Blurb: The game was over. The dares were getting old, and the secrets were piling up faster than the bodies.
But someone had other plans. They wanted to play a new game.
was the love of his life until he found out what she was hiding. Now he wants to seek his revenge in the most daring way.
Deke Biggs has always been a shark. He’s not afraid to kill, and he’s about to become her worst nightmare.
But there’s a new player, and she plans on taking everything, no matter what the cost.
Try to beat him— If You Dare!
Who will win and who will lose?
About the Author: Shantel is a Texas born girl who now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her high school sweetheart, who is a wonderful, supportive husband and their two daughters. She loves to spend time cuddled up on the couch with a good book.
She considers herself extremely lucky to do what she does while getting to work from home. Going to concerts and the movies are just a few of her favorite things to do. She hates coffee but loves wine. She and her husband are both huge football fans, college and NFL. And she has to feed her high heel addiction by shopping for shoes weekly.
Although she has a passion to write, her family is most important to her. She loves spending evenings at home with her husband and daughter, along with their cat and dog.
When I first encountered Ford Donovan, I had no idea who he was…well, other than the obvious. Young, gorgeous, successful, smart. Did I mention young? If I did, it bears repeating. Ford Donovan was too young for me.
Let’s back up to how it all started. My best friend decided I needed to start dating again. So, without my knowledge, she set up a profile for me on a popular dating site—one that invited men ages twenty-one to twenty-seven to apply for a date. Those nicknamed Cunnilingus King were told they’d go straight to the top for consideration. The profile wasn’t supposed to go live. Another point that bears repeating—it wasn’t supposed to.
Nevertheless, that’s how I met Ford, and we started messaging. He made me laugh; yet I was adamant that because of his age, we could only be friends. But after weeks of wearing me down, I finally agreed to one date only—my first after twenty years of being with my high school sweetheart. I knew it couldn’t last, but I was curious about him.
Though, you know what they say…curiosity kills the cat.
My legs wobbled walking into the restaurant.
Ford was seated at the bar. When he turned around, he took my breath away.
His sexy smile nearly melted my panties.
But…he looked so familiar.
As I got closer I realized why.
He was the son of the neighbor at our family’s summer home.
The boy next door.
Only now…he was all man.
I hadn’t seen him in years.
I left the restaurant and planned to put the entire crazy thing behind me.
Which I did. Until summer came.
And guess who decided to use his family’s summer home this year?
Excerpt
Eve’s face flashed on the screen, and I swiped to answer.
“Give me all the details.”
I shook my head repeatedly, even though she couldn’t see me. “It was horrible.”
“What happened? What did the bastard do to you? I’ll cut his balls off.”
Eve’s response made me smile for the first time since I’d laid eyes on my date. “No. It wasn’t that kind of horrible. He was a perfect gentleman.”
“Okay…”
“Very sweet and funny, too.”
“Sounds awful,” she said sarcastically.
“And gorgeous.”
“The balls on him.”
“That’s not the worst part.”
“Let’s see…he’s young, gorgeous, sweet, and funny. What could be worse than that? He’s hung like a horse?”
“I wouldn’t know. And you know why I don’t know that?”
“Because you’re an uptight prude who hasn’t been laid in years?”
“That might be true. But the larger problem is that he is one of Ryan’s friends.”
Eve cackled. “That’s not a problem, that’s fantastic! Bang his brains out and send him to play golf with your ex. Let him eat his heart out when he realizes what he lost.”
“Ummm…Eve, I wasn’t talking about my ex, Ryan. I was talking about my son.”
“I’ll be over in twenty minutes.”
Michel’s Review
All Grown Up by Vi Keeland is the perfect summer read! All Grown Up is sizzling hot and loaded with fireworks while also being hopelessly romantic. This book will have the reader fanning themselves and ready to dive into a tub of ice. It is more than a sexy, sizzling hot romance, it is the story of a woman finding herself after years of marriage and motherhood. She is not only learning who she is but is also learning that the definition of love doesn’t always fit in the perfect box. Love comes in all sizes, shapes, and ages. In this case it’s the age which is the defining factor holding her back from a love that comes once in a lifetime.
Valentina Davis at thirty-seven finds herself single and sort of ready to enter the dating world once again. She has always been the perfect wife, mother, and household organizer. She depends on order and her post it notes. She has taken huge steps since her divorce. She has gone back to school to change her career. Now she’s ready to start up her new social life as a single woman.
