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My passion is reading. I am an avid reader and love to share my love for books.

New Release + Excerpt + Giveaway : Single Dad On Top by JJ Knight

Single Dad on Top
J.J. Knight
Publication date: August 3rd 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A new single dad romantic comedy from the author of the USA Today bestselling single dad series Fight for Her

I’m always on top.

My penthouse.

My corporate office above Manhattan.

And, of course, the women in my life.

Actually, I might choose any position.

But make no mistake. I choose. I control.

My life is mine.

Which is why I’m not sure what the hell is going on when I open my front door and there’s a baby stroller sitting in my private hall.

The note on the infant simply says, “Do the DNA. She’s yours.”

Well, damn.

_____

Full length (395 print pages, 72,000 words) standalone HEA.

Contains all the crazy elements of a billionaire alpha male meets virgin next door for a fake marriage leading to a love affair — all while laughing over his inability to understand baby basics!)

Goodreads / Amazon

99¢ this week only!

EXCERPT:

The dream is luscious.

I’m curled up on a soft green lawn. A breeze bends the stalks of a row of tulips. They look like they are leaning in to tell me a secret.

Then I see two shoes. Bright polished men’s dress shoes. A perfectly creased cuff lands at precisely the right position. There is no break in the crisply pressed fold. My eyes travel up it, past his knees, to the fly.

There’s a bulge there. He’s gotten aroused looking at me. Heat courses through my body and I skip ahead to his face.

But he’s already bending down, coming for me.

And his lips land on mine.

I fall into the kiss. It’s warm and soft and exactly what I’ve wanted. It tastes faintly of brandy. Smells engulf me. Expensive cologne. A hint of shampoo, something woodsy.

Then the grass is gone. I’m in a black void, spinning. I bring my arms up around the neck of this man in his suit, but I’m surprised to touch skin instead. He’s naked now, the suit peeled away just for me.

I hold on to his strong shoulders. The kiss gets deeper, richer, and the sensation of falling is more intense. His tongue enters my mouth and I open for him greedily. It makes sense, the slide into the emptiness and how he fills me.

Then I really am flying, moving through the air, and a bit of scruffy facial hair scrapes against my cheek.

I’m not in a void. I’m being carried.

But one part of the dream was right.

I am definitely being kissed.

I pull back. Oh my God. It’s Dell.

He looks down at me with a sly smile. “It works on babysitters as well as poisoned princesses,” he says.

 

Author Bio:

JJ Knight is the author of the USA Today bestselling series Fight for Her, as well as Uncaged Love, Revenge, and Blue Shoes. She likes her heroes alpha, her heroines bold, and her stories to captivate.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook

 

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New Release + 5 Star Review: Enrage by Rachel Van Dyken – Eagle Elite Series – Book 8

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Enrage, an all-new sexy standalone from #1 New York Times Bestseller Rachel Van Dyken is available NOW!!

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Enrage by Rachel Van Dyken
Release Date: July 31st

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Enrage is the next standalone in the international best selling mafia series, Eagle Elite.

Part of a world I loathe.

Part of a family who hates me more than I hate myself.

Living with a girl who reminds me of my darkness.

I’m. In. Hell.

Also known as the Cosa Nostra.

My life was over the minute I stepped off that plane.

Son to a murdered mob boss.

Heir to a throne of murder and lies.

My name is Dante Nicolasi.

And there will be blood.

Excerpt:

Dante slammed his hand into the tree, his jaw popped as he gritted his teeth together and then calm washed over him as he whispered near my ear, “Want me to kill him?”

A few people walked by and stared at us, it looked like he was kissing my neck, like we were normal college students sharing a moment.

Nope. Wrong story, kiddos.

He just offered to kill someone for offending me, run along, nothing to see here.

“After,” I said. “Kill him after he stops being useful to you, to the bosses.” I couldn’t believe what was coming out of my mouth, what I was agreeing to. “Yes.”

Dante pulled back, his face broke out into a smile. “How messed up is it that I’m actually looking forward to that moment?”

I gulped. “It’s in your blood.”

“I wish it wasn’t,” he said gruffly. “I wish I didn’t crave it — dream about it — almost as much as I wish I didn’t feel guilt every day because of it.”

