Review – Eat Dessert First

Tags

Book Review, Eat Dessert First, Michelle Paris

Eat Dessert First

by Michelle Paris

Genre: Women’s Fiction/ ChickLit 

Age category: Adult

Release Date: 7 May, 2024

Blurb:

Baker Abbey Reilly has heard you have such a pretty face enough to know that it’s code for but an ugly body. At thirty-three, she has been particularly unlucky in love and convinced that no one will ever see beyond her plus-size. So she’s stunned when a handsome regular customer not only shows interest but asks her to dinner.

Let down and devastated when she learns her would-be beau is married, Abbey is resigned to live a lonely existence. Until a sweet encounter with a dreamy guy at a bachelorette party gives her hope that her luck in the romance department has changed. But his horrible ex-fiancee has different plans.

Can this big-hearted baker find the recipe for happiness and romance?

With light humor and loving insight, Michelle Paris weaves a delightful tale of learning to believe in yourself. Juggling elder parent care, tight finances, and deeply ingrained insecurities, Abbey Reilly will charm any reader fond of rooting for an underdog.

Eat Dessert First is a heartwarming story of hope. If you like relatable heroines, chasing a dream, and maintaining hope while searching for happiness, then you’ll adore Michelle Paris’s sweet story of fulfillment.

Links:

– Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203648702-eat-dessert-first 

– Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/eat-dessert-first-by-michelle-paris 

– Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Dessert-First-Michelle-Paris-ebook/dp/B0CRQ85T11 

– Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eat-dessert-first-michelle-paris/1144471139?ean=9781627205122 

– Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/eat-dessert-first-2 

– Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/eat-dessert-first-michelle-paris/20981701?ean=9781627205115 

– Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Eat-Dessert-First-Paperback-9781627205115/5265923557

*****

Review:

There were so many characters to love in this story. Jax for his wooing of Abbey, Caroline for her support, Magda for her no nonsense attitude, and Abbey for her journey to seeing her true worth.

It’s hard to be a bigger girl, especially during those formative teenage years. Kids can be cruel and those wounds from our youth can leave long term scars. There are so many moments of “I’ve been there” in how Abbey views herself, how she interacts with others, and how her insecurities are laid out so baldly. There are some sweet moments and a lighthearted touch here and there, but it’s not easy for Abbey and takes pretty much the entire book.

**minor spoilers ahead** But I felt like it would have been better for Abbey to grow a little more earlier in the story. She could have really embraced who she was, learned to look at herself in a more positive light. I also feel like there needed to be more resolution to Abbey’s relationship with her sister. There is A LOT to unpack there and we just don’t get that. It’s a throw-away in the epilogue and really needed more to feel like it had been addressed. And as much as I love Jax and his patience in pursuing a relationship with Abbey, I’m surprised that he was willing to keep coming back. I get why she felt the way she did but she sure did not give that man a fair shake. He was almost too perfect but it’s a woman’s fiction novel not a true romance so as such the focus, rightly, was on Abbey.

While there were a few things that I think could have been handled either differently or with more detail, I enjoyed Paris’s newest. She gives readers supportive friends and a kind hearted beau, to allow Abbey to slowly work her way to seeing herself the way they do. And it all leads up to a deliciously feel-good HEA.

*****

Author Info:

Michelle Paris is an award-winning Maryland writer who writes about hope with humor. Eat Dessert First is her second novel that deals with a serious subject told with a mixture of heartfelt and comedic moments. Her debut novel, New Normal, loosely based on her own experience of being a young widow, received First Place in The BookFest Fall 2023 Awards and was a Finalist in The Independent Author Network Book Awards. Michelle’s personal story of overcoming grief was featured in the Wall Street Journal. And her essays about grief and mid-life dating have appeared in multiple editions of the Chicken Soup for the Soul and in other media outlets. She is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and the Maryland Writer’s Association. Currently, Michelle is enjoying chapter two of her life with her new husband, Kevin, who keeps her from being a cat lady but only on a technicality. For more information, please visit http://www.michelleparisauthor.com.

