Excerpt Reveal: Riveted by Jay Crownover – A Saints of Denver Novel

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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the next installment in the Saints of Denver series.

 

 

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Everyone else in Dixie Carmichael’s life has made falling in love look easy, and now she is ready for her own chance at some of that happily ever after. Which means she’s done pining for the moody, silent former soldier who works with her at the bar that’s become her home away from home. Nope. No more chasing the hot as heck thundercloud of a man and no more waiting for Mr. Right to find her; she’s going hunting for him…even if she knows her heart is stuck on its stupid infatuation with Dash Churchill.

Denver has always been just a pit stop for Church on his way back to rural Mississippi. It was supposed to be simple, uneventful, but nothing could have prepared him for the bubbly, bouncy redhead with doe eyes and endless curves. Now he knows it’s time to get out of Denver, fast. For a man used to living in the shadows, the idea of spending his days in the sun is nothing short of terrifying.

When Dixie and Church find themselves caught up in a homecoming overshadowed with lies and danger, Dixie realizes that while falling in love is easy, loving takes a whole lot more work…especially when Mr. Right thinks he’s all wrong for you.

 

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ADD RIVETED TO YOUR GOODREADS

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CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT 

I shifted my weight on my feet and bit back a sigh. I should have known she was going to be persistent, but I was done playing nice for her when it was clear her son was so beaten down that he was too scared to make a move or even speak for himself. She was a tyrant and I wasn’t going to subject myself to her vile company anymore. As soon as I slipped inside my apartment I was going to delete all the dating apps I had on my phone.

“I have a dog and she’s leery around strangers.” That was partly true. I did have a dog, a massive blue pit bull that I rescued from a shelter just days before she was supposed to be put down. Dolly looked like a brute, but she was a sweetheart and had never met a human she didn’t want tummy scratches and love from. We were kind of kindred spirits in that way. I mean I didn’t need my ears scratched or my belly rubbed, but I was afflicted with the same pressing need to be liked and accepted by pretty much everyone I came in contact with. It was ingrained in me to at least try to make everyone a friend, and if they didn’t reciprocate my kindness it only forced me to try harder. Sometimes I hated that about myself, and sometimes it was my favorite personality trait because the men and women in my life weren’t the easiest nuts to crack. They all loved me and let me in because I’d refused to let them shut me out.

Well, all except for one man.

I couldn’t hold back my flinch when he crossed my mind because he had warned me about online dating from the get-go, and I hated that he was right about it. I also hated that he was the reason I was desperate to find a man . . . a man who wasn’t him . . . in the first place.

Mommie Dearest shook her head and clicked her tongue at me. “Joseph is allergic to dogs. Your pet will have to go as things progress between the two of you.”

I felt my eyes pop wide and the forced smile I had plastered on my face for the entire evening finally slipped away. I already knew she had a few screws loose, but she was taking her crazy to another level if she thought she could tell me to get rid of my dog or what to do with anything in my life.

I straightened my shoulders and tilted my chin up. It was a look that worked on the drunks and unruly college kids that I hustled out of the bar where I worked every night.

“That’s not going to be a problem because things are not progressing beyond my front door. Thank you both for dinner, but if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go inside and cuddle my dog and erase every online dating app there is.”

The woman narrowed her eyes and stepped around her son. The young man made a noise low in his throat and his eyes widened. I thought he was scared of his mom, but the closer I looked at him the more obvious it became that he was scared for me as the woman advanced. He reached out a hand to grab his mother’s elbow, but it fell away before making contact like he knew the repercussions for intervening would be severe and drastic.

“Listen here, you little . . .” I lifted my hand before she could throw at me whatever insulting word she was going to label me with. I don’t think the woman was used to anyone standing their ground with her because she gasped and fell back a step.

“Stop. I thought I was talking to Joseph. I thought he was a nice guy, maybe a little sheltered and awkward . . . but a nice guy. Obviously it wasn’t him running his dating profile and there was some other agenda here from the start. I’m well past the age where I need a mother’s approval or permission to date her son, so I’m going to go into my apartment and end this date before either side gets nasty.” I looked at the shell-shocked young man hovering behind his mother and mouthed good luck before turning my back on both of them and inserting my key into the door. Dolly barked loud and deep from the other side, which was both comforting and reassuring.

I turned the knob on the door and pushed into the apartment without looking back. Once the door was shut and my dog was happily rubbing against my legs, I tossed my head back and let out a sigh that felt like it was tied to my soul. I was tired, so tired.

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And read Chapter Two of RIVETED here!

 

 

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Jay Crownover continues her Saints of Denver series with Riveted, available February 14th, 2017

Give yourself a Valentine’s Day gift in advance…Preorder and fill out the form here: https://a.pgtb.me/t0JkQX

Pre-order Riveted today and on February 14th, you’ll also receive a glossy Saints of Denver poster and an exclusive first-look at Chapters 1 and 2 of Avenged, her forthcoming Mackenzie Family novella.

Avenged combines the grit of Saints of Denver series with the all-out heat of The Point series with a mind-blowing, mystery, yet-to-be-revealed, couple combining both of these worlds. Be one of the first to find out who it is, pre-order Riveted today.

Posters will be mailed the week of February 14th and Avenged chapters will arrive via email.

 

 

Jay Crownover - headshotAbout Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point, and the Saints of Denver series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she’ll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

 

 

 

 

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New Release + Excerpt + Review: Cold Secrets by Toni Anderson – Cold Justice Series – Book 7

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The next book in Toni Anderson’s bestselling Cold Justice series, COLD SECRETS, is available now! Romantic suspense lovers do not want to miss this one.

 

ColdSecrets_ToniAnderson-FINAL2About COLD SECRETS

When an international ring of sex traffickers kidnaps an eight-year-old girl in Boston, FBI Agent Lucas Randall heads undercover. But his rescue operation goes disastrously wrong and Lucas barely escapes with his life. Now the ruthless traffickers are hunting him down, along with everyone else who threatens their operation.

Computer expert Ashley Chen joined the FBI to fight against evil in the world—evil she experienced firsthand. She has mad skills, and deadly secrets, and once she starts working with Lucas, she also has big trouble, because after years of pushing people away, she’s falling for the guy. The feeling is more than mutual, but as Ashley intensifies her online pursuit of the trafficking ring, her traumatic past collides with her present and suddenly Lucas can’t tell which side she’s on. And as the case escalates into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, it turns out Ashley isn’t the only one with something to hide.

If neither can trust the other with their secrets, how can they trust each other with their hearts?

Get your hands on a copy of COLD SECRETS now:

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Google Play

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Read an excerpt from COLD SECRETS:

She walked toward him and he forced himself not to move. She was only a few inches shorter than he was which was a change from the women he usually dated. Her hands rested on his chest as she eased up to kiss him. Her mouth was soft and sweet, and tasted like bourbon.

He wanted to unwrap that shirt from her body and drag her off to bed. But it didn’t matter how long it had been, this was a really bad idea.

As she was about to pull away, he cupped her face and took the kiss deeper, feeling the surprise, followed by the searing heat of her response. Her breathing hitched as her tongue met his. He fitted her more closely against him, his calloused fingers rough against the slippery satin of her blouse. Her arms wound around his neck and her hands sank into the hair at his nape. She was hot—body, face, mouth. His body begged him not to pull away, not to stop, but he did it anyway, and stared down into her pretty eyes.

“What was that for?” he asked gruffly.

“Curiosity.” Her lips were reddened from their kiss. Her honey skin held a flush of scarlet. “I wanted to see if you tasted as good as you looked.”