I sighed and put my hands on his chest, then ran them up around his neck, he didn’t move, or flinch, so maybe we were having a moment as our mouths almost touched. “The only shame in life, is not being who you were truly born to be. If that means you kill the bad guys — kill the bad, guys Dante. Just don’t lose your soul in the process.”

“And if it’s already gone?” He croaked his eyes darkening as he slowly leaned in until his forehead touched mine.

Days ago I would have been terrified that his body was this close.

Days ago, I would have shoved him away and run.

Days ago, I would have shuddered that his bloodstained hands were running up and down my skin.

But today.

Today was different.

Today I closed my eyes and drank in the wicked scent of Dante Nicolasi, the cologne mixed with soap. I inhaled.

And opened my eyes again.

Yesterday I was angry. I was afraid.

Today. Against the tree.

Pinned by Dante’s arms.

I was safe.

“I’ll help you find it,” I whispered.

“Just don’t damn yourself in the process, El.” He cupped my face with his right hand, his eyes fell to my mouth, his half-lidded seductive look could stop a girl dead in her tracks.

The wives always talked about how attractive his father was, even at an older age.

Almost like he’d aged backward.

Dante was no different.

If it was possible for a human to get more attractive by the day — he’d be the one to prove you right.

“Are you going to kiss me again?” I asked hopefully.

“No.” He pulled away.

My heart sank into my stomach.

“Because I don’t want to start something I have no intention of stopping.”

My head jerked, our eyes locked, and I saw it. The honesty.

“Told you I’d never lie to you, El.” His voice had a warning edge to it, like I shouldn’t push him, push whatever invisible boundaries he’d mentally set up between us. His eyes never left mine.

And I knew, this was what he looked like when he was telling the truth.

His eyes pierced through my defenses in an unapologetic search for my heart, my soul.

And I let them.

“We should get to class.” I finally found my voice and started walking, he fell into step beside me.

And I spent the rest of the day thinking about the non-kiss.

And the promise that came with it.

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Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2we64tb

Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/TukJN6

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

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2uLx9WO

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Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/b5mMmt

Blog tour

Michel’s Review

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over four years since the first book in the Eagle Elite series  by Rachel Van Dyken was published.  I have been addicted to this series and anxiously look forward to the next book.  At this point in the series one would think it would be winding down because the new generation of the five families has taken over their rightful places in The Family hierarchy .

Dante Nicolasi is the only member who hasn’t taken his rightful place.  He’s in training and struggling to find his place within the family structure.  He’s attending the Eagle Elite Academy.  Like the family structure, The Eagle Elite Academy is also changing and a new generation has taken over the reigns and it is not the Italians.  It is up to Dante to find out who’s in charge, what they are up to, and how to regain control. He has to prove his loyalty to the family.  All hell is breaking loose and Dante is in the middle of this explosive inferno.

El Petrov’s life was saved by the Italian Mafia.  She’s under their protection but their protection can only extend so far unless she becomes a part of the family.  Trading the abusive Russian captivity for a new kind of controlled environment leaves her unsure of her  place in her new world.  She is clearly not part of the Italian dynasty but is also not a part of the Russian dynasty.  The Russians want her dead.  The only way the Italians can keep her alive is to marry her off in the family.  The only eligible candidate is Dante Nicolasi.  Dante is just a threatening as her Russian captors but in a different way.  He stirs something within her soul.  Dante doesn’t want a wife but he does want an ally or friend in the same new world she was thrust in.

Dante and El find a cooperative, friendly relationship in their new lives at The Eagle Elite academy.  Their tentative partnership is the key to finding all the answers.  The answers are anything but easy and could destroy the Family.

What happens next is shocking, devastating, and left me reeling with disbelief.  Rachel Van Dyken took an explosive series and detonated it!  She blew their world apart and breathed new life in this thrilling series.  I can’t wait to see what comes next!

_____________________________

EAGLE ELITE SERIES

Catch up with the rest of the Eagle Elite Series Here: http://bit.ly/RVDEagleElite

Blood in.. No Out…

 

EAGLE ELITE SERIES

Elite- Book 1

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Elect- Book 2

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Entice- Book 3

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Elicit -Book 4

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Bang Bang- Novella

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Enforce – Book 1.5 – Novella

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Enchant – Book 0.5 – Novella

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Ember – Book 5

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Elude – Book 6

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Empire – Book 7

AMAZON US / B&N / iBOOKS / KOBO

Enrage – Book 8

Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

 

___________________________

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!