Author links:

– Website: https://michelleparisauthor.com/ 

– Twitter: https://twitter.com/maparis916 

– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.paris.7399/ 

– Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michelle-Paris/author/B0BS4DWT8H 

– Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29748888.Michelle_Paris 

~

Spotlight – Here For The Cake

Tags

Here for the Cake, Jennifer Millikin

Here for the Cake

by Jennifer Millikin

Blurb:

A spicy, sassy, and swoony fake dating romantic comedy from Amazon Charts bestselling author Jennifer Millikin.

A week on an island sounds like the stuff of beach dreams, but for Paisley Royce, it’s a nightmare. Her little sister is marrying her ex-college sweetheart, and Paisley is serving as maid of honor. To add insult to injury, nobody will let Paisley forget she’s single.

Bachelorette weekend changes everything when she runs into her old college frenemy, Klein Madigan.

Klein is still intelligent and funny, and somehow time has only made him more attractive.

Paisley is Klein’s ‘one that got away’, not that he’d ever admit it to her. A colossal misstep (and one terrible kiss) in college sealed their fate.

Or so they thought.

Klein’s an aspiring author allergic to social media. Paisley owns a digital marketing agency.

A brilliant plan is hatched: A trip across the country for a week of faking out her family in exchange for her firm marketing his work.

One hastily scrawled and signed contract on a bar napkin later, Paisley and Klein embark on a journey of tension, only one bed, and fake dating shenanigans.

Paisley’s goal is to survive the week.

Klein’s plan is to enjoy the sun, sand, and wedding cake.

But then there’s a scorching kiss to make up for that bad one in college.

And another kiss in a lighthouse during a thunderstorm. A gentle palm on Paisley’s lower back, and a reassuring hand squeeze under the table.

Everyone is convinced Klein and Paisley are the real deal, but as the week wears on, they begin to wonder if the only people they’re kidding are themselves.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SBFVS4

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/HereForTheCake

Audible: https://adbl.co/3JCn1VY

Audio Narrated by: Hanna Chiclana & Aaron Donahue

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/48S9Rzc

*****

Author Info:

Jennifer Millikin is a bestselling author of fifteen contemporary romance and women’s fiction novels. She is the two-time recipient of the Readers Favorite Gold Star Award, and readers have called her work “emotionally riveting” and “unputdownable”.

Following a viral TikTok video with over fourteen million views, Jennifer’s third novel, Our Finest Hour, has been optioned for TV/Film. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, children, and Liberty, her Labrador retriever.

Connect with Jennifer

Website: https://www.jennifermillikinwrites.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jennifermillikin

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B0161EZ30K

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jennifermillikinreadergroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenmillwrites/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorjenmill

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-millikin

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

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/Jenmillwrites

~

Spotlight – I Thought of You

Tags

I Thought of You, Jewel E. Ann

I Thought of You

by Jewel E. Ann

Blurb:

I wanted to conquer the world.

She wanted to gaze at the stars.

It’s been twelve years since I last saw Scottie Rucker. A grim prognosis has upended my life, and no amount of my hard-earned money can fix it. So, after leaving a note on the nightstand, I search for my first love—I search for life.

When I find her in Austin, working at a quaint general store and living in an RV behind it, those twelve years vanish. She’s exactly how I remember her.

Scottie thinks our reunion is a small-world coincidence, and I’m not ready to tell her the truth. After we rekindle our friendship, she convinces me to work part-time at the store while she pursues her budding relationship with Koen, a welder and the grandson of a customer.

Scottie’s ability to live in the moment is exactly what I need. But how do I convince her new boyfriend that I’m not his competition? And what happens if my heart changes its mind?

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/43VVFn6

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/IThoughtofYou

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3uJWItk

*****

Author Info:

Jewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she’s not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance. 

Connect with Jewel

Website: https://www.jeweleann.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7505427.Jewel_E_Ann

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jewel-E-Ann/e/B00IJYHDIG/

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/485996228236493

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjeweleann/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JewelE_Ann

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jewel-e-ann

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

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeweleannauthor

~

Spotlight – Crave

Tags

Chelle Bliss, Crave, Men of Inked Sinners series

Crave

Men of Inked Sinners Book 1

by Chelle Bliss

Blurb:

Tate Gallo had a type – emotionally unavailable bikers who were more feral than serious relationship material.

The day she turned thirty, she decided to make a change: No more biker boys. She deserved more. She wanted to be someone’s world.

