Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Good Girl vs. Bad Boy by Jessie Evans

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Good Girl vs. Bad Boy: The Marine Meets His Match
(Brody Brothers Book One)

Jessie Evans

Release Date -November 12, 2015

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Synopsis

Let the battle of the sexes begin…

He’s hot, wild, unpredictable, untamable, and her best friend’s older brother.

Colton Brody is everything a good girl like Phoebe Page should avoid. But since her sister Kelly’s death, Phoebe isn’t as worried about being good as she used to be. She wants to live big with no regrets, the way Kelly did, and she intends to start with having a top secret, super steamy, no-strings-attached holiday fling with the man she’s crushed on her entire life.

What could go wrong?

Except everything?

Wounded in action and discharged without a chance to prove himself, all Colton cares about is getting back into the Marine Corps where he belongs. He will not get sucked into small town drama, will not take that promotion at the firehouse, and certainly won’t fall in love with his little sister’s best friend. He’s down for friends-with-benefits, nothing more, and plans to leave town long before quirky, bossy, cute-as-a-button Phoebe can get under his skin.

He is in control.

At least until a certain sexy brunette turns his world upside down.

It isn’t long before Colton finds himself buying flowers, talking feelings, and wishing Phoebe wanted more than another night of hot, no-holds-barred sex. Because when he’s with Phoebe even hot and dirty feels like making love.

Now Colton will have to decide what’s worth fighting for—the dreams a plane crash stole from him or the dream he’s holding in his arms.

WARNING: Good Girl vs. Bad Boy contains a mix of heart-warming romance, quirky characters, laugh out loud moments, and blisteringly hot banging. If you don’t like hot sex, laughter, mentions of humping unicorns, turkey bowling, off-beat town rituals, or graphic descriptions of artisanal pancakes, steer clear.

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26300473-good-girl-vs-bad-boy

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

5Star

Tracey’s Review

When Phoebe Page returns home to Lover’s Leap, Colorado, she vows that she will take life by the horns, live like there’s no tomorrow, and have no regrets. And she’s off to a good start, she really is, until locking herself out of her house in her x-rated pajamas ends with her in the arms of none other than Colton Brody. Phoebe has been in love with Colton forever, but, to Colton, Phoebe’s always been just another little sister. Now, though, he’s seeing her in a whole new light, and all of his set-in-stone plans seem not quite so foolproof.

Seeing the unexpected death of her sister as her wake-up call, Phoebe wants to celebrate her sister’s memory by making the most of every day now that she’s back in Lover’s Leap. When she and Colton, a wounded warrior turned Lover’s Leap fireman, reconnect, there are sparks aplenty. And, though Phoebe and Colton start out as friends with benefits, it isn’t long before they both want more.

Any book that Jessie Evans writes is an immediate go-to for me. I have loved all of her series, enjoying especially the small town closeness, the importance of family, and the sure-to-be-found shenanigans in each of them. GOOD GIRL VS. BAD BOY has all of these things in abundance, and I could not have enjoyed it more. I found myself laughing out loud and fanning myself by turn, because not only is there abundant humor, there is steam by the boatload between these two. 5+ stars for Phoebe, Colton, and the rest of the Lover’s Leap crew. I can’t wait to see what Jessie has on tap for the other Brody’s, but have no doubt that it will be worth the wait.

***ARC generously provided by the author for an honest review.***

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About Jessie Evans

jessieNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessie Evans, gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sexy, contemporary Southern romances she loves to read.

She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a cottage in the jungle. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.

When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and drifting in and out on the waves, feeling thankful for sun, surf, and lovely people to share them with.

Stalker Links

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Cover Reveal: Defenseless by Corinne Michaels

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Coming January 19th , 2016

Defenseless

By Corinne Michaels

Pre Order:

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

My life is a secret.

His life is dangerous.

We’re both stubborn, calculating, and controlling.

Mark Dixon doesn’t know what he’s getting into. He doesn’t know his games could cost us our lives. I have to do what is necessary to keep us alive, and that means guarding my heart.

But I know I’m defenseless against him, and in the end, he’ll force me to surrender.

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About Corinne Michaels

corrinne bioCorinne Michaels is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.

Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha Navy SEALs are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.

 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

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2015 Favorite + 5 Star Review: #Heart by Cambria # Hebert – #The Hashtag Series – Book 6

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#Heart

#Hashtag Series – Book 6

By Cambria # Hebert

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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Synopsis

Lovers Gonna Love…
Family isn’t always defined by blood.
Sometimes family is born of love…
Loyalty…
And choice.
Sometimes the bond that comes from someone having your back through the shittiest of times is stronger than anything you get from genetics.
And sometimes you find that piece of your soul you didn’t even know was missing.
I’m a lucky guy like that.
I found a love that will never fade. I found a group of people who aren’t just my friends.
They’ve become my family.
There’s only one place to go from here.
I’m gonna bind myself to Rimmel in every possible way.
I’m gonna bring our family even closer together.
The past has taught me it won’t be easy.
Especially when faced with repercussions from a night that ended in death.
But that’s okay.
Family doesn’t quit each other.
Love like ours never dies.
Happily ever after isn’t just for storybooks.

*this is the final book in the Hashtag Series. It is not a standalone novel*

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HeartHashtag

Michel’s Review

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry… my favorite series has come to an end.  On one hand I am heartbroken because I have become so connected with Romeo, Rimmel, Braeden, and Ivy and their adorable animals, I hate the idea of not hearing from them again.  On the other hand I am so happy for all of them! Cambria Hebert gave them the perfect happily ever after.  She gave them the life we all want.  It was perfection.  Their road was not easy but they traveled it well and reached their destiny.

The Hashtag crew has reached full circle.  They have grown as individuals.  They have created their own family that is strong and unbreakable.  They carry their scars like true warriors.  They wear their hearts on their sleeves.  The give their all to one another.

