Save the Date by Carrie Aarons…Release Day Blitz & Review

Title: Save the Date

Author: Carrie Aarons

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release Date: June 24, 2018

Blurb

You know that pact you make with your childhood best
friend of the opposite sex? The one where, if you’re both still single, lonely
and hopeless at thirty, you’ll marry each other?This is the story about what happens when you hit the big three-oh and have to
make good on that pinky promise.Personally, I think love, romance and all of that nonsense is a crock of, well,
you know. And Reese Collins, the boy who used to put worms in my hair at
backyard barbecues, knows that better than anyone.

But when he moves to the same city I’ve happily, and singly, inhabited for
years, memories of oaths past resurface. Reese is like a dog with a bone; a
really hot dog and that bone just happens to be me.

He won’t stop hounding me, and the crazy thing is, my frigid, traitorous heart
is starting to cave. For my best friend.

It seems so far off, when you’re a kid playing Monopoly in your treehouse. But
when that clock strikes midnight on your thirtieth birthday, and you’re
standing alone in front of a grocery store-bought cupcake, a childhood deal to
walk down the aisle doesn’t seem so silly anymore.

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Save the Date is what I would call a perfect summer beach read. It is light, funny and all-around enjoyable.

Erin and Reese have been best friends since grade school. They are the yin and yang. Reese is outgoing and loves being around others and has this amazing outlook on love. Erin did until not too long when her parents’ divorced, leaving her with a bitter taste in her mouth. To say that Erin is a cynic of falling in love, would be putting it mildly.

They made a pact when they were young that if neither were married by 30, they would marry one another. Well, that day is fast approaching and where one is quite excited about the prospect of marrying one’s best friend, the other is throwing up every wall possibly. Until Reese is able to defrost Erin’s cold exterior and show her what she’s missing out on. And let’s just say that she is kicking her own ass!!

Carrie did a great job of writing this sweet and loveable story from both POVs. I loved seeing how things panned out from both sides and that made the story all the more enjoyable and sweet. Erin’s not too annoying with her cynical way of thinking and Reese isn’t too over the top with his romantic actions – they even one another out.

If you are ever looking for a book that gives you those feel good vibes and that permanent smile while you read, this is the book you want. Carrie delivers another amazing contemporary romance.

Author Bio

Author of romance
novels such as Red Card and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes sexy, swoony and
sarcastic characters who won’t get out of her head until she puts them down on
a page.

Carrie has wanted to be an author since the first time she opened a book, and
still can’t fathom that she gets to live her dream each and every day.

When she isn’t in a writing coma, Carrie spends time Netflix-binging with her
husband, snuggling her infant daughter, and chasing her black Lab through the
dog parks of New Jersey.

Author Links

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Mister Tonight by Kendall Ryan..Blog Tour & Review

From New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan comes a standalone romance about a swoony single dad and the new neighbor he falls for.

Last night was the most embarrassing night of my life.

I was THAT girl.

You know, the highly intoxicated chick celebrating her thirtieth with her two best friends—the ones who are happily married. And the more I drank, the more I wanted to do something reckless to celebrate.

By reckless, I meant the sexy and alluring man dressed in a business suit standing near the bar. You know his type—tall, dark, and handsome. I was sure he was out of my league, but I’d had just enough alcohol that things like that no longer seemed to matter. I’m not fat, mind you, but you can tell I like French fries, so there’s that.

He took me home and I enjoyed the hottest birthday sex of my life, well until it came to a screeching, and rather unwelcome halt.

There’s nothing quite like being interrupted mid-ride with a little voice asking:

“What are you doing to my daddy?”

Just kill me now…… or so I thought.

Come to find out the man I rode like a bull at the rodeo is my new landlord.

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Mister Tonight is another perfect example of what Kendall excels at – writing really sweet and romantic stories.

This book starts off with Hunter and Kate meeting at a bar and having a one night fling – except things get interrupted mid-sexy time and thus ending anyone getting their happy ending.

As the blurb tells you, Kate ends up being Hunter’s tenant. However, things don’t just go right into them being hot and sexy immediately. Oh no, no, no. Kate was not lying when she said she was commitment-phobe. She is truly excited to finally live on her own with no roommates and live her single life, even with her landlord being the one night stand, interrupted.

I love that Kendall has both Hunter and Kate acting very mature about things and never muddling shit up. They are both upfront on how they feel and keeping things no-strings. I need to say one thing that I really loved so much about this book was Kate’s aloof approach on her causal hook-ups. I love that she owned who she was and was not apologetic about it; BUT I also loved the Hunter did not look at her any differently, if anything, he liked her even more for being confident in what she wanted in life and not holding back because of society’s view. OK – enough about that, but just wanted to point that out because that made me love Kate (and Kendall) even more.

Kendall played this book out perfectly. While the book was fast-paced, everything played out naturally. Nothing was rushed, there was no unnecessary drama and the sexy times were HOT!!! Another great romance from Kendall!

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

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Almost Impossible by Nicole Williams…Release Day Blitz & Review

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Fans of Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, and Jenny Han will delight as the fireworks spark and the secrets fly in this delicious summer romance from a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

When Jade decided to spend the summer with her aunt in California, she thought she knew what she was getting into. But nothing could have prepared her for Quentin. Jade hasn’t been in suburbia long and even she knows her annoying (and annoyingly cute) next-door neighbor spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

And when Quentin learns Jade plans to spend her first American summer hiding out reading books, he refuses to be ignored. Sneaking out, staying up, and even a midnight swim, Quentin is determined to give Jade days–and nights–worth remembering.

But despite their storybook-perfect romance, every time Jade moves closer, Quentin pulls away. And when rumors of a jilted ex-girlfriend come to light, Jade knows Quentin is hiding a secret–and she’s determined to find out what it is.

Let me start off by first saying that in my personal opinion, a 3 star book is a good book and one that I would recommend to people. I find that people cringe when they see 3 star and think the book isn’t that great. It’s not that, it’s more along the lines of the book was a good read, but not one that will stick with me forever.

Almost Impossible is a sweet and easy read for just about anyone. There isn’t any over the top drama and nothing too hot and heavy for a YA read.

Jade was my favorite part of this book. She has grown up in a world most of us would find fascinating and amazing. She is bit more mature than most at her age, but at the same time, she is slightly naïve on certain things because of her upbringing. You’d think she’d be more of a rebellious kid or something along those lines, but she appreciates everything she’s been given and has a great head on her shoulders.

Quentin was an interesting character to me. He’s got younger siblings at home that he helps take care of and also works full time during the summer. From everything we learn about him, he seems like a pretty decent kid who keeps to himself and doesn’t get into too much trouble.

I enjoyed the buildup between Jade and Quentin – it was the typical summer romance between two teens – nothing is too fast and flows well between them. They take jabs at one another and even try to move things in a certain direction, even while life tries to stop it.

While I did enjoy reading this one, it’s a not a story that left me reeling, and that is ok. Not all books need to leave with me that feeling way. This was a very light and sweet story overall. However, based on the blurb I was expecting more of bad boy with Quentin than we got and I was expecting a more dramatic story line where the ex-girlfriend came into play.