Her carefree, best friend Eve has been encouraging her to take the plunge and just have fun. When Eve opens a Match.com account for her little does she know her life is about to take an unexpected path. A path where post it notes take on sexier reminders.
She meets Donovon620 on Match.com. She’s reluctant to go on a date with him because he is only twenty-five. He convinces her to take the plunge by charming her with his wit and assuring her of his maturity.
Ford Donovan is intrigued with Val44 from Match.com. She’s not like the typical women he usually dates. She seems very real and down to earth. The kind of woman he wants to spend time with. She’s very weary of his age but he has lived a lifetime since he was in college. He has raised his younger sister after their parents deaths. He put aside his own social life and needs to ensure he did the right thing. He took over his parents business and became a responsible adult. Now his sister is somewhat grown and in college. He finally has some free time and breathing room. He wants to spend it with someone he can enjoy rather than coddle.
When Ford and Valentina finally meet it’s a pure disaster. It turns out they used to be neighbors at their summer beach homes. He used to babysit her son. None of that matters to Ford but he has to convince Val that her age doesn’t matter. They have a chemistry that can’t be denied. They light each other up like the fireworks on the Fourth of July. Aside from their sexual chemistry, the two of them are beyond compatible. They were meant for one another.
Vi Keeland once again had me laughing out loud, swooning over the romance while fanning myself from their sizzling hot chemistry. She creates strong women who find the courage to step out of their fears and embrace the flaws as well as strengths. She creates male characters I instantly fall head over heels in love with. I love their wisecracks, sarcastic male humor, and dirty pillow talk. The dialogue and humorous banter between the characters is entertaining, engaging, and keeps my full attention. I always read Vi’s books in one sitting because I can’t tear myself away from her wonderful books. All Grown Up is another perfect addition to her catalogue.
I highly recommend All Grown Up by Vi Keeland! It’s guaranteed to make you smile!
Prefer texts? Text the word BOOKS to 77948 to receive an alert when We Shouldn’t goes live. (You will only release new release alerts!)
About the Author:
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
Blurb:From the New York Times bestselling author of the Wind Dragons and Cursed Ravens MC series comes sinners, saints and secrets…
Dear Skylar,
Five years. That’s a long time to go without talking to somebody, especially someone who was such a huge part of your life…
A letter from my first kiss and my childhood everything…from prison.
He may be nicknamed Saint, but this sweet, sexy biker most definitely has a wild streak. Hearing from him draws me right back into the Knights of Fury motorcycle club—the people I’ll always think of as family.
He’s still the only man I’ve ever wanted.
Each good, old-fashioned letter from my “prison pen pal” has my heart racing. Which is nothing compared to how I feel when Saint surprises me in person, as a free man.
I was just a kid the last time we saw each other, but the connection between us now is anything but innocent.
He’s the type of man who would do anything to protect his woman. And with my world crashing down around me, that’s exactly what I’m going to need.
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Michel’s Review
Saint by Chantal Fernando is the first book in her brand new MC series, Knights of Fury. Like her other MC series, The Wind Dragons MC, she has created an array of dynamic characters living by their own code while still maintaining their own code of honor, integrity, and family commitments. She adds an emotional romance filled with the right amount of drama and the right amount of passion.
Since Saint is the first book in the Knights of Fury the author had to focus on world building, introduction of characters, as well as creating a passionate romance. I honestly believed she did a stellar job which leaves the reader wanting more of this series.
Skylar was raised with Knights of Fury until she was sixteen and her mother left the club. Five years later she receives a letter from prison from her childhood friend, Saint. This leads to her becoming reunited with Saint as well as his family, the Knights of Fury.
Without giving away spoilers, I can honestly say Chantal has created another MC world that readers are going to love. What I love most about Chantal’s writing is not only does she create a sizzling hot romance but creates interesting, strong characters. I love that her women have a strong sense of self and stay true to who they are. I love that her male characters respect the strengths of their women and encourage them while at the same time protecting their weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
I highly recommend Saint by Chantal Fernando.
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Author Bio:
New York Times, Amazon & USA Today Bestselling Author Chantal Fernando is twenty seven years old and lives in Western Australia.
Lover of all things romance, Chantal is the author of the best selling books Dragon’s Lair, Maybe This Time and many more.
