Lies, a steamy, fast paced standalone filled with the perfect blend of heat and humor from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott, is available now!
Betty Dawsey knows that breaking things off with Thom Lange is for the best. He’s nice, but boring, and their relationship has lost its spark. But steady and predictable Thom, suddenly doesn’t seem so steady and predictable when their condo explodes and she’s kidnapped by a couple of crazies claiming that Thom isn’t who he says he is.
Thom is having a hellish week. Not only is he hunting a double agent, but his fiancé dumped him, and thanks to his undercover life, she’s been kidnapped.
Turns out Thom is Operative Thom and he’s got more than a few secrets to share with Betty if he’s going to keep her alive. With both their lives on the line, their lackluster connection is suddenly replaced by an intense one. But in his line of work, feelings aren’t wanted or desired. Because feelings can be a lethal distraction.
Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.
“I LOVED both Cosy and Griffin! This story was ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!”- Kendall Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
Making Up an all-new laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from New YorkTimes bestselling author Helena Hunting is available now!
Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.
Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.
As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world.
Helena Hunting and The Mills Brothers are back spreading their irresistible, sexy, alpha charm Vegas style. Griffin Mills is giving his younger brothers a run for their money claiming the sexiest brother title. Rather than an exotic destination wedding/honeymoon or a grand New Yorker romance on Broadway, Griffin is making his mark in Vegas at the Sex Toy Warehouse.
Griffin’s on the rebound from his broken engagement to a New York socialite. Rather than sticking around New York City, he chose to bury himself in a new project in Las Vegas. He is hoping to acquire a new hotel for the Mills Hotel line. While in Vegas, he’s burning the candle at both ends. Work by day and a social life after hours which includes drunken hook-ups, and wild bachelor parties.When he pulled the shortest straw for providing the goodie bags for the party, he finds himself at the Sex Toy Warehouse. When meets Cosy Felton, the sexy sales consultant, he’s thoroughly charmed by her vibrant personality and carefree attitude. It doesn’t matter that he is much older than her nor does it matter what her social status is. She makes him feel alive. She makes him want to stop and smell the roses. She makes him want to be a better man. He knows there’s an expiration date on their affair and he is going to make the most of it. Who knew he would really fall in love and face the biggest heartbreak of his life? The Mills men don’t stay down for long. They go after what they want and seal the deal. It may take bribing a crazy older sister, shaming a pregnant ex-fiance, and beating his least favorite cousin to a pulp, he’s the man for the job.
He’s ready for some serious Making Up with Cosy Felton.
I loved this rom-com by Helena Hunting. I fell hopelessly in love with Griffin Mills just like I did with his two other brothers. Helena Hunting is the queen of romantic comedy and making readers smile. I can’t wait to see what’s next in the Shacking Up series. Rumor has it the favorite cousin, Lincoln Moorehead, is up next in Handle With Care.
Tracey’s Review
Okay, romance lovers, can you keep a secret? Although I have happily promoted Helena Hunting and her books for a very long time, MAKING UP is actually the first book of hers that I have read. Yes, it’s true… *ducks and runs* Why, I don’t know, because now I am now kicking myself and wondering what in the actual heck I was thinking.
As this was my first time in Helena World (see above), I wondered whether the book would work for me. Let me offer a resounding ‘YES!’ This book can totally be read as a standalone, and, while characters from other books do make an appearance, there’s plenty of back story offered here for it to make sense. And, you know, whet our appetites to get the heck caught up with the rest of the Shacking Up world.
MAKING UP is just the kind of book that I want to find on my book pile again and again and again. What a delightful read this book was! I fell in insta-love with both Cosy and Griffin, and absolutely inhaled their story. Awkward, sexy, funny, these two are a match made in heaven, and seeing them get from start to finish could not have been more fun. Any book that can leave me with a smile on my face and a love for characters that will have me reading the author’s other books is a win for me. 4.5 stars and a must-read recommendation for MAKING UP. Get it. Read it. Love it.
_____________________________________________
About Helena
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She’s writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
From New York Times bestselling author CD Reiss comes a story of friendship, romance, and growing into a love that was always there.
Rachel knew exactly what turning thirty would be like. She had a plan, after all. First college, then a climb up the professional ladder. Love, marriage, children. All of it was on the schedule.
The cheap Hollywood apartment wasn’t on the list. Neither was the string of heartbreaks. Or the effect her mother’s cancer had on her career.
It’s hard to stay practical and on point when everything takes a left turn.
Enter Sebastian, the nerd across the street. The boy she defended when he couldn’t defend himself. The best friend she promised she’d marry if life didn’t go according to plan.
Not only is he successful, confident, and gorgeous, but he also still has their handwritten marriage contract.
No one goes through with childhood wedding pacts.
That’s crazy.
But their families might just be crazy enough to rent a hall and set a date. All Rachel and Sebastian have to do is fall in love.
________________________________________
Excerpt
After I left her and CJ with Lucinda, I spent the weekly staff meeting wondering if Rachel was the same warrior I’d loved or if she was more the woman who’d held her laptop to her chest as if she needed protection.
