Release Day Launch + Excerpt + 5-Star Review + Giveaway: Hard Wood by Lauren Blakely

Posted on 10/23/2017 by cafemamanc7

From #1 NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes a hot and hilarious standalone romance about what happens when you have one week to convince your best friend’s little sister that you’re the one for her. What could possibly go wrong? It looks like things are about to get hard in the woods…Don’t miss the laugh-out-loud and insanely hot story, HARD WOOD!

Now available on all retailers! Grab your copy today, and get HARD WOOD in your hands!

✮✮✮ HARD WOOD is here! Grab your copy today! ✮✮✮

From #1 NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely comes a hot & hilarious new standalone romantic comedy…

Women often say a good man is hard to find. And a hard man is even better.

That’s why I’m quite a catch– good, hard, loaded, and wait for it…I’m ready to settle down too. But the woman I want to pitch my tent with lives clear across the country. Neither of us wants to get lost in those woods. All I have to do is resist her for the week she’s in town.

I try. I swear I try. But yeah, that doesn’t work out.

And after one fantastic night with my good friend Mia, I’m ready to give her years of nights under the stars. What’s a few thousand miles when love’s involved? But there’s a hitch in my plans — she just hired my adventure tour company. If there’s one thing I’m committed to, it’s running a squeaky clean business. Number one on my list of iron-clad rules?

Don’t screw your customers.

But what’s a guy to do when she’s so hard to resist? How hard can it be to keep our hands off each other for a quick group tour down the hills and over the trails? I’m about to find out, and I have a feeling I’m going to need a new badge of honor because things are about to get very hard in the woods.

You can find this sexy standalone romantic comedy available across all retailers now!

✦Kindle US ➜ http://amzn.to/2gvaTbG

✦Kindle UK ➜ http://amzn.to/2xXwncq

✦Kindle CA ➜ http://amzn.to/2zsvfdd

✦Kindle AU ➜ http://amzn.to/2gvLhLS

✦iBooks ➜ http://apple.co/2xoVy6k

✦Google Play ➜ http://bit.ly/2x5DHPH

✦Amazon PB ➜ http://amzn.to/2x8Y54c

✦Amazon Audio ➜ http://amzn.to/2znV6Uu

✦Audible ➜ http://adbl.co/2x5FyE6

✦ The audiobook is narrated by Sebastian York! Get your copy today! ✦
Audible * Amazon Audio

Excerpt:

I haven’t seen Mia in almost a month, since the last time she was in town staying with Max. I didn’t realize she’d be back a full week before her other brother Chase’s wedding, and am I ever glad to see her again.

She makes all parts of me quite happy indeed.

By happy, I mean hard as a rock.

Okay, fine. It’s not like I’m operating at full power this second. I’m thirty-three, not fifteen. I have plenty of self-control in the “when and where to pitch a tent” arena. All I’m saying is this woman gets me going, and I feel that zip down my body when I see her.

She’s on the phone, her eyebrows pinched, her expression harried. She drags her hand through her caramel-blond hair. As I walk closer, I hear her say, “I understand. Yes, I understand. Things happen.”

And that’s the sound of someone being disappointed.

Which is a terrible thing for this sexy-as-a-fiery-sunset woman to experience.

When she stops and ends her call, she spots me. She tilts her head, her eyes piercing, her brow furrowed, and her dimples killing me with cuteness. Her eyes roam from me to Zeus, and then she points at my boy. “I don’t know if anyone has told you this . . .”

I raise my eyebrows. “Tell me. What could it possibly be?”

Her eyes drift to the ground then back up. In a deadpan tone, she says, “But there’s a cat in your hat? Well, on your back, actually.”

“There is?” I crane my neck to peer over my shoulder. “You’re right. How did he get there?”

She parks her hands on her hips. “You’re in big trouble.”

“I’ve been bad, have I?”

She pushes my shoulder then wags her finger at me. “How did you keep this from me?”

I quirk an eyebrow. “The fact that there’s an awesome new Italian place down the street? It opened last month, and I planned to tell you.”

She huffs, rolling her eyes. “I’ve known you for months and you didn’t tell me you had a cat. Friends don’t hide pets from friends.”

She’s not in town that often. She hasn’t ever been to my apartment. And I don’t take Zeus upstairs to Max’s. But I’m not going to state the obvious. I’m going to have a little fun with her. Flirt with her. Because . . . that’s what we do.

“There’s a reason for that.”

Her eyes go wide, and she taps her toe, waiting. I drag a hand through my hair. Evie says my light brown hair is floppy, and she tells me this is a good thing. The ladies love floppy hair, she says. She’s been right so far. My hair’s been a big hit with the ladies, and other parts have, too.

“It’s a good reason,” I add.

“I’m waiting, Patrick. This really isn’t the type of intel you should hold back.”

I heave a sigh as if I’m going to make a huge admission, then I park a hand on her shoulder. Because, well, I’m a sneaky bastard and I’ll look for any opening to touch her. “Look, I’m going to be blunt. If I told you I had a hiking cat who rides shotgun in a backpack and can purr like he’s a jazz superstar, you’d have had no choice but to fall in love with me.”

Tracey’s Review

As I walk along the trail, the lightening sky keeping me company, I think of Mia, and all the times we’ve shared. I think of our nights, our days, our moments. I’ve been so caught up in whether they’ll become more than that, that I’m not sure I’ve seen them completely for what they are. My perfect days…Mia is the life I’ve imagined. She’s the dream I want to make real.

So, Patrick Milligan. He’s no stranger to fans of Lauren Blakely, having made his first appearance in JOY RIDE, as upstairs neighbor and friend of Max Summers, the very same Max Summers who’s got a sister named Mia…Yes, I am totally in love with Patrick. Why? Because he knows what he wants, and he’s ready to go after it, whether it’s creating the life he wants, or winning the girl. There is no, erm, pussyfooting around for Patrick (yep, see what I did there?). He’s had it bad for Mia from their first meeting, and is all about going all in to make sure that she knows it.

Lauren’s heroines are always strong, self-sufficient women, and each of them has won me over. I adore that Mia is so down-to-earth, making her the perfect foil for Patrick. She’s funny, loyal, and passionate, and her personality shines. Like the ladies in the other books in Lauren’s series of romantic comedies, Mia is someone that I would love to call a friend.

And, then, Zeus. Because, this story would not be complete without Zeus the hiking wonder cat. His inner dialogue is spot on, and, seriously, who else but Lauren would have, as a main character, a cat, let alone one that hikes, rides around town in a backpack, and has his very own Instagram account? We all need a Zeus in our lives.

Lauren is the undisputed queen of the romantic comedy, and HARD WOOD rounds out this series of standalones perfectly (And, as an unabashed fan of epilogues, let me just say that LB never disappoints!). Although Patrick and Mia are the last in this group of friends to get their HEAs, I hope that we’ll see more of everyone in future books. 5 sexy, swoony, ‘oh, my, that shower scene!’ stars for Patrick, Mia, and Zeus.

Add it to Goodreads here!
http://bit.ly/2uAoPJW

And don’t miss Lauren Blakely’s other standalone Romantic Comedies!

BIG ROCK
MISTER O
WELL HUNG
FULL PACKAGE
JOY RIDE

✮✮✮ Enter to win this amazing HARD WOOD GIVEAWAY! ✮✮✮

The HARD WOOD Urban Adventure Pack ($380 value) is filled with:

✮ A stylish Michael Kors backpack for when a purse is not enough for your shopping adventture

✮ $50 Gift Card to The Body Shop to pamper yourself after a long day

✮ Your very own plush Zeus to snuggle with

✮ A Smores Making Kit for a backyard adventure

http://laurenblakely.com/hard-wood-giveaway/

About Lauren Blakely:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In October, she’ll release HARD WOOD, the final standalone romantic comedy in the Big Rock series. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads

Release Blitz + 2017 Favorite + 5+-Star Review: Ruthless King by Meghan March

Posted on 10/17/2017 by cafemamanc7

Get ready for the darker and dirtier side of New Orleans with a brand new alpha romance from USA Today bestselling author Meghan March.