Cambria Hebert delivered an epic series.  The # Hashtag Series will live on in the readers hearts long after the books have been closed.  After all…. Lovers Gonna Love!

Cambria has one little extra special gift to the fans of the # Hashtag Series.  We are going to get to spend the holidays with our favorite Alphas.  #Holiday, a Hashtag novella, will release on December 3, 2016.  Be ready to deck the halls with the gang.

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The Hashtag Series

91dWi6wzaRL._SL1500_# Nerd – Book 1

Two people from completely different worlds are about to be thrown together…

In more ways than one.

She wants to keep her scholarship. He wants to stay on the team. An awkward alliance doesn’t even begin to cover Rimmel and Romeo’s relationship.

But that’s about to change.

It starts with a dare. An initiation. A challenge.

Quickly, it turns into more. But when you’re a victim of your status, there is no room for anything real. The rules are clear and simple.

Stick to your circle.

And never fall in love with anyone on the outside.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

91HuoSWvVPL._SL1500_#Hater – Book 2

The effect of that look lingered, like an unspoken promise, long after it was gone.

Becoming a couple – becoming the other half of a campus celebrity wasn’t easy. I let down walls guarding my heart and he looked past my glasses and accident prone tendencies. Romeo and I are an unlikely match, a #nerd and a jock. But we made it.

And we’re happy.

Zach doesn’t want us to be happy. He wants Romeo to pay for getting him kicked out of Omega and for the night he spent in jail. He’s going to use anything and everything he can to get his revenge. Including me.

As the weather on campus grows cold and the days become dark, revenge becomes the center of someone’s life and the happiness Romeo and I worked so hard for is threatened.

I can’t help but worry that our love is going to be overshadowed by hate.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

 

PLAYER_Final_ebooksm-2# Player-Book 3

Synopsis

Players gotta play.

Hate is like a poison. It contaminates everything.

So does doubt.

Even though I deny what I overheard, even though I insist it isn’t true, the seed of doubt has been planted. I can’t help but be tormented with the endless what-if’s that have taken over our lives.

Romeo and I were happy in love. The future stretched before us brighter than any star in the darkest sky. Now everything is broken. Literally broken. Romeo’s entire career is at stake, my entire future is threatened… and my past?

It’s coming back to haunt me.

To haunt us.

Romeo says we’re in this together and right now the only sure thing is us. But how far can a love so new be pushed? The lengths we will have to go to save each other puts everything at risk.

Romeo is a #player but how much of the game can one person play?

 Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

selfie# Selfie – Book 4

#Selfie is the fourth book in the Hashtag Series
It’s all about the #Selfie.

She was the one girl I never wanted.

Until I had her.

One night.

One mistake.

Something we both wanted to forget.

I got rid of the proof. The one piece of evidence that could remind us both.

At least, I thought I did.

When it shows up on the school Buzzfeed, rumors fly. Friendships are tested and the feels get real.

I don’t do relationships. I don’t open my heart.

Especially for a girl everyone knows I hate.

What happens during spring break stays in spring break.

Until it follows you home.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes 

Poser_Final-ebooksm#Poser – Book 5

Release Date : August 18, 2015

Posers gonna pose
I am a man who had nothing, but found everything.
I’ll never go back to nothing ever again.
I vowed to protect her, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.
The pictures I stumbled upon haunt me still, the secret I shoulder is heavy.
They say secrets put distance between two people, but the truth is far more destructive than keeping it will ever be.
I won’t ever tell. She can’t ever know.
When I look in the mirror my reflection is of who I’m afraid I’ll become and not the man I am.
It makes me feel like a poser, no better than all the others pretending to be exactly who they aren’t.
How does a man keep it together when everything is unraveling right here in his hands?
I didn’t start any of this.
I never asked for it.
But it came knocking at my door.
When secrets and threats knock, I don’t hide.
I open the door.
Because the best way to take down a poser is to be one.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

51IiV+-DZJL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_#Heart- Book 6

Lovers Gonna Love…
Family isn’t always defined by blood.
Sometimes family is born of love…
Loyalty…
And choice.
Sometimes the bond that comes from someone having your back through the shittiest of times is stronger than anything you get from genetics.
And sometimes you find that piece of your soul you didn’t even know was missing.
I’m a lucky guy like that.
I found a love that will never fade. I found a group of people who aren’t just my friends.
They’ve become my family.
There’s only one place to go from here.
I’m gonna bind myself to Rimmel in every possible way.
I’m gonna bring our family even closer together.
The past has taught me it won’t be easy.
Especially when faced with repercussions from a night that ended in death.
But that’s okay.
Family doesn’t quit each other.
Love like ours never dies.
Happily ever after isn’t just for storybooks.

*this is the final book in the Hashtag Series. It is not a standalone novel*

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

51cNkVXOabL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_#Holiday- A Hashtag Short Story

Release Date: December 3, 2015

Givers gonna give…
Twas the night of game day,
And all through the town,
Lacey glittering snowflakes fluttered around.
They clung to the roads, concealing everything with white.
It was a beautiful #holiday sight.
The paparazzi were out without any care,
In hopes to catch Romeo and Rimmel, rumored to be there.
When out on the road there arose such a clatter.
The Hellcat spun out, but it shouldn’t matter.
I pulled out my cell to dial in a flash.
But the battery was dead. What useless trash.
The moonlight glistening on the new fallen snow
Made us forget we needed a tow.
For the season was upon us. Our family was alight.
Our #holiday was destined to be merry and bright.

Bonus content features FIVE #holiday recipes to make and share!

Pre Order:  Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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#About Cambria Hebert

Author Bio:

1002450_566018800108073_1486567823_n-2Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her children (human and furry) and her husband, who is a United States Marine.

Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).

Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade, and Recalled.