His throat grew tight. “What’s the verdict?”

She pulled away and walked over to where she’d dumped her laptop and coat. Picked them up.

He made himself stand very still as she walked away. Made himself accept that the kiss had been enough.

She opened the door and looked over her shoulder. “Better.”

Then she closed the door, severing the connection. And he knew a kiss was never going to be enough.

 

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4.5 Star

Tracey’s Review

FBI Agent Ashley Chen has gone to very great lengths to create the life that she’s living. She wants nothing more than to fight the good fight and put the bad guys away for a very long time. The Bureau is Lucas Randall’s life, and he’s one of the best at what he does. When a chillingly dangerous case brings the two agents together, neither could have expected what lay in store.

COLD SECRETS is the seventh book in the Cold Justice series by author Toni Anderson, and, while it is only the second book that I’ve read in the series, I am well and truly hooked. Toni has a knack for creating tightly-written plots that are realistic, timely, and absolute page-turners.

The action in COLD SECRETS is immediate, and does not let up. I was so completely engaged that I didn’t want to put this book down. It’s always a pleasure to read about a powerful woman that takes no prisoners. Ashley Chen is a kick-butt lady, and, despite all that she could lose if her secrets are uncovered, she’s all in, determined to take down the crime family leaving a trail of bodies and loss in their wake. When she and Lucas Randall come together to work the case, each bringing their own expertise, it isn’t long before they have much more invested than just solving the crime.

COLD SECRETS is an easy 4.5 stars for me, and it’s a guarantee that I will read Toni’s books again and again. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, and like your books with plenty of edge, intrigue, and passion, these books should be on your TBR.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

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About Toni Anderson

New York Times and USA Today international bestselling author, Toni Anderson, writes dark, gritty Romantic Suspense novels that have hit #1 in Barnes & Noble’s Nook store, the Top 10 in Amazon and Kobo stores, and the Top 50 in iBooks. Her novels have won many awards. A former Marine Biologist from Britain, she inexplicably ended up in the geographical center of North America, about as far from the ocean as it is possible to get. She now lives in the Canadian prairies with her Irish husband and two children and spends most of her time complaining about the weather.

Toni has no explanation for her oft-times dark imagination, and only hopes the romance makes up for it. She’s addicted to reading, dogs, tea, and chocolate.

If you want to know when Toni’s next book will be out, visit her website (http://www.toniandersonauthor.com) and sign up for her newsletter. If you want to read other fascinating stories about life in a city that, during winter, is sometimes colder than Mars, friend her on Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/toniannanderson).

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New Release + Excerpt + Review: Playing The Player by Amy Andrews – Sydney Smoke Rugby Series – Book 3

Title: Playing the Player
Series: Sydney Smoke Rugby #3
Author: Amy Andrews
Release Date: Jan 30, 2017
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After a long history with crappy guys, high school teacher Em Newman is going man-vegan. Four months of revirginization has opened her eyes to her doormat imitation but, baby’s got spine now, and some smooth-talking—even if he is sinfully hot—rugby player, won’t be adding her as a notch anytime soon.

Lincoln Quinn loves rugby, women, and poker. And he likes to win at all three. When his team mates bet him he can’t break through Em’s resolve, he’s more than up for the challenge. But this lady has a shoebox of stipulations before she’ll even go on a date with him, much less use that mouth for kissing instead of giving orders.

Something’s gotta give but this time Em’s not settling. And Linc’s questioning everything he ever knew about matters of the heart.

Each book in the Sydney Smoke Rugby series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.
Series Order:
Book #1 Playing By Her Rules
Book #2 Playing it Cool
Book #3 Playing the Player

 
  
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Excerpt

Linc rang Em at the same time he had the day before. Every part of him ached from a morning of gruelling training, but in a good way. The kind of way that made him grateful for his fitness, that made him feel alive. And pumped.

 

Pumped to make this phone call. Pumped to hear Em say yes.

 

“Hi, Em Newman speaking.”

 

She had one of those teacher’s voices. Firm but kind, with just enough fuck-with-me-and-I’ll-send-you-to-the-principal edge to keep a guy in line. That kind of voice that had never really worked on him when he’d been in high school, but then he’d never had a teacher as sexy as Em Newman, either.

 

He might have turned up more often if he had.

 

“I think I’ve been going about this all the wrong way,” he said, picturing her sitting at her desk, her mouth pressing close to the phone receiver so she wasn’t overheard.

 

“I’ve been going for traditional names. But it’s not Ermintrude. Or Emma. Or Emily or Emmeline. So I’m thinking now your parents might be hippies, and it’s actually something like Ember. Or Emerald.”

 

There was a long pause then a deep sigh. “Why do you care?”

 

“I want to be able to call you by your real name.”

 

“Well, the kids call me Miss Newman.”

 

Linc chuckled. “Oh. Don’t tempt me.”

 

Another heavy sigh. “Are you just going to ring me every lunch hour?”

 

“Sure. If I have to.”

 

“Don’t you have…push-ups to do? Or something? Balls to kick. Tries to score?”

 

He grinned. “Training finishes at twelve, and in case you haven’t noticed, I’m trying to score right now.”

 

“Linc…” He’d have to have been deaf not to hear the exasperation in her voice. “I have papers to mark.”

 

“You are hell on a man’s ego, Miss Newman.” He loved the way “Miss” rolled off his tongue, and a dozen dirty thoughts about naughty teachers with crazy curls bending over to help a student with a problem, their shirts gaping to reveal pretty bras flitted through his head with a predictable effect on his dick.

 

Who knew teachers could be such a fucking turn-on?

 

Certainly not a guy who’d spent a good portion of his life avoiding them at all costs.

 

She snorted. “I have a feeling your ego couldn’t be brought down with an elephant gun.”

 

He laughed, not even bothering to try and dissuade her from the accuracy of her statement. “The Nerd Chicks are in town on Friday night.”

 

She didn’t say anything for a beat or two. “You know who the Nerd Chicks are?”

 

“I do now.”

 

Linc had spent a long time online last night trying to come up with something that’d blow Em’s mind. He’d finally found An Evening with the Nerd Chicks. Apparently they were three women with science backgrounds who ran a popular YouTube channel discussing all things science and had taken their show on the road.

 

“We should go together.”

 

There was another pause, but he thought he could hear her breath hitch. “Top marks for trying, Linc. But it’s sold out. It sold out in about half an hour.”

 

“Lucky for you I have two V.I.P. tickets.”

 

He definitely heard her breath this time. Hissing slowly out this time in a long exhale. “Thank you but…no.”

 

“No? Did I mention you get to meet them afterwards?”

 

A soft noise that sort of sounded like a whimper or maybe even a low growl caressed his eardrum. “I said no.”

 

But it was the most unconvincing no Linc had ever heard. He could practically feel her conflict. “Come on, Miss Newman,” he pressed. “Why deprive yourself?”

 

“Because, Linc,” she muttered, her voice terse, “afterwards I’ll probably fuck you in your ridiculously sexy car.”

 

Linc’s pulse spiked at her direct prediction. Even if she had sounded utterly depressed over it. He laughed. “And that’s a bad thing?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Okay. What if I promise to not let you fuck me in my car? Or anywhere else?”

 

It wasn’t going to win him the bet—but he really didn’t give a fuck anymore. Linc just really wanted to take her to the show. Because she obviously wanted to go.

 

She snorted. “I can be very persuasive.”

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 4.5 StarTracey’s Review

If a book is published under the Entangled Brazen banner, I can always be sure that it’s going to be quick, fun, hot read that I can’t put down. And, if it’s by author Amy Andrews, these things are guaranteed in spades.

