New Release + 5 Star Review: Love Rehab by Louise Bay

 

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Love Rehab

By Louise Bay

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

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Synopsis:

Ever wanted to fast forward to your happily ever after?

My name is Mackenzie Locke and I’m a loveaholic. I haven’t got a handle on men. Not even a little bit.

So I staged an intervention and booked me and my two best friends into Love Rehab, complete with a love shaman, horse therapy and a bunch of stones that promise to change my life. I’m not leaving until I’m cured.

Lesson #1: the first night of your stay, don’t have a one night stand with the hottest guy you’ve ever seen in your life.

Fail.

Lesson #2: make sure your one night stand isn’t planning on sticking around, teasing you, tempting you right back into his Levis.

Big Fail.

Lesson #3: Whoops. I forgot this one. I was too busy daydreaming about Blake McKenna’s mouth on mine and the way his five o’clock shadow feels on my thighs.

Epic Fail.

So maybe I’m not the best student. Maybe I wasted my time and money on Love Rehab. But I can’t help that I want to spend every minute with Blake, naked under the stars. Perhaps he can teach me every lesson I ever needed to learn.

A sexy, standalone, contemporary romance.

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5Star

Tracey’s Review

I had nothing left to lose…I couldn’t stay where I was, stuck in the cycle of rejection and confusion. Clearly, I needed professional help. I’d come to a fork in the road and I could keep traveling straight or try a new route.
I needed a cure.
I needed my plan back on track.
I needed Love Rehab.

Louise Bay has proven time and again that she is a writer of many faces. She’s got the second-chance thing, the hot executive afraid to commit, the guy next door, and, now, she’s got Blake McKenna, bio-chemist and ‘uncowboy.’ And, y’all, like every other time, I am in love.

I love the premise of this story. McKenna Locke has been through a series of failed relationships, ones that seem promising, but, well, they’re just not working. Deciding to do what any enterprising young woman would, McKenna finds Love Rehab, a sort of 7-step program for those looking to reprogram the way that they’re doing things and come out with a clearer understanding of who they are and what they want.

So, off to Christie, Oklahoma, for McKenna and her lovely and entertaining best friends, Kennedy and Rose, for a 5-day ‘experience.’ And, heck, if you’re about to rehab your love life, you might as well get started with a bang, right? Enter said ‘uncowboy,’ Blake. Sparks, flares, heat flashes, people. It takes about a hot minute for McKenna and Blake to home in on each other and, well, passion explosion.

Louise has done a great job with this book. Once that kismet bomb goes off, and McKenna and Blake begin their journey, there is nothing but love, passion, and some much-needed self-realization, and it all works together perfectly. I mean, there wasn’t a page that didn’t have me either laughing or swooning, not even one. Quirky and lovable characters, a fresh and entertaining storyline, and a love story that warmed my heart makes LOVE REHAB one of my most favorite reads lately, and certainly one of my favorites of 2016. 5+ well-earned stars for LOVE REHAB. This feel-good read should be right at the top of romance lovers’ TBRs, so grab it and enjoy.

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

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About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes sexy, contemporary romance novels – the kind she likes to read. Her books include the novels Faithful and Hopeful and the novella series’ The Empire State Series, What the Lightning Sees and Calling Me. The novels and together the series are stand-alone although there are some overlapping characters.

Ruined by romantic mini-series of the eighties, Louise loves all things romantic. There’s not enough of it in real life so she disappears into the fictional worlds in books and films.

Louise loves the rain, the West Wing, London, days when she doesn’t have to wear make-up, being on her own, being with friends, elephants and champagne.

She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Website

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New Release + Review : Hooked by Brenda Rothert

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Hooked by Brenda Rothert

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PURCHASE IT NOW!

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay | Nook

 

Book Blurb:

From the author of the On the Line and Fire on Ice hockey romance series comes a sultry novel featuring a brooding NHL player who’s hell on skates—and the no-nonsense woman who forces him to clean up his act.

Miranda: Even though I’m broke, putting myself through college, and working two jobs, I’m trying to make the best of it. Meanwhile, Jake Birch, hockey’s hottest bad boy, lives in a luxury hotel in downtown Chicago—and still complains about every little thing in his penthouse. But after I tell him off, instead of getting me fired, Jake requests me as his personal housekeeper. Then he starts flirting with me. Only I’m not flirting back . . . at least, I’m trying not to. Did I mention that he’s hockey’s hottest bad boy?

Jake: I’ve met the best woman at the worst possible time. Miranda is the fire to my ice—a sexy, charmingly candid spark who breaks down my walls and reminds me what it’s like to feel again. But I’m being forced to date my team owner’s daughter to keep my job, so I can’t be caught with Miranda. Still, we’re getting closer—until Miranda finds out about my “girlfriend.” And that’s not the only secret I’ve been keeping. But Miranda’s the one I want . . . even if she doesn’t believe me.

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You can read chapters 1-4 of Hooked on Instafreebie!

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

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4.5 Star

Tracey’s Review

Brenda Rothert has proven time and again that she knows how to write a hot hockey story. Alpha heroes, heroines that range from broken to strong and sassy, and always a love of the game, her books never disappoint.

HOOKED is Brenda’s newest book and, while all of the usual suspects are here, there is something more, too. Jake Birch is just as alpha, just as hot, and, like other of Brenda’s guys, he’s got baggage. Gutted by the loss of his brother, he’s cut himself off emotionally from everyone and everything, interested only in scoring, both on and off the ice. Finding himself falling for the strong, sassy, take no crap woman cleaning his room at his 5-star hotel is not on his radar. But, fall he does, because he truly has never met anyone like Miranda Carr.

Miranda is one of my favorite of Brenda’s ladies yet, and another solid example of how she continues to grow at her craft. Sure, Miranda’s suffered infidelity and heartbreak like the rest of us, but she’s strong. A great family life, really smart, hardworking, and savvy, she doesn’t need to rely on anyone to complete her. But what made HOOKED such an enjoyable read is the way that she and Jake do come to realize that it’s okay to have a soft place to land, that it’s good not to have to take life on on your own. And, another kudo to Brenda for not having the relatively speedy progression of their relationship result in insta-sex. It’s really nice to see a strong, sexy guy that literally has ladies throwing their panties at him to want to take things more slowly and wait and build a solid emotional relationship.

So, my take? HOOKED is everything that I’ve come to expect from one of Brenda’s books, and more. An easy and engaging read that tugs on the heartstrings and steams up the windows, it’s 4.5 sexy, emotional, HEA stars, and I’m happy to add it to my list of books that you should read.

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

*****

4 Star

Michel’s Review

Hooked is the first book I have read by Brenda Rothert.  This novel was right on mark with the title, I was hooked in the first chapter.  The story was engaging with well developed characters that were easy to bond with as a reader.  The writing was consistent and the pacing was perfectly synchronized .

