Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite + Giveaway: The Long Way Home by Jasinda Wilder

Posted on 06/30/2017 by shellbellereads

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The Long Way Home

The One Series – Book One

By Jasinda Wilder

Synopsis:

I need you, Ava.

I am desperate. For you. For touch. For a kiss. For the scrape of your hand down my stomach. For the slide of your lips across my hipbone. The sweep of your thigh against mine in the dulcet, drowning darkness. For the warm huff of your breath on my skin and the wet suck of your mouth around me and the building pressure of need reaching release…I am mad with need.

Wild with it.

I cannot have you. I have lost you, as I have lost myself.

And so I go in search. Of myself, and thus the man who might return to you, and take you in his arms.

I loathe each of the thousands of miles between us, but I cannot wish them away, for I hope at the end of my journey I shall find you. Or rather, find myself, and thus…you. Myself, and thus us.

I am taking the long way home, Ava.

* * *

Christian,

I’m losing my mind, and I don’t know how to stop it. I shouldn’t be writing to you, but I am. I’m friendless, loveless, and lifeless. You’re out there somewhere, and still you’re all I really have. I hate my reliance and dependence on you, emotionally and otherwise, and that reliance is something I’m coming to recognize. I hate that I can’t hate you as much as I want to. I hate that I still love you so much.

I hate that there’s no clear solution to our conundrum. Even if we could forgive each other, what then?

I hate you, Christian. I really do.

But most of all, I don’t.

It’s complicated.

Complicatedly (still) yours,

Ava

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Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free Review

This is a spoiler free review and I will not talk about anything that happens in this book. I will say that it is a story about a marriage that fell apart after the couple faced the worst thing that could happen to anyone. Rather than coming together to get through their trying times, they both withdrew within themselves. Neither one of them was right or wrong, they were both severely damaged and surviving the only way they could. Marriage is hard in any circumstance because it’s about compromising, giving rather than taking, and communicating. Ava and Christian were thrown into life changes that spiraled out of their control. They didn’t have time to adjust to one change before the repercussions of that change evolved into another change that could not be managed or fixed. The outcome left them devastated and forever changed as individuals as well as a couple.

I remember the first time I picked up a Jasinda Wilder novel and fell hopelessly in love with her writing. It was when Falling Into Your released in 2013. I was blown away by this novel and quickly downloaded her previous books. Throughout the past four years Jasinda has grown as a writer and branched out into many other genres besides New Adult romance. She has published The Big Girls Do It Running, healthy lifestyle non fiction books, and has even become a national figure with her diet and healthy living program. Her program is successful because she tackles the real eating and exercise issues most people face daily and offers guides that are practical, sensible, and easy to follow. With her latest release, A Long Way Home, she’s back to the kind of novel that made me fall in love with her writing. The difference is that she has grown as writer and has found more compelling ways to take the readers on an emotional journey that is unforgettable. I was wrecked in a way that only Jasinda can do to me as a reader.

The moment I picked up The Long Way Home I was drawn into the story and could not put this book down until I finished it. While reading this book I experienced an array of emotions that changed with each passage. One moment I was sympathizing with Ava and literally hating Christian’s actions and then the next moment I thought Ava was the most selfish, uncaring person and Christian was justified by his actions. My heart broke for both of them and I felt their despair in the depths of my soul. I felt their pain as well as their lost identities. Through their letters to one another the reader got to experience their pre marriage relationship, their early marriage relationship, and the catalyst that tore them apart.

There was something else that made this novel more unique and more compelling than any other novel I have read. The novel was driven by Christian’s and Ava’s letters to each other but the reader was experiencing the separate lives they were living at that moment. The book focused on their relationship from the early beginnings to the present day. Christian and Ava were the main focus of the book even though there were a few other supporting characters that helped propel their story. And then the book takes a completely different direction and the supporting characters take over and completely wrap the reader up in their lives. This novel took a completely different direction and by the end of the book the reader is almost more involved with what is going to happen in their lives rather than Ava’s and Christian’s lives. It ended on two big monumental cliffhangers.

The writing was absolutely brilliant and very well thought out. After talking to Jasinda herself at UtopiaCon 2017, she gave me a little insight of what is to come next. This series was intended to take the reader’s on several emotional journeys and there are more characters with their own stories making an entrance. By the end of the series all of their stories will be wrapped up and deeply connected with one another. In many ways it’s like the real journeys we take through life. People come and go in our lives and leave their mark on us forever.

I highly recommend reading The Long Way Home by Jasinda Wilder.

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Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a Signed Paperback of The Long Way Home!
Enter Here >>> a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and internationally bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. Her bestselling titles include Alpha, Stripped, Wounded, and the #1 Amazon.com and international bestseller Falling into You. You can find her on her farm in northern Michigan with her husband, author Jack Wilder, her six children, and a menagerie of animals.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: The Director And Don Juan by Katy Regnery – The Story Sisters – Book 2 : Blueberry Lane Series – Book 16

Posted on 06/30/2017 by shellbellereads

The Director and Don Juan by Katy Regnery is LIVE!
FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

17879825_10155075252659976_7034376401635735292_o

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

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2ua8EQ2

From New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery comes a brand new series set on Blueberry Lane!

The Director and Don Juan is the second of four books about the Philadelphia-based Story sisters who are all on the look-out for love.

Heiress Alice Story left her father’s company three years ago in a blaze of glory, inviting all of his employees to jump ship and join her, but only one accepted her offer: mail room clerk, Carlos Vega.

While Alice spent the next three years getting her own company off the ground, Carlos became her indispensable right-hand man — executive assistant and office manager, loyal counsel and trusted co-worker.

And all the while, they were quietly falling in love with each other.

When Alice is offered a lucrative business deal in Puerto Rico, island-born Carlos is the perfect person to accompany her on her trip as translator, but as they travel together from Philadelphia to Santo Domingo to Ponce, two unlikely co-workers will discover that during their three years working together, their feelings for each other have grown far deeper than they ever could have guessed.

And though business-minded, proper Alice will try her very best to ignore the longings of her heart, scorching hot, insanely sexy Boricua, Carlos, has no intention of letting her go.
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Michel’s Review

The Story sisters are back in Katy Regnery’s latest release, The Director And Don Juan. Once again Katy takes us back to the Blueberry Lane world with a new unique story to add to this phenomenal romance series.

Alice Story has worked hard to become the successful business woman she is today. When she blatantly defied her father and struck out on her own there was only one other person that had her back other than her sisters. Carlos Vega chose to follow her rather than staying in a stagnant job. He respected her business abilities as well as her integrity. He believed she could build her dream and was willing to sacrifice his own questionable career. He saw this as an opportunity for growth and direction towards his own business goals. It also brought him closer to Alice Story.

Alice Story is determined to build a company that is based on fair business practices for her employees as well as her clients. Carlos Vega was the only person who believed in her when she set out on her own. He has been monumental in building her business and has become her right hand. She doesn’t feel like it’s fair to keep him in a position as her PA and office manager when he has so much more potential in the company. She feels like she is selfish hanging onto him for herself rather than letting him spread his wings. He’s become her confidant, her best friend, and right hand man. She shouldn’t be harboring romantic feelings towards him. He’s her employee and he’s six years younger than her. It goes against every business ethic and personal ethic she believes in.

