Book Review – Unzipped

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Book Review, Lauren Blakely, Unzipped

Lauren is donating 100% of the first five days of sales for UNZIPPED from all retailers to California Fire Relief Charities, so one-click and you’ll get a sexy, witty rom-com and help a good cause!

*****

Unzipped

by Lauren Blakely

Blurb:

Wanted: hot nerd seeks dating coach.

Picture this – I’m ready to win back the love of my life, and I’m going big this time. We’re talking boom box, sing her name in the rain, let the whole damn neighborhood know I’m good and ready this time around. After all, if you’re going to grand gesture the ever-loving hell out of a second chance, you need to pull out all the stops. 

There’s only one little problem.

My college girlfriend isn’t the one who shows up when I play my “I’ll do anything to win you back” tune. The woman who flings open the second-floor window tells me my ex doesn’t live here anymore. But she’ll help me win her back. Anything for romance, anything for a guy so willing to go big for love. And that’s what I want at first. Until I get to know my new “romance coach” and discover she’s funny, clever, and keeps me on my toes. Now I don’t want to win anyone else’s heart. I want the woman who’s been helping me all along. Trouble is – she thinks I’m in love with someone else, and when we take off on a road trip, everything I think I know about women is about to be unzipped and turned inside out.

Unzipped is a standalone romance!

ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS TODAY!

ORDER YOUR COPIES HERE!

✦Kindle US ➜ https://amzn.to/2E9muKE

✦Kindle UK➜ https://amzn.to/2C0zIbk

✦Kindle CA➜ https://amzn.to/2zPcNhF

✦Kindle AU➜ https://amzn.to/2zPd9ov

✦ Apple Books ➜ https://apple.co/2QiENo1

✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/2OeFJFr

✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/2EdTBge

✦ Google Play ➜ http://bit.ly/UnzippedGplay

✦ Paperback ➜ https://amzn.to/2Eayo6X

✦ The audiobook is narrated by Joe Arden and Andi Arndt! ✦
✦Audible ➜https://adbl.co/2wncWWL

*****

Excerpt:

As I peruse the scenes, the opening notes of a song filter from the front of my townhome. What the hell? Did I leave the streaming app open on my phone? I step away from the counter and head to the front door, looking for my phone, even though I swear I had it with me in the kitchen.

The song grows louder, and it’s not coming from my cell at all. It’s coming from outside. I peer through the peephole.

I jerk back.

Rub my eyes.

What the hell?

Am I really seeing what I’m seeing? I don’t think I had that much wine. I had one sip.

Fine, fine. One large sip. One very large, very hearty sip. All right, it was a gulp.

But I can’t possibly be hallucinating, can I?

I peek again, and holy smokes.

There’s a guy on my front lawn going full Lloyd Dobler.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and my paranoid brain leaps three thousand steps ahead. Did he escape from Alcatraz? Is he going to bang down my door? Attack me?

I pivot and grab the baseball bat I keep handy. As the youngest sister of two older brothers, I’ve learned a few valuable lessons: boys are trouble, pizza is good cold, and always keep a baseball bat near the door and/or bed.

With my bat in hand, I scurry to the kitchen to grab my phone, then fly upstairs to the bedroom, taking the steps two by two.

I race into the bedroom, set the bat at my feet, and keep my phone clutched in my hand, ready to call 911 if need be. I pull back the white curtain a smidge.

And I nearly die laughing.

The song has stopped, and the Dobler wannabe is now kneeling on the ground, furiously hitting buttons on the boom box.

I peer around the curtain’s edge, and it’s like watching a sideshow act auditioning for my circus.

He hoists the boom box up above him again. A new tune plays. I cock my head, listening, and I cringe when I recognize the tune.

For real? Is he truly playing “Unzipped”? I could never stand that song when it was popular eight years ago. The music sounds like a can opener mating with a trombone. I wish he were playing Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” like Dobler did in the film.

But as I study the bizarre suburban male mating ritual, I decide to award him points for sheer balls. He also deserves bonus points because he chose to go without the super cheesy trench coat that Dobler wore. It worked for Cusack, but on anyone else that attire screams serial killer.

This guy seems harmless.

And admittedly, from my vantage point two stories above, he’s kind of handsome with the glasses, the thick, floppy hair, and the jeans that fit nicely. Strong jaw too.

Fine, fine. He’s more than kind of handsome. He’s 100 percent good-looking, in that hot nerd kind of way.

*****

Review:

I adored this book.  It’s got the perfect mix of humor and fun, with the perfect level of heat and the tiniest bit of angst.  From the cute-meet moment to the big gesture finish, I just couldn’t put it down.

Our heroine is quirky and enthusiastic about life.  She’s got just the right amount of goofiness that makes her playful but not annoying.  (I kinda want to be her when I grow up.)  He’s also just a hoot.  Sexy, smart, and also charmingly goofy – a great match for our girl.  The flirty banter just flows between them and it makes for a highly entertaining read.

With characters who are adorably dorky (and who own in), Unzipped is lighthearted, charming, funny, and easy to read.  I highly recommend it to anyone who loves romantic comedies and/or a lot of fun in their reads.

*****

Author Info:

 #1 New York Times Bestselling author, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family, including her smoking hot and funny husband and her two brilliant and kind children. She has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs — she might have four dogs, or maybe five. If she’s lucky, she’ll soon have six dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, and she’s sold more than 2.5 million books. In December she’ll release UNZIPPED, in January BIRTHDAY SUIT, and in March BEST LAID PLANS. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | Goodreads

*****

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Spotlight – One Wish

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Kate Kisset, Love in the Vineyards series, One Wish

There’s a TON of 5 star reviews for this one.  Get your copy and find out why!

*****

One Wish

Love in the Vineyards series

by Kate Kisset

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Blend a former tight end with a bad reputation  and a gorgeous computer geek who doesn’t date. Toss in two matchmaking grannies who have only One Wish this Christmas.

Lilly Martelli’s first vacation in over a year has her on a mission to support her two busybody relatives in St. Helena. Helping the grannies bake stinky fruitcakes for their Christmas bake sale is bad enough, but being forced to co-host the fund-raiser with Mr.-Fun-in-the-pants Brett Benning might be too hot to handle.

Brett had hoped retiring from football, becoming a firefighter, and moving back to Napa Valley would be enough to repair his reputation. But he’s sick to death of the tiny town gossip, and tired of dating in the shallow end of the pool. He’s looking to score The One.

What are the odds he’d find her while helping with the annual bake sale? His smart and sexy co-chair has him eating out of her hands and asking for seconds of her grandmother’s nasty fruitcake. For the first time in his life, Brett might be in over his head.

One Wish is a standalone, sexy romcom. Although you don’t have to read any of Kate’s other stories to enjoy this one, Love in the Vineyards fans will love seeing their favorite characters from other stories, as they get to know the Santino brother’s lovable grandmother, Mimi, their quirky great-aunt Cha-Cha, and all their gorgeous cousins.

