close, close enough that all she would have to do was go up on her toes to brush her lips against his.

Would that be wrong? As long as she remembered who she was dealing with, why couldn’t she take a few moments of respite for herself? If he wanted her.

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Hate Story by Nicole Williams….Blog Tour & Review

Nina can’t let herself fall in love with the man she’s going to marry. Both of them have experienced the sting and sham of love and have no intentions of falling victim to it twice. Love is expensive—hate is free.

Three years. A million dollars. A solution to both of their problems. They planned it all, from the story of their first meeting to the date of their divorce. Nothing could go wrong.

But what they didn’t consider was chemistry, and Nina and Max have no shortage of it. After too many near-kisses, Nina convinces herself that hating Max is better than loving him, and the more she gets to know this soon-to-be-husband of hers, the more she discovers just how very much she truly, madly, and deeply . . . hates him.

This isn’t a love story. This is the other kind.

Hate Story is most definitely not your typical love-hate story. It’s Nina and Max’s story of Hate.

Nina and Max – I loved these two. And not just together, but they are absolutely amazing by themselves. And that’s what makes Hate Story so damn believable.

Nina is a very independent and strong woman. She knows she’s in a bind and has no problem going to whatever depths it takes to get her out of it. Including marrying a man she’s never met before.

Max has been biten in the ass by falling in love once before. And he refuses to go down that rabbit hole again. But he himself needs the help of a woman, one he will never have the chance of falling in love with. Enter Nina.

These two are complete opposites for one another. And they definitely have no shortage of hate for the other. They push each other’s buttons and truly just want to get through the next 3 years. But sometimes life throws you a curve ball and everything that is so meticulously planned, goes down the drain. And these find themselves in a predicament they never expected.

Nicole really knows how to write characters that you will find yourself connecting to so easily and quickly. And you will find yourself so immersed into their story. Nicole has a very unique way with writing her stories that you sometimes forget that you are just reading a book.

Another amazing hit for Nicole!!

He hadn’t stopped smiling at me, and it wasn’t the friendly kind of smile. It was the kind that made it seem like he was in on some secret I wasn’t privy to. The kind of smile that made me feel like I was being trifled with and made the punch line of a hundred jokes I had yet to hear.
I wanted to wipe the cocky smile off his face, but that would have required touching him and even I wasn’t gutsy enough for that. A woman did not touch a guy like him unless she wanted him to be her undoing. Nope. You didn’t play with fire. You didn’t touch it. You didn’t even come close.
Fire. That was all I saw when I looked at him. I was playing with it by agreeing to this kind of arrangement with him.
Even the way he lounged in the chair was smug. Like it was his throne and he was just waiting for minions to come bow before him.
“You’re younger than I thought you’d be.” He broke the silence first.
Though it was faint, I could just make out an accent. It was European, but I couldn’t nail down the country. To look at the bastard, you’d think he was Scandinavian—blond hair, blue eyes, commanding frame—but his accent was too sharp to hail from the land of Vikings.
I was tempted to glare at the tipped smile aimed at me, but I didn’t want to lead him to the impression I cared. I gave him my version of the same smile, abandoning my “no expectations” policy for the prospect of pissing him off. “You’re older than I thought you’d be.”
His smile shifted into the realm of a smirk, like he knew I was lying. So yeah, maybe I was lying about thinking he was older, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of confirming his silent accusation. He was older than me, but not by much. He might have been closing in on thirty, but he wasn’t past it.
He leaned forward in the chair. When his gaze circled my face to my fiery red hair, his brow elevated. Yes, I am the stereotype. Be warned.
“Prettier too.”
I stiffened. He was fucking with me now. I’d already agreed to marry him. How much more did he think he could screw me over?
I gave him a cursory glance and kept the unaffected look on my face. “Uglier.”
He cocked a brow like he knew better. “And the personality of ten women rolled into one.”
“Intimidated?”
His head shook once. “Intrigued.”
“Irritated?”
His eyes investigated me again. It felt intrusive, definitely not cursory. “Impressed.”
“As impressed by me as the woman in heat who was just mauling you over by the bar?”
“You mean the woman who gave me this?” He pulled something out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket and set it on the small table between us.
It was a hotel card key. With a lipstick kiss pressed into it.
“Classy place, this five-star hotel.” I glanced back at the woman at the bar. She was still there, watching him as though he was the height of the male species. “Did you tell her the reason you were here?”
His attention stayed on me. “Yes, I told her I was here to meet the woman I was going to marry.”
My stomach wrung. This was the man I was going to marry.
Holy shit.
“And she didn’t ask for her room key back?” I asked.
“She didn’t give it to me until right after I mentioned that.” His stare was intense. Too intense. I felt like every secret—every piece of who I was—was strewn out on that table for him to see. “Women love a man who isn’t afraid of commitment. It’s like an aphrodisiac.”
“You know what else women like?” I didn’t pause for an answer because I guessed he didn’t have a clue. “A man who’s humble.”
He fought a smile and leaned back in his chair when a server approached with a couple of drinks on a tray. “No, they like to think they do, but they don’t.” His head shook authoritatively. “They like the cocky bastard who goes after what he wants and doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Because the server was shielding some of me from his view, I allowed myself to shift. I was getting fired up, and if he kept saying the same kinds of things with the same kinds of looks on his face, that drink was going to wind up in his face.
That was when I noticed what the server had set in front of me. A tumbler with something amber in color. The same thing she was setting in front of him. Although from the curve of her smile, she was offering to give him a blow job on the side, compliments of the house.
“What is this?” I asked. Him. Her. Whoever wanted to answer.
“Scotch,” he answered, ignoring the server lingering between us.
My nose curled at the drink.
“Expensive scotch.”
“I don’t care if it came from the fountain of youth. I won’t drink it.”
His forehead creased with what appeared to be irritation, but I couldn’t be sure. Maybe it was confusion, like he couldn’t decide what to make of me. “You would have me believe you wouldn’t take a sip of that if you knew it would give you eternal life?” When I shook my head, his head tipped. “Why?”
“Because I value my free will far more than long life.” I pushed the drink away until it clinked against his. “I’d rather live one day free than an eternity in a cage.”
He was quiet for a moment. The server stayed between us, staring at him, waiting.
“Then why are you here?” he asked me finally.
I leaned forward and hoped my stare was as powerful as his. “Because free will is expensive.”

Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time.

Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency.

Website Facebook Twitter Blog Instagram