A business trip to Puerto Rico forces her take Carlos with her. Carlos is from Puerto Rico and can navigate the business negotiations with ease. Carlos also plans to negotiate his relationship with Alice Story. It may not be easy but it’s worth every effort. She is his dream and the future he wants.

Katy Regnery sealed the deal with Carlos and Alice in a very delightful, entertaining romance that had me swooning. I absolutely loved this book!

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Don’t forget to preorder The Flirt and the Fox!
RELEASE DATE: September 21st

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2tqwMBj
APPLE: http://ow.ly/mgEZ30cQKCG
NOOK: http://ow.ly/PkGw30cQKzy
KOBO: http://ow.ly/HAy330cQKGV

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Twenty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled, New York Times and USA Today Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other standalone novels and novellas.

Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1-4, became a New York Times E-book bestseller.

In 2016, Katy signed a print-only agreement with Spencerhill Press. As a result, her Blueberry Lane paperback books will now be distributed to brick and mortar bookstores all over the United States.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

Author Links:

Website/Newsletter Signup: http://katyregnery.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211470.Katy_Regnery
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dqySsy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatyRegnery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatyRegnery
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/katharineregner/

Duo 5+ Reviews and 2017 Favorite : The Player Duet by K. Bromberg – The Player… Book 1 and The Catch … Book 2

Posted on 06/30/2017 by shellbellereads

The Catch

The Player Duet – Book 2

By K. Bromberg

Buy: Amazon

After an unexpected twist of fate, All-Star catcher Easton Wylder is left questioning the loyalty of everyone around him.

Even the woman who shares his bed, Scout Dalton.

But if Easton thought being uprooted to the last place he expected was the only challenge life had to throw at him, he was dead wrong.

With an ailing shoulder and his career in limbo, his decision to make an unexpected change leads him to question everything – Scout’s love, family loyalties, and whether he can conquer the one obstacle he’s never been able to overcome. The secret he’s never shared with anyone.

He may be a man pushed to his limits, but he’s hell-bent on proving his worth no matter the cost.

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Paperback

Michel’s Review

The Player

The Player Duet – Book 1

When The Player released in April I was unable to read it because my personal life was out of control. I knew that it was going to be a part of a duet and decided to wait to read it closer to the second book’s release. I read this book days before the second book released and was completely mesmerized with this story. I was counting down the days for the second book to release.

The Player by K. Bromberg is very different from any sports romance I have read. She took a different approach with the characters personalities as well as the plot. It was not your typical sports romance where the player is a player and his lady is oblivious to the professional sports world. K. Bromberg flipped the switch and threw some fast balls that most readers wouldn’t see coming. She also created complex and compelling characters who were intelligent, responsible, and attuned to their world. She added extra layers by giving them both very different kinds of daddy issues, career goals, and personal issues. She added the competitive side of the professional athlete and business practices in professional sports. Then she added the most important element of all, the sizzling hot romance that would make any reader feel like they were scoring a home run.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty. He has been a part of the Aces since he was a kid watching his father, Cal Wylder make major league records. He’s followed in his father’s footsteps and is quickly building record breaking stats when a deliberate and illegal play results in an injury that could end his career. He’s still in the rehab process weeks after his surgery and management is not happy. He’s signed a contract to be back on the field within months rather than letting nature take it’s course in healing properly. His career is on the line and the management has brought in the best physical therapist in the sport to rehab him. Rather than Doc Dalton showing up for therapy sessions, his daughter Scout Dalton has been assigned to him. He’s reluctant to put his trust in her until she finally proves she is just as good as her father is at her job. She earns his respect and in the process wins his heart.

Scout Dalton is determined to get Easton back on the diamond in the allotted time even though she thinks it’s a ludicrous demand by management. She’s a professional and very good at what she does. She’s determined to gain the season contract as the lead physical therapist for the Aces for her father’s practice. It all depends on Easton getting back in the game. The last thing she needs is to fall in love with Easton when her professional ethics are on the line.

At this point I’m sure you are thinking that this plot has been covered before and you would be right. The difference is the layers and the complexities that K. Bromberg brings to the game. Both Easton and Scout have their own secrets and insecurities. They are both drowning because of their father’s professional reputations. Add a competitive enemy determined to ruin Easton’s career, it puts both their careers on the line. Then the unthinkable happens and you guessed it…CLIFFHANGER!

The cliffhanger was shocking! It had me counting down the days for The Catch to release.

K. Bromberg brought her A Game in this book!

Michel’s Review

The Catch

The Player Duet – Book 2

I downloaded The Catch the moment it went live and started reading it immediately . I did not put this book down until I finished it. As soon as it was finished I was texting my friend, who also read the first book in this duet, raving about the book!

OMG… K. Bromberg scored big with The Catch!

So without giving away spoilers, K. Bromberg resolved the shocking cliffhanger right off the bat but not without a lot of tension and unease. That part of the story becomes less important as the rest of the story begins to play out. Both Easton and Scout’s secrets are exposed. Both of their father’s ulterior motives and ruthless control over them becomes even more complex. The result is both of their careers at this point in time are ruined. The expectations of the management, the league, and the fans is beyond their control. The only thing they have is each other and their relationship is strained.

They are both going to have to re-evalute their professional goals, their family responsibilities, and their relationship with one another. Once their secrets are out they are going to be fighting to save their relationship and careers. They may find that they are their own worst enemy. Can these two look beyond what’s on the surface and look at what’s in their hearts.

Of course K. Bromberg is going to give them their happily ever after but she is going to make them work for it. In the end it’s better than winning the World Series.

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Baseball has never been sexier in an all-new novel by New York Times Bestselling Author, K. Bromberg.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty. The game is his life. His passion. His everything.

So, when an injury threatens to end Easton’s season early, the team calls in renowned physical therapist, Doc Dalton, to oversee his recovery. Except it’s not Doc who greets Easton for his first session, but rather, his daughter, Scout. She may be feisty, athletic, defiant, and gorgeous, but Easton is left questioning whether she has what it takes to help him.

Scout Dalton’s out to prove a female can handle the pressure of running the physical therapy regimen of an MLB club. And that proof comes in the form of getting phenom Easton Wylder back on the field. But getting him healthy means being hands-on.

And with a man as irresistible as Easton, being hands-on can only lead to one thing, trouble. Because the more she touches him, the more she wants him, and she can’t want him. Not when it’s her job to maintain the club’s best interest, in regards to whether he’s ready to play.

But when sparks fly and fine lines are crossed, can they withstand the heat, or is one of them bound to get burned?

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Paperback

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, K. has sold over one million copies of her books and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times.

In April, she’ll release The Player, the first in a two-book sports romance series (The Catch, book 2, will be released late June), with many more already outlined and ready to be written.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales HERE

5 Star Review + Excerpt: Amnesia by Cambria Hebert

Posted on 06/29/2017 by shellbellereads

Amnesia
Cambria Hebert
Publication date: June 12th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

I washed ashore in a little lake town.
A place where everyone knows everyone, yet…
No one knows me.
I don’t know me.
If a woman doesn’t know her own name, does she really exist?
I don’t know my natural hair color, my birthdate, or where I live.
I am invisible.
To everyone, to everything, even to myself.
Except to him.
I see the recognition deep in his stare, the way it lingers on my face as if I’m a puzzle he’s desperate to put together.
I just want answers, the truth… knowledge.
His lips are sealed. Still, his eyes beguile me.
I can’t trust anyone, not even myself. Someone wants me dead, the same someone who tried to bury me in a watery grave.
They’ll come for me again… I won’t know their face.
I don’t even know mine.
I am amnesia.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Slivers of light pricked my eyelids, which up until this moment seemed far too heavy to lift. As I lay against something soft at my back, thought and awareness barely registered.

