In the Louisiana swamplands, ghost stories are as much a part of childhood as chasing fireflies and crawfishing. They never much scared me, though, nor the possibility of evil out to do me harm. Until the night I watched shadows come to life and butcher everything I loved.
With a stranger’s help, I managed to escape to an isolated place miles north, and, in time, became my own ghost story. A cautionary tale for the locals.
Nearly a decade passed, before I returned to my birthplace, in hopes of unearthing long-awaited answers. Instead, I found something I wasn’t looking for. Someone. A remedy for my loneliness.
Or so I thought.
Turns out, Thierry Bergeron is no elixir. He’s a deadly poison, cursed by the demons of his past, and feared by those who call him the elusive Rougarou of the bayou. A devious rogue, whose seductive whispers and rough hands haunt my dreams. The big bad wolf that defiles me without apology, or remorse.
I should resist him, but I can’t.
And when the shadows return to stake their claim on me, his darkness is the only safe place to hide.
I seriously want to bow down to Keri and her amazing writing abilities, especially when it comes to dark, gothic romance. Her talent knows no bounds and she never ceases to amaze me.
The Isle of Sin and Shadows is unlike anything I have read before. It’s a dark, gothic southern romance riddled with lots of suspense and thrills. This book is a page turner and one that is impossible to put down once you start. It will seep into your dreams and stays with you all day.
“You’re my favorite ghost story.”
I won’t go into any details of this book as the blurb gives you all that you need. I will tell you that this book is dark and has some scenes that may be too graphic for some, but for me and many others who love a spine tingling read – this book is everything we love about dark romances.
The slow burn romance that ties into the suspense and mystery surrounding both Celeste and Thierry is amazing. This book will hold readers captive in so many ways and having them gasping for breath at each twist and turn. This book took me on a dark trek that I could never anticipate and I loved every word of it. This book played out like a movie in my head and I couldn’t get enough of it.
“You’re right. You can’t change who I am. But you’ve already changed what I want.”
Keri not only delivers a very well crafted plot and brings us characters that have many layers to them. The story in told in Thierry and Celeste’s POV and will flip to the past, at times and that helps readers dig even deeper into the bayous of Louisiana.
The Isle of Sin and Shadows is a dark, gothic romance that is unlike no other. If you can handle a book full of mystery and suspense with dark undertones, then this book is for you.
Head over to Keri’s reading group to get in on the release day giveaway!
“Deliciously dark, steamy, and full of suspenseful twists and turns, this book kept me up ALL NIGHT. ” Siobhan Davis. USA Today bestselling author
Make You Beg, a dark bully romance standalone from bestselling author Shantel Tessier is available now!
To the world, she’s known as Henley Greene. To me, she’s a little doll— a toy to be played with and tossed to the side once no longer wanted. She will pay for her betrayal however I deem necessary.
Imagine living in a constant nightmare where you have no control. Running from someone or something, you can hear him getting closer and feel his breath on your neck. You know that no matter what you do, he’s going to get you. He will win. But I don’t have just one. I have four. Ryan Scout, Van Rellik, Dax Monroe, and Grayson Law are the Reapers of Westbrook High, my ex-best friends, and now my biggest enemies. They run the school and own this town. They want nothing more than to make me pay for what I saw that night at Death Valley. A sick and twisted game that leaves me dirty and bruised with torn clothing. So how did I fall in love with one? I was raised to fear the dark side, but he showed me it was in the dark where the truth came to light. He played with me until my body craved his touch. I was going to prove I could be his most trusted servant in every form of the word. Whether kneeling before him or lying on my back, my sole purpose in life was to be his. But when you’re a toy everyone likes to play with, you’re bound to end up broken.
Make You Beg: A Dark Bully Romance was previously published in the Bully Me: Class of 2020 Anthology but has now been reworked and expanded into a new full-length story.
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sFddjq Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/makeyoubeg
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Make You Beg is the first book I have read by Shantel. I came across her name during another author’s release day party and the blurb intrigued me. I know that bully romance has become a huge thing over the last year, but also know that is not for everyone due to its triggers. Make You Beg has those bully elements but it also had elements of suspense and mystery added in, which made this book all the more enjoyable.
Dax, Rellik, Scout and Law are known as The Reapers throughout their school. Henley was the only female in their group and they five of them are best friends…until they weren’t. One night changed Henley’s life forever and all four guys turned their backs on her.
She’s returned home after hiding away for the last 5 months and the boys aren’t going to make her return easy. Henley knows what Dax, Rellik, Scout and Law are capable of. But she herself has her own agenda and is willing to play their games in order to get her revenge.
This book went in directions I have never expected. Everyone has their secrets and just when you think you know everything, you don’t. You definitely need to keep your mind opinion and read this with the notion, that its fiction and none of this would happen in a normal world.