New Orleans belongs to me.

You don’t know my name, but I control everything you see—and all the things you don’t.

My reach knows no bounds, and my demands are always met.

I didn’t need to loan money to a failing family distillery, but it amuses me to have them in my debt.

To have her in my debt.

She doesn’t know she caught my attention.

She should’ve been more careful.

I’m going to own her. Consume her. Maybe even keep her.

It’s time to collect what I’m owed.

Keira Kilgore, you’re now the property of Lachlan Mount.

*Ruthless King is book one of the Mount Trilogy*

ADD TO GOODREADS

BUY NOW

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Paperback | iBooks | BN | Kobo

Tracey’s Review

Good Lord, what did I just read?! I’m still looking at my e-reader, peering over the cliff that author Meghan March left us all hanging onto, wondering how in the HECK I’m supposed to wait for the second book in her Mount trilogy.

Fans of Meghan’s Beneath series have met Lachlan Mount. He’s legend, and certainly no one to cross. So how in the world did Keira Kilgore find herself on the wrong side of this man? The more she resists him, the more he insists on her submission, intrigued despite himself, and determined that she bow to his will.

RUTHLESS KING had me flipping pages like my e-reader was on fire. I mean, I was hooked, and there was no way that I was stopping until I reached THE END, for all the good that it did me. Why, you ask? Because, oh, my freaking goodness, how in the world could the story end there?! What do you mean, Meghan, that I have to wait for DEFIANT QUEEN, the next book in the trilogy? This is what makes a book better than good, book junkies, and puts it firmly into the ‘Best of 2017’ for this girl. It’s enthralling, it’s suspenseful, it’s sexier than all get-out, and I didn’t.want.it.to.end.

I cannot wait to see what’s coming for Lachlan and Keira, and, knowing Meghan, it’ll be not only worth waiting for, but better than I could possibly anticipate. 5+ stars for the King of New Orleans and his unwilling queen. Grab this one now, y’all, and get ready to be dazzled, because Lachlan Mount will not be denied.

meghanmarchpic

Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Played by Jen Frederick – The Grid Iron Series – Book 4

Posted on 10/10/2017 by shellbellereads

Played

The Gridiron Series – Book 4

By Jen Frederick

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis:

She’s been playing it close…

Ara Martin and college football star Ty Masters have been best friends since the first day of school when Ty literally ran her over. She fell for him immediately, but having lived under the shadow of her famous father, she knows a relationship with irresistible Ty would only end in heartbreak. For four years, she’s kept her feelings hidden. But one drunken encouter weeks before graduation is about to expose Ara’s biggest secret and destroy her most treasured relationship.

He’s been playing for keeps…

Ty is about to be drafted into the NFL, but his personal life is a mess. He’s got an agent he doesn’t like, a brother who can’t stop offering his opinion, and a beautiful woman he craves but can’t have. He can fire his agent and ignore his brother, but he’s not sure what to do about Ara. Ty’s been able to run down every quarterback he’s faced, but his sexy, stubborn best friend keeps slipping through his fingers.

Luckily, he’s not one for giving up, and once he gets his hands on her, he’s never letting go.

Gridiron Series $.99 on Release Week

______________________________________

Michel’s Review

With all the negativity going on in today’s world with NFL football and illegal recruiting in college sports, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to dive into this book. Played by Jen Frederick is the fourth book in the Grid Iron series. This series focuses on college football players finishing up their college football careers. For many of them the next step is the NFL, for others it’s stepping into their perspective professional careers. Either way they are at crossroads in their lives and the pressure is high.

Ty Masters chose to play five years rather than four so he didn’t have to compete with his twin brother Knox in the professional draft since they both played the same position. He also chose a different college across the country so they could both live out their individual glory rather than share a collective spotlight. They are extremely competitive with one another but also extremely close. When his brother went into the draft a year early it took some of the pressure off of Ty but also added a bit of pressure to live up to his brother’s pristine image. Like most twins, Ty and Knox differ like night and day. The one thing they have in common is their focus on football, the difference is their approach with that focus. Unlike his brother, Ty has enjoyed the dating life in college. While his brother stayed away from women, Ty enjoyed them but never let them come before his game. He’s gained the reputation of being a crappy, uncaring boyfriend. He could care less. The only woman that is important in his life is Ara Martin, his best friend. With the upcoming draft his agent is pressuring him about everything from his diet to dating. His agent is concerned about his reputation and how it will affect his draft round.

Ara Martin has been living within her parents shadows after their divorce. Her father is a renowned sculptor who tends to remarry with every masterpiece he creates. Her mother is a driven professional that thinks art is a frivolous and insecure career. She’s also a bit cold hearted with her views on family and marriage. Ara is trying to carve out her own place in the art world without her father’s influence or her mother’s negativity. After being a product of numerous divorces in her childhood, she chose to put Ty Masters in the friend department because she valued their friendship too much.

So this book focuses on the final semester of their senior year in college. Ty and Ara are both struggling in very different ways. The one thing that is easy in their lives is each other. From the social media to Ty’s twin brother, a nasty agent, and a rancid ex girlfriend, the pressure has become a hotbed in Ty’s life. Ara’s determination to prove herself in her own world is hard enough let alone the different types of pressure her parents are separately creating, Ty Masters is the only thing that isn’t a boiling point in her life. The problem is deep down Ty is a boiling point, she is hopelessly in love with him but doesn’t want to ruin their friendship. Little does she know Ty is realizing that he is in love with her. Ty’s approach is like his approach to football, full focus and winning what he wants on his own terms.

Jen Frederick once again scored big with Played. She showed a very different side to the sport that most fans don’t see and added a breathtaking romance to the mix. It is a great addition to the series and I think I might love Ty Masters a little more than I loved Knox Masters.

So if you are tired of all the crap going on in real life sports, take yourself to Jen Frederick’s Grid Iron sports world, it will not disappoint.

_______________________________________________

Author Bio:

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: The Consort by K. A. Linde

Posted on 10/10/2017 by shellbellereads

After the loss of a friend and false imprisonment in an Eleysian dungeon, Cyrene has no interest in destiny. Her heart was shattered, friends scattered, and her home is nothing but a pretty illusion. Even her magic won’t cooperate.
When all seems lost, she turns to the one person she never thought that she would trust:

Prince Kael.

His darkness mirrors a growing force lurking within her. A struggle she never imagined threatens to consume her. And as friends and foes begin to show their true colors, she starts questioning whether anyone is who they seem.
Even herself.

✦ Amazon US ✦ Amazon UK ✦ iBooks ✦ B&N ✦ Kobo ✦ Google Play

Time was a wily beast.

It stole. It destroyed. It healed.

Constant and immovable.

And each day brought a new morning.

Time was dependable. And only time could move the world forward.

Time had slipped away from Cyrene. It was a thief in the night, scrubbing away the hours and leaving her disoriented.

At first, all she could feel was the soft bed beneath her body. For a moment, she thought of Dean. Lying against his chest, waking in the morning with his arms wrapped tightly around her, knowing that another night had passed. Another night closer to their wedding.

Then, another second ticked by, and that memory stabbed her in the chest. There would never be another morning like that. There would never be another dawn with Dean. There would never be another moment in Eleysia. For she was bound to Byern. And always would be.

