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Release Day Blitz + Excerpt + 5+-Star Review + 2017 Favorite: Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis

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From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes her first women’s fiction novel—an unforgettable story of friendship, love, family, and sisterhood—perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Susan Mallery, and Kristan Higgins. Don’t miss LOST AND FOUND SISTERS and grab your copy today!

 

They say life can change in an instant…

After losing her sister in a devastating car accident, chef Quinn Weller is finally getting her life back on track. She appears to have it all: a loving family, a dream job in one of L.A.’s hottest eateries, and a gorgeous boyfriend dying to slip an engagement ring on her finger. So why does she feel so empty, like she’s looking for a missing piece she can’t find?

The answer comes when a lawyer tracks down Quinn and reveals a bombshell secret and a mysterious inheritance that only she can claim. This shocking revelation washes over Quinn like a tidal wave. Her whole life has been a lie.

On impulse, Quinn gives up her job, home, and boyfriend. She heads up the coast to the small hometown of Wildstone, California, which is just a few hours north, but feels worlds apart from Los Angeles. Though she doesn’t quite fit in right away, she can’t help but be drawn to the town’s simple pleasures…and the handsome, dark-haired stranger who offers friendship with no questions asked.

As Quinn settles into Wildstone, she discovers there’s another surprise in store for her. The inheritance isn’t a house or money, but rather something earth shattering, something that will make her question everything she thought she knew about herself, about her family. Now with a world of possibilities opening up to Quinn, she must decide if this new life is the one she was always meant to have—and the one that could finally give her the fulfillment she’s searched so long for.

 

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ADD LOST AND FOUND SISTERS TO YOUR GOODREADS

 

 

Excerpt:

Coop whined and Mick looked down at the twelve-year-old golden retriever, ball in his mouth. Coop panted happily and dropped the ball at Mick’s feet, his rheumy brown eyes ever hopeful.

Mick shook his head. “Last time I threw it, you decided you didn’t mean it.”

Coop gave a talkative “woo woo woo.”

Translation: Mick was full of shit. “I had to go get it myself,” he reminded the dog. “Remember that?”

This bought him another “woo woo woo.”

“Okay, okay.” Mick picked up the ball, and because there was a lot of old-man dog pride on the line here, he gave it a dramatic throw, making sure it went only about twenty feet.

Coop gave an energetic leap. A single energetic leap. After that, he eyeballed the sea of sand ahead of him, huffed out a sigh, and sat. Then he craned his big, fuzzy golden head and gave Mick a sad-eyed look.

“Are you kidding me?” Mick asked him.

Coop lay down, set his head on his front paws, and stared forlornly out at the ball that his brain wanted to chase but his sore joints and tired body wouldn’t allow. It was a daily reminder for the dog, who in his own mind clearly wasn’t elderly, forgetful, or more than half deaf. Nope, in Coop’s opinion, he was still a rambunctious, energetic puppy.

Mick blew out a sigh and fetched the damn ball. When he came back, the dog sat up, eyes bright, tongue lolling.

“Not a chance,” Mick said on a laugh. “I’m not throwing it again. This was about your exercise, not mine. I already had my run today.”

A Lexus pulled up. A woman sat behind the wheel and stared out at the dunes and the ocean. All Mick could see of her was a cloud of whiskey-colored waves of hair and a pale face. She stared at the water and then set her head to the steering wheel and banged it a few times.

Then, head still down, she went utterly still.

Coop whined about the ball and nudged Mick’s knee, eyes pleading.

With a head shake, Mick threw the ball five feet.

Coop happily pounced on it.

While his dog pranced around proudly, ball in his mouth, Mick turned back to the car. The woman hadn’t moved. Had she knocked herself out? Was she still breathing? “What do you think?” he asked Coop. “Stay out of it, or ask her if she’s okay?”

Coop, who’d never been impressed by a single one of the women in Mick’s social life, yawned.

“Right,” he said. “Stay out of it.”

But the woman suddenly sat up straight and fumbled her way out of the car, falling to her knees on the rough gravelly asphalt, gulping in air like she was suffocating.

Realizing she was hyperventilating, Mick rushed to her and crouched at her side, having to push Coop back from making her acquaintance—which he tended to do with a rude nose push to the crotch. “Stay,” he ordered and looked the woman over.

Young. Late twenties maybe. Definitely having a panic attack of some kind. Not touching her, he spoke quietly and calmly. “Take a deep breath through your nose.”

She had to quiet herself to hear him, but she did as he said. She took a deep breath, shuddery as it was.

“Good,” he said, still holding Coop back from trying to say hello. “Stay.”

“What?” she gasped.

“Sorry, not you. My nosy-ass dog. Keep breathing. That’s it,” he said when she worked at it.

When she had it under control, she met his gaze, her own eyes hooded and clearly embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

Coop, tired of being held back, shoved his big old head between them and licked her from chin to forehead. Mick palmed the dog’s face and pushed his head away from the woman whose shoulders were now shaking.

Aw, hell. He patted his pockets—for what, he had no idea. It wasn’t like he carried tissues or napkins on him to offer her. He rose to his feet to go search the truck, which was when she lifted her face and he saw that she was shaking with laughter, not tears.

She was laughing at his ridiculous dog.

Tracey’s Review

Quinn Weller’s life is a bit upside down. Since the loss of her sister two years earlier, Quinn has retreated into a place that has no room for emotional involvement. When Quinn receives news of an unexpected inheritance, she is ill-prepared for everything involved in claiming it, and it isn’t long before the life that she’d created post-Beth is firmly turned on its head.

Jill Shalvis is one of my go-to authors. I know, without a doubt, that I will love any book that she writes, and I am never disappointed. LOST AND FOUND SISTERS is no exception, and may, in fact, be one of my favorite books by Jill to date, and most certainly one of my favorite books of 2017.

Quinn is doing her best to adjust to her new normal, a life without her sister. She’s experienced a pain so great that shutting herself down emotionally seems to be the only way she can get through. But Quinn wasn’t betting on Wildstone, eccentric and quirky, from its character to its inhabitants, and soon life for Quinn doesn’t look anything like it has for the last two years. And it may be just the change she needs, whether she’s ready for it or not.

I love Quinn. The rug has been pulled out from under her in pretty much every possible way, and the things that she finds in Wildstone are just the icing on the cake. Mick, Tilly, the offbeat staff and irascible clientele of the Caro Cafe, make for a life that Quinn didn’t realize that she needed so badly.

Jill’s classic snappy dialogue, scenes so unexpectedly comical and endearing that I was laughing out loud, and Quinn’s emergence from her self-imposed chrysalis made LOST AND FOUND SISTERS an instant favorite. I quite literally could not put it down, and inhaled it like the breath of fresh air that it is. If you don’t pick up another book this summer, please choose this one, because it will satisfy at every level.

LOST AND FOUND SISTERS is a welcome addition to Jill’s catalog of books, and is an easy 5+ stars for me. I am so in love with these characters and their lives that it will be hard to wait another year for my next visit to Wildstone. Seriously, pick up this book, because I guarantee that you will absolutely love it.