Shantel has definitely earned herself another reader. I enjoyed her writing style and how she kept me turning the pages. I normally need to feel a connection to characters in order to enjoy the story, but with this one – the plot is what carried this book. I didn’t really connect to any characters, but I was intrigued by the story and that kept be engaged.
If you are into bully or dark romance, this book is definitely what you are looking for.
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Born into one of the richest, most notorious families in the country, the black sheep title was stamped on him from an early age. While the rest of his relatives earn their keep at the top tier baseball team they’ve owned for generations, Sin prefers spending his time and money on booze, babes and bad decisions.
Until all three land him in a coma, fighting for his life.
One year later, with a sober chip in his hand, he arrives at spring training ready to turn it all around. But when he meets the only woman who doesn’t recognize just who he is, he can’t help omitting a few important details … like his last name. No stranger to charming women, Sin uses one of his old skillsets to kick off what is sure to be an epic hookup.
But when she shows up five months after their brief Florida fling with a secret that will topple his privileged world, he might just lose everything he’s worked so hard to rebuild. Including a real shot at love with the sassy redhead that he’s been too much of a coward to pursue.
Can he shoulder the responsibility he’s always shrugged off? Or will he balk at the real-life complications and strike out completely?
Francesca Kade is an independent goal-getter.
As one of the only female strength coaches in the league, she’s used to invading the boys’ club. After putting up with being passed over and not promoted for a number of seasons, she’s finally got her shot.
A consummate professional with blinders on, there is no way anything will screw up all she hopes to achieve. Well, except for maybe the new employee with eyes the color of ocean waves and a smirk that’s the definition of sin. When they catch fire in the southern heat, it’s almost impossible to put it out.
Until she finds out that he’s her boss’s boss’s boss.
Burned from the betrayal and panicking with a fresh secret of her own, Frankie is shocked when she lands her ultimate dream job. There is no way she’s turning it down. But when she bumps into Sinclair on day one, all of the old feelings and new problems come hurtling at her like a baseball to the face.
Will she ever be able to trust that he’ll put both her and his responsibilities before his vices? Or will their differences cost them the game?
Cover Designed by Okay Creations
Read it now: mybook.to/CheckSwing
Check Swing is the third book in Carrie’s Callahan Family series. I have been eagerly awaiting Sinclair’s book and Carrie did not disappoint.
I finished this book over a week ago and I can still remember every thing about it. And that it to me, says everything about the book and the author.
Sinclair is trying to find out what he wants to do with this life now that he has been sober for a year. He’s had everything handed to him because of his family. And he’s once again, given the opportunity that most don’t get but this time he is determined to prove that he deserves to be there.
Frankie has been busting her butt to prove that she is just as good as her male colleagues when it comes to training and conditioning athletes. She’s been given promoted to head strength and conditions coach for spring training, which is just another step closer to her ultimate goal – working with team during the season in their strength and conditioning department.
Sinclair and Frankie have an abrupt meeting but what makes it even more interesting is that Frankie doesn’t know who Sinclair is. However, there is an immediate attraction on both their parts. They both were not wanting anything more than a fling as they both had other goals in mind. However, life never goes as we want.
Five months after they last saw one another, they meet unexpectedly again. And sparks fly – just not the kind you are thinking., They are so many secrets and lies that need to be dealt with. Will their second chance give them the opportunity to become more??
Carrie wrote this book so beautifully. I love how real and natural everything felt. This story is written from both Sinclair and Frankie’s POV, which truly helps readers connect to each character. You get a feel for what each is going through but keeps the book flowing perfectly.
Carrie has delivered another exceptional sports romance to her readers. I cannot wait to see what she brings us next.
Author of romance novels such as The Tenth Girl and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. A former journalist, she prefers the love stories of her imagination, and the athleisure dress code, much better.
When she isn’t writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She’s a Jersey girl living in Texas with her husband, daughter, son and Great Dane/Lab rescue.
I move on to what I know. “The Poet, an organized killer, a planner. Highly intelligent. Well employed. These types like to appear stable and we’re most likely looking at someone in a circle of family to shelter himself, even convince himself he’s normal. None of this is on paper. And I don’t feel like I have room for error on this one.”
“The Poet?”
“That’s what I’m calling him.”
“Whatever you call him, do you really think he’s a serial killer?”
“I know he’s a serial killer. We just have to find his victims.”
“I’ll get you your profile for peace of mind.”
“Thank you, Wade,” I say, gratitude in my voice.
“Thank me by being careful. If this asshole came after Roberts, you could be next.”
“If Roberts was his type, I am not.”
“Be careful, Detective Jazz,” he says, and this time he uses his best Special Agent Wade Miller voice, the detective title meant to make the “I’m serious” point.
“I am. I called you for a reason. I’m going to get him before he ever has the chance to get me.”