PLAYING THE PLAYER is the third book in Amy’s Sydney Smoke Rugby series, and is the kind of laugh-out-loud read that I love. Linc Quinn is a stereotypical baller, in love with his game, his friends, and women. Ah, yes, the women…After plenty of disappointment and some self-actualization, Em Newman has sworn off men, but there’s just something about Linc that she can’t say no to. I mean, months of abstinence can make even the strongest woman waver, and Linc, with his wit, his smile, and his downright sexiness, well, what woman wouldn’t find it hard to resist?

A book doesn’t have to have a HEA for me to enjoy it, but sometimes it’s really nice to just settle in with a book that you know is not going to disappoint. Humor, sexiness, and sass are always winners for me, and Amy has done a fabulous job of making sure that this series has all of these things and more. And, heck, it’s sports romance, so what’s not to love?

PLAYING THE PLAYER is an easy 4.5-stars for me, and I happily recommend it as a much-needed addition to combat the winter blahs. Add this book, and the rest of the Sydney Smoke books to your TBR. You’re in for a treat.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

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Amy is a multi award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written over sixty contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets. She’s sold over two million books and been translated into thirteen different languages including manga. Her sizzling books feature lots of sex and kissing. She likes to make her readers tingle, laugh and sigh and please don’t mess with the HEA!

At sixteen she met a guy she knew she was going to marry and she did. They’re still living out their HEA and have two new adult children who are spreading their wings and flying the coop. She loves good books, frequent travel and great booze although she’ll take mediocre booze if there’s nothing else.

Amy spent six years on the national executive of Romance Writers of Australia including a two year term as president and after many years of unofficial mentoring of emerging writers, now runs her own manuscript assessment business, Word Witchery, which specialises in romantic fiction. With unique insight into what makes a story that sells, Amy aims to help every manuscript shine.

She lives on acreage on the outskirts of Brisbane with a gorgeous mountain view but secretly wishes it was the hillsides of Tuscany.

  

New Release + Review: How To Date A Douchebag:The Failing Hours by Sara Ney – How To Date A Douchebag Series – Book 2

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Are you ready to meet Zeke? Sara Ney’s HOW TO DATE A DOUCHEBAG: THE FAILING HOURS is available now, and trust us – you do not want to miss this one!

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How To Date A Douchebag: The Failing Hours

How To Date A Douchebag Series – Book 2

By Sara Ney

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

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About THE FAILING HOURS

Zeke Daniels isn’t just a douchebag; he’s an asshole.

A total and complete jerk, Zeke keeps people at a distance. He has no interest in relationships–most assholes don’t.

Dating? Being part of a couple? Nope. Not for him.

He’s never given any thought to what he wants in a girlfriend, because he’s never had any intention of having one.Shit, he barely has a relationship with his family, and they’re related; his own friends don’t even like him.

So why does he keep thinking about Violet DeLuca?

Sweet, quiet Violet–his opposite in every sense of the word. The light to his dark, even her damn name sounds like rays of sunshine and happiness and shit.

And that pisses him off, too.

Get your hands on THE FAILING HOURS:

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5Star

Michel’s Review

After reading How To Date A Douchebag: The Studying Hours , I was not sure how Sara Ney would be able to redeem Zeke Daniels or make him at least a bit likable.  This guy was a pure jerk.  His roommates ( who are equally just as bad in their own way ) even thought he was an A-hole.  He’s arrogant,confrontational,selfish, and closed off.  He doesn’t discriminate, he treats everyone he comes in contact with the same.  Unlike his roommate Oz, he doesn’t have a charming bone in his body.  He doesn’t claim to be a ladies man, he’s the exact opposite.  He knows his popularity with women is because he’s an athlete.  He doesn’t try to charm their pants off nor does he try to make them feel good.  Jock groupies are just easy lays in that moment in time.

Zeke is struggling with school.  He needs a tutor to help write his Biology paper.  His position on the wrestling team is also on the line and it’s not because of poor grades.  His bad attitude is taking it’s toll on the team.  The coach has laid down the law.  He has to become a Big Brother mentor or lose his place on the team.  It’s time to man up and get with the program.  Zeke is not a happy camper.  He hates the idea of kids.

Violet was assigned to be Zeke’s tutor but bailed when she saw him in the library.  He intimidated her.  Now she’s forced to own up to ditching him and do her job.  As she gets to know him, she begins to see there are many layers to Zeke Daniels.

Violet and Zeke’s paths cross outside of the library.  She babysits a young girl while her parents attend class.  They both are spending time with children in need.  The difference is how they approach their care.  Zeke quickly realizes he needs Violet’s help in the childcare department.

As Zeke’s layers begin to peel away, the readers begin to see a different side to Zeke.  He’s a closet nerd who loves building model planes and reading history books. He is also very observant of others and secretly helps the only way he knows how.  He has a penchant for gambling as well.  He takes on bets he cannot win.  His prickly nature is his armor to protect himself from disappointment.  He has abandonment issues that stem from his childhood.

Violet and Zeke have more in common than they both thought.  As both of their layers begin to peel away, they begin to find a true friendship.  They might even find love.  Zeke’s a work in progress but is worth the effort.  Violet is the only one brave enough to peel those layers away.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Zeke transform into the person both Violet and Coach saw hiding below the surface.  He’s not perfect and still a bit too blunt, but he is a good guy after all.  He’s a work in progress and is excelling.

I am thoroughly enjoying the How To Date A Douchebag series by Sara Ney.  The witty dialogue, snarky attitudes, and creative pickup lines before each chapter are a bonus that makes this series stand out.

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How To Date A Douchebag Series

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How To Date A Douchebag: The Studying Hours

How To Date A Douchebag Series – Book 1

Buy: Amazon

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About The Studying Hours

CRUDE. ARROGANT. A**HOLE.
No doubt about it, Sebastian ‘Oz’ Osborne is the university’s most celebrated student athlete—and possibly the biggest douchebag. A walking, talking cliché, he has a filthy mouth, a fantastic body, and doesn’t give a sh*t about what you or anyone else thinks.

SMART. CLASSY. CONSERVATIVE.
Make no mistake, Jameson Clarke may be the university’s most diligent student—but she is no prude. Spending most of her time in the hallowed halls of the library, James is wary of pervs, jocks, and douchebags—and Oz Osborne is all three.

She’s smart, sarcastic—and not what he expected.

…EVERY DOUCHBAG HAS HIS WEAKNESS.

He wants to be friends.
He wants to spend time with her.
He wants to drive her crazy.

He wants…

Her.

*****

5Star

Michel’s Review

How To Date A Douchebag: The Studying Hours by Sara Ney was a hoot!

Sebastian “Oz” Osbourne is the star wrestler and manwhore on campus.  He is a pig and makes no apologies.  He’ll hookup with a girl in a closet, bathroom, hallway, or anywhere he can drop his pants.  He’s moving onto his next conquest before he has his pants zipped from the last.  He doesn’t do girlfriends or dates.  He’s too busy with wrestling, maintaining his GPA for his scholarship, and working.

When Zeke Daniels bets Oz he can’t get the nerdy looking librarian type of girl sitting at the table across from them to kiss him, Oz can’t turn the bet down.  As he approaches the girl in glasses, pearls, and a cardigan, he thinks it’s going to be easy pickings.  He’s in for a great surprise.  This girl could care less that he is the most desired guy on campus.  She doesn’t even know who he is.  Convincing her is impossible until he mentions money.  This smart mouthed girl is willing to listen.  She’s willing to help with the bet for a price.  The price doesn’t include getting to know him.