First impressions can be misleading.  For Jake Birch and Miranda, their first encounter was not one that left a positive impression.

Miranda is a college student working two jobs to make ends meet.  Her job as a hotel maid is demanding and at times degrading.  When she is assigned the penthouse suites it is a bit stressful.  Her boss demands perfection.  Soaps and toiletries must be lined up in perfect order, vacuum lines need to be perfectly straight, and dusting must pass the white glove inspection. The suites must be cleaned to perfection while the guest is out.

Rule number one is broken when Miranda encounters Jake Birch, the egotistical NHL Hockey Player living in one of the suites while his apartment is being remodeled.  Rule number two is broken when she engages with the guest.  This leads to rule number three being broken, franternizing with the guest.

Jake and Miranda build a solid friendship that leads to more.  Both have issues that hinder their budding romance.  Jake has relationship issues that stem from his family life.  Miranda has been cheated on and has trouble trusting.

As the two get to know one another better not only do they develop a deep abiding respect for one another, they also begin developing deep feelings for one another.  They are both willing to take a chance even though their past issues scare them.

In any good romance story there are always obstacles the characters have to get past before they can truly find their happily ever after.  Jake and Miranda have more than their issues to deal with.  They have hectic schedules that conflict, team politics, work rules, and a psychotic admirer that could ruin Jake’s career.  Jake and Miranda found positive ways to handle all the conflicts.  They were willing to work for their relationship.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story.  It had a very realistic feel.  I easily connected with both characters.  I have become a Brenda Rothert fan and intend to read more of her books.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

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Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | | Wattpad | Amazon

InkSlinger Blogger Final

Release Blitz + 2016 Favorite + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Worth Fighting For by Kirsty Moseley – Fighting To Be Free – Book 2

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Worth Fighting For

Fighting To Be Free – Book 2

By Kirsty Moseley

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Kirsty Moseley brings us the sequel to Fighting to be Free.

Sometimes in life you have to walk away . . .

Leaving Jamie Cole was the hardest thing Ellie Pearce ever had to do. Somehow, she moved on. She made a new life in a new city with a new man. So when a family tragedy calls Ellie back home, she believes all her old feelings for Jamie-the hunger, the heat, the heartbreak-are safely behind her. But the second she lays eyes on him, the intensity of their connection is as strong as ever.

Sometimes you stay and fight . . .

Jamie knows pain. He’s felt it fighting in the streets, and he felt it fighting to survive in prison. Yet nothing he’s experienced has been as painful as the day Ellie left-until the moment she came back. This time Jamie is determined to hold on to Ellie forever. But as much as she still loves him, she can’t ignore the dark world he’s now a part of. Jamie has enemies. Dangerous ones. And after seeing Jamie with Ellie, they know exactly how to take him out . . .

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Excerpt

“’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson, said that in some poem in the 1800s. In my opinion, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was full of shit.

Maybe Lord Tennyson had never truly loved someone; maybe he’d never cared for someone else more than he cared for himself, because if he had, if he’d loved someone so deeply he’d been willing to die for them, how could he have written such a horseshit line? I’m merely speculating, of course. I’m no academic, so I know nothing about the guy other than that one quote. So how then, you may ask, does my opinion so vehemently disagree with his?

Because I was in love once.

Only once.

And I lost her.

And I would give any fucking thing in the world to have never loved her at all. No, it most definitely is not better to have loved and lost..

Fuck love. And fuck Lord Tennyson.

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SBJ2016Favorite

5Star+

Michel’s Review

After the highly emotional cliffhanger in Fighting To Be Free by Kirsty Moseley, I have been sitting on pins and needles for this book to release.  I was dying for the conclusion to Jamie and Ellie’s story.  Worth Fighting For was well worth the wait.  It went beyond my expectations and delivered a very emotional and realistic conclusion.  Kirsty Moseley took great care with delivering this story.  She paid attention to details, allowed the characters to realistically mature, she allowed them to develop as individuals with embracing both the good and the bad, and she gave them new emotional hurdles to jump. I was glued to the pages as the rest of their story began to unfold.

Worth The Fight is not a stand alone novel.  It is the sequel to Fighting To Be Free.

I wasn’t prepared for the sequel to be as heartbreaking as the first book.  The first chapter delivers a devastating tragedy that sets the course for the rest of this book.  At the end of the first book Jamie was serving time in prison.  He set Ellie free to pursue her dreams of traveling Europe.  Three years later Jamie is out of prison and now a crime boss.  He embraced the life he desperately tried to be free of.  His life is emotionless until Ellie returns home.  He has to face the heartbreak and his past mistakes.  He has to make choices that could affect Ellie’s life as well.  He also wants to win her love but knows it’s impossible.

Ellie spent a year traveling through Europe trying to heal from the devastating heartbreak of losing Jamie.  After the year was up she chose to stay in London.  She has finally moved on in life.  She is engaged and happy in London.  Or so she thought until tragedy struck and she was forced to return home.  Upon returning home she realizes that she has been running and avoiding her emotions.

I won’t say much more because this is a story the reader needs to experience for themselves.  The one thing that stayed true was the matters of the heart.  Jamie and Ellie had a deep abiding love for one another.  They truly needed the time apart to learn what matters most in life.  They both needed to grow up.  Ellie needed a doses of reality because she had viewed the world through rose colored glasses.  Jamie needed to become a independent man and make his own choices.  He needed to find his own footing whether it was good or bad.  The people of his past no longer controlled his life or future, only he had that power now.

The one thing that was evidently clear was they were both Fighting To Be Free.  They had to learn that love is Worth Fighting For.

Kirsty Moseley’s writing was flawless.  She delivered perfection in this powerful conclusion to the Fighting To Be Free story.

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Fighting To Be Free

Fighting To Be Free Series – Book 1

By Kirsty Moseley

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

FIGHTING TO BE FREE

All his life, people have told Jamie Cole that he was born bad. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. But that doesn’t matter now. Because after a lifetime of demons, Jamie has finally found an angel.

Ellie Pearce learned the hard way that boys can’t be trusted. But the night she meets Jamie, something shifts. He’s different: brooding, a bit dark, determined to change. The connection they share is intense, compelling. Ellie tries to resist, but with each breathtaking kiss, she can’t help falling deeper.

Things between Ellie and Jamie are perfect-and perfection can’t last. When fate goes horribly wrong, Jamie’s only hope of saving his family is to strike a deal with the devil. Most of all, Jamie wants to prove he’s the person Ellie believes him to be. But if she learns just how much he’s been hiding, Ellie won’t be able to believe anything Jamie has ever told her . . .

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kirsty-moseley-credit-trish-thompson-photographyKirsty Moseley has always been a passionate reader with stories brewing in her head. Once she discovered Wattpad, she finally posted a story. Seven million reads later, she self-published her debut novel, The Boy who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window, which later became a finalists for the 2012 Goodreads’ Choice Awards. Kirsty lives in Norfolk, England with her husband and son.