When not reading, writing or daydreaming she can be found enjoying life with her three sons and family.
Chantal loves to hear from readers and can be found here:
Piper has been crushing on Ryder Williams for years..
What better chance to make her move on him than when he’s sacrificing himself on an auction block for a squealing mass of fans at a charity event? Too bad she’d rather hide in the bathroom than raise her paddel; what girl actually bids on a guy who doesn’t know she exists?
Not. Piper.
But that’s what friends are for…
One meddling best friend, and an overpriced bid later, and Ryder Willams is Piper’s for the taking. Too bad that she has no intention of collecting on his debt.
Too bad Ryder is determined to find out why.
NOTE:: Switch Bidder is a SHORT #JockHard Novella, at 10,000 words. Aka: Short Novella.
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Michel’s Review
For fans of the Jock Hard series by Sara Ney, the Switch Bidder novella won’t disappoint. It’s fun, snarky, and super sexy! No wonder girls fall all over themselves when a baseball player enters a room.
Piper’s best friend won Ryder Williams for her in a fraternity charity auction. Ryder was supposed to do domestic duties/ cleaning for the winner. Piper has no intention on collecting his debt. When she’s force to face Ryder she lets him off the hook. Rather than running the other way Ryder wants to perform his duties and so much more. He has been wanting to get his hands on Piper for quite some time.
Not going to say much more except both Piper and Ryder have great big smiles thanks to Sara Ney. She gave them a red hot happily ever after.
This novella is the perfect quick read for the summer!
___________________________________
Sara Ney is
the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is
best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite
vices, she includes: iced latte’s, historical architecture and well-placed
sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets,
and fancies herself British.
Just like she doesn’t know a thing about the boy she sits next to on the first day of senior year.
He thinks she’s a brat.
She thinks he’s entitled.
Maybe first impressions don’t always last…
Because Connor Ledger’s about to save her.
He just doesn’t know why.
________________________________
Excerpt:
They look like fireflies. The way the water falls from the sky, illuminated only by the streetlamps.
I stand in the middle of the road, barefoot and barely breathing, my arms out, face to the sky.
I don’t know how I got here.
When I climbed out of my window, the sun was just setting and now… now I’m surrounded by
dark skies and false hope.
I know I should go home.
That I should face my fears and tackle them head-on.
My mind travels the right roads at the right time to get me there, but my heart…
My heart takes me to Connor.
Outside his bedroom window, mud seeps between my toes, and the frigid air creates
goosebumps along my skin. I raise my fist and tap, tap, tap on the glass.
A moment later, a light turns on. And then nothing. I tap again, my heart racing.
The blind lifts and Connor appears, his eyes squinting. It’s clear he’d been asleep, or close to it.
Hair a mess, he’s shirtless, the obvious beginnings of bruises mar parts of his torso, and I look down,
shame filling every part of me. I bite down on my lip as he slides the window up. “Jesus Christ, Ava.
What the hell are you doing?”
His warm palms meet my soaking wet elbows, and then his entire body is cocooning mine,
lifting me off my feet and into his bedroom. My feet land on his soft carpet, and I look down at the mess I’ve made.
“I’m dirty,” I tell him.
Inside and out.
Dirty, dazed and damaged.
________________________________
Michel’s Review
*** 2019 Favorite ***
It’s been a good long while since Jay McLean released a new book and her readers missed her. She’s back with an emotional mature YA novel that will leave the reader hungover and desperately wanting more. Heartache and Hope by Jay McLean takes the reader on an emotional journey that has them sobbing one moment and feeling pure joy the next. Two young people dealing with life the only way they know how. Appearances aren’t always what they seem. What lies beneath the surface is what matters the most.
*
Connor Ledger is the new superstar basketball player that just transferred to St. Lukes Academy on an athletic scholarship. His family moved so he would have a better opportunity of securing a basketball scholarship to a good college. A college that will help him get into the NBA. His family is not exactly poor but they are financially strained. His single father has raised him and spent every extra penny on improving his natural gift in basketball. Not only does he have to perform well on the basketball court but also has to make good grades to build up his GPA. His father has high expectations and expects him to make it to the “end game”.