But then he stumbled in bloodied, bruised, and in need of help. One look into his dark eyes, and Tate realized her life would never be the same again.

She wouldn’t fall for him.
She couldn’t, not for her heart’s sake.
But one kiss never hurt anyone…right?

But with one taste of his lips and touch of his hand, Tate knew she couldn’t escape his pull forever.

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

Amazon: https://geni.us/crave-zon

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3SoaM4q

Nook: https://geni.us/crave-nook

Kobo: https://geni.us/crave-kobo

Google Play: https://geni.us/crave-gp

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3uL5h77

*****

Author Info:

Chelle Bliss is the Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of Men of Inked Series and Misadventures of a City Girl.

She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, ex-high school history teacher, and currently lives near the beach even though she hates sand. Chelle loves spending time with her two cats, alpha boyfriend, and chatting with readers.

Connect with Chelle

Website: menofinked.com 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7164384.Chelle_Bliss

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chelle-Bliss/e/B00FIPAHYQ/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchellebliss1

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blisshangout/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorchellebliss/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChelleBliss1

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/chelle-bliss

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chellebliss10/

Other: https://bingebooks.com/author/chelle-bliss

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/chellebliss/

~

Review – Because of You

Tags

Because of You, Book Review, Calypso Key series, Erin Brockus

Because of You

Calypso Key series

by Erin Brockus

Blurb:

Our fake romance was born from flames.  

But when real feelings spark, will my real wounds destroy us?

EVAN:

I’ve been managing Calypso Key Resort, our family beachside retreat in the Florida Keys, for so long I can do it in my sleep—which isn’t what keeps me up at night. That honor goes to Liv Jacobson, the gorgeous, curvy bakery owner I’m too shy to approach. Past wounds cut deep and I’m a shadow of the man I once was. 

But when fate engulfs her bakery, I offer her a refuge. And an opportunity to get to know her better. When I spin a panicked tale of needing a fake relationship, Liv shocks me further by playing along.

Every shared secret, every pretend kiss kindles a blaze that becomes dangerously real. But when my unresolved past explodes, I push everyone away, including Liv. How could a fake relationship have turned so real? 

Because now, it’s no longer a game—it’s our shot at forever.

Buy Link: https://mybook.to/Because

Available in KU

*****

Review:

I really like Evan and Liv. They work well together – caring, giving, and kind. Evan helps Liv step a little out of her comfort zone and try new things. He is also good at helping her feel good in her body, finding herself as sexy as he does. While Liv helps Evan remember that he’s a worthy man as he is now. One who is an integral part of his family, their business, and the community.

Of course, his issues cause trouble between the two but after a big push from his family & Liv and a bit of self-discovery (I wish it had included professional counseling), he starts to recognize how his attitude is impacting his world. While it isn’t completely resolved by the end of the book, there is still an opportunity in a future book so maybe Brockus is holding on to that. Oh, and the epilogue is perfect for these two.

**some minor spoilers ahead**

I did struggle a bit, though, with Evan’s issues. It’s been 13 years! And they were kids! I get that he lost a lot of what he expected to be. And that it was painful and took a while. But I don’t understand why his family let him continue like that for so long. I could understand if it had only been a few years but over a decade? and the man is in his 30s … it should have been addressed well before this point. This is my first by this author so maybe this came up before, I don’t know. But it bothered me. I kept reading because I loved these two together AND because I hoped that there would be an explanation. There wasn’t. And there wasn’t a good resolution? I seem the only one that seems to mind it though so take from that what you will.

(Part of a series, can be read on its own, but I felt like I missed a couple of references by not having read previous stories. Minor but they exist and may bother some.)

*****

Author Info:

Dive Into a Tropical Romantic Escape!

Erin Brockus writes steamy small town romances that transport readers to exotic, tropical destinations, and provide a perfect beachy getaway from everyday life. Her mature, relatable characters are impossible not to root for, and she weaves breezy romantic adventure into her stories, emphasizing scuba diving and the ocean.

Drawing on her twin passions for diving and travel, Erin infuses her characters and narratives with a sense of excitement and passion. Her idea of the perfect day involves sipping a cocktail on the beach after exploring the ocean depths.

