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The Impossible Vastness of Us by Samantha Young….Review & Excerpt Tour

 

 

From New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young comes a story of friendship, identity, and acceptance that will break your heart—and make it whole again. Order your copy of THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US today!

 

 

About THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US:

“I know how to watch my back. I’m the only one that ever has.”

India Maxwell hasn’t just moved across the country—she’s plummeted to the bottom rung of the social ladder. It’s taken years to cover the mess of her home life with a veneer of popularity. Now she’s living in one of Boston’s wealthiest neighborhoods with her mom’s fiancé and his daughter, Eloise. Thanks to her soon-to-be stepsister’s clique of friends, including Eloise’s gorgeous, arrogant boyfriend Finn, India feels like the one thing she hoped never to be seen as again: trash.

But India’s not alone in struggling to control the secrets of her past. Eloise and Finn, the school’s golden couple, aren’t all they seem to be. In fact, everyone’s life is infinitely more complex than it first appears. And as India grows closer to Finn and befriends Eloise, threatening the facades that hold them together, what’s left are truths that are brutal, beautiful, and big enough to change them forever…

 

 

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I have found myself reading more and more YA books in the past year or two. Samantha Young decided to take a step out of her norm and write a YA read and she really kicked ass on this. I think people who don’t normally read YA will enjoy this one and yet it’s still relevant and a great read for the YA age group. Samantha definitely has a hit on her hands.

India shows the world a side of herself that she wants them to see. But they don’t really see her, know her. Her life hasn’t been easy and then her mom complicates it more and decides she met the man of her dreams and moves them both across the country to live with him. India is now forced into a new life style and making new friends. And it’s not easy in her new posh life and trying to attain the high status quo on the popularity scale.

The Impossible Vastness of Us is a journey for India; it’s all about learning who she really is, finding trust in others and allowing herself to be her, not what she thinks the world needs to see. Many young adults will relate to this book and deals with issues we see in today’s world.

Samantha wrote some intriguing characters. While there are some I wanted to slap upside the head, there others that made me smile. Samantha writes a touching story that I think everyone can relate to or understand.

The ending has me wanting so much more. It’s not a bad ending, it just leaves you wanting more. And I really hope we do get more from these characters in the future. This is a book I doubt that I will be forgetting any time soon.

 

 

 

 

 

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EXCERPT

When Hayley arrived I got into the car without a word and we drove home to the apartment in silence. Once inside, Hayley finally spoke.
“I thought we could do takeout tonight.”
We couldn’t afford to do take-out nights all the time. Take-out nights were reserved for birthdays and the last night of school summer vacation. Sometimes even Thanksgiving.
Something was up. “Aren’t you supposed to be on a flight somewhere right about now?”
She shrugged, avoiding my gaze as she wandered into the kitchen.
I followed her, watching as she pulled take-out menus out of our kitchen drawer.
“What do you want? Chinese, Indian, Thai, Lebanese?”
“I want to get this ‘talk’ over with.”
Hayley regarded me, taking in my tension and the hard look in my eyes. Finally she sighed. “This is good news, India. Truly it is.”
“Just say it.”
“Theo proposed. I said yes. And we don’t want to wait. We’re getting married this December.”
My mouth dropped open. “I haven’t even met him.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose at my shout. “And that would be a concern if you were younger. But you’re starting junior year. You’re sixteen. Before we know it, you’ll be going off to college.” She stepped toward me and grabbed my hand. I let her squeeze it. “And, sweetheart, you can go to any college you want now.”
“How?”
“Theo is…well, he’s wealthy. And he’s already made it perfectly clear that he wants the very best for me, and that means the very best for you.”
“Are you trying to buy my acceptance of this whole ridiculous thing? You are aware that this isn’t normal, right?”
Hayley dropped my hand. “Don’t be melodramatic. I just want you to know that yes, or course it will be difficult to leave behind school and your friends here and move to Massachusetts, but the upside is that we’ll never have another financial worry in our lives. Ever.”
Jesus, how wealthy was this guy?
As if she read the question on my face, Hayley smiled dreamily. “He’s an incredibly well-respected attorney from a wealthy family. Boston’s elite.”
“And he’s marrying you?”
“Nice,” she snapped. “Very nice.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I shrugged. “I just…I thought those people stuck to their own.”
“Usually. But Theo doesn’t care about that stuff. He just wants to marry the woman he loves.” She waved away my negativity with a shake of her hair over her shoulders. “He married a well-to-do woman, and they had a daughter, Eloise, before she died of cancer a few years ago. He hasn’t been serious about another woman since, until me.”
“Oh my God.” I shook my head in disgust. “You think you’re living in a fairy tale.”
“Don’t talk to me like that.”
“You’re hauling me across the country to move in with some guy I’ve never met!” I heard the hysteria creep into my voice, but couldn’t seem to stop it. “Let’s remember the last guy you chose that I had to live with. Or have you already forgotten?”
Understanding dawned on Hayley’s face. It was shocking that I even had to say it out loud. A good mother would have known exactly why I was taking this so hard. “Oh, sweetheart.” She moved toward me but stopped when I flinched back. “Theo is not like him. Not anything like him. I’m not a stupid kid anymore. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.”
I stared at the floor, trying to will my heart rate to slow. I could barely hear anything over the whooshing of blood in my ears.
I started at Hayley’s touch and looked up. She’d decided to ignore my body language and cross the room to take hold of my arms. She ducked her face to stare into my eyes.
“No one,” she whispered fiercely, “no one will hurt you. I promise.”
Liar.
LIAR.
LIAR!
The scream rang out inside of me but somehow I swallowed it.
This was happening.

 

Samantha Young’s THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US – Review & Excerpt Tour

June 19th

BookWorm221 – Review & Excerpt

Clare’s Mad About Books – Review & Excerpt

Joyful Shimmy – Review & Excerpt

Little Red’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Naturally Nerdy Books – Review & Excerpt

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Boyfriends – Review & Excerpt

June 20th

Beware Of The Reader – Review & Excerpt

Books For The Living – Review

Kindle and Me – Review & Excerpt

Melissa’s Book Obsession – Review

Read more sleep less – Review

To Be Reviewed Books – Review & Excerpt

June 21st

A Fortress of Books – Excerpt

Becky on Books – Excerpt

Enjoying life a day at a time – Review

Mustreadbooksordie – Review & Excerpt

MrsLeif’s Two Fangs AboutItBook Reviews – Review & Excerpt

SJ’s Book Blog – Excerpt

June 22nd

Actin’ Up with Books – Review

Books,Dreams,Life – Excerpt

Fiction Fare – Review & Excerpt

Movies, Shows, & Books – Excerpt

Take Me Away To A Great Read – Review & Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

June 23rd

A Literary Perusal – Review & Excerpt

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

BJ’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Ficwishes – Review

Kimberly’s Hot Reads – Review & Excerpt

Read, Write, Design – Review & Excerpt

June 24th

Ali’s Reviews and More – Review & Excerpt

Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Lacey’s Love Of Literature – Review & Excerpt

Nose Stuck in a Book – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Review & Excerpt

June 25th

All Romance Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt

PBC – Excerpt

Ramblings From This Chick – Excerpt

TSK TSK What to Read – Review & Excerpt

With Love for Books – Review

June 26th

Angie and Jessica’s Dreamy Reads – Review & Excerpt

Book Reader Chronicles – Review & Excerpt

Calling All Bookaholics – Review & Excerpt

Liezel – Review & Excerpt

Reads & Reviews – Review

The Readdicts – Review & Excerpt

June 27th

4 the Love of Reading – Review & Excerpt

ADDICTED TO BOOKS – Review & Excerpt

Lisa Loves Literature – Review

Miss Riki – Review & Excerpt

Peace Love Books – Review

The Inked In Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

June 28th

Bookalicious Babes Blog – Review & Excerpt

Greyland Reviews – Excerpt

Literary lust – Review

My Girlfriends Couch – Review & Excerpt

Read Love Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Life of a BooknerdAddict – Review & Excerpt