We disconnect a few seconds later and I pull up the poem compilation Chuck put together for me on my MacBook. I gravitate toward the poem The Poet left called “Fate, The Jester.”His message could be in those few lines or in another verse inside the full poem. I read it all slowly, all eight paragraphs, dissecting each one, but I return to the three lines he left in Summer’s mouth:
Who laugh in the teeth of disaster,
Yet hope through the darkness to find
A road past the stars to a Master
A master, a statement that seems to reference superiority and drives home my earlier thoughts. The Poet judged Summer beneath him. Perhaps he judges us all beneath him. He believes he’s above the law, and that’s dangerous to those who come into contact with him.
That means I need to become dangerous to him, and quickly.
The Poet grabbed my attention with the cover and the blurb. The blurb had set my expectations for a suspenseful and twisty thriller, but in turn, it was more of police procedural than anything else. It was not bad, just not what I had anticipated.
A serial killer, nicknamed “The Poet,” is on the loose and leaves behind poems as his signature. Detective Samantha Jazz is called in to take over the case as she has a bit of a background in poems from her college years.
The books flips back and forth between views from both Sam and The Poet. It was interesting to see how Sam takes this case on, digs into things, and tries to figure out who it is. Her “spidey sense” and her process of going through the case file are quite detailed and you can tell that the author did a lot of research in this area to make it more authentic and true to life.
While I enjoyed the book, it was bit a slow, with very little suspense in terms of a thriller. I enjoyed walking through the aspects of how a detective works a case, their nuances and how they piece everything together. There isn’t a lot of action but again – this book was definitely more police procedure and not focused on the killer and his actions.
Overall, it’s a good read and one I enjoyed reading, despite wanting more thriller aspects added in. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones writes dark, edgy fiction including the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series and the upcoming, crime thriller The Poet. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland and Bad Mom’s) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned a multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a cat that talks too much, and a Golden Retriever who is afraid of trash bags.
This is all of me. The good, the bad, the used, and the broken…
Heartbreakingly beautiful and completely engrossing, A young woman’s life takes a disturbing and utterly fascinating turn as the past she’s put behind comes back to haunt her. USED is packed full of twists, turns, and a gripping romance sure to leave readers emotionally spent and asking for more.
USED, a brand new standalone romantic suspense from debut author Kate Dunbar is OUT NOW! Grab your copy today!
“USED was amazing. Like seriously amazing. I can’t remember the last time I hated to put a book down so I could go to sleep and then immediately pick it up to finish it the next morning. And yet, here we are and that’s what I did.” ~ Samantha Chase, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Rarely have I read a book so vividly described, so rich with emotion, that I felt like I lived it. USED is the kind of book that engages your heart and takes you on a journey that leaves you hopeful and empowered by the end.” ~ Erika Kelly, Award Winning Author of the Rock Star Romance Series
Photography by K Keeton Designs Cover Design by Uplifting Author Services
Model: Cameo Hopper
BLURB
At the age of seventeen, after a decade of lies, hurt, and severe abuse by her brother Lucas, Sabra Valentine is able to breathe.
Lucas is behind bars thanks in large part to Sabra’s quick thinking and self-preservation-even if that’s one more secret she has to keep.
Now, seven years later, life is moving forward, and Sabra is starting to heal, live, and love again with her friends and Trevor Collins by her side. He’s tall, dark, and sexy, and he doesn’t fall for Sabra’s games. The future is finally looking bright-until one phone call shatters everything.
Used is a romantic suspense with domestic thriller elements. Please be aware that there are topics that may be triggers for some readers, and this work is meant for mature readers.
“Heartbreakingly beautiful. This book isn’t about angst and pain. It’s about a fighter-a survivor-that we all attain to be. The story tears you apart in the best ways and builds you back up in the most beautiful.” ~ Nichole Chase, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
“Used is a raw, heart-wrenching story of surviving trauma, but it’s also so much more. It’s a romantic, emotionally gratifyingtale of unflinching, all-in love. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” ~ Brenda Rothert, Author
USED is being narrated by Stella Hunter is out now!
I shake my head and snap out of my reverie. “What?” I inch my way toward him and place my hand on his thigh. “I’m sorry. I got distracted. Tell me again.” Trevor’s jaw tightens. His eyes shift toward my hand.
“You got distracted? I’m telling you the rules to our relationship, and you got distracted? How is that even possible?”
“I started thinking about last night and your lips on me. And that made me start thinking about your lips on me again. And that made me think about your hands on me. And that made me think about everything else on me.” Trevor stares at me with his mouth hanging open.
“I swear, you never cease to surprise me, Sabra.” He grabs my hand and pulls me toward his chest. After a few moments, he uses his finger to gently lift my chin and brush his lips over mine. “Screw the rules. We’ll just wing it.” I smell his minty breath as he moves down my jaw with those magical lips and across my collarbone. Trevor’s fingers grasp the edge of my shirt. All I can think about is that same breath and those same lips scorching my skin again.