 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

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Giveaway

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Going Under by Lexi Ryan – The Blackhawk Boys Series – Book 3

 

 

 Going Under
The Blackhawk Boys – Book 3
By Lexi Ryan

 

Blurb

If I met Alexandra DeLuca for the first time today, I would only need one word to describe her:

MINE. She’s everything she was when we said goodbye. Beautiful, stubborn, sweet…and off-limits. 

After two years leading separate lives, our worlds have collided. Now that she’s back home working and taking classes beside me, she’s bound to make me lose my mind.

She’s all I’ve ever wanted, all I’ve ever dreamed of, and the one thing I can never have. 

Not because she’s my best friend’s sister.
Not because all four DeLuca brothers would come at me with fists swinging if I hurt her.
Not even because she’s way better than I will ever deserve.
 

I keep my distance because we didn’t meet for the first time today. We met five years ago when I was a different person. When my demons ruled me. Even though I’ve changed–even though I’ve gotten my life together and become a better man–I can’t change the past. And the secrets that haunt me would destroy her. 

But I’m not the only one with secrets, and when the truth comes out, I don’t know where to turn. What do you do when your world washes away beneath your feet and you feel like you’re drowning? What do you do when the woman you promised yourself you’d never touch is the only thing that can keep you from going under?

GOING UNDER is a standalone novel and the third set in the world of The Blackhawk Boys series.
 

Football. Secrets. Lies. Passion. These boys don’t play fair. Which Blackhawk Boy will steal your heart?

Purchase Links
 
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
GOOGLE PLAY 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Copyright © 2016 by Lexi Ryan“I don’t want you to think you need to do this now that I’m back.”

He steps forward, close enough that I can feel his heat. “Do what?”

“Spend time with me. Come to my rescue. Make sure I make it home safely.” I wave a hand. “All of it. You don’t owe me anything.”

“You think I’m here out of a sense of obligation?” He laughs. “Fuck, that’s insane.”

“Is it? Can we just talk about the elephant in the room?” I ask him.

He’s staring at me, and it takes a few beats for him to process that I’ve spoken. I’d laugh if seeing him drunk didn’t also unsettle something deep inside me, some old part of me that still wants Sebastian to be my rock. But I’m not the girl recovering in the hospital anymore. I’m not the girl crying at her sister’s grave. Those experiences are part of who I am now, but I’m more, too. I’m stronger. I don’t need Sebastian’s strength to hold me steady. Or I shouldn’t.

I tuck my hands into my pockets. “Two years ago, the night before I left for Colorado…” He goes still, and I can’t make myself finish the sentence.

“I crossed a line,” he says.

I snort. God, the problem isn’t that he crossed a line—it’s that he didn’t. “Are you serious right now?”

He cuts his eyes to me again, the muscle ticking in his jaw. “It was a mistake, and you’re obviously still angry with me about it.”

I step away from him and wrap my hands around the porch rail. If I let myself look at him, I’ll overanalyze every expression that crosses his face. I realize I’m holding my breath and exhale. “It was a shitty thing for you to do.”

He’s silent for several heavy beats of my heart. When I can’t stand the silence anymore, I release the railing and turn to face him. “Let me make sure I understand,” he says. “Since I almost kissed you two years ago, I can’t walk you home anymore?”

“I don’t want…” I take a breath as I search for the words to explain how this makes me feel. “I don’t want a pity friendship.”

“What the fuck is a pity friendship?”

“It’s when you spend time with someone because you don’t want them to be alone.”

“You’re an expert on what I want now?”

“I think you made it perfectly clear what you do and don’t want from me two years ago.”

He takes half a step forward, and his gaze drops to my mouth. Can you feel someone looking at your lips? Because his gaze is so intense on my mouth right now that I’m sure I could close my eyes and still feel it as distinctly as a touch. “Dammit, Alex, if I’d have known you’d hold such a grudge for thirty seconds of weakness, I would have kissed you that night. Fuck my better judgment. At least then I’d know how you taste.”

I swallow hard and tell my pounding heart not to make more of this than it is. “You’re drunk, Sebastian.”

Stepping back, he drags a hand over his face. “Yeah.” He takes another step back. “Good night, Alex.”

I unlock the door and go inside, shutting it behind me without looking at him again. Slowly, I take the stairs up to my old room, close the door behind me, and lean against it. Only then do I allow myself to squeeze my eyes shut and take a long, deep breath to calm my racing heart.

His words replay in my head, making the muscles in my stomach grow tight. Just once I’d like Sebastian Crowe to make good on one of the fantasies he inspires. Just once I’d like him to follow me into this room and lock the door before pushing me against it and lowering his mouth to mine. I’d like to feel those rough hands slide under my shirt to unbutton my jeans…

I pull out my phone and text Bailey, letting her know I made it home okay. Then, without washing my face or changing my clothes, I fall into bed, close my eyes, and break a promise to myself by fantasizing about Sebastian Crowe.

“At least then I’d know how you taste.”
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5Star
Michel’s Review
 The Blackhawk Boys are back!  Going Under by Lexi Ryan is the third release in this dynamic new adult series.  This series is a combination of new adult romance loaded with emotional angst and sports romance featuring the college gridiron heroes.  The dynamic cast of characters is diverse in personalities and life circumstances.  The one thing they have in common is their deep abiding friendships with one another.
***
Going Under is my favorite book in the series.  This book was a complex and very emotional story from beginning to end.  My heart broke for both of these characters.
Sebastian Crowe has loved Alexandra Deluca for years.  She is the one girl that is off limits because she is his best friend’s sister.  Not only is she off limits, she’s too good for him.  His past history is not a good one.  He could of easily ended up on the wrong side of the law.  Instead he has spent the past few years changing his ways after a tragedy happened.  That night forever changed both him and Alexandra.
***
Alexandra is back in town after being away for years.  She has been living in her dead twin sister’s shadow.  She’s filled with guilt and remorse.  She has returned home to start her own life and let go of the past. It’s time to start learning to love herself.  One of the things she has to let go of is her attraction to Sebastian Crowe.
***
Alexandra is working in Sebastian’s family garage as well as going to the same school.  They are thrown together at work and school.  Both are trying to resist their attraction to one another for very different reasons.
****
As the truths come out and the layers are peeled away, these two people deserve happiness together.  Sebastian will have to overcome his self loathing and embrace the goodness in his soul.  Alexandra will have to learn to accept and love herself before she can truly love Sebastian.
***
I loved the emotional growth in both the characters.  They both had to get past their painful pasts and learn how to move on.  They both had to accept their pain as well as their personal victories.
***
Lexi Ryan delivered a truly emotional story.
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Also Available

 

Football. Secrets. Lies. Passion.
These boys don’t play fair.
Which Blackhawk Boy will steal your heart?


