Review: The Protector by J. Evans-The Arrangement- Part 1

The protector

 

The Protector

The Arrangement World- Serial- Part 1

By J. Evans (aka Jessie Evans)

Synopsis

A New Story by J. Evans from the world of H.M. WARD’S THE ARRANGEMENT via KINDLE WORLDS.

**This book features appearances by Sean Ferro**

She’ll never be able to go home again…

Aidan Blake’s years in the Marines prepared him for a career as a private detective. They didn’t prepare him to hunt down the woman he sheltered from bullies back in high school. But Sean Ferro needs beautiful Astor Greer’s help to save his fiancee’s life and what Ferro wants, Ferro gets.

But soon it becomes clear Ferro isn’t the only one hunting the sexy, self-assured woman Aidan’s high school crush has become and that Aidan’s feelings for Astor are far from a thing of the past. Now Aidan will have to make a choice–honor his promise to a dangerous man or risk everything to protect the woman he was meant to love.

This novella can be read as a stand alone story even if not familiar with H.M. Ward’s bestselling serial.

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5 star

Tracey’s Review

Astor Greer’s world changes in an instant. Someone is looking for her, and they’re willing to do pretty much anything to get to her. Forced to run from life as she knew it, Astor leaves the safety of home and family, looking over her shoulder for unknown pursuers. When Aidan Blake, Astor’s high school crush, shows up, she isn’t sure whether he is friend or enemy. Aidan, hired by infamous businessman Sean Ferro to find Astor, can’t fight the feelings that he’s harbored for her for seven long years, and pursuer becomes protector.

Now, if another author said that they were writing a companion novella to H.M. Ward’s THE ARRANGEMENT series, I might read it. But, when J. Evans writes something, well, there’s no question, I’m on it. And, as usual, she does not disappoint. This short little story was as hot, sexy, and action-packed as I’ve come to expect from J. Evans, and I loved every bit of it, from the opening scene to the very last word in the epilogue. Whether you’ve previously read H.M. Ward or not, I’m telling you to grab this jewel and get reading; you will not be disappointed.

Author Bio
About Jessie Evans writing as J. Evans

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessie Evans, gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sexy, contemporary Southern romances she loves to read.

She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a cottage in the jungle. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.

When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and drifting in and out on the waves, feeling thankful for sun, surf, and lovely people to share them with.

Connect with Jessie Evans

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

The protector

Release Day Blitz: One Night With Her by Lauren Blakely-Prequel Novella in Seductive Nights Series

One Night With her for Aug 13 reveal

One Night With Her

Prequel Novella in Seductive Nights Series

By Lauren Blakely

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Synopsis

ONE NIGHT WITH HER is the prequel novella to NIGHTS WITH HIM in the Seductive Nights series. It’s available for free across retailers to give readers a taste of the night Jack and Michelle meet and their sexy, sensual chemistry. Their story continues in the full-length novel, NIGHTS WITH HIM, releasing November 11th. ONE NIGHT WITH HER will also be included in the eBook of NIGHTS WITH HIM for readers who want to get the full storyline, from first meeting on through the novel, in one spot.

First names only for one night of pleasure…

He’s only at the hotel to close a business deal. Then he sees her, and his agenda for the evening shifts—woo her, win her, and make sure she never forgets who gave her the most exquisite pleasure she’s ever had. Jack Sullivan, sex toy mogul, a billionaire, and one of New York City’s most eligible bachelors is captivated by the brilliant and beautiful Michelle Milo.

From her witty mouth to her sinful body, she’s his perfect fantasy. But there’s more than the undeniable chemistry; they both might be exactly what the other needs.

As soon as he has her between the sheets, he knows one night with her will never be enough.

The trouble is, he’s about to run into her tomorrow…in the last place he expects.

NOTE: This novella is a free prequel to the full-length standalone novel NIGHTS WITH HIM. It will also be included in the ebook of NIGHTS WITH HIM, so you can read it first as a free download or read it as part of the novel. Enjoy!

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

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5 star

Tracey’s Review

Jack Sullivan may be the king of an empire devoted to pleasure, but he has what his sister calls ‘issues with intimacy.’ Unable to move on after the death of his fiancee, he has finally promised to see a professional and come to grips with his loss.

Michelle Milo still hasn’t gotten over her 10-year unrequited love for her friend Clay Nichols. Tired of missing something that wasn’t hers to begin with, she’s ready to put the past behind her and get on with her life.

Hot, hot, hot! If a book could spontaneously combust from all of the sexiness, this would be the one.
Lauren Blakely never disappoints in the delivery of a hot and steamy read, and ONE NIGHT WITH HER is no exception. Revisiting some old friends, as well as some new faces, this was a great introduction to Jack Sullivan, sure to become another favorite Blakely Boy. He is over-the-top hot and sexy, and reading his exchanges with Michelle Milo had me fanning myself.

Lauren has written the perfect prequel novella to NIGHTS WITH HIM, and I cannot WAIT until we can see more of these two in NIGHTS WITH HIM.

Nights With Him Cover for Aug 13 reveal

Nights With Him

Seductive Nights Series- Book 1

Release Date: November 11, 2014

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By Lauren Blakely

Synopsis

A sensual, sexy, standalone romance novel in the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights Series by Lauren Blakely…

Jack Sullivan is a Sex Toy Mogul.

An extremely eligible bachelor in New York, he’s the full package, right down to his full package. Hell, this man could be the model for one of the toys his company, Joy Delivered, peddles. Instead, he’s the powerful and successful CEO and he’s got commitment issues a mile-long after the tragic way his relationship with his fiancée ended.

