New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt + Giveaway + 4.5-Star Review: Smooth-Talking Cowboy by Maisey Yates

 

 

From New York Times best selling author Maisey Yates, comes SMOOTH-TALKING COWBOY—the first standalone novel in her Gold Valley Series!

SMOOTH-TALKING COWBOY is now available. Grab your copy today!

 

 

SMOOTH-TALKING COWBOY Synopsis:

Welcome to Gold Valley, Oregon, where a rough-and-tumble rancher and the girl next door are about to learn that opposites attract.

Olivia Logan has a plan: win back her ex by making him see what he’s missing. But first she needs to find a man who’s willing to play along. With his laid-back cowboy charm and knack for getting under her skin, Luke Hollister is an unlikely hero—but he wants her help convincing her father to sell him land, which means he needs her as much as she needs him.

Luke likes his life—and his women—uncomplicated. So why does good girl Olivia heat his blood like no one else? She’s always been off-limits, but the more time they spend as Gold Valley’s hottest new “couple,” the more real it’s starting to feel. Luke was supposed to help her win back another man…not keep her in his arms. But now that he has her there, he’s not sure he’ll ever let go.

 

Order SMOOTH-TALKING COWBOY here!

Amazon * Kindle * B&N * B-A-M * IndieBound * Google Play * iBooks * Kobo

 

 

 

 

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

 

EXCERPT:

She nodded. Grassroots Winery sat in between the towns of Copper Ridge and Gold Valley, and Olivia worked predominantly in the dining room at the winery itself. It wasn’t, she supposed, the most ambitious job, which usually didn’t bother her. She liked the ambience of the place, and she enjoyed the work itself. But she had always assumed that she would marry a rancher and help him work his land. Make a home for them. The way her parents had done. That seemed silly now that she was single, and there was no rancher in her future.

She had been sure that by now Bennett would have come back to her. Was sure that breaking up with him would make him realize that he had to commit or he could lose her.

Except he seemed all right with losing her. And that was terrible, because she was not all right with losing him.

With losing that vision of her future that she had held on to for so long.

“How will I get home?” she asked.

“I could help you out with that, too, but I’ll have your car in working order by then.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you being nice to me?”

That wicked grin of his broadened. “I’m always nice.”

She let out an exasperated sound and clicked the lock button on her key fob before climbing into the passenger side of his truck. She struggled to get in because of her skirt and nylons, but finally shut the massive, heavy door behind her.

“Thank you,” she said, knowing she sounded ridiculously prim and not really able to do anything about it. She was prim.

She grabbed hold of the seat belt, then pulled it forward, having to wiggle it slightly to get it to click. His truck was a hazard. She straightened, held tightly to her handbag and stared straight ahead.

“You’re welcome,” he said, stretching his arm over the back of the bench seat. His other forearm rested casually over the steering wheel. His cowboy hat was pushed back on his head, shirtsleeves pushed up past his elbows, forearms streaked with dirt as if he had already been working today. Which meant that he had likely been out at Get Out of Dodge before driving down toward town. She wondered if he had seen Bennett.

“Were you out at the Dodge place today?” She tried to ask casually.

“You want to know if I saw your boyfriend,” Luke said. Not a question. A statement. Like he knew her.

And this, in a nutshell, was why she didn’t really like Luke. He had a nasty habit of saying the one thing that she wished he wouldn’t. With a kind of unerring consistency that made her suspect he did it on purpose.

“He’s not my boyfriend. Not anymore.”

“Still. You’re wondering about him.”

“Of course I wonder about him. I dated Bennett for a year. I’m not going to just…not wonder about him suddenly.”

“I expect, Olivia, that you could go down to Get Out of Dodge on your own pretty feet and find out how he’s doing for yourself if you had half a mind to.”

Tracey’s Review

Olivia Logan is always in control. Some might even call her “prissy” or “stuck-up.” Not that Olivia cares what a certain someone thinks about her. After all, Luke Hollister is the thorn in her side, the one person that is guaranteed to get a rise out of her, whether she likes to admit it or not.

As far as Luke is concerned, Olivia’s made all of her own problems. Want to be with someone? Why break up with them? Want people not to think you’re a stuck-up person who doesn’t know how to have fun? Let loose a little bit. If Luke has learned one thing, life is short, so you better live it. And if he can help a gal out, well, he’s more than up to the challenge.

At first glance, SMOOTH-TALKING COWBOY by author Maisey Yates is a book about two people who couldn’t be less alike, who could not have less in common. But herein lies Maisey’s strength as an author: there is much more to Olivia and Luke than meets the eye. And when they decide to work together to right Olivia’s relationship with her ex, they begin to see sides of each other that show them how alike, and how perfect for each other, they really are.

I have long loved Maisey’s books. Family sagas about small towns in her beloved Oregon and the people that live there, she can write a sexy and emotional story so well. Her characters delight with razor-sharp dialogue, interesting backstories, and passions that burn bright once ignited.

Until this book, Olivia very much came across as rigid, not necessarily much fun, and very ‘by the book,’ a complete opposite of the sexy, ‘take life by the horns and live it’ attitude that Luke puts forth. But getting to see what has come before for these characters makes them all the more interesting, and I loved seeing the evolution of their relationship.

SMOOTH-TALKING COWBOY is an easy 4.5 stars for me, and one of my favorite things about it is that it’s the first book in a new series. That means that Maisey will be giving us more stories about Gold Valley, and I can’t wait to see what she’s got up her sleeve. In the meantime, grab this one and get acquainted with Gold Valley. It’s well worth the trip.

 

 

 

A Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Maisey Yates’ SMOOTH-TALKING COWBOY Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

February 12th

Feel the Book – Excerpt

Jen’s Reading Obsession – Excerpt

Relentless Romance – Excerpt

February 13th

Always a happy ever after – Review

Ficwishes – Review & Excerpt

OMGReads – Review & Excerpt

February 14th

Ramblings From This Chick – Excerpt

Up ‘Til Dawn Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

February 15th

E-Reading After Midnight – Review & Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

February 16th

All Things Dark & Dirty – Excerpt

Reading Reality – Review

February 17th

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Moonlight Rendezvous – Review & Excerpt

February 18th

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Sofia Loves Books – Review & Excerpt

February 19th

Aaly and The Books – Review & Excerpt

Naturally Nerdy Books – Excerpt

February 20th

Ripe for Reader – Excerpt

What’s Beyond Forks? – Review & Excerpt

February 21st

Bobo’s Book Bank – Excerpt

Kari’s Book Reviews and Revelations – Review & Excerpt

February 22nd

Booked All Night – Review & Excerpt

I’m A Book Shark – Excerpt

February 23rd

Friends Till The End Book Blog – Excerpt

Literary Misfit – Review & Excerpt

February 24th

Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt

Lover of Big Books Cannot Lie – Review & Excerpt

February 25th

Booknerdingout – Review

Brittany’s Book Blog – Excerpt

February 26th

Renee Entress’s Blog – Review & Excerpt

Two Crazy Ladies Love Romance – Review & Excerpt

February 27th

Book Magic – Under a spell with every page – Review & Excerpt

Inside the mind of an avid reader – Review

Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt

February 28th

Jax’s Book Magic – Excerpt

Teatime and Books – Excerpt

March 1st

Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – Excerpt

My Girlfriends Nook Korner – Review

Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

March 2nd

G & T’s Indie Café – Excerpt

I’m A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore – Review & Excerpt

 

 

 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

 

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

 

 

New Release + Blog Tour + 4.5-Star Review: Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan

 

 

A hot and hilarious new standalone from New York Times bestseller Kendall Ryan.