Her eyes flew open, and she scrambled across the bed in horror. Her hand touched her mouth…and Kael Dremylon’s eyes slowly opened with a lazy smile on his pretty face.

“Morning,” he said, biting back a yawn.

“What in the Creator’s name are you doing in my bed?” she all but shrieked.

“Sleeping.”

“How dare you come into my quarters and share my bed with me! Do you think I have no honor? Do you think I have forgotten what you tried to do to me?”

She had woken up curled around Kael! Her leg wrapped around his. Her arm flung across his bare chest. His arms cradling her, as if he even knew what comfort was.

Now, he was staring at her as if she had gone completely insane. How could he possibly think this was okay?

“Do you know where we are?” Kael asked.

He sat up and leaned on one elbow. The sheet slipped off his body, revealing every rippling muscle. She snapped her gaze back up to his face.

“I don’t see how that matters.”

“We are on a Byern warship. This is the only room on the ship with quarters this nice. Otherwise, you can sleep below decks with the crew. Is that what you want?”

She shook her head. “Surely, there must be somewhere else. I can’t be expected to sleep here. What will everyone think?”

He laughed a bitter, rough laugh. “Now, you are concerned about this?”

“If I am to be carted back to Byern, then I should have the luxuries of an Affiliate.”

He held his hand out. “And you are afforded those luxuries.”

Cyrene opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off.

“This is a war vessel, not a pleasure ship. We are not on procession, like the last time you had the full attention of Byern royalty in your bed,” he said viciously. “If you do not sleep with me, in my rooms, then you sleep below decks. With the crew.”

Cyrene glowered at him. Of course, he would use every advantage that he had while he had her here. And, even though she had never slept with King Edric, it still prickled her to think that everyone, including Kael, believed that she had. But, if it irritated him to consider it, then she wouldn’t contradict him.

“So, you expect me to sleep next to you the entire time I am trapped here?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “Now, if you want to roll back over and lie on me again, I won’t object.”

_____________________________________________

Robin’s Review

Fans of The Ascension Series have been waiting nearly a year for their next dose of young adult fantasy from author K.A. Linde. Although it’s been a long time coming, I promise The Consort will not leave you feeling disappointed! Rife with magical action, excitement and mystery, Linde packs so much adventure in this book that by the time you have finished, you’ll feel as if you’ve read two novels!

The Consort undeniably has a darker feel to it than the previous Ascension novels, beginning with Cyrene being held as a prisoner, accused of a crime she didn’t commit. Feeling betrayed and heartbroken, our lonely heroine finds herself at the complete mercy of others. Cyrene’s at the lowest point of her life, grasping for a way to move forward. We see Cyrene turn to an unlikely ally – Prince Kael Dremylon.

K.A. Linde left readers ruminating over a killer cliffhanger at the end of The Bound, but your questions about what happened at the end of that book will be answered. Just expect to have a whole new set of questions when you finish reading The Consort! If you are familiar with Linde’s writing, you know she has an evil streak. Prepare yourself because she doesn’t go easy on us! Characters will die, and in typical fashion, Linde will play with your emotions regarding Cyrene’s three suitors: King Edric, Crown Prince Kael, and Prince Dean Ellison of Eleysia.

Although a large portion of The Consort takes place in Byern, Cyrene’s adventures have her crisscrossing the continent of Emporia in the company of her friends. Linde revisits many of the secondary characters from the previous two books, The Affiliate and The Bound, but we are also introduced to several new characters, both good and bad. An obvious darkness has descended over the palace, so prepare yourself for plenty of deception, reveals, and court intrigue!

The information we learn in The Consort is more in-depth, as Cyrene digs even deeper into the mysteries of the ancient Doma. Cyrene discovers more about the Domina Serafina and how Sera’s past relates to her own uncharted destiny. In three novels, we have seen Cyrene develop beautifully from a naïve, young lady who only hopes to be named an Affiliate to an incredibly powerful woman who has the ability to control her own destiny. I’m excited to read about her continued journey and to see what she becomes!

For those who love reading new adult/contemporary romance novels written by K.A. Linde but have yet to venture into reading her Ascension Series, consider trying something new! You’ll find her same talent for writing romance and conversational dialogue, along with her penchant for lovingly playing on our emotions, mixed with the results of a brilliant imagination and rich world building. I LOVE this series! The Consort is one of my 2017 favorite novels! Congratulations to author K.A Linde for this 5-star rating!

The Affiliate: Book 1

“With rich romance and twisty political intrigue, THE AFFILIATE is a breakneck fantasy ride that’s perfect for fans of THE SELECTION or THRONE OF GLASS.” –Susan Dennard, NYT bestselling author of TRUTHWITCH

On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, seventeen-year-old Cyrene Strohm’s lifelong plans come to fruition when she’s chosen for one of the most prestigious positions in her homeland–an Affiliate to the Queen.

Or so she thinks.

When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems. Thrust into a world of dangerous political intrigue and deadly magic, Cyrene’s position only grows more treacherous when she finds herself drawn to the one man she can never have…

King Edric himself.

Cyrene must decide if love is truly worth the price of freedom. Find out in this first book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s new Ascension series. Great for fans of Game of Thrones, Tudors, and Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series.

✦ Amazon ✦ iBooks ✦ B&N ✦ Kobo

Cyrene Strohm is a Queen’s Affiliate, a high-ranking official of the court of Byern, with power and privilege to spare. But she’s also a keeper of dangerous secrets: like the fact that she holds the heart of the King, and that she possesses magic in a world where magic no longer exists.

Determined to discover what this means and how to use her newfound abilities, Cyrene sets off for the distant land of Eleysia. An island nation where Affiliates are strictly forbidden from entering.

But the journey is perilous, and the destination may mean utter ruin, as Cyrene comes to learn that everything she’s been told her whole life – about her court, her homeland, and even herself—are bound in a beautiful lie.

✦ Amazon ✦ iBooks ✦ Kobo ✦ Goodreads

K.A. Linde grew up as a military brat and created fantastical stories based off of her love for Disney movies, fairy tales, and Star Wars. In her spare time, she is an avid traveler, loves reading young adult novels, and dancing. Additionally, K.A. has written more than a dozen adult novels and is a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Lubbock, TX with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

K.A. Linde loves to hear from her readers!

You can contact her at kalinde45@gmail.com or visit her online at one of the following sites:

www.kalinde.com

www.facebook.com/authorkalinde

@authorkalinde

New Release + Excerpt + Giveaway + 5-Star Review: Show Me the Way by A.L. Jackson

Posted on 10/09/2017 by cafemamanc7

☆☆☆Show Me the Way is Live☆☆☆

Show Me the Way

The first stand-alone novel in A.L. Jackson’s brand-new Fight for

Me series…

READ FOR FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xOtvLK
Audible: http://smarturl.it/SMTWAudible

Signed Paperback: http://www.aljacksonauthor.com/signed-copies

The first sexy, captivating, stand-alone novel in the brand-new FIGHT FOR ME series from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson . . .

Rex Gunner. As bitter as he is beautiful.

The owner of the largest construction company in Gingham Lakes has been burned one too many times. His wife leaving him to raise their daughter was the last blow this single dad could take. The only woman he’ll let into his heart is his little girl.

Rynna Dayne. As vulnerable as she is tempting.

She ran from Gingham Lakes when she was seventeen. She swore to herself she would never return. Then her grandmother passed away and left her the deed to the diner that she once loved.

When Rex meets his new neighbor, he knows he’s in trouble.

She’s gorgeous and sweet and everything he can’t trust.