If you enjoy small town romances, romantic comedies, and sexy love stories with a full cast of strong heroines, drool worthy alpha heroes, and grannies in orthopedics, you’ll love One Wish.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EbTXUM

*****

Excerpt:

(Former Seattle Seahawks tight end, turned St. Helena firefighter, Brett Benning, is co-chairing the annual Sweet Paws Charity Bake Sale with self-professed computer genius Lilly Martelli. Here, Brett is picking Lilly up at her aunt’s magnificent mansion, so they can spend the day scouting new locations for their event. Unfortunately, Lilly’s grandmother and great-aunt have just baked another batch of their notorious fruitcakes.)

“We were just taking another batch of fruitcakes out of the oven.” Mimi sidled next to him so he was cozily flanked by both women.

The faint rum-and-mysterious, pungent smell he detected when he entered the house was impossible to ignore in the kitchen. Cha-Cha offered him a seat at the island in the middle of the room.

“Lilly will be down in a moment,” Mimi explained. “But you have time for a nice slice of cake.” She deposited a plate laden with a green and red speckled, shiny mound in front him.

The overpowering odor wafted up from the dish, making his eyes water. “No, I couldn’t.” He gently pushed the plate away. Mimi pushed it back.

“You can’t expect him to eat with his hands, Sister,” Cha-Cha chuckled, passing a fork to him. “Go ahead, darling, while it’s still warm,” she coaxed. “Dig in.”

He could swear the mound moved, but couldn’t trust his vision through the tears. What is that smell? “I had a very big breakfast at the station.” Brett eyed the doorway, praying Lilly was ready to leave and would walk through the door and save him.

Mimi brought her hands to her hips. Her expression conveyed in no uncertain terms that she was having none of it. With perfect posture, Cha-Cha took a stance next to her, her blue eyes flicking from the blob on the plate to his mouth. Brett glimpsed at the doorway again. No dice.

“Had I known I-I- would be in for such a treat,” he explained, knowing his excuse would have zero effect, “I would’ve saved room.” He waited a beat, hoping for a miracle, but it was no use. The sisters weren’t taking no for an answer, so he sliced into the cake with his fork and took the tiniest possible bite.

The texture was thick, gelatinous, and chewy at the same time. Little knobs of hard bits rolled over his tongue, and he tried not to wince. It was even worse than he remembered, which he would have thought impossible. The flavor was as revolting as the smell. “Hmmm.” He muttered while swallowing hard to force the cake down, but the slippery hunk caught in the back of his throat. He’d never given himself a Heimlich before, but right now he was glad he at least knew how.

“Well?” Cha-Cha’s long sleeves fluttered as she crossed her arms, never taking her eyes off him. “We used a new ingredient in this batch. You’re our test monkey.”

“Hmmm.” The last gulp did the trick, and the gooey globule slid down. That’s when the explosion in his mouth happened. It felt like someone lit a match, and heat tore through his sinuses. His body couldn’t hold back anymore and tried to repel the substance with a cough, which led to another. And another.

“That’s the rum.” Cha-Cha nodded to her sister.

“We should’ve warned you, dear. It has a little kick,” Mimi explained. “Oh, no. Are you crying?”

“Child-gag-hood mem-choke-or-cough-ies.”

“Are you all right?” Thanks to his coughing fit, he hadn’t noticed when Liliana walked in. She opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of paper napkins. “Here.” She passed a few to him.

“Thanks.” He gratefully used it to wipe his mouth. When he dried his tears, Liliana’s beautiful face came in view. Light streamed through the windows, casting a shine on her hair. Her leggings hugged every one of her curves, and the fluffy sweater made her look extra-adorable, and so sexy at the same time. Should he get up and hug her? After all, they were working together now. She probably smelled good, too. If his nose ever recovered from its beating, he hoped to find out…

Brett caught a glimpse of Cha-Cha checking out his reaction to her granddaughter and decided to stay put.

Lilly gave him a devious smile. Like everything else about her, it was pretty.

*****

Author Info:

Former San Francisco radio disc jockey Kate Kisset is the author of Love in The Vineyards, a series of small-town contemporary romance novels set in California wine country.

Readers call her novels, sexy, sweet and refreshing, with complex characters and plots that serve up humor without holding back on heart.

Kate divides her time between Northern and Southern California. Her stories feature strong heroes and heroines set in the small town, real-world vineyard settings found outside her front door.

When she’s not writing, Kate’s favorite job is being “The Mommy.” She enjoys reading, binge watching Netflix and the Hallmark Channel, wine tastings, cooking, listening to music, and hiking with her loyal companion Luciana Parmigiana, her rescue-dog-editor.

AMAZON PAGE | WEBSITE | NEWSLETTER | FACEBOOK GROUP | FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | BOOKBUB | PINTEREST | GOODREADS

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Visa Giftcard

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cf78adb739/

*****

Spotlight – Christmas in Smithville

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Christmas in Smithville, Kirsten Fullmer, The Hometown series

I love this Christmas story – two people who doubt themselves finally finding a happy ending together.

*****

Christmas in Smithville

The Hometown Series Book 4

by Kirsten Fullmer

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Even though Gloria is determined to change her reputation, most of the women in town still think she’s a tramp. Sure, she may have dressed a little flashy and dated pretty much every single guy in town, but that’s the past. Now that she wants to make a fresh start, will Smithville give her a second chance?

Ned has heard all the gossip, but being the Sheriff’s Deputy, he sees all the kind things Gloria does behind the scenes for the folks of Smithville. It looks like the upcoming Christmas Pageant will offer him the opportunity to spend time with her, but can he overcome a frustrating stutter and talk to her, face to face?

Your favorite characters from the Hometown Series bring craziness, love, and Smithville Christmas style, to a whole new romance about overcoming your past and sharing your deepest secrets. Fall in love and be swept away with the Christmas Eve celebration of your dreams.

Video Trailer:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k5PRT6W0mHY

Goodreads * Amazon

*****

Hometown Girl at Heart

Hometown Series Book 1

Goodreads * Amazon

Hometown Girl After All

Hometown Series Book 2

Goodreads * Amazon

Hometown Girl Forever

Hometown Series Book 3

Goodreads * Amazon

Hometown Girl Again

Hometown Series Book 5

Goodreads * Amazon

*****

Excerpt:

Gloria could practically hear Ned’s heart beating; he was standing so close. What was he thinking? They’d formed a solid friendship, and now, if her instincts we right, he appeared to be crossing the friendship line. Had that been his intention all along? Was she so stupid that she’d let her guard slip and hadn’t seen that he just wanted to get her in bed? What was it about her that made men think she was fair game?

Scrubbing at a stubborn piece of food on a plate, she frowned.

Ned backed up half a step, picking up on her discomfort. “What’s wrong?”

The plate was clean, but she kept scrubbing anyway.

“Gloria?” He said her name more like a quiet demand than a question. She quit scrubbing the dish but didn’t look up.

He waited, and the silence in the small kitchen was deafening.  Finally, Gloria met his eye. Ned grinned an easy smile. “I’ll dry.” With that, he snatched up the dishtowel hanging on the oven door and reached for the plate.

She regarded him through narrowed eyes, trying to read his intent. He felt like the same old Ned; maybe she’d been wrong. With a shrug, she rinsed the plate and handed it to him. Her instincts had led her astray before. Crap, she’d never been able to tell when a man cared about her.