June 29th

Author Groupies – Review

Blushing babes are up all – Review & Excerpt

Book Enticer – Review & Excerpt

The Book Avenue – Review & Excerpt

The Review Loft – Review & Excerpt

Three chicks and their books – Review & Excerpt

June 30th

I Read Indie – Excerpt

Shh Moms Reading – Review & Excerpt

The Bookish Introvert – Review

Total Book Geek – Review & Excerpt

Vi3tbabe – Review & Excerpt

Witchy Richey’s Booktastic Reviews – Review & Excerpt

July 1st

Book Babes Unite – Review & Excerpt

Cocktails and Books – Review & Excerpt

Dog-Eared Daydreams – Review

Southern Belle Book Blog – Excerpt

The Fairest of All Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

 

 

About Samantha Young:

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

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

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

 

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Martinis and Moonlight by Andrea Johnston…Release Day Blitz & Review

Today we have the release day blitz for Martinis & Moonlight by Andrea Johnston! Check out the release day festivities and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: Martinis & Moonlight

Author: Andrea Johnston

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Martinis & Moonlight:

Minnesota “Minnie” Walker has worked hard for the life she has – a close knit family, successful career, and long-term relationship. When a tragedy strikes, Minnie sacrifices everything to be there for her family. Never expecting a move to the small town of Lexington would change the course of her future, Minnie finds herself wondering if what she always thought was perfect is really what’s best for her … and her heart.

Owen Butler has lived in the town of Lexington his entire life. After years of feeling second best and wasting his time vying for the attention of his father, Owen has settled into an uncomplicated life. Not one to believe in happily ever after, he never expected the new woman in town to have him questioning everything he thought he wanted in life.

Together, under the rays of the moonlight, Owen and Minnie find themselves wondering what the future holds and if facing it together is worth the risk.

 

 

Martinis & Moonlight:

Amazon US | Amazon.AU | Amazon.CA | Amazon.UK | Kobo | iBooks | B&N | Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Check out the rest of the series!

Whiskey & Honey (A Country Road Novel Book 1)

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Kobo | iBooks | B&N

Tequila & Tailgates (A Country Road Novel Book 2):

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Exclusive Excerpt:

This week has been particularly quiet in the office, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’d even take an encounter with Owen at this point. Yep, be careful what you wish for.

 

The door to the office opens and I sense him before I hear him. Maybe it’s that I smell him. Not smell in a gross way, but a way that is like some weird mating call. I’m sure there’s a name for that but I can’t think of it because there he is, walking toward me in a pair of khaki cargo shorts, a sleeveless T-shirt that, thanks to the sweat on his body, is clinging to his torso and chiseled chest, and a pair of sunglasses sitting atop his head. That smile I mentioned taking over his face as he gets closer to my desk has me quickly looking away in embarrassment. I know he can tell that he affects me. I know my tell-tale giveaway to embarrassment has completely taken over my arms, neck, and cheeks in a glorious shade of strawberry.

 

“Well, Miss Walker, fancy meeting you here.”

 

“Oh, hey.” I don’t take my eyes from my screen and very diligently read the same line over and over. Why does he make me nervous? I don’t get nervous.

 

“Here are some invoices for you and I signed off on the time cards for my crew.”

 

I finally lift my eyes from my screen to see Owen sitting in the chair in front of my desk, leaning back so he is rocking on the back two legs of the chair, with his arms crossed, and a smirk on his face. The same smirk he usually offers me before not so subtlety suggesting something flirtatious.

 

“Thanks. Checks will be ready Monday as usual. Was there anything else?”

 

“What’re your plans this weekend? Date with your boyfriend? Painting your nails with the squirt?”

 

Clicking the save icon on the spreadsheet I’m working on, I sit back in my seat, crossing my feet at the ankle while folding my arms, and contemplating how to answer this. He’s trying to get to know me and I promised myself I’d be open to new friendships. Owen Butler is a lot of things, and while I’m not sure he’s completely harmless, I doubt he’s much more than talk.

 

“No boyfriend,” I casually respond before whispering under my breath, “anymore.”

 

“What? Some schmuck let you go? What a loser.”

 

I snort out a laugh; I guess my whisper was louder than I thought. The more I’ve thought about my relationship with Kent, the more appropriate a word like “schmuck” is a perfect way to describe him. Boring, self-absorbed, career driven, and missionary style are also other ways.

 

“Well anyway, I’m actually going to just hang out this weekend. The girls are going with my parents and it’ll be the first time in weeks I’ve had time to myself. How about you? Got a date?”

 

Owen chokes on what I think was supposed to be a laugh, startling me a little while simultaneously sending a little shiver down my spine to my lady bits. His voice is deep and gravelly, as is his attempt to laugh, almost like he doesn’t do it very often and his vocal cords don’t know how to respond.

 

“Yeah, I don’t date. Hook up maybe, but dating indicates I’m interested in a relationship and that’s not the case.”

 

“I hear ya. A relationship is the last thing on my mind these days.”

 

We sit in silence for a few ticks before Owen clears his throat and rests his chair on all four feet. I follow suit by sitting up more in my chair and grabbing my mouse. A few clicks and Owen stands and then taps the top of my monitor.

 

“You should call the girls.”

 

I look up at him, slightly confused, but not before acknowledging the sweat has dried from his torso while his shirt still clings to his skin. He must notice my gaze has lingered a little longer than necessary because he offers me that smirk again.

 

“Sorry, the girls – Piper and Ashton. Me and the guys are heading to the lake for a little fishing so I’m sure they’re around.”

 

“Oh.” The realization of how much my life has changed in the last few months struck me; when he said “the girls,” I thought of my nieces. “Yeah, uh, maybe.”

 

“Well, all right then. Have a good weekend, Minnesota. See ya next week.”

 

I don’t bother asking Owen to not call me by my full name. I know he knows it’s not my preference. And honestly, for whatever reason, it doesn’t bother me when he says it. I would never tell him that, but it’s true.

 

 

About Andrea Johnston:

Andrea Johnston spent her childhood with her nose in a book and a pen to paper. An avid people watcher, her mind is full of stories that yearn to be told. A fan of angsty romance with a happy ending, super sexy erotica and a good mystery, Andrea can always be found with her Kindle nearby fully charged.

 

Andrea lives in Idaho with her family and two dogs. When she isn’t spending time with her partner in crime aka her husband, she can be found binge watching all things Bravo and enjoying a cocktail. Nothing makes her happier than the laughter of her children, a good book, her feet in the water, and cocktail in hand all at the same time.

 

 

Connect with Andrea:

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Soul Redeemed by Keri Lake…Release Day Blitz & Review

Title: Soul Redeemed
Series: Sons of Wrath #4
Author: Keri Lake
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 27, 2017

Being half incubus sucks sometimes. Sure, the sex is great, but getting hounded by females gets old pretty fast. Especially when the only one Calix cares about has gone missing, propelling him into a downward spiral of depression and abstinence.

Trapped by a wannabe mad scientist inside a nightmare of her own, Ava longs to be free, even if it means going back to the only male she regrets having betrayed. All she needs is a single opportunity to lead the way.

Calix should hate Ava for the way she deceived him and his brothers. Yet, when she shows up looking like she’s been through a hell of her own, the sweet relief over her return battles the bitter sting of her betrayal, and Calix can’t bring himself to turn her away. Not to mention, an incubus who’s starved himself of sex for too long is a detriment to everyone—including his brothers—and the way Ava commands his body is exactly the release he needs.