Until she becomes the one thing he can’t resist.

One kiss sends them tumbling toward ecstasy.
But in a town this size, pasts are bound to collide. Caught in a web of lies, betrayal, and
disloyalty, Rex must make a choice.

Will he hide behind his walls or will he take the chance . . .

EXCLUSIVE BONUS DELETED SCENE:

Preface from Amy: I’m excited to offer another scene in Rex & Rynna’s love story. It was really difficult to cut this scene, but during editing, I knew I had to as I was taking a different direction as we headed into the climax of the story. I hope you enjoy this exclusive cut scene!

Rex stood in the foggy pour of the moon, the striking raw beauty of him bathed in an
ethereal glow. His hair whipped in the wind where he stood on the other side of the road that
separated our houses. His hands were balled into fists, jaw clenched, eyes hard.

Dominant and dangerous and somehow chained by all his doubt.

Warned you being with me wouldn’t be easy. Tell me you’ll fight for me. Tell me you’ll fight
for us. That you won’t give up when things get rough. Tell me you’ll stay. Tell me I should take
this chance.

I inched forward. Energy lashed. Whipping and inciting.

Compelling.

And God, I wanted to fight. Fight him for leaving me. Fight for him because it was the last
thing I’d wanted him to do. Fight for what was right. The problem was, I wasn’t certain of exactly what that was.

Rex’s nostrils flared, and he was moving across the street, his big body eating up the
ground in his long, purposed strides. His hulking form climbed the steps, his shoulders wide and his presence bigger as he mounted to the last step onto my deck.

In a flash, he was on me. My back was pressed against the wall of my house, the heat of his
strong body lighting me up like a furnace. He wound a big hand in my hair, tugging, forcing me to look up at him.

“Little Thief.”

The accusation was gravel, and I sucked in a staggered breath. It only drew him deeper, his
presence sinking in, taking hold. Everything swelled just as the pain of his rejection went rushing through my veins. A raging river that threatened to drown.

“You can’t do this to me,” I whimpered. For a beat, I struggled, fighting him, attempting to
push him away as my attention darted across the street to his sleeping house.

Jealousy boiled beneath the surface of my skin. Wicked, spiteful flames. A pool of sickness
churned in my belly, all mixed up with the need he instantly incited in my body. “You can’t do
this to me,” I begged this time, feeling everything crack.

Splintering.

“You already did it,” he grated. His nose brushed mine when he said it, his hot hand on my
cheek, his eyes so terrifyingly sincere. “Told you, you were gonna ruin me. You ruined me,
Rynna. Can’t fucking close my eyes without seeing you. Can’t sleep without dreaming of you.
Can’t take a fucking step without wanting to run right back to you.”

I squeezed my eyes closed. As if that might stand the chance of putting a barrier between
us. I only felt him more, the wild beat of his heart and the flush of his skin and the maddening
gaze of the scruff on his chin.

He was everywhere.

“I’m in love with you,” he said.

I’m in love with you.

Those words spun around me like a tease. Prodding and pulling.

My eyes fluttered open.

“Rex.” I grasped him by the wrists, clinging to him. A tear streaked free. He wiped it away
with his thumb.

“Don’t cry, baby. Fuck, please don’t cry.”

My lip trembled. “I missed you.”

He pulled me closer. “Didn’t know I could miss someone the way I’ve been missing you.
Didn’t know how bad I could hurt inside until you weren’t there anymore.”

And then he was kissing me. It was a frenzy. That desperation when finding something
that’d been lost. The promise that you’d never again let it go.

His mouth consumed mine.

Possessively.

Powerfully.

Taking what was his.

It was dizzying.

The severity of him. It was all spurred by the significance of finally finding what was right.
The moment when you finally scaled the obstacles standing in your way, and you found the
perfection waiting on the other side.

He kept muttering, “Little Thief, Little Thief,” as he spun us, pinning me against my door. I
fumbled to get to the knob. It knocked open and we stumbled into the welcoming dimness of the living room.

We were frantic as we tore at each other’s clothes.

Lips parting, chests heaving, slamming right back together as we shed the barriers between
us.

“Where’s Frankie?” I managed to mumble, fingers in his shoulders as he was peeling off my
underwear.

He smiled. I could feel it. The smiled he smiled as he was still kissing me. This awe that
pierced me through. A perfect, painless stake that embedded itself in my spirit. “Spending the
night at my mom’s. She hasn’t stopped talking about you. Asking for you.”

“I miss her.” It was a confession of my soul. And I was suddenly clinging to him, my arms
around his neck, my face pressed to his pulse point that thrummed beneath his jaw. “I missed
you both so much. I didn’t know a love like this existed until I met the two of you.”

He swept me off my feet, carried me to my couch, and laid me across it. He crawled over
me, hovering, caging me in. His face in shadows, his gorgeous body rimmed in light. “Never
even knew a love like this existed. You stole all my rationale and gave me a reason. I love you,
Rynna. Love you in a way that terrifies me. But still, I’m not scared anymore. Not of us. Not of
this.”

I smiled up at him, my fingertips tracking down the side of his cheek and brushing across his
full, full lips. He nipped at my fingers, and I bit back a smile, my eyes full of wonder as I gazed
up at the man who’d changed everything. “Take me.”

Rex climbed between my thighs, only to freeze when his phone buzzed from the pocket of
his jeans he’d discarded on the floor.

Apologetically, he shot me a grin. “I’d better get that.”

“Yeah,” I said with a soft smile.

He dug it out and answered.

My heart fell straight to the floor when I heard the screaming on the other side.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xOtvLK
Audible: http://smarturl.it/SMTWAudible

Signed Paperback: http://www.aljacksonauthor.com/signed-copies

Tracey’s Review

It’s been said that you can’t go home again, but for Rynna Dayne, she can’t think of any other place that she’d rather be. It’s been years since the malice and betrayal of others caused her to leave Gingham Lakes, but she’s a different person now, and she has a destiny to fulfill.

Rex Gunner hasn’t always been angry and bitter. But the worst kind of loss, followed by unanticipated betrayal, has left him a shell of the man that he once was. There’s a place in his heart for only one person, his daughter Frankie Leigh. There’s no room for Rynna Dayne, no matter how much his heart tells him otherwise.

With the boys of Sunder all having gotten their HEAs, I was anxiously awaiting the next series to come from author A.L Jackson. I mean, it’s Amy. She writes angtsy heart-wrenching books like nobody’s business, books that become part of you and that leave you thinking about them for a long time afterwards. So, what was it going to be? What it is, friends, is SHOW ME THE WAY, the first book in Amy’s new Fight For Me series, and one of my favorite books of this year.

I fell in love with the characters in this book from the first page. Frankie Leigh grabbed my heart and didn’t let go, and watching Rynna having the courage and the strength to stand up to a past that had sent her running from the home and people that she loved made this a keeper for me. And then there’s Rex. This broken and beautiful man, a man that has lost so much, but who still has so much love to give, despite himself, well, Rex Gunner is one of my new favorite Amy Jackson men.

SHOW ME THE WAY was almost painful to read at times, because, while I know that the sort of ugliness and vitriol that shaped and formed both Rynna and Rex exists, it was tough to see in action. The fact that there was sense of self-worth enough, strength enough for them to open themselves up to each other made for the sort of read that kept me turning pages far into the night.

Amy absolutely has another hit on her hands with SHOW ME THE WAY. I loved the supporting characters so much that I can hardly wait to get their stories, which can’t come too soon. 5 dark, redemptive, take a chance stars for this one, guys. Add Rex and Rynna to your TBR, and prepare to fall in love.