Oz is baffled by Jameson Clark.  She’s the first girl to turn him down.  She’s the first girl that actually stands up to him and talks to him as a person rather than a superstar jock.  He’s intrigued and wants to get to really know her.  The chase is on.

Oz and Jameson become reluctant study partners.  Their study dates turn into a friendship that has limits.  Oz is chasing Jameson.  Jameson is pushing Oz back every time he gains ground.  Oz has a lot to learn about real women and real people.  He has to learn the world does not revolve around him.  While Jameson may enjoy teaching Oz a few lessons, her heart is starting to get caught up in the process.

The Studying Hour was a delightful and fun reading experience.  I loved the snarky banter and witty comebacks.  The chemistry between Oz and Jameson was sizzling hot. I highly recommend this book.

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About Sara Ney

7798960Purveyor of all things witty & romantic, I love: iced latte’s, traveling, and bright, bold colors. On any given day, you can find me in my office, lovingly gazing at my bookshelf or shuffling my Bic felt-tip pen collection. I love hand writing letters, and sarcasm.

I live in the midwest, but “Will Write for Travel,” and believe everyone should follow their dreams, no matter how big or small. My favorite authors include Cindy Miles, S Walden, Suzanne Enoch – and am a glutton for Historical, RomCom, Sports and MC romance.

One husband. Two daughters. Plenty of chaos.

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5 Star Review + Excerpt: Accidentally On Purpose by Jill Shelves – Heartbreaker Bay Series

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From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes the next sexy, standalone novel in the Heartbreaker Bay series…

 

 

accidentally-on-purpose-cover

About ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE:

There’s no such thing as a little in love . . .

Elle Wheaton’s priorities: friends, career, and kick-ass shoes. Then there’s the muscular wall of stubbornness that’s security expert Archer Hunt—who comes before everything else. No point in telling Mr. “Feels-Free Zone” that, though. Elle will just see other men until she gets over Archer . . . which should only take a lifetime . . .

There’s no such thing as a little in lust . . .

Archer’s wanted the best for Elle ever since he sacrificed his law-enforcement career to save her. Their chemistry could start the next San Francisco earthquake and he craves her 24/7, but Archer doesn’t want to be responsible for the damage. The alternative? Watch her go out with guys who aren’t him . . .

There is such a thing as . . .

As far as Archer’s concerned, nobody is good enough for Elle. But when he sets out to prove it by sabotaging her dates, she gets mad—and things get hot as hell. Now Archer has a new mission: prove to Elle that her perfect man has been here all along . . .

 

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE in ebook or paperback, releasing today!

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Excerpt

“Hey, honey,” Trudy said in her been-smoking-for-three-decades voice. “Need anything?”

“Nope, I’m good.” Good plus mad, but although she adored Trudy, the woman couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. “Just taking in the nice morning.”

“Oh, that’s a disappointment,” Trudy said. “I thought maybe you were looking for that hottie with the nice package, the one who runs the investigation firm down the hall.”

Elle nearly choked on her tea. “Nice package?”

“Well I’m old, not dead.” And with a wink, Trudy pushed her cart down the hall.

It was true that Archer was annoyingly hot, not that she cared. Hot was useless to her. She’d much rather have the things that had eluded her for most of her life—safety, security…stability.

Three things Archer had never been accused of.

At the other end of the hall, she stopped in front of the door with a discreet sign: HUNT INVESTIGATIONS.

The investigative and elite security firm was carried on Archer’s reputation alone, no ads or marketing required. Basically Archer and the men he employed were finders and fixers, independent contractors for hire, and not necessarily tied by the same red tape as the law.

Which worked for Archer. Rules had never been his thing.

She opened the door and let herself into the reception area, which was much bigger than hers. Clean, masculine lines. Large furniture. Wide open space. A glass partition separated the front from the inner offices.

The check-in counter was empty. The receptionist wasn’t in yet—it was too early for Mollie. But not for the other employees. Past the glass Elle could see part of the inner office. A group of men, five of them, entered by a private door. They’d clearly just come back from some sort of job that had required them to be locked and loaded since they currently looked like a SWAT team.

Elle literally stopped short. And if she was being honest, her heart stopped too because sweet baby Jesus. The lot of them stood there stripping off weapons and shirts so that all she could see was a mass of mind-blowing bodies, sweaty and tatted and in all varieties of skin colors.

It was a cornucopia of smutty goodness and she couldn’t tear her eyes away. In fact, she couldn’t speak either, mostly because her tongue had hit the floor. Her feet took advantage of her frozen brain, taking her to the interior door, where she wanted to press her face up against the glass.

Luckily, someone buzzed her in before she could. They all knew her. After all, her job required her to work closely with the security firm, and therein lay her deepest, darkest problem.

Working closely with Archer Hunt was dangerous in oh so many, many ways, not the least of which was their history, something she did her best to never think about.

She was greeted with variations on “Hey, Elle” and “Mornin’” and then they all went their separate ways, leaving her alone with their fearless leader.

Archer.

 

Add to your Goodread

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5Star

Tracey’s Review

The Heartbreaker Bay series by author Jill Shalvis has quickly become a favorite of mine. Jill’s an ace at crafting stories that revolve around an eclectic and captivating cast of characters, a world that immediately draws the reader in and makes them feel like a part of the action. ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE is Archer’s and Elle’s story, and I absolutely loved it.

There has been something between Archer Hunt and Elle Wheaten since the night that they met 8 years ago. That something has evolved and changed over time, but it’s always been there, and both Elle and Archer know it. Elle holds herself responsible for Archer throwing away his career in order to save her, and Archer feels responsible for Elle, making it his business to keep tabs on her. Stir in a lot of untapped chemistry, and you’ve got the recipe for one heck of an explosion.

I absolutely adore Archer. He doesn’t know quite what to do with Elle, but he can’t stay away. And Elle, she’s one heck of a totally take no prisoners chick, more than capable of taking care of herself and anyone else that comes along. The back-and-forth between them, the tension and heat, makes for some swoony exchanges, and I loved reading their interactions. Add in the awesome and quirky cast of characters that make up the rest of Elle’s and Archer’s circle of friends, and you’ve got my favorite kind of read.

I really hope that Jill has more in store for us from Heartbreaker Bay, because Spence totally needs a book, as do Kylie and Elle’s sister. In the meantime, though, 5 snarky, sexy, super-sleuthy stars. Read this book. Read all of these books, because they are all kinds of awesome, and I couldn’t recommend them any more highly.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

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And don’t miss the previous books in Jill Shalvis’s Heartbreaker Bay Series, SWEET LITTLE LIES, THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE and ONE SNOWY NIGHT, now available! Grab your copies HERE!

 

 

 

jill-shalvis-headshotAbout Jill Shalvis:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

 

 

 

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Release Blitz and 5+ Star Review: Crown of Lies by Pepper Winters – Truth and Lies Duet – Book 1

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“I met the boy I wanted. But then he vanished and a new man claimed me instead. My father approved, my colleagues congratulated, and behind closed doors, I was bedded by a stranger.”