Even though I had expected more, with this being a YA read, it is a fine line for an author to give a story that edge of naughty teenage boy and a secret about his past and still make it relatable to the YA reader. With that being said, I personally feel that Nicole did her best in portraying Jade, Quentin and his ex-girlfriend without making it too heavy of a story for characters that were heading into their senior year of high school.

Overall, Almost Impossible is definitely a story I would think any teenager would enjoy along with fellow YA lovers who are looking for a non-angsty and dramatic story. This one hit right down the middle for me, which in my opinion, makes is a good read.

Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USA TODAY 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.

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Unexpected Love Story by Natasha Madison..Review

Title: Unexpected Love Story

Series: Love Series

Author: Natasha Madison

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 5, 2018

When one man’s death exposes a complex web of lies, three couples discover the true meaning of love, loss and redemption.

Crystal

I was the strong one, they said, until two words brought me to my knees.

It was a secret I didn’t share with anyone. A secret that made me promise I’d never fall in love.

I no longer wanted that white picket fence of every woman’s dreams.

Until the unthinkable happened.

Gabe

I thought I had it all with the best medical practice in the state and the woman of my dreams.

I wore a smile on my face every single day.

I couldn’t wait to watch her walk down the aisle and start our forever, except she never did.

My runaway bride made me realize love isn’t worth it.

What happens when your dreams unexpectedly come true?

This is the story of unexpected love.

An enemies-to-lovers romance with epic chemistry, fantastic banter, and passion that practically explodes off the page. It’s fun, feisty, sexy and beautifully heartfelt, and I loved every moment! – Aj The escapist Book Blog

I finished this book in a couple hours, devouring every sentence, every page Natasha gifted the world with, until it was over and I was crying happy tears. – Cait’s Creatures

Unexpected Love was just that unexpected. The storyline at times has some heartbreaking moments for both characters that made you want to hug both of them. -Melissa BookSmacked

I really enjoyed Unexpected Love Story. Gabe and Crystal’s story was quite unique and pretty entertaining.

Gabe is like a large yet sexy teddy bear. His loyal and fierce with his friends and family. So when he’s left picking up the pieces of a failed relationship, his friends and family are there to help him move forward.

Crystal is the best friend we all love. She’s strong in herself, helps everyone out and is always there when you need her. But no one knows that underneath it all, she’s protecting her biggest secret. She erected a wall around her heart and moved on her with her nursing career – one of the best in her area.

Watching Gabe and Crystal were a hoot. As much as they grated on each other’s nerves, it was the sexual tension that drove them to it. These two were practically starting an electrical fire every time they were around each other. And as much as they thought they were being sneaky – everyone seemed to know that something was going on.

Overall, it’s a sweet and quick read. I definitely recommend reading these in order as they all blend together and would be slightly confused on things. My only gripe is that since each book has overlapping scenes, it felt slightly repetitive in ways and I felt myself skimming those scenes since they didn’t give any new insight to things. Other than that, the book was enjoyable.

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Broken Love Story July 10th (PreOrder)

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

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Only Him by Melanie Harlow…Blog Tour with Review

Only Him, an all-new sexy and emotional second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is available NOW!

Sometimes your first love deserves a second chance…

He was my first crush, my first kiss, my first everything.

But I’m not a lovesick teenager anymore, and I’d never let that cocky troublemaker break my heart again.

So when he shows up out of the blue asking me to have dinner with him “for old time’s sake,” I say I will. After all, it’s been twelve years, and I’m stronger and smarter than I was back then.

Except…he still does something to me. He’s got those eyes that make me weak, those hands that drive me wild, and a body I can’t resist—especially once I see the tattoos. It doesn’t take long for our trip down memory lane to go from sweet to sizzling.

We’re just as good together as we were back then—better, even—and I’m willing to give the only man I’ve ever loved another chance.

But he’s got to tell me the truth.

* * *

All I wanted was to see her again. Tell her I’m sorry. Make her smile.

Okay, that’s a lie. I wanted to do more than that—a lot more. But I know she’s better off without me, and I promised myself I’d behave.

Except I’ve never been much good at keeping promises…or my hands to myself when I’m around her.

I can make her laugh, I can make her cry, I can make her body surrender to mine in ways that neither of us could have imagined back then. I can—and I do—love her more than she’ll ever know.

But I can’t tell her the real reason why I’m here.

And I can’t stay.

Excerpt

Maren glanced back at me, more puzzled than ever, but she started up the cement stairs. I couldn’t take my eyes off her legs in front of me. Her calf muscles were insane from all the ballet training. I remembered how flexible she’d been and felt my dick start perking up.

“In addition to all the history I just gave you,” Aiden said, his voice echoing off the walls, “this hotel was also the site of a certain prom a few years back.”

All of a sudden, Maren stopped moving and looked down over her shoulder at me. “No way.” The stunned, joyful expression on her face was worth every penny I had to pay to make this happen.

Goose bumps rippled down my arms inside my jacket. I smiled at her.

Her jaw dropped, and she continued up the stairs. At the top, Aiden moved ahead and opened the door to the rooftop. “Ballrooms were not available tonight, but when Dallas asked if you could have the roof to yourselves, I had to admit no one had booked it. In fact, no one has ever even asked to book it.” He laughed.

Maren stepped over the threshold onto the rooftop. “Dallas is definitely one of a kind.”

The three of us moved away from the door, and I saw the table that had been set for us, complete with white linens, flower centerpiece, and candlelight. Luckily, the air was warm, and the wind was soft. The sun was still setting beyond the skyline to the west, and to the east the Detroit River was visible; a little to the south was the Ambassador Bridge, and beyond the river, Canada. The view was breathtaking on all sides.

After turning around in a full circle, Maren looked at me with shining eyes. “Dallas. This is incredible.”

“You’ll have your own server for the night, and he should be up shortly,” Aiden said, checking his watch. “I should get back downstairs. Dallas, you have my cell if you need anything. Maren, good seeing you again, and I hope you enjoy your evening.” He gave us a smile before heading back to the stairwell door.

As soon as he was gone, Maren turned to me. “I cannot believe you did this.”

I shrugged. “I felt pretty bad when you said you’d missed the prom because of me. I figured I owed it to you.”

She laughed and rolled her eyes, which were filled with tears. “You didn’t, but whatever. I’ll take it.” Opening her purse, she hunted around in it for something. “God, I don’t even have tissues. I didn’t know you were going to make me cry.”

“No crying allowed at the prom. And I hope it’s okay I’m wearing jeans.”

“It’s fine.” She sniffed and closed her purse. “I’m not that dressed up either.”

“You’re perfect.” Our eyes met, and the air between us suddenly felt full of hope and possibility. In any other circumstance, I’d have kissed her.

But I couldn’t do that tonight.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Reaching into the inside pocket of my jacket, I pulled out a wrist corsage. “Sorry if it’s a little smashed. I had to get rid of the plastic container to hide it from you.”

She giggled and held out her arm. “That’s okay. It’s beautiful.”