He’s looking for a way to erase the pain and that arrives in the form of Michelle Milo. From her pencil skirts to her high heels, she’s his perfect fantasy, especially since she has no idea who he is the night they meet at a hotel bar. He doesn’t have a clue either that she’s the brilliant psychologist his sister has arranged for him to see to help him get over his past. She’s simply the stunning woman he takes to bed that night and delivers many Os of joy too.

His touch helps her forget that other man.

When he shows up at her office door the next day, there’s no way in hell she’s going to treat him after they’ve slept together. Jack isn’t willing to let go of the first woman he’s felt anything for in years so he proposes a deal – share her nights with him for thirty days. At the end of one month of exquisite pleasure, they walk away, having helped each other move on from their haunted pasts.

But soon, all those nights threaten to turn into days as the lines between lust and matters of the heart start to blur. Can two people so terribly afraid of love truly fall head over heels?

**NIGHTS WITH HIM is a standalone full-length novel in the bestselling SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS series following the love affair of a new couple.**

Pre-Order: Amazon / Kobo / ITunes

About Lauren Blakely:

Author PhotoLauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | NIGHTS WITH HIM Goodreads | Lauren Blakely Goodreads

One Night With her for Aug 13 reveal

Release Day Blitz: Three And Out by Meghan Quinn- Love and Sports Series- Book 3

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Title: Three and Out 

Love and Sports Series- Book 3

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Author: Meghan Quinn

Synopsis

Piper was dead to him.

The minute she walked out the door on Mason, he was done.

D.O.N.E.

Now, three months later, he’s still trying to act like he doesn’t care. Like his heart hasn’t been torn into shreds and obliterated beyond recognition.

But it’s not working.

He’s broken and beyond repair.

Then Piper goes missing.

Mason tries to show the world he doesn’t care, but his world is flipped upside down.

A vulnerable Mason finds help in an unexpected place and it’s an offer he can’t refuse.

The knot that has been gripping Mason’s heart slowly starts to unravel and he’s starting to look into his future…

Three and Out runs through the lives of Mason and his friends while they struggle to find love and keep it in their hectic, crazy, drama twisted lives.

Not everyone is meant to be and not everyone who you think should be together, will end up together in the final installment of the Love and Sports series.

Buy: Amazon

 

 

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Excerpt:

“Woah, careful there.”

“Damn, wet floor. Like mopping is going to make it any better looking.”

Jax’s ears perked up at hearing a familiar voice. He lifted them both up so they were standing. The woman was brushing off her navy blue, hip-hugging skirt, so he couldn’t tell who it was, but when she looked up, Jax instantly knew why he recognized the woman’s voice.

“Brooke?”

Her eyes widened, and then recognition fell over her features.

“Jax. Wow, never thought I would ever cross paths with you again. How’s it going?”

“Alright, and yourself?”

As Brooke talked about her new clothing line and her little apartment in downtown Denver, Jax took her all in. Her hair was short now, just below chin length, and styled to frame her face. Her body was the same rocking figure he remembered from when he met her at the bar, that awkward night his boys and Jake Taylor all hung out before a pre-season game, and for some reason, her eyes were brighter than he remembered, as if she was breathing a new life.

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4 star

Tracey’s Review

Mason is done with love. He’s had his heart broken, and he’s not about to go through THAT again, so he does what any self-respecting pro football star would do: he’s leaving a trail of conquests a mile long, while having the time of his life, or so he’d like to believe.

THREE AND OUT is the final book in the Love and Sports series by Meghan Quinn. And, while it is largely Mason’s and Piper’s book, it is really an ensemble story, like the others in the series. Jax and Brooke, Ryker and Hannah, Jesse and Ashlin are all featured as well, as Meghan brings the series full-circle and gives everyone the ending that they need. Even Lexi and Jake make an appearance, and it’s nice to see the crazy kids from the first book, still happily together several years down the line.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Meghan has written characters that are so nuts that you can’t help but love them, with all their quirks, insecurities, and issues. The dialogue made me laugh out loud, and I am just a little bit in love with every one of the obnoxious guys in this book. I feel like the writing, which was not bad, but more immature in the first book, has vastly improved, and is much more polished and readable. I would very much recommend this read, as much for the zany cast of characters as the storyline that rounds out the series in a very satisfying way.

 

Have a look at Book 1 and 2 of the Love and Sports series.

pFair CatchFair Catch (Love and Sports, #1)

Training, playing ball and studying is Lexi’s life and it never seems to bother her until her friend, Parker Hill, points out to her that sweat pants on a Friday night while watching sappy romance movies isn’t really living up her last year in college. Lexi didn’t see the need to party since she didn’t know what the hell she was doing with her life after college but her friends wouldn’t take no for an answer. Little did she know going to the first party of the season was going to flip her world upside down.

Jake Taylor, starting quarterback for Cal U and campus heart throb spent his entire college career, partying, getting drunk and winning football games but it is all finally catching up to him. He is ready to throw in the towel of his partying days when he decides to have one more last fling. That is when he runs into the one person that could turn his life inside out.

Lexi wants nothing to do with Jake and his partying ways but after one bet gone wrong , she finds herself on a date with the annoyingly obnoxious, egotistical heart throb. Even though she wants nothing to do with him, she finds herself gravitating toward him and giving into his charm. They fall hard and fast for each other as they find love, comfort and a home. They live in their own littler world where nothing matters besides the love they share for each other.

But love isn’t enough for Lexi when she is trying to find her way after college. She slowly sinks into Jake’s shadow and finds herself clawing out of the Jake sized hole she buried herself in so she can find who she is, who she wants to be and what her future holds for her.