Erin lives in Washington wine country with her husband, who is also a scuba instructor. She is currently hard at work on her next island adventure. When she’s not writing, you might find her out for a run or cycling through the countryside on the next quest for adventure.

Connect with Erin Brockus:

https://linktr.ee/erinbrockus

~

Review – The Duke Wins a Bride

Tags

Book Review, Inconvenient Brides series, Nina Jarrett, The Duke Wins a Bride

The Duke Wins a Bride

Inconvenient Brides series

by Nina Jarrett

Blurb:

Her betrothed cheated on her. The duke offers to save her. Can a marriage of convenience turn into true love?

In this steamy historical romance, a sheltered baron’s daughter and a celebrated duke agree on a marriage of convenience, but he has a secret that may ruin it all.

She is desperate to escape …

When Miss Annabel Ridley learns her betrothed has been unfaithful, she knows she must cancel the wedding. The problem is no one else seems to agree with her, least of all her father. With her wedding day approaching, she must find a way to escape her doomed marriage. She seeks out the Duke of Halmesbury to request he intercede with her rakish betrothed to break it off before the wedding day.

He is ready to try again …

Widower Philip Markham has decided it is time to search for a new wife. He hopes to find a bold bride to avoid the mistakes of his past. Fate seems to be favoring him when he finds a captivating young woman in his study begging for his help to disengage from a despised figure from his past. He astonishes her with a proposal of his own—a marriage of convenience to suit them both. If she accepts, he resolves to never reveal the truth of his past lest it ruin their chances of possibly finding love.

The Duke Wins a Bride is the delightful first book in the Inconvenient Brides series of steamy Regency romance books. If you like worthy heroes, strong heroines, fast-paced plots, and enduring connections, then you’ll adore Nina Jarrett’s charming novel. Can be read as a standalone book.

Purchase Links

https://ninajarrett.com/products/the-duke-wins-a-bride-ebook

Amazon – https://amzn.to/3HLDyWP

B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-duke-wins-a-bride-nina-jarrett/1141457900?ean=2940167337572

*****

Review:

Overall I liked The Duke Wins a Bride. The characters are interesting, with Philip’s issue with his dead wife and Annabel’s family dynamic. (I’m assuming that there will be more of Annabel’s brother – or at least I hope so. He’s got the potential for a story of his own and I’d love to see more of what he’s been through.) They struggle with their baggage complicating their relationship as they work to get to know each other better. Just when it feels like they are taking steps forward, miscommunication or a past hurt rears its head and they lose a little ground.

Which means, of course, there is a lot of angst in this book. I, and Philip, love how spunky Annabel is. She’s willing to take chances and fight for what she wants. But she’s also very young and struggles with moments of self doubt thanks to her father and brother. It leads to a lot of ups and downs – literally one chapter will end with her feelings of optimism and the next will start with doubts. (There are also a few times when she seems a bit … forward for a new, young bride in a historical romance. It leads to some quite steamy scenes but seems a little off for the time period.)

Philip also struggles, especially with how he views his relationship with women. His last wife’s actions have him second guessing a lot of his interactions with Annabel, creating more ups and downs for them individually and as a couple.

The Duke Wins a Bride won’t be for everyone but I enjoyed it. It’s got a good blend of spiciness and drama, with a satisfying HEA (and hopefully at least two follow up stories).

Heads up – the writing is a little flowery, which I think is a little more acceptable in historical romances than contemporary ones, but it is a bit heavy handed here and there. I don’t mind it but I know that it does bother some. Also, apparently but I don’t know enough to confirm, there are anachronisms but … again, don’t know enough so it didn’t bother me.

*****

Author Info:

Regency writer, retired Inc. 500 sales coach, former director of a drug rehabilitation center, and Amazon bestselling author of the Inconvenient Brides series.

Nina started writing her own stories in elementary school but quickly grew distracted when she finished school and moved on to non-profit work with recovering drug addicts. There she worked with people from every walk of life, from privileged neighborhoods to the shantytowns of urban and rural South Africa.

One day, she met a real-life romantic hero. She instantly married her fellow bibliophile and moved to the USA, where she enjoyed a career as a sales coaching executive at an Inc 500 company. She currently lives with her husband on the Florida Gulf Coast.