“Good.” I slid the elastic band with three deep red roses attached to it along with some other green stuff onto her wrist. “I told the lady at the florist to make it a prom corsage. Pretty sure she thought I was crazy. Or creepy.”

“You might be crazy. But I love it. Thank you for this.” Then she rose up on tiptoe and pecked my cheek. When she lowered her heels, she stood there for a moment, her hand on my arm, her mouth so close I could have simply tipped my head down and my lips would be resting on hers.

My heart stumbled over its next few beats. I wanted to do it so badly, but I’d promised her I’d behave. I’d promised myself I’d behave. There were so many reasons why I shouldn’t be here tonight, standing so close to the only girl I’d ever loved, tempted beyond reason by her legs and her lips and her laugh and her eyes and her ability to make me feel like I fucking mattered in the universe.

What was the right thing to do?

If only—

The door from the stairwell opened, and we moved apart.

Oh, how I love a second chance romance and really Melanie Harlow is one of my favorite authors of writing this kind of romance! Only Himis the second book in the series but honestly you can read this one as a standalone and not miss a beat.

Maren and Dallas loved each other in high school and it was that kind of epic love that is a whirlwind. They are a mismatched couple that you love routing for as a reader. Unfortunately, their love was ripped apart. Now here comes the second chance love my friends because twelve years later Dallas returns and it is too die for! The passion, the lust, the banter, the heartache and so much more kept me involved in their story. A great page turning read that will not lose your attention!

Buy Only Him Today!

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About Melanie

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.

Melanie is the author of the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

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The Right Stud by Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise…Blog Tour

RELEASE BLITZ

Title: The Right Stud

Authors: Ilsa Madden-Mills & Tia Louise

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release Date: June 4, 2018

Cover Design: Shanoff Formats

Photo: Wander Aguiar

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Get THE RIGHT STUD for the Special Release Week ONLY Price of $2.99 Now:

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*FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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BLURB

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and USA Today bestselling author Tia Louise are back with an all-new romantic comedy filled with Southern sass and steamy scenes that will have you laughing out loud and fanning yourself. Pour the sweet tea and get ready…

“The best way to get over your sh**ty ex-fiancé is to get under a shiny new stud…”

As soon as Mr. Tall, Blond, and Handsome walks into that bar, I know he’s the hook-up I need to get over stupid Cheater Kyle.

A few stolen kisses in a dark hallway, and I’m pretty sure we’re headed for a home run—until he disappears without a trace.

Whatever. Men are all snakes in the grass, and I don’t need a new one anyway.

I resolve to forget about his perfect lips (and chest of steel) and instead focus on turning my Granny’s old beach house into a profitable B&B.

What I don’t expect is for him to show up the next day in my kitchen!

You see, my sexy mystery man is none other than Jax Roland, the drop-dead gorgeous home improvement star of The Right Stud, and he’s got an offer I can’t refuse.

With a suitcase in one hand and a hammer in the other, he wants to move in and renovate my old house while he films his new show.

But my roommate has secrets, and they threaten to rip our blossoming friendship—and possible love—apart.

When push comes to shove, is Jax really The Right Stud or is he just another nail in the coffin of love?

EXCERPT

Ashton

Few things in life are as jaw-dropping amazing as Jax Roland emerging from the surf, muscles bulging, water running down the lines of his face, dripping from the ends of his hair… Jean Claude van Ram a rigid brown log in his arms, legs extended.

Okay, that last part I could’ve done without.

It takes less than a minute after he puts that asshole goat on the ground for JC to jump up and head straight for the shrub roses. I don’t even have time to say thank you before I’m charging up the hill after him.

“Oh, no you don’t!”

My overwhelming sadness at the prospect of losing Granny’s house, even my semi-gratitude toward Jax for averting Lulu’s anger over letting her precious goat drown, are forgotten in the race to save my grandmother’s flowers.

In addition to the house, they feel like my final connection to her, the plants she lovingly cultivated every year in her funny hat.

“Did you see that?” Mrs. C meets me at the gate. “He charged down there like Adonis heading into battle. It’s been a while since I’ve felt so stimulated. Reminds me of the time Mr. C talked me into taking a bite of a serrano pepper.”

I don’t have time to correct her Greek mythology or even ask why Mr. C was always taunting her with hot peppers. “Where did that bastard go?”

She jumps back, confused. “Rufus? I put him in his cage. It was time for his nap.”

“Jean Claude! He’ll eat everything!” Pushing past her, I continue running around the house, weighing my concern about Lulu’s anger versus killing that goat with my bare hands.

When I finally make it to the top of the hill, I see him, standing on the porch, his head plunged into the middle of my sweet olive, chomping away.

“Stop, you heartless bastard!” I catch him by the collar and drag him out of the deep-green leaves.

I look around, trying to decide what I’m going to do now. This jerk already chewed through the rope Lulu tied him with.

“Ashton.” The deep male voice pulls my attention to the top of the path.

Jax stands there looking all kinds of sexy with his tee stretched over his broad chest and his wet hair pushed back from his face. In his hand is a silver hook and a thin cable.

“What is that?” I drag the goat to where Jax is standing.

“I had it in the trunk of my car. It’s from a job I was doing. The owners had really big dogs.”

“He can get out of anything. I told Lulu not to bring him here again.”

“Lulu’s your friend?” He comes to where I’m standing and clips the hook through a loop on JC’s collar.

“Possibly ex-best friend.”

“You can’t really tether goats.” He gently extends the silver cable into the yard. From the soaked back pocket of his shorts, he pulls a metal stake. I watch as he loops the other end around it and pushes it into the ground. “How long do you expect to babysit him?”

“She’s got one hour left. Then we’re digging a pit. Roasted goat is delicious.”

The ripple of laughter from Jax’s throat does funny things to my insides…

READ THE 1st CHAPTER HERE:

https://authortialouise.com/the-right-stud/

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and USA Today bestselling author Tia Louise kicked off their co-writing adventure in 2017 with the Amazon #4 bestseller THE LAST GUY. (They had so much fun writing that zany hit rom-com, they decided to do it again.)

Great friends, former English teachers, and southern gals in real life, they’ve teamed up to bring you laugh-out-loud naughty romances with strong leading ladies and sexy alpha males who know how to please their women—and who sometimes you just want to slap.

Connect with Ilsa

Website: www.IlsaMaddenMills.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorilsamaddenmills

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Connect with Tia

Website: www.AuthorTiaLouise.com

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Text “TiaLouise” to 64600, and never miss a New Release, Sale, or Giveaway!

Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken…Blog Tour & Review

Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date: June 5th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance

They’re serving up some red-hot revenge. A sizzling series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel van Dyken.

Blaire has never quite gotten over Jessie Beckett, the ex–NFL star whose kisses were hot enough to ignite the entire Eastern Seaboard. When he chose work over her, Blaire was left brokenhearted. Why else would she have married a skeezy two-timer, just to divorce him less than a year later?

Now Blaire is getting even by becoming one half of Dirty Exes, a PI firm fully committed to humiliating cheating jerks. If only the new jerk she’s been hired to uncover wasn’t Jessie Beckett himself.