I was obsessed.
I had to know.
Her text came in as I was leaving the meeting.
I need to check that we’re kidding
Before I could finish typing a response, I caught her coming out of the bathroom with her laptop under her arm.
Alone. Me and her. Nothing between us but the question of who we were and how we fit.
“Seb, I—”
She didn’t have a chance to finish. I crowded her back into the bathroom and locked the door behind us.
“Kidding about what?” I said.
“About getting married.”
“Why would that even be a question?”
“Our parents have been in negotiations about it.”
My mother couldn’t keep herself from talking if she tried, and I was her favorite subject.
“It might be a little soon for marriage, but—”
“Soon? I don’t like you seeing what I do for a living while you’re in a glass-walled office overlooking the ocean. I mean, I’m not marriage material, and the odds are that’s never going to change.”
“I don’t see why a date’s off the table.”
“Do you know what’s going to happen if we date?”
The list of possibilities was as long as my arm. I could have counted them off, from “We decide we hate each other” to “We end up in bed.” But I didn’t, because I was still trying to figure her out.
What did she want to hear?
With her wide eyes and parted lips, what did she want? Did she have a fondest wish where I was concerned? Was she leaning forward? Was her expression soft and yielding?
My mind spent too long deciding what to say, so my body spoke for me.
I kissed her hard and was met with teeth and stiff resistance. It was a kiss I’d wanted since I’d had hairless armpits and a voice somewhere in the low soprano range. I’d dreamed about it. Fantasized about it. Thought about it so hard in the middle of the night I could practically feel it.
But never, ever in my fantasies did she push me away so hard I fell back against a towel dispenser, watching her face twist into surprised rage as the machine spit out a ragged rectangle of brown paper.
“That was—”
“Messed up. I know.”
“Then why? What is wrong with you?”
She was livid, just like she would have been. Just like she should have been.
The tiger within Rachel was in there, and my attempt to tease her out had probably alienated her. She’d be right to never speak to me again.
“I’m sorry,” I said with my hand on the door lock. “I misread you. It won’t happen again.”
I started to open the door, but she held it closed.
“If we date, my mother’s going to get her hopes up that I’m going to settle down. And I’m sorry, Seb, but if we break up while she’s in chemo, it’s going to crush her.”
“You don’t even know if she’s sick again.”
“You’re right.” She pointed a rigid finger at me as if I were her mother. “I’m going to make her tell me.”
“You’re really beautiful when you’re telling it like it is.”
She slid her hand off the door. Having been called out, the warrior was sent into hiding.
No. I wouldn’t accept that. I wouldn’t allow it.
“Let’s just go out and catch up,” I said. “Saturday.”
“Can’t. Saturday’s the soonest I can talk to Mom.”
I unlocked the door. “I’m sorry about . . . the thing.”
“Kissing me?”
“No, wasting paper towels. Of course kissing you.”
“Next time, give a girl a little warning.”
Next time? Her eyes darted to the door. Was she calculating the distance to her getaway? Or making sure it was closed?
“How about now?” I asked.
“Now what?”
“Fair warning. Now.”
I stepped a little closer and put my hands on her arms. Not right away. I let them hover an inch away before touching her to give her the chance to move away. A chance I was sure she’d take.
“Seb, really?”
But she didn’t move away.
Not this time. When I laid my hands on her biceps, she leaned in to me just a little. I smelled the floral lotion on her skin and a hint of cool water on her breath.
“Really.” I slid the laptop from her arms and placed it on the counter. “This is your warning.”
You’re doing this. I cannot believe you’re doing this.
“It doesn’t feel like a warning,” she said, and again—I noted—she didn’t move away.
“Flashing red lights.” My lips brushed her cheek, heading for her mouth. She felt better than I ever imagined. “A buzzer, maybe.”
“Just a kiss?” she asked, her lips moving against mine.
Before I could consummate what she was agreeing to, I was smacked by a swinging door.
“Oh!” CJ said. “I’m sorry! I was looking for you.”
Rachel snatched up her laptop and walked out. CJ raised an eyebrow with good reason, since I was in the ladies’ room. I left, and we all gathered in the hall.
Awkward.
“Well,” Rachel said. “Thanks for showing us your tedious financial-sector company.”
“Thank you for coming,” I said and let them walk away. I could have done or said much more, but not without getting her into trouble. She glanced back at me when they turned the corner, as if she wanted to make sure I was still there.
________________________________________
Michel’s Review
Only Ever You by CD Reiss is a delightful romance. Rather than having a complex plot or dark subject matter, this book was pure romance. Friends to lovers, popular girl falls for nerd, triumph over bullies, and crazy family meddling is the theme for Only Ever You.
Two kids make a contract to marry each other if they are still single when they turn thirty. What seemed like a joke actually turned into a real contract once the “families” got involved and the thirtieth birthdays have arrived. Rachel thought she would have taken the Hollywood scene by storm. She thought she would be a successful screen writer with Oscars/Emmy’s under her belt. Instead she is a writer’s assistant for a cheesy romantic network. She lives in a crappy apartment and still does her laundry at home to save money.