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Crown of Lies

Truth and Lies Duet – Book 1

By Pepper Winters

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

“I met the man I wanted. But then he vanished, and a new man claimed me instead. My father approved, my colleagues congratulated, and behind closed doors, I was bedded by a stranger.”
Noelle Charlston lives a fairy-tale life: a doting father, a powerful job, and a future blessed with financial security.
However, two meetings with two men changes her happy existence forever. First, she meets the man who makes her heart sing. Three years later, she meets the man who makes her blood quiver.
Broken-hearted from a teenage romance, Noelle’s freedom is no longer hers. It belongs to the stranger her father believes is her perfect match. The stranger who pulls his lies over everyone he touches.
Including her.
Seduced and manipulated, Noelle gives into the mysterious Penn Everett. The lies he spins, the truth he hides, the mystery he weaves—it’s all enough to slowly erode the woman she is and turn her into something else.
Until her past collides with her present.
And it’s her turn to lie.
To everyone…including herself.

 

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5Star+

Michel’s Review

Crown of Lies is the latest release by Pepper Winters.

In true Pepper Winters style, this book is a complicated, intricately executed story where words are chosen with conscious precision to add multiple layers to the complex characters and their evolving story. Each passage is delivered in perfect synchronicity that challenges the reader’s perceptions of the characters and the direction of the story itself. Her thought process and brilliant use of the English language give the readers more than a story, it gives them a dynamic reading experience that not only involves the mind but also engages all the senses. The reader becomes a participant rather than an observer. The slow burn of sexual tension to explosive passion is only a small fraction of what is happening between the complex characters. The true chemistry comes from their psychological sparring and foreplay. It is a battle of wills fighting against the battle within oneself. There are no dividing lines between right and wrong, black and white, or good and bad. It is all a part of the intricate puzzle that is completed with the last word.

The first sentence had me hook, line, and sinker….

“IN EVERY GIRL’S LIFE, there is betrayal.

“Betrayal from loved ones, unknown ones, and from the ones we choose to make our own. However, where there’s deceit, there’s trust, too. And sometimes, those two things camouflage themselves to mimic the other.”

Retail heiress, Elle Charleston, has been groomed to become one of the most powerful women in the United State. Her throne is the Belle Elle retail chain. She spent her childhood reading ledgers and spreadsheets rather than chasing fairytales. Instead of playing dress up with dolls, she dressed mannequins and window displays. She chose clothes for real women rather than Barbie dolls. She was the princess in a world of merchandise rather than an ivory tower. Her seclusion in a corporate world stole her childhood. She became socially awkward unless she was in a business environment. Her contorted perceptions, and social inadequacies were at war with a young girl yearning to experience the real world.

On her nineteenth birthday the desires of a young girl won the battle over the carefully groomed future CEO. The naive princess stepped out of her gilded castle to explore the kingdom known as New York City. She had been prepared to complete multi – million dollar deals but she was not prepared to navigate the streets. What happened the night she stepped out of her gilded prison would change her life and her perceptions of her carefully orchestrated life.

What starts as a celebration turns into a night of violence and paralyzing fear. Her knight in shining armor is a mysterious young man in a hoodie. A young man that is different from any person she has met in her world. Four simple words changed her world. “ Do you trust me?”. Those four simple words led her to adventure, her first kiss, and ultimately a broken heart. It was a night where the boy of her dreams vanished before the sun began to rise. Her unrealistic dreams were forever lost.

Three years later Elle is a completely different woman. She has succumbed to her prison. She takes her position as a prisoner, other wise known as CEO of Belle Elle, with great pride. She knows her strengths in the business world and the power she carries along with it. She has turned her back on the naïve young girl with grand ideas of romance and love. She no longer believes in romance and love. She no longer puts her blind trust in the hands of others. She has resigned herself to the life she was groomed to rule. In a sense she has betrayed her younger self.

Two men are vying for her attention. One has been groomed to become her husband and partner in business. The other is a repulsive man shrouded in mystery and deceit. One makes her blood boil in many ways. The other makes her soul recoil in everyway. The choices are hers to make. Is she willing to take chances with her perfectly synchronized life? Is she ready to step out of her gilded cage and become free at last?

“IN EVERY GIRL’S LIFE, there is betrayal.”

CLIFFHANGER… IN TRUE PEPPER WINTERS BRILLIANCE!

The reader is left with so many questions,. There are so many intricately woven lies that the truth is hiding within the pages and carefully chosen words. It will all be revealed in the Throne of Truth on February 28th, 2017.

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pepperPepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

STALK Pepper: Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Mists of the Serengeti by Leylah Attar

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Leylah Attar’s MISTS OF THE SERENGETI is here!
Check out this standalone contemporary romance/women’s fiction, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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SynopsisOnce in Africa, I kissed a king…

“And just like that, in an old red barn at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, I discovered the elusive magic I had only ever glimpsed between the pages of great love stories. It fluttered around me like a newborn butterfly and settled in a corner of my heart. I held my breath, afraid to exhale for fear it would slip out, never to be found again.”

When a bomb explodes in a mall in East Africa, its aftershocks send two strangers on a collision course that neither one sees coming.

Jack Warden, a divorced coffee farmer in Tanzania, loses his only daughter. An ocean away, in the English countryside, Rodel Emerson loses her only sibling.

Two ordinary people, bound by a tragic afternoon, set out to achieve the extraordinary, as they make three stops to rescue three children across the vast plains of the Serengeti—children who are worth more dead than alive.

But even if they beat the odds, another challenge looms at the end of the line. Can they survive yet another loss—this time of a love that’s bound to slip through their fingers, like the mists that dissipate in the light of the sun?

“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”

A blend of romance and women’s fiction, Mists of The Serengeti is inspired by true events and contains emotional triggers, including the death of a child. Not recommended for sensitive readers. Standalone, contemporary fiction.

Buy the Book

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Teasers
Mists Teaser

5Star

Robin’s Review

Isn’t it true that each time you open the cover of a new book, you allow yourself to be whisked away to another world? That’s the really magical thing about reading. Instead of just leading your own ordinary life, you can lead a thousand different lives, all in your spare time. I don’t recall a time when I’ve ever been more aware of this than now, while reading Mists of the Serengeti. Mists of the Serengeti is a blend of women’s fiction and contemporary romance, a standalone novel where author Leylah Attar takes readers on a grand adventure across the grassy plains of northern Tanzania.

A major theme of Mists of the Serengeti is, “We are all connected.” Our lives are intertwined by invisible threads, connected in more ways than we can possibly understand. Told from dual first-person perspectives, English schoolteacher Rodel Harris Emerson and divorced coffee farmer Jack Warden learn this truth the hard way. When a bomb explodes at the Kilimani Mall in eastern Africa, the explosion triggers events that send Jack and Ro on a direct collision course, one where they find themselves in an extraordinary fight to save children who are worth more dead than they are alive.

If you don’t remember anything else that I tell you about Mists of the Serengeti, remember my thoughts about the writing. It’s absolutely stunning in this story! Both lyrical and poetic, Leylah Attar’s writing flows just like rich wine as she immerses you in the world of Tanzania and the Maasai peoples. Attar paints each scene with exceptional descriptive writing. Her vivid descriptions of the African grasslands and wildlife, rife with vibrant sounds and color, appealed to each of my senses. Satisfying my thirst for knowledge, the author educates readers about various topics ranging from coffee farming to the Maasai culture. She introduces readers to languages, traditions and customs many of us will not be familiar with.

As exceptional as I found the writing and literary content to be, I was equally swept away by the uniqueness of this love story. Both main characters begin this story with the grieving process, but it doesn’t take long for attraction to begin blooming between Jack and Rodel. United in purpose, the two of them discover a rich, vital love, a “rightness” found in each other, and they both grow in ways they couldn’t have possibly imagined when they set off on this adventure. Jack and Ro are also joined by a delightful cast of secondary characters – Goma, Bahati and Scholastica – whose presence only enhanced my reading experience!