Exposing Jessie isn’t going to be easy, especially when she still daydreams about his sexy smile. Further complicating matters is Colin, Jessie’s best friend. He’s gorgeous, a little bit cunning, and willing to help Blaire get the inside scoop on Jessie—for a price.

Now caught between two men—one totally right and the other totally wrong—Blaire will need to decide just how much she’s willing to risk…and whom she’s willing to risk it for.

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Excerpt:

It ended there.

Right. Forget about his mouth.

Or the way I sighed when he touched my shoulder.

The way my body quivered when his skin pressed against mine in the car.

“Stop!” I gritted my teeth and searched the kitchen. Cheaters often hid things in places that their spouse wouldn’t expect, like pantries and junk drawers, places that seemed obvious but weren’t. I’d once found a second cell phone in a cereal box.

Cheaters were like drug addicts.

They knew the perfect place to hide the drugs.

I shuddered.

Dirty. Toilets.

Not the best day I’d ever had, but marginally better than the sewer.

I spent the next thirty minutes with plastic gloves searching every crevice of that kitchen, patting down the inside of drawers, digging through trash. Nothing.

The guy was either a saint . .

Or we had a serious Dexter situation going on, and he knew exactly how to dispose of incriminating evidence.

Sexy male laughter jolted me from my search. I freaked, ran into the pantry, and shut the door just as Jessie’s face came into view.

Sweat trickled down my back.

Shit, shit, shit!

Oh, this was bad, so bad.

What man didn’twant to eat after coming home from the gym?

“Nice, man, she keeps the book on the bar?” Colin’s mocking voice at least made me feel like I wasn’t the only one who thought it was strange. “Fams always so classy.”

“Yeah,” Jessie agreed. “I think maybe it’s her way of reminding me how happy we were that one year.” He hesitated. “You know, the one where we actually did normal things like stay home and make dinner, and watch movies instead of going out all the time. That went to hell fast.”

Colin sighed.

“She writes a book about our best year, and then turns into this greedy person I don’t recognize and dream about murdering in her sleep.”

“Hey,” Colin warned. “I get it, I do, but she’s still my—”

“Sorry, man.”

“It’s fine, like I said, I get it.”

I plastered my ear to the door to listen harder. What did Colin mean? Why was he defending her? Why was Jessie saying sorry? I made a mental note to purchase the book and torture myself by reading it cover to cover.

“You contemplate murdering her while she sleeps,” Colin said in a weird tone, “and yet she’s still living here in this house with you? Tell me how that makes sense? You say she’s not the same person, but she never really was the person you thought she was. When are you going to get that?”

“She was different then, man. She was.” Jessie came to her defense so quickly I almost fell backward. He sounded like—he still had feelings for her. I turned my attention back to the door as footsteps neared the pantry. Oh hell. Not good.

I needed to get out. Fast.

I grabbed my cell and texted Colin.

And seconds later heard a ping.

“Another one of your sex buddies?” Jessie teased.

Colin paused and then, “Oh yeah, but this one’s been really hard to tame. You know the type, a bit schizo but so hot you don’t care that she asks to twist your nipples while she licks your nose.”

“Seriously?” Jessie choked.

“She likes noses. And snake tattoos, loves them.”

“Lucky for you.”

“I think it reminds her of the size of my dick, you know?”

I made a gagging noise, shifted on my feet, then texted again.

Me: Seriously! Trapped! And your dick can’t be the size of that python on your arm because that would mean you actually impale women on a daily basis.

Colin: Just call me Dracula.

I frowned.

Colin: Get it? The impaler.

Me: Look at that, basement dweller can joke! He’s got jokes! Meanwhile I’m going to starve to death in this pantry.

Colin: You mean around all that food?

“Wow, this girl must have skills if you’re that focused on your texts . . .” Jessie trailed off.

“She’s . . . unique,” Colin finally said.

My eyes narrowed. Was that a compliment? Did it matter? Why did I care? And why the hell did Jessie have ten different kinds of cereal—and all the boxes were full.

And alphabetized? Starting with Apple Jacks? Really?

Not that I’d resorted to more snooping.

Okay, so I’d resorted to more snooping.

But the fact that they were full was emotionally distressing. A full cereal box at my house lasts about one hot minute before I get a craving for Cheerios that even wine can’t cure.

“Hey”—Colin cleared his throat—“I need a favor.”

“Anything,” Jessie said quickly.

“I need a nice shirt for a date tonight, something . . . classy.”

Jessie laughed. “What? You can’t wear your own clothes?”

“You know I like your style better.” I rolled my eyes, has he seen that man’s closet? His white shirts are all ironed to within an inch of their lives. “Plus I want to impress this girl and I don’t have time to go grab a new shirt, we’re going on a late lunch date and I’m sweaty as hell, so please? Let me borrow a shirt, I’ll go home and shower, pair it with some nice jeans, and be inside her in no time.”

I glared at the door. Like I could actually see Colin’s smug expression. Why was my heart thumping? Why was I breathing like I was having trouble sucking in air?

He could date whomever he wanted.

I shifted on my feet as my face heated.

He was an attractive, successful man.

I crossed my arms.

Then uncrossed them nervously.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jessie finally said. “I’ll be right back, try not to burn down the kitchen or set the book on fire.”

“Shit, you read my mind,” Colin joked.

The sound of footsteps faded as Jessie walked toward the bedroom.

And then pantry door was jerked open.

I blinked up at him. “Thank you.”

“People . . . they pay you,” he said, leaning his large frame against the door while his muscles bulged beneath his sweat-soaked shirt, “for this?”

My eyes narrowed. “Yes! And I’m good at it.”

His smirk was wicked as he glanced behind me and then locked eyes. “Obviously.”

I shoved his chest. “I miscalculated the time, that’s all.” I tried squeezing past him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the pantry and closed the door.

“What the hell are you doing?” I hissed as he pressed me against the wall. “He’s going to find me!”

“A favor for a favor, spy girl.” Colin’s grin turned menacing. “I got Jessie out of the house, gave you my car, and saved your sorry ass. I get a favor.”

“I’m not sucking your nose and licking your tattoo, you psycho,” I said, repeating what he’d said earlier.

“Don’t knock it, you may love it.” He winked, and then stood his ground. “One favor.”

I sighed and gritted my teeth. “Fine.”

“A date,” he said triumphantly. “I want a date.”

“A date,” I repeated in a slightly panicked voice. “Like to dinner?”

“No, I was thinking the drive-in, we could make out, eat popcorn, I’d feel you up a bit—yeah, dinner.”

I smirked. “If I go to dinner with you . . . you’ll get me out of this godforsaken pantry with the full boxes of cereal?”

“Noticed that, did you?’

“He’s clearly not human.”

“I steal his Cocoa Puffs every chance I get.”

I nodded seriously. “I think my respect for you grew just now.”

“Ah, she likes cereal.”

“She’d also like to not get caught!”

“Go.” He shoved me toward the pantry door. “Run out the back and try not to trip and ruin your escape.”

“I don’t trip.” Of course, at that moment, I tripped over my own feet and almost face-planted into his lips.