The gritty feeling as I struggled to raise my eyelids scraped and burned over my eyeballs as if warning me it wasn’t a good idea. Swallowing past the sandpaper in my throat, I stopped working and lay still. Cognizance slowly came forward in the form of something weighing me down and the echo of footsteps nearby.

Adrenaline jackknifed through me, and my body arched upward with the force of my gasp. The weight of whatever held me caused severe panic to fill me, and I began to fight against it.

“No!” I screamed, flailing about, trying to escape the binds. “Let me go!”

High-pitched beeping filled my ears, and the footsteps I’d heard grew more insistent and much closer.

He was coming!

“No!” I screamed.

Strong hands grabbed my arms and pinned me down. I tried to fight back, but they were much stronger than me. Kicking my legs, I tried to free them, but even more weight came down, holding them still until I was gasping for breath and ready to beg.

“Please!” I pleaded as wetness coated my cheeks. It made me realize the grittiness under my lids was rinsed away, and my eyes sprang open.

A man was leaning over me. He had graying hair and wore some kind of white shirt. The scream that ripped right out of me scared us both.

More hands and voices came out of nowhere, and I thrashed around again.

“Miss!” the man yelled. “Miss, calm down.”

“Get away from me!” I screamed again.

“Miss!” another voice yelled, a woman this time. Turning in her direction, I saw a pair of kind brown eyes staring at me. “We aren’t trying to hurt you.”

I calmed some, but the thundering of my heart made me feel as if I might spiral out of control. “You aren’t?”

“No.” The woman, who was also dressed in white, spoke. “You’re at a hospital. You were in an accident.”

“W-what?” I stammered, collapsing back against the bed, no longer straining against the binds.

“You’re at a hospital.”

“You’re trying to hold me down!” I accused.

“We don’t want you to hurt yourself.” the woman explained. The hands, even the man’s, remained.

“I don’t like it,” I admitted, recoiling.

The man straightened, stepping back. The nurse was slower to withdraw, but she did so after a few seconds.

“My legs,” I rasped. Suddenly, my throat hurt.

“It’s just the blankets.”

A quick glance down proved I was covered with blankets. Between suspicious glances at the people crowding my room (there were four), I gazed around, concluding I was in fact in a hospital.

“I don’t understand,” I admitted, all my weight pressing into the bed.

“It’s okay,” the man replied. He was a doctor, with a name badge and a stethoscope. “It’s completely normal and expected to be confused after the ordeal you’ve been through.”

“What ordeal?” I asked instantly, anxiety pressing in on my ribcage.

“We were hoping you could tell us,” the doctor said.

“What?” My brows furrowed.

The nurse leaned close, over the side of the bed. I noticed the railings were pulled up on each side. It made me feel as if I were in jail. Instantly, I hated it and began shoving at the bars, trying to push them down.

“Okay, hang on,” the nurse said and put the rails down. Once it was done, she pinned me with an insistent stare. “You have to stay still. You can’t thrash around. You’ll rip out your IV and reinjure yourself.”

“What happened to me?” I asked for what felt like the fifteenth time. I looked around at the four people in the room, hoping one of them would just spit it out.

The doctor motioned to two of the nurses and then quietly left the room.

I glanced back at the nurse. “Can you tell us your name?” she asked.

“My name?” I nodded once, then opened my mouth… only nothing came out.

Anxiety spiked in me again; I started to become agitated. “I… don’t know.”

“Calm down.” The nurse reminded me.

How dare she tell me to calm down? I couldn’t even remember my name.

Oh my God, I didn’t know my own name!

“I don’t remember!” I gasped, jerking up into a sitting position. “Why can’t I remember?”

Before I could fling the covers off and jump out of bed, the doctor was there, pinning me back down. “If you don’t calm down, we’ll have to sedate you. I don’t want to do that. You’ve been out long enough.”

I stilled. “How long?”

“A while.” The nurse hedged.

I ignored her. She was terrible with questions. “How long?” I demanded.

“A little over two months,” the doctor replied.

I gasped. “What’s my name?” I yelled.

I’d been here for two months and they were asking for my name? Shouldn’t they know it?

The doctor wasn’t looking at me; he was looking at the nurse, giving her a curt nod. She rushed out of the room.

“No!” I shouted. “No drugs! Please! Tell me my name. I just want to know my name.”

“You need to calm down. You’ve had a great deal of trauma, miss.”

I dropped back against the pillow, boneless. He called me miss. “You don’t know my name, do you?” I asked, meek.

Sensing all my energy was drained away, he moved back. A frown pulled at his lips. “You were brought in with no identification.” He began.

Fear unlike anything I’d ever felt wrapped around my heart and squeezed. I searched every corner of my mind for something. Anything.

There was nothing.

“I don’t remember…” I whispered.

The doctor seemed to soften. “I know this must be very scary, to wake up and be so disoriented.”

I laughed, but it wasn’t a humorous sound. I wished I were disoriented right then.

“You’ve been through a lot. Give it a few days. Now that you’re awake, your mind will catch up and you will remember.”

“I will?” I asked.

“There’s a good chance.”

Disappointment speared me. “If I don’t?”

“Let’s take it one day at a time.” He placated me.

“Easy for you to say. You know your name.”

A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. “Time.” He reminded me.

The nurse came through the door, holding a syringe, and I cringed away.

“I don’t think we’re going to need that,” the doctor told her.

I let out an audible sigh.

He glanced around again. “Now that you’re awake, I’ll get you down for testing.”

“What kind of testing?” I asked.

“Routine stuff for someone who’s been in a coma.”

Nothing about this was routine. I was in coma… for two months. And I didn’t even know my name.

When both the nurse and doctor were gone and I was alone, my eyes overflowed with tears and a formidable feeling of dread crowded inside me. The doctor said there was “a good chance” I would remember my name very soon.

The problem was it wasn’t just my name I needed to remember…

It was everything.

Michel’s Review

I am a huge fan of Cambria Hebert’s books. She is one of those authors that can tackle any genre and hold the reader captive until the very last page. I think my favorite books of hers are her romantic suspense novels. She has a way of keeping the reader on the edge of their seats while delivering a sizzling romance. Her latest release, Amnesia, is a bit different than her previous romantic suspense books. There’s a shroud of mystery around both of the main characters as well as an emotional past that may be connected to their present.

Eddie Donovan is tortured by his past. Years ago there was an accident at the lake that resulted in losing his best friend. He’s never gotten over it and even though life has gone on, his is frozen in that moment in time. Sure he works hard in his family store and has a keen business sense but his personal life is void. He wasn’t the only person in town deeply affected by the accident.

One late night changes everything when he rescues a woman drowning in the lake. That woman resembles the girl that drowned years ago. The girl who has haunted his soul. It seems impossible for it to be her but at the same time he has hope. She can’t remember her name, where she’s from, or how she ended up in the lake. She has named herself Amnesia.

Soon it becomes quite clear that Amnesia’s past is darker than they thought. Mysterious things begin happening and it becomes clear someone wanted her to die that night in the lake. They are back to finish the job.