Fair Catch is a true love story that goes through the trials and tribulations of Jake and Lexi’s insecurities, jealousies, short comings and strong personalities. Love is one hell of a strong bond but sometimes, it’s not strong enough. Follow Jake and Lexi as they try to hold on to the love they share while they try to find themselves and find out what life is after graduation.

 

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble

 

3 star

Lexi Knox is the golden girl at Cal U. Captain of the softball team, she’s smart, beautiful, and a fantastic athlete. She’s also sure that she doesn’t want anything to do with Jake Taylor, quarterback of the Cal U football team, and jerk with a capital ‘J’. But Jake wants Lexi, and he’s willing to do his best to persuade her that he’s a changed man.

FAIR CATCH is the first book in the Love and Sports series by Meghan Quinn. Reading this book was like watching a tennis match. The interactions between Jake and Lexi were so back-and-forth that it was sometimes hard to keep up with the way that they kept changing their minds about their relationship. Luke has a well-earned reputation as a manwhore, having slept with practically then entire women’s athletics department at the university, so he’s got his work cut out for him to convince Lexi that he’s done with all of that, and ready to be a one-woman guy. And Lexi has all sorts of family drama, and has a hard time showing her real self to Jake, opting instead to throw in the towel with little convincing reason. This is New Adult, though, so I could forgive a lot of this, if not actually appreciate it. The supporting characters, especially Parker and Margo, made this a much more enjoyable read for me.

FAIR CATCH is the first book in a trilogy, and, since I like Meghan’s writing style, I will continue to read the series, and look forward to seeing the characters grow and mature in the subsequent installments.
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Double Coverage (Love and Sports, #2)

91iQKAE8-9L._SL1500_Unfortunate inconvenience, that is the way Piper describes her encounter with Mason Dashel. From the minute the alpha male interrupts her morning after hangover on the airplane, she can’t stand to be near the egotistical maniac with a booming voice and annoying sex appeal. But to her misfortune she finds herself not only having to spend time with him at their best friends’ wedding but she also can’t seem to shake the infuriating man in her everyday life.

Psychotic Una-bomber with the constant mensies is the way Mason describes his flying companion, Piper Shores. After a horrific break up with his now ex, Brooke, he finds himself being engulfed by the temperamental red head that just so happens to be the maid of honor to one of his best friends, Lexi. Even though she grates on his every nerve, he can’t help but want a piece of her.

The two are like oil and water, a science experiment ready to explode any second but they can’t help but be drawn to each other. The only problem is… there are other people they are involved with who not only prevent Mason and Piper from being together, but interrupt any chance they have at making a relationship work.

Goodreads // Amazon

 

About Meghan Quinn:

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When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn’t take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, besides “The Notebook” I made time to read the heartbreaking novel.

It wasn’t until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books, I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven’t turned back since.

You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.

I am currently residing in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads

 

 

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ARC Review: Sweet Harmony by Luann McLane- The Cricket Creek Series- Book 7

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Sweet Harmony 

The Cricket Creek Series- Book 7

By Luann McLane

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Synopsis

Cricket Creek, Kentucky, is no Nashville—it’s a sweet, small town outside the big-city limelight. But here, two headstrong country music stars will need to rely on their Southern roots and explosive chemistry to top the charts together.

 

When Cat Carson drops her record label and signs with an independent label based in Cricket Creek, it’s a huge upset in the music world. But the residents of Cricket Creek are thrilled to have a real country music star in their midst. Everyone except Jeff Greenfield, that is—a local rising star himself, who’s been asked to record a duet with the stunning beauty.

 

Jeff grew up on a farm, but his smooth, soulful country style is starting to get him noticed outside Cricket Creek. And while a duet with Cat Carson could send his career skyrocketing, he doesn’t want to lose touch with his roots—or lose his head. Because sparks are flying every time he and Cat hit the studio. And it’s more than a little distracting….

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

4 star

Tracey’s Review

When Cat Carson, a country star phenomenon with a Top 40 fan base leaves her big time label to relocate to a small town in Kentucky to find herself, she has no idea of how her life is about to change. Jeff Greenfield, wants nothing but to sing, to make a name for himself as a performer of traditional country songs. While he can appreciate the talent in a singer like Cat, he thinks that she’s better suited to pop radio stations than to the Grand Ole Opry. But Fate, in the form of the owner of their mutual record label, steps in, forcing them to put aside their differences and work together.

Sweet Harmony by LuAnn McLane is more than your typical opposites attracting sort of love story. Cat and Jeff are both strong characters who know what they want, at least professionally. They are both determined to make the kind of music that they want, the type that will define them as more than just one-hit wonders or Top 40 fan favorites. And that refusal to back down, to be other than they feel called to be, is what sparks the interest between the two of them as well, and draws them to each other. Their chemistry, combined with strong supporting characters like Maria, Pete, and Snake, are what make it such a fun read, along with the sense of community that comes from a small town full of people that know and love each other.

This is the seventh book in the Cricket Creek series, and while it is the first one that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, it will not be the last. I look forward to reading the previous books and to spending more time in Cricket Creek, Kentucky.

Author Bio:

luann mclaneBecoming an avid reader at a young age, McLane soon knew she wanted to be a writer. Encouragement from teachers led to creative writing classes on both the high school and college level. In the mid 1980’s she became a staff reporter and wrote human-interest stories for several local newspapers and at one point had her own award-winning column in The Kenton County Recorder. Fiction, though, was what she really longed to write. She joined an eclectic literary group called Night Writers and met romance novelist Nicole Jordan who invited her to join Romance Writers of America. With a handful of women, they founded the Ohio Valley RWA chapter that is now a huge national chapter.