 

About 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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New Release… 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: Savaged Dreams by Jennifer Lyon – Savaged Illusions Series – Book 1

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Savaged Dreams

Savaged Illusions Series – Book 1

By Jennifer Lyon

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo


Synopsis:

How much will she risk for love?

Going away to college gives LIZA GLASNER a chance to escape her painful and dangerous past…or so she thinks. At fourteen years old, she survived an attack by a famous musician. After that, the media, groupies and crazies hounded her with a merciless cruelty that ruined her life. But now she’s thriving–until an internship brings her face to face with the sizzling hot lead singer of a rock band, and she finds herself drawn to the very thing that once destroyed her. Justice is a temptation she can’t resist…and one that could get her killed.

How far will he go for fame?

Sexy rock star JUSTICE CADE is determined to take his band, Savaged Illusions, to the top by winning the Court of Rock T.V. show. Tortured by guilt for failing his family, he believes fame is his only path to redemption. But when the fiery college-intern hiding her beauty beneath baggy sweaters and a snarky attitude bursts into his life, Justice is forced to choose between the woman he loves and the stardom he craves. The wrong choice will cost him more than he can bear.

**This is book one in a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. However the next two books are being released in July and September so readers won’t be stranded on the cliff for long!

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Michel’s Review

OMG!  I have been waiting for a new rock star romance to release that would WOW me like some of the earlier rock star romance series a few years ago.  It seems like so many authors jumped on the rock star bandwagon and the stories began to become predictable cookie cutter romances with the same tortured rock star theme.  I wanted something fresh with intriguing band members that were not your run of the mill manwhore, bad boy musicians with tortured pasts meeting naive innocent women who won their hearts.  I wanted something that had some meat to it and a story that kept me fully engaged.  Jennifer Lyon has delivered exactly what I wanted. Savaged Illusions has my full attention and I want more!

Savaged Dreams is the first book in the Savaged Illusions series and ended on a major cliffhanger that has left me chomping at the bits for the next book.  What makes this series stand out is the band as a whole is on a journey to fame through a reality tv battle of the bands competition.  The competition is cut throat and escalates as the weeks wind down to finals.  What begins as a quest for fame and winning a recording contract turns into a dangerous competition that exposes their secrets and strikes at the very heart of the band.  Their moral code and ethical values are put on the line and they have to choose between fame and fortune or selling out the values that formed their strong bonds in the first place. They all have their own personal demons and problems but that is glue that holds them together.  They have formed very tight bonds and a kinship that is unbreakable.  They have each other’s backs no matter what and nothing can tear that apart.  They thought they couldn’t be broken until they got their first PR person, Liz Glasner, who becomes their YOKO ONO. Her presence in the final stages of the competition could break them.  Their lead singer Justice Cade is letting Liz destroy the band.  Liz isn’t good for their PR at all.

The final weeks of the competition have been stressful for Savaged Dreams.  Their competitors are ruthless and exposing all their weaknesses.  They have also become dangerous.  When they are assigned a college student as their PR person rather than a professional, things become even worse.  It doesn’t matter that she is good at what she does, she’s not savvy enough to swim with the sharks.  When the sharks attack her as well as the band, they are all going to be eaten alive.

Justice Cade is trying to hold them all together.  He can’t help that he is falling for Liz.  When he finds out her secrets he wants to protect her as much as he wants to protect his brothers in the band.  They’ve all experienced the dark side of life in some way or another and survived.  Now it’s time to chase their dreams.

I’m not going to say much more because this is a Rock Star Trilogy readers don’t want to miss.  Although Justice and Liz are the main focus of this trilogy, all of the characters are intriguing. As a reader you want to get to know them all and   explore their pasts.  As a whole, they are mesmerizing and you want to know how their futures are going to playout. The overall plot is for the series is fresh, original, and compelling. This book was engaging and made the reader think about the ethical side of fame as well as the obvious journey to stardom.  I think this trilogy could easily expand into a twelve book series.

Jennifer Lyon literally WOWED me with this fresh new series! I cannot wait for the second book, Savaged Vows to release on July 24, 2017.

Savaged Vows
Savaged Illusions Series – Book 2
Release Date: July 24, 2017
Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis:

How much will she risk for love?

Despite her dark past with a rock icon, Liza Glasner can’t walk away from the man she loves with a fiery passion—sexy rock star Justice Cade. A surprise pregnancy and marriage give Liza the family she’s craved since she was fourteen. But her love is tested when Liza’s worst nightmare—Gene Hayes—bursts onto the scene, spreading lies and smears to tear her and Justice apart. Can Liza trust Justice to choose her over fame?

How far will he go for fame?

Justice fiercely loves his beautiful and resilient wife Liza, and he’s determined to protect her from Gene Hayes. At the same time, he’s loyal to his band. The four other men in Savaged Illusions are his brothers, and together, they are battling hard to come back from a humiliating defeat. But just as the pinnacle of success is within their reach, Justice discovers a truth that will either decimate his band or destroy his wife.

Can their love survive?

Secrets and betrayals explode in a heartbreaking twist that threatens to rip Justice and Liza apart forever.

Savaged Vows is book 2 in the Savaged Illusions Trilogy, and ends in a cliffhanger. Book 3, Savaged Devotion, will be released in September 2017.

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Jennifer Lyon is the pseudonym for USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Apodaca. Jen lives in Southern California where she continually plots ways to convince her husband that they should get a dog. After all, they met at the dog pound, fell in love, married and had three wonderful sons. So far, however, she has failed in her doggy endeavor. She consoles herself by pouring her passion into writing books. To date, Jen has published more than fifteen books and novellas, including a fun and sexy mystery series and a variety of contemporary romances under the name Jennifer Apodaca. As Jennifer Lyon she created a dark, sizzling paranormal series, and The Plus Once Chronicles, an emotionally sensual adult contemporary series. Jen’s won numerous.

Pre- Release + Excerpt + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite + Giveaway: Salvaged by Jay Crownover – Saints Of Denver Series – Book 4

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover continues her delightfully sexy Saints of Denver series with the next thrilling standalone, SALVAGED! Order your copy today!

 

 

Hudson Wheeler is a nice guy. Everyone knows it, including his fiancée who left him with a canceled wedding and a baby on the way. He’s tired of finishing last and is ready to start living in the moment with nights soaked in whiskey, fast cars, and even faster girls. He’s set to start living on the edge, but when he meets Poppy Cruz, her sad eyes in the most gorgeous face he’s ever seen hook him in right away. Wheeler can see Poppy’s pain and all he wants to do is take care of her and make her smile, whatever it takes.

Poppy can’t remember a time when she didn’t see strangers as the enemy. After a lifetime of being hurt from the men who swore to protect her, Poppy’s determined to keep herself safe by keeping everyone else at arm’s length. Wheeler’s sexy grin and rough hands from hours restoring classic cars shouldn’t captivate her, but every time she’s with him, she can’t help being pulled closer to him. Though she’s terrified to trust again, Poppy soon realizes it might hurt even more to shut Wheeler out—and the intense feelings pulsing through her are making it near impossible to resist him.

The only thing Poppy is sure of is that her heart is in need of some serious repair, and the more time she spends with Wheeler, the more she’s convinced he’s the only man with the tools to fix it.