As the danger escalates, Eddie and Amnesia’s relationship is becoming more than friends. They are falling in love. How can they fight off the danger when they don’t know what they are fighting?

Just as Amnesia’s memories begin to surface it becomes quite clear she may not survive them. The lake tried to claim her life, now it’s demanding her soul. What happens next…Cliffhanger!

This book held me captive and I was hanging on the edge of my seat. The cliffhanger has left me biting my nails waiting to see who is the monster of the lake. There’s definitely more to this shocking story.

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Author Bio:

Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.

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

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

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

New Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway : The Impossible Vastness of Us by Samantha Young – A YA Romance

Posted on 06/28/2017 by shellbellereads

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

About THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US:

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

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

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

Amazon US Hardcover | Amazon US eBook | Barnes & Noble | iBooks US

Amazon UK | Kobo UK | GooglePlay | iBooks UK | Kobo US

Add to your Goodreads

EXCERPT:

“India, I’m not using her. I mean, I am, but it’s not like that. Eloise is getting what she wants out of this relationship, as well.”

“Like what?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“You are using her.”

“I’m not.” His chair screeched as he pulled it closer so our knees touched. His dark eyes moved over my face and I sucked in my breath at the open appreciation I saw there. “I’m not using her…but we are in a relationship together. I guess it just never occurred to me that I might actually meet someone in high school. Someone I…”

That feeling in my chest, that thick, hot feeling, threatened to overwhelm me at all the things he wasn’t saying. “Finn, Eloise is going to be my family.”

He looked so forlorn it took everything within me not to reach for him.

“What is it you’re hiding?”

“I can’t tell you. Please, just trust me.”

Hurt and frustration swept through me in equal measure but I tamped it down. It wasn’t my place to demand his secrets.

My frustration was suddenly mirrored in his eyes as he looked up at me. “I wish things were different.”

But they weren’t different. And yet they were the same, history repeating itself. I cared about someone and they didn’t care enough about me back to be honest about what was really going on.

I didn’t know if I was angry at Finn or just angry that nothing ever seemed to be easy for me. Everything was always a fight.

It felt like I lived in a constant clusterfuck.

I gave a huff of laughter. “Story of my life.” I shook my head, grabbed up my bag and, unable to look at him, said, “Thank you for your help tonight.”

“You’re not leaving without me.”

His protectiveness confused and pissed me off even more. “I’m not? Funny, it looks like that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

His familiar scowl was back in place at my sarcasm. “You’re also not going home alone after what happened here. I’ll give you a ride.”

“Finn.” I slumped, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Sadness flittered through his eyes before he managed a carefully blank expression. “I think I can handle driving you home.”

Still a trembling mess after everything that had happened, I gave in and followed Finn out to his car.

The tension that we’d shared before was nothing compared to how it was now. Now that Finn had in a roundabout way admitted he liked me and I’d realized that what I was feeling for him was attraction, the tension could not be mistaken for anything else but sexual.

I’d never felt anything like it before—it was the most frustrating, scary and exhilarating feeling in the world.

When we eventually pulled up outside the house, the guilt washed over me. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about Eloise’s boyfriend and he certainly shouldn’t be feeling this way about me.

I felt like we were to blame for the whole thing but I didn’t know why.

I hadn’t asked the universe to make Finn like me.

And I had definitely not intended to like him in return.

“India,” he said just as I moved to get out of his car. “I’ve never really cared what anybody thought of me before…but I really don’t want you to think I’m a bad person.”

I stared into his beautiful eyes. “I can’t imagine ever thinking you’re a bad person. I meant it earlier…thank you for coming for me tonight. I’ll never forget it.”

“This feels weirdly like a goodbye,” he said with a bitter twist to his gorgeous lips.

“Maybe it is. I guess we’re both just a complication the other doesn’t need.”

Slowly, so slowly my heart had time to increase in hard, steady thumps, Finn slid his hand over the center console between us and stroked his thumb along the side of my hand. I felt that simple touch in every nerve, my body reacting to it in a way it never had to the touches and deep kisses that had come before it.

I stared at our hands for a moment, wondering how different my life could be if Finn wasn’t Eloise’s boyfriend, if we’d just met as strangers at school, felt the inexplicable bond between us and were free to do something about it.

Suddenly very aware of how long I’d been sitting outside the house in his car, I fumbled for the door handle. “See you around, Finn.”

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Michel’s Review

Samantha Young is known for her emotional, spellbinding contemporary romances. I was excited to see that she was taking on a new genre and writing a mature Young Adult romance. I can honestly say she delivered another fantastic book that not only teens but also adults will enjoy.

Who says it doesn’t matter is you are rich or poor? In the new world that India Maxwell is thrust in when her mother decides to marry. it matters more than anything else. She’s leaving her friends and popularity behind in California to take on the elite world in Boston. She doesn’t fit in with her new classmates. Her soon to be stepsister is the ruler of the “in” crowd and has deemed her unfit. She became a social pariah the moment she stepped foot in Boston.

As she tackles her junior year in a new high school things start becoming quite clear. The “in” crowd isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. These jerks have just as many problems if not more than India could imagine. Somewhere along the way she begins to connect with them on a very personal level. Her new stepsister may end up being her best friend but may end up being her worst nightmare. Her stepsister’s boyfriend is the defining factor because he is falling for India. The complexity of their relationships is not what you see on the surface. They all have their secrets. When the secrets come out it will be the defining moments in all of their lives. It will change everything they thought they knew and thought they understood about life.

Samantha Young once again delivered a gripping story that played on all of my emotions. I would highly recommend this book!

About Samantha Young:

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

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

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

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Make Me Stay by Sidney Halston – Panic Series – Book 2

Posted on 06/27/2017 by shellbellereads

Make Me Stay

Panic Series – Book 2

By Sidney Halston

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Secret identities, second chances, drama, desire: It’s all going down in Miami Beach in this tantalizing novel from the bestselling author of Pull Me Close, which was hailed by Aurora Rose Reynolds as “a heart-gripping story about . . . the power of love.”

April: Walking away from Matt Moreno was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Lying to him was a close second, but for his safety, I had no other choice. I was undercover, working to put some nasty people behind bars. But when Matt nearly recognizes me on Lincoln Road a year later, all those very real feelings come rushing back. Now that my assignment’s almost over, will he understand why I lied? Why I had to leave? Most important, can he ever forgive me?

Matt: I was madly in love with June Simpson . . . or, at least, with the woman I thought was June. Then she just disappeared while my family’s nightclub went through hell. And after months of searching, when I think I’ve finally found that sexy, raspy voice and those exquisite blue eyes, she slips away once more. Turns out, “June” is actually Detective April White. She’s been playing me the whole time. And she’s about to rock my world all over again.

*****

Michel’s Review

Make Me Stay by Sidney Halston is the second book in the Panic series and the twin brother, Matt Moreno’s story. It can be read as a stand alone but I would highly recommend reading it after the first book, Pull Me Close.

Matt’s story takes place before his father was arrested which was before Nick’s story (Pull Me Close) and after the repercussions of his father’s crimes and near destruction of their family nightclub Panic. Pull Me Close takes place in between these two timeframes.