If you’re looking for a 5-star book that promises great adventure, look no further. Let Leylah Attar whisk your senses away with the quiet beauty of the African plains, with the love and suspense you’ll find waiting in the Mists of the Serengeti!

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Leylah Attar’s Release Day Giveaway
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AboutTheAuthor

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Leylah Attar writes stories about love – shaken, stirred, and served with a twist.Sometimes she disappears into the black hole of the internet, but can usually be enticed out with chocolate. Leylah is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance/women’s fiction.

Author Website | Facebook | Instagram |Twitter| Goodreads | Pinterest

Release Blitz and 5+ Star Review: Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy – The WAGS Series- Book 1

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Good Boy

Wags Series – Book 1

By Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Release Date: January 31,2017

Buy: Amazon 

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Synopsis

Hosting her brother’s wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning’s life. Already the family screw-up, she can’t afford to fail. And nobody (nobody!) can learn of the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. It was wrong, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. Even if he is the sexiest thing on two legs.

Blake Riley sees the wedding as fate’s gift to him. Jess is the maid of honor and he’s the best man? Let the games begin. So what if he’s facing a little (fine, a lot) of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he’s really a good boy with a bad rap. Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you’ve got to make an effort if you want to score.

But Jess has more pressing issues to deal with than sexy-times with a giant man-child. Such as: Will the ceremony start on time, even though someone got grandma drunk? Does glitter ever belong at a wedding? And is it wrong to murder the best man?

Warning: Do not read while sipping hot liquids. Or cold ones. Or while sitting anywhere laughter would be inappropriate. Contains hot but hilarious hockey players, puppies and a snarky pair of underwear.

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5Star+

Michel’s Review

Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy is a must read if you have read Him and Us.  If you haven’t read these books it’s okay because Good Boy can be read as a stand alone novel and is the beginning of the new Wags series. If you are a sports romance fan or a fan of books that include our furry little friends, Good Boy is the perfect book.

It all begins at Jamie and Wes’ wedding.  Jamie’s sister, Jess Canning, has planned the perfect wedding for her brother.  The stress of planning the wedding and making sure everything goes as planned has opened her eyes and made her realize she may have chosen the wrong career path.  She doesn’t enjoy being an event planner.  This wedding is her last gig and she feels like she is letting her family down.  To top it off the best man, Blake Riley, Wes’ NHL teammate, is doing a better job coordinating different aspects of the event than she is.  This crass NHL player with no filters has charmed the guests, made miracles happen, and is offering his help to alleviate the stress.  The last thing she needs is him helping her destress.  That would mean she’s losing her panties and distressing in a very sexy way.

After the big event, Jess finds the courage to start pursuing the career she knows she was meant to do.  It means she has to go back to college to become a nurse.  Her parents have shelled out enough money for her previous education and career choices.  She’s going to do this on her own.  She’s landed a scholarship in Toronto.  She will be close to Jamie and Wes, as well as Blake Riley, their neighbor and teammate.

Blake offers Jess the support and friendship she needs while trying to fit back into college life and meet the demands of the nursing program.  He’s a fun guy to hang out with and has huge shoulders to cry on when things get rough.  He also has a huge heart made of gold. There’s more to this guy than sex, fun, and hockey.  He’s dedicated to his family and protective of those he cares about.  He is even protective of his manipulating ex where his family is concerned.  Rather than expose her lies and hurt his family, he keeps his mouth shut.  In a desperate effort to deflect the attention, Blake brings Jess home to meet his family.  He introduces her as his girlfriend with the hopes that his family will let his past relationship go.  Mamma Riley has a big heart and knows her boy is up to something.

After meeting Blake’s family, Jess sees a very different side of Wes.  She’s realizing that he is a man with honor.  His morals may be spotty, his brand of craziness may be annoying, but his pure heart is completely lovable.  Add his love for the furry friends to the mix and his pure dedication and you have the perfect Good Boy.

The moment I opened this book I could not put it down.  Blake Riley is larger than life and had me falling hopelessly in love with him.  When his family was introduced to the mix I wanted marry him.  When he showed all his true colors I wanted to keep him forever.  Sarina and Elle have another Stanley Cup winner on their roster.  I can’t wait for the next book in the WAGS series.  Matt Eriksson has sparked my imagination.

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Stay

Wags Series – Book 2

By Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Release Date: June 20, 2017

Pre Order: Amazon

The next standalone WAGs novel!

Featuring sexy hockey forward Matt Eriksson. Will he find happiness after all? More info soon!

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About The Authors

Sarina Bowen

Sarina BowenSarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.

The Year We Fell Down, Book #1 in The Ivy Years series, began breaking hearts in March 2014. Book #2, The Year We Hid Away, is brand new.

For Harlequin-E, Sarina writes the Gravity series. Coming in From the Cold features an angsty downhill ski racer and one of the most unique plot conflicts in contemporary romance today.

Sarina enjoys skiing, coffee products and a nice glass of wine. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.

She would be honored to connect with you at http://www.sarinabowen.com.

Sign up for Sarina’s Mailing List

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter~ Goodreads ~Amazon Author Page

*****

 Elle Kennedy

Elle-KennedyA USA Today bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter

 

 

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Blog Tour + Excerpt + 2017 Favorite + 6 Star Review: The Do-Over by Julie A. Richman

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The Do- Over

By Julie A. Richman

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / IBooks / Kobo 

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Synopsis

 

~ Sometimes, one degree is all that separates you from the one you were meant to be with. ~

Wes Bergman was sex on a stick.

We’d been circling one another our entire lives, mingling at the same clubs… attending the same events…sharing mutual acquaintances…yet we’d never actually met.

Until . . . we both boarded a Windjammer Cruise in the Caribbean. And it was like meeting my long, lost best friend for the first time. I hadn’t ever connected with a guy that way before.

But Wes had a girlfriend. So, when the week was over, he walked off the ship, unknowingly taking a piece of my heart with him.

Now, over a decade later, newly divorced, I’m the proverbial fish out of water. Dating has totally changed. Apps. Swipe left. Swipe right. Catfishing. Men my age want two things: twenty-five-year-olds—like my ex’s new child bride of a wife—or just a quick hook-up.

After a string of bad dates, I finally did something I never thought I’d do. I had a hot one-night stand with a really handsome guy I met online who didn’t even know my real name.

Turned out Mr. Fling is a big shot for my company’s newest client. And just my

luck, that client’s CEO is none other than . . . Wes Bergman.

Now I’m separated by one degree again from the man who stole my heart.

And Mr. Fling could destroy my chance of what I want most –

A Do-Over with Wes.

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Excerpt

His hand slowly stroking up and down the outside of my thigh is what roused me from my dream state. It was so soft and tender that I was getting more and more turned on with every movement. With my eyes still closed, I enjoyed the sensation. It wasn’t until his lips started brushing my shoulder, that I was unable to stifle a moan, revealing that I was awake.

“Good morning,” his whisper was hoarse.

“Mmm, good morning.” I stretched my body against his and turned my head to see his face hovering over mine, before our lips met.

“Sleep good?”

“Surprisingly, I did. I was so exhausted. Sorry for passing out on you last night,” I apologized.

“I think we both passed out the moment our heads hit the pillows.” Wes’ hand had migrated from my thigh to my stomach, where he softly drew circles with his fingertips.

Rolling over to face him, I pushed my hair out of the way, silently praying my humidity enhanced curls didn’t make me look like a deranged housewife, scaring the erection right out of the man. Slinging a leg over his thigh, I instantly got my answer. The crazy morning coif was not a cock killer. Thank God!