 

 

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ADD SALVAGED TO YOUR GOODREADS

 

 

Excerpt

“Poppy.” I whispered her name and she tilted her head back and blinked up at me.

“Wheeler.” I was astounded that there was a hint of amusement in her voice. How she could find anything to laugh about after what she just told me was unfathomable. Her father had handed her off to a monster like it was nothing. She made her way out of hell with one of the purest hearts I had ever seen.

“I really want to give you a hug, probably more for me than for you, but I told you not to let anyone touch you without permission.” I knew I sounded a little desperate but I didn’t care. “So, can you put me out of my misery and give me permission to hold you, just for a second, please?”

Her eyes widened and then her obscenely long lashes dropped as she nodded timidly. “Okay, since you asked so nicely.” The humor was now thick around every word and she was laughing for real as I carefully wrapped my arms around her.

I sighed into the top of her head as I pulled her to my chest. Her hair smelled like flowers and felt like silk as I rested my cheek against the soft strands. WE stood like that for a long time, me with my arms curled around her as she stood stock-still. I could feel her heart beat and I wanted to think it was racing like it was because she was affected by my touch rather than because she was terrified of being so close to a man she didn’t know all that well.

I told myself not to breathe, not to move a single muscle, as her hands slowly lifted and gently touched my sides above the tops of my jeans. It felt like her palms were burning their imprint into my skin as they slowly, achingly started to inch their way around my back so that she was lightly holding me back. I heard her make a sound that may have been one of pleasure, but just in case it was one of fear, I leaned away from her so I could see her face.

Her gaze was centered on the tattooed candle that was burning bright and surrounded by light and smoke right on the center of my throat. She watched the movement as I swallowed hard and her gaze drifted up to mine.

“No one ever has ever asked me for permission for anything before. No one has ever cared what I wanted before.” The murmur of her words brushed across the base of my throat and my cock went instantly hard. I knew she felt it because her eyes popped wide and her breath hitched as she looked up at me and ordered quietly, “Ask me what I want right now, Wheeler.”

 

 

 

Jay Crownover continues her Saints of Denver series with SALVAGED, available June 20, 2017

Preorder and fill out the form here: https://a.pgtb.me/MdHvvG

Enter your name, email address, and the order number from your pre-order receipt on the form to receive an advance excerpt of DIGNITY and a Saints of Denver Doodle download to print at home.

Entries must be received by midnight PST on June 19th to be eligible.

The print-at-home Doodle and Dignity excerpt will be emailed the week of June 20th.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And the Link:http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9172c1a0374/?

 

 

Michel’s Review

Salvaged is Jay Crownover’s best book in both the Saints of Denver and Marked Men Series.  This novel will touch your soul and leave you with a great sense of hope.

When it comes to Hudson Wheeler most would think that old saying “nice guys finish last” was created just for him.  I tend to think the old saying “good things come to those who wait” was created by him.

Readers were first introduced to Hudson Wheeler in Marked Men series.  This quiet, sexy, unassuming mechanic has intrigued readers throughout the Marked Men series and the Saints of Denver series.  He has earned the respect of all the men in the series.  His earnest quiet nature has intrigued all the ladies throughout the series.  He seems like the perfect guy except for his choices in women.  His fiancee is another matter.  It’s blatantly obvious she’s using him and cheating.  It seems like he has turned a blind eye and lets her walk all over him.  When he’s finally had enough and learns that her betrayal is more than some wild escapades, he walks away with a broken heart.  The problem is he doesn’t really know how to move on.  He’s been with the same girl since he was in high school.  Her family became the family he never had.  They turned their backs on him when he broke the engagement.  Now she’s pregnant with his baby so he can never completely break his ties with her.  His dream of having a family has changed and he doesn’t know how to alter those dreams.  He has no idea how to be a father because he never had a family.  He doesn’t know how to move on because he’s only had one relationship in his life.  He’s going through the motions, trying to be a good guy where his ex is concerned but it’s hard with the anger and sense of betrayal festering beneath the surface.  The only thing getting him through it all is his work until he makes a very unlikely friend, another damaged soul like himself.  Poppy Cruz showed up in his life with her reluctant offer of friendship and an adorable puppy.

Poppy Cruz ( also from the Marked Men & Saints of Denver series) has survived brutal domestic abuse.  Every experience she has had with men has ended with verbal abuse and violent physical abuse.  The scarring went beyond physical, it damaged her soul.  She has a hard time trusting anyone and keeps everyone at arms length.  She no longer trusts her own instincts even though she’s surrounded by good, supportive people since she came to Denver.  The only person that has made her feel like she might want to step out of her comfort zone is the quiet mechanic, Hudson Wheeler.  She can sense that Hudson is a damaged soul as well.  His quiet unassuming nature makes her feel safe rather than threatened.  He respects her boundaries but also encourages her to expand them.  He opens her eyes to all the good possibilities rather than reminding her of all the failures of the past. She wants to step out her comfort zone and strive to become normal.  He’s willing to hold her hand and let her set the pace.  Together they are healing from all the wounds life has left on their souls.  Life hasn’t been easy for either one of them.  Their souls have been wrecked but together their hearts are Salvaged.

Salvaged was an emotional journey for two very different but severely  damaged people.  They were brave enough to reach out and take each others hand while moving forward. It’s a story of healing and finding hope.  It’s a story about accepting the good things life has to offer.

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About 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 dogs.

 

 

 

 

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Blog Tour + Review: Can’t Buy Me Love by Marie Force

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Today we are sharing the release for CAN’T BUY ME LOVE, a contemporary romance title that is part of the Green Mountain/Butler, Vermont series by Marie Force. Check out the buy links and teasers for the book below.

 

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE by Marie Force

The 8th title in the Green Mountain/Butler, Vermont Series

 

Book Blurb:

Mary Larkin was hard at work as the office manager at the Green Mountain Country Store when Cameron Murphy brought her dad, Patrick, in to visit. That fateful first meeting, which took place in You’ll Be Mine, sets the stage for Mary and Patrick’s long-awaited romance in Can’t Buy Me Love!

Mary enjoys her predictable, satisfying life in Butler. If it’s a little lacking in excitement, well, that’s okay with her. But after meeting Patrick and getting to know him better at his daughter’s wedding, Mary is intrigued by the well-known, sexy billionaire businessman.

Patrick is equally intrigued. For the first time since he suddenly lost his wife thirty years ago, he has met a woman who makes him feel less lonely, and all he wants is more of his Sweet Mary from Vermont. Flirty phone calls become a weekend away together that takes his relationship with Mary to the next level.

But with six hours and two vastly different lives standing between them, can Mary and Patrick find happily ever after together? And after telling her father to keep his hands and everything else off Mary, will Cameron approve of her father’s new romance?

 

PURCHASE IT NOW!

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PURCHASE IN PRINT FROM AMAZON | MARIE’S STORE

 

Tracey’s Review

Mary Larkin has made a happy, if not very exciting, life for herself in Butler. Surrounded by the people that she loves, in a place that she loves and feels an integral part of, she’s satisfied with the life that she has. Until. Until Patrick Murphy, jet-setting, billionaire, handsome as sin Patrick Murphy shows up in Butler for the wedding of his daughter to hometown boy Will Abbott.