We met in a trapped elevator.

Emmett was on his way to work, sophisticated and handsome in his tailored suit and tie.

I was on my way to the sperm bank. Awkward, right?

At thirty-five, my life hadn’t taken the path I thought it would and I was tired of waiting—I wanted a baby. And I was ready to take matters into my own hands to make it happen.

After our ill-fated elevator encounter, Emmett insisted on taking me to dinner—he also insisted on something else—that I ditch my plan involving a turkey baster and let him do the job. He would be my baby daddy. He was a wealthy and powerful CEO with little interest in diapers or playdates. And since he didn’t want kids, I’d be on my own once his bun was in my oven, free to go my own way.

But once his baby was inside me, it was like a switch had been flipped, and I got a whole lot more than I ever bargained for.

This full-length standalone contains a hot, swoonworthy hero, lots of playful banter and some hot baby-making ! Enjoy.

 

Amazon | Amazon.UK | Amazon.CA | Amazon.AU | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Google Play | Amazon.FR

 

Tracey’s Review

What do you do if you’re a woman thats ready to have a baby, but there’s no partner in the picture, and your biological clock has started ticking more loudly of late? Well, if you’re Jenna Porter, you decide to take matters into your own hands, so to speak. But a funny thing happens on the way to the fertility clinic, a funny and very sexy thing, in the form of Emmett Smith. He’s intrigued by the idea, and more than up to the challenge, of helping Jenna with her little problem. Let the games begin.

I love a good romantic comedy. What’s not to like about a feel-good read, one that fogs up the windows, while leaving you with some laugh-out-loud moments? I mean, I enjoy a good angsty read, too, but the lighter side definitely has its appeal, and BABY DADDY by author Kendall Ryan hits all of the marks.

Jenna and Emmett have undeniable chemistry, the kind that engages right from the start. And, even though neither one wants more than the baby-making, it doesn’t take long for all of the dratted feelings to kick in. Plenty of sexy times, yes, but the tender moments, the witty banter, the things that make a relationship just that, these are the things that I love the most about this book.

Kendall is one of my go-to authors, whether it’s her alpha males and strong women, or her rom-coms with plenty of heart. Jenna and Emmett might be one of my favorite of her couples ever, and I thoroughly enjoyed their story. 4.5 sweet, sexy, delightful stars for BABY DADDY; add this one to your TBR and enjoy.

 

 

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

Subscribe to Newletter

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

 

New Release + Release Blitz + Excerpt + Giveaway: The Bastard’s Bargain by Katee Robert

Celebrate the Release of THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert delivers the final installment in her sizzling O’Malleys family series, hailed as “The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet.” In THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN Dmitri Romanov must use his legendary focus and control to stay one step ahead of everyone else in the ever-shifting power plays of New York City.

 

Meet Dmitri and Keira!

Add THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Then keep reading to get a sneak peek excerpt and to enter the giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card and Dmitri Romanov scented candle!

 

 

Title: The Bastard’s Bargain

Author: Katee Robert

Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Publisher: Grand Central/Forever

Series: The O’Malleys

 

Synopsis:

Married to the enemy

When Keira O’Malley was a child, she used to picture her perfect wedding. The flowers. The dress. Her husband. But nothing could have prepared her for saying “I do” to Dmitri Romanov-cold, domineering, and always one step ahead of everyone else in the ever-shifting power plays of New York City. She agreed to his bargain to secure peace for her family, and she may want the bastard more than she’d ever admit, but she’ll be damned if she’ll make this marriage easy for him.

Dmitri knows better than to underestimate Keira for one second. Molten desire smolders between them, a dangerous addiction neither can resist. But his enemies are already on the move, and he needs every ounce of his legendary focus and control to keep them alive. Keira could just be his secret weapon-if she doesn’t bring him to his knees first.

Download at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2EaaCcD

B&N: http://bit.ly/OMalley6BN

iBookhttp://bit.ly/OMalley6iBooks

Kobo: http://bit.ly/OMalley6Kobo

 

 

Enter to win a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and Dmitri Romanov scented candle!

A Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

The Bastard’s Bargain Excerpt

Copyright © 2018 Katee Robert

Dmitri Romanov didn’t permit himself to breathe a sigh of relief. This was only the first step in a path that could potentially span years. It didn’t matter. Keira was here—was his. He had time.

He watched her look around the inside of the town car, cataloging everything with those witchy hazel eyes of hers. The faint scent of pot filled the car, giving evidence to what she’d been up to when he called. The woman was a mess, but he’d known that from the moment he met her. Dmitri didn’t do projects. He preferred to be the one holding all the cards—it allowed him to anticipate how the people around him would act in any given situation.

He’d never been able to anticipate Keira. Not from the moment she picked his pocket and walked away from him as if she didn’t give a fuck about the danger he posed to her.

Likely because she has a goddamn death wish.

He’d deal with that, just like he’d deal with the rest of Keira’s issues. In time.

Right that moment, time was the one thing they didn’t have. Keira’s oldest brother would be returning to Boston within hours, and Dmitri fully intended to marry her before Aiden realized she was gone. It was significantly more difficult to oust a wife than it was a fiancée.

He had Keira now. He wasn’t going to let anyone take her.

She kicked her feet out, propping her chunky black boots on the seat. The long line of her bare legs drew his gaze up to her tiny sleep shorts. They were barely more than underwear, hugging her hips and ass. Her shirt wasn’t much better, for all that it was long-sleeved. It revealed a slice of pale stomach and was fitted enough that he had absolutely no doubts about the fact that Keira wore no bra. Her small breasts pressed against the fabric, and she shivered beneath the weight of his gaze.

Get control of yourself. He leaned forward and nudged her boots back to the floorboard. Taking Keira was part of the plan—fucking her in the backseat was not. “There’s no need for an adolescent tantrum.”