On the surface Matt has always appeared to be the happy go lucky twin. His easy going attitude is a deceptive armor for the complex man beneath the surface. In the beginning he’s juggling two full time careers. He’s a successful attorney and has made partner in his firm in Fort Lauderdale. From Thursday to Sunday he’s a successful businessman helping to manage the iconic family nightclub, Panic in Miami Beach. He’s trying to help his brother with the heavy burdens that come with running an iconic night club in the rapidly changing industry in Miami Beach while trying to change their father’s archaic business practices. He barely has time for himself let alone relationships. He’s known to enjoy the rewards that come with being a successful club owner. He’s known to imbibe in a little recreational cocaine and enjoy the easy pickings of ladies, His easy going mannerisms make it hard for his brother and father to take his presence in the club seriously. After their father is arrested for drug trafficking everything in his life changes. He’s pulling his weight and trying very hard to take some of the responsibilities off of his brother’s back. Nick is having a hard time letting go of the responsibilities especially after their father has been convicted and the club’s reputation is shattered. Their business is on a downward decline, they are on every law enforcement agencies radar, and he lost his position with the firm he worked for. What makes his situation worse is the one woman he fell hopelessly in love with is the same woman who not only left him heartbroken but destroyed his family and career. June Simpson stole his heart and disappeared from his life. June Simpson is not the woman he thought her to be. She’s the undercover cop that brought his father down, caused him to be arrested, destroyed his career, and shattered his soul. June Simpson is Detective April White and she has returned to Miami to testify in several trials of the drug trafficking ring.

April White’s return to Miami is anything but a happy homecoming. Facing Matt Moreno is devastating because she really loved him with all her heart. When she’s brutally attacked by one of the criminals, she loses all of her memories. She’s left in Miami alone and dependent on Matt Moreno to take care of her until she can function on her own. She senses that Matt is more than an old friend from her past, she senses animosity beneath the surface.

Matt is forced to take care of the woman who ruined his life. It’s hard to forgive and forget but it is also hard not to love her. Now he has to decide what is more important in his life, love and happiness or his family legacy.

Sidney Landon added so many new layers and elements to the Panic series. She not only gave her readers a phenomenal romance, she also gave the readers a better understanding of the first book in the series. The Moreno brothers both had to tackle very complex issues within their family as well as their personal lives. Their relationship with each other was as close as expected of twins but also strained because of the club. This book put them on equal grounds and made them both better men. It also gave the club more life. Readers were introduced to the people that are making Panic more than a popular nightclub but a close knit kind of family. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the sultry nights in Miami at the Panic Club.

_______________________________________

Pull Me Close

Panic Series – Book 1

By Sidney Halston

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Welcome to Panic, a sultry Miami nightclub where bodies and hearts move to a beat that doesn’t stop at sunrise—the setting for “a magnificent story full of deep emotion” (Sawyer Bennett).

Katherine: I thought I could enjoy a night out like a normal person. I thought I could handle the flashing lights, the pulsing music, the crowded dance floor. I couldn’t have been more wrong. After having an anxiety attack and passing out during my sister’s engagement party at Panic, I wake up in the arms of the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. Nick Moreno’s no gentleman. But he might just be the man I need to help me take control of my life.

Nick: When I hear there’s some random girl passed out in the back room of my family’s South Beach nightclub, I’m pissed. My dad’s already behind bars and we can’t afford any more bad press. But after giving her a lift—literally—back to her apartment, I stop seeing Katherine Wilson as some random girl. She’s gorgeous, vulnerable, and braver than she knows. And when we kiss, all I want to do is pull her close and promise that she’ll always be safe in my arms.

Michel’s Review

Wow! Sidney Landon has taken readers on a new adventure in the sizzling hot new Panic series. She takes her readers to Miami Beach and the sinful, sultry Panic Nightclub, where decadence is the norm.

Nick Moreno is stressed out to the max after his father was arrested and convicted of drug trafficking. Their family nightclub, Panic has been “the club” to go to in Miami since the eighties. After his father’s arrest the club is struggling to stay afloat. They are on the every law enforcement agencies radar and it’s imperative for the club to stay clean. That means keeping out the drugs, the hookers, and every other kind of criminal element that enters the club. To top it off, his twin brother, Matt is off the rails with his drinking, womanizing, and lackluster management. He’s become a control freak and the last thing he needs is trouble entering his club. When a drugged up woman passes out in his club and he’s forced to take her home and babysit, he’s beyond pissed. Strangely enough it’s also the first moment of peace he’s had in months. This odd woman claims she’s not a druggy but her actions say differently until he gets to know her.

Katherine suffers from extreme anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and severe PTSD. Every moment of her life is a struggle. Every moment leads to more depression and loneliness. She’s trapped in a bubble she cannot burst no matter how hard she tries. When she takes one step forward it forces her three steps backward. When she met Nick Moreno at one her lowest moments it made her brutally aware of how bad her life had become. When Nick offers her friendship she’s even more desperate to become a somewhat normal person. Her life isn’t easy to overcome and she may never overcome it all completely but it’s worth every effort. She deserves friendship, companionship, and love. She has so much to give of herself if only she can find the way out of her self inflicted prison.

Katie and Nick have found something special and worth hanging onto. It’s going to take a lot of work and nothing may ever be perfect for them but it’s worth the effort. They give each other peace in a world where peacefulness is hard to find. In the end they both find out that even though life isn’t perfect their love is the glue that keeps them together.They learn that they can’t always control life but together they can get through it’s ups and downs.

Sidney Landon floored me with this book. She didn’t hold back and delivered a vivid picture of mental disorders and how they not only affect the person suffering but those who love them.

I highly recommend reading Pull Me Close by Sidney Landon. It’s an unforgettable and emotional reading experience.

___________________________________________

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It” Nike, and that’s exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote Seeing Red, among four other novels currently in the works, including the sequel to Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal and she fell in love with writing.

Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading… She’s a reader first and a writer second.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + Excerpt + 5-Star Review: Small Town Scandal by Daisy Prescott

Posted on 06/27/2017 by cafemamanc7

Today we are sharing the release for SMALL TOWN SCANDAL by Daisy Prescott. This book is a standalone, romantic comedy, and it is the 5th book in the Wingmen series. Check out the buy links for the book below and for the previous books in the series!

SMALL TOWN SCANDAL by Daisy Prescott
(Wingmen, #5)

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BOOK BLURB:

Another wingmen meets his match and this time it’s scandalous.

Carter Kelso is a man with a plan. And goats.

Ashley Kingston is a woman with a reputation.

Can he earn back her love before their past catches up with them and destroys everything?

On the island, my last name is synonymous with scandal. With a notorious father and a famous brother, I’ve been on the sidelines of our small town’s gossip circle for years. Nothing to see here. Just a man and his goats, happily going through life. Not a care in the world. Too bad it’s all lies.

I’m tired of trying not to be in love with Ashley Kingston, our very own island jezebel. Some people think she’s a slut. They think they know her. They’re wrong. Screw them.

Reputations can be deceiving. I should know.

Small Town Scandal is a second chance romance standalone novel and the fifth book in the Wingmen series. You do not have to read the other novels first.

ADD SMALL TOWN SCANDAL TO GOODREADS

EXCERPT:

“Worried about history repeating itself?” Ashley meets my eyes.

“With you?” Yes, please.

She gives a slight nod in response.

“Never. I’m not some dumb eighteen-year-old kid with his head up his ass. I’m not my father. You’re not your parents. We’re adults now.”

She gazes out over the water for a moment. “I don’t see any, do you?”

“Any what?” I scan the sky.