*
Ava Diaz is the mysterious gorgeous girl that everyone avoids. She seems to have warning signs written all over her. And she does for very valid reasons. She doesn’t have the time or energy for high school social life. She doesn’t have time for friends much less a boyfriend. When the new boy in school tries to befriend her it’s very hard to resist until she can’t. It’s hard to keep the preverbial private door closed when it’s so lonely living behind those doors. Everyone needs someone outside their preverbial private door to make their world bearable. Someone to give them hope.
*
It appears Connor Ledger has the world in his hands but underneath it all he’s a scarred soul.
*
It appears Ava Diaz is a scarred soul who hates the world when in reality she’s just a teenage girl that needs to be a teenager rather than a prisoner in her life.
*
Connor’s father and his basketball commitments come first. His head is telling him one thing but his heart is screaming for something else.
*
Ava’s world behind closed doors is falling apart and she’s trying to hang onto what little bit is left. It’s taking all the broken pieces of her heart and shattering them into tiny bits that can never be repaired.
*
“When the world is at its darkest, thats when magic appears.” Connor and Ava desperately need a little magic in their lives.
*
Magic doesn’t always appear where we expect it but it does appear when Jay McLean picks up pen and starts writing. She is a gifted storyteller with compelling characters that touch the deepest part of the soul. She challenges her readers with thought provoking situations and emotional dilemmas. She takes ordinary people and makes them larger in life by testing their souls and allowing them to grow. Her writing is pure MAGIC and keeps the readers under her spell !
*
Jay McLean created two unforgettable characters that need hope in their world. I loved the supportive secondary characters just as much. Ava’s stepbrother Trevor is such an honorable guy and made sacrifices most young men would not make. I would love to see Jay create a story for him after the Heartache Duet is finished because Ava and Connor are not the only people who had their hope stifled.
*
I loved every magical moment reading Heartache and Hope by Jay McLean. I can’t wait for the second book, First and Forever, to release on July 12, 2019!
Someone has torn them apart in the past, and she plans to do it again…
As Nick and Quinn piece together the truth about the life they once shared, they discover it was much deeper and darker than they ever imagined. In order to keep history from repeating, Quinn will need to master her unusual gifts—but that means admitting to herself and to Nick why she stopped using them in the first place.
He may never forgive her when he learns the truth, but Quinn is running out of options—because the clock is ticking, and it’s no longer just her life that hangs in the balance.
Whenever I’ve absolutely loved a book that is the first in a duet, there’s always the fear that the second book will just not live up to the promise, or will somehow fall flat in comparison. Let me say right away that this is definitely not the case for the books in the Parallel duet by author Elizabeth O’Roark. I couldn’t gobble down PARALLEL (Book 1) quickly enough, and, man, that ending had me feeling all kinds of ways. Would INTERSECT do the storyline justice? Would Ms. O’Roark bring her “A” game the way that she did with PARALLEL? Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes. INTERSECT picks up where PARALLEL left off, and doesn’t let up, and it is fabulous.
In my review for PARALLEL, I said that the answers that I so desperately wanted and needed were to come, and, indeed, those answers become clear in INTERSECT, although in a very Elizabeth O’Roark way. What does that mean? It means that this book was just as much of a whirling dervish of emotion, action-packed, and delicious in its delivery, and I could not put it down.
Another easy 4.5 stars, INTERSECT is everything that I hoped, and did not falter at all in the wrap-up of Quinn’s and Nick’s story. That being said, I would absolutely love to see more of these characters, to see their future unfold, and to get some explanations about a few things left a little bit hazy there at the end…Lucky for us readers, there’s a bonus epilogue that gives some answers, as well as THE MOON WE SHARE, another book in the Parallel universe, that will be coming our way soon. Until then, I cannot recommend The Parallel Duet any more highly. If PNR is your jam, grab these books and enjoy the heck out of them. You will not be sorry.
Haven’t read the first book in the duet? Grab your copy of PARALLEL today!
Time is a cruel thief…unless you can steal it back.
As a neurologist, Nick Reilly believes everything can be
explained by science.
But he can’t explain her—Quinn Stewart, an irresistible
patient who knows things about him she shouldn’t. And insists that at some
point, she was his wife.
Something else he can’t explain: he remembers her too.
Quinn wakes each morning remembering new details of the life
they shared—and she’s desperate for the dreams to stop. Because with each one,
she finds herself craving what she had with Nick more than the life—and the
fiancé—she already has.