Nina believes in kindness and the indomitable power of the human spirit. She is fascinated by the amazing, funny people she has met across the world who dared to change their lives. She likes to tell mischievous tales of life-changing decisions and character transformations while drinking excellent coffee and avoiding cookies.

Social Media Links – 

https://twitter.com/regencyscribe

https://www.instagram.com/ninajarrettwrites

https://www.facebook.com/ninajarrettwrites

https://www.tiktok.com/@regencywriter

https://www.youtube.com/@Regencyromancewriter

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/regencyromancewriter/

https://ninajarrett.com

*****

Review – Stacked

Tags

Book Review, Linden Bell, Mars Fitness series, Stacked

Stacked

Mars Fitness, Book Two

by Linden Bell

Blurb:

Sawyer

I’ve been in love with my best friend and roommate since the first day of boarding school over a decade ago. But Preston has always been oblivious, obsessed with his PhD research, and more importantly, straight.

When the new, sexy grad student walks into my gym, I have to wonder… is it time for me to move on?

Preston

Some guy is trying to steal my best friend. I won’t let him. Sawyer’s mine.

Maybe I haven’t appreciated Sawyer enough over the years, but that’s going to change now. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him by my side. Even if it means kissing him.

Stacked is a best friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening, nerd/jock MM romance between possessive, protective, and co-dependent roommates. Expect the most tender caretaking, slipping into each other’s beds in the middle of the night, and adorable clinginess. It is the second book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone.

Universal Link

Add on Goodreads

*****

Review:

**minor spoilers ahead**

I’ll be honest, love triangles are just not my thing. I think that’s a really important CW for this one because Sawyer does have a relationship – romantic and sexual – with someone else. He does it with good intentions, believing that Preston will never return his feelings, but it’s still a thing. Do they handle it the best way? No. But it seems pretty realistic all things considered.

Sawyer is a genuinely nice guy – kind, considerate, and giving. I’m not sure I quite understand his attraction to Preston but the heart is a force unto itself 🙂 Not to say he doesn’t do some stupid things, but I think he means well.

Preston is a bit self-absorbed and quite clueless on just about everything because he’s been cared for by others pretty much all his life. He’s neurodivergent at least and likely somewhere on the aromantic/asexual scale. But getting his side of things, I kinda like him. I’m not sure why, maybe because Sawyer does, but while he’s problematic I also found myself rooting for them.

I feel like Bell does a good job of handling the changing dynamic of Preston & Sawyer’s relationship. Preston struggles with even normal human interactions but throwing in new sexual & romantic feelings for his best friend is huge. With Sawyer’s help, he eventually figures things out. And while I was happy they got their HEA, I hope that Bell has something in mind for Fitz because he definitely deserves better than he got.

~

Review – Friends Like Them

Tags

Aimee Nicole Walker, Book Review, Friends Like Them, Redemption Ridge series

Friends Like Them

Redemption Ridge #4

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Blurb:

Owen Doyle’s rough beginnings taught him not to form attachments, yet he’s drawn to Tyler Booth like a magnet. Their relationship has blossomed from strangers to best friends, with each twist in the journey weaving their connection tighter. But Owen has a six-year secret that’s become unbearably painful to keep. As the seams of his resistance fray, Owen will lean into a new mentoring opportunity to keep from ruining the best thing in his life.

Tyler will never regret going to jail and getting sober because meeting Owen saved his life and taught him how to trust again. Their inseparable bond has earned much teasing over the years, but Tyler doesn’t recognize himself without Owen. When he senses a yawning chasm between them, he’ll turn to mutual friends for help. Their well-meaning advice opens Tyler’s eyes to unexplored possibilities and will snap missing puzzle pieces into place.

Some hopes are too big to stifle, and some truths are too big to ignore. A photo booth, smoking-hot kisses, and honest revelations will take Owen and Tyler’s intimacy to a whole new level. But before they can achieve their happily ever after, they must unload the baggage from their pasts. Will the road to discovery guide them to the necessary healing, or are the guys destined for the highway to heartache?