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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2015 Favorite + 5 Star Review: Shattered by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott – Lost In Oblivion Series – Book 4

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Shattered

Lost In Oblivion Series – Book 4

A Rock Star Romance

By Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Book 4 in the NEW ADULT rockstar series, LOST IN OBLIVION
He’s shattered…and she’s the only woman who can help him pick up the pieces.
Nick Crandall has everything he ever thought he wanted. Tons of money, a glamorous lifestyle, professional admiration for making music. But all his success doesn’t erase the memories of who and what he’s lost on the road to fame and fortune. Nor does it stop his dream from shattering, right before his eyes.

Until the person he least expects pulls him back from the brink.

Lila Shawcross is obsessed with her work, which includes managing the drama-prone members of Oblivion. She’s definitely not about to let a hot-headed, hard-bodied lead guitarist wreck her orderly existence or dilute her focus. So what if she’s never craved a man quite this much? There are just too many complications, including the gold band on her left hand.

Except Nick is determined to possess her…and what Nick wants, Nick gets. Because this time, he’s not walking away.

**Big cliffhangers ahead on this couple’s journey to HEA.

SBJ2015Favorite

5Star

Tracey’s Review

You’d expect to see Nick Crandall’s picture next to ‘brooding rockstar’ in the dictionary. As the lead guitarist for the band Oblivion, he’s the guy that’s killing it with his guitar and his sexy good looks. Lila Shawcross is Nick’s complete opposite. She’s made a career of managing bands like Oblivion, and doing it with an icy calm and a demeanor that cannot be cracked. But opposites do attract, after all…

Nick and Lila have been dancing around each other since this series began, and finally, FINALLY, they get their piece of the story. These two could not be more different, but, oh, my goodness, they are on fire! What I like most about them, besides the freaking combustible nature of their feelings for each other, is how they just get each other. You wouldn’t expect it, given that they seem to be polar opposites, but they just really do. Each of them brings out the best in the other, helping them to rise to be better versions of themselves. What begins as attraction quickly turns into so much more, and watching it happen kept me smiling like a crazy person.

The Lost In Oblivion series by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott has quickly become one of my very favorites. These ladies continue to write these guys (and ladies) in such a way as to be downright addictive. Fans of the hot rocker books need to read these, because they are on FIRE, and because they have so much heart. Every single member of Oblivion has a piece of my heart, and I love knowing that I’ll continue to get to see snippets of them for a while to come. As is their way, Cari and Taryn leave us with a cliffhanger ending here, having to wait to find out exactly how Nick and Lila will handle the junk that life is throwing at them. 5+ sweet, sexy, dang I’m blushing stars for SHATTERED. FUSED, the conclusion of Nick and Lila’s story, can’t come quickly enough.

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The Lost In Oblivion Series

913eVxUHr3L._SL1500_Rocked – Book 1

Love definitely wasn’t on the setlist.

Opening for their idols on their first tour, Oblivion is living the dream. Mostly. Frustrated at being shoved out of his mediator role by their new manager, Deacon McCoy loses himself in brutal workouts. He only comes up for air long enough to refuel—and to tease the deliciously cute chef who makes him crave a lot more than what she’s offering on her serving plate.

As the child of roadie parents, Harper Pruitt has heard every pickup line twice. To her, musicians are one step above the scraps on her cutting board. All she wants is to get enough experience to run her own catering company, but Deacon and his bottomless stomach are too tempting to resist. He’s far from the typical rock star and before long, she finds herself experimenting with him, inside and out of the kitchen.

Apron – and panties – optional.

When Harper sees that Deacon’s dream band with his best friends may be turning into a nightmare, she can’t walk away. Deacon’s so much more than just a peacemaker and the man behind the bass. But she has her own dreams to chase…even if she’s starting to think what she’s building with him might be the biggest one of all.

You met Deacon McCoy in SEDUCED, now you can watch just how far a big man can fall.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

91G5q0jCkiL._SL1500_Twisted – Book 2

He’s always saved her. Now she’s going to return the favor…

Gray Duffy never thought he’d end up as the co-lead guitarist of Oblivion, one of the hottest rock bands in the country. Even better? He’s sharing the experience with his best friend, Jazz. Since the day she’d showed up as his family’s new foster kid, Gray has protected her. Loved her. And not just platonically either. After all these years of wanting her in his bed, he still doesn’t know what it would be like to have her mouth on his.

Except for that one time. The time he’d shared her with Nick. The best worst night of his life.

Now they’re living their dream. They’re making music together and spending every waking moment trapped in tight quarters. With success at their fingertips, the time is right for him to finally make his move toward the woman he needs.

He just never figured he would lose control. Or that she would find out.

They’ve loved each other through everything. But what if this time love just isn’t enough?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

destroyedDestroyed – Book 3

Only one woman has ever refused him…and she’s the only one he wants.
Now that he’s successful beyond his wildest dreams with his band Oblivion, Simon Kagan is happy to enjoy his all-access pass to the groupie train. After getting more fists in the ribs than hugs growing up, he discovers having a warm female in his bed is an easy way to escape the loneliness.

Until Margo.

From the moment the classy, buttoned up violinist entered his sphere, he knew she was different. After one amazing night in the studio, he feels like he’s finally connected with someone on a deeper level–only to have her walk away without a backward glance.

As a member of the Boston Symphony orchestra, Margo Reece’s life revolves around the regimented structure of a second chair violinist. But Simon’s uncanny ability to crawl into a song and create a smoky, sin-filled experience translated into the hottest night of her life. She walked away afterward because that’s what she was supposed to do.

And Margo always does what she’s supposed to.

Until Simon.

When she’s called on again to blend her sound with Oblivion’s, she has to make the decision to play it safe or let her wild side free.