Unfortunately, thanks to the lunatic who held her captive, she’s now a walking death trap to any male that tries to bed her. But danger is closing in, placing Ava’s life in jeopardy, and if Calix doesn’t find a way to control his virile urges, he might just be her deadliest threat.

YES! YES! YES! YES!! I may have been waiting a looooooonnnng ass time for this fourth book, but OMG, Keri did not disappoint at all – she gave us so much more!!

Soul Redeemed is the fourth book in this series and I HIGHLY recommend reading them all in order. Each book surrounds a specific couple, however there is an underlying story line that plays throughout each book and if you just jump into one book, you won’t get the full affect of everything.

I will do my best to not give away anything and also try to repeat the blurb, but I make no promises that won’t happen. Ava finds herself imprisoned, all her powers have been stolen from her and she’s being experimented on. She stops at nothing to try and escape and make things right with Calix.

Calix has not been able to stop thinking of Ava, even though she betrayed him and his brothers in some of the worst ways. But when she appears in his house, that intense attraction hasn’t died and he’ll do whatever he can to help her. These two sacrifice a lot for each other. I love how they balance each other out – Keri wrote those two so well. I mean – Calix is an incubus an Ava is a nephilim – Calix is the perfect lover but when Ava arrives, sex won’t be so easy.

But let me tell you – Keri doesn’t let us down with her kinky and spicy ways when it comes to sex scenes. There is no shortage of that, let me tell you. Keri has the perfect mix of suspense and romance in her PNR books, you’ll definitely be breathless at the end for so many different reasons.

And we get to see the rest of the brothers and what they have been up to. Even though we see things from their POV, not once did I feel lost. Keri adds those scenes in perfectly and everything continues to flow smoothly.

Even thought it’s been a few years since the last book was released in this series, I had no problem getting right back into the heat of everything. Keri has this way with her writing, that she is able to put you write back into this world as if you just read the other books only months ago.

If you have not read any of Keri’s work, you are definitely missing out on a diamond in the rough. If you enjoy some great plot lines that are dark, gritty and suspenseful with a some hot sexy times added in, you definitely want to check Keri’s books out. Sons of Wrath is her PNR series, but he other books are dark, erotic suspenseful books that I also highly recommend.

Keri Lake is a dark romance writer who specializes in demon wrangling, vengeance dealing and wicked twists. Her stories are gritty, with antiheroes that walk the line of good and bad, and feisty heroines who bring them to their knees. When not penning books, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and their rebellious Labrador (who doesn’t retrieve a damn thing). She runs on strong coffee and alternative music, loves a good red wine, and has a slight addiction to dark chocolate.

Keep up with Keri Lake’s new releases, exclusive extras and more by signing up to her VIP Email List: VIP EMAIL SIGN UP
Become a Vigilante Vixen by joining her reading group: VIGILANTE VIXENS

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Trusting You and Other Lies by Nicole Williams…Blog Tour & Review

 

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AP new - synopsis.jpg
USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Nicole Williams delivers a seductive summer romance worth swooning over. Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins.

Phoenix can’t imagine anything worse than being shipped off to family summer camp. Her parents have been fighting for the past two years–do they seriously think being crammed in a cabin with Phoenix and her little brother, Harry, will make things better?
On top of that, Phoenix is stuck training with Callum–the head counselor who is seriously cute but a complete know-it-all. His hot-cold attitude means he’s impossible to figure out–and even harder to rely on. But despite her better judgment, Phoenix is attracted to Callum. And he’s promising Phoenix a summer she’ll never forget. Can she trust him? Or is this just another lie?
It felt like hardly any time had passed at all before the bike slowed when we made it into Flagstaff. Callum took a sudden turn that led away from the main part of the city, and we weren’t on that road long before it opened up into a parking lot.
My arms tightened around him when I scanned the parking lot. Other than the bike’s headlight, I couldn’t make out any-thing else.
“Okay, we’re stopped now. Think you could ease up your death grip on me before you crush my liver?” He parked the bike and turned off the engine.
It was so quiet out here. Scary quiet. “Where are we?” I loosened my grip, but I didn’t let go.
He glanced at me over his shoulder. “Don’t you like a surprise?”
“Not when I’m in the middle of some dark parking lot late at night.”
Callum fought a smile. “It’s barely eight. Not quite the witching hour.”
An owl hooted from somewhere in the woods. I jumped. “Where the hell are we?”
He stopped fighting his smile. “The Lowell Observatory. Perfectly safe and nonthreatening, I swear.”
“What are we observing?”
Callum waited for my arms to drop at my sides before sliding off the bike. “Pretty much anything you want to up there.” He tipped his head and looked up at the sky.
My head followed. “The stars? That’s what we’re going to be looking at?”
“Stars, moons, planets. Take your pick.” He helped me undo the helmet’s chin strap after I fought with it on my own for a few seconds. “This is one of my favorite places.”
“In Arizona?”
“Anywhere,” he answered, pulling a small flashlight from his pocket and turning it on. He pointed it in the direction of a sidewalk and started toward it, making sure I was close beside him.
“How many times have you been here?” I asked.
“I come a few times every summer, more when I was coming here with my family.”
I kept my focus on the light in front of us. With that bright beam, the black didn’t seem so thick around us.
“So are you into astronomy?” I asked.
“You could say that.” When another owl hooted, I didn’t leap out of my boots. This time I barely flinched. Callum’s presence calmed me. “But I didn’t know it the first time I came. I only started getting into astronomy a few years ago.”
“Why did you first start coming here?” We were getting closer to what I guessed was the observatory, but nothing about it screamed tourist attraction.
“It was Ben’s idea, I guess. He knew about the trouble my brother was getting into at home and that I was following in his footsteps. He has this freaky way of looking at a person and knowing what they’re feeling or what they’re thinking. Those first couple of summers at camp he used to be able to take one look at me and know when I was about to do something I’d probably regret.” He paused and shook his head. “I really hated Ben at first.”
“And now you love him.” I nudged him as we approached a doorway.
“And now I respect him. I appreciate what he’s doing and why he does it.” He turned off the flashlight and held open the door for me.
“So your mom would bring you here to look up at the sky and your problems were solved?”
He chuckled softly. “That’s what Ben tried to sell. He said there was nothing like looking up at the universe to make my problems shrivel into nonexistence.”
“Is that doubt I’m detecting in your voice?”
“That’s I- know- better- from- experience in my voice.” Callum
waved at a lady sitting behind a counter at the front and led me inside. It was dark in here, too, which made me shift a bit closer to Callum. “Ben tried really hard to sell me on the perspective thing, but, I don’t know, looking up at the stars or thinking about the size of the universe didn’t make my issues seem any smaller or less significant. They were still the exact same size when I walked out of this place.”
“Then why did you keep coming back?” I asked as he stopped behind the biggest telescope I’d seen in real life.
“Because it got me out of my head, you know?” he answered immediately. “It got me to focus on something else for a while, and even though I’d leave here with the same problems I walked in with, they felt more manageable. More like I could handle them.”
I hadn’t expected him to open up like that. That was becoming a trend when it came to Callum. One minute he came off as the most closed- off person I’d ever met, and the next he could spill his guts. “And then you fell in love with the stars,” I said, watching him as he looked through the telescope, making a few adjustments on the dials.
“And then I did.” He made one last adjustment before motioning me to look. Even though it was dark, his eyes were glowing. I’d seen him in his element this summer, but never like this. If this wasn’t passion, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen it.
“So you’re saying this place has played a totally insignifi-cant role in your life?” I smiled at him as I moved up to the telescope.
“Completely insignificant.” He stepped aside to give me room to look.
I wound my hair around one shoulder, closed one eye, and leaned over so I could peek through the eyepiece. I could have been looking at a star just as easily as I could have been looking at a planet or a moon. I didn’t feel my problems drifting away from me by the masses, disappearing into the Milky Way, but just like Callum had said, somehow they felt less overwhelming. Less powerful.
The longer I stared up there, the stronger I felt down here. “I get it,” I whispered after another minute, feeling like the entire universe was staring back at me as I gazed into it.
He took a step closer. “I knew you would.”
 