When she goes home for Christmas, she’s in for quite a surprise. Her family and their neighbors always celebrate Christmas Eve together. Sebastian has come home for Christmas after missing many years of the celebration. He’s no longer the skinny, nerdy boy she used to protect from the bullies in school. He’s a gorgeous, successful man who wears grandpa’s cardigan like a movie star. She’s thrilled to see her old friend.
Connecting with Sebastian is great but when the families bring out the old marriage contract it’s a different story. The odds seem higher now because it isn’t about them but making their families happy because Rachel’s mom’s cancer may be back.
As they plan their wedding it becomes more than simple childish contract. They both want the real deal but don’t really know one another anymore. Getting married is complicated enough. Falling in love is wonderful except it should happen before the wedding.
I am sending all readers an invitation to Rachel and Sebastian’s love story. It is imperfectly the best wedding romance this summer. CD Reiss made me smile and gave me all the goosies I always want when I read a romance novel.
CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up she’s at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She’s frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn’t ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
When I first encountered Ford Donovan, I had no idea who he was…well, other than the obvious. Young, gorgeous, successful, smart. Did I mention young? If I did, it bears repeating. Ford Donovan was too young for me.
Let’s back up to how it all started. My best friend decided I needed to start dating again. So, without my knowledge, she set up a profile for me on a popular dating site—one that invited men ages twenty-one to twenty-seven to apply for a date. Those nicknamed Cunnilingus King were told they’d go straight to the top for consideration. The profile wasn’t supposed to go live. Another point that bears repeating—it wasn’t supposed to.
Nevertheless, that’s how I met Ford, and we started messaging. He made me laugh; yet I was adamant that because of his age, we could only be friends. But after weeks of wearing me down, I finally agreed to one date only—my first after twenty years of being with my high school sweetheart. I knew it couldn’t last, but I was curious about him.
Though, you know what they say…curiosity kills the cat.
My legs wobbled walking into the restaurant.
Ford was seated at the bar. When he turned around, he took my breath away.
His sexy smile nearly melted my panties.
But…he looked so familiar.
As I got closer I realized why.
He was the son of the neighbor at our family’s summer home.
The boy next door.
Only now…he was all man.
I hadn’t seen him in years.
I left the restaurant and planned to put the entire crazy thing behind me.
Which I did. Until summer came.
And guess who decided to use his family’s summer home this year?
Excerpt
Eve’s face flashed on the screen, and I swiped to answer.
“Give me all the details.”
I shook my head repeatedly, even though she couldn’t see me. “It was horrible.”
“What happened? What did the bastard do to you? I’ll cut his balls off.”
Eve’s response made me smile for the first time since I’d laid eyes on my date. “No. It wasn’t that kind of horrible. He was a perfect gentleman.”
“Okay…”
“Very sweet and funny, too.”
“Sounds awful,” she said sarcastically.
“And gorgeous.”
“The balls on him.”
“That’s not the worst part.”
“Let’s see…he’s young, gorgeous, sweet, and funny. What could be worse than that? He’s hung like a horse?”
“I wouldn’t know. And you know why I don’t know that?”
“Because you’re an uptight prude who hasn’t been laid in years?”
“That might be true. But the larger problem is that he is one of Ryan’s friends.”
Eve cackled. “That’s not a problem, that’s fantastic! Bang his brains out and send him to play golf with your ex. Let him eat his heart out when he realizes what he lost.”
“Ummm…Eve, I wasn’t talking about my ex, Ryan. I was talking about my son.”
“I’ll be over in twenty minutes.”
Michel’s Review
All Grown Up by Vi Keeland is the perfect summer read! All Grown Up is sizzling hot and loaded with fireworks while also being hopelessly romantic. This book will have the reader fanning themselves and ready to dive into a tub of ice. It is more than a sexy, sizzling hot romance, it is the story of a woman finding herself after years of marriage and motherhood. She is not only learning who she is but is also learning that the definition of love doesn’t always fit in the perfect box. Love comes in all sizes, shapes, and ages. In this case it’s the age which is the defining factor holding her back from a love that comes once in a lifetime.
Valentina Davis at thirty-seven finds herself single and sort of ready to enter the dating world once again. She has always been the perfect wife, mother, and household organizer. She depends on order and her post it notes. She has taken huge steps since her divorce. She has gone back to school to change her career. Now she’s ready to start up her new social life as a single woman.
Her carefree, best friend Eve has been encouraging her to take the plunge and just have fun. When Eve opens a Match.com account for her little does she know her life is about to take an unexpected path. A path where post it notes take on sexier reminders.
She meets Donovon620 on Match.com. She’s reluctant to go on a date with him because he is only twenty-five. He convinces her to take the plunge by charming her with his wit and assuring her of his maturity.