Ned dried the plate and reached up to put it in the cupboard.  Glancing back to Gloria, he caught her watching him, so he offered a reassuring, friendly grin.

“Damn,” she thought, turning her attention back to the dishes. The man really was dangerously good looking. Yet, here she stood with him in Nadine’s kitchen. The one woman she wanted to show she had changed. She had to prove to Nadine, and the other wives in town, that she wasn’t out to get a man. She needed to remember that, no matter how gorgeous Ned was. Besides, she valued his friendship far too much to mess it up. If she was capable of managing any type of relationship with a man, she wanted to be Ned’s friend.

Rinsing a plastic cup, she handed it off to him, and her eye caught his. Something in the depths of his gaze snagged her attention, and she couldn’t look away.  What was he trying to tell her?

“I’m firsty,” Christi’s tiny voice said from the doorway.

The cup dropped to the sink as both Ned and Gloria jerked their hands apart, both jumping back as they turned toward the little girl.

Christi stood in her pajamas, her eyes wide. “I need a dwink.”

Ned was the first to spring into action. “I’ll get you a d—drink, sweetheart. Do you want water or milk?”

“Miwk,” she said. Her little face was serious as her eyes bounced from Ned to Gloria and back.

Reaching into the cupboard by the sink, he retrieved a child’s sippy-cup and lid, then headed toward the fridge. For a moment he juggled the cup and lid to open the door and take out the milk, but he managed to make it to the table and fill the cup half full. Tossing a grin to Gloria, as if to say ‘I got this’, he twisted the cap onto the cup.

Christi padded across the room and reached for the cup.

Ned squatted down to eye level and offered her his trademark grin. “Here you go d—darlin’.”

The child gave him a serious once over as she took the cup, then tipped it up to drink.  Unfortunately, when the cup reached her mouth, the lid came off, and milk spilled all down the front of the little girl’s chin, neck, and footy pajamas.

Ned gasped and jumped back to miss the torrent of milk splashing across the floor.

“Oh dear!” Gloria cried, grabbing the towel off the counter and hurrying to the little girl’s side. “Did the lid come off?” Her eyes sprung to Ned’s, and she felt instantly silly for asking the obvious, so she turned back to the little girl. “Of course, it did. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Ned floundered, “I didn’t m—mean to… I’m so s—sorry…”

Little Christi glared up at him, her expression clearly stating that she considered the man to be a complete jerk. Milk dripped onto the floor as she stood in a widening puddle. Her fuzzy pink pajamas and even her hair were soaked in milk.

Trying not to laugh, Gloria stripped off the sodden pajamas, soothing and assuring Christi that the deputy didn’t mean to spill her milk. After dabbing up all the milk she could with the now-soaked towel, she hefted the child up onto her hip and turned to Ned. The miserable look on his face gave her pause. “Don’t worry,” she assured both parties. “Nothing a bath won’t fix.”

As she headed across the room, Ned found his voice. “I’ll m—mop up…” but Gloria was gone, along with his chance to tell her how he felt.

*****

Author Info:

Kirsten grew up in the Western US and graduated from high school in 1984. She married soon there after and quickly built a family. With three young children and number four on the way, she returned to college in 1992. Her career as a draftsman included many settings ranging from a steel fabrication shops to prestigious engineering firms. Balancing family life with the workplace forced her to become the queen of multitasking. In 2001, bored with the cubical life, she moved on to teach drafting in technical college, then to opening her own consulting firm teaching 3D engineering software. Due to health problems, Kirsten retired in 2012 to travel with her husband for his job. She now works writing romance novels and enjoys spoiling her three grandchildren. Since 2017 Kirsten has lived and worked full time in a 40′ travel trailer with her husband and her little dog Bingo.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * Amazon * Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a91088/

*****

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Book Review – My Forever Home

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Book Review, Debbie Burns, My Forever Home, Rescue Me series

By combining love, four legged friends, and a happy ending, Burns brings reader a great holiday read.

*****

My Forever Home

A Rescue Me Novel

by Debbie Burns

Blurb:

Love comes to the rescue.

Vet school drop-out Tess Grasso dreams of having her own pet therapy business, but she meets one disastrous obstacle after another. There’s no denying she has a way with animals, so in the meantime she puts her skills to use at a local no-kill shelter. Between helping her furry companions and a budding relationship with fellow dog lover Mason Redding, Tess begins to find fresh confidence…

What Tess doesn’t know is that Mason is recovering from an accident, hoping to get back to his pro-baseball career. He’s afraid the truth will ruin everything—and he’s right. But in the midst of hurt and betrayal, a free-spirited stray Husky enters their lives, and teaches them a few things about faith, love and forgiveness.

Amazon: amzn.to/2M2jncH

B&N: bit.ly/2LXvQOG

Apple: apple.co/2niQZ79

IndieBound: bit.ly/2LZDkB0

*****

Excerpt:

Tess lifted her mug of tea and carried it into the kitchen and away from the wall of windows and the remarkable St. Louis night skyline. If this were her place, she’d get nothing done in the evenings as she cuddled against that couch, sipping tea, and gazing at the beautiful lights.

“I had no idea a veggie meat loaf could smell so amazing. I’m so hungry, I could eat… Wait, I don’t think you can say you could eat a bear when you’re vegetarian, can you?”

Mason laughed and said she could say whatever she wanted. He was slicing through a cucumber with a gleaming chef knife.

“After we eat, I’ll be good to get back out there and search again.”

“Me, too. I’ve been standing here thinking what it could be like if we succeed. I want the dog. No question. And I know he’ll have a better life. A much better life. But I can’t help but wonder if he’ll want to be here.”

Tess joined Mason at the opposite counter. “He will. I’m sure he will.” Her hand closed reflexively over his forearm in reassurance, and she had to refrain from jerking it away. Seeing his strength was one thing. Feeling it was another.

What would he do if she slid between him and the countertop and allowed her lips to land where they wanted?

She forced a stepped back. “Do you have honey?”

“Yeah. In the pantry.”

His pantry was relatively uncluttered, and she spotted the honey right away. A family-sized box of Cocoa Puffs on the top shelf made her smile.

“What?” He pulled open a drawer and handed her a spoon. “Are you grinning at my juvenile selection of pantry foods?”

“That’s a big box of Cocoa Puffs.”

“Aren’t they a kitchen-pantry requirement?”

“I certainly wished that growing up, but not in my house. At least not unless it was a special occasion. My parents both worked full-time when I was growing up, and I went over to my grandparents’ house every day before school. My grandma’s idea of a quick breakfast is a bread roll with butter and jam or day-old biscotti to dip in her coffee.”

“Somehow that doesn’t make you sound deprived, if that’s what you were aiming for.”

Tess laughed as she squeezed a bit of honey into her mug. “How can I help?”

“I’m almost done, thanks. I have a red on the counter and a white in the fridge, if you’re up for wine.”

“I’d like to try this,” she said, picking a Barolo, “if you like red.”

“Sure.” He pulled a corkscrew from one of the top drawers. “How about you open it while I finish up?”