“Flying pigs.” Her smile is shy and more vulnerable than I’ve seen in years.

I bump her shoulder again with mine. “Stranger things have happened.”

“Says you.” She returns the pressure with her arm against mine with a brief nudge.

“You mentioned dinner? Were you serious?” I circle back to her comment before my random business idea.

“We both gotta eat. Plus, the baristas can close up for me. It’s good responsibility for them to have.”

“You trust them?”

“I do. If they mess up, then it’s a learning lesson for all of us.”

“When did you get to be so wise?” I almost say smart, but she’s always been smart. Definitely has the brains along with the body and the looks. She’s the trifecta. With a cherry on top.

I pick up the stem and then toss it over to the other bench.

“Hey! I thought that was my present,” she protests.

“You want a cherry stem that I’ve tongued into a knot?”

“Your tongue’s been in my mouth, so it’s kind of the same thing.”

We both stare at the stem laying on the concrete in who knows what combination of fluids and dirt.

“I’ll make you another one.”

“I have a better use for your tongue.” She surprises me with a small hop to peck my lips.

We’re going to need some rules of engagement. A SWOT of our own.

First, we need to stick to well lit, public places.

Second, we shouldn’t be alone.

Ten minutes of sitting on a bench together and certain parts of my body are coiled and ready to spring into action, not caring it’s daylight and a few hundred bored people are sitting in their cars with nothing better to do than watch us.

Nah, they’re all on their phones. She could probably straddle me on this bench and no one would pay any attention.

Damn, if I’m not tempted to test this theory.

“Are you coming?” She’s halfway back to the coffee hut.

“I wish,” I mumble, dipping my head and mentally cursing myself for setting limits.

Ashley’s smile says she probably heard me and agrees.

——–

PURCHASE SMALL TOWN SCANDAL NOW

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Tracey’s Review

What do you get when you take a guy, some goats, and a fiery-haired vixen with a chip on her shoulder and put them all together? You have SMALL TOWN SCANDAL, the fifth book in the Wingmen series by author Daisy Prescott.

Whidbey Island might be one of my most favorite places ever. For such a small town, there sure is always something going on, and it’s usually shenanigans of the very best sort. Carter Kelso is pretty much the last unattached Wingmen standing, unless you count Olaf, and, well, no…Carter, though, is ready to change things up, to show everyone that he is more than just a slacker, content to drift through life. He’s got his goats, he’s got his goals, and he’d really like to have another chance with Ashley Kingston.

Carter and Ashley have what you might call a complicated past. Thanks to small-town gossip, Ashley has somehow earned a less-than-pure reputation, and she’s happily embracing it, if only to show her fellow Whidbeyites that she’s in control of her own life, thank you very much. But Carter knows the truth behind the lies, and he’s ready to make Ashley his own, in a very public and very permanent way.

These stories, these characters, they have won my heart so many times over that they feel like real-life. The picture that Daisy so expertly paints is one of the unexpectedly complex and intertwined lives of people in a small town, where there is often so much more going on than meets the eye, and people are continually surprising each other with the way that they rise above expectations.

Carter’s and Ashley’s story has been a long time in the making, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them finally sort things out. This is one second-chance love story that deserves the happiest of endings, because the two of them have gone through so much to come back to each other. And, through it all, there are laugh-out-loud moments that I’ve come to expect and that I adore so much in Daisy’s writing, characters that continue to delight because they are so darned much like the rest of us, and a place that I wish I could visit, because it just seems so magical.

This Wingman has finally settled down, and I couldn’t be happier to see it. I’m not giving up hope that Daisy’s got more Whidbey in store for us, though, because there’s still Ashley’s brother Jonah, and, well, Olaf. 5 stars for SMALL TOWN SCANDAL. If you’ve not read these books, you must, because they are just the best. Add them to your TBR, and enjoy.

PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

READY TO FALL (Wingmen #1)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT (Wingmen, #2)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

ANYTHING BUT LOVE (Wingmen, #3)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

BETTER LOVE (Wingmen, #4)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

————–

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

USA Today Bestselling Author Daisy Prescott writes romantic comedies with heart.

Her Modern Love Stories feature characters in their thirties and forties finding and rediscovering love in unexpected and humorous ways. Her Wingmen books star regular guys who often have beards, drive trucks, and love deeply once they fall. Look for her new Rom Com series, Love with Altitude, in 2017.

Born and raised in San Diego, Daisy currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband, their rescue dog, and an indeterminate number of imaginary house goats. When not writing about herself in the third person, Daisy can be found traveling, gardening, baking, or lost in a good book.

To learn more about Daisy and her writing, sign up for her mailing list here. Send her an email at: daisyauthor AT gmail DOT com Or chat with her on Twitter (@daisy_prescott) and Facebook: /daisyprescottauthorpage, and follow her on Instagram: /daisyprescott

AUTHOR LINKS:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Newsletter

Release Day Blitz + Excerpt + Giveaway: Easy Nights by Kristen Proby

Posted on 06/27/2017 by cafemamanc7

**From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Proby, comes a steamy and passionate friends-to-lovers romance—EASY NIGHTS! The sixth standalone title in the Boudreaux Series, Savannah and Ben’s highly anticipated story is now available on all retailers! Grab your copy today!**

About EASY NIGHTS (Boudreaux Series #6):

The Boudreaux Series—Sexy. Intriguing. Easy.

No one said change was easy…

Savannah Boudreaux knows what it is to hurt. To bleed. To be afraid that the man she’s promised to be true to until “death do us part” might in fact separate them far sooner than anyone had ever anticipated. But Van also knows what it is to survive. To move on. To live life to the fullest. With five brothers and sisters and a loving mother as her constant source of strength during the pain and the healing, Van realizes there is little else she needs.

But some things never change…

Benjamin Preston sat on the sidelines of the Boudreaux family for years, in love with a woman he couldn’t have. As the best friend of the Boudreaux brothers since childhood, Ben has seen both tragedies and joys in the family. And as a former MMA fighter and KravMaga expert, Ben’s used to fighting for what he wants—and winning. His hands were tied when Savannah married her high school sweetheart not long after graduation, but now two years have passed since Ben found Savannah broken in her own home.

Sometimes what you need most has been right in front of you the whole time…

Van’s convinced that happiness isn’t in the cards for her, no matter how right it feels to be in Ben’s strong arms—and his bed. Ben is determined to win her heart and fight for her trust. He’s promised to protect her, to be her friend. But more than anything, he wants to finally make her his, and this is one fight he’s not willing to lose.

Pick up your copy of EASY NIGHTS today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Audible

Add to your Goodreads

Excerpt:

“Van.”

I spin at the sound of Ben’s voice, and silently cringe. I look horrible. I’m sweating like an ice cold drink without a coaster, and the clothes I wear here are skin tight, making it easier to move.

“You’re not usually here at this time,” I say and dab a towel on my face. “What’s up?”

“I had a meeting with another instructor,” he says with a smile. “Thought I’d say hi.”

“Hi.” I smile and readjust my ponytail. It’s much smaller now, but I can still pull it back. “How was your day?”

“Busy,” he replies and surprises me by letting his eyes travel up and down my body. “I like the new hair. You look great.”

“I’m a mess.” I chuckle and hook my towel around my shoulders. “You, however, do look great.”

That’s a fucking understatement. He’s in cargo shorts and a black tank top, showing off his tattoos and his muscles.

Good lord, the muscles.