To celebrate the release of GOING UNDER, the first book in The Blackhawk Boys series is on sale for $0.99 (regularly $4.99 USD). All the books in the series can be read as standalones!

 

 

99c SALE

 

AMAZON US / UK

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
COMING IN 2017

 

#4 Falling Hard – Keegan’s story

iBOOKS PRE-ORDER#5 In Too Deep – Mason’s story

iBOOKS PRE-ORDER

 

 

 

Author Bio

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of emotional romance that sizzles, Lexi enjoys reading, sunshine, a good glass of wine, and rare trips to the beach.Lexi lives in Indiana with her husband, two children, and neurotic dog. You can find her at her website: http://www.lexiryan.com/

Author Links

Holiday Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Christmas On Crimson Mountain by Michelle Major

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Christmas On Crimson Mountain

By Michelle Major

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

LOVE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Peace and quiet—that’s all Connor Pierce wanted from the rented cabin on Crimson Mountain. Yet the caretaker turned out to be lovely April Sanders—a total distraction. As were the two little girls she was caring for. Connor’s plan to forget his painful past soon detoured into giving the ladies a Christmas to remember.

Being named guardian of two motherless girls has upended April’s world. Add to the mix a mysterious, brooding writer claiming he wanted to be left alone while going out of his way to bring a little joy to the girls, and she has quite the quandary. April had counted herself out of a happy ending. But maybe Santa still had a few surprises up his merry old sleeve…

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Excerpt

“Thank you for taking care of me these past couple of days.”

She sniffed. “It’s my job.”

He acknowledged her words with a small nod, or maybe it was the bitterness creeping into her tone that he recognized. “How are Ranie and Shay?”

“Do you really care?”

“Yes.” He sighed. “Even though I don’t want to care. The other night…on the highway…it affected me. Hearing that scream when the car slid on the road and the headlights moving closer.” He paused and a shudder ran through him. “I’m sorry I disappeared, but I wasn’t fit company for anyone after that.”

“It’s fine.” She tried to hold on to her anger even as it slipped through her body like grains of sand through her fingers. She needed that anger. It was safer with this man. Safer for her heart. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“I want to give you one anyway.” His hold on her gentled and he rubbed his thumb over the sensitive flesh on the inside of her wrist. “I’ve missed you, April. I’ve spent the past three years alone, and suddenly I’m lonely without you. I stopped caring. I didn’t think I had it in me to care, and I’m still so turned around. Every little thing sets me off and I can’t stop it. But I also can’t stop wanting to be near you. It doesn’t make sense.”

She closed her eyes against the onslaught of emotions that poured through her at his words and the gentle pressure to her skin.

“Do you know,” he asked, shifting so close now that she could feel his breath against her hair, “that I listen for the door to close after you leave and rush down to the kitchen because your scent lingers after you’re gone?”

She huffed out a laugh that sounded breathless to her own ears. “Are you saying I smell?”

“Like lavender and vanilla. I’ve made an idiot of myself the past two days following traces of you around the house.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I want you to know what you do to me, even if I should stay away. It’s better for both of us if I turn around and walk back to my bedroom until you’re gone.”

She waited a moment, but he didn’t move. “You’re not walking.”

“Hell if I can make myself go.”

“Don’t go,” she whispered. Slowly, as if she were gentling a stray animal, she lifted her hand. Her finger brushed the prickly strands of his dark beard, and his lips parted.

“I forgot to shave,” he muttered.

“Too busy?”

He took a breath, released it and then nodded. “Writing.”

“Connor,” April whispered. “That’s wonderful.”

He shrugged and looked away. “Who knows how long it will last. But the words are coming. So damn many, drowning me with their force. It’s like…”

She pressed her palm to his cheek, gratified when he leaned into it. “Like what?”

“Like it used to be.” He said the words softly, as if they were an apology. April could feel the tension in his body and wished, just for a moment, she could transfer his pain to herself. Give him a few seconds of remembering what it was like to live without the weight of guilt and sorrow bearing down on him.

“Look at me,” she said, moving closer to him, pressing into his warmth. His arms came around her waist, his hands splayed open against her back. She could feel their heat and strength through the thin cotton of her pajama shirt. So much talent flowed out of those hands. The worlds he created within his imagination and put on paper for readers to discover. “You have a gift, Connor Pierce.”

“It’s not—”

“Don’t say it. Whatever you’re thinking.” She brushed her lips over his. “Those words are in you. The stories you write are part of you.”

“How can they still be there when I’m dead inside, April? They were part of my life before, but now I’m—”

“You’re here,” she told him, and held her hand to his chest. His heartbeat was strong and sure under her palm. “With me. Now.”

“You make me feel things I’d thought I lost the capacity to feel. You make me want things—” His voice broke off as he drew in another deep breath. He leaned down until their foreheads touched. They stood that way for several long moments, her lips just grazing his. She breathed him in and it felt like she was pulling his essence into her lungs. Like he was part of her. A part she thought she’d lost after the illness and heartbreak that had changed who she was inside.

“I’m sorry I can’t be the man you deserve,” he whispered. “I’ll hurt you and girls. I hurt everyone—”

“Not now.” She pressed her mouth to the base of his neck, tasted the salt on his skin and wanted more. “This moment is ours.”

He claimed her mouth then, kissed her until the feel and taste of him was all she knew. Everything else burned away in the flame that was her need for him. He pulled her closer, if that was possible. Their tongues tangled and his hands skimmed under the shirt and up her spine, sending tingles as they moved. His kiss was demanding and consuming, and every inch of her body burned for him. For more.

His lips trailed over her jaw and he nipped at the sensitive flesh of her earlobe. “Will you stay?”

The simple question rocked her. How was it that such a longing could have been buried inside her and she’d never guessed? Even at her most in-love-and-alive, she’d never felt anything quite like the force of her desire for Connor. Still, she shook her head. “I have to go back in case the girls need me. If Shay wakes up…”

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5Holiday

Tracey’s Review

What makes a holiday read a winner for me? Beyond the snow, the caroling, and the cookies, there has to be that extra something, that bit that hits me in the heart and leaves me feeling uplifted and renewed. CHRISTMAS ON CRIMSON MOUNTAIN by author Michelle Major hits the marks in every way, and left me feeling just like I’d hoped.

Each of the main characters in this book have suffered loss at a significant level. Sickness, disease, death, all have made their mark on April, Connor, Shay, and Ranie. They have been left the worse for their experiences, and there are so many barriers to break down, but what makes this book a good holiday read is the prospect of hope that it delivers.