Friends Like Them is book four in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Friends Like Them contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

“Ty, I want to get pictures with you in the booth.” Owen’s voice was soft, but his suggestion landed like a bomb. That tiny, cramped space wasn’t big enough. One would have to practically sit on the other’s lap. Tyler’s mind didn’t need additional encouragement to replay the earlier fantasy.

“Ty.” Owen’s voice was more urgent as he stepped beside him. “Are you okay?”

No, he wasn’t, but an honest answer would only invite additional questions he wanted to avoid. Tyler forced a smile and said, “Yeah. I’m great. Let’s go take pictures.”

Owen responded with an excited whoop before he bounded out of the kitchen. Tyler dried his hands and trailed behind him at a more sedate space so he could coach his body and brain into remaining calm. It felt like every pair of eyes was on them as they made their way toward the booth, which looked even smaller up close. Owen reached for the door just as it swung open. Finley and Kieran stumbled out with mussed hair, swollen lips, and strips of photos in their hands. Clearly, the couples used the cramped space to suck face instead of smiling for the camera. Tyler’s heart skipped a beat before galloping like a racehorse.

“It’s all yours, fellas,” Fin said with a sweeping gesture.

Kieran winked at them as they passed by, and Tyler reexperienced the sensation he was the last to figure things out.

*****

Review:

Owen and Tyler have been inseparable since they met in prison. They’ve pretty much been two halves of a whole and we’ve just been waiting for them to finally realize that they were meant to be something more. They’ve always been supportive of each other so it’s a pretty easy transition to a loving, romantic relationship. While there wasn’t a lot of drama in the change, I loved this opportunity to understand their histories and how they got to this point.

I don’t know how Walker keeps giving us such great couples. I saw a few reviews that complained that not much happened or that there wasn’t a lot of angst. Maybe it’s because there was a lot of expectation about what would happen because it’s been hinted at in the previous stories. What we get is a smooth shift from friends to lovers and I’m all for it – I absolutely loved these two together.

*****

Author Info:

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can reach me at:
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aimee-nicole-walker
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AimeeNWalker
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/aimeenicole.walker
Instagram – http://instagram.com/aimeenicolewalker
Blog – AimeeNicoleWalker.blogspot.com

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

My favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimee’s Dye Hards? We’d love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/

Connect with Aimee: https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Friends Like Them, Aimee is giving away 3 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

*****

Catch up on the rest of Redemption Ridge with Book 1: Guys Like Him

Kieran Sullivan is broken when he arrives at Redemption Ridge. A wrongful conviction and twenty months in lockup will do that to a man. The ranch is a place for second chances and fresh starts, but for him, it’s an opportunity to discover who set him up. Get in, get answers, and get out. The plan sounds easy enough until Kieran meets an equine specialist whose sunny smile could warm the coldest heart.

Finley Ashe is a sucker for bruised spirits and sad eyes. The horse whisperer and broken-boy magnet is six months into a hiatus from love when Kieran, the king of emotionally unavailable men, gets assigned to work under his supervision. Mutual attraction is gasoline on proximity’s flame, testing Finley’s resistance in new ways.

Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?

Guys Like Him is book one in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Guys Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

*****

Spotlight – The Knockout

Tags

Bella Matthews, The Knockout

From USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes a hot new hockey romance between a broken ballerina and the forbidden bad boy who saves her.

The Knockout

by Bella Matthews

Blurb:

We all have dirty secrets. Some are just more fun to hide than others.

Ares Wilder is a so-called bad boy. A ladies man. The teammate most likely to fight both on and off the ice. And now this devastatingly dark and handsome hockey player with a sinful smile and a filthy mouth is my twin sister’s new brother-in-law, landing him firmly in the forbidden category.

Only he doesn’t see it that way.

Resisting him should be no big deal, right?

At least that’s what I thought…

Until one night, he manages to look past the illusion I’d spent a lifetime perfecting and see the broken girl behind the pink satin pointe shoes.

We were the perfect storm I never wanted to escape.

But with secrets piling up and my world crashing down, will Ares be one more thing I destroy?