“You’re a morning person, I see.” Hiding my smile was not a possibility.

“Yeah, I am,” Wes laughed, moving closer to me, his eyes filled with the unmistakable desire to become lovers, something I’d dreamed about on the deck of a windjammer long ago.

“You can wake me up like this anytime.” I needed to let him know it was okay. He’d said he’d take it as slow as I wanted it and what I wanted right now was a slow rhythm of him plowing into me. Hard.

“Are you hard to wake up?” He was pressed up against me.

“I think you’ll figure out the secrets to rousing me.”

“You’ve already figured out the secrets to arousing me.” His voice still had that sexy edge of morning roughness to it, making me want to skip all foreplay and have him inside me.

“I’ll bet you have a few more secrets I can discover,” I said against his lips, as I shifted the leg I had slung over him, pressing my heat and wetness against his already throbbing cock.

Wes groaned and I could feel his smile against my lips. “You know you’re going to make it impossible to make slow, sweet love to you.”

“Good, because I don’t want it slow and sweet.”

Wes flipped me onto my back, “I can easily accommodate your wishes. Are you on anything or do I need to…”

“We’re good,” I assured him.

“Yes, we are.” He kissed my neck, then swiftly pulled my tank top over my head tossing it to the floor. “We’re going to be really good together. Of that, I have no doubt.”

And I knew he was right. Being with this man had been so perfect from the night we met. We meshed with ease and the result was pure joy.

The warmth in his eyes and smile made my breath catch, and in that moment, I was flooded with overwhelming emotion at how much I wanted him. How much I’d always wanted him. It was more than lust, beyond the heat of the moment. Wes Bergman was the man I had always wanted, from the night we met. That was clear to me now.

“I vote we skip the foreplay.” I wriggled out of my underwear.

“You’re on.” His smile told me he was taking on the challenge.

“You’re in,” I gasped, my breath catching in my throat, surprised at the swiftness with which he filled my request.

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6+star

Michel’s Review

Julie A. Richman is in a class by herself when it comes to romance.  Her speciality is creating magical romances between mature adults while still including the wonders of young love in it’s purest form.  The memories of what once was or could of have been if the world would of been in sync, are part of her special magic.  The youthful mistakes, decisions in the works, and life dictating it’s own hand take her characters in new directions that are beyond their control.  She adds layers of life experiences that allow her characters hearts to percolate for years, preparing them to grasp the epic love story that is to come later when they are completely ready for it.  She allows them to mature and become the best kind of individuals they can possibly be.  Along the way they gain wisdom, experience the good and bad in life, and become emotionally stronger people.  They learn the true meaning of sacrifice, giving of oneself, and loving unconditionally.  They learn that love is more than a word or an emotion in a heated moment.  It is the true gift in life. A gift that completes a person as an individual as well as a partner.

It’s refreshing to read a romance that I can identify with as a mature adult.  Life experiences are priceless and mold a person into something more than they could of dreamed about in their younger years.

Tara and Wes were each other’s “one that got away”.  They met on a vacation cruise and instantly connected on so many levels.  At the time they were in different places in their lives.  Wes was living in California and was in a relationship.  Tara was building her career in New York City.  Their lives were miles apart and heading in different directions.  What seemed like a slip of fate was only the beginning.  Fate had something else in store for them.

Almost two decades later, Tara finds herself a new divorcee , single parent to her teenage daughter, and pushing forty.  She is once again thrust into the dating pool.  A pool that has changed severely since she last swam in it.  The rules have changed.  It’s not just herself that she has to consider.  She has to put her daughter first and her own needs second.  The players in the game have changed.  Potential dates are no longer fresh faced young men with a boat full of dreams and the world unexplored.  They are experienced men with their own suitcase full of baggage.  The game itself has changed as well.  Clubbing and hanging out with friends is no longer the way to play the game.  Online dating sites are the way to go.  She’s a fish out of water.  Trying to survive in this new world of dating is like swimming against the tide.  There are a lot of sharks, guppies, and minnows in the pool.  After some disastrous dates and a really bad experience, she’s ready to throw in the towel once again.  That is until she crosses paths with Wes Bergman once again.  What could of been might just be what’s next.

Wes Bergman has changed from the charming young man to an intense successful CEO. His life’s journey has brought him back to New York and founder of a specialized clothing company.  When his company hires a new advertising firm it brings him back to the charming young woman he met years ago on a vacation cruise with his sister.  This woman has matured into a devastatingly beautiful, intelligent woman who still sparks his heart.  What could of been is going to happen.  It’s his second chance at happiness.  This time he’s ready and he’s going to hold on.

Wes and Tara discover more than love.  They discover completion when they are together. Fate is finally smiling on them, or so they thought.  Fate is once again going to throw them in the waters without a paddle.This time around they are experienced swimmers in the game called life.  Their life experiences are going to collide but they are also going to be their saving grace.

Without giving anything away, I can say Julie A. Richman brings so much more than swoon worthy romance to the table.  She brings very real life issues to the table.  She brings an awareness of how precious life really is.  It’s not always sunshine and roses. It’s how one deals with life that makes the difference.  Choosing to love is what matters most.

Julie A. Richman has once again floored me with her gift of storytelling, her compassion for mankind, her wisdom, and insightful observations.  She created a story that is very real and emotional.  It was a true pleasure to read The Do-Over.

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About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling author Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an award winning nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau.

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Connect with Julie:

 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Reader Group ~ Amazon ~ Newsletter

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Paperback Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: To Wild To Tame by Tessa Bailey – The Clarkson’s Series – Book 2

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Too Wild To Tame

The Clarksons Series – Book 2

By Tessa Bailey

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Mass Market: $5.99 USD

eBook: $2.99 USD

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

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Synopsis

Sometimes you just can’t resist playing with fire . . .

By day, Aaron Clarkson suits up, shakes hands, and acts the perfect gentleman. But at night, behind bedroom doors, the tie comes off and the real Aaron comes out to play. Mixing business with pleasure got him fired, so Aaron knows that if he wants to work for the country’s most powerful senator, he’ll have to keep his eye on the prize. That’s easier said than done when he meets the senator’s daughter, who’s wild, gorgeous, and 100 percent trouble.

Grace Pendleton is the black sheep of her conservative family. Yet while Aaron’s presence reminds her of a past she’d rather forget, something in his eyes keeps drawing her in. Maybe it’s the way his voice turns her molten. Or maybe it’s because deep down inside, the ultra-smooth, polished Aaron Clarkson might be more than even Grace can handle . . .

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Excerpt

His progress toward the door halted when Grace shot to her feet, arms stiff at her sides, those green eyes like glowing jade moons. “I…that isn’t what I was asking for. I just meant, let me help you, in general. I—I didn’t think…”

Aaron’s neck heated. “If you don’t like the idea, we can change it—”

She jumped. She actually jumped straight up in the air, hands flying to her cheeks. “I love it. Oh, please don’t change anything. I was just so surprised.”

He inclined his head, mentally cursing the way his heart decided to make its presence known at such an inconvenient time, walloping his rib cage with thick booms, courtesy of Grace’s pleasure. How juvenile. “I’m kind of surprised myself,” he admitted, then wished he’d kept his mouth shut.

At least until Grace floated toward him. All shining eyes and rosy excitement, she spurred a lust storm in his stomach. “It’s so much better when you say what you’re thinking, Aaron.”

“You mentioned that.”

And of course, it made him want to say more. Say whatever it would take to get her legs wrapped around his hips. To rock between her thighs until her wetness drenched the fly of his pants. “Get away from me, Grace,” he rasped. “It would be just like me to take advantage of you after having to tell that story.”