Author Connor Pierce has put himself on permanent shutdown since the tragic death of his wife and son. Hoping that the solitude of Crimson, CO, will help him break through a bad case of writer’s block, he is less than pleased that the woman acting as caretaker during his visit is also taking care of two young girls. Connor is the epitome of broken, unwilling and unable to connect with people since the loss of his family. Having had a rough time of things themselves, April Sanders and her two young charges need love and compassion more than anything else. In a lovely and heartwarming way, these four broken people find a safe place in each other, and, ultimately, find themselves.

I especially love Ranie and Shay, the young girls in April’s care. They are great examples of the resilience of youth, and just blossom under Connor’s and April’s attention. Ranie is everything you’d expect in a snarky 12-year-old, but, beneath the sass and prickliness, she’s just a girl that’s had to deal with far too much in her young life. And, Shay, sweet Shay, is like a true ray of sunshine, even having lost so much. These girls do so much to bring Connor and April together, and to make the story that much more lovely.

CHRISTMAS ON CRIMSON MOUNTAIN was my first of Michelle’s books, but it will not be my last. If you’re having a hard time getting into the spirit of the season, pour yourself some eggnog and snuggle up with this 4.5 ‘heartwarming, feels like home’ star read and prepare to fall in love.

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

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About Michelle Major:

 

major-photoMichelle Major grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in Journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at http://www.michellemajor.com.

 

Connect with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

 

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Nico by Sarah Castille – Ruin & Revenge Series – Book 1

 

 

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Nico

Ruin & Revenge Series – Book 1

By Sarah Castille

Release Date: December 6, 2016

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Google Play

Synopsis

Las Vegas Mafia boss Nico Toscani is used to getting what he wants, whether it is having the City of Sin under his rule or a beautiful woman in his bed. But when he meets his match in the gorgeous, headstrong Mia Cordano, the daughter of a rival crime lord, all bets are off . . . Sexy computer hacker Mia struggles to break free of her ruthless father’s Mafia ties . . . but she can’t resist the powerful and seductive Nico, who will stop at nothing to possess her. With their families locked in a brutal war for control of the city, Mia and Nico enter into a forbidden game. Will they surrender to the passion that burns between them and risk tearing apart their families? Or will Nico be forced to betray the only woman who sets his blood on fire?

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Excerpt

He sensed her before he saw her. The soft thud of her boots, whispers in the air, the intoxicating scent of her perfume. Not wanting to ruin the moment, he kept his eyes averted until he finished his call. When he finally looked up, he saw an angel, dressed as the devil, to tempt him beyond original sin.

“Hello, Mr. Mob Boss.”

Hunger like he’d never known before took over him at the sound of her voice—husky and throaty in a way that made him think about pushing her to places where they would both lose their self-control.

She tapped her foot, and his gaze dropped to her boots. Cristo! She rocked her sexy punk clothes like no other woman he’d met, and more than anything he wanted to get under her skin. He wanted to know what made her tick, what music she listened to, what she liked to eat, and whether her apartment was as offbeat as her clothes. He wanted to know what it was about her that made a powerful Toscani capo with an empire to run want to spend the evening in a pool hall waiting for her to appear.

“Mia.” Her name on his lips was a sensual treat. “You’re lucky I’m a patient man.”

She snorted a laugh. “You are not a patient man. A patient man would have waited to bump into me on the street or at a wedding or a funeral, of which I expect there will be many after people see you here with me. An impatient man lays siege until he gets what he wants.”

“Do I get what I want?” He leaned forward and licked his lips, his entire being focused on her. An entire SWAT team could have run into the building throwing grenades and shooting machine guns, and he would have been totally unable to drag his gaze away.

“Depends what it is.”

“How about you in my bed?” He wasn’t usually so direct with the women he was trying to seduce, but playing it safe wasn’t going to work with a strong woman like Mia. He had to prove himself worthy and he could only do that by taking risk. Although he tried to convince himself he had come to honor a debt, the reality was he couldn’t stay away.

“You’ve wasted one of your three wishes. Try again.”

Nico frowned. “I thought I was forgiven.”

“Because I accepted a ride from you, and you fixed my car? Because I gave you a little thank-you kiss? Gratitude for a kind deed doesn’t equal forgiveness. And forgiveness doesn’t equal sex.”

Sex.

His assessing gaze drifted down her body, taking in the quick flutter of the pulse in her neck, the slight flush on her cheeks, and the bead of her nipples pressed against her thin tank top. He felt the impact of her desire deep in his groin. Fuck. Thirty seconds with her and he was perilously close to losing his self-control. Again.

“Are you done checking me out, Mr. Mob Boss?”

Cristo. Every word from her mouth went straight to his cock. Women didn’t talk to Nico with amused disdain. They didn’t accept his gifts and walk away. They didn’t make him wait three hours in a pool hall for the honor of their presence.

“You are a beautiful woman,” he said honestly. “You deserve a man who knows how to please a woman in bed.”

Her lips tipped at the corners, and she walked without hesitation between his parted legs sending all the wrong messages to the right part of his body. “And that would be you?”

“Yes.”

Heat sizzled in the air between them, and she dropped her gaze but, not before he saw the truth in her eyes. Yes, she wanted him. But she was going to make him work damn hard for the privilege of finding out what she hid beneath those badass punk clothes.

Boldly, he smoothed his hand up her thigh to curve around her hip. Pulling her closer, he gestured her down, pressed his lips to her ear. “You are wet for me, bella. Hot. I hear your need in the quickness of your breath, see it the flush in your cheeks, your nipples tight and begging for my touch, and if I stroked you, gently rubbed my thumb over your clit, you would come for me, and you would scream my name.”

Her breath hitched, ever so softly, and then she pulled away. “Save the sweet words for the women who are awed by your mobster charm.”

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5Star

Tracey’s Review

“I’m not afraid of girls with guns, bella. They either don’t know how to shoot or they don’t have what it takes to pull the trigger.
“Then you’ve never met a woman like me.”
“No, but I’m looking forward to our acquaintance.”

Nico Toscani is all about control. Casino owner, made man, member of the Cosa Nostra, he’s a man of many faces, and is used to calling the shots. Having decided long ago that the life of a mafia princess was not for her, Mia Cordano happily left behind a world where she was not in control to make her own way, and she’s not about to answer to anyone now, not even an ultra-sexy mob boss.

As a fan of the mobster read, I can happily say that author Sarah Castille has nailed it with NICO, the first book in her new Ruin & Revenge series. It’s everything dark, sexy, and dangerous, full of characters with as much to lose as to gain, and a storyline that just doesn’t quit, and I could not put it down.

As the bastard son of a former capo in the Las Vegas arm of the Sicilian mob, Nico Toscani has had to work harder than others to prove himself. But he’s finally at a place where he is a man of means, a man to be obeyed. When Mia Cordano walks in to his casino, though, able to take care of herself, and not at all interested in doing as she’s told, life as he’s known it changes.