Ford Donovan is intrigued with Val44 from Match.com. She’s not like the typical women he usually dates. She seems very real and down to earth. The kind of woman he wants to spend time with. She’s very weary of his age but he has lived a lifetime since he was in college. He has raised his younger sister after their parents deaths. He put aside his own social life and needs to ensure he did the right thing. He took over his parents business and became a responsible adult. Now his sister is somewhat grown and in college. He finally has some free time and breathing room. He wants to spend it with someone he can enjoy rather than coddle.
When Ford and Valentina finally meet it’s a pure disaster. It turns out they used to be neighbors at their summer beach homes. He used to babysit her son. None of that matters to Ford but he has to convince Val that her age doesn’t matter. They have a chemistry that can’t be denied. They light each other up like the fireworks on the Fourth of July. Aside from their sexual chemistry, the two of them are beyond compatible. They were meant for one another.
Vi Keeland once again had me laughing out loud, swooning over the romance while fanning myself from their sizzling hot chemistry. She creates strong women who find the courage to step out of their fears and embrace the flaws as well as strengths. She creates male characters I instantly fall head over heels in love with. I love their wisecracks, sarcastic male humor, and dirty pillow talk. The dialogue and humorous banter between the characters is entertaining, engaging, and keeps my full attention. I always read Vi’s books in one sitting because I can’t tear myself away from her wonderful books. All Grown Up is another perfect addition to her catalogue.
I highly recommend All Grown Up by Vi Keeland! It’s guaranteed to make you smile!
Prefer texts? Text the word BOOKS to 77948 to receive an alert when We Shouldn’t goes live. (You will only release new release alerts!)
About the Author:
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
When I first encountered Ford Donovan, I had no idea who he was…well, other than the obvious. Young, gorgeous, successful, smart. Did I mention young? If I did, it bears repeating. Ford Donovan was too young for me.
Let’s back up to how it all started. My best friend decided I needed to start dating again. So, without my knowledge, she set up a profile for me on a popular dating site—one that invited men ages twenty-one to twenty-seven to apply for a date. Those nicknamed Cunnilingus King were told they’d go straight to the top for consideration. The profile wasn’t supposed to go live. Another point that bears repeating—it wasn’t supposed to.
Nevertheless, that’s how I met Ford, and we started messaging. He made me laugh; yet I was adamant that because of his age, we could only be friends. But after weeks of wearing me down, I finally agreed to one date only—my first after twenty years of being with my high school sweetheart. I knew it couldn’t last, but I was curious about him.
Though, you know what they say…curiosity kills the cat.
My legs wobbled walking into the restaurant.
Ford was seated at the bar. When he turned around, he took my breath away.
His sexy smile nearly melted my panties.
But…he looked so familiar.
As I got closer I realized why.
He was the son of the neighbor at our family’s summer home.
The boy next door.
Only now…he was all man.
I hadn’t seen him in years.
I left the restaurant and planned to put the entire crazy thing behind me.
Which I did. Until summer came.
And guess who decided to use his family’s summer home this year?
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
Just like she doesn’t know a thing about the boy she sits next to on the first day of senior year.
He thinks she’s a brat.
She thinks he’s entitled.
Maybe first impressions don’t always last…
Because Connor Ledger’s about to save her.
He just doesn’t know why.
________________________________
Excerpt:
They look like fireflies. The way the water falls from the sky, illuminated only by the streetlamps.
I stand in the middle of the road, barefoot and barely breathing, my arms out, face to the sky.
I don’t know how I got here.
When I climbed out of my window, the sun was just setting and now… now I’m surrounded by
dark skies and false hope.
I know I should go home.
That I should face my fears and tackle them head-on.
My mind travels the right roads at the right time to get me there, but my heart…
My heart takes me to Connor.
Outside his bedroom window, mud seeps between my toes, and the frigid air creates
goosebumps along my skin. I raise my fist and tap, tap, tap on the glass.
A moment later, a light turns on. And then nothing. I tap again, my heart racing.
The blind lifts and Connor appears, his eyes squinting. It’s clear he’d been asleep, or close to it.
Hair a mess, he’s shirtless, the obvious beginnings of bruises mar parts of his torso, and I look down,
shame filling every part of me. I bite down on my lip as he slides the window up. “Jesus Christ, Ava.
What the hell are you doing?”
His warm palms meet my soaking wet elbows, and then his entire body is cocooning mine,
lifting me off my feet and into his bedroom. My feet land on his soft carpet, and I look down at the mess I’ve made.
“I’m dirty,” I tell him.
Inside and out.
Dirty, dazed and damaged.
________________________________
Michel’s Review
*** 2019 Favorite ***
It’s been a good long while since Jay McLean released a new book and her readers missed her. She’s back with an emotional mature YA novel that will leave the reader hungover and desperately wanting more. Heartache and Hope by Jay McLean takes the reader on an emotional journey that has them sobbing one moment and feeling pure joy the next. Two young people dealing with life the only way they know how. Appearances aren’t always what they seem. What lies beneath the surface is what matters the most.