Giveaway

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e42d6b4196/

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary
romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, and BLEEDING
STARS novels. Be sure to check out her newest series, Fight for Me. The first novel, SHOW ME THE WAY, is out now.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails
with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her
newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 24587 to receive short
but sweet updates on all the important news.

Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson

Facebook: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonPage
Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonAmzn
Bookbub: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonBookbub
Twitter: @aljacksonauthor
Instagram: @aljacksonauthor
Snapchat: @aljacksonauthor

New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt + 6-Star Review + 2017 Favorite: Still by Kennedy Ryan

Posted on 10/06/2017 by cafemamanc7

“Grip is my ultimate…If I was forced, gun-to-the head, to make one book boyfriend real to be mine, it would be him. No questions asked.”

— Adriana Locke, USA Today Bestselling Author

STILL, the sexy,emotional final installment of the GRIP series,

is available NOW!

Enter the $50 Gift Card Release Giveaway!

http://bit.ly/StillLIVEGive

I’ll be there.

Through thick and thin.

Ride or die.

You can count on me.

The promises people make. The vows we take.

Assumptions of the heart.

Emotion tells us how we feel, but life…life has a way of plunging us in boiling water, burning away our illusions, testing our faith, trying our convictions.

Love floating is a butterfly, but love tested is an anchor.

For Grip and Bristol,

Love started at the top of the world

On a Ferris wheel under the stars

But when that love is tested, will they fly or fall?

Excerpt:

“Mmmmm, that looks good.”

The comment grabs my attention, and I find myself smiling for the first time since I left Bristol. As she walks toward me, the approaching sunset paints the roof in shadows, but I see her clearly. Dark hair, burnished in places, falls around her shoulders. She has already discarded the dress she wore at lunch today in favor of a T-shirt and nothing else; it’s the one I just tossed into the hamper.

She tugs at my HABITUAL LINE STEPPER T-shirt, the hem landing at the top of her thighs. Where the T-shirt stops, my eyes keep going, past the lean muscles of her legs and the cut of her calves, the delicate bones of her ankles and to her bare feet. I love this girl, head to toe. Beyond this gorgeous packaging, it’s everything beneath that makes me beyond grateful she’s mine. The loyalty, the bottomless pit that is her heart, her sense of humor. The toughest girl I know is also the most tender, and I’m so honored I get to see both sides, all her sides.

“You out of clean clothes?” I nod to my T-shirt. “You gotta wear my dirty stuff now?”

An impish smile tugs at her bare lips. She’s washed away her makeup, and with it, all the sophistication she wraps around herself for her job. Up on this roof in my T-shirt, she’s just my girl. I love her in every iteration, but this is the one only I get to see, so it’s probably my favorite.

“I have clean clothes.” She steps close enough for me to smell her scent and mine mingling in the fabric. “I like the way this shirt smells.”

I drop a look over her, my eyes resting on the curves of her breasts in the soft cotton, where her nipples have gone taut under my stare.

“How does the shirt smell?” I ask, my voice as smoky as the steaks I should be paying attention to.

“Like you.” She leans forward until her breasts press into my chest. “It smells like you.”

My hands are twitching to touch her, and I finally surrender, slipping under the shirt to grasp her waist, pulling her up the few inches until our lips meet. I’ve been thinking about these steaks all day, and before Bristol arrived, I thought I was starving—but this, what I feel having her in my arms after hours apart, this is starving. It starts in my balls and tunnels up through my chest, infiltrates my heart, and presses its way to my mouth, which is open and devouring in a lips-searching, tongues-dueling kiss. I grip her by the ass, grinding our bodies together until the texture of her skin and mine, the scents of her skin and mine meld into this one panting, voracious thing that never seems to get enough.

“You better not burn my steak,” Bristol pants in between kisses.

I angle my head to send my tongue deeper into her mouth, holding her still, teasing her until she’s straining up, open and begging when I pull back.

“Grip.” My name is a whimpering complaint. She cups my neck and tugs my head back down.

“Oh, no.” I resist, laugh, and turn to the grill. “You were so concerned about me burning these steaks, Ms. Medium Rare.”

“I am.” She slides her arms around me from behind and I feel a sweet sting, her teeth gently biting my shoulder through my T-shirt. I love it when she bites me, but I’m not giving her that satisfaction yet. “But that doesn’t mean you get to stop kissing me. You have to multitask.”

One slim hand slides over my abs and past my belt to cup me through my jeans.

Damn. Not sure how long I can keep up this charade that I don’t want to screw her into the wall on the roof where anyone with half a telescope could see.

“Wow,” I say, keeping my tone unaffected, though she’s gotta feel me getting longer and harder in her hand. “Somebody’s horny as hell.”

She makes a sound that’s half outraged laughter, half indignant grunt before stepping around to stand in front of me by the grill.

“I will not be slut-shamed by my own boyfriend.” Amusement lights her eyes, turning them to quicksilver.

“Shamed?” I put down the grilling fork I’m using for the steaks and reach for her again. “No shame in being horny for me, baby. I wanna give you a gold star.”

Her eyes slide down to the erection poking her in the stomach. “Is that what we’re calling it now? Should we name it?”

“Guys who have to name their dicks probably aren’t using ’em right.”

“So I ask again . . . should we name it?”

I cock a brow and press our hips together.

“Are you implying that I don’t know how to use mine? Because that’s not the impression I got this morning when you came so hard you were singing like a bird.”

She tilts her head, her eyes wide and considering. “Did you say like a bird?” A small smile plays around her lips. “What made you say that?”

“I don’t know.” I give a careless shrug. “Why?”

“It’s silly,” she says, rolling her eyes in self-derision. “I was thinking today when I laughed it sounded like . . .”

Bristol blushes about once every Halley’s Comet, so the color washing across her cheeks makes me wonder.

“What?” I probe. “Your laugh sounded like what?”

“Like a happy bird,” she mumbles, peering up at me like I’m going to laugh in her face.

Which I do.

“Stop laughing at me.” She narrows her eyes in mock warning.

“Right.” I dip my head to catch her eyes and tease her. “Because when you tell me you laugh like a happy bird I’m just supposed let you get away with that.”

“I’m not telling you things anymore.” She narrows her eyes and folds her arms over her chest.

“Yeah, right. I’m your best friend.” I pull her back into me. “You’ll tell me everything like you always do.”

“You are, you know.” Her voice softens. “My best friend, I mean.”

When she looks at me like this, her eyes stripped of every defense, no guard in sight, completely honest and open and vulnerable, I feel slightly invincible. It’s a trick of the heart, I know, but I can’t help but think that as long as she looks at me like this, there isn’t anything I couldn’t survive, that our love is the stuff of legends, rolled in Teflon, disaster-proof. I’m as fanciful as Bristol, my laughing bird.

“You’re mine, too,” I echo her sentiment. “My best friend.”

“I won’t tell Rhyson,” she promises with a grin.

“I’m pretty sure he spits the same line to Kai.” I keep a straight face. “We have to say that shit to get laid.”

“I hate you.”

“Orrrrrrrrr do you love me and want to blow me after dinner?” I shrug and lift my hands, my palms up. “Just saying. Listen to your heart, Bristol. Listen to your heart.”

“I’m listening to my belly right now, smartass, and it’s growling. Feed me.”

“Like my mama used to say, ain’t no freeloaders in this house. What’ll you give me for feeding you?”

“Um . . .”

“I do have a suggestion, if you’re searching.”

“Let me guess—you have a ‘Will fuck for food’ sign up here somewhere?”

“I used bubble letters.” I laugh and give her ass a light smack. “You can barter that booty.”