He sighed, his expression worried and a bit stunned as Jessie’s voice carried to the kitchen. “Black okay?”

“Go.” Colin shoved me again. “Oh, and you’re picking me up. It seems I’m down a car.” He winked. “I’ll text you.”

I think everyone knows by now that any book RVD writes, I am reading it. I am in completely – no blurb needed, it’s an ALL- IN deal for me. And she did not let me know with Dirty Exes.

I enjoy Rachel’s humorous and light side more than I realized. I have a high bar set for comedy in romance because if not done correctly, it can feel over the top and ruin a great book. But Rachel blends her humor in really well with this book giving if the needy light side so things don’t get too serious and annoying.

Dirty Exes is the first book in Liars, Inc and starts everything of well. Blaire is one of the two women who started their PI firm. They only work with top clientele looking to see if their SO is cheating. And let me tell you, no job is too dirty or too risky for these women.

After their last successful “catch” it’s Blaire’s turn to be the bait and try to catch the perp in the act. Until said perp is the one man she just can’t find herself getting over. She tires to now allow herself to get too personal with this one but when you have a history with someone, it’s hard not to let personal feelings get in the way.

I have to say that in the long run, I did enjoy this book a lot. I loved the characters and how they each held a perfect blend to the story. I loved that things panned out how I thought (wasn’t upset I guessed early because the story was perfect) and I loved getting to know each of the characters.

My only gripe is the timeframe Blaire and Jessie were together previously – 3 weeks. Three weeks isn’t enough to really be pining after the dude years later, but whatever – maybe the connection was that strong. But RVD does a great job of explaining things and working it all out.

Another amazing story from RVD. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.

Meet the Author:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Connect with the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken
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Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders

Order of Protection by Lexi Blake….Release Day Blitz & Review

To high-end defense attorney Henry Garrison, Win Hughes is a woman he met during one of the most trying times of his life. She’s soft and warm, and he finds solace in their brief relationship. But Win has a secret. She’s actually Taylor Winston-Hughes—born to one of the wealthiest families in the country, orphaned as a child by a tragic accident. Win moves in the wealthiest circles, but her lavish lifestyle hides her pain.

When her best friend is murdered in the midst of a glittering New York gala, Win’s charged with the crime, and the only person in the world she wants to see is Henry.

Henry is shocked at the true identity of his lover, but he can’t reject the case. This case could take his new firm into the stratosphere. Still, he’s not getting burned by Win again. And yet every turn brings them closer together.

As the case takes a wild turn and Win’s entire life is upended, she must look to the people she’s closest to in order to find a killer. And Henry must decide between making his case and saving the woman he loves…

Now available

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If Henry gave her a minute, they would be back to polite. He wouldn’t find out if she could want him in an honest way. “Win, I’m an alcoholic. I’m divorced, and it wasn’t some thoughtful conscious uncoupling. It was nasty and ugly. I’m a lawyer who doesn’t give a shit if his clients are guilty or not as long as they have the money to pay me. I have gotten off people who probably went back out into the world to do terrible things, and I’ll probably do it again because I believe in this system. It’s imperfect, but it’s better than anything else. And I’m too old for you.”

She snorted, an oddly amusing sound. “I’m not some shrinking virgin. I’m twenty-nine, and I’ve been around the block a couple of times and with some men I wish I hadn’t ever gotten into the car with. How old are you? Forty?”

He winced. “Thirty-seven.”

Her lips curled up, and it was worth the blow to his ego. “Well, you don’t look a day over forty, and that’s a pretty nice age for a man. You think you don’t deserve such a young, hot chick?”

Thank god she was teasing him again. He’d hated the way her shoulders had slumped when she’d thought he’d rejected her. But still, he had to be honest. If he was going to do this, she would get the new Henry. “I think I could hurt a woman like you if I’m not careful.”

“Then be careful with me, Henry Garrison,” she said, moving closer to him. “And I’m a big girl. I can make my own decisions and live with them. I would like to spend the night with you. It doesn’t have to last beyond tomorrow. I’m not asking to be your girlfriend. I’m asking you to help me get through the night, to help me get that nightmare out of my head, so I can feel safe for the first time in months. It’s been a long time since I felt safe.”

That he could do. She moved in close, right between his legs, and he reached up and cupped her face, holding her still as he looked into her eyes. So much fucking innocence. He didn’t care what she’d been through. She was way too young for him, but she’d said yes and he wasn’t a saint. Not even close. “Be sure. I might want more than one night. I’m here for a few weeks. I could use this. I could use some time with you.”

It wouldn’t work long-term. When he finished up and got back to the city, he wouldn’t have time to spend with her, and she deserved that. He would be knee-deep in the sewer again. It wasn’t a place he would take her, but he could be what she needed here.

“I could use some time with you,” she replied. “You’re right about a few things. I haven’t ever been around a man like you. The men I’ve been with have been boys who cared more about their images than they did about pleasing me. I think it might be different with you. I know you’re trying to scare me off with all that ‘I screwed up my life’ stuff, but I get that. You can’t make me run, or I would run away from myself. Tell me if you can make me forget about everything except what you’re doing to my body because tonight that’s all I want.”

Oh, he could do that. He might not be able to feed her soul, but he could work her body all fucking night long.

Lexi Blake is on my list of authors who I immediately read when she releases a book, no matter the price. I feel in love with her writing when I started her Masters and Mercenaries series. While that series is definitely more on the BDSM level mixed with her romantic suspense, this new series isn’t as intense in the erotic area.

Order of Protection is the start of new series and Lexi starts this one out on the right foot. Lexi definitely had my emotions running amok in this one – and it’s most likely not what you are thinking.

Henry and Win are both recovering from a disease that controlled them – he was an alcoholic and she an anorexic. These two are both broken individuals trying to find control in their life and move forward from their problems. Win and Henry were only suppose to be a brief affair and never to see one another again. However, reality has a different plan for them. And when Win calls upon Henry for help, his true self comes out.

Henry did a number on my emotions – I have to say that most of the time I wanted to rip his balls off and shove them down his throat. The way he treated Win when he realized who she was had my hackles up. Even now as I am writing this, I am so pissed off at him. ARGH!!

What I loved even more was Win not once took his shit – she refused to be his damn doormat. She is straight forward and argued him to the bone. Win is a fighter and a survivor and not even this problem was going to take her down with a battle. I love Win so much – can ya tell?!?

Lexi plays this story out beautifully – it has the suspense, romance and the sexiness (though not as spicy as Masters and Mercenaries but still damn good). She blends it all together with some great characters to deliver one hell of a great book.

Order of Protection is the perfect book for her new readers to discover why so many of us love her and it’s also a great book for her current fans to fall in love with a whole new series. Lexi has this ability that she blends suspense and romance perfectly without either overruling the other. I love her writing so much.

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

Crown of Ruin by Keary Taylor…Advanced Review

Crown of Ruin
Keary Taylor
(Crown of Death #3)
Publication date: June 5th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Logan has returned to Roter Himmel. Once a peaceful haven for the Royals, it is now a kingdom of chaos and distrust. The people may love their queen, but she has never ruled them on her own.