Four children and a traveling husband, however, curtailed McLane’s writing career until a now-or-never mid-life crisis made her overcome her fear of computers and jump back into the crazy business of romance writing and she hasn’t looked back.

Website ~ Facebook ~ TwitterGoodreads

sweet harmony

ARC Review: Carolina Blues by Virginia Kantra- Dare Island Series-Book 4

Carolina Blues

Carolina Blues

The Dare Island Series-Book 4

By Virginia Kantra

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Synopsis:

Jack Rossi is Dare Island’s new police chief. The laid-back North Carolina community is just what he needs to recover from a rocky marriage and a big-city police department. He’s learned his lesson: no more high-profile women or high-pressure jobs. The last thing he wants is an unconventional alt girl rocking his world.

Grad student Lauren Patterson made headlines when she kept a bank robbery from going bad. She’s fled to Dare Island to clear her head and focus on writing her story. However, sexy Jack Rossi is a distraction that’s too hot to ignore, and it’s igniting an affair too combustible to resist—or quit.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

4 star

Tracey’s Review

Jack Rossi, Philadelphia born and bred, is a cop and military veteran. Reeling from the ultimate betrayal, Jack has relocated to Dare Island, NC, trading a high profile professional life in his hometown for one where his duties revolve more around making sure that vacationers abide by traffic laws and finding out what is making the noise under Dora Abrams’ house. Lauren Patterson is a grad student and bestselling author. She’s come to Dare Island to try and find the inspiration to write the follow-up to her bestselling book Hostage Girl, and to escape the pressure of living a life under the magnifying glass of the public eye. And, while these two people have, at first glance, very little in common, it isn’t long before they find that they may be just exactly what the other needs.

I really enjoyed this book. I have to admit that I had no real idea of what to expect beforehand, having never read any of the previous books in the Dare Island series. What a pleasure to learn that Virginia Kantra writes such a great story, one that truly engaged me from the first page. The setting, the characters, the relationships, all of these things together made Carolina Blues a winner for me. Jack is jaded and just a little bitter, but not so closed off that he can’t recognize that Lauren’s openness and free spirit make him feel things that he thought he’d never feel again. And Lauren, although she talks a good game, is in need of some of the therapeutic wisdom that she so freely dispenses, and Jack is able to meet that need in every possible way.

I am a big fan of books that are not only sexy, but that bring a fresh take on things, and tell a story that makes me want to be a part of it. The community of Dare Island, and all its residents and their stories, make Carolina Blue, and the rest of this series, one that I would not only read, but would absolutely recommend.

Author Bio:

Virginai KantraNew York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra has written over twenty books of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. Her deeply emotional stories have won numerous writing awards, including Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award and two National Readers’ Choice Awards. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of three kids, she is a firm believer in the strength of family, the importance of storytelling, and the power of love.

Her favorite thing to make for dinner? Reservations.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Carolina Blues

Release Day Blitz + 5-Star Review: My So-Called Death by Stacey Jay

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Stacey Jay’s MY SO-CALLED DEATH is being re-released today and it’s teh first time it’s available in a digital format! If you love light, fun, YA with just the right balance of romance and mystery, you have got to get your hands on it! Stacey Jay is also releasing a freebie prequel today, CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE ZOMBIE QUEEN.

 

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About MY SO-CALLED DEATH

Just because you don’t have a pulse doesn’t mean you can’t be perky.

One second, freshman Karen Vera’s on top of the most fabulous cheer pyramid ever. The next, she’s lying on the pavement with seriously unflattering cranial damage. Freakishly alive without a pulse, Karen learns that she’s a genetically undead zombie.

Suddenly, Karen’s non-life is an epic disaster. She’s forced to attend a boarding school for the “death-challenged,” her roommate is a hateful wannabe-Goth weirdo, and she’s chowing down on animal brains every day to prevent rot (um, ew?). Even worse, someone is attacking students and harvesting their brains for a forbidden dark ritual. And it might be the hottest guy at DEAD High, the one who makes Karen’s non-beating heart flutter!

Armed with a perky smile and killer fashion sense, it’s up to Karen to track down the brain snatcher and save her fellow students from certain zombie death.

A light romantic mystery filled with gross-out humor and plenty of brains perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Robin Benway, and C.L. Stone.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble (to come) | iBooks | Kobo

5 star

Tracey’s Review

When I heard that My So-Called Death by Stacey Jay was being re-released, it was a no-brainer (ha!) that I was going to have to read it. Stacey has written some of my favorite YA books, and, although this one is aimed at the younger end of the YA age group, it is still completely engaging.

Karen Vera, the heroine of this story, is a pert and sassy cheerleader, who, to put it politely, is Death-challenged, which means that she has a genetic mutation that prevents her from dying. But, when your entire school sees you tumble from the top of a cheer formation to your death, what is there to do but roll with the changes? Karen is whisked off to DEAD High School, so that she may better learn what it means to live as a member of the dead.

I have to admit that zombies are not usually on my list of paranormal creatures that I want to read about. All that blood and death and brain-eating, you know. But the characters in this book are not your typical zombies. Stacey has taken the stereotype and completely changed it, writing a story that is campy and fun, and, given the subject matter, pretty darned enjoyable. I found myself laughing out loud at the intros to each chapter. Entries from books like, ‘Total Health for the Death-Challenged, 5th Edition’ and ‘Zombie Poets Through the Ages, 2nd Edition’ were witty and entertaining. The mystery that pairs Karen and her boy zombie crush Gavin ties everything together nicely, making this a story that YA readers will very much enjoy, and, coupled with the snarky banter and typical teen angst, makes for a fast and enjoyable read.