She laughed, the sound rough and pain filled. “God, would you listen to yourself? You just showed up at my window to lure me into the night—to a chapel—and now you’re bitching about my shoes on the seats? Russian, you have your priorities seriously out of order.” She flicked her long hair off her shoulder. She’d dyed it a harsh blond that seemed designed to highlight how unhealthily skinny she’d become in the last year.

She’s spiraling.

Not anymore.

“Our current situation is no reason to throw propriety out the window.” He sounded stuffy, and he hated it, but with her sitting so close, wearing clothing she’d just been sleeping in…Dmitri dragged in a breath. “Keep your shoes on the floor.”

“Or what?” She turned to face him. The move pulled her shirt even tighter against her chest, revealing the faintest outline of her nipples. Keira saw where his gaze went, and gave a bitter smile. “All the games, all the bullshit, and that hasn’t changed.” She leaned forward and hooked his collar with her finger, drawing him closer despite himself. “Tell me something, Romanov.”

“Hmm?” He dragged his gaze up to her mouth. The wicked curve of her lips was matched only by the words she threw into the space between them with such abandon. The woman wouldn’t know caution if it slapped her in the face.

“You’re dragging me to your cave to be your Bride of Frankenstein.” She shifted closer, her bare leg sliding over his slacks until her thigh came into contact with his cock.

He should move her. Set her back and explain that no matter what she thought of the situation, she wasn’t in control. But the ring he’d put on her finger winked at him, a reminder that Keira wasn’t the sister of his enemy anymore. She was his.

Or she would be in a few short hours.

He bracketed her thigh with a hand, keeping her in place, but didn’t touch her anywhere else. There was no masking his reaction to her, not in their position. Dmitri didn’t bother trying. “Calling me Frankenstein is more than a bit dramatic.”

She looked up at him, her eyes holding a question he didn’t have a satisfying answer to. “I think it’s time to stop being in denial, don’t you?”

He recognized the direction she was headed. “You know I want you. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t.”

Just like that, the shutters slammed down on her expression. She sat back and he let her go, watching her pull herself together. Her spine went ramrod straight, and she stared at the back of the driver’s head rather than at Dmitri. She crossed her arms over her chest. “No lies between us. That’s what you said. You want me, sure, but don’t pretend any of this bullshit has to do with sex. You need to prove what an international badass you are by marrying the sister of your enemy. An eye for an eye—a wife and a sister. Remember?”

He knew exactly what she was quoting. The note he’d had delivered to Aiden O’Malley just over a year ago. By my count, you owe me both a wife and a sister. I’ll be content with one of yours. He hadn’t realized Keira had seen it.

Twin possibilities spun out between them. She was scared and vulnerable, and if he told her that it was her he wanted and not what she represented, she would believe him. It would even be the truth, at least in part. He hadn’t been able to get Keira out of his head from the moment he met her, and he’d manipulated events to ensure they reached this exact moment.

Telling her that wasn’t telling her the full truth, though. This wasn’t some great love story where he’d been pining for her while her family kept them apart. Dmitri wanted her, yes. He craved the feeling of her body beneath his hands, her taste on his tongue, and her smart mouth around his cock.

But his craving her had no real relevance in the grand scheme of things. He needed one of the O’Malley daughters to regain his status after the blows the family had dealt him over the last two years. Keira was the only option left.

Liar.

It didn’t matter what the truth was, full or otherwise. What mattered was ensuring Keira toed the line. He sat back, trying to ignore the throbbing of his cock, and studied her. “You knew what this was when you climbed out your window and stepped between me and your brother.”

She finally met his gaze, her hazel eyes fiery in their defiance. “Yes, I did.”

 

Tracey’s Review

 

 

 

 

 

Read all the books in The O’Malleys Series

THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT

THE WEDDING PACT

AN INDECENT PROPOSAL

FORBIDDEN PROMISES

UNDERCOVER ATTRACTION

THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN

 

About Katee Robert

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.”  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram

New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt + Giveaway + 4-Star Review: When the Stars Come Out by Laura Trentham

When the Stars Come Out

A Cottonbloom Novel

By Laura Trentham

 

Cottonbloom. A beautiful, faraway place where a woman can escape her past—and find reason to stay forever in Laura Trentham’s When the Stars Come Out. . .

Willa Brown never planned to stay in Cottonbloom. She was on the way to somewhere else when she landed there and found work at the Abbot brothers’ garage. . .and a sense of comfort and safety that she had never known. The same holds true for Jackson Abbott himself. With one glance in her direction, he can make Willa’s heart melt. But what begins as an unrequited crush turns into something far more powerful than Willa could have ever imagined. . .

Jackson’s most meaningful relationship has always been with his car—and he’s not afraid to admit it. Still, he can’t help but become emotionally entangled with his new star mechanic Willa, who is definitely hiding some dark secrets of her own beneath the hood. Jackson desperately wants Willa to trust him, and to seek protection in his arms. But even as the two slowly surrender to their shared attraction, the danger lurking in Willa’s past remains a stubborn obstacle. Can she open up enough to give them both a chance at having real and lasting love?

Book Links

Goodreads: http://smarturl.it/minm6t

Amz: http://amzn.to/2E23Amf

BN: http://smarturl.it/z4d8xz

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/5dles5

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/j60yyx

GooglePlay: http://smarturl.it/qvi0by

 

 

EXCERPT:

“I’ll have a pork plate and sweet tea to go.” Willa did a mental calculation for tax and pulled out two fives. More than she should spend, but her stomach vetoed any protest.

Now not only was she saving to fix her car, but she needed a cushion. If she had to move, money was a necessity. Any decent place required a deposit for rent. Not to mention utilities. And how long would it take her to find another job that didn’t require her Social Security number or real name? The thought made her stomach hurt from something other than hunger.

“Make that two for here, Rufus, and I’m buying.”

Willa spun around. Jackson Abbott’s chest filled her vision. The animallike noises her stomach was making must have drowned out his approach.

“Sure thing, Jackson.” Rufus favored them with a grin and turned to dole out barbeque, baked beans, and slaw.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling intensely vulnerable without her steel-toed work boots, coveralls, and ball cap. Her flip-flops, worn-out jeans with a rip at one knee, and a black T-shirt with the emblem of a band she’d never listened to were from the thrift shop down the street.

“You don’t have to pay.” When she found her voice, it was breathy.

“I want to.” His words were low and rumbly and sexy, and she resisted the urge to lay her cheek against his chest, desperate to have someone, anyone, to lean on, even for a moment. Obviously, hunger was impeding her mental faculties.

In the two years she’d lived in Cottonbloom, she’d never run into Jackson outside of the garage. Her forays to secretly watch him race didn’t count since he’d never noticed her. The only place she was a regular was at the library, because it offered free Internet and entertainment—two things she couldn’t afford to waste money on.