Patrick Murphy has been in love only once in his life, but tragedy took his young wife, leaving him to raise his daughter alone. Afraid to take a chance with his heart again, Patrick has spent his life building his business, but knows from the moment he meets her that Mary is something different.

As a longtime fan of author Marie Force, a reader in love with Butler, VT, and it’s citizens, and a woman of a certain age, you might imagine that I was veeerrry happy to get my hands on CAN’T BUY ME LOVE. I mean, a place and characters that are some of my favorites, plus a bit of a Cinderella story involving a more mature couple? Yes, please.

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE is the second book in the Butler, VT, series by Marie, which is an offshoot of her Green Mountain series. This small town in Vermont, with its colorful inhabitants (shout out to Fred the Moose!), has won my heart since the very first book. I love seeing the relationship between Mary and Patrick evolving, and that Marie has given us more mature characters with this read. There is no shortage of romance, passion, and wooing, and I really enjoy that Marie has written Mary as strong and self-sufficient, holding her own against Patrick’s strong and persuasive personality. And seeing Patrick open his heart the possibility of more with Mary made the hopeless romantic in me swoon.

CAN’T BUY ME love is, at the heart of things a feel-good read, and, as a fan of the HEA, I happily give it 4.5 second-chance stars. If you haven’t had a chance to get to know the good folks of Butler, do so, because they are a truly wonderful bunch.

NOTE: You can read all about Mary’s and Patrick’s first meeting in YOU’LL BE MINE, a Green Mountain novella.

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CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE GREEN MOUNTAIN AND BUTLER, VERMONT SERIES

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 contemporary romances, including the Gansett Island Series, which has sold nearly 3 million books, and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books, which has sold 1.5 million books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series, written under the slightly modified name of M.S. Force. All together, her books have sold more than 5.5 million copies worldwide!

Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram. Join one of Marie’s many reader groups. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.

 

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Goodreads

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InkSlinger Blogger Final

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

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The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis:

In this entrancing novel “that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all” (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

“Heartbreaking, yet beautiful” (Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is “Tinseltown drama at its finest” (Redbook): a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it costs—to face the truth.

Robin’s Review

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Whereas a romance novel focuses solely on a romantic relationship and the happily ever after, women’s fiction tends to focus more on a woman’s journey. I’ve personally found women’s fiction to be a more diverse and unique genre. Consider, for example, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I’ve honestly never read anything like it! The latest novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid is a fascinating glimpse of Old Hollywood and the sacrifices required to become a movie star.

With one phone call, Monique Grant receives the opportunity of a lifetime. Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo plans to auction off 12 of her most memorable gowns to raise money for a cause, and she specifically requests an interview with Monique, a no-name journalist with Vivant magazine. Monique hopes this interview will boost her career, but she soon discovers Evelyn wants more than just a single interview. The aging, reclusive actress is finally ready to open up about her glamorous career – the sacrifices that she made and the secrets that she kept on her way to super-stardom.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is told from dual points of view, alternating between characters Monique Grant and Evelyn Hugo. For the most part, Evelyn’s point of view consists of the retelling of her life’s story. I found Evelyn’s story fascinating! Her life was dramatic, glamorous and even scandalous at times. Now in her late 70’s, Evelyn shares how a teenager from Hell’s Kitchen in New York City became a successful actress in Hollywood, the story behind each of her seven husbands, and the cunning and cutthroat sacrifices she made on behalf of herself and others.

A good portion of Monique’s point of view involves the process of interviewing Evelyn Hugo. Monique listens to what Evelyn has to say, but she also asks her good questions – questions I might ask if I was the person doing the interview. From the beginning of the novel, we are aware of events going on in Monique’s day-to-day life. Readers who love a little mystery in their novels will find it in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. As the story begins to unwind, it becomes more and more obvious Monique and Evelyn are connected in some mysterious way. Reid certainly had my curiosity piqued with hints of intrigue!

The author reeled me in with great descriptive writing – including lifelike descriptions of Evelyn, the movie star’s unique beauty, even descriptions of photographs taken of Evelyn throughout the years. I was impressed with Reid’s writing because I found I could picture things in my mind throughout the novel. The character dialogue in this novel is outstanding! Sometimes eye-opening, always clever, the dialogue captivated me and kept me glued to the pages of the book. An interesting feature of this novel are the articles written about Evelyn that are placed between each chapter. These articles are an ingenious way to let readers know what Hollywood reporters think about events going in Evelyn’s life.

Although I enjoyed Monique’s role in this story, it’s Evelyn Hugo who really steals the show! Evelyn is an extraordinary character who experiences all kinds of character growth! The author depicts this aspiring movie star perfectly – alluring, wealthy, charming, and ruthless in the pursuit of fame and fortune. I was also entertained by the stories behind each of Evelyn’s seven husbands – Ernie, Don, Mick, Rex, Harry, Max and Robert.

Readers who are familiar with Taylor Jenkins Reid will probably find The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo unlike any other book the author has written to date. But, just as I did, I hope those who read this novel will find it equally delightful! Taylor Jenkins Reid has earned my 5 star rating for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and I count this novel one of my 2017 favorites!

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Author Bio

Taylor Jenkins Reid lives in Los Angeles and is the acclaimed author of One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been named a “Best Book of Summer” by People, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, USA TODAY, Redbook, Us Weekly, Parade, PopSugar, Buzzfeed, Bustle, Brit+Co, Goodreads, and others.

 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Release Day Launch: My Kinda Night by Lacey Black

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Today we have the release day blitz for My Kinda Night by Lacey Black! Grab your copy today!

Title: My Kinda Night (Summer Sisters, Book 2)

Author: Lacey Black

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Photographer & Cover Design: Sara Eirew

About My Kinda Night:

Payton Summer doesn’t have time for love. Between running her own business in her hometown of Jupiter Bay and her monthly night out with her sisters, Payton has no room for men, dating, or the drama that it entails. Her life is fine just the way it is. Yet, her attraction to the one man she shouldn’t want can’t be ignored.

Dean McIntire has one rule: don’t date clients. It’s a lesson he learned the hard way, and sees the consequence every day when he looks at his five-year-old daughter. It’s not a rule he’d break again. Until he meets the gorgeous Payton Summer, and suddenly, Dean finds himself ready to throw the rule book right out the window.

What happens when the sparks of lust can’t be denied? One night turns in to two, and two turns in to more. Payton and Dean find themselves unable to stay away, but can they survive when their secrets are exposed?

*Though part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone. It is intended for those 18 and over due to graphic language, descriptive sex, and the world’s most inappropriate grandparents.

Get your Copy Today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | iBooks | Kobo | B&N | Goodreads

Catch up on the series today!

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Exclusive Excerpt:

It’s a Summer sister tradition that on the first Saturday of each month, the six of us get together. We take turns picking the location or activity, anything from margaritas and a movie to wine and painting classes at the small gallery uptown. One thing, though, is as certain as the sun rising over the Chesapeake Bay every morning; there will be alcohol involved.

Always.