Excerpt from MY SO-CALLED DEATH

“Respecting your new room mate is essential. Now that you are one of the Undead, you could conceivably live for hundreds of years. The relationships you begin now will be the friendships that carry you through the millennium. Remember that, and conduct yourselves accordingly.”

–DEAD High Dorm Handbook for Incoming Students

“Wanted: White noise machine, will pay any price. Would be awesome if it had one of those aromatherapy things too. My roommate snores and smells! Pleaz help! Am exhausted and nasally tormented!”

–Note on Girls’ Dorm bulletin board

“Clarice sucks butt.”

–Bathroom stall, girls’ second floor bathroom

“What are you doing? Is that a cheerleader on my wall?” The shriek from the doorway made me scream and then burst out laughing.

I always laugh when I’m scared. I probably would have laughed as I was falling off the cheer pyramid if there had been time. Admittedly weird, but my friends back in my human life thought it was funny that I giggled all the way through horror movies.

“What are you laughing at? That has to come down.” The girl in the door glared at the United Cheerleader Association calendar I’d hung on my side of the room and threw her sweater on the floor. Her greasy, shoulder length black hair twitched angrily around her shoulders and her heavily lined gray eyes narrowed as if she’d just spotted a maggot on her arm.

Maggots are a zombie’s only natural predator—aside from angry mobs of humans or supernatural slayer types. Principal Samedi had already warned me to watch out for flies that love to lay their eggs in Undead flesh because, once they get started, maggot infestations can be almost impossible to get under control.

Ugh. Maggot infestation. If there was a grosser combination of words in the English language I couldn’t think of it.

The thought made me laugh again. I was in a laugh or cry situation. I had to giggle or I was going to lose what was left of my sense of humor.

“Ohmygod, what is wrong with you?” the girl asked, wrinkling her upper lip.

Guess she didn’t share my human friends’ appreciation for ill-timed chortling.

View the full excerpt here!

ConfessionOfATeenageZombieQueen_1600x2400 About CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE ZOMBIE QUEEN

All in all, it was a good day to die. If there really is such a thing.

You hear characters in movies say things like that sometimes, but does anyone really believe the words “good” and “die” belong in the same sentence?

Still, it could have been worse. It could have been a dark and spooky night instead of a beautiful Georgia evening in late October, with a light wind whipping across the Peachtree High football field, making zombies seem like the last thing anyone needed to worry about…

One second, freshman Karen Vera’s on top of the most fabulous cheer pyramid ever. The next, she’s lying on the pavement with seriously unflattering cranial damage. Freakishly alive without a pulse, Karen learns that she’s a genetically undead zombie.

Enjoy this prequel to the “welcome horror spoof” (Booklist) MY SO-CALLED DEATH, a paranormal romantic mystery perfect for fans of Ally Carter and C.L. Stone.

Grab CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE ZOMBIE QUEEN for FREE

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

About Stacey Jay

Stacey Jay is a recovering workaholic (or at least working hard at recovering) with two small children, and a passion for playing pretend for a living. She’s been a full time mom-writer since 2005 and can’t think of anything she’d rather be doing. Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, waiter, math tutor, and yoga instructor.

In her very limited spare time, Stacey enjoys cooking elaborate dinners and eating them very slowly, dressing up in costumes with her sons, and drinking wine with her husband. She loves to hear from readers and personally answers every single email she receives.

Connect with Stacey Jay

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter

Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Reviews: Becoming Calder and Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan- Sign of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius- Book 1 and Book 2

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Becoming Calder

Book 1

Sign Of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius

By Mia Sheridan

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Synopsis

There is a place in modern day America with no electricity, no plumbing, and no modern conveniences. In this place, there is no room for dreams, no space for self-expression, and no tolerance for ambition.

In this place, there is a boy with the body of a god and the heart of a warrior. He is strong and faithful and serves his family honorably. But he dares to dream of more.

In this place, there is a girl with the face of an angel and a heart full of courage. To her family, she is the vision of obedient perfection. But she dares to want that which she has been told can never be hers.

Becoming Calder is the story of good versus evil, fear versus bravery, and the truth that the light of love has always found its way into even the darkest of places . . . From the beginning of time, to the end of the world.

THIS IS THE FIRST PART IN A TWO-PART SIGN OF LOVE SERIES INSPIRED BY AQUARIUS. THE SECOND PART, FINDING EDEN, RELEASES SIMULTANEOUSLY. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and graphic sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy: Amazon 

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Finding Eden

Book 2

Sign of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius

By Mia Sheridan

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Synopsis

Finding Eden is the continuation, and conclusion, to Becoming Calder.

When the world as you know it has ended, when all that you love has been washed away, where do you find strength?

When the new world you’ve stepped into is as isolating as the last, when your heart is broken, and your future is unclear, where do you find hope?

Finding Eden is a story of strength, discovery, forgiveness, and undying love. It is about believing in your destiny and following the path that leads to peace.

THIS IS THE SECOND PART, AND CONCLUSION, IN A TWO-PART SIGN OF LOVE SERIES INSPIRED BY AQUARIUS (BECOMING CALDER SHOULD BE READ FIRST). New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and graphic sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy: Amazon 

6 star

2014 Favorite

Tracey’s Review

When I was given the chance to read BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN by Mia Sheridan, I was excited. I mean, first off, it’s Mia Sheridan, and, secondly, the synopses for these books drew me in from the very beginning. I was intrigued, and couldn’t wait to find out more about Calder Raynes and Eden Everson, and Acadia, the community that they lived in. And, so, lucky enough to have these books in my hands, I began. And once I did, I just could not put them down. I could not stop for anything. Because I was captivated, completely won over, in every way possible.