Silence deepened around them. “How can you say that after you just found a way for me to rebuild the camp?” It seemed as if her entire body lifted and fell on a harsh sob. “Last night, you asked me if I still saw some good in you…and I didn’t answer. How could I not have answered you?” She shook her gorgeous head. “I didn’t mean to—”

Aaron shot forward, capturing her unspoken words with his own mouth. Guilt. There had been even more guilt in her eyes. Aaron’s response was pure denial. Not because of me. Not over me. But as soon as their lips joined, his mind wiped clean of anything but Grace’s one-of-a-kind taste. She was juicy, sweet, refreshing, intoxicating madness. He let it pull him down into its depths—her depths—gathering up her taste greedily so he could live with the effect as long as possible, even though surely a man couldn’t withstand this type of arousal for an extended length of time. He’d want to fuck her again as soon as he came. It was a certainty his body was all too eager to confirm. Yet protectiveness held him in a state of limbo. Wanting—needing—to mate with her delicious body while determined to protect her from himself.

Couldn’t she sense the past meaningless encounters he wore like gloves, cheapening everything he touched? Couldn’t she sense his inability to be meaningful to her? Grace should have someone with substance, not someone who couldn’t even garner the love of his own family. Someone who considered the ramifications of his actions and how they would serve as betrayal. This is how you repay me?

The voice from his not-so-distant past had Aaron tearing his mouth away with a guttural growl, clasping Grace by the shoulders. Too hard. Ease up. “Get away.”

“If you really want that, let me go,” she whispered.

God, he couldn’t do it. Not with her face tipped back, lips swollen and shined up, those eyelids halfway fallen. He’d never in his life had trouble resisting sex. It was always a logical decision based on his needs. This? There was nothing cut and dried about it. His attraction to Grace was messy and wild and untapped. Made his chest expand with the effort to contain the expanding of something unfamiliar. Crazy and blinding. His dick needed a good, rough handling from one woman only. Grace. And she wasn’t pushing him away. Seemed like she wanted the job, too, her tits sliding up and down his abs with every breath. Give her one more chance. Show her what she’s in for with a bastard like you. With a muttered epithet, Aaron raked his hand up the back of Grace’s thigh, sliding it down the back of her tights, and settling his middle finger in the valley of her ass. “Get away from me,” he managed, wedging his straying digit a little more securely, earning him a closed-lipped noise.

“No,” she gasped after a few seconds.

Aaron’s tether broke. Recapturing Grace’s mouth with an obscene amount of tongue, he backed them toward the bed, satisfaction rippling in his middle when she went down beneath him, her legs falling open in welcome. He draped his body over Grace’s slighter one, eager grunts leaving his mouth as he positioned himself over her pussy and bore down with his erection. Their groans were pain-filled, reaching every corner of the cabin, breaking off when Aaron got back to kissing that addictive mouth, yanking the oversized sweater up, up to her belly, so he could rock against her sex with only his pants and her tights as obstructions.

“Aaron.”

“You were warned,” he reminded her with a strangled shout, delivered into the space above her head. “Three times, Grace. That’s three times more than I’d give anyone else.” He slid up and back in the cradle of her legs, groaning over the rasping friction her tights delivered to his stiff, fuck-hungry dick. “Make it four times. I gave you an out back at the house. You should have taken it.”

When Grace should have been trembling or alarmed by the cut steel in his voice, she only stretched out beneath him like a cat, opening up for him. Almost preening beneath his rough ministrations. “Maybe I should have. But we’re here now, so stop trying to scare me.” Her fingertips moved down Aaron’s chest to the seat of his pants, where she smoothed her palm over the curve of his cock, which started him panting like a marathon runner. “You don’t really want to scare me, do you, Aaron?”

Christ, her soft words, the sight of her, were choking him up. Her hair was a haphazard display framing her face, those crooked front teeth somehow making him twice as eager to seal their mouths together again. He was a hunter who’d discovered a sprite dancing in the woods and dragged her home, intending to use her body for vigorous relief, but got forgiveness in return. “No, I don’t. I don’t want to scare you.”

“I know,” she breathed, unfastening his belt buckle. “I just know.”

 

 

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5Star

Tracey’s Review

Aaron Clarkson is the mover and shaker, the take-charge man, the man that always has a plan. And right now, his plan is to put his recent crash-and-burn behind him, the one that almost derailed his career, and get back in the game. Aaron isn’t about to let a chance meeting with free-spirited Grace Pendleton throw him off course, but he’s never met anyone like Grace before, and she’s about to show him a whole other side of life.

I am absolutely in LOVE with the Romancing the Clarksons series by author Tessa Bailey. This interesting and complex cast of characters has grabbed my heart and run with it, and I could not be enjoying these books more.

Aaron is an interesting guy. He’s the Clarkson that sees things the way that they are, that calls a spade a spade and to heck with emotions or feelings. It’s just the way that he’s always been, and he’s comfortable with the status quo. A stop in Iowa during their cross-country trip to grant their dead mother’s wish presents the perfect opportunity for Aaron to do what he does best. He knows the game of politics inside and out, and, if he can just spin things the right way, he’ll be back in the thick of things in no time.

Aaron comes across as self-centered, and a little bit amoral, and I wondered how he was going to redeem himself. Until Grace showed up. From moment one, she is the flame to his moth, and a force of nature that he cannot evade.

It was insane. Everything was insane. She was forcing him to consider light and shadows, when he’d only ever dealt in black and white. And she was the light. Shining bright enough to flay him.
He’d operated until now as if people were only hiding selfishness, the kind he didn’t bother to conceal. But not Grace. She contradicted everything he held true and it made the earth shake under his feet.

Grace knows what it’s like to have her inner spark dimmed, and she’s not doing it anymore. Living life on her terms, righting wrongs, doing good, Grace calls to something in Aaron, something long-buried, and makes him question everything that he thinks that he knows and wants. Grace is not without her own issues, having dealt with some very heavy issues in her past. But she looks deeper than Aaron’s surface, and finds something that calls to her, too, believing in him before he believes in himself, in them. But when it finally clicks for Aaron, when he finally sees himself, the real him, underneath all of the shell that years of negative self-talk had created, it’s magic.

He’d been thrown into a vast ocean without a life jacket, and she was reaching out with something resembling help, but it was so foreign and nothing like he’d ever experienced that gripping on to it was difficult. Slipping. It kept slipping. What finally forced him to hold…on was Grace. She was in the same ocean. Maybe she was always there. What if having him reach out and clasp on was the rescue she needed?

There are plenty of super-sexy moments in between all of the self-actualization that goes on. I mean, oh, MY, the heat. Aaron is one dirty talker, and the scenes between him and Grace are intense, and, at times, raw. When wide open meets tamped down, the point of intersection is sheer passion, and it is off-the-charts incendiary, which is something that I’ve come to expect in Tessa’s books. This series just keeps getting better, and I cannot believe that I have to wait until next year to get the other books. These are stories that you don’t want to miss. They’re hot, they’re emotional, and they wrap you right up and take you along for the always-interesting ride. 5 stars for TOO WILD TO TAME. Get these. Now. You can thank me later.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

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Romancing The Clarkson’s Series

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When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble . . .

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn’t seen in years. When rescue shows up—six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle—Rita’s pretty certain she’s gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he’s about to be sorely tempted. There’s something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn’t just for tonight—he’s forever.

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Tessa Bailey - headshotAbout Tessa Bailey:

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

 

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Goodreads

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