Mason had a beautiful salad prepared, and a small pot of gravy was warming on the stove. When he opened the oven, she spotted a ceramic bowl of mashed potatoes, another of green beans, and the veggie meat loaf.

As Tess opened the wine, she thought of her grandma. Nonna had taught her never to belittle someone’s effort in the kitchen by equating their work to trouble. “Wow,” she said instead. “Everything looks great. I can’t wait to try it.”

“Thanks. My, uh, slow season is in winter. Cooking is a hobby I’ve wanted to take up for a while. Like I said, before tonight I’d only ever made three different main dishes.”

“You said that, but you didn’t tell me what they are, aside from meat loaf, that is.”

“Want to guess?” Mason grinned as he carried over the salad bowl to a dining table long enough to bring to mind Beauty and the Beast. Mason had set two places, one at an end, the other in the seat adjacent to it. Tess’s heart beat at the intimacy of it.

“Absolutely. Let’s see. You grew up on a farm in rural Iowa, and your family is not Italian, so I’m guessing one of them is not lasagna.”

“You would be correct.”

“Hmm, what’s farmy to cook? I’m trying to picture the Cracker Barrel menu in my head. And before you ask, I only got to eat there when I went to Florida with my cousin’s family on vacation. Okay, let’s see. Chicken and dumplings?”

Mason chuckled. “Nope, though that’s one of my mom’s go-to winter meals.”

“Country-fried steak?”

“If we were playing hangman, you’d have a head and body.”

“Chicken pot pie?”

“And there’s a leg, or is it the arm next?”

Tess clicked her tongue and slid into the open seat next to him. “Pot roast?”

“Well done.”

“Really?” Tess waggled her eyebrows. “Pot roast and meat loaf. Two very hearty meals. Impressive.”

“I bet you hang before you guess the third.”

Tess pierced a bit of salad and silently counted off the meals she’d guessed. “Barbecue ribs?”

“Add the second leg. I can barbecue as well as the next guy, but I wasn’t counting it. Slathering a rack of ribs with some sauce and enjoying a beer while it sizzles over the coals isn’t the same as preparing a meal from scratch.”

“True, I guess.” She pointed her fork his way. “Don’t tell me. I’m going to get this.” She was halfway through a bite of salad when she smacked her palm against the table and hurriedly swallowed. “OMG, I’ve got it. I’ve totally got it. I know your third meal, Mason…” Tess paused. “I know your third meal, but I don’t know your last name. How weird is that?”

Mason sat back in his chair and took a sip of wine, appraising her, his mouth pulled up in the crooked smile that she adored. “With that reaction, this is the all-or-nothing round. Get it right, you win. Get it wrong, that’s the arms, feet, hands, everything, and you’re hanged.”

“I’m okay with that, only what’re we playing for?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that. Something bigger than who does the dishes, that’s for sure.”

Tess agreed with him. “How about winner calls it?”

His gaze dropped to her mouth for two solid seconds before returning to her eyes. “Yes, definitely.”

*****

Review:

My Forever Home is a wonderfully cozy and heartwarming read.  It is just made to tug at you, through both animal and people.  You totally understand why Mason keeps who he is from Tessa and the revelation works well with their relationship as it has developed.  And while there is the opportunity, I really appreciate that Burns avoids  melodrama and handles issues quickly and realistically.

While I feel that Mason had good development as a character, I do wish we’d gotten a little more of Tessa’s family.  Her issues with her family is what sent her on a tour of Europe, but while it is hit upon I think that it could have used a little more.  I do love her relationship with her grandmother – their closeness is so sweet and I loved the support there.

As much as I love Mason and Tessa’s relationship, it is the connection with John Ronald that is really the highlight of the book.  The look inside his mind brings happiness, sadness, and humor.  Some may not like the personification of a dog, but it works for me.

Like Sit, Stay, Love, My Forever Home is one of those easy to read, slow burn books that takes it time creating connection between the characters – exploring them as people and how they relate to each other.  Mason & Tessa manage to find each other at a time when both are ready for the next phase and it creates a delightfully satisfying HEA.  I’m so looking forward to what Burns has in store for us next.

*****

Author Info:

Debbie Burns’ writing commendations include a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews for A New Leash on Love, as well as first-place awards for short stories, flash fiction, and longer selections. Her hobbies include hiking, gardening, and daydreaming, which, of course, always leads to new story ideas. She lives in St. Louis with her family, two phenomenal rescue dogs, and a somewhat tetchy Maine coon cat who everyone loves anyway.

*****

Giveaway:

5 Copies of Sit, Stay, Love

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7708/

*****

Spotlight – A Gentleman for Christmas

Tags

A Gentleman for Christmas, Prescott Lane

Reviewers are calling this one an awesome holiday read!

*****

A Gentleman for Christmas

by Prescott Lane

Blurb:

A gentleman can’t always follow the rules.

Some say “chivalry is dead.”

I don’t think so.  Most women I know like a gentleman.

Protective, opens doors, treats women with respect, typically follows the rules.

But a gentleman doesn’t fall for his best friend’s woman. Current or ex.

And that’s what I’ve done.

During the Christmas season of all times — that magical time for decorations, gifts, family . . .

Yes, the girl who was off-limits for so long, who I’ve loved all my life, has come back in town and possibly back to me.

I can’t follow the gentleman rules this time.  There’s too much at stake.  I let her go once.  I won’t let her go again.

What happens under the mistletoe, stays under the mistletoe.

Or does it?

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Qs1li3

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2AUrHUA

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/AGentlemanForChristmas

Nook: https://bit.ly/2yWXz9B

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2OzxTF1

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2DtYxhM

*****

Excerpt:

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”

Otherwise known as the original bros before hoes commandment.

I’m not advocating calling women hoes.  It’s an expression, so put away your Encyclopedia of Political Correctness.

There are rules in life.  The Ten Commandments were just the beginning.  We have rules for everything.  How to drive.  How to dress.  How to walk across the damn street.  So why not rules for love?  That’s how all this started — a set of rules between my buddies and me.

The Bro Code.

Obviously, bros before hoes is rule one.  We vowed never to let a girl come between us, which meant if one of us liked a girl, she was forever off limits.

Little did I know our teenage pact would launch my multi-million dollar career.  A little tweaking here and some socially acceptable rewording there and The Gentleman’s Handbook was born.

I’ve written books and given seminars on everything from how to find love, to how to propose, to how to have a successful long-distance relationship.  You name it, and I’ve got rules for it.  Personally, I’ve never been much of a rule follower, but that’s my little secret.

The funny thing is I’ve never been in love.  Well, there is this one girl, but we won’t talk about her.  It does no good to think about someone you can’t have and never will.

My lack of emotional commitment hasn’t slowed down my career one bit.  Currently, I have two books on the New York Times Best Sellers List.  My seminars sell out like a Drake concert.

I always find it interesting that the rules started between a group of male friends, but it’s mostly women that come to hear me speak.  Occasionally, you see the poor sap boyfriend who was dragged along to listen, but for the most part it’s all women.

This time of the year is no exception.  December first until January first is important for guys.  Holidays are big for a lot of couples.  If you don’t know what you’re doing for your lady, you better figure it out and fast.  In fact, my rule is that you should be paying attention all year long.