It’s so damn easy with Bristol—our banter, the chemistry, the perfect rhythm of our conversation. It was one of the first things I noticed when we met all those years ago. We didn’t read each other’s minds or finish each other’s sentences. It wasn’t cosmic, but it was a connection that seized me by the brain and grabbed me by the balls. She was as smart as she was sexy, as curious as she was forthcoming. There were years in between when we made things complicated, when things were strained, but now with our hearts settled on each other for good, it’s simple.

This.

Her.

Us.

Tracey’s Review

Emotion tells you about love, but hard times prove it. How can you know something is great unless it’s tested? Until then, it’s just an assumption. It’s a question, but life has a way of answering.

So, if I had to use just one word to describe STILL, the latest book by author Kennedy Ryan, the story that takes Grip James and Bristol Gray along paths fraught with more emotions than I can describe, it would have to be poetic . Sheer poetry, from start to finish, STILL is a beautiful, heartbreaking, joy-filled work that is easily one of the best books that I’ve read this year.

As an avid reader (first) and blogger (second), it is my pleasure to read a lot of books. I marvel at the ease with which some authors put words to page, the sheer number of words and ideas that seem to exist in an unending well for so many of these people. I mean, I guess that plenty of folks have one book inside them, one seed that can blossom into something that can be shared. But, to share
words that move us, the readers, to heights and depths, taking us along and make the reading of these books a living and visceral experience, that, my friends, is a gift. Kennedy Ryan falls firmly into the latter category, birthing, creating, crafting collections of words that go far beyond the norm.

I fell in love with Bristol Gray and Marlon ‘Grip’ James what seems like forever ago. Both of them made their first appearances in Kennedy’s Soul series. But it wasn’t until I finally cracked open FLOW and GRIP that I realized how important these two characters are. Strength, perseverance, conviction, healing, and, y’all, so much love. Talk about epic.

And, now, STILL. I wasn’t sure what more Kennedy could give us, because they were already so much. But that’s my limitation, you see, and not Kennedy’s, because she showed me, with utter clarity, conviction, and a talent that I don’t see very often, that there was still so much more to be shared.

STILL touches on so many things of import. Social justice, the lingering and pervasive affliction of inequality in our culture, the value of truth and honesty and looking beyond the surface. Through it all, though, and something that I truly believe, is the fact that it’s all about the love. One little word forges unions, razes walls, drives out fear, lifts up, frees.

STILL is a book that will bring you joy, reduce you to tears (believe me when I say sobbing mess, friends), and lift you up higher than you can imagine, and it’s all done with, as I said, sheer poetry. If you read just one book this year, let it be STILL (although, FLOW and GRIP must be read first). This book is an easy 6 stars for me, and one that I recommend without hesitation. I cannot imagine what Kennedy Ryan has next for us, but, judging from what we’ve had in the Grip series, it will be nothing short of amazing.

Read STILL Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US➜ http://amzn.to/2xuUe1V

Amazon UK➜ http://amzn.to/2feQ5EF

Add to GoodReads➜ http://bit.ly/2vBiUWN

Start the Series Today!

FLOW, the FREE prequel, MUST BE READ before GRIP!

Amazon ➜ http://amzn.to/2m0IKOh

Amazon UK➜ http://amzn.to/2xSpMMS

Audiobook ➜ http://bit.ly/FLOWAudiobook

WATTPAD ➜ http://w.tt/2kUo8Yk

Read GRIP Today for only 99¢!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US ➜ http://amzn.to/2mR7fec

Amazon UK ➜ http://amzn.to/2gz387W

Amazon CA ➜ http://amzn.to/2vADPJn

Amazon AU ➜ http://amzn.to/2gsH3Em

GRIP ➜ http://bit.ly/GRIPAudiobook

Add to GoodReads ➜ http://bit.ly/2k1T1rL

About Kennedy:

Kennedy Ryan is a Southern girl gone Southern California. A Top 100 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy writes romance about remarkable women who find a way to thrive even in tough times, the love they find, and the men who cherish them.

She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Georgia families living with Autism, Kennedy has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other outlets as a voice for families living with autism.

Connect with Kennedy:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kennedyrwrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennedyryan1/

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KennedyRyanAuthor

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2gsAGkp

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2x0qCtC

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kennedy-ryan

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/681604768593989/

http://kennedyryanwrites.com

Blog Tour + 5 Star Review: Battle Scars by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Posted on 10/05/2017 by shellbellereads

Battle Scars

By Jane Harvey – Berrick

Release Date: October 1st, 2017

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis:

From the dusty plains of Afghanistan to the sleek corridors of the New York Times, journalist MJ Buckman seeks the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. What she doesn’t expect to find is a man who’s her complete opposite … and fits her perfectly.

Marine Sergeant Jackson Connor knows that relationships don’t work for men in the military. He’s living proof of that. But when a steely-eyed temptress in a flak jacket, who carries her moral cause in front of her, crosses his path, he’s furious, curious, and all kinds of in-lust.
* * *
A grown-up love story about two people who aren’t looking for love, but realize how precious it is when they find it. They don’t play games and there are no stupid misunderstandings, just life standing in their way.

Can they compromise? And what does that look like in a modern relationship between two driven people?

Assignment Vs deployment.

They’re always traveling in different directions. What relationship can survive that?

Michel’s Review

Jane Harvey-Berrick has become on of my go to authors. When I open one of her novels I know I am not only going to get an emotional romance but I am also going to get a truthful and compassionate story about people dealing with unpleasant circumstances in life. Whether it is a soldier suffering from PTSD or a seventeen year old boy becoming a man in his turbulent world or a dare devil stuntman with showmanship in his blood or a convicted felon acclimating to the outside world after years in prison, there is one thing in common in all of these novels. Jane Harvey-Berrick captures the vulnerability as well as the strength of the human spirit in an imperfect world. The one idea or emotion her novels clearly illustrate is HOPE no matter what the life circumstances are. With all the tension in today’s world people have forgotten the very basic thing that makes us stand out as humans, the potential to make a better world because of HOPE.

Battle Scars is a bit different from most military romances. This is a story of two people becoming a couple when their lives are on very different paths. One is a career military officer and the other is a journalist traveling throughout the world in search of the next story. Both of their jobs are fueled by adrenaline. They can be in very dangerous situations at any given moment which makes their jobs unpredictable. Somewhere in the midst of their chaotic world they found one another. Their love for one another changed how they looked at their own lives as well as their careers. Their mutual respect and acceptance of one another’s chosen careers was the foundation of their future relationship. Their choices may not have always been theirs to make but they learned to compromise. What was most important was the knowledge of each other’s love.

Jane Harvey-Berrick not only showed how difficult “military” relationships can be, she also showed the strength of these relationships. I admired the honesty her words delivered.

Jane Harvey-Berrick has delivered another outstanding book that went beyond the usual romance novel!

I highly recommend reading Battle Scars by Jane Harvey-Berrick.

______________________________

Jane is a writer of contemporary romance fiction, known for thoughtful stories, often touching on difficult subjects: disability (DANGEROUS TO KNOW & LOVE, SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM); mental illness (THE EDUCATION OF CAROLINE, SEMPER FI); life after prison (LIFERS); dyslexia (THE TRAVELING MAN, THE TRAVELING WOMAN).

She is also a campaigner for former military personnel to receive the support they need on leaving the services. She wrote the well-received play LATER, AFTER with former veteran Mike Speirs. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk1CyB8c0xA )

Author Links

Web Facebook Twitter Amazon Page Goodreads Instagram

Release Blitz + 5 Star Reviews + Giveaway + Tour Dates: Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

Posted on 10/03/2017 by shellbellereads

Without Merit

By Colleen Hoover

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends With Us and November 9 comes a moving and haunting novel of family, love, and the power of the truth.

“Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.”

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines, when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

Poignant and powerful, Without Merit explores the layers of lies that tie a family together and the power of love and truth.

________________________

Robin’s Review

Author Colleen Hoover touches on a very important topic in her new novel titled Without Merit. Her distinctive wit and humor dance around the subject of mental health. Readers will find comfort in her familiar writing voice but will also notice Without Merit is a bit different from anything she has ever written. Packed with unconventional characters and intense family drama, this book was nearly impossible for me to put down!

Our primary character, Merit Voss, lives in a re-purposed church building located in a small Texas town. Dubbed Dollar Voss, the church building is now the home to seven Voss family members. Merit is the self-proclaimed keeper of Voss family secrets. From her point of view, her family is embarrassing and completely dysfunctional. She harbors pent up anger towards family members, resents her eccentric living circumstances, and blames both of these reasons for her lack of a social life.

We’ve all heard some of these questions asked – how do you know if your family is normal? Which human behaviors are considered dysfunctional? Is there even such thing as a normal family? While I was reading this novel, I found myself focusing on questions such as these. Without Merit forced me to consider my own family dynamics and other important themes such as perspective, judgement, and resentment.

From the viewpoint of a teenage girl, the behaviors or makeup of a family unit can be traumatic, even embarrassing and frustrating. Colleen Hoover was very clever as she penned Merit’s passive-aggressive point-of-view. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but throughout this story I had this sense that we were building towards something important. It was subtle at first, barely there, and then it became more gradual. But it was there – I felt this impending sense that something climactic was coming.

Without Merit has solid character development, creativity, romantic tension, and eccentric secondary characters – all the characteristics we love to see in a top Colleen Hoover novel. Hoover took a step away from the new adult genre with this novel – something that I was delighted to see! This fiction novel falls soundly into the young adult age group, with a lean toward the coming of age genre.

Without Merit is a fantastic read, but the truth is, this story has the potential to touch people’s lives. At the very minimum, it will open the eyes of readers to the importance of mental health. I am sure of this. I highly recommend Without Merit. I’m giving this book a 5-star rating and will be adding it to my list of 2017 favorites!

*****

Michel’s Review

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover is one of those unique novels that doesn’t quite fit in any specific genre. It is the type of novel that will appeal to readers of all ages and all backgrounds.

Without Merit features a dysfunctional family seen through a teenager’s perspective. Like most modern day families,the Voss family structure is based upon busy schedules, individual agendas and poor communications. It is their normal until it no longer works. When one family member disrupts the cogs in their wheels, it’s the beginning of the breakdown of their family unit until they find a better way to function as a unit rather than a bunch of individuals living under one roof.

Merit Voss feels invisible amongst her family members and permanent house guests. Her family is dysfunctional in every way. Her mother lives in the basement while her father’s new wife is running the house. Her siblings are busy with their involvement in school activities and extra curricular activities. They each have their own quirks that add to the family dysfunction. Her twin sister’s boyfriend has moved in with them and she finds herself falling for him. The last thing she needs is to deal with the guilt of coveting her sister’s boyfriend. When her stepmom’s crazy younger brother joins the family home it disrupts the family dynamics all the more. His crazy antics and insightful observations add to the chaos.

One fateful moment brings clarity to the family. One dog bonds them together in an unusual way. Things have to change because no matter what happens, they love one another.

Colleen Hoover touched upon so many issues that plague the modern day family. Not only was the family dysfunctional, every person in the household had their own issues they were dealing with. Colleen added her quirky sense of humor to all of the characters and gave them individual traits that were easy to love. This lightened the heaviness of the subject matter in this book. She also showed that whether it’s blood or by choice, family is the foundation that made each individual strong in their own way. The family bond is what healed them all and led them on the path of healthier lives.

I would highly recommend Without Merit by Colleen Hoover.

_________________________________________________

Now for the fun….the #WithoutMerit Contest!

Enter the Rafflecopter to win a limited edition signed hardcover copy of WITHOUT MERIT! (5 winners in total) Contest is open until October 30^th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Don’t miss Colleen on tour for WITHOUT MERIT:

SEATTLE, WA

Monday, October 2^nd

THIRD PLACE BOOKS

7:00 PM

17171 Bothell Way NE

Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/colleen-hoover-without-merit

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/137295906877328/

LOS ANGELES, CA

Tuesday, October 3^rd

CHEVALIER’S BOOKS

7:00 PM

126 N. Larchmont Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90004

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-talk-and-signing-with-colleen-hoover-for-her-new-book-without-merit-tickets-37139282594

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1911946199130358

KANSAS CITY, KS

Wednesday, October 4^th

WOODNEATH LIBRARY CENTER

7:00 PM

8900 NE Flintlock Rd

Kansas City, MO 64157

http://www.mymcpl.org/events/calendar/story-center-speaker-series-colleen-hoover

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/174560183089713

CHICAGO, IL

Thursday, October 5^th

ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP – LA GRANGE

7:00 PM

26 S La Grange Rd

La Grange, IL 60525

http://hooverandersons.brownpapertickets.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/264445024062577

CINCINNATI, OH

Friday, October 6^th

JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS

7:00 PM

2692 Madison Road

Cincinnati, OH 45208

www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3081217

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/113057092698266

POTTSTOWN, PA

Saturday, October 7^th

BOOKS-A-MILLION

6:00 PM

Coventry Mall

351 W. Schuylkill Road Ste G16

Pottstown, PA 19465

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-colleen-hoover-at-books-a-million-pottstown-pa-tickets-37311651153

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/352249878530498

NEW YORK, NY

Sunday, October 8^th

NEW YORK COMIC CON

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

500 West 36th Street

Hudson Mercantile

New York, NY 10018

https://www.showclix.com/event/ColleenHoover5yf6nuy

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1979991848924145

DALLAS, TX

Tuesday, October 10

SMU BOOKSTORE

7:00 PM

B&N College

Southern Methodist University Bookstore

3060 Mockingbird Lane

Dallas, TX 75205

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colleen-hoover-book-launch-for-without-merit-tickets-37360492238?ref=elink

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/746877452165014

______________________________________

About Colleen Hoover

Author Bio:

Colleen Hoover’s love for writing began in 1985 when she was five years old. Her first story was titled “Mystery Bob” and was a huge hit with her mother, who was really good at faking interest. Colleen continued to write short stories for friends and family until December of 2011, when she decided to write a long story she titled, “Slammed.” She self-published SLAMMED to Amazon in January, 2012 and it hit the NYT’s bestsellers list in May, 2012. She has since signed with Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, and now has six NYT’s bestsellers. Colleen prefers to be called a writer, as the term “author” still terrifies her and makes this feel like a job with expectations. She doesn’t work well under pressure and hopes writing will always remain fun and exciting. Colleen’s newest novel, UGLY LOVE, releases August 5th, 2014. She is currently working on a new novel, CONFESS, which she is writing as fast as she can before she wakes up from this crazy dream.

You can follow Colleen on Instagram and Twitter @colleenhoover. You can also find her on her blog at http://www.colleenhoover.com where she holds a daily book-a-day giveaway, or on her very active Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/authorcolleenhoover where she loves to give away more free stuff when her husband isn’t looking.

Colleen also wants the world to know that writing short biographies in third person is incredibly awkward.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour + Review: Breakaway by Sophia Henry – The Pilots Hockey Series – Book 5

Posted on 10/02/2017 by shellbellereads

Breakaway
Sophia Henry
Published by: Random House: Flirt
Publication date: September 5th 2017
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Sports

In a standalone hockey romance that tugs at readers’ heartstrings, a broken ex-pro learns to live and love again—all thanks to the complicated, wonderful nurse who gives him a second chance.