Nick and Quinn share an attraction neither can deny, but one
that might destroy everything.
Elizabeth O’Roark lives in
Washington, DC with her 3 children. After many years spent writing
scintillating brochures about amniocentesis and heart surgery, she is thrilled
to have found a job that allows her to just make s*** up.
Save the Date, an all-new standalone contemporary romance in a new series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy.
Caroline Abbott loves her job—helping engaged couples pick out the perfect save the date cards and invitations for their dream wedding. Working at Noteworthy means she has to deal with the occasional bridezilla, but Caroline’s always up for the challenge.
Until one particular bridezilla walks into the stationery store who’s fiancé happens to be the boy Caroline shared her first kiss with. Alexander Wilder is all grown up now, helping run his family’s successful luxury hotel chain, and is somehow even better looking than she remembers.
When Caroline just happens to catch Alex’s fiancée half naked with another man well, of course she has to tell Alex. Of course, he breaks off his engagement.
And of course, the ex-bridezilla has gone completely bonkers.
At least Caroline has her friends to save her from crazy ex-fiancées. But she also has the sudden interest of…Alex? Caroline knows they share a connection, but is he on the rebound? Or after seeing her all these years later, does he really want something more?
I head straight for the pickup counter, where I see my skinny vanilla latte waiting for me, my name written on the side of the cup in Stella’s familiar scrawl. Without hesitation I grab it, inhaling deeply before I take a sip. Just a tiny sip so I can savor it. I close my eyes for a second, maybe two, and when I open them, I find a guy standing there.
Watching me.
And he’s not just any guy. He’s cute. Wait, no. Not cute. He’s…hot. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Wearing a suit that fits him perfectly. I know just from looking at the fabric that it’s custom. Expensive.
He’s smiling at me. And I’m scowling at him in return because the caffeine hasn’t quite hit my bloodstream yet, so I’m not on top of my game.
“You looked like you were having a moment.” His voice is deep. Rich. His face…vaguely familiar?
I stand a little straighter. Take another sip of my coffee as I contemplate the man in front of me, because for some reason I still can’t come up with anything to say.
Listen, I always have something to say. But this guy. This gorgeous, well-dressed maybe-stranger, is leaving me a little…
Dumbstruck?
Huh.
“That moment you were just having. With your coffee,” he continues, gesturing at the cup I’m clutching in both of my hands, like it’s my baby. Which this morning—every morning—it is.
“She loves coffee,” Stella says from behind me.
Glancing over my shoulder, I give her a look, one that says shush.
“I can see that.” The amusement in his voice is obvious. He thinks it’s funny. The sacred moment I was having with my latte made him smile.
I wouldn’t mind coming up with other ways to make him smile.
Whoa. Where did that thought come from?
“What I want to know is, how did you get such special treatment?”
I blink at him like I’m an uncomprehending idiot. “Excuse me?”
“Well, I’ve been here for the last fifteen minutes. First, standing in line.” He gestures at the line of customers that trails out the door. “And now, waiting for my order.”
Guilt fills me. Just a tiny bit. Sweet Dreams Café is the most popular bakery and coffee shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea. All the tourists love it. All the locals love it too. It’s been in Stella’s family for generations.
“Yet you skip past the line, walk straight in here and grab your ready-made drink within a few seconds of your arrival. Do you have a Fast Pass?” A brow lifts, and I’m hit with a quiver. Like Cupid just drew back his bow and shot that arrow right in my heart.
Or perhaps that arrow struck me in, ahem, other places.
Who knew a brow lift could be so sexy?
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Michel’s Review
Whenever Monica Murphy releases a book I know I am for an entertaining read. Save The Date did not disappoint. Save The Date is the first book in The Dating Series and is a charming second chance romance.
A sexy workaholic groom, a cheating bride who makes Bridezilla seem tame, and a menacing social media haute couture fashion model all make Caroline Abbott’s life crazy. Between her job and these three, she has her hands full. She’s an expert in wedding stationary, she can pick the best save the date cards but what she is not an expert in is the world of the spoiled wealthy elites.
What starts out with a “too early” morning appointment and lack of caffeine turns into a reunion with the boy she shared her first kiss with. While Caroline is thrilled to reconnect with Alex, she’s not so thrilled with his demanding fiance. Pushed into making a rush order is somewhat annoying but when that order is delivered to the store rather than their home, it’s downright aggravating. She is now forced to deliver their order to their home. What she witnesses is not something she wants to share with her old friend Alex. His bride is cheating on him with another man.