*
Connor Ledger is the new superstar basketball player that just transferred to St. Lukes Academy on an athletic scholarship. His family moved so he would have a better opportunity of securing a basketball scholarship to a good college. A college that will help him get into the NBA. His family is not exactly poor but they are financially strained. His single father has raised him and spent every extra penny on improving his natural gift in basketball. Not only does he have to perform well on the basketball court but also has to make good grades to build up his GPA. His father has high expectations and expects him to make it to the “end game”.
*
Ava Diaz is the mysterious gorgeous girl that everyone avoids. She seems to have warning signs written all over her. And she does for very valid reasons. She doesn’t have the time or energy for high school social life. She doesn’t have time for friends much less a boyfriend. When the new boy in school tries to befriend her it’s very hard to resist until she can’t. It’s hard to keep the preverbial private door closed when it’s so lonely living behind those doors. Everyone needs someone outside their preverbial private door to make their world bearable. Someone to give them hope.
*
It appears Connor Ledger has the world in his hands but underneath it all he’s a scarred soul.
*
It appears Ava Diaz is a scarred soul who hates the world when in reality she’s just a teenage girl that needs to be a teenager rather than a prisoner in her life.
*
Connor’s father and his basketball commitments come first. His head is telling him one thing but his heart is screaming for something else.
*
Ava’s world behind closed doors is falling apart and she’s trying to hang onto what little bit is left. It’s taking all the broken pieces of her heart and shattering them into tiny bits that can never be repaired.
*
“When the world is at its darkest, thats when magic appears.” Connor and Ava desperately need a little magic in their lives.
*
Magic doesn’t always appear where we expect it but it does appear when Jay McLean picks up pen and starts writing. She is a gifted storyteller with compelling characters that touch the deepest part of the soul. She challenges her readers with thought provoking situations and emotional dilemmas. She takes ordinary people and makes them larger in life by testing their souls and allowing them to grow. Her writing is pure MAGIC and keeps the readers under her spell !
*
Jay McLean created two unforgettable characters that need hope in their world. I loved the supportive secondary characters just as much. Ava’s stepbrother Trevor is such an honorable guy and made sacrifices most young men would not make. I would love to see Jay create a story for him after the Heartache Duet is finished because Ava and Connor are not the only people who had their hope stifled.
*
I loved every magical moment reading Heartache and Hope by Jay McLean. I can’t wait for the second book, First and Forever, to release on July 12, 2019!
And somehow
it became more than just a stunt to collect his billions.
A promise
bound by love, not hate.
Until he
humiliated me in front of all of New York and disappeared.
Now my
errant husband has returned, and it’s like I never existed.
Except when
he looks at me like he wants to rip my dress from my body.
Something’s
holding him back. And I won’t rest until I discover its cause.
See, this
wild heir is about to find out: karma’s a fickle mistress.
My weapons?
Batting eyelashes, high heels, and that red lipstick he can’t resist.
I’ll break
down his mask, little by little. And then I’ll make him pay for what he did.
I just need
to keep my heart in check while I do it.
***
***
Eric de
Vries.
Looks like
millions. Worth billions.
A body like
the David with a mind to match.
Unfortunately
for this wayward heir, to keep his money, he needs a wife.
And of all
the women in the world, he chooses me.
Too bad I’ve
hated him for five years, since he took all my tears and tossed me away. The
guy slept his way through half of New England and discarded women like hotel
toiletries.
Been there.
Done that.
Still…what
would you do for twenty million dollars?
Nicole French is an East Coast/West Coast hybrid creature, Springsteen fanatic, hopeless romantic, and total bookworm.
When not writing fiction or teaching writing classes, she is hanging out with her family, playing soccer with the rest of the thirty-plus crowd in Seattle, or going on dates with her husband.
In her spare time, she likes to go running with her dog, Greta, or practice the piano, but never seems to do either one of these things as much as she should.
The moment I laid eyes on Finn Parker’s headshot, I knew that if this guy could act, I wanted him for the hero role in the film being made from my book, Fleeing an August Moon.
The tall, blond, and ruggedly handsome actor looked exactly like the picture I’d seen in my head the entire time I was writing the book.
The studio, however, had different thoughts on a leading man.
Box Office crusher, Maverick Dailey, made it clear that he wanted the role. The producers, studio, and everyone involved were thrilled to score such a celebrity. Well, everyone except me.
And it’s my vote that counts since, according to my contract I get final say on casting. Maverick is amazing, yet I’m just not sure…
It certainly didn’t help that Finn Parker and I seemed destined to cross paths. We ran into each other all over Hollywood. And the more time we spent together, the more the sparks between us flew. We had an intense chemistry, something I’d only ever read about in books like mine.
Which made me wonder, was I really falling for Finn or just living out a fantasy with a red-blooded, live version of my hot hero character?
It’s easy to confuse fiction for reality in Hollywood. Everything is not as it seems in this town.
Not to mention, Finn’s life would forever change if he landed the role. Which made me question how good of an actor he really was? Was he interested in me, or the role I had the power to give him?