Tonight, it’s another stupid painting class. Create and Paint, that’s what this class is called. I prefer to call it “Painting sucks, let’s get drunk!” while I chug my fruity Moscato because that’s the only wine worth drinking. Abby whips out red every once in a while and I swear to God Almighty that I’m going to shrivel up and die like those nasty, sour grapes used to create red wine.

I’m the oldest of six Summer girls. Of course, I’m the boss, the leader, and the best at everything (except painting, obviously). As I approach my thirty-third birthday in a couple of weeks at the end of January, I also realize that spending time with my sisters as much as I do is going to become more of a challenge.

Jaime is three years younger than me. She’s the sister who ran away to college and never came back. Well, at least until her fiancé left her the week before the wedding. She moved home, had to move in with our dad and grandparents, and worked for me at Blossoms and Blooms for a short period of time.

Then she met Ryan. Watching those two discover their love for each other was like watching soft porn. Sparks and hormones flew like fireworks every time those two were within a fifty-foot radius of each other.

AJ is the third sister at twenty-eight, or Alison Jane as her birth certificate states. Though, we’ve called her by her nickname for as long as I can remember. She’s the eighth grade math teacher at Jupiter Bay Junior High, home of the Hawks, where she’s taught ever since receiving her teaching degree. She has also enrolled in online classes for her Master’s degree. As of January twentieth, AJ will be a night student.

After AJ comes Meghan. She’s twenty-six and a hygienist at the local dental office. How someone can work inside another’s mouth all day and not get grossed out is beyond me. But she does it. Daily. Meg is also engaged to Josh, a man who treats her like the princess she is. Meg and Josh became engaged in December during a romantic trip to New York City for their anniversary. He went all out: Empire State Building, fancy dinner, down on one knee. It was perfect, just like they are.

Rounding out the Summer sisters are the twins, Lexi and Abby. Lexi, short for Alexis, gives me a run for my money in the boss department and is a hairdresser uptown. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, Chris, who rarely attends any of our family functions. He’s busy trying to take over the financial world, and believes that the only way to achieve that is to work nonstop. I don’t think it’s all roses and fairytales at the Jacobson house.

Abby, or Abigail, was born mere minutes before Lexi, but is as different as can be. She’s reserved, quiet, and shy in ways that the rest of us aren’t. Abby is an English Literature major and works as an editor for a major publishing house out of California. She’s on her computer all day, and rarely ventures out of her little apartment. It’s my goal in this new year to get her out and into the dating world, especially in light of the fact that her love for her best friend is unrequited. Levi is a great friend, but doesn’t see the wonderful woman before him. He’s too busy sticking his penis inside of every woman in the state of Virginia. (I say that lovingly.)

Let’s not forget our father, Brian, and our grandparents, Orval and Emma. Inappropriate doesn’t quite adequately describe the older couple who helped raise all six of us after our mom died. I was seventeen when she succumbed to ovarian cancer, leaving my father behind to get six girls through the teenage years. Enter the grandparents. I’ve got stories for miles, but we’ll get to those later.

Born and raised in Jupiter Bay, a small town of about eight thousand along the Chesapeake Bay, I’ve become accustomed to the small town lifestyle. I own the local flower shop, where I devote every ounce of my soul to making it a success. I’m not gonna lie, I had my doubts there at the beginning. I didn’t know anything about running a business, but was determined to make it work. It’s a lot of work, especially with a small staff of one other employee to keep overhead down, but I’m successful. And proud of it!

And that brings us to tonight. It’s the first Saturday of the New Year and we’re busy celebrating with sandcastles and wine. Hops and Grapes, a local retailer for microbrews and wines made on the east coast, is the place for tonight’s Paint and Create class. Right now, my beach scene resembles something a kindergartener would draw with finger paints.

“Mix together a little white with the brown until you get the light sandy color you’re looking for. Dab your brush in the water and then in the paint, and make long strokes across the canvas.”

Giggles erupt beside me. “She said long strokes,” Lexi whispers not so quietly.

“I get to make long strokes. Ryan is impressively large in the man-junk area,” Jaime says, gulping the last of her wine.

“Yes, we know. You tell us every chance you get.” This from Abby.

“Yeah, it’s starting to get annoying. If I had an impressive man-sword waiting for me at home every night, I’d never leave the house,” AJ adds.

“Not worth it. I’ll take my rabbit over a man any day. That baby has seven speeds and a rotating head,” I grumble, making a mess out of my sandy beach.

“Stop being so grumpy. Maybe if you actually had the real deal for a while, you wouldn’t be so damn cynical all the time,” Jaime says from across the table. She never takes her eyes off her canvas as she makes smooth, straight brushstrokes.

My face burns and I pray the vultures I share genes with don’t notice. Of course I don’t get so lucky. I’ve always said if it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all. Trying to concentrate on my masterpiece, I keep my eyes down and focused on the sandcastle in the corner of the scene.

“I think there’s more to the story! Do you see her blushing?” Meghan’s laughter flits from the opposite end of the table. How in the hell she can see my face is beyond me. It’s probably that sister-radar all of us possess. It’s so damn annoying.

“I am not.” It’s a weak defense, I know, but it’s all I’ve got.

“Deny it all you want, big sister, but your face is definitely blushing,” Lexi adds.

“Ladies, when you get your sandcastle the way you want it, we’ll add a few details and highlights before moving on to the water.” The woman instructing our class has worn a constant smile the entire hour we’ve been here, and frankly, I’m starting to think she hit the sauce way before our arrival tonight.

“Why does my sand look like cellulite?” AJ asks. “I give up. I’m just drinking from here on out.”

Jaime glances over at our sister’s painting. “My God, that’s horrible. Thank God you’re not the art teacher!”

“Cheers,” AJ replies, raising her glass and tapping it against Jaime’s.

“Any wedding plans yet, Meg?” Abby asks, wetting her brush before swiping it through the paint. Always the perfect student, that one.

“Not yet. We’re thinking fall, though.” Meghan’s face lights up at the mere thought of her pending nuptials to Josh.

“That’ll be the perfect time.” Abby’s able to keep her smile happy when she’s in discussion, but I’ve seen the desolation in it too. Even tonight, I see something in her eyes that makes me sad. I’m sure her best friend is the root of her anguish, but I won’t call her out on it tonight. That’s a conversation to have at another time (with less alcohol).

By the time our three-hour torture session is up, each of us has painted waves rolling onto the beach, with a shovel, pail, and sandcastle. We pose as a group for pictures, each of us proudly displaying the fruits of our labor. My sisters each discuss where they’re going to hang their newest creation, while I contemplate which closet I’ll throw it in.

“Yours is great,” Abby says with a big smile.

“Helen Keller could have done a better job,” I retort with a snort of laughter.

As we say good night and thank the instructor, we all walk out together into the crisp early-January night. Not surprisingly, Josh and Ryan are waiting. Jaime and Meg practically run towards their men, each one jumping into their arms as if it’s been days since they’ve seen each other instead of a few hours. Longing rips through my chest and settles into my stomach, heavy and unrelenting. I try to push those pesky feelings aside, but sometimes, it’s just no use. They plant in my chest and brain and dig in deep.

“Good night,” Abby says, pulling me into a hug.

“You going out tonight?” I ask, recalling her mention of Levi’s gig earlier in the evening.