RachelVanDyken

Connect with the Author:

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

Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RVDNewsletter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNVwL9

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/RVDGR

Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders

Release Blitz: Twisted Twosome by Meghan Quinn

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Twisted Twosome, an all new sexy, laugh out loud romantic comedy from Meghan Quinn is LIVE!

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Twisted Twosome by Meghan Quinn
Publication Date: August 3, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Racer McKay is a broody bastard.

From the moment I met him, he’s been rude, irritable, and unbearable.

A contractor working to remodel my parents pool house for extra cash, he stomps around in those clunky construction boots with his tool belt wrapped around his narrow waist, and a chip on his shoulder.

Racer McKay is also infuriatingly . . . sexy as hell. I want to take that pencil tucked behind his ear, and draw lazy lines slowly up and down his body all the while wanting to strangle him at the same time.

We try to stay out of each other’s way . . . that is until I have no other option but to ask for his help.

But what I don’t realize is he needs me just as much as I need him. I have money he’s desperate for, and he holds the key to making my dreams come true.

Our pranks turn from sarcastic banter, to sexual tension and lust-filled glances. Bickering matches quickly morph into slow burn moments. We’re hot, we’re cold. We push and pull. I need him, I don’t want him. We’re on the verge of combusting with an agreement dangling dangerously between us. Neither one of us can afford to lose one another and yet, we’re finding it quite hard to decipher the line that rests between love and hate.

Quinn-TT-AN

Read Today!

Amazon Universal: http://amzn.to/2f6i6S8

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/TFxJ7s

Beautiful

About the Author:

A BLONDE AT HEART

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

MeghanQuinn

 

Connect with Meghan:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/meghanquinnauthor
Instagram: authormeghanquinn
Website: http://www.authormeghanquinn.com/

Sign Up for Meghan’s Newsletter: http://bit.ly/MQWrapUp

Trailer Reveal: The Time In Between by Kristen Ashley

 

 

From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Ashley, comes the third and final book in her Magdalene series—THE TIME IN BETWEEN—releasing August 29, 2017! Don’t miss the amazing trailer below, and pre-order your copy today!

 

 

About THE TIME IN BETWEEN (Magdalene Series #3):

After a painful loss, Cady Moreland is coming to Magdalene to start the next chapter of her life. A chapter that began eighteen years ago but had a heartbreaking ending. The time in between was full of family and friendship, but Cady could never get the man she fell in love with all those years ago out of her heart.

Coert Yeager has learned to live without the girl who entered his life right when she shouldn’t and exited delivering a crippling blow he never would have suspected. The time in between was full of failing to find what he was missing…and life-altering betrayal.

But when that girl shows up in Magdalene and buys the town’s beloved lighthouse, even if Coert wants to avoid her, he can’t. A fire in town sparks a different kind of flame that won’t be ignored.

As Cady and Coert question the actions of the two young adults they once were thrown into earth-shattering circumstances, can they learn from what came in between and find each other again?

 

 

 

Preorder your copy of THE TIME IN BETWEEN today!

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBook | Google Play

Add to your Goodreads

 

 

 

 

5% of the proceeds from the first week of sales of THE TIME IN BETWEEN release will be given to HALO Animal Rescue in Phoenix, a no-kill shelter. HALO stands for “helping animals live on” and is a shelter started by a mother/daughter team of committed animal advocates who have done a huge duty for animals in this area, and continue to do so with unwavering love, support and energy. For more information on HALO or to donate to the work they do, go to www.halorescue.org.

 

 

And don’t miss the first titles in the Magdalene Series!

THE WILL
SOARING

 

 

About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

 

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * NEWSLETTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

 

 

New Release + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: The Brightest Sunset by Aly Martinez – The Darkest Sunset Duet – Book 2

 

 

The Brightest Sunset

The Darkest Sunrise Duet – Book #2

By Aly Martinez

Purchase it Now

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Synopsis:

 

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

Bullshit.

Words destroyed me.

“I’m sorry. She didn’t make it.”