Calder Raynes has lived at Acadia his entire life, surrounded by family and friends. From the moment of Eden’s arrival, the two are drawn to each other, and over the years, their relationship changes from friendship to desire to love, even as Eden’s eighteenth birthday, her appointed wedding day to Hector, grows ever closer.

Eden Everson was brought as a child to Acadia, a community set apart from society in anticipation of the end of the world. Remembering only snippets of her earlier life, she has been groomed since her arrival to be the bride of Hector, Acadia’s dynamic leader, and to help lead their people to Elysium, the promised land. But Hector never figured on Eden finding a real and forbidden love within Acadia.

Eden’s and Calder’s love story unfolds beautifully in BECOMING CALDER, but as in all epic love stories, tragedy accompanies joy, and events transpire that force Eden and Calder apart. As FINDING EDEN begins, we know that Eden has survived the events of the first book, but are left, along with Eden, to mourn the loss of her love and accompany her as she learns to live in society, to make a place for herself in the world outside Acadia.

“It was true what I’d once said about the stars—some things are seen more clearly in light…and some things are seen more clearly in darkness. Because  somewhere in the dark of the night, Calder pulled me close to him and we agreed in ways both spoken and unspoken that the world was ugly and broken and love was ridiculously dangerous and absurdly unsafe…and that we would love anyway. We would keep our fierce and tender hearts open. It felt foolish and ridiculous and right. It felt like the bravest thing in the whole world.”

BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are two of the best books that I have had the pleasure of reading. It is impossible not to fall in love with these characters, to rejoice in their love, and mourn their losses. I was so emotionally invested in Eden and Calder and their stories that I couldn’t stop thinking of them long after I’d finished the books. Although I wanted to enjoy these books at a leisurely pace, and just soak up the story, I could not help but speed through them, because I just could not wait to see what happened next.

If we’re lucky, we come across a handful of books that really resonate for us. They are beautifully crafted, ripe with wonderful plot, dialogue, and characters that, during the course of the story, prove themselves to be so much more. I can honestly say that BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are all of this and more for me. Mia Sheridan, by the blessing that is her creativity, birthed Calder, this beautiful, strong, loving man, and Eden, Calder’s Morning Glory, a girl that refused to give up in the face of enormous obstacles, and allowed us to be part of it. I savored these books, soaked in every part of them, wanting to reach the culmination, but yet not wanting it to end. And then I had to sit with the story for a few days, to revisit and replay every bit of it: Calder, Xander, Eden, and the entire experience that was Acadia, and what came after. Only then could I sit down and share my thoughts, that BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are absolutely two of my favorite books, not just of this year, but ever. And to let everyone know that 6+ stars doesn’t seem like enough for these books, this beautiful and touching story, with characters that evoked emotion upon emotion. Thank you, Mia, for sharing this truly beautiful story of overcoming life’s obstacles and belief in the power of love with us, and for bringing such a beautiful love story to life.

Individual Goodread Review links:

Becoming Calder-

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/920258280?book_show_action=false

Finding Eden

 

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1034919949?book_show_action=false

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Author Bio

Mia SheridanMia Sheridan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. Her passion is weaving true love stories about people destined to be together. Mia lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. They have four children here on earth and one in heaven.

 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 

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Release Day Blitz + Review : Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

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Stepbrother Dearest

By Penelope Ward

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Synopsis

You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.

When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be.

I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here.

I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room.

But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night.

Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California.

It had been years since I’d seen Elec.

When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again.

And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.

I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone novel.

**Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+

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Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes 

Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward will be on sale for $2.99 Release Day Only

6 star

2014 Favorite

Michel’s Review

Wow! Stepbrother Dearest is one of those books that held me prisoner from the very first word to the end. I was captivated by the story and felt like I knew Greta and Elec personally. Their story seemed very real and touched my heart.

We meet Greta and Elec when they are both teenagers. Greta’s mother married Elec’s father. Do to circumstances in Elec’s home life, he is forced to go stay with his father. He’s an angry young man with a chip that is larger than a boulder on his shoulder. He’s prepared to be hostile and belligerent. He’s prepared to share his misery with every member in the family, including his stepsister Greta. On the surface we see a very angry young man, but under the nasty exterior, there is a boy that is hurting very deeply.

Greta is a happy, go lucky, naïve teenage girl. She’s excited to finally have a sibling to share her life with. What she gets instead of a brother is a bully. A brother that fully intends on making her life miserable. She has a hard time understanding Elec’s monstrous behavior. That is until she looks beneath the surface. Once she begins to see the real Elec, her opinion changes drastically. Once he knows he can trust Greta, Elec begins to show her the real Elec that hides beneath the sneers and smart mouthed punk.

Greta and Elec become close. They realize they have feelings that go beyond brotherly sisterly love. One forbidden night will change their lives forever. One forbidden night will never be forgotten. One forbidden night is the end of their time together.

As the years go by, neither Greta or Elec has forgotten that forbidden love. Life has taken them in different directions. Both have moved on in their lives. They are pursuing careers and building lives of their own. All seems well until there is a family tragedy that brings them together once again. Now they are adults that can make their own destinies. They will have to chose between the new lives they have built for themselves or chose to pursue their forbidden love.