Cosa Nostra came before blood family, and blood family came before the man. With his succession hanging in the balance and an agreement with the Sicilian Scozzaris to be honored, Nico had no place chasing after a beautiful, sexy hacker in crazy boots and punk clothes with dubious taste in music, who made him so damn hard when she refused to do his bidding, he couldn’t think straight.

These two drive each other crazy from the first minute that they reenter each others’ worlds, and it’s all sizzle and heat and all kinds of sexy. Even knowing that there is no way that their respective families, sworn enemies, will allow them to be together, Nico and Mia cannot stay away from each other. The magnetic pull between them keeps them coming together again and again, even as chaos erupts around them, and the players in each family stake their claims on the territory of Las Vegas.

I’m no stranger to Sarah and her hot as heck men, but Nico is a delicious departure, and I enjoyed him very much. Mia, too, is a breath of fresh air, every single punk rock hacker chick bit of her, and watching her hold her own and rock Nico’s world is fantastic.

There is action aplenty, dark, bloody, and fast-paced, along with so much passion, angst, and betrayal in this book. My take? NICO is 4.5 gritty, sexy, breathtaking stars, and I can’t wait to see what Sarah does in her next book, LUCA. Ruin & Revenge is a series to take note of, because these books are going to grab you, draw you in, and not let go, and you’ll love every minute of it.

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

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sarah castilleNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha males and the women who tame them. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and travelled abroad before trading in her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home in shadow of the Rocky Mountains.

Sarah loves to connect with readers. Sign up for her newsletter to hear about new releases:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Hit The Spot by J. Daniels – Dirty Deeds Series – Book 2

 

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Hit The Spot

Dirty Deeds Series – Book 2

By J. Daniels

hit-the-spot-ebook-coverIs this love or just a game?

Tori Rivera thinks Jamie McCade is rude, arrogant, and worst of all . . . the sexiest man she’s ever laid eyes on. His reputation as a player is almost as legendary as his surfing skills. No matter how her body heats up when he’s around, she’s determined not to be another meaningless hookup.

Jamie McCade always gets what he wants. The sickest wave. The hottest women. And Tori, with her long legs and smart mouth, is definitely the hottest one. He knows Tori wants him-hell, most women do-but she won’t admit it. After months of chasing and one unforgettable kiss, it’s time for Jamie to raise the stakes.

Jamie promises that soon Tori won’t just want him in her bed, she’ll be begging for it-and he might be right. Somehow he’s found the spot in her heart that makes her open up like never before. But with all she knows about his past, can she really trust what’s happening between them? Is Jamie playing for keeps or just playing to win?

This book can be read as a stand-alone.

Book 1–Four Letter Word

 

 

 

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | B&N | KOBO | KOBO UK | iBOOKS

iBOOKS UK | iBOOKS AU | Audio

 

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EXCERPT

 

Hammerjacks was dimly lit and packed with bodies, some dancing together and others crowding the bar, waiting to get served. I started scanning the room as I came up beside Tori, who was doing the same even though she had no idea who she was looking for.

I saw Quinn almost instantly. She wasn’t hard to spot.

The bright pink spiked-out hair helped with that.

“There,” I said, pointing in the direction of the bar where my sister was sitting on a stool, head turned away from the group of shitheads swarming her.

She was alone. That pissed me off.

She was here, in town visiting, and she was looking for ass. That pissed me off, too.

Not much I could do about the second thing, I understood it, but she was gonna hear my feelings toward the other whether she wanted to hear them or not.

“What’s her name again?” Tori asked as we made our way over.

“Quinn,” I said.

She nodded, face serious. Then she tucked stray pieces of hair behind her ears and smoothed out the rest of her pony, pulled the one sleeve of her shirt down so it exposed her shoulder and bra strap, straightened her spine, tipped her chin up, and put on a smile before rushing ahead.

“Hey, sweetie. Sorry I’m late,” Tori chirped, squeezing in between my sister and the shitheads as if they weren’t standing there. She grabbed Quinn’s face, bent down, and kissed her cheek. “I missed you. Did you miss me?” she asked, bringing both hands to Quinn’s neck and holding there while standing between her bent knees.

Tori was smiling and playing the part, leaning close and making it seem like they were really together, or at least really feeling each other. My sister was blinking up at Tori, looking baffled but also looking like she was wanting to buy everything Legs was selling.

I wasn’t surprised. Quinn shared my taste in women. And I definitely had a taste for Legs.

“Whoa, are you two…damn. Is this your girl?” one of the shitheads asked from behind Tori, pointing at the back of her.

“Jesus,” another one chimed in, looking his fill. “What are the chances of me watchin’ you two go at it? This is fuckin’ hot.”

I stepped up then, not liking the tone of this guy and the shit coming out of his mouth, and wanting to make my presence known.

He saw me approach and shot me a hard look, asking, “You gotta problem?”

“Jamie.”

Teeth clenched and fists forming, I looked to Quinn, not taking the bait he was throwing out.

She was watching me, eyes serious and mouth tight, subtly shaking her head in warning ’cause she knew I couldn’t be fighting or doing anything that could draw negative attention. Then she turned her attention onto Tori when she twisted and slid into Quinn’s lap.

“Fishing in the wrong pond, boys,” Tori informed them, sweeping her gaze over the three while putting her arm around Quinn’s shoulders and pressing close. “Get lost. We’re not interested.” Then she turned all of her attention onto my sister and amped up her game, giggling as she kept her face close to hers and running her fingers through her hair, smiling, whispering, really flirting and looking into it, all while blocking the view of the shitheads so they couldn’t watch.

And everything Legs was doing, my sister was eating up.

Wrapping her arms around Tori and holding on to her, smiling back, laughing, looking like she was falling in love and thinking this was real and something sustainable.

I was starting to regret incorporating Tori into this plan. She was a little too good at her game. Straight up. Maybe the best at it.

I was also starting to get mildly jealous watching my sister getting attention from the one woman who was hell-bent on ignoring my ass.

“Man, whatever,” the one guy said, grabbing his beer and looking to his friends. “Come on. I’m not wastin’ my time on lesbian pussy.”

His friends murmured their agreement, mentioned something about hitting up Roy’s, a bar down the street, then grabbed their beers and stepped away.

When they were out of earshot, I shifted my eyes to Legs, telling her, “Think you sold it. You can get off my sister now.”

Tori smiled proudly, lifting her shoulders with a little dance. Then she looked to Quinn, keeping the smile, and said, “Hey, I’m Tori. Your brother dragged me here, so I figured I’d offer my assistance instead of letting him handle it, since he can’t fight and all.”

“Can fight, just shouldn’t,” I corrected her. I jerked my chin. “Hop off.”

Quinn moved her hands up Tori’s back and licked her lips. “Wicked plan,” my sister told her. “I was totally into that.”