I’m losing myself in his touch. His kisses. The sweet words he’s whispering into my ear. I’m lost in him. And then my phone rings, blasting through the room. Shaking us out of the moment. Trevor pulls back to look over his shoulder at the intruder.
You have got to be kidding me. How is it possible the entire world seems to be calling me this early?
I glance at the phone sitting on the coffee table beside us and realize I don’t recognize the number. “I’m sorry. I have to answer this.” Trevor grabs my hand and settles it on his lap. I can feel how much he doesn’t want me to answer it.
“Are you sure it can’t wait, Say?” He smiles his crooked grin and cocks his head to the side. “Can’t they leave a voicemail, and you call them back?”
“It could be my agent. I had that audition yesterday. I just need a second.”
“Fine. I’ll go get a donut hole.” He grins and stands. “And then I’m coming back for yours.”
“Ew, gross.” I snatch my phone and slide my finger across the screen, rolling my eyes at him as he walks into the kitchen laughing. “Hello?”
“Hello, Sabra. How are you, sis?”
*****
No. No. Nooooo…NO. This can’t be happening. I yank the phone away from my ear and stare at it. Absolutely not. The air feels thin. My lungs feel like they’re about to burst.
“Sabra? What is it?” Trevor stares at me with this look on his face, like he thinks I’m crazy.
Did I say that out loud?
I hit the end button and get up, pacing from one side of my extremely small living room to the other. This is a nightmare. No. It has to be a wrong number. He’s in prison. There’s a chant happening in my head.
He’s in prison. He’s in prison. He’s in prison.
“Sabra.” I flinch as Trevor touches my arm and instinctively move away.
“Don’t touch me.” The hurt in his eyes is obvious. So deep. I might as well have slapped him. And I don’t care. “Don’t. Touch. Me.” I growl it at him.
He’s in prison. He’s in prison. He’s in prison.
“Sabra, what the hell is going on? What happened?” Trevor paces a step away and turns to look at me. “Who was that?”
“No one. A wrong number. No one at all.”
But I know it wasn’t. He’ll call back. Come back for more. He always comes back for more. Dammit. How is he coming back for more?
He’s in prison. He’s in prison.
I feel Trevor’s heat before I realize he’s next to me. “I don’t believe that. It was someone.” He grabs me by the upper arms and shifts me back against the wall. “You’re shaking and white as a sheet. What’s going on? Who the hell was that?”
I’m shaking?
He’s in prison. He’s in prison.
Wait. My mom called…
And I realize why she was calling so early. Dammit. Everything clicks into place. Tremors course through my body. I can’t control them. The chant changes in my head.
He’s out. He’s out. Oh my god, he’s out. I. Can’t. Breathe.
Used is Kate Dunbar’s debut novel. It’s one she has been writing on and off for years. And I am so glad that she released it to us to read.
This novel felt very real to me – not just the characters but the story itself. It’s unfortunately a life others have lived. We’ve all heard the stories on the news or through others but for a reason I can’t explain, Dunbar’s book made it all more real and personal to me.
“Nine Steps.”
Dunbar does a great job of giving us the details without laying all the gory details out for us. I know for some, they may want that more dark and twisted part to make the book more suspenseful, but it wasn’t needed. You can tell that Sabra has a very hard time talking and rehashing her past and that shows through the past reflections. And I think that’s why not having those descriptive details works with this book – the character can’t handle that and if Dunbar were to go that deep into it Sabra’s memories, we would lose the true character of Sabra.
Trevor – oh that boy is a Saint. And I know any mom’s out there would love for their young sons to turn out to be just like Trevor. Sabra and Trevor started out as friends four years ago when she first arrived at college. Trevor has always wanted more, but respected Sabra and her reasons for not wanting to ruin what they had. Sabra has always expressed that she’s not a commitment type of gal and Trevor has seen that over the years. His loyalty to Sabra won me over immediately – even as a friend, he was there for her.
Dunbar wrote a very real and personal story. Her characters and their story really helped in making this book feel more alive. While I know that those who love their psychological thrillers to be a bit darker, I think that Dunbar still keeps the thrilling suspense alive with just the minute details she gives – it adds to the appeal of not knowing everything.
I hope Dunbar continues to write as I would love to read another novel by her.
About Kate Dunbar:
Kate Dunbar is a wife, mom of three, and obsessive tea drinker who loves a great story. She’s passionate about people and learning what makes them tick. You can find her eavesdropping, people watching, and living her best life wherever the winds take her.
This is all of me. The good, the bad, the used, and the broken…
Heartbreakingly beautiful and completely engrossing, USED is packed full of twists, turns, and a gripping romance sure to leave readers emotionally spent and asking for more.
USED, a brand new standalone romantic suspense from debut author Kate Dunbar is OUT NOW!