Brianna Collins needs to break away from her overbearing family. Her parents expect her to “fix” her brother after a series of concussions derailed his hockey career. Unfortunately, no doctor will give him clearance to play, and she’s finished with being the person they rely on to perform a miracle that will never happen. For Bree, a six-month nursing assignment at a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the perfect escape.

Luke Daniels, former forward for the NHL’s Charlotte Aviators, has spent close to a year rehabbing a career-threatening injury—and distracting himself however he can. Worlds collide when Luke realizes that the girl from his latest one-night-stand happens to be the new nurse at the hospital where he volunteers in the pediatric unit. What’s more, Bree’s the only person who makes him excited about life again.

Despite her initial reservations, Luke can’t help pursuing sweet, beautiful Bree. Then he realizes it was her brother whose career he ended with an accidental hit, and he falls back on the thing that’s always helped suppress his demons: alcohol. But if Luke doesn’t kick his old habits, he just may lose the one thing he loves more than hockey.

Don’t miss any of Sophia Henry’s exhilarating Pilots Hockey novels:
DELAYED PENALTY | POWER PLAY | INTERFERENCE | UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT | BREAKAWAY

Praise for Sophia Henry
“Sophia Henry’s hockey novels are fun and flirty, warm and sweet, with relatable heroines and swoon-worthy hockey heroes. They’ll bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart.”—USA Today bestselling author Kelly Jamieson

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Books-A-Million / Google Play

_______________________________________

Michel’s Review

Breakaway by Sophia Henry is the fifth book in the Pilots Hockey Series. Breakaway has a very different tone and vibe than the previous books in the series and this may be why this book is getting mixed reactions from the fans of this series. If you are looking for a book that is hockey related but want more of the action off the ice away from the game, this is the book you want to pick up. This is a book about second chances, redemption, hope, love, and life after hockey. Each character is dealing with their own let downs and problems in life, a small part of it is due to their worlds coincidentally colliding one moment in time. The other part is what happens after all the pieces are broken and in need of repair.

Reading the synopsis gives the reader a good idea the direction this novel is going. It’s what happens after that brings Bree and Luke true happiness in life. It’s learning to accept what you can’t control, learning to walk away when all avenues are exhausted, learning to forgive others as well as forgiving oneself, and finally learning that life has so much more to offer when you open your heart.

Breakaway is loaded with emotional angst as well as sexy romance. Although I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the previous books in the series, I liked it a lot better once I took the time to digest the real message within the story. I would recommend this book to new readers as well as fans of this series. Sophia Henry took the Pilots Hockey Series beyond the ice.

_______________________________________

Author Bio:

Award-Winning Author, Sophia Henry, is a proud Detroit native who fell in love with reading, writing and hockey all before she became a teenager. She did not, however, fall in love with snow. So after graduating with an English degree from Central Michigan University, she moved to the warmth of North Carolina for the remainder of her winters.

She spends her days writing books featuring hot, hockey-playing heroes. When she’s not writing, she’s chasing her two high-energy sons, watching her beloved Detroit Red Wings, and rocking out at concerts.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Battle Scars by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Posted on 10/02/2017 by shellbellereads

Battle Scars

By Jane Harvey – Berrick

Release Date: October 1st, 2017

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis:

Can they compromise? And what does that look like in a modern relationship between two driven people?

Assignment Vs deployment.

They’re always traveling in different directions. What relationship can survive that?

Michel’s Review

Jane Harvey-Berrick not only showed how difficult “military” relationships can be, she also showed the strength of these relationships. I admired the honesty her words delivered.

Jane Harvey-Berrick has delivered another outstanding book that went beyond the usual romance novel!

I highly recommend reading Battle Scars by Jane Harvey-Berrick.

______________________________

Author Links

Web Facebook Twitter Amazon Page Goodreads Instagram

Now available on all retailers! Grab your copy today, and get HARD WOOD in your hands!

✮✮✮ HARD WOOD is here! Grab your copy today! ✮✮✮

From #1 NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely comes a hot & hilarious new standalone romantic comedy…

Women often say a good man is hard to find. And a hard man is even better.

That’s why I’m quite a catch– good, hard, loaded, and wait for it…I’m ready to settle down too. But the woman I want to pitch my tent with lives clear across the country. Neither of us wants to get lost in those woods. All I have to do is resist her for the week she’s in town.

I try. I swear I try. But yeah, that doesn’t work out.

Don’t screw your customers.

You can find this sexy standalone romantic comedy available across all retailers now!

✦Kindle US ➜ http://amzn.to/2gvaTbG

✦Kindle UK ➜ http://amzn.to/2xXwncq

✦Kindle CA ➜ http://amzn.to/2zsvfdd

✦Kindle AU ➜ http://amzn.to/2gvLhLS

✦iBooks ➜ http://apple.co/2xoVy6k

✦Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/2tIJoQo

✦Nook ➜ http://bit.ly/2gLRTJ2

✦Google Play ➜ http://bit.ly/2x5DHPH

✦Amazon PB ➜ http://amzn.to/2x8Y54c

✦Amazon Audio ➜ http://amzn.to/2znV6Uu

✦Audible ➜ http://adbl.co/2x5FyE6

✦ The audiobook is narrated by Sebastian York! Get your copy today! ✦ Audible * Amazon Audio

Add it to Goodreads here! http://bit.ly/2uAoPJW

And don’t miss Lauren Blakely’s other standalone Romantic Comedies!

✮✮✮ Enter to win this amazing HARD WOOD GIVEAWAY! ✮✮✮

The HARD WOOD Urban Adventure Pack ($380 value) is filled with:

✮ A stylish Michael Kors backpack for when a purse is not enough for your shopping adventture

✮ $50 Gift Card to The Body Shop to pamper yourself after a long day

✮ Your very own plush Zeus to snuggle with

✮ A Smores Making Kit for a backyard adventure

Share this:

BUY NOW

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Paperback | iBooks | BN | Kobo

Share this:

Share this:

Prince Kael.

His darkness mirrors a growing force lurking within her. A struggle she never imagined threatens to consume her. And as friends and foes begin to show their true colors, she starts questioning whether anyone is who they seem. Even herself.

✦ Amazon US ✦ Amazon UK ✦ iBooks ✦ B&N ✦ Kobo ✦ Google Play

Share this:

READ FOR FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xOtvLK Audible: http://smarturl.it/SMTWAudible

Signed Paperback: http://www.aljacksonauthor.com/signed-copies

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xOtvLK Audible: http://smarturl.it/SMTWAudible

Signed Paperback: http://www.aljacksonauthor.com/signed-copies

Share this:

STILL, the sexy,emotional final installment of the GRIP series,

is available NOW!

Excerpt:

Read STILL Today!

Start the Series Today!

Read GRIP Today for only 99¢!

Join the GRIP Discussion Group:

Join the STILL Recovery Room:

Order Signed GRIP Series Paperbacks:

About Kennedy:

Connect with Kennedy:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

✦ The audiobook is narrated by Sebastian York! Get your copy today! ✦
Audible * Amazon Audio

Add it to Goodreads here!
http://bit.ly/2uAoPJW

His darkness mirrors a growing force lurking within her. A struggle she never imagined threatens to consume her. And as friends and foes begin to show their true colors, she starts questioning whether anyone is who they seem.
Even herself.

READ FOR FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xOtvLK
Audible: http://smarturl.it/SMTWAudible

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xOtvLK
Audible: http://smarturl.it/SMTWAudible