Trust me on this.  If you remember something she mentioned she liked three months ago and surprise her with it at Christmas, she’ll spread her legs before Santa even has time to slide down the chimney.  Let’s be honest, that is always at least part of the goal for guys.

So my current work in progress tackles Christmas.  A how-to guide for the holidays.

The Gentleman’s Rules for Christmas.

*****

Author Info:

Prescott Lane is the Amazon best-selling author of Stripped Raw. She’s got seven other books under her belt including: First Position, Perfectly Broken, Quiet Angel, Wrapped in Lace, Layers of Her, The Reason for Me, and The Sex Bucket List.  She is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and holds a degree in sociology and a MSW from Tulane University. She married her college sweetheart, and they currently live in New Orleans with their two children and two crazy dogs. Prescott started writing at the age of five, and sold her first story about a talking turtle to her father for a quarter. She later turned to writing romance novels because there aren’t enough happily ever afters in real life.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottLane1

Twitter: www.twitter.com/prescottlane1

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lfhlrh

Instagram: instagram.com/prescottlane1

http://www.authorprescottlane.com

*****

Spotlight – The First Rule of Hook-Ups

Tags

Breakup Bash series, Nina Crespo, The First Rule of Hook-Ups

The reviews coming in are almost exclusively 4 & 5 stars.  Get your copy and find out why Alexa and Raphael are getting all the feels … with a good dose of heat!

*****

The First Rule of Hook-Ups

Breakup Bash series

by Nina Crespo

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Someone once told me that there are worst things than being left at the altar. Well, not many, in my experience. That was six months ago, though, and my life has moved on. Heck, I have a new job lined up and I’m leaving town.

But, I can’t deny that my love life kind of sucks.

That’s why I let my friends convince me to join them for Club Escapade’s Breakup Bash. And we might just be disillusioned enough to actually enjoy it. Last time we were here, it was for my bachelorette party. That night, I met one of the dancers – Raphael – and when he flirted with me, I almost forgot I was engaged. And there’s a part of me that never forgot him.

Now, it seems my friends have wandered off and I’m thinking about calling it a night. Until the music begins and I see Raphael, my secret fantasy, on stage. And this time, I’m definitely not engaged…

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo | Google

*****

Excerpt:

Raphael and Alexa have their first argument and learn how to make up.

~

She held it away. “It’s rude to take someone’s coffee.”

“Is it? What about cheating on your husband, boyfriend, or whoever that was?”

Shock and sadness momentarily shadowed her expression. “I’m not a cheater. Brad, my ex-fiancé, was.” She plunked the cup on the nightstand, whipped back the covers, and got up.

The dark brew rocked dangerously close to the edge.

Hell. He hadn’t considered the guy she was supposed to marry had turned into a jackass. Rafe set his coffee next to hers. He snagged her arm before she reached the bathroom. “I shouldn’t have made an assumption about who you were talking to on the phone.”

Alexa’s gaze remained on his chest, but she let him pull her close. Her cell phone jingled. Concern overshadowed her defiant expression. “I’d better get going.”

The prospect of engaging with whoever called had dimmed the radiance that had grabbed him the first time he’d laid eyes on her.

On impulse, he cupped her face. “Not until you accept my apology. I’m sorry.” He kissed her.

Little by little, the rigid line of her lips softened, and she leaned against him.

Warmth and sweetness saturated his mouth as he plunged his tongue into hers and conveyed what he wasn’t saying aloud. He was sorry. Sorry for trying to take her coffee. Sorry she had to leave and deal with whatever weighed her down. But he wasn’t sorry that Brad had fucked up. Did that make him a bastard right along with her ex? Rafe grasped her hips and pressed his rigid cock against her. All he had to do was free himself and glide into her softness and heat.

He’d bring them both pleasure and erase her unhappiness. She eased back. “I can’t be late.”

“I’ll make it worth your while.” He nuzzled and nipped her throat. Yeah, his intention was to enjoy one night with her and move on, but kissing Alexa was a game changer every damn time. She’d remained in his mind, ever since the first time he’d laid eyes on her. He needed to figure out why. After he got her back in bed.

*****

Author Info:

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions — the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Let Nina’s sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after.

Stay connected with Nina on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, BookBub, or through her newsletter.

*****

Giveaway:

Set of Nina Crespo’s book cover wine charms

$20 Amazon Giftcard

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cf78adb720/

*****

Spotlight – Chasing Shadows

Tags

Catherine Bybee, Chasing Shadows, First Wives series

I just love when I see that Catherine Bybee has a new book … and this one is one of Amazon’s Best Books of the year!

*****

Chasing Shadows

First Wives series

by Catherine Bybee

Release Date: November 13, 2018

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Blurb:

Avery Grant doesn’t date. Her first marriage was a mutually beneficial contract that gave her the financial freedom she needed to step away from her controlling parents. Wealthy and single, the last thing she’s looking for is love sneaking in to mess up her life plans. And after a brutal attack, she’s determined to never be vulnerable again, even if the new man in her life helps her feel safe.

Mesmerized from the moment he sets his eyes on Avery, Liam is driven to learn everything about this tough, sexy, challenging woman. Breaking down her defenses won’t be easy, but Liam refuses to be pushed away. All he needs is a tiny crack in Avery’s armor to wiggle his way into her heart.

But when a terrifying lie about her attacker’s fate comes to light, Avery’s past returns to haunt her. Now she’s willing to put herself in danger to get the answers she needs. That means jeopardizing the best thing that’s ever happened to her: Liam.

*****

Excerpt:

Avery’s head shot up at the sound of a female voice calling her name.

“Lori?”

Oh, damn…

When Lori was at their table, Avery detached from Liam’s side and stood for a hug. “What are you doing here? Where’s Reed?”

Lori eyed Liam while she answered the questions. “Reed’s on his way down. We’re going out to dinner. Wanted a drink first.”

What were the chances of Lori excusing herself before Avery was forced to make an introduction?

Lori reached out a hand toward Liam. “I’m Lori.”

Liam stood; a broad smile matched his broad chest. “Liam Holt.” Once he released Lori’s hand, he pulled out a bar stool. “Sit, we just ordered drinks.”

Avery wanted to elbow his ribs.

Instead, she smiled.

Liam signaled for Nikki.

“Liam, huh? Avery hasn’t mentioned you.”

He pulled Avery’s chair closer to his and waited for her to sit. “We haven’t known each other long.”

Lori sent a questioning look to Avery. Instead of adding to Liam’s explanation.

“I’ve known Lori for a few years. We live in the same building.”

“What do you do, Liam?”

Small talk … is that what this was going to be?

Lori signaled Reed when he walked in the door. “This is my husband.”

Avery laughed. “You love saying that, don’t you?”

Lori nodded.

“They’re newlyweds,” Avery explained.

Once again Liam stood when Reed approached the table.

“Look who I found,” Lori said.

Reed kissed Avery’s cheek. “I haven’t seen you here in a while.”

“That’s because you two never come up for air,” Avery teased.