Her mental faculties slipped further away as she allowed her gaze to wander over his shoulders before rising. He’d showered, his damp hair darker than its usual rich brown, but hadn’t shaved, his stubble even more pronounced from the afternoon. The scent of soap and clean laundry was mouthwatering in a different way than the barbeque was. The butterflies in her stomach did a slow bump and grind. God, she was hungry for so many things.

 

Tracey’s Review

The fifth book in the Cottonbloom series by author Laura Trentham, WHEN THE STARS COME OUT is Jackson’s and Willa’s story. As a fan of series that cover the lives and relationships of members of a family, this one satisfied on every level, and made for a very enjoyable read.

The relationship between Willa and Jackson is layered, ease and camaraderie infused with an undercurrent of emotional tension. For two years, they’ve worked side by side, but only as the secrets of Willa’s past threaten to send her away from Cottonbloom do the two of them understand that there’s so much more between them than friendship. When the two of them finally acknowledge the spark between them, things get really interesting, and friendly co-workers become so much more.

Since I just started this series with the previous book, there is still some backstory for me to catch up on, but Laura writes each book as a standalone, so it is possible to read WHEN THE STARS COME OUT without having read the others. I find that I’m enjoying the story arc and the characters so much, though, that I’d like to go back and read the first books, as well as continue with Mack Abbott’s story, the upcoming SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE.

WHEN THE STARS COME OUT is an easy 4 stars for me, and one that I would readily recommend. Fans of contemporary romance, family sagas, of series with a Southern setting, and storylines that cross over between books, will enjoy the Cottonbloom series, and should add these books to their TBR.

 

Giveaway

Enter to win the first four (4) books in the Cottonbloom series!

Kiss Me That Way, Book 1

Then He Kissed Me, Book 2

Till I Kissed You, Book 3

Leave the Night On, Book 4

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/746772683/

 

 

Author Bio

An award-winning author, Laura Trentham was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although, she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years.

She writes sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. KISS ME THAT WAY, Cottonbloom Book 1, won the Stiletto Contest for Best Long Contemporary and finaled in the National Readers Choice Award. THEN HE KISSED ME, Cottonbloom Book 2, was named an Amazon Best Romance of 2016 and was a finalist for the National Excellence for Romance Fiction. TILL I KISSED YOU, Cottonbloom Book 3, is a finalist in the Maggie contest. LEAVE THE NIGHT ON, the latest Cottonbloom book, was named an iBooks Best Book of the Month and a Recommended Read from NPR.

When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she’s shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry that is almost as big as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand.

 

Social Media Links

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

Or join my reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1733284316920632/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraTrentham

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lauratrentham/

Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bwbOkD

Follow me on Bookbub for new release or sale announcements:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-trentham

New Release + Blog Tour + 4-Star Review: Unlocking Fear by Kennedy Layne

 About UNLOCKING FEAR

A chance mishap with a sledgehammer was the sole reason a chilling nightmare was unleashed in Blyth Lake.

Noah Kendall’s grisly discovery left him in the middle of a murder investigation and a neighbor who knew more than she was willing to say. Reese Woodward had returned to town with dark secrets, and he was determined to unravel them. While evil lurks in the darkness, seduction burns between them…only time was their enemy.

Will her secrets destroy what they’ve built, or can he earn her trust before the killer strikes again?

Add UNLOCKING FEAR to your Goodreads list here!

Get your copy of UNLOCKING FEAR now!

✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2GC5tYa
✦iBooks http://apple.co/2ouRvO6
✦Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2AYCo5e
✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2odmleE

 

Tracey’s Review

Looking for answers to a decade-old tragedy brought Reese Woodward to the small midwestern town of Blyth Lake. In search of the truth about what happened to her cousin 12 years ago, Reese is determined to solve the mystery once and for all. What she’s not expecting is to find help in the person of Noah Randall, newly returned to town following a stint in the military. What starts as friendship evolves into more, and will put them right in the path of danger.

Romances with a twist are some of my favorites, and romantic suspense is one of my go-tos. UNLOCKING FEAR, the first book in the Keys To Love series by author Kennedy Layne, has all of the elements of a sexy small town romance, with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting.

The mystery, the whodunit and why aspects of this book were enough to draw me in and keep me reading. Kennedy does a nice job of throwing out plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and the blossoming romance between Reese and Noah is naughty enough for the folks looking for their romance. I didn’t really realize that this book ended in a cliffhanger, and, while I’m fine with that, if you’re not a fan of cliffies, consider yourself forewarned.

At this point, I am invested enough to want to continue with the next book to see where Kennedy goes with the story, so that earns UNLOCKING FEAR 4 stars from me. I would recommend this book for fans of romantic suspense, or anyone that enjoys a mystery with their romance.

About Kennedy Layne

Kennedy Layne is a USA Today bestselling author. She draws inspiration for her military romantic suspense novels in part from her not-so-secret second life as a wife of a retired Marine Master Sergeant. He doubles as her critique partner, beta reader, and military consultant. They live in the Midwest with their teenage son and menagerie of pets. The loyal dogs and mischievous cats appreciate her writing days as much as she does, usually curled up in front of the fireplace. She loves hearing from readers–find out how to connect with her at www.kennedylayne.com.

Website Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Instagram 

Blog Tour + Giveaway + 4-Star Review: Rise by Sierra Cross

 

Rise
Sierra Cross
(Coven of Fire, #1)
Publication date: June 15th 2017
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

I closed the door on magic long ago…the day it made me an orphan.

Ten years ago, the Coven of Fire sacrificed their lives—my mother among them—to hold off an overwhelming demonic force. Now it’s back.

As a poorly-paid bartender, how can any of this be my problem? But Callie, another orphan of that battle, swears I’m the key to reviving the coven. And there’s an incredibly sexy guardian stranded on my couch who’s promising to help me stop the demons and keep the veil between the realms standing.

One problem: I’ve never been able to use magic. Our local bad boy warlock assures me I have the talent, but even if I did, we don’t have enough witches to complete a coven. The only way to survive is to pull together this pack of magicborn misfits, who have more secrets than spells, into a makeshift coven.

Can we—three untrained witches, a sarcastic warlock, and an overly intense guardian—take back the city…before the demongate falls and the forces that killed my mother destroy us too?

Goodreads / Amazon

Tracey’s Review

New adult paranormal romantic suspense. A mouthful, but it nicely sums up RISE, the first book in the Spelldrift: Coven of Fire series by author Sierra Cross. I am a big fan of the paranormal genre, especially if it has some contemporary romance and suspense thrown in, so this read was really right up my alley.

Sierra has created a world that exists right here in our own, a side, or underside, of Seattle that few but the magical can see. Although from a magical bloodline herself, Alix has always operated under the assumption that she just doesn’t have it, the spark, the power that made her mother such a strong witch. But Alix, along with her hunky Guardian Matt, are in for some major surprises, and they start coming more quickly than either one is expecting.