“No, I’m going to take my new painting home and hang it on the wall.”

“Wow, don’t overdo it now on a Saturday night, Abs. Too much excitement will cause wrinkles.”

“I just, I don’t really go to his gigs anymore.”

“Why?” I ask, though already knowing the answer.

She shrugs her shoulders and gives me a small smile. “Just not feeling up to it.”

I let it go. I already know she doesn’t go anymore is because it’s too painful to watch him leave with some skanky bimbo with a dress size bigger than her IQ. Levi may very well never know what he’s missing with Abby, but the romantic in me is still hopeful of him getting his shit together and realizing he loves her.

Hey, I may be cynical as hell in the love department, but I’m still a woman. And this woman wants only the best and a happily ever after for every one of her sisters.

As for me? Well, I’ve decided that my happily ever after will be in the form of cats. I’ll be the little old lady wearing hair curlers and her bathrobe around town, picking up every stray feline she can find.

And you know what? That’s okay. Not everyone is cut out for the spouse, house, and perfect postcard life. Despite what they tell you in the romance novels or in Disney movies, there isn’t someone out there for everyone. Sometimes, a person is just supposed to be alone.

That’s my destiny.

 

About Lacey Black:

Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.

Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014 and has been an Amazon Bestseller twice for Free e-books, as well as #1 for Contemporary Romance. All of the Rivers Edge books have been bestsellers in the Romance and Contemporary Romance categories.

Connect with Lacey:

Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthLaceyBlack

Blog: https://laceyblack.wordpress.com

Enter Lacey’s Giveaway:

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Release Day Launch + Excerpt + 5+-Star Review: Too Close To Call by Tessa Bailey

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From New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes TOO CLOSE TO CALL, a novella in her Romancing the Clarksons Series published by 1001 Dark Nights! Grab your copy today!

 

About TOO CLOSE TO CALL:

All-American wide receiver Kyler Tate’s life is about to change. A fairytale college career skyrocketed him to the NFL draft. Adoration and opportunity are thrown in his direction wherever he goes, thanks to being chosen in the first round by the Los Angeles Rage.

None of the accolades mean anything, though, without his high school sweetheart, Bree Justice, by his side. Four years ago, she walked away from Kyler, choosing a quiet life over the flash and notoriety his career would someday bring.

Now he’s back in their Indiana hometown, refusing to leave for Los Angeles without her. Demanding she give their life together a shot. Her heart never stopped bleeding for the love of her life, but Bree’s decision was final. Too bad their wild attraction has only been amplified by their separation, and Kyler won’t quit until Bree is wearing his ring.

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | Amazon AU

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EXCERPT:

Draft Day was nothing like Kyler had pictured.

“With the ninth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rage select…” Kyler Tate’s parents sucked in breaths on either side of him. “Kyler Tate, receiver, University of Cincinnati.”

The tense atmosphere inside the event hall exploded with wild cheers, exclamations, and boos. His shoulders were slapped by thousands of hands, kisses landing on his cheeks. Like falling out of a kayak into a rushing current, bashing into rocks on the way toward a waterfall, Kyler stood, put his head down, and proceeded toward the stage. Cell phones rang at every table he passed, terse conversations taking place as the deadline timer for the next announcement started. Players he’d faced on the gridiron sweated in their suits, mothers fussed, water glasses were refilled.

This was it. Years of training, icing down injuries, two-a-day practices, glory, pain, and mental fatigue. All for this moment.

And it was…utterly fucking incomplete.

Before he could reach the stage, panic set in. Set in real good, like claws digging into fertile ground. A moment earlier, everyone in the room had looked familiar, but they were strangers now, spinning in a kaleidoscope. Sweat popped up on his forehead. His shoulder blades tightened, a harsh sound puffed from between his lips. From behind the podium, the announcer gave him a strange look, the Rage jersey lowering in his grip. Are you okay?

The man’s mouthed words barely penetrated over the sudden rushing stream of images. Of her. Bree Justice.

Tracey’s Review

So, author Tessa Bailey is already a favorite of mine, and her Keeping Up With the Clarksons series are right at the top of my list. When I heard that Kyler Tate was getting his very own story, and in an installment of the 1001 Dark Nights series, of all things, yep, I was doing the happy dance.

Fans of the Clarksons already know Kyler. The star of his college football team, Kyler has been drafted by the pros, and the world is about to open up in all sorts of ways for him. But one thing that we know about Kyler from his appearance in TOO HARD TO FORGET is that he is nothing if not determined, and oh, so committed. That commitment to his team, to his family, and to his heart is what makes this man so absolutely wonderful. And that commitment is what brings him back to his hometown, and figuring out the way to make sure that his future is full of Bree Sutton, his high school love, and the other half of his heart.

Bree has missed Kyler every single day since he left home, but she’s content to stay where she is, to make a life in the town that she loves, with the people that she loves. But resisting the Kyler of today is no easier than giving him up all those years ago, because the heart wants what the heart wants, and Bree’s heart wants Kyler.

As part of the 1001 Dark Nights series, TOO CLOSE TO CALL is short and sweet, and lacks nothing for being a novella. I don’t gift the title of ‘favorite’ easily, but this steamy, sexy, intense read has more heart than books double the size, and is indisputably one of my favorite romance reads this year. Tessa has scored a touchdown with this one, and left me wanting much more of Kyler and his supergirl, Bree. 5+ stars for this one. Romance fans should absolutely add this to their ‘I must read this immediately!’ TBR, along with the rest of this series. And, Tessa, if you’re reading this, more Kyler and Bree, please!

 

 

About 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

 

 

 

2017 Favorite …Release Blitz + 6 Star Review: When Life Happened by Jewel E. Ann

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When Life Happened, an all-new standalone romance from

Jewel E. Ann is now LIVE!

 

When Life Happened 

By Jewel E. Ann

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

Synopsis

 

Parker Cruse despises cheaters. It might have something to do with her boyfriend sleeping with her twin sister.

After a wedding day prank involving a strong laxative, that ends the already severed relationship between the twins, Parker decides to grow up and act twenty-six.

Step One: Move out of her parents’ house.

Step Two: Find a job.

Opportunity strikes when she meets her new neighbor, Gus Westman. He’s an electrician with Iowa farm-boy values and a gift for saying her name like it’s a dirty word.

He also has a wife.

Sabrina Westman, head of a successful engineering firm, hires Parker as her personal assistant. Driven to be the best assistant ever, Parker vows to stay focused, walk the dog, go to the dry cleaners, and not kiss Gus—again.

Step Three: Don’t judge.

Step Four: Remember— when life happens, it does it in a heartbeat.

JEA-WLH-AvailableNow

Read Today!

***

 

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

 

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Michel’s Review

The one thing I have discovered is that when I open a Jewel E. Ann novel I am in for a great surprise and an all consuming reading experience.  Her writing is charismatic, engaging, and real.  She delivers a very entertaining story with a sense of humor while slamming the reader with a raw emotional experience.  Not only does she create an entertaining romance, the one thing that stands out is the story itself is completely original.  Of course we all know that there really aren’t too many plots that are original, especially this day in age where the publishing world doesn’t have specific guidelines and rules.  What makes Jewel E. Ann stand out is her gift to tap into several plot ideas and combine them to make them completely her own and completely different from the other million books out there.  She adds her magical touch of creating dynamic characters that are charmingly imperfect but very endearingly human.