“Daddy, he can’t breathe!”

“There’s nothing more we can do for your son.”

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

Lies.

Those syllables and letters became my executioner. I told myself that, if I didn’t acknowledge the pain and the fear, they would have no power over me. But, as the years passed, the hate and the anger left behind began to control me.

Two words—that was all it took to plunge my life into darkness.

“He’s gone.”

In the end, it was four soft, silky words that gave me hope of another sunrise.

“Hi. I’m Charlotte Mills.”

Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free Review

After reading The Darkest Sunrise by Aly Martinez I was counting down the days for the sequel, The Brightest Sunset to release.  I can honestly say I haven’t been this consumed by a story in quite a while.  I devoured The Darkest Sunset the moment this book downloaded on my tablet.  I thought the first book was an emotional rollercoaster but the second book was an emotional explosion where every character was affected by the monumental life changing revelations. Once the revelations tore them apart, trying to rebuild new lives is literally impossible without hurting others more in the process.  There were no right or wrong answers.  There were no villains or heroes.  Just ordinary people trying to hang onto their family as they know it. In the middle of all the chaos is an innocent and seriously ill child trying to survive the devastation of it all.

Dr. Charlotte Mills, a respected Pulmonary specialist in the Atlanta area, lost her six month old baby when he was abducted in plain daylight.  She has lived with the guilt for ten years hoping that her baby somehow survived the ordeal.  The odds were against his survival because of a defective heart condition.  She has spent the last ten years buried in her grief, shut off emotionally from the world, and dedicating her life to her work.  When she met Porter Reese she found a man who understood her darkness and was willing to share her pain.  He understood the pain because he was a widower and single father trying to survive his own painful world.

Porter Reese almost lost his children when he lost his wife.  He shoved his grief aside to make sure he gave his children a stable, loving home environment.  His eleven year old son’s health has been declining and he needs the best doctors to treat him.  When he sought out Dr. Mills he never imagined meeting a woman who touches a different part of his soul.  He’s met a woman who understands his pain and is willing to share the darkness with him.

Charlotte and Porter never expected to find light in the darkness.  They never expected to find unconditional love in their dark painful world.  This dark world doesn’t want to let them go and throws another horrific, painful situation that will ultimately destroy their lives.

Their lives are falling apart and their worlds are colliding.  They are plunged into a world of pain that breaks their trust in one another.  The overwhelming suspicion and broken trust are not the only things motivating their actions.  Both are willing to sacrifice everything in their lives to hang onto what is rightfully theirs.  Finding middle ground and compromising solutions seems impossible because they are not the only people making those decisions. Their intentions are the same but all the viable solutions are painful.  It is going to take a miracle to put everybody’s lives back together and forge a new future.

Aly Martinez did a remarkable job with this story.  She clearly thought out this plot from every physical and emotional angle. Every character had valid reactions and emotions in every part of this story.  I could sympathize with them all.  Their story touched my soul and will stay close to my heart long after the book is closed.

The Brightest Sunset Duet by Aly Martinez is my absolute favorite 2017 books.

 

—————————-

The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise Duet, #1)

Buy it Now

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

—————————-

You won’t want to miss this amazing series!

———————

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

 

 

AUTHOR LINKS:

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Cover Reveal: Hooking Up by Helena Hunting

Hooking Up

By Helena Hunting

Release Date: November 7, 2017


Synopsis

Amalie Whitfield is the picture of a blushing bride during her wedding reception–but for all the wrong reasons. Instead of proclaiming his undying love, her husband can be heard, by Amalie and their guests, getting off with someone else. She has every reason to freak out, and in a moment of insanity, she throws herself at the first hot-blooded male she sees. But he’s not interested in becoming her revenge screw.

Mortified and desperate to escape the post-wedding drama, Amalie decides to go on her honeymoon alone, only to find the man who rejected her also heading to the same tiny island for work. But this time he isn’t holding back. She should know better than to sleep with someone she knows, but she can’t seem to resist him.

They might agree that what happens on the island should stay on the island, but neither one can deny that their attraction is more than just physical.

Filled with hilariously scandalous situations and enough sexual chemistry to power an airplane from New York City to the South Pacific, Hooking Up is the next standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from Helena Hunting, the New York Times bestselling author of the Pucked series and Shacking Up.