Alex Wilder is a workaholic. His family hotel chain demands more of his attention than his bride does. He thought he found the perfect woman, one who understands his work obligations. What he found was a cheating gold digger. Losing his finance hurts his pride more than his heart. It seems like his heart kickstarted when he walked into a coffee shop for a quick cup before a wedding appointment and reconnected with his first crush.
When Caroline spills the beans, she instantly gains a very angry stalker, a new friend who happens to be Alex’s assistant, and a new fake finance. Alex needs a finance to go to Paris with him for business negotiations in purchasing a prominent hotel. It’s not the ideal romantic Parisian trip but it is the perfect way for Caroline and Alex to really reconnect.
I absolutely enjoyed Caroline and Alex’s story. It was fun, sexy, and romantic. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this new series.
I highly recommend Save The Date by Monica Murphy. It is delightful!
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Meet Monica:
Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.
She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.
he New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series delivers an “emotional, unforgettable” (Lori Wilde) romance about a rugged Texas sheriff who must protect the woman who was once his sworn enemy…
Case Lawton comes from a family of criminals. So as the sheriff of Loveless, Texas, he’s determined to do everything by the book–until he’s called to Aspen Barlow’s office after a so-called break-in. The last thing he wants to do is help the woman who cost him custody of his son. But Aspen isn’t the heartless lawyer Case remembers, and he starts to question his long-held grudge…
Aspen is scared for her life, and Case is her last hope for protection. But to get him on her side, she’ll have to reveal the painful truth from all those years ago. Now, as they work together to track down a dangerous criminal, Case and Aspen learn to trust each other. And as the threats escalate, it becomes clear there’s a thin line between love and hate… because there’s nothing Case wouldn’t do to keep her safe.
Michel’s Review
Justified by Jay Crownover is the first book in the Loveless, Texas series. There is nothing sexier than a sexy sheriff coming to the aid of a sassy damsel in distress. Justified is more than the predictable cookie cutter romance. It’s more than an enemies to lovers romance because the characters are complicated and very flawed. The storyline itself is very emotional. The prologue ripped my heart into pieces. This angsty romance that keeps the readers turning the pages until the very end.
Aspen Barlow and Case Lawton have an odd history. In high school she was the kid everyone bullied and he was the football superstar that protected her from the bullies. They both wanted out of Loveless, Texas. She went on to become a successful divorce lawyer. He lost his football scholarship and ended up going into the military after he was trapped into an unwanted marriage because of pregnancy.
They meet again in court when Aspen represents his ex-wife in bitter divorce/custody battle. While Aspen regrets using her job skills against Case but that’s part of her job.
Years later she’s back in Loveless after going through her own divorce. Rather than settling in she finds her life is being threatened after she finds her office completely trashed. She has to turn to the very man she ruined, Sheriff Case Lawton. Case has put aside his personal feelings and protect Aspen. He needs to get to the bottom of this situation as soon as possible.
In true Jay Crownover fashion, the characters go through a lot of emotional angst before they can finally put aside the past and embrace the present. Justified was not only an enemies to lovers romance but also a romantic suspense.
I thoroughly enjoyed Justified and can’t wait to see what happens next in the Loveless,Texas series by Jay Crownover.
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About Jay Crownover:
Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series, the Saints of Denver series, the Point series, the Breaking Point series, the Getaway series, and the Loveless, Texas series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
The moment I laid eyes on Finn Parker’s headshot, I knew that if this guy could act, I wanted him for the hero role in the film being made from my book, Fleeing an August Moon.
The tall, blond, and ruggedly handsome actor looked exactly like the picture I’d seen in my head the entire time I was writing the book.
The studio, however, had different thoughts on a leading man.
Box Office crusher, Maverick Dailey, made it clear that he wanted the role. The producers, studio, and everyone involved were thrilled to score such a celebrity. Well, everyone except me.
And it’s my vote that counts since, according to my contract I get final say on casting. Maverick is amazing, yet I’m just not sure…
It certainly didn’t help that Finn Parker and I seemed destined to cross paths. We ran into each other all over Hollywood. And the more time we spent together, the more the sparks between us flew. We had an intense chemistry, something I’d only ever read about in books like mine.