I like Alix. Even before her gifts become more evident, she’s a strong, kick-butt sort of woman. She’s been just fine taking care of herself, so it’s a bit of a challenge to accept Matt’s new role in her life. But their chemistry is right on, and they make a good team, taking on the task of ensuring that the good people of Seattle will continue thrive, unaware and unharmed by the evil that surrounds them.

The backstory is well-developed, and Sierra has done a fine job of blending the real and the mystical so that this story is entertaining and engrossing enough to make me want to read more. RISE is a solid 4-star read for me, and I am very much looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Fans of new adult romance with less angst and a solid paranormal bent will enjoy RISE, should definitely have it on their TBRs.

 

GIVEAWAY!
A Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Author Bio:

Spells and skyscrapers. Warriors and warlocks. Coven secrets and forbidden romances. Sierra Cross lives for urban fantasy, for modern magic and the bold supernatural beings who stalk our contemporary world. Her Spelldrift universe stars kickass witches and their heroic guardians, as well as vampires, shifters, mages, Fidei, and the dark demonic forces that threaten them all.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

 

XBTBanner1

New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt + 4.5-Star Review: Here Comes the Sun by Marie Force

Today we are celebrating the release of HERE COMES THE SUN, a contemporary romance title that is part of the bestselling Green Mountain/Butler, Vermont series by Marie Force. Check out the buy links, and a snippet from chapter 1, below.

 

Here Comes the Sun by Marie Force


Book Blurb:

Wade Abbott is one and done.

One look, one conversation, one weekend, and he knows who he wants.

Except, Mia Simpson is not free to return his affection. In fact, he suspects she’s in an abusive marriage, but she never confirms that, and he has no choice but to mind his own business where she’s concerned.

Two years after they first met and a year after he last heard from her, Mia shows up half-frozen, bruised and beaten on his doorstep, needing something only Wade can provide.

 

He’s determined to make it work, no matter the cost. Grab the latest in a series you will fall in love with!

Purchase Here Comes the Sun now!

Kindle US | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google | Kindle CA | Kindle UK | Kindle AU

Order a signed copy from Marie’s store, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Excerpt:

Every time she’d left him, she’d done so under a veil of panic, certain this would be the time her secret friendship with Wade would be discovered by a man who would kill her before he’d let anyone else have her. But somehow, they’d gotten away with it. Other things had transpired that’d convinced her to stay away from Wade, for his safety as much as hers, but she’d never stopped thinking about him, wondering about him or wishing that things were different.

Had he thought about her, too? Or had he moved on with someone else? Was there a woman sleeping in his bedroom at this very moment? Would he hold her this way if he had someone else? If it meant saving her life, she knew for sure he would. But once her body was warm, would he leave her to join the woman he loved?

That was like a knife to her heart. Thoughts of him had kept her alive long before tonight, and all her hopes were pinned on him being willing to help her now. She wiggled even closer to him and encountered evidence that he wanted her as much as he always had.

He gasped as she rubbed against him. “Mia…”

The proof of his desire freed her to ask for what she wanted more than anything. “Will you kiss me, Wade?”

He stared at her, seeming incredulous. “Are you really here asking me to kiss you? Will I wake up tomorrow to find out I dreamed this?”

She placed her hand on his face because she’d wanted to for so long and now she could. “It’s not a dream. I’m really here, and I’ve been dying for your kiss for as long as I’ve known you.”

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and released it before opening them again. “What about your husband?”

“I don’t have a husband.”

A strangled sound escaped his tightly clenched jaw in the second before his lips found hers with the light of the fire and years of yearning to guide them. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’m okay, and I really want you to kiss me.”

He kissed her like a man possessed. His fingers dug into her hair and shaped her skull, making it impossible for her to escape, not that she had any wish to be anywhere but right there with him. She’d waited what felt like forever for him to kiss her, and the reality was a thousand times better than the fantasies had ever been.

To call this a kiss didn’t do justice to the feelings that exploded inside her as his tongue found hers in an erotic, sensual dance that made her dizzy and weak with longing.

“Mia…” He withdrew slowly, gently kissing the uninjured side of her face, jaw and neck. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to kiss you.”

“Don’t stop.” She sounded desperate and wanton but couldn’t be bothered to care. Combing her fingers through his hair, she brought him back for more.

They kissed like they were afraid this was all they’d ever have. Perhaps it was. Perhaps he wouldn’t be able to help her, and if that were the case, she’d have no choice but to leave him. For his sake, as well as hers, it would have to be all or nothing.

One kiss became two and then three, and when they came up for air, he was pressed up against her, and she wasn’t cold anymore. Not even kind of.

He gazed at her, the firelight turning his hair and skin to pure gold. “Who hurt you, Mia?”

“The man I used to love.”

“Why would he do this to you?” He ran his fingertips gently over the bruise on her left cheek.

“That’s a very long story.”

“You can’t go back to him,” he said fiercely. “I knew he was hurting you, but I couldn’t prove it, and you’d never talk to me about him.”

“Because I couldn’t.”

“How did you get here?”

“I drove as far as I could, but my car got stuck in a drift on the way into town. I walked the rest of the way.”

“That’s miles from here!”

“I don’t know how far it was, but it took a long time, and then when I got here and you weren’t home… The last thing I remember is reaching for the door hoping you wouldn’t mind.”

“I wouldn’t have. Of course you could’ve come in.”

“I must’ve passed out before I made up my mind.”

“My place isn’t easy to find. You’d have to know where it is to find it, especially in this weather.”

“After you gave me your address, I looked it up on a map, and I memorized the route.”

Why, Mia? Why did you memorize the way to my home?”

“Because I knew I’d come to you as soon as I could. I only hoped that I’d still be welcome after all this time.”

“You’re always welcome with me. You know that.” He looked at her with love and joy and hope. So much hope that her heart contracted. “You still haven’t told me what happened or why you came tonight, in the middle of a blizzard.”

“Because…” She swallowed hard, summoning the fortitude she needed to say the words. “I need you to do something for me.”

“I’d do anything for you.”

His fierce words made her want to weep from the relief of knowing she hadn’t misjudged him or his feelings for her.

“Tell me what you need, Mia. There’s nothing you could ask of me that would be too much.”

Looking up to meet his intense brown-eyed gaze, she said, “I need you to marry me.”

Tracey’s Review

I love pretty much everything that author Marie Force writes, so when I say that her Green Mountain/Butler, Vermont series are my absolute favorites, you know that I’m not messing around. I was über-excited for HERE COMES THE SUN, the latest book about the Abbott family of Butler, Vermont. This book has all of the usual madcap craziness that is part of every book about these characters, with the very happy bonus of seeing Wade Abbott finally make his match.