Clara Saint-James is completing a journey started by an old friend. She’ll return a Cadillac to California, a place she’s avoided for more than a decade. But it’s time for closure and to put old ghosts to rest. And it’s time to find out if the feelings she’s cherished for the boy from her past are just fanciful memories–or if there’s a chance they are real.
Timing was never on her side, especially when it came to Karson Avery. The two of them lived in a junkyard as runaway teens, and though she wanted more than his friendship, he always belonged to another–until that one night when he was hers.
When Clara finds Karson living in a small, coastal town, she’s not surprised the beautiful boy from her past grew into a stunning man. His smile is as captivating as ever. His eyes have the same roguish glint. But timing is still working against her.
Clara must decide how far she’s willing to go to battle for Karson’s heart. Or if it’s time to let him go and surrender to the dotted lines that have always kept them apart.
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!
Dotted Lines is the fifth and final book in the Runaway series and Devney ends it perfectly.
I was really looking forward to this book and Devney did not let me down. Dotted Lines surrounds Clara Saint-James as she takes on the final leg of the journey of driving the Cadillac to the one male friend in their group, Karson Avery.
Clara (along with her sister – previous book) and Karson, were the last three to leave the junkyard. Clara always loved Karson, but never thought he would return those feelings. But it never affected their friendship when they lived in the tent in the junkyard or when they attempted to become more.
Now older and with a son, Clara will be reuniting with Karson. And those feelings Clara had for Karson have not diminished in any way all these years later. However, timing has never been in the cards for them and the reunion does not go as Clara was hoping.
I loved this book so much. I was not expecting how much emotion was going to be packed into this story. I really enjoyed being taken back into their past and seeing how close these two really were. How protective Karson was. And then seeing where they both are currently in their lives and how they interact seeing one another again. GAH – all the feels.
Dotted Lines was the perfect ending to this amazing series. I loved each and every book and feel like I know these characters as though they were a part of my life. I hated that it had to end, but I love that I got to take this journey with each of them.
The Runaway series ifs definitely one of my favorite contemporary romance series and I highly recommend each and every book. Each book is solely focused on one of the friends who grew up in a junkyard and all can easily be read as standalones. But you can also read them in order – either way you will truly connected to these characters and their friendship over the years.
Meet Devney
Devney is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her family. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop.
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn’s latest bauble is the charming story of a crafting queen battling a jaded divorce lawyer on a wedding reality show.
Luna Rossi is a veritable crafting genius—she can bedazzle and bead so hard her Etsy site is one of the hottest in the world. So it’s only natural that Luna would convince her brother and his husband-to-be to compete on The Wedding Game, a “do-it-yourself” TV show, for the title of Top DIY Wedding Expert.
As a jaded divorce lawyer, Alec Baxter scoffs at weddings and romance. But when his recently engaged brother begs him to participate in The Wedding Game, Alec grudgingly picks up a glue gun and prepares for some family bonding.
Both fierce competitors, Luna and Alec clash on national TV as harsh words and glitter fly with abandon. But as they bicker over color swatches and mood boards, they find themselves fighting something else: their growing mutual attraction. While Luna is torn between family loyalty and her own feelings, Alec wonders if he might have been wrong about love and marriage all along…
EXCERPT:
“Are you ready?” Farrah says, coming from behind me and massaging my shoulders. I move my head side to side while we both hop up and down. “Did you do those finger exercises I told you about?”
I flex my fingers and nod. “Yup, all warmed up.”
“Do you have your game face on?” Farrah spins me around and grips my shoulders as I mean mug it at her. “Ooo, you’ve been practicing in the mirror. I can tell.”
“When I brush my teeth. I really feel like I’ve mastered the scowl.”
“Honey, you mastered the scowl years ago. Now you’re just coming into your own with it.” She holds up her hands, and I start boxing into them as we leap around the apartment. “Quick on your feet, quick on your feet.” Farrah swings her hand at me, and I duck. “Focus, hone your attention.”
“Focused.”
“Tell me, who’s going to kill it today?”
“I am.” I bob back and forth and then give Farrah a one-two punch to her hands.
“Who’s going to do anything necessary, even sit on someone’s face if you need to, in order to win today’s challenge?”
“I am. Show no mercy. My ass is coming for your face.”
Farrah pauses, winces. “I’m not sure I like that.”
“Just go with it.”
“Okay, Luna’s ass is coming for your face.” She shrugs. “Next week let’s work on your trash talk.”
“Might be necessary.”
Circling again, I box at Farrah’s hands, feeling light on my feet and ready for anything that comes my way. “You’re going to ignore all conversations from Mr. Snobby Shoes.”
“I don’t even know he exists.”
“Your eyes are on the prize. And what is that prize?”
“Giving Cohen and Declan the best wedding possible.”
“Exactly.” She lowers her palms. “Quick, flash me your hands.”
I lift my hands, and she inspects them carefully.