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 helenahuntingpic

About the Author:

NYT and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She’s writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

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Cover Reveal: Exes With Benefits by Nicole Williams

Exes With Benefits

By Nicole Williams

Release Date: September 18, 2017

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / IBooks

 

Synopsis:

 

He wants a second chance. I want a divorce. To get what I want, I’ll have to give him what he does.

From New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Nicole Williams, comes a new standalone romance in the same vein as Roommates with Benefits.

__________________________________________________

 4887264Nicole 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.

Release Blitz: Beard In Mind by Penny Reid- The Winston Brothers Series-Book 4

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Beard in Mind, an all new standalone in the bestselling, romantic comedy Winston Brothers Series by Penny Reid, is LIVE!

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All is fair in love and auto maintenance.

Beau Winston is the nicest, most accommodating guy in the world. Usually.

Handsome as the devil and twice as charismatic, Beau lives a charmed life as everyone’s favorite Winston Brother. But since his twin decided to leave town, and his other brother hired a stunning human-porcupine hybrid as a replacement mechanic for their auto shop, Beau Winston’s charmed life has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Shelly Sullivan is not nice and is never accommodating. Ever.

She mumbles to herself, but won’t respond when asked a question. She glares at everyone, especially babies. She won’t shake hands with or touch another person, but has no problems cuddling with a dog. And her damn parrot speaks only in curse words.

Beau wants her gone. He wants her out of his auto shop, out of Tennessee, and out of his life.

The only problem is, learning why this porcupine wears her coat of spikes opens a Pandora’s box of complexity—exquisite, tempting, heartbreaking complexity—and Beau Winston soon discovers being nice and accommodating might mean losing what matters most.

LIVE

Read Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US:http://amzn.to/2hjWna7

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2uRxDdZ

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2u0lZPk

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2whOBQB

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/hsTLLC

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Enter the Giveaway!

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Meet Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

PennyReid

Connect with Penny:

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

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

Twitter: @ReidRomance

Newsletter: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/

www.pennyreid.ninja

New Release: The Devil’s Cut by J. R. Ward – The Final Book in The Bourbon Kings Series

The Devil’s Cut

Bourbon Kings Series – Book 3

By J. R. Ward

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

In #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward’s thrilling finale to her Bourbon Kings series, the Bradford family dynasty teeters on the edge of collapse after the murder of their patriarch—and a shocking arrest.

At first, the death of William Baldwine, the head of the Bradford family, was ruled a suicide. But then his eldest son and sworn enemy, Edward, came forward and confessed to what was, in fact, a murder. Now in police custody, Edward mourns not the disintegration of his family or his loss of freedom . . . but the woman he left behind. His love, Sutton Smythe, is the only person he has ever truly cared about, but as she is the CEO of the Bradford Bourbon Company’s biggest competitor, any relationship between them is impossible. And then there’s the reality of the jail time that Edward is facing.

Lane Baldwine was supposed to remain in his role of playboy, forever in his big brother Edward’s shadow. Instead he has become the new head of the family and the company. Convinced that Edward is covering for someone else, Lane and his true love, Lizzie King, go on the trail of a killer—only to discover a secret that is as devastating as it is game-changing.

As Lane rushes to discover the truth, and Sutton finds herself irresistibly drawn to Edward in spite of his circumstances, the lives of everyone at Easterly will never be the same again. For some, this is good; for others, it could be a tragedy beyond imagining. Only one thing is for certain: Love survives all things. Even murder.

_______________________________________

Michel’s Review

The grand finale in the Bourbon Kings series has released. The Devil’s Cut by J. R. Ward delivers a powerful conclusion for the Bradford family dynasty.  Appearances are deceptive, behind the illusion of grandeur and wealth lies deadly secrets.  These secrets are motives for deception, theft, and murder.  Fortunes are squandered for power and greed.  People are destroyed in the name of love. The strong branches of the family tree are nothing but broken, twisted limbs. The Bradford legacy is nothing but an illusion about to be exposed.