*** Unlike all of the other Oblivion books, this one has a cliffhanger, due to upcoming events that will be resolved – mostly – in Consumed. ***

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

519AVK2nk9L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_Book 4 in the NEW ADULT rockstar series, LOST IN OBLIVION
He’s shattered…and she’s the only woman who can help him pick up the pieces.
Nick Crandall has everything he ever thought he wanted. Tons of money, a glamorous lifestyle, professional admiration for making music. But all his success doesn’t erase the memories of who and what he’s lost on the road to fame and fortune. Nor does it stop his dream from shattering, right before his eyes.

Until the person he least expects pulls him back from the brink.

Lila Shawcross is obsessed with her work, which includes managing the drama-prone members of Oblivion. She’s definitely not about to let a hot-headed, hard-bodied lead guitarist wreck her orderly existence or dilute her focus. So what if she’s never craved a man quite this much? There are just too many complications, including the gold band on her left hand.

Except Nick is determined to possess her…and what Nick wants, Nick gets. Because this time, he’s not walking away.

**Big cliffhangers ahead on this couple’s journey to HEA.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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PENTAX ImageUSA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn wrote her first story—a bible parable—in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. Now she gets to pen sexy romances for a living and routinely counts her lucky stars. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she can usually be found watching men’s college basketball, playing her music way too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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taryn elliottTARYN ELLIOTT comes from the great state of New York—upstate, thank you very much. She’s usually busy making up stories with her best friend until the wee hours of the morning, or fangirling over her favorite TV show. She falls in love with each and every one of her leading men as she writes their book, and there’s always a soundtrack to match.

She loves talking to readers, so if you’d like to reach her, please visit her website: tarynelliott.com and sign up for her newsletter, or drop her a line at: taryn@tarynelliott.com.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Virtual Tour: Blind Sided by Jami Davenport -Seattle Steelheads Series – Book 6

Enter to Win an
Ebook Set of Game On in Seattle Series Bks 1-4

 

BLINDSIDED
Game On in Seattle #6
Jami Davenport
Released Oct 11th, 2015
Cedona Enterprises
USA
Today Bestselling author Jami Davenport introduces the Seattle Steelheads
football team with this sixth book in her Game On in Seattle sports romance
series.
The daughter of one-time rock
legends, Emma Maxwell is the good girl of the family, the dutiful sister, the
doting aunt, and a dedicated employee in the family party-crashing business.
Every Wednesday night at Karaoke, she indulges in her secret fantasy of being a
singer. Yet the thrill of being on stage doesn’t rival the thrill of a
spontaneous liaison with the delectable, yet downtrodden, quarterback of the
Seattle Steelheads, Tanner Wolfe, Emma’s long-time crush.
Tanner didn’t see it coming–not any
of it. He was blindsided–by his dysfunctional family, his plummeting career,
and the one thing he least expected–by love. After photos with Emma go viral,
Tanner is caught in a lie and tells a bigger one to get out of it. Now he’s
shoulder-pads deep in a temporary marriage while struggling to resurrect his
disastrous career and reunite his broken family. As time passes, Tanner begins
to wonder if temporary is good enough, but he’s made a promise to Emma, one
which has nothing to do with marriage vows and everything to do with her
Nashville singing career and the end of their relationship.
Will Tanner and Emma take the ball
and drive for the win, or will they be permanently relegated to the sidelines
as the clock runs out on their temporary marriage?
 
BUY NOW
While all books in this series can
be read as standalones, you’ll most likely enjoy reading the other books in the
Game On in Seattle sports romance series:
Book 1–Skating on Thin Ice (Seattle
Sockeyes Hockey)
Book 2–Crashing the Boards (Seattle
Sockeyes Hockey)
Book 3–Crashing the Net (Seattle
Sockeyes Hockey)
Book 4–Love at First Snow (Seattle
Sockeyes Hockey)
Book 5–Melting Ice (Seattle
Sockeyes Hockey)
Book 6–Blindsided (Seattle
Steelheads Football) AVAILABLE NOW
Book 7–Bodychecking (Seattle
Sockeyes Hockey) AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY 2016


 

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Emma was mad—at herself. She’d revealed her biggest weakness to Tanner of all people. And for what reason? Heaven only knew. She sure as heck didn’t. He wasn’t the One, and she had no business telling him her secrets because he didn’t really care.

“Are you okay?” Tanner stared at her, his mouth set in a grim line, while a lone muscle jerked in his jaw.

Emma shook her head. His concern wrenched another bout of sobs from her. How stupid and ridiculous and weak? She was crying over karaoke for heaven’s sake. Except she knew it was more than that. She was crying because she wasn’t strong enough to follow her dreams like Avery or willing to give up the safe and known for the dangerous and unknown. Emma liked everything lined up in neat little lines, liked her life mapped out, all the way down to her someday wedding dress she’d clipped out of a bride’s magazine and stored in what she called her Notebook of Dreams. Tanner was in there, too, as her dream man—the guy she measured every other guy against. Of course, she didn’t really know him, only his public persona as a guy who did lots of charity work and was known for his easygoing, generous lifestyle with a lot of partying thrown in.

“Oh, man, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” He wrapped his strong arms around her. She stiffened briefly, but couldn’t resist him no matter how hard she tried. Emma relaxed into him, letting his warmth seep into her cold places, comforting her in ways she’d only imagined. She’d certainly never been comforted by her parents as a child. Izzy tried, but Izzy wasn’t exactly into warm-fuzzies. Yet, this man she barely knew made her feel better with just a hug because he was good at this. Really good. She reminded herself she meant nothing to him. He was not the One, she repeated over and over in her head. Only her heart had donned noise-cancelling headphones and was picking out wedding music.

Sniffling, Emma pulled back. “No one in my family knows I sing karaoke, and they can’t know.”

“Why?” Confusion spread across his handsome face.

“We have a pact—my sisters and I.”

“A pact? Not to sing karaoke? Seriously?” His brow creased in confusion and made him look so adorable, his expression helped staunch the flow of tears.