“You lotioned—good. Nails are clipped to a perfect length, and those fingers are stretched and strong. Rotate your wrists for me.” She lowers her ear to my wrists as I circle them around. “Perfect, no cracking, no tension.” She points to the ground. “Fast feet.”
My feet start bouncing up and down, like in those football movies, and I hold my hands at my hips, ready for the call . . .
“Draw!” Farrah shouts.
I pull my glue gun from my hip and point it at her. “You’ve been glued.”
Farrah claps her hands. “Reaction time was spot on. You’re ready.”
“Yeah?”
She nods. “You got this, girl. This competition is yours for the taking. And remember what we talked about: don’t focus on what you think will win . . .”
“Focus on what will bring Cohen and Declan joy.”
For anyone who follows my reviews, y’all know Meghan is another author where I will read anything she writes. They may not always be 5 star reads for me, but I love her writing style and won’t not ever read one of her books.
Meghan is also a go-to for me when it comes to rom-coms so grabbing The Wedding Game was an obvious choice. And she did not let me down.
I love the concept behind this story. The Wedding game is actually a show on a DIY network that our characters, Luna and Alec find themselves a part of. They are each helping their brothers create their dream wedding in hopes of winning a penthouse in NYC.
Luna is die-hard crafter and a very good one. She had to deceive her brother into participating because with her abilities, she felt they were a shoe-in. I loved the dynamics between Luna and her brother. It was not only super cute, but extremely beautiful.
Alec is a divorce attorney. He no longer believes in love, let alone marriage. He brother all but begs him to help him out and Alec sees this as an opportunity to fix their relationship.
I enjoyed everything about this book. From the romance, to the family dynamics, to the interactions between everyone. Meghan really knows how to mix the humor with the romance to make it feel natural and neither aspect overpowers the other.
I highly recommend this to any romance lover to read. But if you truly enjoy a good laugh while reading, this is definitely the book for you.
Eastern Lights, an all-new heartfelt and emotional standalone romance and second standalone in the Compass Series from bestselling author Brittainy Cherry is available now!
I once met a man on a cold Halloween night. He dressed as a superhero, and I dressed in red. For one night, I was his break from reality, and he was the temporary fix for my broken heart.
Two years later, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to become a senior editor at one of the biggest magazine companies in the world. The only catch? Nail an exclusive interview with New York’s finest bachelor: Connor Roe.
To the rest of the world he was becoming one of the wealthiest men in New York City. To me, he was simply my once upon a time superhero.
My job was to get an exclusive interview with New York’s hottest bachelor. Never in my life did I expect him to want an exclusive with my heart, too.
The only problem with my growing feelings for him? I was set to marry his new business partner.
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Excerpt
Aaliyah
His playful look shifted a bit as he looked my way and nibbled on his bottom lip. “So there was a recent breakup.”
“He broke up with me about five weeks ago.”
“What an ass.”
“Yeah, but I love him. I wish I could say past tense, but here we are. My roommate Sofia said the best way to get over a man is to get under another one, but I can’t even consider that right now. The last thing I want to do is sleep with someone else.”
“Plus, sex wouldn’t fix a broken heart and—holy shit!” He clapped his hands together and hopped up from the ground to a standing position. The grin on his face was so big, but I didn’t understand what caused his sudden shift. “I got it, Red! I know what we can do to help you.”
I arched an eyebrow and stood. “I’m confused.”
“I know, I know, and you’re going to think I’m crazy—which, maybe I am—but here’s the deal: You can’t bang your way out of a heartbreak. That’s not how love works. Love isn’t a physical connection; it’s an emotional one. Plus, after breakups, people replay the good memories over the bad in their minds and start thinking they somehow failed, when, in reality, the bad probably always outweighed the good. You simply held the good tight in your grip because it was few and far between in the end. Otherwise, the good would’ve been enough to keep you together.”
I hated that he was speaking facts. Over the past weeks, all I’d done was replay all the good times Mario and I had together. My mind was stuck on a loop of moments that meant the world to me in my past relationship.
There were only a handful of good memories, yet I simply played them on repeat, making them feel bigger than they already were. Mario was a master at doing the bare minimum, and I celebrated that fact as if he was a god. It wasn’t his fault he gave me mediocre love. It was my fault for accepting it.
“So what’s your point?” I asked.
“Do you believe in destiny?”
I chuckled. “Don’t tell me you do.”
“I think everything happens for a reason, even if the reasoning isn’t clear as day right away. Maybe that’s why we met tonight, Red, because we were meant to. Maybe I had to get socked in the eye and whipped with a lasso because we were supposed to cross paths so I could help you get over your ex.”
“How?”
“The best way to get over a love is to find a stronger connection with another person. So, I present to you, your Halloween love story.” He took a bow as if he was making any sense at all.
I stood still, confused as ever. “Am I missing something?”