“I think it got the point across,” Tori replied. “I really like your hair, by the way.” She ran her fingers through it again. “The color looks great on you.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. It really makes your eyes pop.”

“I was thinking about going purple…”

“Have you tried bleaching the roots and just painting the color on the ends? I think that would look amazing with purple.”

Jesus.

“Legs,” I barked.

Both of their heads whipped around and faced my direction.

“You feelin’ like gettin’ up so we can get the fuck outta here?” I asked, thinking only about the food back at her place I was wanting to eat and not about how comfortable my sister’s hands looked gripping on to Tori’s body.

“She’s fine,” Quinn offered, keeping her hands locked around Legs. “Really. She doesn’t have to move.”

I shot a glare at Quinn, communicating how I felt about that suggestion, then shifted that glare to Tori.

“I was getting up. Relax. We were just talking,” she huffed, moving off Quinn’s lap and coming to stand beside me. “You’re welcome, by the way,” she murmured.

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5Star

Michel’s Review

This is my second book by J. Daniels and I can easily see why readers love her books.  She has made my must read author list.

Hit The Spot is the second book in the Dirty Deeds series.  Each book can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.  Either way the reading experience is a pure delight.

Jamie McCade is a persistent, dirty mouthed, professional surfing champion.  He has a reputation with the ladies that he has rightfully earned.  He uses his charm to get the ladies in bed and makes no apologies for his actions.  He didn’t become a world surfing champion because of his charm.  He is a champion because he is persistent, dedicated, and refuses to lose at anything.  He is very dedicated to his family and friends. He would do anything for them.  He has set his sights on Tori Riveria, the woman with legs a mile long and an extreme dislike for him.  He’s determined to win her over.  He’s a patient man and he always wins.

Tori Rivera is a woman that knows what she wants.  After a bad relationship with a married man she is very wary of men in general.  She doesn’t want a certified player that has no respect for relationships and love.  The next man she becomes involved with has to be dedicated, sincere, and must respect her.  Jamie McCade is not that man.  She detests him.  She also secretly swoons over him, which in turn makes her angry with herself.

Nine months of a delightful game of cat and mouse takes Jamie and Tori in unchartered waters.  The creative verbal sparring and the sizzling sex does more than burn the sheets, it burns down the house.  Both Tori and Jamie have more at stake than scorched sheets, their hearts are at stake.  Beneath the surface, they both have big hearts that were meant for each other.

Hit The Spot by J. Daniels was a pure delight to read.  I loved Tori and Jamie.  I would highly recommend this book.

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logo-rectangle-1-2400-x-1025J.Daniels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Addiction series, the Alabama Summer series, and the Dirty Deeds series.

She would rather bake than cook, she listens to music entirely too loud, and loves writing stories her children will never read. Her husband and children are her greatest loves, with cupcakes coming in at a close second.

J grew up in Baltimore and resides in Maryland with her family.

Sign up to receive her newsletter and get special offers and exclusive release info: http://authorjdaniels.com/newsletter/

Twitter | Instagram | Website | Facebook | Amazon Author Page |Goodreads | Reader’s Group

 

 

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Downed by Jen Frederick – Gridiron Series – Book 3

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Downed

Gridiron Series – Book 3

By Jen Frederick

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon CA 

Synopsis

He’s the guy no one likes…

Despite winning two national championships, JR “Ace” Anderson was sent packing from his old school after losing the trust of his coach. At Southern U, he has a second chance to prove that his college legacy isn’t endless debauchery and selfishness. But his reputation precedes him, and his teammates offer a chilly welcome in the locker room. The one person who is willing to accept him is the very woman he should stay away from—his new coach’s daughter.

She’s the girl everyone loves…

Bryant Johnson’s only goal in life is to make others happy, even at her own expense. One look at her father’s new star quarterback, and she knows that Ace is her next project. With a reputation for being a “jerk whisperer”, Bryant has spent her last three years at college reforming sorry behavior and turning bad boys into the best boyfriends ever. In Ace, though, she’s met with surly resistance and a sizzling attraction she doesn’t expect. Fixing this wounded warrior will be her biggest challenge yet. Not falling for him will be even harder.

Between her big heart and his damaged one, a battle is ensuing. In this game of love, every defense will crumble.

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5Star+

Michel’s Review

Downed by Jen Frederick is the book fans of the Gridiron series have been waiting for.  JR “Ace” Anderson has been a prominent player in the first two books of the Gridiron series.  He’s one of those characters that readers either hate or love, depending upon the situation at hand.  The one thing that stands out is no one really knows who Ace really is.  He doesn’t allow anyone close enough to see below the surface.  His choices seem self serving at most times, but they are not for the assumed reasons readers are led to believe.  Readers got to see a vulnerable side to Ace in Jockblocked and they also got to see his egotistical side in full mode.

Ace Anderson was run out of his old school, Western U.  It wasn’t because of his performance as a quarterback on the field.  He delivered two championships for the team. It was because the coach hated him with a passion for dating his daughter.  It didn’t matter that his daughter was a willing participant or that she was just as wild as Ace.  Ace committed the worst sin a player could commit.  The coach’s vendetta not only hurt Ace’s pride but also his potential for playing his senior year of college.  Ace was being forced to give up his position as quarterback to a future freshman hotshot for another offensive position or sit the bench.  This vendetta not only cost him the respect of his teammates but also added to the divide with his best friend Lucy Washington.  The only choice he could make was transferring to Southern U for his senior year of college.

New beginnings aren’t always what they are cracked up to be.  He is having trouble bonding with his new team. On the field they are a solid unit but off the field he is the odd man out.  They have heard the rumors of his past experiences. They are going to make him earn their respect.  Ace is going to have to change his ways if he wants to become a true member of the team.  Bryant Johnson knows a project when she sees one.  Ace Anderson needs her help and he needs it fast if they are going to become a championship team.

Bryant Johnson is the coach’s daughter.  A big red flag for Ace Anderson.  His past experiences have left him charred.  Here at Southern U attitudes are quite different.  His teammates and his coach are encouraging him to date Bryant.

Bryant is known for her dating projects.  Her objective to make her boyfriends better men. She prepares them to be better boyfriends, better teammates, and better individuals.  After she fixes her project she moves onto the next one.  Ace Anderson is proving to be much more difficult than she thought.  Her intentions for Ace are changing as she gets to know the man beneath the surface.  He still needs a lot of work but he is a keeper.

Bryant is known for her generous heart and selfless giving.  She takes care of others.  Who takes care of her? Ace sees the vulnerable woman beneath the shiny surface.  That’s the woman that has his heart.  This time he wants to win the girl’s heart.  He wants to take care of her and share his life.

Jen Frederick scored big with Downed.  This book was a true game changer for Ace Anderson.  Ace won more than his third college championship.  He won my heart.