I can’t say too much more about this book without giving spoilers. I will say Penelope Ward wrote a powerful story of love and redemption. The story was written from duo POV’s and was easy to get inside the characters minds. She portrayed the characters maturity and emotional levels with perfection. The teenage Elec and Greta were exactly as teenagers should be. The adult Elec and Greta had matured gracefully and became strong individuals with a great sense of self. They had become the children most parents want their kids to become in their adult lives. How they handled their reunion was with the utmost care and consideration for those in their lives. The love they shared was a powerful once in a lifetime love that time could not take away.

Penelope Ward is a talented writer. She creates characters that are very real and memorable. Their stories are emotional with a strong dose of reality. Stepbrother Dearest deserves a 6 Star Review!

I highly recommend this book.

5.5 Star

Tracey’s Review

Greta is seventeen when her stepbrother, Elec, comes to live with her family for the year.Not quite sure what to expect, Greta is hopeful that Elec will be the brother she never had.

‘I had a stepbrother.

That was a weird thought. I hoped we would get along. As an only child, I had always wanted a sibling. I laughed at how stupid this was, fantasizing that this was going to be some kind of fairytale relationship overnight, like friggin’ Donny and Marie Osmond or Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal.’

But paradise it isn’t. Elec’s arrival is less than friendly, and he is very clear about not wanting to have any kind of relationship with Greta or her parents.

‘He wouldn’t look at me, so I used the opportunity to continue examining him as he dumped his bag on the floor.

Thud.

Was that my heart or the bag?’

With his dark good looks and bad boy demeanor, Elec inspires thoughts that are anything but sisterly in Greta. Sibling rivalry just got a lot sexier.

I was absolutely hooked from the first page of Stepbrother Dearest. There was no way that I was going to be able to put this book down without finding out exactly what was going to transpire between Greta and Elec. There was some serious sexual tension going on; the smolder between these two had me fanning myself, and waiting for the moment when the spark became full-on combustion. But this is not just a hot and sexy read. There is so much more to Elec than is apparent at first glance. His painful past has shaped him completely, and there are secrets that he refuses to share, even as he and Greta grow closer. When events arise that cause Elec and Greta to go their separate ways, Greta knows that she will never be the same. And, when the find themselves together again, it’s clear that she is not alone in her feelings.

I am personally a fan of stories where we, as readers, get to see the perspective of each of the main characters, so I was not disappointed that there was dual POV in Stepbrother Dearest. Reading about how Elec felt, in his own words, allowed us to see the issues that had driven him from the first time he met Greta, and gave him much more depth. And, even seven years later, the chemistry between Greta and Elec was off the charts hot, and seeing how both of them felt made it a much more satisfying read for me.

Penelope Ward has done another fantastic job with Stepbrother Dearest. I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough, and give it 5.5 deeply satisfying stars.

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Author Bio:

b2ca1162840c0a8c0911d0.L._V366446166_SY470_Penelope Ward is a USA Today Bestselling author.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career.

Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.

She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 8-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.

Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.

She is currently working on her fifth novel, Jake Understood. She is the author of Gemini, Jake Undone, My Skylar and Stepbrother Dearest.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Be sure to connect with Penelope Ward on Facebook During Stepbrother Dearest release week for prizes and more….

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Release Blitz and Review + Giveaway: Unclaimed by Laurie Wetzel

Untitled.jpgUnclaimed

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By Laurie Wetzel

Synopsis

 Abandoned by her birth parents and ignored by her adoptive family, Maddy Page believes she is unlovable. She only allows herself to dream of falling in love. That changes when she meets MJ; handsome and kind, MJ penetrates Maddy’s defenses. Maddy soon finds herself confiding in MJ like she has with no one else, revealing secrets even her closest friends don’t know. He makes her feel safe–a feeling she’s never experienced except in her dreams.

When Maddy witnesses MJ disappear and reappear in thin air, she realizes she might have been wrong about him. He could be dangerous–maybe even a killer. Determined to uncover the truth of who–or what–MJ is, Maddy ignores her instinct to run. But she soon realizes that getting close to MJ could cost more than a broken heart–it could cost Maddy her soul.

Buy Links : Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

 My entire body pulses in the wake of his touch. His words “if you were mine” keep circling around in my head, and with each rotation, something inside me grows. He makes me feel happy and less broken. I feel I could take on the world as long as he’s beside me. Whatever he is, I don’t care. I’ve never felt anything like this, and I’ll go to Hell and back to keep it. Regardless of what happens to me, I have to protect him. I have to keep him safe, always.

He grins and squeezes my hand again. My body responds with such intensity, I almost feel as if I were floating. I don’t want it to ever stop. I want to stay strong. I want to be brave. I want to feel safe. He gives me all of that. I want to hold him forever, even if it’s only his hand.
“Tomorrow,” he says, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’ll find a way to see you.”
“Promise?”

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3.5 star

 

Tracey’s Review

Since the day that she found out that she was adopted, Maddy Page refuses to feel. Anything. Thoughts that she is somehow second-best, like she is less important to her family and friends, plague her, keeping her from accepting any affection, afraid that it will unexpectedly be taken away from her. But Maddy is special. Since her childhood, she has been gifted, able to do things more easily and better than other people. And, for as long as she can remember, she has been able to see Dream Girl and the Dark Prince, Damian, when she sleeps at night.

Maddy is unaware of just how many things set her apart from others. But there are those that recognize how special she is, and are eager to get their hands on her. Because Maddy is unclaimed, somehow marked by neither Heaven nor Hell, making her fair game for whichever side can bind her to them. And neither side will stop until she belongs to them.