“Clearly, because you’re looking at me as if I’m having a mental breakdown—which, I mean, is probably accurate.” He cleared his throat and stood taller as he smoothed his hands over his chest. “I’m asking you to fall in love with me.”
I snickered. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Give me the chance to make you fall in love with me before the sun comes up in the next”—he glanced down at his phone—“five hours or so. It’s just past midnight. Give me those hours to make you fall in love with me. Then we’ll end the love story on a good note. No tragic heartbreak, no hard moments or relationship struggles. No cheating or scandals. Just two people who fell in love, then life or, in our case, morning made them say their goodbyes.”
“You really think two people can fall in love within five hours?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged and held his hand out toward me. “Want to try?”
I should’ve said no. I should’ve laughed off his crazy idea and ended the night right there on the rooftop, but I didn’t want to go home. I didn’t want to be alone. But most of all, I wanted more time with Captain, even if only a few more hours. Even if there wasn’t a real chance of me falling in love with him but just a chance of more time to feel happy.
Happy.
I felt happy.
I hadn’t even known how much I’d missed happiness until it found me that night.
So, I did what any insane girl would’ve done. I took his hand and agreed to the idea of falling in love within the next five hours.
He clasped my fingers with his and pulled me in close to him. It was the closest we’d stood since meeting, and the way he looked down into my eyes caused the butterflies to intensify. He had to be well over six-foot-two as he hovered over my five-foot-eight frame—and that was with heels. The way he looked at me made me feel important, as if he was going to give this crazy plan of his all that he had.
“Knock, knock,” he said, with the goofiest grin known to mankind.
“Who’s there?”
“Will you fall in love with?”
“Will you fall in love with who?”
“Me.”
Love didn’t only show its face during happiness. It didn’t skip by only during the sunshine. No. Sometimes—most of the time—love was a storm at war.
This book was so much more emotional than I had anticipated. If you read Southern Storms, then you met Connor. I was so excited when I heard that Eastern Lights was his book. You do need to read Southern Storms to truly enjoy this book. This book can easily be read as a standalone.
Connor is a sweet southern boy from Kentucky who moved to New York to conquer his dreams. He has this outlook on life that will grip your heart. He’s been building his empire the last two years when he has a chance run-in with Aaliyah.
Aaliyah didn’t have the best life growing up, but found family in the most random strangers. She’s always looking for the best in people and sometimes that causes her to put trust and love in people who don’t deserve it. When she and Connor run into one another, she is going through one more rough moment in her life.
I absolutely love their first meeting. Instead of exchanging actual names, they call each other Red (Aaliyah) and Captain (Connor). They spend an entire night enjoying one another’s company but agree to go separate ways the next morning and leave it to fate for them again later in life…
“Find your ugly truths,”…….”Its better to sit with the ugly truths than bathe in the beautiful lies.”
This book was everything that I needed and didn’t know it. I have so many highlights and notes in this book, it touched me so much. I laughed, I grinned like a goofball and I had tears running down my cheeks. There are so many life lessons littered throughout this book and that made this book stand out even more.
Brittainy not only writes characters that are relatable and real, but she delivers a story that will impact you in ways you don’t anticipate. You feel Brittainy’s words deep in your soul. Eastern Lights is another amazing read from Brittainy and I cannot wait to see what she brings next in this series.
“Confidence is a repeated habit. Act confident in your own skin until it becomes your outer layer.”
About Brittainy Author Brittainy C. Cherry is an Amazon #1 bestselling author. She has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelor Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing. Her novels have been published in 18+ countries around the world. Brittainy lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin with her fur babies.
Connect with Brittainy Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Fc8izo Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Oe1m8V Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Fltnc1 Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Fk2jKg GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2ThAciJ Join Brittainy’s Golden Girls (And Boys) Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2Y4WEir Stay up to date with Brittainy by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2oK1voU https://bcherrybooks.com
From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Callihan comes a charming, emotional romance about redefining dreams and discovering unlikely love along the way.
Life for Emma isn’t good. The world knows her as Princess Anya on Dark Castle, but then her character gets the axe–literally. The cherry on top is finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. She needs a break, and sanctuary comes in the form of Rosemont, a gorgeous estate in California promising rest and relaxation.
Then she meets the owner’s equally gorgeous grandson, ex-hockey player and current recluse Lucian Osmond, and she sees her own pain and yearning reflected in his eyes.
He’s charming when he wants to be but also secretive and gruff, with protective walls as thick as Emma’s own. Despite a growing attraction, they avoid each other.
But then there’s an impromptu nighttime skinny-dip, and Lucian’s luscious homemade tarts and cream cakes start arriving at Emma’s door, tempting her to taste life again…
In trying to stay apart, they only grow closer–and their broken pieces just might fit together and make them whole.
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards.
Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. In 2015, Kristen received a RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance for her novel Evernight.