“No. We have a pact to never follow in our parents’ footsteps and become entertainers. We’ve lived that story of being on top, crashing to the bottom, and spending the rest of their lives trying to get back to the top again. The drugs, the drinking, the late nights, the complete and total disregard for anything but the music, especially your children.” And why was she telling him all this?

“Oh,” he seemed at a loss for words. “But you sing at the parties you crash?”

“That’s different.”

“Because Izzy approves of it?” he guessed, and Emma nodded slowly. “So you come here once a week to sing?”

She nodded again, surprised at how perceptive he was.

He rubbed his chin as if deep in thought then refocused those deep green eyes on her. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah,” he said softly, his voice deep and husky, a voice that instantly made her panties wet and brought forth thoughts of steamy nights and naked bodies.

Oh my. Her hands flew to her mouth as she inwardly cringed at her wayward thoughts.

He patted her back, wrongly assuming it had to do with her broken dreams. He had no idea he was a large part of them. The DJ called him to sing, and she sat back, relieved to have a reprieve and happy to have an excuse to watch him without coming across as a stalker or a desperate woman with an even more desperate crush.

He had to be the hottest man in the room. Judging by the other women hungrily watching him, she wasn’t the only one who thought so. Tanner picked up the mic, nodded to the DJ, and grinned straight at Emma, making her feel as if she were the only woman in the large bar. She expected harsh music or even rap, only he pulled another surprise out of his bag of tricks.

Tanner’s gaze held hers captive as he started to croon a classic country ballad made famous by George Strait. It happened to be one of Emma’s personal favorites, and Tanner sang “The Chair” as well as George Strait had himself.

Emma couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t form a coherent thought as Tanner expertly wound a cocoon around the two of them with a song he sang as if he sung it just for her. His voice rolled over her like a warm ocean breeze, gentle and mesmerizing.

The man could sing, and Emma went from a crush to being hopelessly, undeniably in love with the man before he got to the chorus.

“Don’t look so shocked,” Tanner said after he sauntered back to his seat and sat down next to her. With a satisfied smirk on his face, he sipped his beer, the same one he’d been nursing all night.

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USA Today Bestselling Author Jami
Davenport writes sexy contemporary and sports romances, including her two new
indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Madrona Island Series.
Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber
husband, a Newfoundland cross with a tennis ball fetish, a prince disguised as
an orange tabby cat, and an opinionated Hanoverian mare. She works in computer
support in her day job and juggles too many balls, but she wouldn’t have it any
other way.
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Release Blitz: Thunder Rolls by Dee Davis -Rising Storm Series – Episode:8

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We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for THUNDER ROLLS by Dee Davis! THUNDER ROLLS is Episode 8 in the Rising Storm Series brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. Grab the last episode in Season One of this sexy series today!

 

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Rising Storm Episode 8 (Nov. 12): Dee Davis’s Thunder Rolls
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Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy…

Nestled among rolling hills and painted with vibrant wildflowers, the bucolic town of Storm, Texas, seems like nothing short of perfection.

But there are secrets beneath the facade. Dark secrets. Powerful secrets. The kind that can destroy lives and tear families apart. The kind that can cut through a town like a tempest, leaving jealousy and destruction in its wake, along with shattered hopes and broken dreams. All it takes is one little thing to shatter that polish.

Reading like an on-going drama in the tradition of classic day and night-time soap operas like Dallas, Dynasty, and All My Children, Rising Storm is full of scandal, deceit, romance, passion, and secrets.

With 1001 Dark Nights as the “producer,” Julie Kenner and Dee Davis use a television model with each week building on the last to create a storyline that fulfills the promise of a drama-filled soap opera. Joining Kenner and Davis in the “writer’s room” is an incredible group of New York Times bestselling authors such as Lexi Blake, Elisabeth Naughton, Larissa Ione, Rebecca Zanetti and Lisa Mondello who have brought their vision of Storm to life.

A serial soap opera containing eight episodes in season one, the season premiere of Rising Storm, TEMPEST RISING, debuted September 24th with each subsequent episode releasing consecutively this fall.

So get ready. The storm is coming.

 

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About THUNDER ROLLS: Episode 8 of the Rising Storm Series

Secrets, Sex and Scandals …

Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy… Get ready. The storm is coming.

In the season finale …

As Hannah Grossman grapples with the very real possibility that she is dating one Johnson brother while secretly in love with another, the entire town prepares for Founders Day. The building tempest threatens not just Hannah’s relationship with Tucker and Tate, but everyone in Storm as dire revelations threaten to tear the town apart.

 

 

Experience Rising Storm Here…

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Rising Storm Episode 1 (Sept. 24): Julie Kenner’s Tempest Rising
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Rising Storm Episode 2 (Oct. 1): Lexi Blake’s White Lightning
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Rising Storm Episode 3 (Oct. 8): Elisabeth Naughton’s Crosswinds
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Rising Storm Episode 4 (Oct. 15): Jennifer Probst’s Dance in the Wind
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Rising Storm Episode 5 (Oct. 22): Larissa Ione’s Calm Before the Storm
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Rising Storm Episode 6 (Oct. 29): Rebecca Zanetti’s Take the Storm
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Rising Storm Episode 7 (Nov. 5): Lisa Mondello’s Weather the Storm
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Rising Storm Episode 8 (Nov. 12): Dee Davis’s Thunder Rolls
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And don’t miss Season Two of the Rising Storm Series coming in 2016! Sign up for the newsletter here so you don’t miss a minute of the drama!

 

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Dee Davis - Author picAbout Dee Davis:

Bestselling author Dee Davis has a masters degree in public administration. Prior to writing, she served as the director of two associations, wrote award winning PSAs, did television and radio commercials, starred in the Seven Year Itch, taught college classes, and lobbied both the Texas Legislature and the US Congress.