Is this Real Love or just Reel Love?
Excerpt:
Prologue
In Flight…
Holy crap, he’s perfect.
Not just like he’d be good for the role perfect, but like he stepped out of my head and onto my computer screen, perfect.
I can’t believe he even exists. Well, in real life, anyway.
This is him. The guy I’ve been seeing in my head for over three years now. But with a picture in front of me, it crystalizes all the details in such sharp focus, for the very first time. It’s like a layer of gauze was removed from the front of the lens of my mind’s eye, and here he is. I am looking at the face of the hero in my biggest-selling, and let’s face it, my only truly bestselling book.
Who is this man? I need to know more. I need to know everything. Now.
Finn Parker.
Good name. Obviously fake, but, nonetheless, good.
Those eyes. They are Griffin’s eyes. I am finally staring into his clear blue eyes, studying the deep blue rings edging his irises, looking exactly like what I’d described the very first time Briela gazed up at him when they were just kids. Sky blue meeting a horizon line containing the ocean’s power and depth was how I described them when the two meet again as adults. I have written many pages about these eyes.
Finn Parker, your eyes are killing me. Like I’m afraid to breathe, killing me.
A slight quiver in my hands radiates to my now-twitching fingertips as they hang, as if in suspended animation, just above the keyboard, choking, fearful that if I don’t poke the keys with just the right finesse, he will disappear and be gone — forever. And I’m not ready to lose this flesh and blood version of the man who has invaded my thoughts for so long.
And what if I don’t find him again? A moment of panic ensues as if I’m about to lose my raison d’être. Or maybe just lose my shit. Or my mind.
What the hell is wrong with me?
His freaking picture and bio are in an email sent to me by the studio’s casting department. He is not disappearing into thin air, never to be found again.
Get ahold of yourself, woman.
_____________________________________
Michel’s Review
Reel Love by Julie A. Richman is going to be a summer blockbuster in the romance world. Every reader loves a Movie Star romance. A Rags to Riches story. Reel Love is so much more because it not only showcases the glamour of the film industry but also shows the manipulative side where actors are valued by dollar signs rather than true talent. It also presents a vivid description of the insecurities of struggling actors to the over confident superstars who use their clout to manipulate getting roles.
Francesca Simonelli wrote the best selling novel Fleeing An August Moon. This novel became an international best seller and is being made into a movie. Francesca was lucky enough to maintain the artistic rights from casting to the screenplays. She has gone to Hollywood for the casting process. She is determined to pick the best actors to portray the beloved characters from her book. She doesn’t care about what actors are the biggest box office draw, she wants authenticity. When she comes across Finn Parker’s picture she feels like she is staring at Griffin Chase, her leading male character. She doesn’t care what he’s done prior to this audition, she just hopes he can act.
Finn Parker is desperate for the role of Griffin Chase. He hasn’t had a job in two years. He needs a breakout role that will pivot his career. When he first begins reading Fleeing An August Moon, he hates the story but is willing to embrace the character of Griffin Chase. It will show his true acting skills. He knows he’s up against stiff competition. Maverick Dailey, the biggest box office star in Hollywood, also wants this role. He’s willing to do anything for this role. He needs for Francesca Simonelli to see he is the perfect Griffin Chase.
When Finn “accidentally” runs into Frankie after his first audition the quest for the role takes a different course. He actually likes the book and understands why this story took the world by storm. He wants to know more about the character of Griffin Chase. He also wants to get to know Frankie. She has captured his attention because she’s true to herself. She is a real woman with a real personality rather than a manufactured picture perfect woman. She could care less about A-Listers, the “right” diet, and designer gowns. She’d rather eat sugar than avocados. He genuinely likes her. He’s willing to show her who Finn Parker really is rather than the manufactured person on the screen. He’s competing for more than the role of Griffin Chase, he is vying for Frankie’s heart.
Hollywood is a manipulative place. Everyone is playing a role. It’s hard to tell what’s real in a world that spins upon fantasies. Everyone has a price, the lines can be altered rather than crossed. Frankie has to hold her ground and hold onto her heart even if it means sacrificing Finn for the right reasons.
Julie A. Richman has once again delivered the “WOW” factor in Reel Love. I felt like she added her very soul to Frankie Simonelli. The vivid descriptions she used to describe Fleeing An August Moon was as good as the characters she created in this story. She stretched her writing talent to a whole new level by delivering two very different romances in one story. I love that she is one of the few contemporary authors who uses mature characters with life experience rather than angsty younger adults. The characters always seem to be more seasoned and their stories are always multi-demensional. Julie’s books come to life and capture the heart. Like Frankie, Julie stays true to all of her characters including characters from previous books. I loved the cameo appearances from the Needing Moore series.
I absolutely loved Reel Love by Julie A. Richman and would highly recommend this book.
I also hope at some point Julie will really will sit down and write Fleeing An August Moon.
______________________________________
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an avid nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau.
Save the Date, an all-new standalone contemporary romance in a new series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy.