Nicole never fails to deliver on a YA romance novel. And this one I enjoyed a little more because it wasn’t just solely focused on the romance side of things; it also focused on Phoenix and her family and how they fumble through some rough patches thrown their way.

Phoenix is heading into her senior of high school. She’s been used to going to same school her whole life, living a fairly privileged life and has set her sites on an elite college. She’s your typical sassy teenager who’s not so eager to be spending her whole summer with her family at Camp Kisme. She’s got the mindset that this will be the summer from hell and she won’t enjoy a minute of it. Especially since her parents haven’t been getting along and she knows that they are keeping secrets from her and her brother, Harry. She feels as though her life is slowing going to hell – typical teenager when things are going their way.

What Phoenix doesn’t expect is Callum. Or to actually enjoy being a counselor at Camp Kismet. Or to watch her brother become this kid whose come into his own. Or find trust in her parents again. What she doesn’t expect is anything that actually happens.

Nicole wrote a brilliant story. Phoenix and her family struggle through some difficult things. Phoenix learns a lot about herself and grows more mature. While the beginning was a tad slow for me, the last 60% made up for it. While I knew how things were going to end, I still really enjoyed this book.

If you enjoy YA books, you definitely don’t want to pass this one up. It’s a cute coming of age story.

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

 

 

Passion and danger collide in the latest contemporary romance featuring the Lawless siblings—from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake.

When Drew Lawless discovers a fatal flaw in his plan to avenge his parents’ deaths, he turns to the one woman he promised he wouldn’t touch. He offers her a deal, one that will bring her into his investigation, his life, and his bed.

Investigative reporter Shelby Gates never dreamed how twisted the case would become—or how fascinated she would be with Drew. Every day they spend together binds them. And every night brings her closer to realizing he might be the man for her.

As Drew’s feelings for Shelby grow, so does the danger. From the streets of Dallas to Austin’s high-tech business world, Drew and Shelby play a game begun twenty years before—a game they will win, or die trying.

 

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Shelby brushed her lips against his, her whole body seeming to come to life. His lips were soft, his hands tight. He was enveloping her and she was completely defenseless against him.

She wrapped her arms around him as the kiss deepened, and suddenly she didn’t want to play it safe anymore. She’d been in her shell for so long and she wanted to come out of it, wanted to feel again. She dragged her tongue over his lower lip, and it seemed to awaken the beast in Drew.

He took over, the kiss going from sweet to carnal in an instant. His mouth opened, tongue sliding over hers and dominating with strength and a sensuality she’d never come across before. He kissed her long and hard, his hands molding to the curves of her body. Over and over again his tongue danced with hers. Never before had a kiss seemed so effortless. It was like they’d been kissing forever.

For a man who claimed he was socially awkward, he sure could kiss like a god.

It was getting out of hand, but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered except getting more of him. She could feel his cock under her, hardening, lengthening, getting ready for what it was meant to do. He could ease her back against the table, pull off her jeans and panties. It would be incendiary, like a rocket going off, an explosion she couldn’t contain. She could feel herself getting soft and wet and ready for him, as though her body had recognized its natural mate and wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“See, I told you we have chemistry.” His words rumbled along her lips.

She couldn’t argue with him. The world around them seemed hazy and unreal. There was nothing except his touch and scent and the sight of his eyes looking at her like he could eat her up. She knew she should stop him, knew it was getting out of control, but she couldn’t find the will. It had been so damn long since she wanted something she could actually have.

She wanted him.

Shelby let her fingers sink into his hair, drawing him back down. Breakfast could wait. She needed more of him.

 

 

 

Revenge is the third book in the Lawless series and this one surrounds Drew.  Drew is a tech genius and the very reason his family is together today.  I am probably one of the few who was quite excited for this book.  If you’ve read the previous two books, you will totally understand why I am in the minority on this.  If you haven’t – first off, don’t read this book and second, let’s just say he doesn’t have the best social skills.

As I said, Drew is a tech genius; he’s the best coder in the world.  But he’s also used his abilities and also his connections to hunt down the killer of his parents.  And because of this, Drew doesn’t know how to really socialize and talk to people in general.  He analyzes things and then comes up with plan to either fix it or remove the issues altogether.  His family is everything to him and it’s always been his duty to take care of them.

Shelby came across Drew when she started looking into his parents’ death.  Shelby is a brilliant investigative reporter.  She doesn’t stop when she hits a dead end and she has great instincts that have helped her undercover some things that not even Drew came across.  And when she started poking in places Drew did not want her to, he did was he does best – remove the problem. So when Drew comes to her with a plan and a NDA agreement, she is really pushed outside her boundaries but can’t say no for so many reasons.

Shelby and Drew were a perfect match.  She helped him stay grounded and showed him that he took needs to be looked after.  He gave her the affection, love and protection that she thought she never attain.  The chemistry is off the charts and the build up is great.  The scenes were explosive, however, there were not too many, which is worked in this case because of the anticipation and sexual tension.

Lexi does a great job of giving us more twist and surprises in this book that will keep you right there at the edge.  While I enjoyed the ending, I really wanted an epilogue – this is the end of the series.  But that didn’t take away from anything.  Another fabulous read from Lexi Blake!

 

 

 

 

 

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh 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

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Trusting You and Other Lies by Nicole Williams…Release Day Blitz & Review

 

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USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Nicole Williams delivers a seductive summer romance worth swooning over. Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins.

Phoenix can’t imagine anything worse than being shipped off to family summer camp. Her parents have been fighting for the past two years–do they seriously think being crammed in a cabin with Phoenix and her little brother, Harry, will make things better?
On top of that, Phoenix is stuck training with Callum–the head counselor who is seriously cute but a complete know-it-all. His hot-cold attitude means he’s impossible to figure out–and even harder to rely on. But despite her better judgment, Phoenix is attracted to Callum. And he’s promising Phoenix a summer she’ll never forget. Can she trust him? Or is this just another lie?
 
Nicole never fails to deliver on a YA romance novel. And this one I enjoyed a little more because it wasn’t just solely focused on the romance side of things; it also focused on Phoenix and her family and how they fumble through some rough patches thrown their way.

Phoenix is heading into her senior of high school. She’s been used to going to same school her whole life, living a fairly privileged life and has set her sites on an elite college. She’s your typical sassy teenager who’s not so eager to be spending her whole summer with her family at Camp Kisme. She’s got the mindset that this will be the summer from hell and she won’t enjoy a minute of it. Especially since her parents haven’t been getting along and she knows that they are keeping secrets from her and her brother, Harry. She feels as though her life is slowing going to hell – typical teenager when things are going their way.

What Phoenix doesn’t expect is Callum. Or to actually enjoy being a counselor at Camp Kismet. Or to watch her brother become this kid whose come into his own. Or find trust in her parents again. What she doesn’t expect is anything that actually happens.

Nicole wrote a brilliant story. Phoenix and her family struggle through some difficult things. Phoenix learns a lot about herself and grows more mature. While the beginning was a tad slow for me, the last 60% made up for it. While I knew how things were going to end, I still really enjoyed this book.

If you enjoy YA books, you definitely don’t want to pass this one up. It’s a cute coming of age story.