Sevan has seen Cyrus work miracles long ago, and learned his methods herself. His curse has sustained stronger than death before but the visage of Cyrus’ demise is undeniable. Still, Logan refuses to believe this is the end. Cyrus keeps appearing to her in strange dreams, rambling that she must prepare—that the day is coming when night will rule the day.

While the entire world of vampires watches, Logan will take on the weight of the crown, the certainty of impending change, and the threat of war.

They all should have known better than to test her. She’s had multiple lifetimes to prepare for this…

All hail the Queen.

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—

EXCERPT:

“How long have you lived at Court, Diana?”

She leans forward, bracing her forearms against the edge of the table. Her features are hard, her face angular. I think she just permanently looks angry. “For about three hundred years.”

“And you were born here, yes?” I prompt.

She nods.

I smile, nodding. “I would like to tell you a story, Diana,” I say, mirroring her posture. “A story of when our kind very first came into being. When my husband made himself into the ultimate hunter, but also cursed himself with the craving of blood.”

Diana’s eyes widen a bit and her entire body tightens slightly.

“I watched in horror as he hunted down his first human. I saw his tears as they fell down his face in remorse. Cyrus, the first vampire, like yourself, craved blood and he could not resist the urge to drink. So people went missing and the rumors began to spread in our town.”

I can picture it all. Every detail. Every memory. The beginnings when I wore the face of Sevan and had never died a single death.

But in this moment, I pay exact attention to my words. I control every line and every thought.

“And then when there were two of us, the whisperings grew louder. Dark eyes turned our direction. Our lives were torn apart. We had to leave, or we knew they would turn against us.”

I shiver as I think of that first night in the forest.

“We lived like animals in the woods,” I continue. “And every night, we moved, because always during the day, they hunted us through the forest. With knives and primitive weapons. We didn’t know how they would hurt us. For months and months we were driven from place to place, constantly pushed by fear.”

Diana sits there, very, very still. Frozen. She’s hardly even breathing as she listens to my story.

“After I gave birth, we were once more on the run. One of us would always kill, and most of the time we were not discovered, but the times we were…” I shiver, remembering the terror. “We were strong, we could defend ourselves, but it was the two of us against the entire world. A population of billions.”

I look up and meet her eyes. I lean forward slightly, our faces only a foot apart.

“Roter Himmel was a god-send,” I say. “After years of living in fear and uncertainty, we had somewhere safe. Somewhere we did not have to hide what we were. We grew our family here. We loved and cherished here.”

I sit back, my eyes darkening. “There are over eight billion people in this world, Diana,” I say straight and blunt. “There are roughly fifty-thousand vampires, Born, Royal, or the few Bitten left, throughout the world. There are forces at work in this moment that are trying to destroy Roter Himmel. They would expose our kind to the world, perhaps to change the system. To create a new monarchy. Perhaps to attempt to take over the world.”

I sit forward again, locking my eyes on hers. “Fifty-thousand of us, eight billion of them. I’m not willing to take on those odds and lose the peace and protection of Roter Himmel. Are you willing to take that risk, Diana?”

Her expression has been going slack, slowly, over this entire story time. Her eyes are open, her lips slightly parted.

“We all look the same, loyal or betrayer,” I say. “This may take some time. But if even one of them slips through the cracks, it could mean the end of us all. Are you ready to take the risk, Diana?”

She blinks five times, as if clearing the fog of my story from her brain. “No,” she whispers.

“Do you want to be hunted one day, 160,000 to one?” I ask her.

“No,” she immediately says.

“Do you understand why I must be careful and thorough?”

“Yes, my Queen.” She says it with a little bow of her head.

Crown of Ruin is the third book in Keary’s Crown of Death series, which is within the House of Royals world. I am really enjoying this series just as much as I did the first series in this world, which is saying a lot.

Crown of Ruin starts off exactly where Crown of Blood ended – the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers – Cyrus is dead. He isn’t resurrecting after a few hours – the man was beheaded. Now Sevan/Logan must figure out how to prevent Roter Himmel from erupting in chaos and having the Crown overthrown.

However, Keary has more than that to worry about. King Cyrus has always lead the Court, he has always been the ruler. The All Mother, Queen Sevan has only ever ruled along side him. So now it is up to Logan/Sevan to prove the Royals within Roter Himmel that she can lead them just as well as King Cyrus. All the while, trying to figure out who is behind the king’s death and who can be trusted in her Court.

Keary is definitely moving this series in the perfect direction. I love how this book goes from passing of Cyrus, to showing the true strength of Logan with multiples lifetimes of Sevan to take her stance as the All Mother, Queen of Vampires.

I read this book extremely quickly but everything plays out a perfect pace. I love the new angles that Keary adds into this series and how it blends perfectly into another amazing cliffhanger. While I did figure out who was behind it all, there were additional things that did take me by surprise which I loved more than knowing that I was right in who it was. I can’t wait to see how she plays the next book out.

Author Bio:

Keary Taylor is the USA TODAY bestselling author of over twenty novels. She grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now splits her time between a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest and Utah, with her husband and their two children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night.

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Release Day Blitz….The Surviving Girls by Katee Robert

Release alert for THE SURVIVING GIRLS!

Don’t miss this intense, and suspenseful crime novel by Katee Robert!

“This is a must read summer read!” —Book Him Danno

“Robert takes the story to an unexpected revelation of who the real killer is and the trip there is highly entertaining in a hang on to your chair kind of way. Every Robert book I’ve read has been filled with well defined, gritty characters and a well-paced plot. The women aren’t Cinderallas and the Princes Charming have an edge to them. Just the way I like it.” —Jeep Diva

Download THE SURVIVING GIRLS or add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Then keep reading to get a sneak peek and your chance to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card or books from Katee Robert!

Title: The Surviving Girls

Author: Katee Robert

Series: Hidden Sins #3

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: May 29, 2018

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Print Length:  282 pages

Format: Digital and Paperback

ISBN: 978-1503902442

Synopsis:

A fierce survivor and a fearless FBI agent battle a copycat serial killer in a gripping thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert.

Twelve years ago, Lei Zhang and her friend Emma Nilsson miraculously lived through the notorious Sorority Row Murders that left twenty-one of their sisters dead. Still wrestling with the trauma but finally out of the limelight, Lei and Emma are now devoted to helping other victims find closure. But most disturbing for Lei—beyond the gut-wrenching survivor guilt—is that the killer was her boyfriend. He’s behind bars, but she’ll never lower her guard again.

When a copycat killer targets Lei and Emma, FBI Agent Dante Young is put in charge of anticipating the sociopath’s every move. But what he doesn’t expect is his immediate and overpowering attraction to Lei. The closer they get to each other, the more desperate and terrifying the questions become: Who wants to finish what the killer started—and why?

Now Agent Young vows to protect Lei at all costs. If they have any chance of a future together, first they have to stay alive…

Download at:

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The Surviving Girls Excerpt

Lei couldn’t breathe. Her chest closed painfully as if she’d been knocked flat on her back, and her lungs burned with the need for oxygen. Somewhere in the tiny rational corner of her mind, she knew there was nothing really wrong with her, but rational thought had no place in the midst of her panic.