“This is Liam … Avery’s friend.” Yeah, Lori wanted more details.

The men shook hands.

“Have I ever met one of your friends?” he asked.

Avery glared. “Smooth, Reed … really smooth.”

Lori nudged her husband’s arm. “Stop teasing.” She turned her focus on Liam. “Avery keeps her private life private.”

Avery tried not to flinch when Liam placed a hand over hers. “I’ve figured that out recently.”

“How did you two meet?” Reed asked.

Avery said “the gym” at the same time Liam said “a bar.”

Lori’s lawyer radar spiked. Avery saw it in her eyes. “Those two things are worlds apart.”

She caught Liam’s hand and squeezed.

“The first time I saw you was at Pug’s Bar. I approached you at the gym.”

“I knew it. That was you at Pug’s. How did you figure out where I worked out?” She’d been asking herself that question for over a week.

“That wasn’t hard. Leslie had a gym bag.”

“Who’s Leslie?” Lori asked.

Avery didn’t look away from Liam. “A friend. So your job at the gym wasn’t on accident?”

“I might have approached Brenda about a side job so I could meet you.”

Avery’s jaw dropped.

“Who’s Brenda?” Reed asked.

“The owner of the gym,” Avery and Liam said at the same time. “How did you know I was there on Tuesday and Friday nights?” She wasn’t sure if his actions were exciting or scary.

“Appointment book. Brenda’s office is always open.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Lori placed a hand between the two of theirs. “You see Avery in a bar. You search out a location of her gym, follow her to it, get a job there, and now you’re both here having drinks?”

Liam offered a brief, unapologetic nod.

Lori grabbed Avery’s hand. “How well do you know this guy?”

Avery liked the gleam in Liam’s eyes. “He’s safe.”

“What he just described is a little too close to stalking for my taste.”

Reed placed a hand on Lori’s shoulder. “Simmer down, Counselor. If Liam had an ulterior motive, he wouldn’t have told us all that.”

“I wanted to meet you,” Liam said.

“Yeah, well, you’ve met her.” Lori wasn’t happy.

Nikki showed up with Avery’s and Liam’s drinks.

“My usual, Nikki,” Lori told her.

“Hon, our reservations are in thirty minutes. Maybe we should go.”

Lori looked at Reed like he was crazy. “We aren’t leaving him with her. He could be a sociopath.”

Liam smiled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “I’m not.”

“That’s what they all say.”

Avery put a free hand in the air. “Chill, Lori.”

Avery realized that her other hand had somehow ended up back in Liam’s. His thumb stroked the underside of her wrist in a strangely calming way.

“Do you want a drink, Reed?” Nikki was still standing there, watching the four of them.

“No, thank you. We’re leaving.”

Lori pushed back her chair. “We’re going to talk about this later,” she warned Avery. “And you … just so you know, I’m an attorney, and my big, burly husband here is in private security. He has even bigger friends.”

Liam reached into his back pocket and removed his wallet. From it, he pulled out what looked like a business card. “I have nothing to hide.”

Lori glanced at it briefly before Reed snatched it from her fingertips. “C’mon. Let’s leave them to their date.”

Liam stood again and shook Reed’s hand before he ushered Lori out of the bar.

“That was intense.”

“My friends are protective.”

“Understatement.”

“You really went through all that just to meet me?”

Liam picked up his cocktail for the first time. “Worked, didn’t it?”

Avery let loose his hand and lifted her glass to his. “Yes, it did.”

*****

Author Info:

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written twenty-eight books that have collectively sold more than five million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite Series, the Weekday Brides Series, the Most Likely To Series, and the First Wives Series.

Website: http://www.catherinebybee.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinebybee

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2905789.Catherine_Bybee

*****

Giveaway:

Digital Copy of Catherine Bybee’s CHASING SHADOWS and $25 Amazon Gift Card

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/07c2363f206/

*****

Spotlight – Our Sweet Destiny

Tags

Addison Cole, Our Sweet Destiny, Sweet with Heat: Weston Bradens

Star-crossed lovers will find out if love really can conquer all in Addison Cole’s latest (the sweet version of one of Melissa Foster’s much loved romances, Destined for Love).

*****

Our Sweet Destiny

Sweet with Heat: Weston Bradens #2

by Addison Cole

Releasing Nov 14, 2018

World Literary Press

Blurb:

After ditching a troubled relationship—and her veterinary practice in the process—Jade Johnson returns to the safety of her small hometown and finally finds her footing. That is…until her horse is injured and the son of the man her father has been feuding with for more than forty years comes to her rescue. She’s spent forever trying to deny her attraction to headstrong, too-handsome-for-his-own-good cowboy Rex Braden. The last thing she needs is that particular man complicating her life.

Fiercely loyal Rex Braden has never put anyone or anything before his family. Despite the irate family history, sparks fly between Rex and Jade, unleashing fifteen years of stifled, forbidden love—causing the rebel in each of them to rear its powerful head.

Loyalties are tested, and relationships are strained as Rex and Jade find out if true love really can conquer all.

Our Sweet Destiny is a Sweet with Heat novel and conveys all of the passion you’d expect to find between two people in love without any graphic scenes or harsh language. If you’re looking for a more explicit romance, pick up the steamy edition, Destined for Love, written by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. Addison Cole is Melissa’s sweet-romance pen name.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41646936-our-sweet-destiny

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/229458-sweet-with-heat-weston-bradens

KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/OSD_Kindle

iBOOKS: http://smarturl.it/OSD_iBooks

KOBO: http://smarturl.it/OSD_Kobo

NOOK: http://smarturl.it/OSD_Nook

GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/OSD_GPlay

PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/OSD_Pb

*Sweet with Heat: Weston Bradens series titles

A LOVE SO SWEET – Now Available

KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/ALSS_Kindle
APPLE: http://smarturl.it/ALSS_iBooks
KOBO: http://smarturl.it/ALSS_Kobo
NOOK: http://smarturl.it/ALSS_Nook
GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/ALSS_GPlay
PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/ALSS_Pb

UNRAVELING THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE – Releasing January 23rd

KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/TAL_Kindle
APPLE: http://smarturl.it/TAL_iBooks
KOBO: http://smarturl.it/TAL_Kobo
NOOK: http://smarturl.it/TAL_Nook
GPLAY: http://smarturl.it/TAL_GPlay
PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/TAL_Pb

*****

Excerpt:

Jade stood in the road, watching Rex’s truck disappear around the corner. Everything she thought she’d known about Rex Braden when they were younger seemed to still be true. He was a grumpy, cocky, beautiful man. Darn him. She had to admit, though, the fact that he’d actually spoken to her—and helped her get her horse out of the ravine—was far more than she’d ever thought possible between a Johnson and a Braden.

She walked Flame down the long driveway and into the barn. The familiar smell of manure and hay wrapped around her like a warm hug. The smell was too pungent for most people, but to Jade it represented everything she’d ever known and loved. It represented home. The sounds of the other horses brought a smile to her face, as she’d soon be setting them free in the pasture. She stroked Rudy’s jaw as she passed his stall. Rudy was one of her favorite horses. He was a bright red sorrel with white stockings and a blaze, and he was not only magnificent to look at, but his spunky personality reminded Jade of herself. She wasn’t exactly a rebel, but she wasn’t a conformist either, often leaving her family and friends, and even herself, to wonder what she might do next.