The first thing I want to say about this book is no matter what your reading tastes are just KEEP READING!  I know many of the romance genre readers have hard limits with books about cheating and will not read a book where the synopsis indicates this may happen.  Again I say KEEP READING!  This book is exactly what the title is.  It’s a messy, emotional, delightful story about When Life Happened.

As I began reading When Life Happened I immediately connected with Parker Cruse.  Parker was betrayed by her twin sister Piper.  Parker caught Piper cheating with her fiancé/ high school sweetheart Caleb.  Weeks later her sister her sister walked down the aisle Parker should of been walking.  Parker made sure her walk of shame was done in style with a huge dose of laxatives resembling the scarlet letter on the train of her wedding gown.  Revenge was sweet but it would never heal the wounds of a broken heart.  Two years later and still emotionally paralyzed, Parker is moving on with her life.  She’s taking on the world of adulting.  She’s moving out of her parents house, she’s going to get a real job, and she’s going to be an independent grown up.  It doesn’t matter that she’s moving across the street into her grandparents old farmhouse.  It’s far enough away from her parents.  It’s also far enough away from conniving twin sister and despicable husband that are returning to town in a month.  What she didn’t anticipate is a grubby sheepdog and sexy neighbor intruding in her space.  She didn’t count on the sexy neighbor, Gus Westman, making her feel things she hadn’t felt in years.  She didn’t count on her neighbor making her feel like a woman.  She also didn’t count on him being married.  She can overlook his ordinary wardrobe and baseball caps, she can deal with his adorable mangy dog and give it a haircut, she can hold herself back from swooning at his bad jokes and quirky grins. Being around him on a hourly basis isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. What she cannot overlook is his wife.  The wife who becomes her boss and meal ticket.  It doesn’t matter if she’s the world’s worst human being and wife.  Gus belongs to that despicable woman, her boss.  Gus wants to save his marriage until he doesn’t.  Parker despises cheaters.  She has taken back control of her life and learned to love herself.  Who does Gus Westman think he is to take that away from her?  He’s the man who loves her exactly for who she is until When Life Happened.

Sounds like a love story gone wrong?  That’s absolutely correct but … KEEP READING… life happens and Parker is in the middle of all it’s beautiful mess.  She’s going to find that life isn’t black and white.  There are two sides to every story and her story is just beginning.  She’s going to learn about forgiveness, acceptance, and love.

Jewel E. Ann had me with the first page.  I could not put this book down and was completely surprised by the outcome because yes I am one of those readers that absolutely hates cheating.  I am hopeless romantic that believes in true love and happily ever afters.  I am also a human being that understands life can spin out of control and sometimes bad things happen before the good things can be appreciated.  Life is messy but it is also beautiful.  Parker experienced it all. Jewel E. Ann created a beautiful reading experience that left me with the warm and fuzzies!

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About Jewel:

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

 

Connect with Jewel:

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

Twitter: @JewelE_Ann

Stay up to date with Jewel by signing up for her newsletter:

http://www.jeweleann.com/free-booksubscribe/

http://www.jeweleann.com

Pre Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: The Farthest Edge by Kristen Ashley – The Honey Series – Book 2

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✮✮✮A delicious world of erotica, BDSM with alpha-subs and their Dommes, and a gripping love story…Welcome to The Bee’s Honey! The second standalone title in New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley’s Honey Series, THE FARTHEST EDGE is a seductive and rich love story releasing June 6, 2017! Order your copy today! ✮✮✮

 

Go to THE FARTHEST EDGE and order your copy today!

 

 

About THE FARTHEST EDGE (Erotic Romance Releasing June 6, 2017):

Step into the Honey Club, where every sensual boundary will be tested in search of the ultimate pleasure…

Branch doesn’t exist. Living off the grid, he’s looking for a way to forget his past and the guilt that plagues him. But no woman has ever been able to bring him to the edge he craves.

After a traumatic experience of her own, Evangeline stepped away from the decadent world of the Honey Club. But when she gets Branch’s offer—to play without boundaries or commitments—it’s too tempting for her to refuse.

As their passion ignites, Evangeline and Branch push each other to their farthest limit, fulfilling their darkest desires while falling harder and deeper than they ever imagined.

 

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

GooglePlay | Kobo | IndieBound | BAM

 

And don’t miss the first standalone title in the Honey Series,

THE DEEP END!

 

 

 

 

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GooglePlay | Kobo | IndieBound | BAM

 

Giveaway

 

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Excerpt

Aryas knew her.

He knew what she liked.

He knew how she played.

He knew exactly what would make her squirm in her seat.

And he knew precisely how long it had been since she’d had her kink.

“You’re throwing down the gauntlet,” she accused quietly.

“You feel like picking up the glove?” he shot back, shaking the piece of paper at her.

She stared into Aryas’s eyes.

No strings.

Anything she wanted to do to get him off.

When he was done with her, he’d vanish from her life.

Her gaze dropped to the paper.

“Be you, and we’ll make it interesting, lay five grand on that fucker, he’ll give you one go and then he’ll move on,” Aryas pushed, but it was a dare.

She looked back at him.

A dare.

Yes, he knew her.

“No reflection on you and your skills, which are sublime, my beautiful baby.” He grinned wicked grin. “Just that this guy is unbreakable. There’s no edge for him any Domme can get anywhere near to push him off and that’s what he’s looking for. Being taken to the farthest edge and shoved right the fuck over.”

Taken to the farthest edge.

Evangeline was not into that. She wasn’t into extreme. Not like many who were into that in the life.

No, the edges she coasted were exactly what Aryas wasn’t quite saying, but she read this guy couldn’t handle.

Unless he had the right Mistress to lead the way.

Damn it all, she was getting wet.

“Five grand?” she snapped.

Aryas pressed his lips together and she was too peeved to get more peeved that he did it to suppress his amusement.

He unpressed them to confirm, “Five grand. But Leenie, babe, just to get it straight, he walks away from you at first meet, we’re even. It’s only if you get a crack at him the bet is on.”

She lifted her nose at the same time she snatched the paper from his hand, declaring, “He won’t walk away.”

“He might,” Aryas said gently, and his sudden loss of humor and careful tone made her focus on him again. “Beware of that. He’s done it before. In some ways, he doesn’t give a shit about anything. In some ways, he can be frustratingly choosy.”

“If I want him, he walks away, I’ll still get him,” she announced.

 

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Michel’s Review

The first thing I want to say is that when Kristen Ashley picks up a pen or strokes a keyboard complete magic happens.

An alpha sub and a soft hearted woman who is a hardcore Domme shouldn’t work, right? Most alpha men are pure Doms at heart and want total control in every aspect of their lives.  But think about the BDSM world, it’s all about control and trust.  The real power lays in the hands of the sub and how far they are willing to go. It’s a Dom’s or Domme’s responsibility to handle that trust with complete competent care. With that thought in mind, Kristen Ashley really tapped into the real idealism behind BDSM as well as the real kink.