Lane Baldwine is desperately trying to save the family name and fortune his father embezzled.  His brother Edward has been charged with their father’s murder.  His sister Gin has sold herself to an abusive marriage for all the wrong reasons. His brother Max has suddenly returned home after being off the grid for years. The mother of his heart is dying and his birth mother is lost to the world of drugs and insanity.  His soon to be ex wife is pregnant with his father’s baby and trying to secure her share of the family fortune.  His father not only left the family finances destitute , he also left behind illegitimate children and a multitude of enemies.  Lane Baldwine is dealing with more than a lost fortune, he’s dealing with a broken family.

The big question is who killed “daddy dearest” ?  The answer to that question could either unravel the family more or save what is left of the broken threads.

The next big question is where did all the money go?  Is it lost forever or can Lane salvage enough to save the distillery?

Has the Bradford Legacy come to an end?  That question all depends on the first question.

If you want the all the answers… read the book!  All the answers are hidden in plain sight in   pure sarcastic and twisted J. R. Ward brilliance.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bourbon King series.  The Devil’s Cut delivered all the answers with quite a few surprises along the way.  There were a few things that held me back from giving this book five stars.  At times it felt a bit rushed and other times too drawn out and slower paced.  Another factor that held me back was one of the characters that was introduced in book one and added to the dynamics in developing the plot was omitted in book three. I felt like they were part of the key in the new dynamics of the Bradford family legacy. Overall it was a very good book and satisfying conclusion to the series.

 

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The Bourbon Kings Series

BOURBONK

The Bourbon Kings

The Bourbon Kings – Book One

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Synopsis

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal….

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

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The Angel’s Share

The Bourbon Kings Series – Book 2

By J. R. Ward

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Synopsis

#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward delivers the second novel in her Bourbon Kings series—a sweeping saga of a Southern dynasty struggling to maintain a façade of privilege and prosperity, while secrets and indiscretions threaten its very foundation……


In Charlemont, Kentucky, the Bradford family is the crème de la crème of high society—just like their exclusive brand of bourbon. And their complicated lives and vast estate are run by a discrete staff who inevitably become embroiled in their affairs. This is especially true now, when the apparent suicide of the family patriarch is starting to look more and more like murder…
No one is above suspicion—especially the eldest Bradford son, Edward. The bad blood between him and his father is known far and wide, and he is aware that he could be named a suspect. As the investigation into the death intensifies, he keeps himself busy at the bottom of a bottle—as well as with his former horse trainer’s daughter. Meanwhile, the family’s financial future lies in the perfectly manicured hands of a business rival, a woman who wants Edward all to herself.

Everything has consequences; everybody has secrets. And few can be trusted. Then, at the very brink of the family’s demise, someone thought lost to them forever returns to the fold. Maxwell Bradford has come home. But is he a savior…or the worst of all the sinners?

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The Devil’s Cut

Bourbon Kings Series – Book 3

By J. R. Ward

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

In #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward’s thrilling finale to her Bourbon Kings series, the Bradford family dynasty teeters on the edge of collapse after the murder of their patriarch—and a shocking arrest.

At first, the death of William Baldwine, the head of the Bradford family, was ruled a suicide. But then his eldest son and sworn enemy, Edward, came forward and confessed to what was, in fact, a murder. Now in police custody, Edward mourns not the disintegration of his family or his loss of freedom . . . but the woman he left behind. His love, Sutton Smythe, is the only person he has ever truly cared about, but as she is the CEO of the Bradford Bourbon Company’s biggest competitor, any relationship between them is impossible. And then there’s the reality of the jail time that Edward is facing.

Lane Baldwine was supposed to remain in his role of playboy, forever in his big brother Edward’s shadow. Instead he has become the new head of the family and the company. Convinced that Edward is covering for someone else, Lane and his true love, Lizzie King, go on the trail of a killer—only to discover a secret that is as devastating as it is game-changing.

As Lane rushes to discover the truth, and Sutton finds herself irresistibly drawn to Edward in spite of his circumstances, the lives of everyone at Easterly will never be the same again. For some, this is good; for others, it could be a tragedy beyond imagining. Only one thing is for certain: Love survives all things. Even murder.