“Can I show you a few things?” he asks, breaking my concentration on his muscles.

“Sure,” I frown as I follow him back into the empty classroom. “Am I doing something wrong?”

“No, I just want to go over some form things.” He leads me to the center of the room and stands behind me, looking into my eyes through the mirror.

Oh God. This is way sexier than it probably should be.

“Assume the stance.”

I follow his directions and work very hard to not react to his strong hands on my sides as he walks me through punches, kicks, and better ways to keep my center of gravity.

“You’re small,” he murmurs and pushes my legs just a little closer together. “I want you to keep your feet just a little closer together. You’ll have better balance.”

I nod. “It feels better.”

He smiles at me. I can’t keep my eyes off of him in the mirror. The way he moves, his facial expressions.

Ben has always been attractive to me, but holy shit, did he get hotter? Or was I just too broken before to see it?

Because holy shit, he’s hot.

“Van?”

“Yeah?”

“I just asked you to do the spin/elbow move.”

“Oh.” I bite my lip and will myself to stop ogling his arms.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course.” I do as he asks and spin, attempting to ram my elbow in his nose, the way I’ve been taught, but he blocks and sends me onto my ass. “Damn it.”

“You’re not spinning quickly enough.”

“I’m as clumsy as they get,” I remind him. “If I spin too fast, I’ll fall on my ass. I’ll be helping my attacker more than anything.”

“It’ll actually feel easier,” he says, helping me to my feet. “You can do this. I’ve seen it.”

“You’re taller than anyone else I’ve ever sparred with.”

“Good,” he says and narrows his eyes. “Chances are, if you ever have to defend yourself, your attacker won’t be shorter than you.”

“True.” I nod thoughtfully.

“But if you’re still not comfortable doing this with me, that’s fine. I can make suggestions for Shelly to work on next week.”

“I’m okay,” I reply, and am surprised to realize that it’s true. It wasn’t long ago that I couldn’t stand for any man to touch me, not even my brothers. But I don’t mind so much now.

In fact, I’m utterly shocked to realize that his touch is turning me on. I don’t remember the last time I had sexual thoughts toward a man. Even Ben. Which was one more thing that made me sad.

But hello, long lost hormones.

Kelley’s Review

I have been reading this series since book one and was anxious to see how Savannah’s story was going to play out. I can tell you now that Kristen Proby did not disappoint with this one. Easy Nights is hot, steamy, and suspenseful. I kept turning the pages with one eye closed as I knew the other shoe was about to drop for Savannah. Too many odd things were happening to her that did not add up but I had a feeling in my gut as to who was behind it and why. This story was written to just reveal the tiniest of clues as to what was to come.

Kristen did a great job with her character development of Savannah. She took a character who was abused for years and walked her through the road to recovery. It was not night and day and nor did Savannah just bounce back. It took years of therapy and taking self-defense classes until Savannah began to feel safe again. When she finally decides to step out into the the dating world again it was only natural to see her expand on her feelings that she always had for Ben. Ben was her safe place and an instructor of Krav Maga himself. The fun part was seeing Ben finally allow himself to express the feelings he has always had for Van. The one thing about Ben Preston is when he decides he want something there is no stopping him. He is fierce, loyal, and sexy as sin. Once Ben opened up Savannah never stood a chance. Kristen wraps up this story with a serious ass kicking and happily ever after that will bring a tear to your eye. If I could make one wish I would wish this series would never end. It is one that I have enjoyed with each new release. Bravo Kristen Proby on another excellent addition to this series!

And don’t miss the first standalone titles in the Boudreaux Series!

EASY LOVE-FREE for a limited time only
EASY CHARM-$.99 for a limited time only
EASY MELODY-$1.99 for a limited time only
EASY KISSES
EASY FOR KEEPS: A Boudreaux Novella
EASY MAGIC

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About Kristen Proby:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Reviews + Giveaway: Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker

Posted on 06/27/2017 by shellbellereads

Until It Fades

By K. A. Tucker

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania (population three thousand outside of tourist season).

And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed date, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has rescued: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.

Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works. For a time.

But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. There’s an immediate connection, and it’s more electric than the bond of two people who endured a traumatic event. It’s something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something she is afraid to trust.

Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine…before the spark fades.

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Robin’s Review

It was a delight for me to read the newest novel from author K.A. Tucker! Until it Fades is a feel-good contemporary romance and Tucker’s very own version of a fairy tale romance.

Pregnant by the age of 18, Catherine Wright became the talk of her high school and small hometown of Balsam, Pennsylvania. Now, at 24, Cath is struggling to get by on a waitress salary, saving up money to move her daughter away from the stares and whispers.

Twenty-six-year-old Brett Madden is a NHL hockey star and son of Hollywood actress Meryl Price. Wealthy, handsome, humble and charming, Brett signed a multi-million dollar contract to play hockey for the Flyers right out of high school. His team, the Flyers, is on track to make the NHL Hockey Finals – that is until the accident.

Late on a foggy night, Cath is driving home on a quiet back road when she arrives upon the scene of a terrible car wreck. She does the impossible – she pulls an unconscious man twice her size out of a burning car and saves his life. She has no idea who he is, but this one unselfish act will completely change her life.

Until it Fades is enjoyable from the beginning, but when I reached the point of the car wreck, this story absolutely captivated me! My mind was immediately drawn into the pages of this story. By far, the strongest aspect of Until it Fades is Tucker’s writing. Her writing is clear, concise, and full of vivid descriptive writing and outstanding character dialogue.

Brett’s car accident is clearly described, from the placement of passengers and wreckage to the utter urgency Cath feels to rescue a passenger while flames threaten to overwhelm them. I felt Cath’s anxiety, understood her emotions, as she attempts to pull Brett from the burning car. Tucker expertly describes characters, settings and action throughout the novel. I was able to envision the author’s words, almost as if I was watching a movie!

Tucker also has a gift for writing meaningful, heartfelt conversation. The author expertly describes facial reactions, emotions, and physical interactions between characters while they are speaking. I was clearly able to picture the characters in the midst of conversations. A great example of this outstanding dialogue includes Cath and Brett’s interview about the car wreck. Their interview is wrapped up in anxiety and emotion, and it’s very entertaining to read.

Another thing I love about Until it Fades is the characters. Brett is Tucker’s version of Prince Charming – and the perfect male lead! Everything about him is the opposite of Catherine, but Brett sees her for who she really is – beautiful on the inside and out. Their relationship is very sweet. Cath’s character is nicely developed throughout the story. I especially enjoyed her interactions with her best friend, Keith, her brother, Jack and manager, Lou.

To sum up my thoughts, Until it Fades is an excellent choice if you’re wanting to read a lighthearted romance that will make you feel good! I loved it! It’s one of the best contemporary romances that I have read during 2017, and I’m delighted to give it a 5-star rating!

Michel’s Review

As an avid reader my reading choices vary from new adult, romantic suspense, young adult, contemporary romance, dark romance, and many more. One author I have found who always satisfies my reading tastes and covers many genres is K.A. Tucker. She has the ability to deliver a story that keeps readers fully engaged with the story as well as being deeply connected to the characters. Her latest release, Until It Fades was a pure delight to read. It’s a contemporary/new adult romance that touches the heart. Readers can easily identify with the characters because they are normal people who have made mistakes but move on in life striving to become better people and make better choices.