Her highly acclaimed first novel, Everything In Its Time, was published in July 2000. Since then, among others, she’s won the Booksellers Best, Golden Leaf, Texas Gold and Prism awards, and been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Holt and two RT Reviewers Choice Awards.

Recently she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Romance Writers and has also been nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award for romantic suspense from Romantic Times. In addition, she is Hall of Fame member of the New Jersey Romance Writers and was awarded an Odyssey Medal from Hendrix College.

To date, she has written over twenty-five romantic suspense, time travel, and women’s fiction novels and novellas. Among her latest books you’ll find her A-Tac, Liar’s Game, and Last Chance series.

She’s lived in Austria and traveled in Europe extensively. And although she now resides in an 1802 farmhouse in Connecticut, she still calls Texas home.

Visit Dee Davis’ website.

 

Rising Storm Website | Facebook |Twitter | 1001 Dark Nights | Rising Storm on Goodreads

 

 

 

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Release Blitz: Cruel and Beautiful by A. M. Hargrove & Terri E. Laine

Cruel and Beautiful by AM Hargrove and Terri E Laine new adult contemporary romance

Goodreads reviewers love†Cruel and Beautiful:

“a romance that will break your heart and melt it at the same time”

“heart-breakingly good”

“This book is about love, the truest and purest kind there is.”

“heartwarming and gut wrenching”

“I haven’t cried so hard over a book in a good while.”

“Beautiful. Simply beautiful.”

Get Cruel and Beautiful†on Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Add Cruel and Beautiful†to your Goodreads TBR

C+B_250pxCate Forbes, a dedicated college student with a carefully plotted future, doesnít know the first thing about love. When she accepts a blind date with a rumored tasty piece of eye candy, she thinks she can get by with a night of fun. Cateís plans quickly unravel when she gets one look at the sexyÖ

Drew McKnight.

The relentless hockey-playing medical resident knows what he wantsóa career in Oncology and Cate. Although heís heard the gorgeous brunette is a little relationship skittish, a single night out isnít what he has in mind. Determined to have heróin every way possibleóhe shows her just what a future with him would hold.

Only life has other plans. The unthinkable happens and everything begins to shatter. Both in too deep, they will have to fight the cruel and hang onto the beautiful.†

Get Cruel and Beautiful†on Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Add Cruel and Beautiful†to your Goodreads TBR

 

ABOUT A. M. HARGROVE

AMHargrove-AuthorPhotoOne day, on her way home from work as a sales manager A. M. Hargrove realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn’t do something soon, it would be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had ¸ber quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss, and quit her job. Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove’s career as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author.

Her books include Adult, New Adult and Young Adult Romances, including, The Guardians of Vesturon Series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent, and the novella Beginnings); Dark Waltz and Death Waltz (The Praestani Novels); The Edge Series (Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge, and Kissing Fire); The Tragic Series (Tragically Flawed and Tragic Desires); Exquisite Betrayal; Dirty Nights: The Novel; and The Hart Brothers Novels (Freeing Her, Freeing Him, and Kestrel).

Please find her at www.amhargrove.com.

ABOUT TERRI E. LAINE

TerriELaine-AuthorPhotoWife and mother of three, I’ve always been an avid reader. In my early years, my best friend and I would tell each other stories over the phone when we were bored. We called them our “soap operas” and generally revolved around whatever boy we liked at the time.

Over five years ago, I got this crazy idea to write a novel and try to publish it. And the rest is history. This journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. I look forward to many more memories to come.

Find more about me and social media links at www.terrielaine.com.

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Dirty Twisted Love – Book One by Lili Valente

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Dirty Twisted Love

Book One

By Lili Valente

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Warning: This is a dark enemies-to-lovers romance that contains violence, a damaged alpha male, and dirty twisted hate banging. Read at your own risk.

The first time CIA Agent Clay Hart fell for Harley Mason, she nearly killed him. But she won’t get another chance at his heart or his life. He’s going to take the son she’s hidden from him for years, send her to jail where she belongs, and never look back.

Harley isn’t the sick twisted person she used to be, but sins have a long half-life and rage an even longer reach. Now the only man she’s ever loved is back from the dead and determined to take away her reason for living. But she won’t give up her son without one hell of a dirty, twisted, sexy fight.

She won’t give up.

He won’t give in.

And neither of them is prepared for the sparks that fly between them or the shared enemy determined to destroy them both.

* *Dirty Twisted Love is the first installment in the Dirty Twisted Love romance series. It is a spin off of the Bought By the Billionaire series, but can be read as a standalone romance. This is a SERIAL story, with a CLIFFHANGER ending. If you don’t like being teased, steer clear.* *

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5Star

Tracey’s Review

Harley Mason has always looked out for Number One. Putting herself first is, after all, what has kept her alive, when, by rights, she ought not to be. But it hasn’t come without a price, because the one time that Harley actually allowed herself to believe that she could have her own piece of happiness, Fate stepped in and changed everything.

Clay Hart made the mistake of falling for Harley, but in her quest to avenge her family, he became collateral damage. Determined to save his son from a life with Harley, Clay will not stop until he shuts her down for good. But he isn’t prepared to still feel that pull, the magnetic force that brought them together so long ago, the one that threatens to cause all kinds of problems now.

Readers of the Bought By the Billionaire series by Lili Valente were first introduced to Harley in that series. The twin sister of Hannah Mason, Harley is dark to Hannah’s light, a scrapper to the nth degree, a woman more likely to stab you in the back and smile while doing it. Harley’s thirst for vengeance led to the ruin of not one, but two, good men, and ended up setting in motion a chain of events that put her and her twin sister at serious risk. But goodness grows in the most desolate of places, and Harley was given a gift. Having lost the only man that she ever loved, she was blessed with a son, and Harley will do anything to protect him and give him a life of safety and security.