She was relieved to find that Flame was no longer favoring his leg. She turned on soothing music and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down before moving to Flame’s side. She closed her eyes for just a moment to focus her mind on Flame instead of Rex. She concentrated on his breathing and found the rhythm of his breath and his heartbeat. She ran her hands along Flame’s back and sides, soothing his body with a series of slow, gentle strokes. She felt her body relaxing as the music and the feel of the horse calmed her as much as she did him. Jade had always believed that touch could heal, and although she put medicine first, she believed in a more holistic, compassionate approach to animal health care, and she included touch, which she also studied, in most of her healing protocols.

She wondered what Rex would be like if someone took the time to touch him in a soothing way. He reminded her of an injured animal. At first glance, they were cute and you just wanted to touch them, but get too close and they would bare their teeth. Jade knew the secret, though. Once she moved past those teeth and soothed their injuries, they were just as gentle as she first imagined they might be.

Yeah, right.

She really wasn’t sure what to make of Rex. One minute he was mean as a snake and the next he was going out of his way to help her. She’d thought there was a flash of something between them when she’d been practically knocked into his lap. She had the overwhelming urge to kiss him, but then she looked into those dark Braden eyes and she saw a flash of something dangerous there—the heat of which she might not be able to resist—and she bolted. Besides, he ran so hot and cold that he’d probably reel her in only to turn her away, and she was not going to be the girl Rex turned down. That would be all she needed. Especially in their small town.

*****

Author Info:

Addison Cole is the sweet-romance pen name of New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. She writes humorous and emotional sweet contemporary romance. Her books do not include explicit sex scenes or harsh language.

Addison spends her summers on Cape Cod, where she dreams up wonderful love stories in her house overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

Visit Addison on her website or chat with her on social media. Addison enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM

*****

Giveaway:

Win a print copy of A LOVE SO SWEET

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81385/

*****

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Book Review – Feels Like Falling

Tags

Book Review, Dangerous Love series, Elle Keating, Feels Like Falling

While not an easy read, Feels Like Falling is definitely one worth trying – Keating will break your heart a time or two on her way to giving you a happy ending.

*****

Feels Like Falling

Dangerous Love #5

by Elle Keating

Release Date: November 13, 2018

Publisher: Self-published

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

From author Elle Keating comes FEELS LIKE FALLING, the next installment in her Dangerous Love series. Peyton Matthews doesn’t want anyone to find the chinks in her armor, and Luke McGinnis fights hard to keep his ugly past buried. While they are drawn to each other, chemistry is not what’s bringing them together. Fans of UGLY LOVE by Coleen Hoover, Sylvia Day, and EASY by Tammara Webber will devour this dark and emotional romance.

Luke McGinnis is the responsible, quiet older brother. The loving son who enjoys working side-by-side with his father at the winery they co-own. At twenty-nine years old, Luke is a success story, the rags-to-riches kind. That’s what people see. Not the ugly past he fights to keep buried… a past that keeps him from really living.

Peyton Matthews is a household name. As a model, her face has been on the covers of countless magazines and she now has more money than she will ever know what to do with. But that smile she flashes for the photographers and the media is just an illusion. That pretty package everyone envies has been her armor, her protection, and she doesn’t want anyone to find a chink in it… especially not the winery owner who looks at her like he knows the dark secrets she keeps.

Add to Goodreads → https://bit.ly/2N9H7fH

BUY NOW: Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo

Listen to the FEELS LIKE FALLING playlist on Spotify now! https://spoti.fi/2ND6ypi

What more from Elle Keating? Grab the rest of the Dangerous Love books!

THRILL OF THE CHASE

Read Now: Amazon | B&N

CUT TO THE CHASE

Read Now: Amazon | B&N

WANTING MORE

Read Now: Amazon | B&N

BACK TO THE START

Read Now: Amazon | B&N

*****

Excerpt:

Peyton looked back at the bar, but Luke was nowhere to be found. Pissed, she continued her trek to the bathrooms anyway and was just about to enter the door marked MNA when someone grabbed her hand and pulled her down a hallway and into some back room which housed a pay phone and a rack full of coats. Like the rest of the tavern, the lighting wasn’t great, but she was able to focus on the man who still gripped her hand and stared at her like he was either going to yell at her or take her against the wall in the most primal of ways.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Who is he?” Luke asked through gritted teeth.

It pissed her off that he completely ignored her question and asked her one instead, one that truly left her perplexed. “Who are you talking about?”

“The man who felt it was okay to touch you here.” He released her hand, but she instantly felt his fingertips at the small of her back.

The heat of his touch made her anger fade, at least for the time being and she said, “He’s a friend of Walt’s.”

“Are you leaving with him?” His eyes darkened and he drew closer. His hand fell away from the small of her back, which thankfully broke the trance her body seemed to be under and her fury was reignited.

Who the hell did he think he was? She didn’t owe him anything. Not even responses to questions that made her hot and furious at the same time.

“Did you follow me here?” she asked. Her voice shook a little, but it was better than submitting to his questions.

“Yes. Now, are you going home with him?”

“Do you have any idea how messed up that is? That you fucking followed me…again?”

His jaw clenched and he looked away. Peyton was prepared to continue, to lay into him and tell him that he was a stalker and could go to hell, but then he glanced back at her and she saw the shame in his eyes. “Yeah…it is fucked up. I’m…fucked up,” he said.

She wasn’t even going to try to pretend that his words didn’t shock her. He knew what he was doing wasn’t normal. That he wasn’t normal. Luke roughly raked a hand through his hair as he paced the small coatroom. He reminded her of a caged animal, one that was anxious and willing to chew through the bars to get free. Shame, worry, pain, fear, confusion. He seemed consumed by each emotion all at once and all she could do was watch him suffer. What happened to him? Why did he look so…broken?

Before she could ask, Luke shook his head, told her he was sorry and left.

*****

Review:

Keating’s latest story is about strength and coping.  Both Peyton and Luke survived horrible abuses as children but did their best to find a way to move forward.  It wasn’t necessarily the best but it worked at the time.  Now a chance meeting has them re-examining their lives and what they want out in their future.

As much as he loves his family and as good as his life got after he and his brothers were taken in by the McGinnis family, Luke didn’t feel like he could talk to anyone about what his past did to him.  He tried to live a normal life but found that he had trouble with relationships, so he did the best he could to get by, making only impersonal connections with people outside his family.  Then he sees Peyton’s haunting eyes on the cover of a magazine and later in real life … and everything changes.

I think Peyton may have dealt with her past a bit better but it still hampered her life.  She’d struggled with giving herself to a relationship, using her career and celebrity as the excuse to keeping things shallow.  But her attraction to Luke proves too big to ignore and there is a special connection between them.  When she finds out why and what it meant for him, though, will she be able to accept it?

You have to be OK with descriptions of some truly awful things done to children, but if you make it thru you’ll find a journey to a HEA that will make it all worth while.  Both have their struggles, especially Luke about whether he’s good enough for someone like Peyton, but it’s heartening the way they manage to work through their issues to finally find that special someone.