Wade and Mia are perfect for each other, and she fits seamlessly into the fray of the Abbott clan. Alongside the story of their romance is plenty of intrigue, suspense, and surprise after surprise, which kept me flipping the virtual pages to find out what was going to happen next. Marie has done a wonderful job of bringing these two extremely likable characters to life, and making their piece of the puzzle click perfectly into the bigger picture.

All of the favorites are here, from family patriarch Elmer, down to each and every Abbott sibling and cousin, as well as town fixture Fred the moose, and their shenanigans make reading this book an absolute pleasure. Marie has set the stage for the next tale out of Butler, and I cannot wait to see what she does with it. HERE COMES THE SUN is 4.5 stars’ worth of fun, intensity, and downright sexiness, and is an absolute must-read for Marie’s fans, or anyone looking for a family saga that does not disappoint.

—————

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

Welcome to Vermont and the Green Mountain and Butler Series, featuring the Abbott family, proprietors of the Green Mountain Country Store, and their Coleman cousins. Since All You Need Is Love was released in 2014, the Abbott/Stillman/Coleman clan has stolen the hearts of readers, and Fred the Moose has earned himself a cult following. Hope you enjoy Butler!

Green Mountain Series

Book 1: All You Need Is Love (Will & Cameron)

Book 2: I Want to Hold Your Hand (Nolan & Hannah)

Book 3: I Saw Her Standing There (Colton & Lucy)

Book 4: And I Love Her (Hunter & Megan)

Book 4.5: You’ll Be Mine, Will and Cam’s Wedding Novella

Book 5: It’s Only Love (Gavin & Ella)

Book 6: Ain’t She Sweet (Tyler & Charlotte)

Butler, Vermont Series (a continuation of the Green Mountain Series)

Book 1: Every Little Thing (Grayson & Emma)

Book 2: Can’t Buy Me Love (Patrick & Mary)

Book 3: Here Comes the Sun (Wade & Mia)

———————–

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

About the Author

M.S. Force is the erotic alter-ego of New York Times bestselling author Marie Force. All three books in her initial Quantum Trilogy were New York Times bestsellers in 2015, and the Quantum Trilogy became the Quantum Series with Rapturous and Ravenous, with more to come!

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 Twitter @marieforce and on Facebook. Join one of Marie’s many reader groups. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com. Subscribe to her new blog to hear the latest and greatest news, including giveaways and other great prizes. Go to the blog and enter your email address on the upper right-hand side.

 

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Goodreads

Join Marie’s Reader Groups

InkSlinger Blogger Final

Release Blitz + Blog Tour + Excerpt + 4-Star Review: xo, Zach by Kendall Ryan

 

 

The first time we met was at a party.

Your ex arrived to show off the person he’d left you for last month, and you asked me to pretend to be your date.

I was more than happy to help. You were attractive, smart and witty–and that kiss we shared? It left me wanting you for days.

The second time we met was in my office on campus where we were both surprised to discover you were the new master’s degree student in poetry that I would be working with. You promised to be professional. I did no such thing.

The late nights and intense study sessions spent alongside you majorly throw me off my game. I want you, and I fight with myself daily over this fact.

I know I’m crass, that my sexual innuendos and dirty mouth annoy you, but I live for those two bright spots of color in your cheeks. If that’s the only reaction I can get out of you, I’ll gladly take it.

You hate Mondays so every Monday I slip an anonymous poem into your bag and your smile gets me through the week.

I think I’m falling for you, and I know it’s wrong. I know that I’m only supposed to be your adviser and nothing more, but here’s the thing. I think you’re falling for me too.

xo, Zach

 

Amazon | Amazon Paperback | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

 

EXCERPT:

“This is serious, Poppy. Will you promise?”

“What am I promising?” This man had a way of getting me to say things, to feel things, to admit things that I might not have otherwise. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was older and wiser and that much more cunning at these types of discussions, or if it was just because being near him seemed to physically lower my inhibitions. He was like a walking shot of tequila.

“I need you to promise me that if anything physical happens between us—that it will be very consensual, and very sex-positive. I need you to understand that I will worship you and make you come So. Many. Fucking Times.”

He annunciated those words so clearly and slowly, I felt them with every beat of my heart, every pulse of heat between my legs.

Oblivious to my hammering heart, Zach continued. “But I also need you to know that if I do or say anything you don’t like, all you have to do is say so and everything will stop. Just the word no, Poppy. Use it and I promise to leave you alone.”

“Leave me alone as in stop mentoring me, stop helping me in the program?”

His face was serious and he shook his head without even considering it. “I will never stop mentoring you, as long as you want it. Giving in to our attraction—or not—will never be a condition for my help. I want you to succeed, and it has nothing to do with how much I want you in my bed. Do you understand that?”

I felt myself nodding my head.

I knew what he was saying. Despite how aggressively Zach put his feelings on the subject of us out there—I knew he’d never betray my wishes.

“Okay,” I murmured.

He considered me for a long moment, neither of us blinking.

“Why did you approach me that night at the party, Poppy. Did you find me attractive?”

Was he fucking serious?

Of course I find him attractive. Actually, attractive was too weak a word. I found him mesmerizing. Addictive. Enchanting. Impossible.

“I’m not saying I do, but if I wanted something to happen …” I swallowed a wave of nerves and took a shallow breath as Zach’s mouth curved into a grin.

Something as in finding out how many times in a row I can make you come using my mouth, my hands, and my …”

I held up one hand. “Yes. That. How would it work, isn’t it, like, forbidden?”

God, why did the word forbidden make me feel even hotter?

Tracey’s Review

What’s sexier than a little forbidden romance, a fire that burns hot below the surface, but must remain hidden? Add a side of single mom, and you’ve got xo, ZACH, thw latest sweet and spicy story from author Kendall Ryan to hit the shelves.

Poppy Ellis isn’t like the other grad students that adviser Zach Austin has dealt with. A gifted poet and writer, she’s got all the talent necessary to really make a go of things. But there are other things that separate her from his other students, not the least of which is the white-hot desire that he feels for her, the sort that makes a man do crazy, crazy things.

Poppy isn’t at school to find a boyfriend, but heck if she can stay away from Zach. Forbidden as their relationship may be, Zach ignites a spark in her that she’s never experienced, one that makes it hard to remember just where her priorities lie.

Kendall Ryan has done her usual stellar job of giving readers a story filled with chemistry, with humor, and with tenderness, about people that just can’t fight that magnetic pull that will bring them together despite their best intentions.

I really like both Zach and Poppy. They’re down-to-earth, grounded and comfortable with themselves, dedicated to doing their best at their roles, be it scholar, lover, mother. But they’re also insanely attracted to each other, mind and body, and so drawn to each other that staying apart seems almost impossible. Even knowing this, I was rooting for the two of them to find their stride, and do whatever it took to make their ending a happy one.