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Author Bio:

 

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 

 

 

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole

412ja0z1nylA Veil Of Vines
By Tillie Cole 
Synopsis 
To most people, princes, princesses, counts and dukes are found only in the pages of the most famous of fairytales. Crowns, priceless jewels and gilded thrones belong only in childhood dreams.
But for some, these frivolous fancies are truth.
For some, they are real life.
On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, people have always treated me as someone special. All because of my ancestral name and legacy. All because of a connection I share to our home country’s most important family of all.
I am Caresa Acardi, the Duchessa di Parma. A blue blood of Italy. I was born to marry well. And now the marriage date is set.
I am to marry into House Savona. The family that would have been the royals had Italy not abolished the monarchy in 1946. But to the aristocrats of my home, the abolition means nothing at all.
The Savonas still hold power where it counts most.
In our tight-knit world of money, status and masked balls, they are everything and more.
And I am soon to become one of them.
I am soon to become Prince Zeno Savona’s wife…
… or at least I was, until I met Achille.
And everything changed.
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I opened the window beside me and stared at the illuminated entrance. I swallowed hard and placed my empty glass on the bar. Metal groaned, breaking through the twilight, as the massive black wrought-iron gates began to open. The limo slowly pulled onto the property’s lane, and I drank in the thick forest that shielded the estate. I inhaled the freshness of the lush green trees. The unpolluted sky was thick with stars—not a single cloud in sight.
A few minutes later, the thick woods cleared, and I gasped. Acres and acres of gold and green vineyards covered the landscape. The scents of plump grapes and damp soil permeated the warm air. I closed my eyes. It reminded me of being a child. It brought me back to the days before I was taken to New York. I could still feel the heat of the Emilia-Romagna sun on my face, the deep smell of olives, grapes and flowers drifting in the breeze as I ran around our Parma estate.
I smiled a nostalgic smile and allowed my eyes to drift open again. I rested my arms on the window and leaned my chin on them as the limo drove on. There were several small villas peppered over the landscape, their lights twinkling in the distance. They must have been the winemakers’ residences. It was not only the Bella Collina merlot that was made on this land; other reds were too—particularly the Chianti from the region’s finest Sangiovese grapes. The Bella Collina olive oil was also up there with the best. But nothing compared to the famed merlot.
The limo turned right, and my breath caught in my throat. I lifted my head and stared disbelievingly at the property ahead. Bella Collina was a veritable Palace of Versailles tucked away in the Umbrian wilderness.
“Mio Dio,” I whispered as I took in the imposing stone structure, the sweeping steps and the vast number of windows set in the building’s walls. Large pillars of red-veined marble flanked the entrance. Cypress trees framed the estate as if it were the shining star of a fine Renaissance painting. Sculptures of famed Savona monarchs of old stood proudly on the manicured lawns, and strategically placed lighting illuminated the sheer perfection of every piece of topiary.
As a child, I had been to the Palazzo Savona in Florence. It was widely regarded to be one of the finest estates in all of Italy, if not western Europe. But this . . . this . . . there were no words. It was perfectly placed, as if it had always been there. As if it had grown naturally from the Umbrian earth just as sure as the vines and woods that kept this architectural treasure hidden from view.

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5Star+
 Michel’s Review

A Veil of Vines by Tillie Cole is a must read.  I could not put this book down.  It was a beautiful romance that blossomed in a world where neither of them fit.

A Veil of Vines is heaped with Italian traditions and royal hierarchy.  Although Italy no longer recognizes the royal family as a ruling class, they are still prominent in the traditional customs of the Italian people.

Duchess Caresa Acardi has come to Italy to marry the heir to the Italian throne.  By blood she is bound to the life long traditions of the people of Italy.  She is to become their queen.  Being raised in America has altered her views of love and marriage.  Tradition and the family winery are at stake.  In order to save the winery, the royal family has to show solidity and stability.  The soon to be king has a notorious playboy reputation.  He is a spoiled prince living off his family legacy. She is conflicted about her upcoming marriage to a man that she met briefly as a child.  Her love for her family and their deeply tied roots is the only reasoning she can abide by.  Once she arrives in Italy she finds that her heart may not be tied to the future king but is tied to the land itself.

Achille is the winemaker for the royal winery.  His deep ties to the land and his innate sense of taste has made his wines beyond excellent.  He will always be tied to the land.  It’s his life force until he meets Caresa, his future queen.

Achille and Caresa were meant to be together.  They are true soulmates.  Their blood ties will never allow them to together.  Achille has secrets that will always keep him bound to the land.  The royal family also has secrets that will keep Achille tied to their land and their winery.

I won’t say much more except Tillie Cole did a phenomenal job writing this book.  The beautiful descriptions brings the reader to Italy.  This emotional story is more than a royal romance.  It is a book of deep abiding love for tradition and love for the land.  It is a special  love story that truly shows what matters most in the heart.

I highly recommend A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole.

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img_1648Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city.

After graduating from Newcastle University with a BA Hons in Religious Studies, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies before putting pen to paper, and finishing her first novel.

Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.

Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels.

When she is not writing, Tillie enjoys nothing more than curling up on her couch watching movies, drinking far too much coffee, while convincing herself that she really doesn’t need that extra square of chocolate.

 

Holiday Release Blitz + Review : Stealing Christmas by Alexa Riley

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Stealing Christmas
A Holiday Romance Novella
By Alexa Riley 
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Synopsis 

Christmas Winter is lucky she loves this time of year, because her name didn’t give her much of a choice. She’s always bubbly and happy. So when she takes a job as an elf in the mall, she’s excited to spread some cheer. But Christmas could never expect what happens when she catches the eye of a stranger.

Nicholas Light owns everything he sees, and when his eyes land on the new elf in his mall’s Santa exhibit, he knows she’s no different. There’s something about her sweet innocence that he has to have, and he’ll concoct a plan to make that happen.

Warning: Grab your jingle bells and swing them over your head… This holiday quickie is gonna light up your Noel. Okay, none of that made sense. But it sounded festive, right? This book is adorable, and you’ll love it. Just don’t get tinsel stuck in the wrong places. Trust us.

SURPRISE! We’ve included Snow and Mistletoe as our gift to you! Stealing Christmas ends around 50% and enjoy this holiday favorite right after.

 3HolidayMichel’s Review
Alexa Riley has added to the festive holiday season with a delightful holiday romance.  Stealing Christmas is a novella that can easily be read during the busy hustle and bustle of the holiday rush.
Christmas Winters loves Christmas.  Although she is alone, she still pours everything she has into the holiday.  When billionaire Nicholas Light spots Christmas adding decorations to one of the shopping malls he owns, he knows that he must have her.
Nicholas prepares to steal Christmas Winters.  She is his gift.  He is going to shower her with love.  Everyday is Christmas when love is in the air.
Add Stealing Christmas to your holiday reading list.
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Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.

They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!

Author Links
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