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

Notice

by K. Webster
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Dark Romance, Suspense

Purchase: Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

I didn’t notice her before…but now I do.
The shiny strands of gold in her silky brown hair.
Tiny crinkles between her eyebrows when she frowns.
Her passion for neatness.

Once I focus on her, I can’t take my eyes from my newest obsession. Ever.
I need to know everything about her.
Her past. Her present.
The way she takes her coffee.
Exactly how she smells after a spritz of perfume in the mornings.

She’s perfect in every way and I was blind.
But, God, now do I see.

I notice the organized way she arranges her clothes in her closet.
How she visits the same market each Saturday.
The sounds of her breathing as I lie beneath her bed in silence.

Violet is mine.
She just doesn’t know it yet.

***WARNING***
Notice is a dark and unusual romance. Extreme sexual themes and violence in certain scenes, which could trigger emotional distress, are found in this story. If you are sensitive to dark themes, then this story is not for you. If you aren’t into super obsessive stalkers, then this story is not for you.

 

Notice – WOW!! K. Webster, I love how your mind works. This book was just as effed up as I was hoping it would be!! LOL

Yea, if you read the blurb, then you know that if you can’t handle stalkers or their very eccentric tendencies or have issues with assault – do not read this book. This book is not for you. But if you are like me and have a warped mind and tend to enjoy things that push boundaries, then this book is for you!

I really have no idea how to start this out. Notice is a twisted and fucked up story; and I loved every damn word of it!!! Violet has been hiding from her abusive ex for many years. She’s now got a great job as a secretary for Grayson Maxwell at Maxwell. She’s knows her worth and realizes at her current job, they will never see that. She gives her two weeks notice directly to her boss, and for the first time ever, he finally notices his own secretary; like truly SEES her! However, his attention is nothing like Violet ever expected. And Violet is nothing like Gray ever anticipated seeing. And he refuses to let her out of his sight ever again – day or night. Cue the twilight music now!

“There’s only room for one freak in her world. And I take up a lot of space.” 

And that’s where things really get interesting. You have to read it for yourself to see what happens between Gray and Violet. I have to say that there were certain parts that had me cringing because it was fucking creepy as hell, but when he explains himself and how he acts toward her, you understand it. You go ok, this is flat-out creepy yet I get it. He’s truly doing this for the right reasons. Yea, you totally end up wondering if you have issues yourself while reading this book.

Violet is both strong and yet timid all at the same time. Her past has forced her to defend herself. Yet, when it comes to Gray, there is something about him that has her head in the clouds and just falling under his magnetism. He treats her like a queen and ravishes her body like a damn thanksgiving feast. Let me tell you, K. can write some sexy and hot as fuck scenes – I felt myself getting hot and bothered. HOT DAMN! Side note – let me clarify that the assault written in this book is not between Gray and Violet – they are flash backs of her past. Just wanted to clear that up real quick.

Notice is definitely not for everyone. It’s fucking creepy as hell. Yet, you can’t not read this book. It’s god damn addicting!! K. Webster – you’re a twisted genius and I love you for it!!

 

 

 

About K. Webster

K Webster2

K Webster is the author of dozens romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers.

Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen.

You can easily find K Webster on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads!

Website: www.authorkwebster.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bllgoP

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Roar by Cora Carmack…Release Day Blitz & Review

 

 

From New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack comes her debut young adult fantasy, ROAR! Now available, ROAR takes readers on an adventure filled with charismatic characters in an enthralling world sure to keep them turning the pages. Grab your copy today!

 

 

About ROAR (Stormheart #1):

New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack’s young adult debut: Roar.

In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage.
She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.

 

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EXCERPT:

“This life is not glamorous,” Duke told her. “We travel constantly. We sleep on the ground most nights. When we’re not in danger from storms, we’re in danger in cities where we are considered criminals. This life is not for the faint of heart.”

“There are things I do not know, things I will have to learn. But I am capable. I am familiar with sacrifice. I know what it is to make hard choices.”

“Tell me you’re not considering this,” Locke said to Duke.

The old man was silent for a long moment, both Locke and Roar looking to him for support. Duke rubbed at his mustache, a habit of his when he was thinking deeply. “Let’s think about this, Locke. She’s smart. And determined.”

“She’s a child.”

Roar’s shoulders hunched in Locke’s peripheral vision, and he swallowed back the guilt. He could apologize later. For now, it was imperative that he won this argument.

You were a child when I brought you into the fold,” Duke said. “She’s a young woman with a good head on her shoulders. And if this is what she wants, I’m inclined to at least hear her out.”

Just like that, Roar’s shoulders straightened, and Locke turned to watch a devastating smile bloom across her mouth. His weakness when it came to her only made him more cross.

“What skills do you have?” he snapped at Roar.

“Skills?”

“Yes, skills. What can you do? Or do you just plan to tag along for the ride?”

A flush spread over her cheeks, and her voice was tentative when she answered, “I’m good on a horse. Very good.”

Where in the world would she have learned to ride? He quickly hardened his expression. “Horses are fine for travel, but they don’t do well in storms. They, unlike you, have good survival instincts.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Locke could have sworn he felt an updraft—the first sign that bad weather could occur—and he knew that this time he had pushed too far.

Roar marched toward him, spearing a finger into his chest and said, “I can read and write. I can speak Taraanese, Finlaghi, and Odilarian. I can read maps. I know enough about grassland vegetation and wildlife to survive without a market to buy food and drink. I’m good with knives and a bow. I learn quickly, and I’m not afraid of hard work. And I’ve spent my entire life reading as much about storms as I could get my hands on.” For a moment, her voice cracked under the weight of her anger, but she took a huffing breath and continued: “I’m good with numbers. It’s been a while, but I think I can probably still draw the constellations from memory, which should make me decent at navigation. I can—“

“Enough.” Locke’s voice came out in a deep rasp. He captured her long, delicate finger in his fist before she could continue poking him. He felt short of breath at the sight of her—livid and lovely. “Enough.”

The old Locke might have kept arguing, and Roar would have met him toe-to-toe. But if becoming a storm hunter had taught him anything, it was that fighting head-on wasn’t always the way to win. Sometimes strategy was required. He met Duke’s eyes over her shoulder, and if he had thought Roar looked smug before, she had nothing on his mentor. The man raised his eyebrows in a challenge and asked, “You?”

He hated the idea of bringing someone into this dangerous life, but if it was going to happen regardless, he sure as hell wouldn’t hand her safety over to anyone else, not even Ransom. And at the very least, it would give him the opportunity to change her mind. He gritted his teeth and nodded his acceptance.

 

 

 


 

 

 

I really enjoy Cora Carmack’s books and love Fantasy reads. So when I heard she was writing one, I had to read this one. However, I did keep myself for getting too excited and setting my expectations high. I’ve learned from past experiences that high expectations have often lead to extreme letdowns so I didn’t want to go through any of that again.

Thankfully, with Roar that was not the case at all. One of the main reasons I love fantasy reads is due to the world building. This is what sets this genre apart from all the others. If I can’t picture the world the author is trying to build their story around, I can’t connect to anything else in the book, not even the characters. Cora does a magnificent job of creating this world in her own unique way. I have how everything is intricately planned out with the storm elements.

Roar/Aurora is the next in line for the throne. But she’s not quite ready to take on her crown. Roar finds herself running off with storm chasers and learning a lot about herself and falling in love. The romance in this book was the only portion I had a hard time stomaching. I found myself at times rolling my eyes, but overall, it did not take away from the story or the characters. There are quite a few characters in this book but they all play an important role to Roar. While it’s hard to find any connections to them because we don’t get to know any of them well, I didn’t find myself caring too much about that. There were some I like more than others, but they all play a part that is needed.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this book. The world building is fascinating – how special people are able to destroy various storms. The storms themselves were quite interesting as they had emotions and acted out on those. Really quite entertaining and different. And that characters just added to everything. I won’t give you details of the story, the love interests and how her journey plays out. I won’t take that excitement away from you as you read. Knowing what to expect just kills the overall vibe, at least to me it does.