Caroline Abbott loves her job—helping engaged couples pick out the perfect save the date cards and invitations for their dream wedding. Working at Noteworthy means she has to deal with the occasional bridezilla, but Caroline’s always up for the challenge.
Until one particular bridezilla walks into the stationery store who’s fiancé happens to be the boy Caroline shared her first kiss with. Alexander Wilder is all grown up now, helping run his family’s successful luxury hotel chain, and is somehow even better looking than she remembers.
When Caroline just happens to catch Alex’s fiancée half naked with another man well, of course she has to tell Alex. Of course, he breaks off his engagement.
And of course, the ex-bridezilla has gone completely bonkers.
At least Caroline has her friends to save her from crazy ex-fiancées. But she also has the sudden interest of…Alex? Caroline knows they share a connection, but is he on the rebound? Or after seeing her all these years later, does he really want something more?
I head straight for the pickup counter, where I see my skinny vanilla latte waiting for me, my name written on the side of the cup in Stella’s familiar scrawl. Without hesitation I grab it, inhaling deeply before I take a sip. Just a tiny sip so I can savor it. I close my eyes for a second, maybe two, and when I open them, I find a guy standing there.
Watching me.
And he’s not just any guy. He’s cute. Wait, no. Not cute. He’s…hot. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Wearing a suit that fits him perfectly. I know just from looking at the fabric that it’s custom. Expensive.
He’s smiling at me. And I’m scowling at him in return because the caffeine hasn’t quite hit my bloodstream yet, so I’m not on top of my game.
“You looked like you were having a moment.” His voice is deep. Rich. His face…vaguely familiar?
I stand a little straighter. Take another sip of my coffee as I contemplate the man in front of me, because for some reason I still can’t come up with anything to say.
Listen, I always have something to say. But this guy. This gorgeous, well-dressed maybe-stranger, is leaving me a little…
Dumbstruck?
Huh.
“That moment you were just having. With your coffee,” he continues, gesturing at the cup I’m clutching in both of my hands, like it’s my baby. Which this morning—every morning—it is.
“She loves coffee,” Stella says from behind me.
Glancing over my shoulder, I give her a look, one that says shush.
“I can see that.” The amusement in his voice is obvious. He thinks it’s funny. The sacred moment I was having with my latte made him smile.
I wouldn’t mind coming up with other ways to make him smile.
Whoa. Where did that thought come from?
“What I want to know is, how did you get such special treatment?”
I blink at him like I’m an uncomprehending idiot. “Excuse me?”
“Well, I’ve been here for the last fifteen minutes. First, standing in line.” He gestures at the line of customers that trails out the door. “And now, waiting for my order.”
Guilt fills me. Just a tiny bit. Sweet Dreams Café is the most popular bakery and coffee shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea. All the tourists love it. All the locals love it too. It’s been in Stella’s family for generations.
“Yet you skip past the line, walk straight in here and grab your ready-made drink within a few seconds of your arrival. Do you have a Fast Pass?” A brow lifts, and I’m hit with a quiver. Like Cupid just drew back his bow and shot that arrow right in my heart.
Or perhaps that arrow struck me in, ahem, other places.
Who knew a brow lift could be so sexy?
______________________________________
Meet Monica:
Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.
She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.
Sometimes lady luck shakes your hand, and sometimes she smacks your face. Sometimes she does both on the same day.
Three years ago I met the most amazing woman. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny.
But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name.
While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly.
But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date.
She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart.
Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing for keeps.
Excerpt
“Would you like a beer?” the cute bartender asks me.
I glance at the pile of mint leaves on his cutting board and hesitate. “Sure,” I say. But the mint looks so fresh and pretty.
“I could make you something different.”
“Beer is great. A cold…”
“—lager,” he finishes. “No glass, no opener.”
When I look up to flash him a smile, my heart does a little somersault. Those kind eyes are smiling at me, too. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“It’s really no problem.” He turns toward the beer cooler. “You’re an easy customer, trust me.”
But I really meant—thank you for remembering. As he leans down to grab a bottle for me, I find myself admiring the strong muscles in his back. Stop it, I admonish myself. It only gets worse when he turns around and places the bottle in front of me. I’ve never seen hands like his. I didn’t even know wrists could look muscular.
Even so. Ogling him is not why I came here. I pull out my keychain opener and remove the cap from my beer.
He discards it, gives me another pleasant smile and then picks up his paring knife again.
I take a sip, wondering when he’s going to mention my show at the Coconut Club. He was there. I saw him.
He separates some mint leaves from their stems and says nothing.
I last about seventeen seconds. “Well?”
“Well?” He looks up. “Sorry?”
“Jesus lord.” I close my eyes and then open them again. This is not going how I’d hoped it would. “What did you think?”
“Of…?” His amazing eyes are studying me.
“Forget I asked.” I take a swig of beer.
“Think about what?” He pushes the cutting board aside, and his smile turns knowing.
“My set at the Coconut Club! I saw you holding up that wall in the back. Don’t lie.”