He’s back. Emma was right all along and he’s coming for us.

Stop.

You’re spiraling.

Travis Berkley is still in jail. This is a copycat, and no matter how bad a copycat is, he can’t be worse than Travis. You survived before. You will this time, too.

A whine cut through her thoughts, and then Saul was there, nudging her hand with his cool nose. She inhaled sharply, suddenly aware that everyone in the room was staring at her. The Feds had the blank-slate expression she’d come to associate with cops when they were in a difficult situation. Emma looked at her as if she was on the verge of her own panic attack.

Lei stroked her hand over Saul’s head, forming a wall of indisputable facts in her mind to keep the fear at bay. She wasn’t twenty-one anymore, only a couple of years out of the stifling family home she’d grown up on, still drunk on freedom and the realization that she could do anything she wanted to with her future.

She’d been an idiot. A child who was playing dress-up without realizing the pitfalls of adulthood.

Though most pitfalls don’t come attached to a knife.

Lei wasn’t that girl anymore. She’d seen the worst Travis Berkley could offer and had the scars to show for it. She could shoot. She could fight. She’d worked with enough cops over the course of her career as a trainer and search team that she had an inside view to how their minds worked.

She would not lose herself to terror.

Another stroke to Saul’s head and she was able to speak. “How close to the original murders are the details?”

Agent Young exchanged a glance with his partner and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. His big hands dangled between his legs, and she distantly noted that he had really firm thighs beneath the expensive slacks. He spoke slowly, as if gauging her response. “We haven’t had a chance to check the original case files, but the big details are almost identical. The murders were performed in the same way—girls kept in a main room and taken out individually. We think he snuck in through a window, because their condo was on the second floor and he used a knife from the kitchen.”

She could almost hear Travis’s voice in her head, even after all these years. Let me in, Lei-Lei. I have a surprise for you. Stupid. She’d been so incredibly stupid, swayed by a pretty face and a boy her parents would approve of who made her feel. Smart, athletic, the right dollar amount in his family’s bank account. Someone bright and colorful and checking all the right boxes.

Since she couldn’t bring herself to ask if one of the girls let him in, she focused on the rest. “If this is a fan, he must have been in contact with Travis at some point.” She put her hand on Emma’s leg when her friend flinched at his name. The Feds didn’t react, which made her sigh. “But you already knew that. You don’t need me telling you how to do your job. What is it you need?”

Another loaded look between them. They’d obviously been partners for a long time, because they managed to convey an entire conversation’s worth of talking in a single look.

Again, it was Agent Young who took the lead. “We can find the details of the case easily enough, along with your accounts, but what I’d like to know is your take on Travis.”

“Because I dated him.” She stated it baldly, as if the fact she’d slept with a murderer was something she’d dealt with and moved on from. As if the fact didn’t still keep her up at night, moving beneath her skin until she wanted to take a wire brush to her body. There weren’t enough hot showers and bleach baths in the world to change the fact she’d willingly been with him. She could never take that back.

“Because you—both of you—have known him longer than anyone.”

“Agent Young—”

“Dante.”

She stopped short. Dante. It fit him somehow—strong and a little bit intense. He masked it well, but there was fire lurking in the depths of his dark eyes, in the way he clenched his fists as they spoke about Travis. She shouldn’t be forming personal opinions about any man, let alone one connected with the case. Lei’s track record had more than proven that fact.

While she was still trying to process her strange and seriously inconvenient reaction to him, Emma had found her voice. She spoke softly, her southern accent giving her breathy tone a pretty lilt. She had a Dolly Parton thing going for her—at least before Dolly got a little crazy for plastic surgery—and Emma wasn’t above playing up the sweet-southern-belle thing when it suited her. “Travis Berkley is a sociopath with a healthy dose of narcissistic personality disorder—which you already know because you read the file. Everything is in the file. We have been doing our best to get past what he did to us—to our sisters—and that means forgetting as much as possible.”

Maybe for Emma. Lei couldn’t afford to forget. It had been her mistake that tipped the first domino that destroyed so many lives. While it was possible Travis could have gotten into the house on his own, she’d been the fool who let him in her window.

The knowledge made her hands shake. Emma might want to do everything to avoid that gory walk down memory lane, but Lei didn’t have that option. Guilt wrapped around her throat, tightening, ever tightening. “You have something specific you’re here for.”

Agent Rowan leaned forward, a clear indication that she’d take it from there. As much as Lei wanted the calming force Dante—Agent Young—seemed to emanate, she turned almost gratefully to the redhead. She eyed her as if Lei was a particularly interesting bug. “We’re theorizing this fucker—”

“Clarke.”

She didn’t look at him. “These women have seen enough, Dante. You know as well as I do that a few choice curse words aren’t going to have them scrambling for their sniffing salts.”

Lei understood now why Britton had paired these two together. Clarke was the blunt force designed to set a person back on their heels so they were too busy reacting to her foul mouth to stop and think that there might be a shrewd mind behind those deceptively big blue eyes. Dante on the other hand, was a cool summer mist, unruffling feathers and putting everyone in the room at ease with his calm presence. Both agents would be underestimated in different ways, which was only to their benefit.

Clever.

She eyed the dogs on the floor. Neither of them seemed overly concerned with the Feds in the room. Good. Lei had more than proven she could be fooled, but Saul couldn’t. Every time he reacted poorly to a person, she paid attention—and most of the time something eventually came to light to prove her dog’s instincts correct.

Clarke followed her gaze and then refocused on Lei and then Emma. “A lot of sociopaths think they’re smarter than everyone else in the room—some of them are even right—and Travis sure as hell falls into the latter category. His IQ is 167, and from all accounts, prison hasn’t broken him. What we need to know is if he’d encourage a fan to take these steps.”

“Of course he would. He’s a fucking psycho,” Emma snarled.

“What do you think?” Clarke was looking at Lei.

Because why not? Even now, cops thought Lei had some kind of inside track to the way Travis’s mind worked. She’d dated him for months, had slept with him countless times, and so she must have some insider knowledge to explain how the golden boy went so very, very wrong.

She hadn’t been able to give them a satisfactory answer then. She didn’t have one now, either. But she could try.

Katee Robert – you have outdone yourself with this book in this series. This is my favorite book so far in this series. I couldn’t stop reading (while I was awake). Hell, my brain even had me dreaming of this book.

The Surviving Girls gave me chills at so many points in this book – it was written that damn good. I got this sense that I was right there with these characters as this unwound this twisted path they were thrown onto.

I won’t give any details because you need to read this one blind (aside from the blurb). Lei and Emma survived that same brutal killings their friends unfortunately didn’t. But they both have moved on in different ways, but together.

But when a copycat killer starts things back up, they are thrown back into the thick of things. And even though it’s been over 10 years since they went through that whole ordeal, everything comes rushing back to them.

Katee wrote a very strong and intriguing plot. This book moves at the perfect pace; while everything may only happen in a few days time, it all makes sense and never feels rushed in any way.