The supporting characters are absolutely wonderful, and steal the scene many a time. Zach’s mom is a riot, and Jodie and Kody are the kind of best friends that everyone should have, bringing humor and warmth to this already delightful story.

xo, Zach is a little bit of a departure from Kendall’s most recent books, and, while no less sexy, has a softness to it that really worked for me. This is a solid 4-star read for me, and one that fans of Kendall’s books, or anyone looking for a sexy, sweet, sassy romantic comedy, should add to their TBR.

 

 

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTREST | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB | NEWSLETTER

New Release + Excerpt + Review: Small Town Siren by Lexi Blake

 

 

Re-released in a second edition with a prologue and three new chapters.

Two cowboys looking for love…

Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood met in foster care. Over the years, they’ve become best friends and partners. They share a business as cattle ranchers and a house. There’s only one thing missing: a woman to share. The men are sure they’ve found that woman when Abigail Moore arrives in their small town, Willow Fork, TX.

A woman trying to find her place in the world…

Abby left her hometown twenty years before under a cloud of scandal. She’s raised a daughter, forged a new life for herself, and is ready for the next phase when she meets the handsome cowboys.

One small town that’s ready to explode…

They’re a dream come true—Jack is the sexy Dom, and Sam the playful lover. It’s everything she’s ever fantasized about. There’s only one problem. She’s still not welcome in Willow Fork, and someone is willing to kill to keep her away.

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo | Smashwords | Print

 

 

 

The door to the women’s room slammed open. Abby practically jumped, ready to beg whoever was walking through to give her some privacy. Jack filled the doorway with his presence.

“You can’t come in here, Jack.” She smoothed down her uniform and swept back her hair, trying to retain as much dignity as she could.

“Why not, darlin’? I am going to admit that I’m not a man who tends to let things like social conventions keep me out of a place I really want to be in.” Jack walked right up to her. The man really wasn’t big on personal space.

Sam walked in and closed the door. He leaned with his back against it. One boot rested negligently against the painted pink door.

“Sam, tell him he can’t come into the women’s room.”

“You’re the one who chose the venue for this particular conversation, Abigail.” There was nothing vaguely resembling a joke in Jack’s voice now. Abby looked to Sam for help.

Sam shook his head. He was grinning like an idiot. “Hell no, honey. You’re gonna have to learn that when Jack gets that hard edge to his voice, he means business. Besides, I’m happy with the way things went. Thank you, baby. You made this so much easier. Jack was talking about dating you and treating you like a lady. That was gonna take forever. It’s much simpler this way.”

“What’s simpler?” Abby was unable to keep the trepidation out of her voice.

“Taking you home, taking you to bed, and showing you where you belong,” Sam replied with a wink.

“Where do I belong?” Abby couldn’t take her eyes off Jack. There was a simple smile on his face that held a wealth of arrogance. He’d been serious. He really had been playing the gentleman. Abby got the feeling she was about to get a full dose of Jack Barnes, and damned if she wasn’t looking forward to it.

“Always between me and Sam.” Jack reached out and put his hands on her shoulders, his expression intense. “Tell me you don’t want us, Abby, and I’ll walk away right now. I won’t bother you again.”

“Don’t give her ultimatums.” Sam sounded a bit desperate. “I thought we’d give her a taste before we forced her to make a decision. Baby, why don’t you let us play around a little? I promise you’ll want us.”

She looked up into Jack’s forest-green eyes. They were very serious as he stared at her. His hand came up to cup her face. He forced her to look at him and Abby felt his will. It should scare the crap out of her, but she found it amazingly sexy. This was a man who would always keep his promises, no matter what it cost him.

“She already wants us.” Jack brushed his thumb across her mouth. It was all she could do to not open her mouth and suck his thumb in. “She just needs to admit it. Can you tell me you haven’t spent the last few weeks thinking about this? Thinking about you and me and Sam coming together in bed?”

“No,” she said. Jack’s eyes flared, and she felt compelled to continue. “I have thought about it, but I’m scared.”

The time for honesty was here. She could run, and they would probably accept her decision. She could give in and enjoy the sex and walk away. Or she could ask for what she wanted. She could be brave and tell them what she needed and what she was scared of. If she did that and it all fell apart, then she would have to forgive herself. She’d learned that one of the great joys of maturing was learning how to forgive herself.

“What are you scared of?” A deep crease appeared in Sam’s forehead. He walked up to her and leaned forward. “Honey, we want to take care of you. We don’t want to hurt you.”

She felt tears pricking at the edge of her eyes. Everything in her was screaming for that to be true. She wanted them. She craved them.

“You could be lying to me. You could want to make me look bad.” She could hear her teenaged self in the statement. She felt every bit as vulnerable as she had then. The last month she’d spent with these two disparately different men had been one of the best of her life. Every evening they’d spent together over the last month had made her want them more. More than once, she’d fantasized about them sweeping into the diner and carrying her away. Lately, when things went wrong, her first thought was to call Jack. Now that her fantasy seemed to be coming true, she didn’t trust fate.

Jack’s hands came out and soothingly rubbed the back of her neck. He hadn’t stopped touching her once. “Sweetheart, why would you say something like that? Why would we want to make you look bad?”

“Because the Echols family wants me out of town.” Her heart soared when she saw the complete confusion on their faces. They couldn’t make that up.

“Are you talking about that crazy old biddy who runs the church socials?” Jack seemed to struggle to place a name with a face. “She always looks at me funny.”

“Ruby. That’s her name.” Sam frowned. “She’s real unpleasant to me. Why would we do anything for her? For that matter, why would she care that you’re in town?”

Hope swelled inside her. They really weren’t gay, and they really weren’t working for Ruby Echols. If that was true, then she had to assume they wanted her. It suddenly didn’t matter that they were in a bathroom in a public place. She couldn’t wait to feel their mouths pressed to hers. It wasn’t forever. The universe didn’t work that way, but she could have this moment. She could have a few weeks with them.

“It doesn’t matter. Kiss me.”

“Which one?” Sam asked.

Abby continued to smile, looking from gorgeous man to gorgeous man. “It doesn’t matter, but one of you should kiss me.”

Jack’s eyes never left her face. “Sam, take care of that door. We wouldn’t want anyone walking in.”

Sam cursed and bemoaned his fate, but he walked back and took his previous position.

Jack took Abby’s face in both his hands. “I’m completely crazy about you, Abigail Moore.” He leaned over and finally, after what seemed to Abby like a lifetime of wanting, pressed his mouth to hers.