Roar is a book you definitely want to read, especially if you are fan of fantasy reads. If you’ve enjoyed any of Cora’s pervious books, I have no doubt you will really like this one, regardless if you read fantasy or not.

 

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About Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Since she was a teenager, her favorite genre to read has been fantasy, and now she’s thrilled to bring her usual compelling characters and swoon-worthy romance into worlds of magic and intrigue with her debut YA fantasy, Roar. Her previous adult romance titles include the Losing It, Rusk University, and Muse series. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages around the world. Cora splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City, and on any given day you might find her typing away at her computer, flying to various cities around the world, or just watching Netflix with her kitty Katniss. But she can always be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and her website www.coracarmack.com.

 

 

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The Last Guy by Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise…Release Blitz & Review

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“The best and only way to kick off summer, devouring The Last Guy and then doing it all over again because it’s just that good.”

— #1New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken

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THE LAST GUY

By Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise

Publication Date: June 12th

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy

Synopsis:

The first rule of office romance is don’t do it—especially if your dream is to hold the anchor spot on the nightly news and your boss is trying to get you fired.

But one look at Cade Hill, the sexy new sports director, and uptight reporter Rebecca Fieldstone is daydreaming about other things.

Sex in his office…

Sex in the on-set kitchen…

Sex in the supply closet…

She can’t stop thinking about the former NFL quarterback and how perfect he’d look between her sheets—except he’s an arrogant jerk with a huge… ego.

He’s the last guy she’d ever have a one-night stand with.

Cade Hill draws a thick professional line on office romance—until it comes to the hyper-focused Rebecca. He wants her, and he gets his wish when a chance encounter has them having the hottest sex of their lives.

It’s just a hook-up, she says.

When can we do it again? he says.

With Rebecca determined to keep Cade in the friend zone, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Cade to convince her he’s the last guy she’ll ever want.

THE LAST GUY is the first white-hot CONTEMPORARY ROMANTIC COMEDY from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise. It features Fireball-fueled hookups, Doritos Locos Tacos, attack monkeys, toddlers in tiaras, and one fabulous drag queen. Prepare for frantic clicking (or page flipping!) and smoking-hot sexytimes all the way to the out-of-this-world happily-ever-after.

 

TLG-99

Read THE LAST GUY today:

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Ilsa and Tia definitely make an amazing writing duo. The Last Guy is a very sweet and easy read with some hot and steamy sex scenes mixed in.

The story is told from both Cade and Rebecca’s POV. And what makes it even better, I really have no idea who wrote what or which character. The book flowed easily and I enjoyed reading the story from both sides of the spectrum. I loved that these characters were a bit older and were much more relatable in that respect.

If you read the blurb, then you know the idea behind the story. I won’t give you any details of how things play out but I will tell you that Ilsa and Tia not only wrote strong lead characters, but two of their secondary characters were awesome. Chas and Trent – these two stole my heart. I love Chas’ upbeat attitude and Trent is just one of those gay best friends everyone wants to have. I really hope that these two get a book – perhaps together or not. LOL

The Last Guy should definitely be on everyone’s TBR list that loves a great romance without all the angst involved.

 

 

About the Authors:

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and the “Queen of Hot Romance” Tia Louise are not a secret duo, but simply themselves.

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.

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Connect with Tia:

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

Twitter: @AuthorTLouise

Stay up to date with Tia Louise by signing up for her newsletter:

http://smarturl.it/TLMnews

https://authortialouise.com/dirtyplayers/

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Connect with Ilsa:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilsamaddenmills

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2k6L96J

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

Website: http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/

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Roommates With Benefits by Nicole Williams…Blog Tour & Review

 

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Soren Decker. He’s the epitome of the “bad boy, good man” persona. The best of both worlds. The worst of them too. He’s the type of guy most girls would not mind sharing a confined space with, except my new roommate isn’t all swagger and chiseled abs.

He’s bossy. Messy. Cocky. Infuriating. Doesn’t believe in personal space. Has no qualms about roaming the apartment with a loincloth-sized towel cinched around his waist. Seems under the delusion he’s my personal protector (refer back to infuriating). He plays college baseball and holds down a part-time job—I don’t know where he finds the time to get on my nerves.


We’re got nothing in common . . . except for one thing. Our attraction to one another. And in six hundred square feet of shared space, the tension only has so much room to grow before one of us gives in to temptation. But really, what chance do a couple of young kids chasing their dreams in the big city have of making it?

Since Soren claims I know squat about sports (he might have a semi-point), here’s a stat for him—one in a million. That’s our odds.
“Coming in,” I announced, opening the door and stepping inside. A plume of steam rolled over me, instantly coating my skin in a hot, dewy shield. “Hot shower?”
​“Hell of a lot better than the cold one I took a couple of nights ago.”
His voice echoed off the walls as I focused on squeezing a glob of toothpaste onto my brush. It was difficult. I found myself quite distracted by the knowledge he was naked behind that thin shower curtain, a whole three feet away.
​Just as I was about to stick my toothbrush into my mouth, the shower cranked off, the curtain whipping open right after.
​Soren. Wet. Exposed.
​Giant.
​My eyes clamped shut, but it wasn’t fast enough. From the low chuckle he gave, he hadn’t missed my two-second gape.
​“Soren!”
​“Sorry. Water got cold.”
​I gave him a few seconds to cover up before I opened my eyes and got back to brushing my teeth. He hadn’t covered up though.
​“What are you doing? Grab a towel.” My arm flailed in the direction of where we kept our fresh towels hanging from the rack. My eyes felt like they were about to go crossed from staying focused on my reflection instead of his naked one in the same mirror.
“Out of fresh towels. Haven’t gotten around to the laundry.” He moved up beside me at the sink, reaching for his own toothbrush. He was standing so close, his wet arm was brushing against mine.
Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look at the giant—
Crap. I looked.
He was grinning at me as he brushed his teeth, my face crimson thanks to what I’d glanced at.
“See anything you like?”
My body was still buzzing from what I’d seen that I liked. I kind of hated him for calling me out on it though. I kind of even hated him for having so much to like.
“I know what you’re doing.” My eyebrow rounded as I got to work brushing my teeth too.
He spit in the sink, somehow winding up closer to me when he leaned back up. “Air drying?”
My eyes narrowed in the mirror at him. “Trying to change my mind.”
He stared back, brushing his teeth in all of his naked glory, a cocky tenor to his expression. Once he finished brushing, he rinsed his toothbrush and turned toward the door.
“I don’t need to change your mind,” he said, pausing when he was directly behind me.
When he turned, I swore I could feel his arms coming around me, pulling me into the shelter of his strong body. An involuntary shudder spilled down my back. He didn’t miss that either.
“I just need you to speak it instead of lying about it.” His eyes dropped to the back of my neck, where I knew he could see the raised flesh. I knew, because one side of his mouth lifted.
Bracing my hands on the sink, I didn’t blink as I locked eyes with him in the mirror. “It takes a lot more than washboard abs and a giant . . .” Crap. Something else. “Ego to get my attention.”
Soren leaned forward, his hands framing around the outsides of mine, his arms running the length of mine. His chest didn’t touch my back, but I could feel its expanse hovering above it. “I’ve already gotten your attention.” His eyes dropped from mine to my chest. Where it was rising and falling noticeably hard, my nipples pushing through my camisole. “I’m looking for something else.”
Another shudder, this one spilling down my legs. “What?”
His crooked smile changed into a cryptic one before he leaned back and opened the door. “You’ll see.”
“Soren—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell you when you give it to me.”
My fist curled around my toothbrush as I turned toward him. “I’m not giving you anything.”
“You’re giving me something right now.” He didn’t glance back before leaving the bathroom. Did he really need to have that nice of an ass when he already had a glorious package? I was screwed. “This point goes to Decker.”
 