Lili Valente has quickly made a name for herself in the erotic romance genre. Unafraid to take on dark situations, she nonetheless infuses them with light and love. I have to say that, at first meeting, Harley seemed incapable of redemption. She destroyed not only her life, but that of her sister and two innocent men, and seemed pretty remorseless about it. But at the end of DIVINE DOMINATION (Bought By the Billionaire Book 4), there was a glimmer, the possibility that she was still able to be saved from herself.

DIRTY TWISTED LOVE shows Harley in a new light. She will still do whatever she has to to ensure her safety, yes, but with the goal of making a safe life for her and her son, Jasper. Becoming reacquainted with Clay all of these long years later is a major kink in her plan, and promises to ratchet up the intrigue and angst. Adding in the smoldering and unwelcome hate passion that Clay is carrying towards Harley is going to make this one hot series indeed.

Lili is the consummate Queen of the Cliffy, and ends this read with the proverbial bang. It’s danger, passion, intrigue, oh, my, netting DIRTY TWISTED LOVE 5+ hotter than heck stars. You don’t want to miss this new series by Lili, so add it to your TBR and buckle up, ’cause it’s bound to be a bumpy ride.

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About Author

Lili Valente - authorLili Valente has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale.

These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.

Lili loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her via email at lili.valente.romance@gmail.com

Website ~ Facebook  ~ Goodreads

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review + Giveaway: Licked by Brooke Blaine

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Licked AMAZON

Licked 

By Brooke Blaine

Buy: AmazonAmazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU

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Synopsis

As the owner of Licked, an eclectic ice creamery and bar, Ryleigh Phillips doesn’t have time for that love stuff. Serving up Nibble My Nuts sundaes and Drunken Sailor boozy shakes are as close to an orgasmic affair as she’s had in months thanks to her expanding empire—until the night of her ten-year high school reunion.

When Ryleigh’s crush, gorgeous ex-football god Cameron Mathis, comes streaking into her life (literally—streaking), she begins to wonder if she really can have it all.

Wouldn’t it just figure that the moment you think life is perfect is when it falls spectacularly apart?

Enter Hunter Morgan, the contractor in charge of Licked’s renovations. Devastatingly handsome, and a smartass to boot, he’s got his eyes on Ryleigh from the moment he finds her passed out on his couch (yeah, that’s a long story). There’s just one tiny complication—he happens to be Cameron’s best friend.

When the lines between relationships and friendships blur, and it’s impossible to choose between two delicious flavors, what’s a girl to do?  Taste a sample of each? Or go out and get LICKED?

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Excerpt

“And then?”

I tugged at the edge of my apron in an attempt to avoid the three pairs of eyes staring bug-eyed at me. “And then he walked me to my car.”

“And then you…?” Shayne asked.

“Went home,” I said.

“Wait a minute, can we talk about the fact that he made you sleep on his couch?” Paige’s eyebrows were raised up to practically her hairline. “I’m sorry, but in what fucking universe is that acceptable? Why didn’t you call Quinn to pick you up?”

“He didn’t make me, geez. He passed out and it was late, and I thought maybe…you know. Morning sex.”

Shayne cocked an eyebrow. “And did that happen?”

“Well, no. Hunter made me coffee, and then Cameron woke up and…that’s it.”

“Wait,” Quinn interrupted. “You slept in an apartment with two guys and both of them had you sleeping on the couch? Jesus, Ryleigh, it’s against man-code for that to happen. Did you wear a chastity belt last night or something?”

I groaned, my head falling into my hands. Of course the girls would give me a hard time. I’d been talking up tackling Cameron at the reunion for weeks, so my body wasn’t the only one feeling let down.

Still, I was seriously regretting inviting them over for a powwow at my shop during our off hours.

“I think I need another shot of vodka in my Feisty Ho-bag now.” Paige pushed her glass stemware toward me, and I grabbed a liquor bottle from behind the bar and tipped some into her glass.

Boozy shakes. They were the bread and butter of Licked during the brunch and evening hours, and the main reason for the expansion next door. I glanced at the black tarp hanging over the doorway that led to the space I’d bought a few months ago and sighed. Construction was running behind, and it was too late to hire another company if I wanted to keep the launch date set.

And I had to keep the date set.

“So are you seeing him again?” Shayne asked, dunking her cherry through the layers of baklava bits and whipped cream on top of her Nibble My Nuts shake. “I will totally get involved if I need to.”

No doubt she’d be successful. She basically ran one of the top matchmaking companies in the city, not that you’d know it from her degrading pay scale. Her boss was a fucking nightmare, but Shayne was convinced she had to pay her dues.

“I don’t need your expert skills this time, but thank you. He’s got my number, so…we’ll see.”

“You can’t just wait around for a guy to call,” she said.

“I’m not waiting. I’ve got all that”—I gestured to the ugly tarp that hid the mess behind it—“to deal with, so I’m actually quite busy at the moment.”

The three of them gave each other “the look.” You know, the one that said, We’ve got to help our poor little friend get laid so she doesn’t end up gorging on the ice cream and boozy shakes she makes and be relegated to spinsterhood.

“Guys,” I said, placing my hands on the counter as I stood in front of them. “I’m not on my way to spinsterhood. I just have priorities.”

“I’m sure you could squeeze Cameron Mathis in,” Quinn said with a wink. “Get it? Squeeze him in…”

“More like blow off the dust, grab a key, unlock that shit, and pray there are no bats,” Paige agreed.

Oh for fuck’s sake. “All right, no more booze for either of you.”

 Licked 3

4.5 Star

Tracey’s Review

Boozy ice cream? Yes. Quirky girl with a penchant for retro wear and icons of fabulosity? Yes. One hot guy that’s good with his hands and his mouth? Oh, heck, yes!

I’d read the A Desperate Man trilogy, Brooke Blaine’s collaboration with Ella Frank, and really liked it. So when I saw that Brooke was releasing a new read, LICKED, it was definitely on my list of ‘I need to read this one!’ And, oh, my goodness, am I glad that I did.