Kristen is a child of the 80s, which means she’s worn neon skirts, black lace gloves, and combat boots although never all at once and can quote John Hughes movies with the best of them. A lifelong daydreamer, she finally realized the characters in her head needed a proper home and thus hit the keyboard. She believes falling in love is one of the headiest experiences a person can have, so naturally she writes romance. Her love of superheroes, action movies, and history led her to write historical paranormal novels. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and two children.
A new angsty stand alone love triangle romance from USA Todaybestselling author K.A. Linde that will keep you guessing which man is her groom and which one objects…
I’m in love with two men.
But I can only marry one.
And today is my wedding day.
The bridesmaids button my wedding dress. They titter excitedly as the music begins. My groom is waiting for me. I walk down the aisle prepared to say I do. All according to plan.
Except for the shout from the back of the room, “I object!”
I should have known it couldn’t be that easy. After fourteen years of push and pull, neither of them is going to let me go.
We’re a trio that should have never been.
Me and Cole and Ash.
One that I’m to marry and one that I’m to leave behind.
Now, once and for all, I have to choose: my groom or the man objecting?
Hold the Forevers is probably one of the most angsty books I have read in a long time. I don’t think I have ever hated and loved characters as much as I did with these three.
Lila is in love with two men. Ash she met and dated in high school. Cole she met and dated in college.
Ash and Lila’s high school relationship ended because she saw it based on too many lies.
Cole and Lila’s relationship ended because the distance was just too much for them as they focused on moving forward in their careers.
During the 10+ years these relationships span, one thing is constant – Lila chooses was it most convenient and comfortable for her at that time. She loves Ash and Cole in her own ways and they both love her desperately. At times it felt as if they saw her as a possession and nothing more.
At one point, Lila does her best in figuring out how to move past both of them because her heart and mind can’t continue on this ping pong path forever. And neither gentleman is willing to walk way from her. But as the story goes with these three, it’s not quite easy to move on – even after a year of trying to move on.
But it’s on her wedding day, when she truly finds the right answer – that partner that has known her better than she knew herself.
I won’t say who she ends up with – I will say it’s who I rooted for the whole time. YAY!!!
This book kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. I could not put this love triangle fiasco down. I won’t lie – there were so many times I wanted to slap the shit out of Lila and tell her to just cut them both off and move away. I also wanted to throttle Cole and Ash for their actions. But I was also sucked into this whole story and had to know, not only who she ended up with, but what happened during all those years that made it so damn hard to choose.
Meet K.A. Linde
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels.
She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team.
She loves reading fantasy novels, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.
My boyfriend’s billionaire boss always gets what he wants.
Menacingly handsome and unquestionably powerful, Theo Whitman need only snap his fingers to have a flock of supermodels fall at his feet. So when his steel gray eyes first meet mine, I expect him to pass right over me, to not give so much as a second thought to my presence.
Instead, he sees me.
Truly sees me.
And for a girl who prefers to hide behind her camera lens, it’s the most unnerving experience of my life.
Until he asks me to stay on his yacht for the summer.
All I have to do to earn my keep is be Theo’s on-call photographer when he has guests, and I’ll get a free ride through the Mediterranean with my boyfriend. Easy peasy.
Still, my skin prickles in warning when I say yes.
As the humid days fade into balmy nights, I can’t seem to avoid Theo. And when he finds me, it’s like a rabbit running into a wolf.
His intense gaze immobilizes me. The way he speaks strips me bare. Every brush of his skin sears me like a violent flame.
My boyfriend’s billionaire boss always gets what he wants.
Close Quarters is another Kandi Steiner binge-worthy read. It is impossible to not fall in love with her characters but with this book, it was impossible to not fall in with the places these characters visit.
Close Quarters pretty much takes place on a multi-millionaire yacht but it the cities and ports visited that will take your breath away.
Kandi is one of the few authors who can truly write angsty plots and make them work beautifully with the characters. Aspen is a very simplistic woman who just wants to expand her photography skills and explore new cities.
Theo is a young, self-made billionaire that works more than anything. He uses his success to wine and dine new clients and currently, that just happens to be aboard his yacht.
The humidity may be thick in this cities, but it’s nothing compared to the tension that is bubbling just under the surface between Aspen and Theo. These two dance a good tango for a long time, but Theo always gets what he wants.
GAH!!! This book is so incredibly good. Theo was so much deeper than I expected – he’s just WOW! Aspen holds her own, especially considering their age gap, but she’s wiser than her age in a few ways.
You definitely need to get your hands on this one!
Meet Kandi
Kandi Steiner is a bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys live music, traveling, anything heavy in carbs, beach days, movie marathons, craft beer and sweet wine — not necessarily in that order.
Keri Lake is a dark romance writer who specializes in demon wrangling, vengeance dealing and wicked twists. 
The Wedding Game by Meghan Quinn 