Nicole really knows how to write a story that puts a huge smile on your face from start to finish. And this story did not go the way I had expected and that makes this book even better for me.

We’ve all read (or at least read reviews) of books about roommates and the unexpected hooking up between the two. Well this book didn’t exactly play out the way I had anticipated. Yes, the roommates became more, but it was how they got there that made this book stand out. Or and Soren – he is so not what I expected.

So the gist of the book – Hayden is moving from Nebraska to NYC for her modeling career. She responded to Soren’s ad for a roommate, in a particular, a female roommate. Hayden’s first lesson in a new city – ask questions before assuming anything. Soren is looking to become the biggest draft pick in baseball, so his life revolves around baseball, college and his part time job – so he doesn’t really have time for much else.

As I said, this story doesn’t play out anyway I expected and that really made this book all the more better, if that was possible. I won’t give any details on what happens or how, but I will say that you need to go into this book with an open mind and like Hayden, don’t make any assumptions on how things play out – cause you are probably wrong, like me.

Nicole wrote two very strong characters. Even though they are young and just starting out in the world, they both don’t act like young adults. They act mature and handle things with a level head. And that really added into how certain situations played out or how Soren or Hayden reacted to things.

Once again, Nicole has written a book that has me swooning for the male lead. Soren was nothing like I expected. He was such a gentleman and that really went a long way with Hayden and their relationship. Hayden annoyed me at times, but she also wised up and realized her actions were not very becoming of her and tried to correct herself and rectify the situation.

I definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR list for this summer. You will read it quite quickly because you’ll find yourself nearing the end before ever thinking of putting it down.

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

 

IMPERFECT LOVE Kindle World, a fabulous new series featuring strong alpha heroes who get knocked sideways when they suddenly begin noticing the heroine in a whole new light.

In partnership with Kendall Ryan & these amazing bestselling authors: Kelly Elliott, Adriana Locke, Mandi Beck, T. Gephart, Kim Karr, Cora Kenborn, Magan Vernon & Natasha Madison.

Sexy, laugh-out-loud funny, and sweet at times, this series is all about exploring romance tropes like friends to lovers, fake fiancé, arranged marriage, surprise pregnancy, budding office romances, and more, that all share one fabulous thing in common–they end in a happily ever after.

 

JOIN THE GROUP FOR ALL THE NEWS:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1071142436331446/

 

 

 

FAMED by Magan Vernon:

On the heels of Mary James leaked sex tape – totally a fake one to make her boyfriend jealous she might add- she needs some PR help if she ever wants her acting career to end up in a fiery hell like her love life.

Chris Garcia has been working his way up from mail room clerk to junior associate at Tate & Cane and now to get to the next rung of the corporate ladder he has to take on the firm’s toughest client: Mary James.

With a little help from a nosey Aunt Rosita and Mama Garcia, the two decide the best way to move forward is simple: a fake relationship.

But what happens when something fake gets to be too real and FAME gets involved?

 

 

One-Night Stand-In – T. Gephart

Sarah Madison loved working at Tate & Cane Enterprises.

While she looked and, for the most part, acted conservatively—she was a gladiator in the boardroom. The fast-paced, energetic work environment not only fed her need for corporate blood but also allowed her to work for one of her role models, Olivia Cane—living proof a woman really can have it all.

And after months of paying her dues, she was finally offered the promotion she’d been vying for. Which was great, except for the fact she had to share the position with a new guy they brought in especially for the role.

Kyle Drake was smart, experienced, and probably just as good, if not better, in negotiations. And if she wasn’t careful, prove he could do the job without her. Add in good-looking and an incredibly sexy smooth talker, and everyone in the office either wanted to be him or sleep with him. Which Sarah could have totally ignored if he hadn’t been the stranger she’d married in Vegas during a fake ceremony six months earlier.

He was supposed to be her one-night stand, a stand-in for a ceremony that wasn’t even legally binding. They were never even going to see each other again. Hell, she apparently hadn’t even known his real last name at the time. It was the only time she’d ever done something completely reckless and spontaneous.

It figured that one time would come back and bite her where it hurt.

 

 

I think I will be in the minority on this book when it comes to not loving it. It’s a good book, don’t get me wrong, but it was that for me – ok. One-Night Stand-In is part of the Imperfect Love Kindle World series and compared to the other books in this series, this one for me, just didn’t wow me like the others did.

I finished this book last night and the only thing I remember is the main plot – which is the blurb. LOL So, that tells you how much of a lasting effect the main characters had on me. Don’t get me wrong, the story line was cute. I enjoyed how they met and how they ended up running into each other again down the line. And the interactions between the two were at times funny, but overall, I just had a hard time seeing their connection beyond the physical part. And that’s why this novella was just ok for me.

As I said, I am in the minority on this book, but when it’s compared to the other stories that I have already read in this Kindle World, it does fall somewhat flat. It’s a story that I won’t remember in a week. I know based on Goodreads rating system that my rating should be a 2 – but I feel the book deserves a 3 because there are portions I enjoyed more than others.

Give it a try though. You may find that you like it.

 

 

 

THE RUN IN – KELLY ELLIOTT

Becoming the new Marketing Manager at Tate and Cane was a game changer. I was hell bent on proving I deserved this job, and that it wasn’t my cousin Sterling Quinn who had helped me score the new job title. Him being one of the CEO’s best friend—didn’t help the rumors.

Well screw that.

Ten years of sweat and hard work was the reason I was sitting in a large corner office with a killer Manhattan view. More focused than I’d ever been, it was time to take the bull by the horns.

And God help the person who stood in in my way.

********

Things I left behind in Seattle, Washington: A promising career at a top marking firm, the past I was desperate to escape, and obviously my sense of direction. It was because of all of those reasons I was standing in the middle of New York City lost and cursing at my phone.

If I didn’t get to Tate and Cane soon, I wouldn’t only be late, but also blow the chance to make the good impression on my new boss, Mason Quinn. And I needed that more than anything.

One wrong turn, an unfortunate collision, and an expensive suit drenched in my soy chia tea latte was not how I wanted to start my first day.

Then there was the other little problem I had. The drop dead gorgeous man whose suit I’d ruined was my new boss.

And boy did he look pissed.

 

TIED BY KIM KARR

I was rich, single, and connected, which meant a steady diet of beautiful women wherever I went.

I really did think I had the perfect life.

Until I went and married a supermodel I’d just met, and everything changed.

Of course there were choices. But the word annulment meant giving her up, and I never give up anything. Still, I was a bachelor at heart, and having a wife, well, I didn’t really know what to do with that.

After only forty-eight hours of marriage, I had already gone and screwed everything up.

Now I have thirty days to prove to my new wife that I’m husband material. There’s only one problem—I don’t even know what husband material means. However, I’m certain that won’t stop me from excelling at it.

My wife tells me it isn’t going to be easy. That I have numerous issues to overcome.

First, there’s my jealousy. It needs to be tamed. Did I flip over the fact that her latest picture was causing men around the world to do dirty things all over the covers she graced? Hell, yes. I couldn’t help myself though. When her photo went viral, my caveman instincts kicked in, and I demanded she quit her job and stay home—barefoot and pregnant in my kitchen. I can work on that, right?