Catherine Wright was a defiant teenager. She chose the wrong person as her high school love. At eighteen she finds herself pregnant and on her own. Her parents kicked her out and the small town of Balsam, Pennsylvania made her the Hester Prynne of their community. Their small minded and bias opinions destroyed a young woman rather than protecting her from an immoral and unethical predator. She survived the ridicule and gossip, got a job as a waitress in a local truck stop, and focused on raising her daughter. For the past five years she has proved that she is a good person that could rise above her youthful mistakes. She’s repaired her strained relationship with her family, chosen her friends wisely, and kept her life on a quiet but positive path. Although she struggles financially, she makes ends meet and is providing a good life for her daughter. After her past experiences in the romance department, she’s overly cautious and doesn’t really date much. When she agrees to a blind date after too much encouragement from her boss, it changes her life as she knows it. The date was a complete disaster but what happens afterwards leads her to the happily ever after she thought she would never have.

After her disastrous blind date she witnesses a horrific car accident on a dark, foggy road. She manages to pull the passenger, a man twice her size, from the wreckage before the vehicle burst into flames. She had no idea that the man she saved was the high profile Hockey star Brett Madden.

Catherine wants to remain the anonymous good samaritan. Brett wants to meet the woman who saved his life. The press is vying for a story.

That one moment in time changed both of their lives and took them on a new path.

K.A. Tucker had me with the first paragraph in this book. I was fully engaged. Her vivid descriptions of small town life, the struggles of single motherhood, and life as a high profile sports star made this book come alive. The scene where the accident took place made me feel like a bystander watching the horrific scene play out. And then we get to the heart of the story, the romance, it was absolutely realistic, emotional, and everything a romance reader wants in a book. I absolutely loved everything in this book and would highly recommend it.

Read Until It Fades by K. A. Tucker!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

K.A. Tucker is the author of He Will Be My Ruin and the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series. She currently resides outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and a Chug.

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Blog Tour: New Release + Excerpt + Review: Trusting You And Other Lies by Nicole Williams

Posted on 06/23/2017 by shellbellereads

Trusting You & Other Lies

Genre: YA Romance

By Nicole Williams

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis:

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

Phoenix can’t imagine anything worse than being shipped off to family summer camp. Her parents have been fighting for the past two years—do they seriously think being crammed in a cabin with Phoenix and her little brother, Harry, will make things better?

On top of that, Phoenix is stuck training with Callum—the head counselor who is seriously cute but a complete know-it-all. His hot-cold attitude means he’s impossible to figure out—and even harder to rely on. But despite her better judgment, Phoenix is attracted to Callum. And he’s promising Phoenix a summer she’ll never forget. Can she trust him? Or is this just another lie?

“What elevates this novel…is the witty and realistic dialogue and excellent character development.”
–SLJ

Excerpt

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

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Michel’s Review

Nicole Williams is known for her contemporary romance and new adult novels. Her latest release, Trusting You & Other Lies is a Young Adult romance novel targeting the high school audience. This charming book is more than a first love romance, it’s a story of change, acceptance, self discovery, and individual growth. Something all teenagers are dealing with on a daily basis. They are evolving from dependent children to independent adults while still heavy influenced by their family and friends. They are also paving the path for their future. The pressures of their academic endeavors could make or break their future. The peer pressure and social media also heavily influence their lives. Add family expectations and issues, it makes their lives all the more difficult. Nicole Williams captured all of this in Trusting You & Other Lies.

Readers are first introduced to Phoenix, an angry teenager being forced to spend her summer with her family at a remote camp rather than hanging out with her friends at the beach. She hates her parents because they have been keeping secrets that could destroy her life as she knows it. They seem to be indifferent to her and her younger brother. She cannot imagine why they would want to spend a whole summer together when they can’t even sit down together for a family dinner. To top it off this camp is in a remote area where internet and cell service are sketchy. She’s going to be cut off from her friends completely. The only reason why she’s cooperating a little bit is her younger brother and the job as a camp counselor. Harry is excited about the camp, the activities, and the possibilities of making friends. For her brother she will suck it up. The job as a counselor will earn her enough money to buy a car when she returns back to school.

They say summer camp is an unforgettable experience that will change a person for the better. The first few weeks are a complete disaster. Her family is still not connecting, she’s hopeless at her new job, and her little brother has made friends and no longer needs her as much. Something changes when she gets to know her boss, Callum,the head counselor at the camp. Even though this boy is the same age as her, he’s completely different from anyone she knows. Callum doesn’t take his responsibilities lightly, he holds her to a higher standard and pushes her too much. When she thinks they are becoming friends he pushes her away. Callum seems like he’s got it all together but beneath the surface he has insecurities just like her. He has his own problems and is not immune to the growing pains of becoming an adult.

By the end of the summer Phoenix and Callum walk away from camp different people than they were in the beginning. Phoenix’s family dynamics also change for the better. Life looks a lot different when you open yourself up to new possibilities and accept what life has to offer.

As a parent of teenagers I was impressed how Nicole Williams captured the realities of everyday teenage life. She captured their inner turmoil as well as their exuberant spirit for life. She also captured the modern day family dynamics rather than duplicating the old fashion family dynamics of the past.

I think most teenagers will be able to relate to this novel and appreciate the story.

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4887264 Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time.

Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency.

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

About THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US:

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

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Today we are sharing the release for SMALL TOWN SCANDAL by Daisy Prescott. This book is a standalone, romantic comedy, and it is the 5th book in the Wingmen series. Check out the buy links for the book below and for the previous books in the series!

SMALL TOWN SCANDAL by Daisy Prescott (Wingmen, #5)

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BOOK BLURB:

Another wingmen meets his match and this time it’s scandalous.

Carter Kelso is a man with a plan. And goats.

Ashley Kingston is a woman with a reputation.

Can he earn back her love before their past catches up with them and destroys everything?

I’m tired of trying not to be in love with Ashley Kingston, our very own island jezebel. Some people think she’s a slut. They think they know her. They’re wrong. Screw them.

Reputations can be deceiving. I should know.

Small Town Scandal is a second chance romance standalone novel and the fifth book in the Wingmen series. You do not have to read the other novels first.

ADD SMALL TOWN SCANDAL TO GOODREADS

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PURCHASE SMALL TOWN SCANDAL NOW

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PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

READY TO FALL (Wingmen #1)

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CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT (Wingmen, #2)

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ANYTHING BUT LOVE (Wingmen, #3)

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BETTER LOVE (Wingmen, #4)

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From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Proby, comes a steamy and passionate friends-to-lovers romance—EASY NIGHTS! The sixth standalone title in the Boudreaux Series, Savannah and Ben’s highly anticipated story is now available on all retailers! Grab your copy today!

About EASY NIGHTS (Boudreaux Series #6):

The Boudreaux Series—Sexy. Intriguing. Easy.

No one said change was easy…

But some things never change…

Sometimes what you need most has been right in front of you the whole time…

Pick up your copy of EASY NIGHTS today!

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And don’t miss the first standalone titles in the Boudreaux Series!

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SMALL TOWN SCANDAL by Daisy Prescott
(Wingmen, #5)

AUTHOR LINKS:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Newsletter

**From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Proby, comes a steamy and passionate friends-to-lovers romance—EASY NIGHTS! The sixth standalone title in the Boudreaux Series, Savannah and Ben’s highly anticipated story is now available on all retailers! Grab your copy today!**

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