UNCLAIMED is the first book in the UNCLAIMED series by Laurie Wetzel. As a new book in the YA paranormal genre, it is a fine addition, with a plot that is original, and that has characters that are interesting and multi-dimensional. There were times when I was reading it, though, that I found myself distracted and a bit confused by the way that the story jumped around. As I read, it seemed as though there should have been a bit more backstory towards the beginning of the book. Instead, it was rolled out bit by bit as the book progressed, and this made it a little more difficult for me to follow. Overall, I did enjoy UNCLAIMED, and I would definitely like to read future books in the series to find out how things are wrapped up.
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Author bio

021eLaurie Wetzel has always had a passion for writing, but it wasn’t until a New Years Resolution in 2011 that she finally shared her lifelong dream of being an author with her husband. He read the very first draft of Unclaimed and gave her the words she needed to hear, “This is what you need to be doing.” Three years later the first book in the Unclaimed series was published with the second book expected to be out in 2015. Laurie lives in Mankato, MN, with her husband and two young sons. When she’s not writing, working, or spending time with her family, she’s either reading, running, or catching up on her favorite shows on Netflix. For updates on the Unclaimed series as well as other works in progress, feel free to check her out online!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!
 
There is a huge giveaway happening with the blog tour for signed paperback of Unclaimed, Pens,Bookmarks, Posters!
 

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Saddles and Sin by Jessie Evans

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Saddles and Sins

Lonesome Point Series- Book 2

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By Jessie Evans

Synopsis

A sinfully sexy romance from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jessie Evans.

Even sweet cowboys have a sinful side…

Robert Lawson–Bubba to his friends–is six feet, four inches of tall, dark, and handsome cowboy, with a panty-melting voice and a face made to launch a country music career. But when his family’s ranch hands go down with the flu, Robert cancels his high-profile auditions in Austin, and returns home to Lonesome Point to help out. Fortune and fame are all well and good, but family and friends come first. Besides, he’s ready to enjoy some off-the-clock time with his manager, a woman who has him dying to show her what a good man can do to a woman when he’s given permission to be bad.

Marisol Medina has been looking for her golden ticket since she became a country music manager. A scandal with one of her clients nearly destroyed her, but now she’s close to launching an artist who will make her career. Robert Lawson has it all–talent, charisma, and a naughty side that flicks all of Marisol’s kinkier switches. But Robert is off limits. She refuses to mix business and pleasure, even if it will be hell resisting temptation while spending a week at the Lawson family ranch, doing her best to convince Robert to ditch the saddle and embrace his future as a star.

But as Marisol and Robert grow closer and the passion between them ignites, Marisol must decide if fear is stronger than love, or if a chance at forever is worth breaking all her rules.

 

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

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Excerpt

The kiss started off soft and sweet, with so much heart in every brush of skin against skin that Bubba’s throat pulled tight with emotion. But then Marisol’s tongue slipped between his lips and he tasted the smoky sweet taste of her, and his body began to respond the way it always did when this woman was in his arms. Soon his heart was slamming against his ribs, he was hard enough to transform his jeans into a medieval instrument of torture, and it felt like the world was going to end if he didn’t get her naked and underneath him in the next sixty seconds.

“Hold that thought,” he growled against her lips, reaching out to squeeze her thigh before starting the truck and pulling back onto the road.

“I hope you live close by,” Marisol said, her breath coming fast.

“Right around the corner and down a hill,” he said. “We’re going to be in my bed in five minutes.”

“I don’t care if we make it to the bed,” Marisol said, sending another jolt of awareness surging between his legs. “Bent over the back of the couch is fine with me.”

“Keep talking like that and we might not make it past the foyer,” he warned, letting his foot shove the gas pedal closer to the floorboards.

The foyer is fine.” Marisol leaned in, whispering the words against his neck in a voice so fucking sexy it was almost enough to make him come right there. “The floor there can’t be much harder than the rocks by the pool.”

5 starTracey’s Review

Life is about to change for Robert ‘Bubba’ Lawson in a very big way. The success he’s long dreamed of is on the horizon, and there is no one he’d rather share it with than Marisol Medina. Marisol, Bubba’s manager, is a real pepper pot, a go-getter with a feisty attitude and the drive to help Bubba break into the country music scene. She also happens to drive him wild, and the feeling is very mutual.

 

I cannot even put into words the love that I feel for Robert ‘Bubba’ Lawson. Jessie Evans has written a sweet and sexy cowboy that, if possible, is even hotter than all of her previous men, and that’s saying quite a lot! I mean, swoon city. Not only is Bubba an awesome friend, as he showed us in ‘Leather and Lace’ (Lonesome Point Book 1), he is also a genuinely nice guy. Did I mention that he’s panty-meltingly hot? And talented? And smart? And quite possibly the most fabulous boyfriend ever?

 

I picked up this book and, as with all of Jessie’s books, could NOT put it down. Once I really met Bubba, there was nothing to do but hang on for the ride as he swept Marisol off her feet and broke down every wall that she tried to put up. He is not afraid to lay everything out there, and to make Marisol’s not-so-vanilla fantasies a reality. For real, where can I get my own Bubba? I’m afraid that Jessie may have spoiled me for other book boyfriends…I obviously cannot say enough about how much I loved Saddles and Sins, and I absolutely cannot wait for Tulsi’s and Pike’s story in Diamonds and Dust.

The Lonesome Point, Texas series. Hot Texas days, hotter Texas nights:

LEATHER AND LACE

SADDLES AND SIN

DIAMONDS AND DUST

GLITTER AND GRIT

 

About the Author

jessieJessie Evans gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sassy, Southern romances, and sexy, New Adult romances she loves to read.

She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a tree house in the boonies. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.

When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and wandering the woods, glass of wine and camera in hand, on the lookout for Bigfoot.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

Saddles and Sin

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