Then there’s my mother. I need to convince her that my new wife is not the money hungry floozy she called her. Did my mother actually call her that? Yes. I can’t help it that my mother wants me to get rid of my new wife. The problem is what my mother wants, she always gets one way or another. Still, turning my mother’s opinion around can’t be that hard, can it?

There are many other issues, but according to my new wife, those are minor compared to the biggest one—she says I will never be able to accept being tied down.

Don’t worry—I got this one. I intend to prove to her in no uncertain terms that being tied up, down, or horizontal is just what this Upper East Sider needs.

 

 

Tied is another novella and great addition in the Imperfect Love Kindle World.

Tied focuses on two characters that are from Kim Karr’s other book, Toxic, but you don’t need to read that book in order to know anything. I really enjoyed getting the back story on James and Lindsay because we only know of them through James’s best, Phoebe, in Toxic.

Kim did a wonderful job with how these two not only play into her other books, but also with this Imperfect Love World. James and Lindsay are another couple that do Vegas and get married on a whim, with only knowing each other for maybe a day. And that’s just the beginning. Yes, I know it sounds impossible, but read the book and you will see how they get there. And how everything pans out. It is really quite the unconventional yet unique and sweet romance.

The story line is written out beautifully and everything seems to happen naturally. Their interactions are outrageous or baffling. They act like adults and handle themselves as appropriately as they can (cue James’ mother – if I had a woman like that in my life, let’s just say I’d need a room full of liquor to handle her so I didn’t kill her. LOL). Lindsay usually doesn’t care for men who tell her what to do, but James domineering presence tends to make her feel things she’s not used to feeling. It’s just a perfect mix for these two.

If you are looking for something quick, easy to read and yet still really hot and steamy, this is the book for you. You’ll finish it in less than a few hours, but you may need to cool yourself down somehow afterwards.

 

 

 

 

Battle of the Sexes Adriana Locke

Carver Jones’ partner at Jones + Gallum had to step down for medical reasons. He’s absolutely devastated. He swears. Just ignore his cheeky grin, okay?

When word reaches his fancy corner office that Gallum is replacing himself with his daughter, Amity, Carver is ecstatic.

For real this time.

Jones squashes men in the business industry flat. A woman? Pfst. He’ll be completely in charge in no time, doing whatever he wants. He’s so ready for this.

But is he ready to fight the hardest fight of his life? No, not the one to maintain control of his company. The one to keep control of his heart.

The battle may begin in the boardroom, but the war will definitely be won in the bedroom. May the best sex win.

 

 

 

UNSUPERVISED by Cora Kenborn

Niall

A non-existent love life, unstable paycheck, and a six-year-old who’d rather hit boys than books sound more like a cry for help than a dating profile. On paper, it would seem like I need a life coach, but I’ve managed to get a decent grip on the single-dad thing. My love life, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. With my sexy Irish accent, I should have women of all ages losing their minds, but I seem to attract only a certain type—crazy.

The last thing I want is a new relationship, but I need a date for my company’s charity function. A chance meeting with a tall, leggy blonde who looks like she could use a night out is the perfect solution. Beautiful, sane, and she has a kid? We have a winner.

I didn’t count on Laken being unforgettable. Unlike all the other fake women I’ve met in this city, she’s real. And if there’s one thing I value more than anything, it’s honesty.

Laken

I didn’t bust my ass in college to be a nanny. Unfortunately, a 4.0 GPA and sucking up to the owner’s sister did nothing to secure a coveted Tate & Cane Enterprises internship. I’m not proud of being a nanny-for-hire to get my foot in the door, but my wealthy socialite employer has the ears of company executives. Swallowing my pride, I do what I need to—until an afternoon at the park changes everything.

I don’t mean to let him think Preston is my kid, but he just assumes. This isn’t me. I’m not a liar. Although his panty-melting accent does unspeakable things to me, I should set the record straight. There’s only one problem. Niall is a freelance photographer for Tate & Cane and invites me to a company event as his plus-one. He’s my “in.”

If I can hold on to this charade long enough, I can get the job and the man of my dreams. I’m winging this completely unsupervised. Game on.

 

TWISTED by Mandi Beck

Three friends walk into a bar . . . One walks out the fake girlfriend of a hot, bearded Scotsman.

Fannin McGuire is up for promotion at Tate and Cane Enterprises, but first she has to make it through her stepsister’s wedding. To Fannin’s ex. Yep. Her ex-fiancé is about to be her new brother-in-law. One big happy family. And lucky her, she also gets to work with him.

While Fannin is putting all of her energy into her career, her ex is putting all of his energy into making her life hell. Just when Fannin is sure she’ll be attending the wedding without a plus one, in walks Jasper James to save the day. He’s the bartender at the Iron Flask, the account she’s trying to land, and everything she didn’t know she needed or wanted. Before Fannin knows what’s happening, Jasper is playing knight in shining armor and she likes it. And him. A lot. With his smooth Scottish accent, ridiculously good looks, and that beard? She doesn’t stand a chance.

Jasper isn’t in the habit of rescuing anyone. But when Fannin is confronted by her ex about her lack of a date for his upcoming nuptials, Jasper can’t help but step in. Her wild hair, violet eyes, and killer legs have him doing a few things he normally wouldn’t. Never mind that he shouldn’t be getting involved with the woman in charge of making the bar a global success.

Their fake relationship becomes more real than either thought it would. Now they’re at the mercy of their feelings when truths are twisted, and the lies don’t taste as smooth as the whisky.

 

CHEEKY by Natasha Madison

Bradley Fitch has it all. A suave job, a gigantic trust fund, and an accent that makes panties drop faster than the speed of light. His new life in New York City is fast-paced and furious, but it’s nothing a little getaway can’t cure.

What says party and unwind like Las Vegas? Nothing. Plus, whatever happens there has to stay there.

When his best friend bails, he finds himself sitting on the plane next to his best friend’s sister.

She’s off-limits—proverbial caution tape wrapped around her body. Of course, she’s also totally ball busting gorgeous.

Lexi Quinn fell in love with Bradley at eight years old and then vowed to kill him at eight and a half. What was supposed to be a romantic week away is turning into a nightmare. Her ex is actually married, her luggage is lost, and her reservation is cancelled. And she’s sitting next to the man she swore to hate forever

One week. No strings attached. What is the worst that could happen?

It’s all fun and games till this British bad boy gives new meaning to BBC and becomes a little bit too cheeky.

 

 

This really was a cheeky read – pun intended. Cheeky is part of the Imperfect Love Kindle World that has partnered with Kendall Ryan and many fabulous authors including Natasha.

Cheeky was my second book by Natasha Madison and quite different from the one I read previously, but I still enjoyed this book a lot. I really liked the entire story line and the characters – Lexi and Blake paired very well together.

Lexi and Blake have known each other since they were kids. Lexi had her kid crush on Blake, but she never allowed herself to wallow in dreams of them ever being something more. Bradley knew Lexi was off limits so to ever assume anything more could come between them was just something he never allowed himself to think about. They are no older and settled in their lives and jobs. And when they agree to this one week of no strings attached fun – they both know nothing more will become of it. HA!!

First off, let me tell you that Natasha can write some sexy sex scenes. And foreplay – WOAH!! GEEZUS!! I love how she wrote Lexi – that girl owns her sexuality and has no qualms about it. She is confident in her body, herself and what she can do for a man. That alone is just sexy. And Blake has no problems with it either – I think that just stokes the fire in him even more. Lexi is definitely not what he expects and that just makes everything all the more enjoyable.

If you are looking for a steamy, sexy read with some built in humor and a little sweet romance, this book is for you. It’s an extremely quick read and has all the right components for a great, hot read. I highly recommend this read for anyone who loves romance!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries 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. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.

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