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3T04RSz

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3I6MPIV

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/TheKnockout

*****

Author Info:

Bella Matthews is a USA Today & Amazon Top 50 Bestselling author. She is married to her very own Alpha Male and raising three little ones. You can typically find her running from one sporting event to another. When she is home, she is usually hiding in her home office with the only other female in her house, her rescue dog Tinker Bell by her side. She likes to write swoon-worthy heroes and sassy, smart heroines. Sarcasm is her love language and big family dynamics are her favorite thing to add to each story.

Connect with Bella

Website: www.authorbellamatthews.com  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20795160.Bella_Matthews 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08NFK9K4M?ingress=0&visitId=8b4845c0-1ab8-467b-ac2a-4ddf36d673fd   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bella.Matthews.Author   

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bellamatthewsgamechangers   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellamatthews.author/   

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bellamatthewsauthor  

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

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Review – Deke Me

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Cessna U Hockey series, Deke Me, Kimberly Readnour

From Author Kimberly Readnour comes a fake dating sports romance in the anticipated new Cessna U Hockey series! This new, star player, ordinary girl, college hockey romance leaves you laughing while sizzling the pages. Because we all know that when it comes to the charade of hearts, love scores the winning goal.

Deke Me

Cessna U Hockey, Book One

by Kimberly Readnour

Blurb:

My life is a mess. The last thing I have time for is to fake date Blake Morton, the arrogantly charming captain of the hockey team. But with my grandmother’s looming rent and a paycheck that’s playing hide and seek, I have little choice but to accept Blake’s bizarre proposition: pretend to be his girlfriend.

The deal is simple—no strings attached, just play the part and collect the payment. Easy, right?

Wrong. Emotions don’t play by the rules, especially when you’re teamed up with someone who’s supposed to be nothing more than an arrangement.

I come from a world where every penny counts, while Blake has everything—a sizable trust fund and effortless talent. Yet, as our charade deepens, so do the glimpses of vulnerability behind his perfect facade, and the more I fall for the real Blake.

My job was to fend off distractors, not become one. As lines between reality and make-believe blur, I’m left questioning: Can my feelings withstand the ultimate test, or will they prove to be the most compelling distraction of all?

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/42yPd4L

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PrCeg5

Apple Books: https://apple.co/491fNoX

Nook: https://bit.ly/49X5ymK

Kobo: https://bit.ly/4akrlox

Google Play: https://bit.ly/43G70HV

Kimberly’s Store: https://bit.ly/DekeMe

*****

Review:

Readnour could easily have leaned too heavily on the rich boy/poor girl dynamic here but she does a good job of balancing it. Blake may be privileged but he isn’t snobby and has several moments of recognizing his good fortune, as well as understanding Amanda’s perspective and her pride. Finding himself drawn to her strength and spirit, he soon wants more than a few fake dates.

Amanda has worked hard to get where she is and doesn’t really have a lot of time for Blake or his troubles. But her big heart doesn’t let her just leave him struggling. One good deed quickly leads to another and before she knows it she’s more involved than she expected.

It’s not all smooth sailing. There are mean girl moments and family drama, as well as doubts about what the other is feeling – it did start with a fake date, after all. But they actually, and somewhat surprisingly, talk to each other pretty darn well. It’s refreshing that Readnour didn’t go that route (of course, they have enough troubles without miscommunication being one of them).

This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Her writing is easy, her characters are enjoyable, and the story has the right amount of angst & heat. The pacing was perfect too – the beginning is a quick introduction to the characters with a lead up to their agreement, it doesn’t take all that long for them to start to realize that things may not be as fake as they thought, and then we move into their issues on their way to a HEA. I did feel like I’d have liked a little more about where they go next but I’m hoping since it is the beginning of a series we get a bit more of their relationship as we move through the rest of the stories. Which I’m definitely looking forward to reading 🙂

*****

Author Info:

Kimberly Readnour lives in the Midwest with her husband and a very snuggly cat.

Having a true passion for romance and HEA’s, she took the leap from the young adult genre to romance and never looked back.

Kimberly worked as a Registered Nurse for fifteen years before hanging up her stethoscope. When she isn’t running her own business, you can find her tucked away writing.

Connect with Kimberly 

Website: www.kimberlyreadnour.com  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10814504.Kimberly_Readnour 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Readnour/e/B00PZ6GHZG   

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734619093516871   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyreadnour   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimreadnour    

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Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/KimberlyReadnour    

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