He tips his head back and lets out a sudden laugh. “I’m so busted. I loved your show, but I didn’t expect you to spot me.”
“You loved it so much you weren’t going to say anything?” The sentence sounds crazy to my own ears. I put down the beer. “You know what? Never mind. I’m just being psycho right now. This town is getting into my head.”
“Listen, girly.” He braces both (muscular!) hands on the bar and looks me right in the eye. “I loved it so much that I don’t even know what to say about it. From that moment at the beginning—when you shut that asshole’s maw? To the part where you made a lady cry.” He shakes his head. “I couldn’t look away. And I never wanted it to end.”
I give him a slow blink, just trying to take that in. It’s so much more than I was even hoping to hear.
“Shit, Delilah. If that set doesn’t win you whatever contract you’re looking for, they don’t even deserve you.”
Something warm and unfamiliar settles into the center of my belly. “That might be the nicest thing anyone ever said to me. Which only means you’re still trying to get my phone number.”
He laughs immediately. “Can’t both things be true? Both my musical assessment and my interest in your evening plans?”
“Because you know so much about music.” I flip my hair and take another sip of beer.
“Look. I don’t know shit about music. But I know plenty about talent.” He leans down on a set of forearms I shouldn’t be noticing. “I know that talent sometimes takes a nap at just the wrong moment, but it never stays asleep for long. I also know that luck matters, too. If they don’t give you what you want, it won’t be your fucking fault.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
But he’s not done. “I saw something else valuable the other night. You’re good in the clinch. And that counts for double, I swear to God.”
“The clinch?”
“Yeah. You’re not just good at practice.” He pauses, wrinkling up his interesting nose. “What word would a musician use? Okay—you’re not a rehearsal musician. That stage was like your home. Either that or you fake it really well. That’s going to pay your rent someday, I promise.”
“Wow.” It’s like he looked right into my terrified little soul and found the very thing I needed to hear. Those beautiful eyes of his are practically burning me right now, so I have to look away. “Thank you. Really. I really needed that pep talk.”
I make the mistake of looking up at him again, and, for a split second, I see pure yearning. It’s like our souls vibrate at exactly the same frequency. And I have no idea what to do with that.
_____________________________________
Michel’s Review
Superfan by Sarina Bowen is more than a new addition to the Bruisers Series. This book brings the Brooklyn Bruisers Hockey Team full circle. We met Silas Kelly, the rookie goalie, in the first book of the series where he struggled to hold onto his position. His athletic abilities and talent to guard the net just needed to mesh with his psyche. He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt he belonged with the Bruisers. He also proved that he was a stand up guy that his teammates could depend on no matter what. He’s proven his worth in the professional arena, he’s accomplishing his career goals, and he’s made lifetime friends. He only has one regret is Delilah , the one he let get away in order to save his hockey career. The girl who he felt connected to the moment they met. Delilah Spark is now one of the biggest rising pop stars in the music industry and doesn’t even know his real name.
Delilah Spark was trying to get her big break in the music industry the day she walked into the bar for a much needed break and beer. The cute bartender, Ralph, made her laugh and forget all the frustrations in her career. This guy was perfect and down on his luck just like she was. The first time he kissed her it made her realize she might need more than her music. She finally agrees to a date with Ralph only to be stood up. Three years later she’s had her big break but she still remembers the cute bartender who disappeared when she was just a struggling girl with a guitar. A controlling manager, a hijacked album, and unbreakable contract have stalled her career. It’s time for changes in her life. Who knew a hockey game and a twitter challenge would change everything. It’s a good thing she’s a girl who likes a challenge.
Silas and Delilah reconnect and their passion for one another is exploding. These two were meant to be together. Delilah needed a good guy by her side. Silas needed a girl who would appreciate a “nice guy”. Now they have both made it and their careers have become very demanding. Living on different coasts with very conflicting schedules is going to be challenging but this time around they aren’t going to let it tear them apart. First they have to deal with Delilah’s career interruptions, their public affair, and the entire nosy, medling Bruiser Team entourage. No worries… Georgia can manage their public images & dates, Heidi can manage their day to day needs, Rebecca can keep the Bruisers in line, Nate can keep Silas employed, and the rest of the guys can become Delilah and The Sparkle Puppies fan club members if all else fails.
I just love everything Sarina Bowen writes. She brings every character to life and makes their story unforgettable. They jump off the pages and demand your full attention. Her romances are blazing hot while being extremely tender. I love that she keeps includes the former characters from previous books and lets their unique personalities help the hero & heroine find their true love.
I highly recommend reading Superfan by Sarina Bowen! Silas and Delilah will melt your heart one mojito at a time.
*** I want a Delilah and The Sparkle Puppies T- Shirt! ***
____________________________________
Author Bio:
Sarina 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.
New York Times
CD Reiss is a 
![Heartache and Hope KDP [Final]](https://saucysouthernreaders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/heartache-and-hope-kdp-final-e1559223820143.png?w=584)
Excerpt:
Monica Murphy is the 
Saucy Southern Readers 