*****

Author Info:

Elle Keating is the author of romance novels with sexy heroes and fierce females. Her first book, Thrill of the Chase (Dangerous Love, #1), was published by Forever Romance’s digital imprint, Forever Yours, in 2015. Cut to the Chase (Dangerous Love, #2) soon followed. Most recently, Elle self-published Wanting More (Dangerous Love, #3), Back to the Start (Dangerous Love, #4) and the standalone novel, Keeping His Commandments.

When Elle isn’t torturing her heroes and heroines (don’t worry, there’s always a happily ever after), she is a public school administrator and enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children in New Jersey. For more on Elle and her books, visit ellekeating.com.

Follow:  Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub | Instagram

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win one of three Dangerous Love Book Bundles!

(includes Thrill of the Chase, Cut to the Chase, Wanting More, & Back to the Start)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29588/

*****

Book Review – Wicked Whiskey Love

Tags

Book Review, Melissa Foster, The Whiskeys series, Wicked Whiskey Love

Love me some Whiskeys!!!

*****

Wicked Whiskey Love

The Whiskeys series

by Melissa Foster

World Literary Press

Blurb:

Fall in love with Bones Whiskey in WICKED WHISKEY LOVE, an emotionally riveting, sexy new standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. A magnificent love story for those who enjoy fiercely loyal and insanely sexy alpha heroes, smart, sassy heroines, families, bikers, babies, and more!

In WICKED WHISKEY LOVE…

After escaping abusive parents and, later, an abusive relationship, Sarah Beckley has spent a lifetime watching snakes shed their skin. With two small children to care for and another on the way, she’s finally found a home in Peaceful Harbor with the brother she hasn’t seen in more than a decade. She’s still searching for her sister, but life is good. If only she could stop thinking about the sinfully sexy doctor/biker who has taken to her children like a loving uncle—and to her like a hungry man.

Trust doesn’t come easily for Sarah, but Bones Whiskey is patient and protective, amazing with her children, and he looks at her like she is the only woman he could ever want–and more. With two little ones underfoot, Sarah expects him to move on quickly, yet with every tender kiss and each trying moment with the children, Bones surprises her. But will the fiercely loyal biker stick around when Sarah’s worst secret is revealed, or will he shed his skin, too?

KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/WWL_K
APPLE: https://apple.co/2CNjjcc
KOBO: http://smarturl.it/WWL_Kobo
NOOK: http://smarturl.it/WWL_Nook
GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2CW9zZQ
PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/WWL_Pb

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37840670-wicked-whiskey-love
Goodreads series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/204908-the-whiskey

For more hot Whiskey love, check out Melissa’s other Whiskey novels.

TRU BLUE
KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/TB_Kindle
iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2lG7dEL
NOOK: http://bit.ly/2f3loBH
KOBO: http://smarturl.it/TB_Kobo
GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2knJYhu
PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/TB_Paperback
🎧 Available in audio
Amazon Audio: http://smarturl.it/TB_Audio_Amazon
iBooks Audio: http://apple.co/2kK1HTT
Audible: http://adbl.co/2kBUDpU

TRULY MADLY WHISKEY
KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/TMW1_Amazon
iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2hJbntC
KOBO: http://smarturl.it/WWN_Kobo
NOOK: http://bit.ly/2gVN6QS
GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2hqM7cb
PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/WWN_Paperback
🎧 Available in audio
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/TMW_Audio_Amazon
iBooks: http://apple.co/2oD2Ew7
Audible: http://adbl.co/2owVMjN

DRIVING WHISKEY WILD
KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/DWW_Kindle
iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2yUXpAG
NOOK: http://bit.ly/2yVGGgS
KOBO: http://smarturl.it/DWW_Kobo
GPLAY: http://bit.ly/2y7SugC
PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/DWW_Pb
🎧 Available in audio
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/DWW_Audio
iBooks: https://apple.co/2GeqRSQ
Audible: http://adbl.co/2FuX5gp

And don’t miss RIVER OF LOVE, the first story in which the Whiskeys were introduced!

*****

Excerpt:

“Hey, beautiful,” Bones said softly.

Her eyes clashed with his. He sat with one arm across the back of Bradley’s chair, watching her in her moment of turmoil. She may not believe in happily ever afters and she definitely had trouble trusting, but she longed to be closer to him, to experience this loyal, thoughtful man on a more personal level. Emotionally and physically. Swallowing hard, feeling happy and sad, nervous and calm, petrified and curious. It was so overwhelming, she was sure everyone could sense it. But it was Bones who pushed his hand farther across the back of Bradley’s chair until his fingertips brushed her arm, concern written in those dark eyes.

“You okay, darlin’? Want to go for a walk?”

A walk? No, she definitely wouldn’t survive this night with Dr. Whiskey looking at her like he could heal all her wounds. She needed space to clear her head.

“No, thank you,” she finally managed. “I’m just going up to the house to change Lila.”

He pushed to his feet. “I’ll walk you up.”

“No,” she said quickly. “I’m fine, really. I just need…” Grasping for an excuse, she decided to go with honesty, because at the moment she was just that pathetic. “To breathe, and you sort of make that impossible.”

A slow grin spread across his lips.

“Ohmygosh,” came out before she could stop it. “Could you please look the other way?”

“Not a chance, darlin’.”

His arrogance came out smooth as velvet. Ugh. She pushed to her feet, needing to escape before he worked his magic on her. “Come on, Bradley. Let’s go potty before dinner.”

“I don’t have to go,” Bradley whined.

“I’ll watch him,” Bones offered, that panty-melting grin still in place.

Great. Another ovary-exploding dose of goodness. Just what I need.

*****

Review:

Like all the Whiskey stories, Wicked Whiskey Love is about family, not necessarily the one you are born with but the one you surround yourself with.

Sarah definitely didn’t have the best of the first but she’s doing everything she can to reconnect with her siblings and make a better life than she had for her kids.  Being adopted by the Whiskeys is definitely doing a lot to help her regain her trust in people and her faith in herself.

Bones may not have always had every physical want met but he had what was important.  He knew his place in life and he had people that loved & cared for him.  His parents and the Dark Knights made sure that he grew up knowing right from wrong and was willing to fight for others when needed.  It’s the Whiskey way and it’s turned out some dang fine men.

Sarah is skittish about trusting people, but Bones is patient and he’s going to convince her that he (and his family) want the best for her, will be there for her & her family when she needs them.  It truly touches the heart to see her slowly open up and accept that she’s worth their attention & affection.  (And Bones with her kids will have you swooning – so adorable!)

While Bones does a lot of the work in winning Sarah over, it is a group thing and seeing the collective Whiskeys step up to be there for each other is just so very awesome.  They may not do things the conventional way but the Whiskey way has a lot of heart & good intentions and that’s what is important.

*****

Author Info:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.

Website:  http://www.melissafoster.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster

Newsletter: http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster

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

*****

Giveaway:

Five winners will receive a digital copy of TRULY MADLY WHISKEY

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81384/

*****

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