Branch was a ghost long before he actually died.  He’s been living off the grid of humanity for years waiting to take his final revenge for the death of his last drop of humanity he still possessed.  He has lived under the radar and gone through countless Domme’s because none of them can take him to the farthest edge, the edge he desperately needs to fall over. It’s not about sexual satisfaction but rather about validating that he is still physically alive even though he is emotionally dead.  When the owner of the Honey Club offers up his Queen Bee Dominatrix, he’s leary.  He’s seen Evangeline in action.  He respects her work but even she can’t take him where he needs to go.  She’s experienced the bad side of a scene gone wrong and is damaged.  She’s been out of the world for over a year.  How can a tiny snippet of a damaged woman break the unbreakable?

Everyone thought Evangeline was broken, completely damaged after a scene went violently wrong.  They underestimated her willpower, her strength, and her courage.  She has been biding her time, healing her wounds and broken heart, and concentrating on building her life outside of the club.  Even though she hasn’t stepped foot in the Honey Club in over a year, she’s ready to become who she was before it went terribly wrong. When her friend and owner of the Honey Club offers her the perfect sub, she’s ready to crack her whip.  When she meets the unbreakable sub, she’s even more determined. He may walk out on her but she is going to have the last word.

What begins as a battle of wills and excessive need turns into something neither one of them anticipated.  It’s more than achieving the ultimate sexual satisfaction, it’s about learning to live a complete satisfying life.  Pushing Brock to the furthest edge is bringing him back to the land of the living.  Accepting an alpha sub in her heart is more than accepting who she is, it’s about accepting a whole life instead of a fractured one.

With the stroke of the pen or keyboard, Kristen Ashley brought her magic.  She made a hardcore BDSM book a beautiful romantic experience.  It brought all the kink a book like this needs while also bringing all the heart a romance reader expects.  I am amazed by this woman’s ability to create magic on the pages.

 

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About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorizeand she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

 

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review: Wicked Favor by Sawyer Bennett – The Wicked Horse Vegas Series

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Wicked Favor

The Wicked Horse Vegas Series – Book 1

By Sawyer Bennett

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Wicked Favor AMAZONNew York Times bestselling author, Sawyer Bennett, is happy to introduce a new Wicked Horse club in Las Vegas and you’re cordially invited to attend the grand opening…

As the owner of The Wicked Horse, an elite sex club located along the Vegas Strip, Jerico Jameson never spends the night alone. Gorgeous, ripped, and totally alpha, Jerico doesn’t grant favors and will rarely give you the time of day—unless he wants you in his bed. So when the sister of his sworn enemy shows up asking for help, saying no should be easy. But when Jerico takes one look at her and sees an opportunity to help this beautiful woman while exacting revenge on her brother, he’s not about to pass that up.

Beaten and bruised, Trista Barnes is running out of options, and Jerico is her last chance to get out of the mess she’s in. She doesn’t know why Jerico despises her brother so much, but as long as he can help her, she doesn’t care. Jerico offers her safety while opening her up to a sinful world she never knew existed.

As she succumbs to Jerico’s erotic charm, Trista lets herself fall into the wicked world of guilt free pleasure with no regrets. Under his strong alpha hand, she blooms, and so does Jerico’s possessiveness. But what happens when Trista finds out she was a pawn in Jerico’s game all along, and that the price for his favor was steeper than she ever imagined – her heart.

 

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Excerpt

Jerico

 

For three nights, I’ve watched her.

By any definition, I’d totally be considered a stalker.

But from the comfort of my office, I can pull up the security feeds on my monitor and take note of the subtle changes in Trista as she works the condiment tray. Truth be told, I don’t need her working that job and have a much greater need for her to go back to cleaning, but fuck if she doesn’t look a hell of a lot sexier in a thong than a turtleneck and pants.

Part of my training in the military was gathering intelligence, so I can pick up on the slightest of details that could tell me a very important story, and there were a lot of changes I noticed over the last three days with Trista as she settled into her job routine.

The most important and pleasing thing was that Trista’s stopped hiding her sexual curiosity. When she first started working here, she looked around a room in a vague way, not taking in too many details. I think she was afraid to watch.

Afraid of what it would do to her body.

But that has definitely changed.

Now, Trista watches what the patrons are doing. Sometimes, she stares for long moments and much to my delight, the kinkier the acts, the longer she stares. My trained eyes take in her chest rising and falling to keep up with what I’m sure was a racing pulse. She’d adjust the straps covering her breasts in a very minute way either because the pressure on her nipples was too much, or because she wanted to create some friction.

Naughty, naughty girl.

My favorite though was when she would cross one long leg over the other and squeeze her thighs together as she watched, and I had no doubt her clit was probably pulsing with desire.

Trista was getting braver too. She never once took any man up on an offer to join, and there had been some I’d seen. I had told her she could if business was slow, but I also made a spectacle in front of Willis that she was off limits. Perhaps Trista thinks she’s off limits to everyone, and it’s fine by me if she wants to think that.

 

 

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Michel’s Review

I was surprised when Sawyer Bennett announced that the Wicked Horse series had branched out Vegas style.  This compelling erotica romance series captured the readers attention with it’s blend of erotica and western romance combined with some romantic suspense.  She built up the series by introducing a few characters in the last book of her highly popular Last Call Series.  Readers were chomping at the bits to get their hands on the Wicked Horse series and visit the kinky Silo.  The Vegas crew seemed to come out of no where but thrilled the fans of this series.  Readers can once again visit the Silo Vegas style.

It all begins with a forgotten favor and a need for revenge. Jerico Jameson is a man of honor who repays his debts but he is also a man of his word and punishes those who have wronged him.  When Trista Barnes shows up at his sex club, The Wicked Horse Vegas, collecting a favor he owes, he sees this as an opportunity for revenge.  It doesn’t matter if Trista is completely innocent and will be collateral damage.  It doesn’t matter if she is too vanilla and too pure for his methods of revenge.  What matters is she’s his weapon of choice.  It doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful and drop dead sexy.  It just makes the revenge all the sweeter.

Trista Barnes needs money and she needs it yesterday.  She owes a loan shark a large sum of money.  She’s on the brink of losing her home and that is the least of her problems.  She will do anything to get the money and put this debt behind her so that she can build the life she desperately needs to build.  Working at a sex club isn’t beneath her standards.  She can suck it up for one month and give into every one of Jerico’s demands.  What she didn’t realize is how intriguing the Wicked Horse would be.  Repaying Jerico’s loan may not be a hardship after all.

Trista has secrets.  Secrets she wants to keep.  Jerico has needs.  Needs that do not include revenge.  Trista’s and Jerico’s worlds are colliding at the Wicked Horse in the sexiest way.  Both are going to walk away different people.

Once again Sawyer Bennett had me fanning myself with this sizzling erotica romance.  The Wicked Horse is still just as taboo and dirty in a new location with a new cast of interesting characters.  While each of the books in the original series had a stand alone plot, they all built towards a pretty big climax in the last book.  Wicked Favor is the first book in the Wicked Horse Vegas Series and just began to introduce the new cast of characters and feel for the new club.  I can’t wait to see where this series leads.

 

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AuthorPhotoSince the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

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