Which made me wonder, was I really falling for Finn or just living out a fantasy with a red-blooded, live version of my hot hero character?
It’s easy to confuse fiction for reality in Hollywood. Everything is not as it seems in this town.
Not to mention, Finn’s life would forever change if he landed the role. Which made me question how good of an actor he really was? Was he interested in me, or the role I had the power to give him?
Is this Real Love or just Reel Love?
Excerpt:
Prologue
In Flight…
Holy crap, he’s perfect.
Not just like he’d be good for the role perfect, but like he stepped out of my head and onto my computer screen, perfect.
I can’t believe he even exists. Well, in real life, anyway.
This is him. The guy I’ve been seeing in my head for over three years now. But with a picture in front of me, it crystalizes all the details in such sharp focus, for the very first time. It’s like a layer of gauze was removed from the front of the lens of my mind’s eye, and here he is. I am looking at the face of the hero in my biggest-selling, and let’s face it, my only truly bestselling book.
Who is this man? I need to know more. I need to know everything. Now.
Finn Parker.
Good name. Obviously fake, but, nonetheless, good.
Those eyes. They are Griffin’s eyes. I am finally staring into his clear blue eyes, studying the deep blue rings edging his irises, looking exactly like what I’d described the very first time Briela gazed up at him when they were just kids. Sky blue meeting a horizon line containing the ocean’s power and depth was how I described them when the two meet again as adults. I have written many pages about these eyes.
Finn Parker, your eyes are killing me. Like I’m afraid to breathe, killing me.
A slight quiver in my hands radiates to my now-twitching fingertips as they hang, as if in suspended animation, just above the keyboard, choking, fearful that if I don’t poke the keys with just the right finesse, he will disappear and be gone — forever. And I’m not ready to lose this flesh and blood version of the man who has invaded my thoughts for so long.
And what if I don’t find him again? A moment of panic ensues as if I’m about to lose my raison d’être. Or maybe just lose my shit. Or my mind.
What the hell is wrong with me?
His freaking picture and bio are in an email sent to me by the studio’s casting department. He is not disappearing into thin air, never to be found again.
Get ahold of yourself, woman.
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Michel’s Review
Reel Love by Julie A. Richman is going to be a summer blockbuster in the romance world. Every reader loves a Movie Star romance. A Rags to Riches story. Reel Love is so much more because it not only showcases the glamour of the film industry but also shows the manipulative side where actors are valued by dollar signs rather than true talent. It also presents a vivid description of the insecurities of struggling actors to the over confident superstars who use their clout to manipulate getting roles.
Francesca Simonelli wrote the best selling novel Fleeing An August Moon. This novel became an international best seller and is being made into a movie. Francesca was lucky enough to maintain the artistic rights from casting to the screenplays. She has gone to Hollywood for the casting process. She is determined to pick the best actors to portray the beloved characters from her book. She doesn’t care about what actors are the biggest box office draw, she wants authenticity. When she comes across Finn Parker’s picture she feels like she is staring at Griffin Chase, her leading male character. She doesn’t care what he’s done prior to this audition, she just hopes he can act.
Finn Parker is desperate for the role of Griffin Chase. He hasn’t had a job in two years. He needs a breakout role that will pivot his career. When he first begins reading Fleeing An August Moon, he hates the story but is willing to embrace the character of Griffin Chase. It will show his true acting skills. He knows he’s up against stiff competition. Maverick Dailey, the biggest box office star in Hollywood, also wants this role. He’s willing to do anything for this role. He needs for Francesca Simonelli to see he is the perfect Griffin Chase.
When Finn “accidentally” runs into Frankie after his first audition the quest for the role takes a different course. He actually likes the book and understands why this story took the world by storm. He wants to know more about the character of Griffin Chase. He also wants to get to know Frankie. She has captured his attention because she’s true to herself. She is a real woman with a real personality rather than a manufactured picture perfect woman. She could care less about A-Listers, the “right” diet, and designer gowns. She’d rather eat sugar than avocados. He genuinely likes her. He’s willing to show her who Finn Parker really is rather than the manufactured person on the screen. He’s competing for more than the role of Griffin Chase, he is vying for Frankie’s heart.
Hollywood is a manipulative place. Everyone is playing a role. It’s hard to tell what’s real in a world that spins upon fantasies. Everyone has a price, the lines can be altered rather than crossed. Frankie has to hold her ground and hold onto her heart even if it means sacrificing Finn for the right reasons.