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JR Ward (dog) - Photo by Andrew HyslopJ.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times bestselling author with more than 15 million novels in print published in 25 different countries around the world. The books in her popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series have held the #1 spot on the New York Times hardcover, mass market, eBook, and combined print/eBook fiction bestseller lists and have debuted in the top 5 on the USA Today bestseller list. Prior to her writing career, Ward worked as a lawyer in Boston and spent many years as the Chief of Staff of one of Harvard’s world-renowned academic medical centers. Ward currently lives with her family in Kentucky where she has learned to enjoy and appreciate all things Southern. Connect with her online at www.jrward.com, Facebook.com/JRWardBooks, and Twitter.com/JRWard1.

 

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New Release + 5 Star Review: Blind Date by Bella Jewel

Blind Date

By Bella Jewel

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

From Bella Jewel, the USA Today bestselling author of the wildly popular Alphas Heart e-series, comes a pulse-pounding thriller about a serial killer who’s hiding in plain sight, targeting his prey one BLIND DATE at a time. . .

After the death of her husband four years ago, Hartley Watson is finally ready to meet someone—and maybe even have a second chance at love. But then, just as her dating life seems to be getting started, Hartley is struck with a horrifying realization: Someone is watching her. Entering her own home. Even knows the intimate details of her life. How else to explain the strange deliveries, or the sudden appearance of mementos from her dead spouse—ones that she had kept for so long in storage?

If only Hartley could know for sure whether what is happening to her is real or if her grief is making her lose touch with reality. Those around her aren’t convinced that she’s being stalked, nor is the wonderful, supportive man Hartley’s started dating. The exciting new life she has created for herself is slowly becoming a nightmare. . .How can Hartley seek protection when nobody believes that she’s at risk—and the only one in the world she can trust is herself?

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Michel’s Review

In today’s world the dating scene is ruled by the swipe of a finger.  Dating Apps are the key to connecting with others without having to physically put oneself out there night after night. A date can be made with one swipe.  In many ways this way of dating is wonderful because one can filter out the duds and find someone more suited to their interests.  There are drawbacks to this method of dating as well because a person is relying on honesty and integrity and that is not always the case.  In all reality you don’t know what you are getting yourself into.

After several years of being a widow, Hartley Watson is ready to join the land of the living.  Her best friend convinces her to join a blind date dating site to meet new people.  While she is reluctant, she agrees it’s time to move on with her life.  The first few dates are a disaster but by the third date things are starting to look better.  She’s actually starting to enjoy dating once again until weird things begin happening in her life.  It seems like the ghost of her husband has surfaced and is meddling in her life.  At first she chalks it up to an active imagination and guilt until things start turning downright creepy.  She feels like she’s being watched and has become fearful of her own shadow.  Her friends and the new man she is dating think it’s just harmless coincidenses rather than a dangerous stalker.  Her cranky neighbor, a police detective, isn’t convinced it’s harmless.  There is a serial killer known as the Bowtie Killer loose in the city and killing women.  He’s trying to figure out the connection between the dead women and Hartley. He’s fearful Hartley may be the next victim. Can he figure it out before it’s too late for Hartley?  What makes this case even more complicated is he’s starting to actually like his crazy neighbor a little more than a neighborly way.

Bella Jewel had me on the edge of my seat with this book.  The suspense kept escalating and the plot became even more complicated as the story progressed.  While I suspected who the killer was all along, his actions and motivations remained a mystery until the very end.  The romance between Ace and Hartley is a slow build that turns from hostility to respect before the sexual tension takes over.  It was refreshing to see a relationship that wasn’t based on insta-love or driven by sexual attraction.  They really got to know one another before they ventured into a romantic relationship.  The sexual tension was brilliantly hidden within the hostility and reluctant friendship.

If you are looking for a thriller mixed with a hot romance I would highly recommend Blind Date by Bella Jewel.

 

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Bella Jewel is a self published, USA
Today bestselling author. She’s been publishing since 2013. Her first release
was a contemporary romance, Hell’s Knights which topped the charts upon
release. Since that time, she has published over five novels, gaining a
bestseller status on numerous platforms. She lives in North Queensland and is
currently studying editing and proofreading to further expand her career. Bella
has been writing since she was just shy of fifteen years old. In Summer 2013
she was offered an ebook deal through Montlake Romance for her bestselling
modern day pirate series, Enslaved By The Ocean. She plans to expand her
writing career, planning many new releases for the future.