Ryleigh Phillips has always been different. A longtime believer in being herself, even at the expense of popularity, she’s finally found her place. As the owner of Licked, an ice cream and booziery for the 18 and over crowd, Ryleigh brings joy (and some infinitely kick-ass product names!) to those around her. When a love connection with her high school heartthrob doesn’t go as expected, into her life stalks Hunter Morgan, friend of said heartthrob and contractor with a vision. Soon there’s more going on between Ryleigh and Hunter than just the collaboration of Licked-After Dark, and things couldn’t be hotter or more swoon-inducing.

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Many laugh-out-loud moments, some SERIOUSLY steamy interludes, and a band of zany girlfriends made LICKED one of my favorite reads of 2015. An easy 4.5-stars, I highly recommend that you add LICKED to your TBR; you can thank me later. 😉

***ARC generously provided by the author for an honest review.***

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Brooke Author Photo

About the Author

You could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her ‘quiet time.’ Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas. Flash Point is Brooke’s debut solo novel, and she is the co-author of the erotic serial, A Desperate Man, with Ella Frank. The latter has scarred her conservative southern family for life, bless their hearts. Licked, a romantic comedy, will be released on November 11th, 2015. If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find – just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for ten years.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Giveaway

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5 Star Review: The Play by Karina Halle

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A troubled Scottish rugby player who doesn’t play by the rules.
A vivacious man-eater who’s given up on love.
When it comes to Lachlan and Kayla, opposites don’t just attract – they explode.

Kayla Moore has always been comfortable with her feisty, maneating reputation. At least it was fine until she hit her thirties and saw her best friends Stephanie and Nicola settle down with Linden and Bram McGregor, leaving Kayla to be the odd one out. Tired of being the third wheel with nothing but one-night stands and dead-end dates in San Francisco, Kayla decides to take a vow of celibacy and put men on the backburner.

That is until she lays her eyes on Linden and Bram’s cousin, hot Scot Lachlan McGregor. Lachlan is her sexual fantasy come to life – tall, tatted, and built like a Mack truck. With a steely gaze and successful rugby career back in Edinburgh, he’s the kind of man that makes her want to throw her vow right out the window. But Lachlan’s quiet and intense demeanor makes him a hard man to get to know, let alone get close to.

It isn’t until the two of them are thrown together one long, unforgettable night that Kayla realizes there is so much more to this brooding macho man than what meets the eye. But even with sparks flying between the two, Lachlan can’t stay in America forever. Now, Kayla has to decide whether to uproot her whole life and chance it all on someone she barely knows or risk getting burned once again.
Sometimes love is a game that just needs to be played.


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5Star

Robin’s Review

There’s a message of hope riddled throughout the passages of Karina Halle’s latest novel. It’s titled The Play. From the dedication, “For Bruce, Pit Bulls, and other misunderstood beings who are rarely given a second chance in life,” to the final words, hope is infused into this book. Karina Halle and her husband rescued a Pit Bull mix named Bruce from an animal shelter with a high-kill rate, but she decided it wasn’t enough. Halle has devoted this contemporary romance to the plight of strays – unloved dogs, cats and other animals that have been abused and/or abandoned. She’s donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of The Play to animal charities that are in need of funding.

As you can probably imagine, The Play has a strong message about helping stray animals. This message fits well with our male main character, Lachlan McGregor, who considers himself no better than a stray dog who grew up on the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland. Abandoned by his mother at an orphanage on his fifth birthday, Lachlan grew up feeling hopeless – unloved, cast aside, and unworthy of a good home. Lachlan identifies with stray animals, and he has taken up their cause by starting a non-profit organization in Edinburgh that rescues animals and places them in loving homes.

Our female main character is Kayla Moore. Kayla is somewhat jealous of her best friends Stephanie and Nicola. Halle first introduced us to Stephanie in The Pact, and she is now married to Linden McGregor. We met Nicola in The Offer, where she paired up with Bram McGregor. Kayla recently decided to take a vow of celibacy. For the time being, she’s sworn off dating and flirting with men. She figures if she doesn’t make an effort, she can’t be disappointed with her love life.

Lachlan is in San Francisco to help his cousin Bram obtain additional funding for his apartment complex. Because Kayla works in advertising at a local magazine, Bram asks her to put in a good word about his non-profit housing complex. If they publish an article about his cause to help people who can’t afford housing, it could possibly generate more donations. Kayla’s vow of celibacy goes out the window when she interviews the rugby-playing beast (Lachlan) about fundraising for the apartments.

This story felt realistic in many ways. It’s difficult enough to find a person to connect with, who you are comfortable with, on so many different levels. Falling in love is never easy, but when it’s with someone who lives across the ocean, on a completely different continent, it can be a challenge to make a relationship work. When you add in the type of demons that Lachlan faces on a daily basis, you wonder how this couple could possibly survive. Halle did an excellent job of portraying what it’s like to suffer from addiction. I also found the actions of both characters to be believable toward the end of the book.

The Play is a long novel. It’s essentially two books in one, and Halle actually divided it into two parts. The strength of this story undoubtedly lies in the second half, where it steamrolls to its conclusion. The fluctuation of emotions that I felt while I was reading, ranging from heartbreak and anger to angst and joy, left a very positive impression on me. I personally connected with both of the main characters, and they each showed true character growth. The Play is also educational – I learned a whole lot about the plight of unloved animals, dogs and cats who fight for their lives every day. Karina Halle is creative and writes beautifully, and these characteristics are especially true in the last half of this novel. That’s why I am adding The Play to my list of 2015 favorites and assigning it a 5-star rating!

 

Halle HeadshotWith her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term “Hybrid Author.” Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she’s a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA…whenever possible.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiancé and rescue pup.

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