Abby felt helpless against the onslaught of desire that rocketed through her as Jack took her mouth. He plundered it, his tongue gently forcing its way in and dancing strongly around hers. She held on to his lean waist for dear life as he slanted over her mouth again and again. He poured his will into her and everything inside her responded. She felt that kiss in her pussy and already she was slick and warm. Jack’s hands reached up and pulled at the band that held up her hair. He set it free and pulled back to look at the mane of auburn locks he’d unleashed.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” Jack breathed almost reverently as he stroked her hair. In that moment, with Jack’s green eyes looking at her like she was some goddess he was worshipping, Abby felt gorgeous.

“Why don’t we take this home, people?” Sam’s voice was tight. Abby looked back at Sam, and his blue eyes were dark with passion.

He wanted to go home so he could join in. He wanted to have his turn. The thought should have turned her off, but all it did was get her hotter.

Jack’s lips turned up in a lazy smile. “You’ll have to forgive Sam, darlin’. He’s always so impatient. Always has been.” Jack suddenly lifted her up and set her on the counter. He looked back at his friend with great affection. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve told him that anticipation is the best part?”

Jack’s hands pushed up the skirt of her uniform.

“Anticipation is damn frustrating, Jack. And I’ve been anticipating for weeks,” Sam complained.

Tracey’s Review

When the residents of Willow Fork, TX, had done their best to drive Abigail Moore away, she swore that she would never go back. When family business calls her back, she’s planning on doing her due diligence, then getting the heck back out of Dodge, so to speak. But things have changed in her little town, and soon leaving will be the last thing on Abby’s mind…

While alternative romance may not be everybody’s cup of tea, if you’re of ‘the more the merrier’ mindset, SIREN IN THE CITY by author Lexi Blake should definitely be on your radar. Lexi can write a ‘better when there are more’ story like nobody’s business, and Abby, Sam, and Jack and their love story make for a read that’s hard to put down.

It’s got to be difficult to craft this kind of story so well, to make the reader fall equally in love with every character, but Lexi makes it look so very easy. The story unfolds effortlessly and drew me in, so that I couldn’t wait to see where things were going.

I’d be hard-pressed to choose between Jack and Sam myself, but, luckily, we don’t have to, because they are, after all, a package deal. I loved seeing the way that they take care of Abby, the way that they support each other, and the way that they have overcome bad beginnings to be the kickbutt men that they are.

Being a woman of a certain age, seeing Abby get her turn at happiness makes me happy. The woman that left Willow Fork as a scared young girl has returned an accomplished, self-assured woman that can hold her head high in a town full of people that would continue to bring her down. We need more Abbys for sure, and I will happily read about them all.

SMALL TOWN SIREN is a solid 4-star read for me, and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to romance fans that are willing to step outside the box a bit. It’s nice to see the return of this series from Lexi, and I look forward to reading more about these characters.

 

 

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

 

Release Blitz + Excerpt + Giveaway + 5-Star Review: Stud In the Stacks by Pippa Grant

 

Title: Stud in the Stacks
Author: Pippa Grant
Genre: Sexy Romantic Comedy
 Release Date: January 5, 2018
Blurb
When it comes to women, I know what they want. And all day long, I give
it to them. Dark, broody, and sexy? You got it. Need to laugh? I’m your guy.
Desperate for something to put you in the mood? You’ve come to the right place,
kitten.
Every morning when my library opens, there’s a line around the block,
the ladies flocking to me in need of their next book boyfriend. I’m that dude.
The one who knows his way around the romance section. And if you think that
hasn’t gotten me plenty of action over the years, you’d be wrong.
But I’ve made a few miscalculations, and now my reputation has my job
in danger. If I can’t prove to my boss that I’m more than a playboy who
recommends romance in the hopes of getting some hanky panky in the stacks, I
can kiss my job goodbye.
Stud in the Stacks is a sexy, hilarious, sometimes
embarrassing romantic comedy told in both points of view, complete with tacos,
romance novel love, and unicorn parties with no cheating or cliffhangers.

 

 

Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Excerpt
Even though it’s been six years since I stripped for a
roomful of women, I’m pleased to report my loincloth still fits in all the
right places. Tad more snug in front than I remember, but if I had to grow,
might as well be in the junk.
I give the elastic one last test as the producer signals
that I’m up. Spider-Man gives me a fist bump. Thor smacks my ass. They’re the
last two bachelors going up on the block after me in tonight’s superhero-themed
auction.
There are some who might say Tarzan isn’t a superhero, but
Jane would beg to differ.
And I fucking own this costume.
Plus, if no one else bids on me, my Nana’s right up front,
ready to throw down the hundred bucks I slipped her before the show.
I’m hoping for a little higher than that though. Batman just
went for a cool five grand.
Batman was a dick, which I assume my Nana didn’t know when
she started the bidding on him. A grade-A, condescending asshat who thought
just because he had a few million bucks in the bank, he could call people gay
like that’s an insult and take a metaphorical shit on my favorite books.
I fucking want to beat Batman.     
Tracey’s Review
***5 Magical Unicorn, Taco Loving, Love Amongst the Books Stars***

What did I love about STUD IN THE STACKS by author Pippa Grant? The better question is, what didn’t I love about this book? With a heroine who’s less awkward than she thinks she is, a main man that is smart, sexy, and, oh, yes, he loves books, and so many laugh-out-loud funny moments that I embarrassed myself in various locations around town while reading, this is a book that instantly stole my heart.

I think that it is awesome that Pippa, a writer of romance novels herself, has no problem taking the oft-times maligned genre and running with it. From giving a nod to other romance writers (by name and title, mind you!), capturing the fan base so very wonderfully, and even hitting on recent current events within the community, she has done a stellar job of giving we readers exactly what we want, a book for romance lovers about romance lovers, with fabulously zany characters and a plot line that makes this one of the most riotously satisfying reads that I can remember.

Pippa has, thankfully, brought back all of my favorite characters from MR. MCHOTTIE, her first book, and given us even more fun with the introduction of Parker’s brothers. I mean, laughing so hard that I couldn’t breathe funny, these kooks are just everything in this book. And, while I love Chase and Sia from the first book, Knox and Parker (and Nana, oh, my gosh, we can’t forget Nana) are one of my most favorite book couples ever.

STUD IN THE STACKS is sitting pretty atop my list of books that fans of the romance genre, or anyone that wants to snort their beverage out of their nose while reading, really, should shove to the top of their TBRs right this very minute. As rom-coms go, you’d be hard-pressed to start your year off with anything better, and I obviously couldn’t recommend it any more highly.

 

Author Bio
Pippa Grant is a stay-at-home mom and housewife who loves to
escape into sexy, funny stories way more than she likes perpetually cleaning
toothpaste out of sinks and off toilet handles. When she’s not reading,
writing, sleeping, or trying to prepare her adorable demon spawn to be
productive members of society, she’s fantasizing about chocolate chip cookies.
Author Links