The twists and turns are brought about very cleverly and she leaves just enough bread crumbs to string you along. I have so many different ideas as to who, what, why, how things happened. While I was right on one thing, it was how it played out that I was totally baffled on.

Bravo Katee for writing another amazing suspenseful read. You have this knack for writing books that keep your readers engaged and immensely emerged in the story.

If you haven’t read any of Katee’s books yet, I highly recommend giving this series a go!

Side Note – let me clarify something on all these books and it’s something that I have come to realize after now reading the third book. These books are classified as romantic suspense but there is very little romance in them; however due to the fact that there is some romance in them and due to standards, it can’t be listed as just a suspense/thriller. So please do not go into these books hoping for a lot of romance – it is definitely a subplot that is not really developed too much in the book, which I find to a be a great thing. The suspense and thrill are what really drives these books home.

Praise for The Hidden Sins Series

“…a captivating read, made all the more rewarding when good triumphs.” —Washington Post on The Devil’s Daughter

“Robert shows off her impressive versatility in this fast-paced and inventive new Hidden Sins series. The small-town setting is a masterful blend of quaint and oppressive, which ratchets the menace and thrill factor. The protagonists carry the full weight of their pasts with them, making their growing relationship as compelling as the mystery element in The Devil’s Daughter. With plenty of twists and betrayals, this is a book that is sure to earn Robert a wealth of new fans.” —RT Book Reviews on The Devil’s Daughter

“Katee Robert has definitely picked up the romantic suspense genre and made it her bitch. I can’t wait to see what we get next. Given some of the books I see she’s been using for research, I know it’s going to be frightening and amazing at the same time.” —Goodreads Review

“Every bit as complex as book one but with a totally different storyline, The Hunting Grounds once again proved Katee Robert is more than capable of spinning a thrilling romantic suspense tale that will keep readers on their toes.” —Harlequin Junkie on The Hunting Grounds (recommended read)

“Filled with suspense and lot of unpredictable twists and turns…Gripping.” —Life at 17on The Hunting Grounds

Other Books in the Hidden Sin Series

THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER

Get more information at:  Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

THE HUNTING GROUNDS

Get more information at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Katee Robert

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.”  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. 

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram

Ace of Hearts by JC Valentine…Blog Tour with Review

ACE OF HEARTS

by J.C. Valentine
Blind Jacks MC, #3
Publication Date: May 24, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, MC Romance, Biker, Standalone

AVAILABLE NOW!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2HKiMHa

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SYNOPSIS:

Being granted a second chance at life and a first time at love was every man’s dream, but for Ace it came with a price.

Ace
By all rights, he should be dead. Serving ten years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit had affected him in ways he couldn’t begin to understand. He’d rolled out of the slammer and into a revenge plot that almost got him killed. By the grace of God, when he’d hit rock bottom, one person reached out a helping hand.

A beautiful redhead with a penchant for mischief took a shine to him and then disappeared, leaving behind only her number scribbled recklessly on his arm. Assuming he can make out all the numbers, he just might have a chance at something amazing.

Barbara
Finally divorcing her narcissistic husband was the best choice Barbara ever made. After living under his control for seven long years, she might have gone a little wild for a minute, what with jumping the hot biker and all. None of that mattered, though, because today was the day she got herself back on track.

After being given the opportunity to excavate a small cache of fossils in a remote area, Barbara is horrified to discover she’s inadvertently led a small team of her archeology students into danger. When they stumble on a secret dumping site of a vicious serial killer, Ace, the big, handsome biker takes charge. But she may have gotten herself and her students into more danger than even he can handle.

*NOTE* Although a part of the Blind Jacks MC series, ACE OF HEARTS can be read as a STANDALONE and features a new couple!

Excerpt

Cupping his handsome, scarred face in her hands, Barbara kissed him on the lips. “Don’t carry all your brother’s sins around in your heart and head for the rest of your life. You deserve a little peace from all that.”

His expression turned soft. “I honestly don’t deserve you.”

“You know what Shakespeare said.”

“Troubles come not single spies but in battalions?”

She grinned. “He did say that. You really know your Shakespeare.”

“Like I already said, I read a lot when I was in lockup.”

“Well, William Shakespeare also said that if we use every man as he deserves, who shall escape whipping?”

“I guess he was pointing out that no one’s perfect,” Ace surmised.

Somehow, quoting Shakespeare while having her hands on his face shifted the darkness of the moment to something approaching intimate.

Rubbing one thumb over his bottom lip, she murmured, “Then again, he never met you. You’re totally my idea of perfect.”

“Bet you say that to all the guys.” His sexy smile made her girl parts flare to life.

“Please tell me that we’re having sex tonight.”

Ace’s expression lit up. “You want to have some sex with me?”

“Did you miss the part about me thinking you’re perfect?”

Picking up the cherry in her glass by the stem, he brought it to her lips. Parting her lips, Barbara allowed him to slide it into her mouth. Closing her teeth slightly, she waited for him to pull the stem. The intensity of his gaze as he watched her chew made her feel crazy things.

“Fuck, you are one sexy woman.”

She smiling, swallowing the cherry. “Another?”

Without looking away from her, he groped around in his little chilled metal dispenser for another and brought it to her lips. Wrapping her hand around his wrist, she used her other hand to take the cherry from him. Bringing it to his lips, they repeated the whole scenario, only in reverse. Tossing the stem onto the bar, she looked down at his hand. “Your fingers are stained red.”

“I’ve been handling cherries.”

Not taking her eyes off his, she brought his finger to her mouth. He swallowed thickly, as he watched her suck his finger. She swirled her tongue around his thick digit, just like she wanted to do to his cock. That concept wasn’t lost on him.

Hooking his finger behind her lower teeth, he pulled her gently forward. When their mouths collided, white-hot need pulsated through her entire body. Ace was a damned good kisser and those hot lips were making her wild. Sliding her fingers through his hair, she practically climbed over the bar to get more of him, vaguely aware that he was shoving the items on bar to the side.

The next thing she knew, he’d lifted her out of her seat, dragged her over the bar, and was walking off with her. That he could manage all that so gracefully and without breaking their kiss was nothing short of amazing. Barbara liked everything about this man. His casual dress, open honesty, and protective nature got to her like nobody’s business.

And now he was about to get to her in ways, she suspected, that no other man ever had.

Bikers, mystery, and passion is the best way to describe Ace of Hearts. JC Valentine did not leave anything back when it came to Barbara and Ace. They are the most unlikely couple and yet seem to be the best fit. Ace and Barbara meet while he is bleeding out from a stab wound and boy do they hit it off right away. I enjoy how they are an odd couple. I also like that Barbara is not a timid woman. She is full of life and spunk which makes her a pleasure to read.

Ace of Hearts is a great read for those who want a little bit of everything. I think that since it has a little bit of each genre almost it really will appeal to a lot of different readers. This book is anything but boring and can be read as a standalone.

ABOUT J.C. VALENTINE

J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Trilogy. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry.

Living in the Northwest, she has three amazing children and far too many pets. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors.

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