Julie A. Richman has once again delivered the “WOW” factor in Reel Love. I felt like she added her very soul to Frankie Simonelli. The vivid descriptions she used to describe Fleeing An August Moon was as good as the characters she created in this story. She stretched her writing talent to a whole new level by delivering two very different romances in one story. I love that she is one of the few contemporary authors who uses mature characters with life experience rather than angsty younger adults. The characters always seem to be more seasoned and their stories are always multi-demensional. Julie’s books come to life and capture the heart. Like Frankie, Julie stays true to all of her characters including characters from previous books. I loved the cameo appearances from the Needing Moore series.
I absolutely loved Reel Love by Julie A. Richman and would highly recommend this book.
I also hope at some point Julie will really will sit down and write Fleeing An August Moon.
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About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an avid nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau.
Save the Date, an all-new standalone contemporary romance in a new series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy.
Caroline Abbott loves her job—helping engaged couples pick out the perfect save the date cards and invitations for their dream wedding. Working at Noteworthy means she has to deal with the occasional bridezilla, but Caroline’s always up for the challenge.
Until one particular bridezilla walks into the stationery store who’s fiancé happens to be the boy Caroline shared her first kiss with. Alexander Wilder is all grown up now, helping run his family’s successful luxury hotel chain, and is somehow even better looking than she remembers.
When Caroline just happens to catch Alex’s fiancée half naked with another man well, of course she has to tell Alex. Of course, he breaks off his engagement.
And of course, the ex-bridezilla has gone completely bonkers.
At least Caroline has her friends to save her from crazy ex-fiancées. But she also has the sudden interest of…Alex? Caroline knows they share a connection, but is he on the rebound? Or after seeing her all these years later, does he really want something more?
I head straight for the pickup counter, where I see my skinny vanilla latte waiting for me, my name written on the side of the cup in Stella’s familiar scrawl. Without hesitation I grab it, inhaling deeply before I take a sip. Just a tiny sip so I can savor it. I close my eyes for a second, maybe two, and when I open them, I find a guy standing there.
Watching me.
And he’s not just any guy. He’s cute. Wait, no. Not cute. He’s…hot. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Wearing a suit that fits him perfectly. I know just from looking at the fabric that it’s custom. Expensive.
He’s smiling at me. And I’m scowling at him in return because the caffeine hasn’t quite hit my bloodstream yet, so I’m not on top of my game.
“You looked like you were having a moment.” His voice is deep. Rich. His face…vaguely familiar?
I stand a little straighter. Take another sip of my coffee as I contemplate the man in front of me, because for some reason I still can’t come up with anything to say.
Listen, I always have something to say. But this guy. This gorgeous, well-dressed maybe-stranger, is leaving me a little…
Dumbstruck?
Huh.
“That moment you were just having. With your coffee,” he continues, gesturing at the cup I’m clutching in both of my hands, like it’s my baby. Which this morning—every morning—it is.
“She loves coffee,” Stella says from behind me.
Glancing over my shoulder, I give her a look, one that says shush.
“I can see that.” The amusement in his voice is obvious. He thinks it’s funny. The sacred moment I was having with my latte made him smile.
I wouldn’t mind coming up with other ways to make him smile.
Whoa. Where did that thought come from?
“What I want to know is, how did you get such special treatment?”
I blink at him like I’m an uncomprehending idiot. “Excuse me?”
“Well, I’ve been here for the last fifteen minutes. First, standing in line.” He gestures at the line of customers that trails out the door. “And now, waiting for my order.”
Guilt fills me. Just a tiny bit. Sweet Dreams Café is the most popular bakery and coffee shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea. All the tourists love it. All the locals love it too. It’s been in Stella’s family for generations.
“Yet you skip past the line, walk straight in here and grab your ready-made drink within a few seconds of your arrival. Do you have a Fast Pass?” A brow lifts, and I’m hit with a quiver. Like Cupid just drew back his bow and shot that arrow right in my heart.
Or perhaps that arrow struck me in, ahem, other places.
Who knew a brow lift could be so sexy?
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Meet Monica:
Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.
She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.
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Excerpt:
Monica Murphy is the 
About Jay Crownover:
Saucy Southern Readers 