Wednesday 30 August 2017

Blog Tour, Review & Excerpt ~ Hate to Love You by Tijan

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Hate to Love You, an all-new standalone from New York Times Bestseller Tijan is available NOW!

HATETOLOVEYOUFINALCOVER2

Hate to Love You 
by Tijan 
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: August 28th

Book Description:

Rule #1: No hot guys.

It might sound ridiculous. I get it. It kind of is, but college was supposed to be my sanctuary. It was my place to start over. The rumors, the whispers, and the jealousy I endured through high school would all be gone.

No one would know me at college.

Rule #2: No drama.

I’d major in pre-law. I’d make a few loyal friends. Everything would be easy breezy. No one was going to use me or hurt me. I wouldn’t let them. 

Rule #3: New year. New place. New me.

Right?

Wrong.

And all because of Shay Coleman.

Football captain and quarterback, he was the big guy on campus. The cocky guy in my political science class with a smirk. I hated him on sight . . .

. . . and he was about to break all my rules.

TIJAN-HTLY-AN KU

Buy Links:

Read Today!


Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2rwVniM

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Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“No talking. No thinking.”
“Just feeling.”


Tijan knows how to write a college romance, her Fallen Crest series has been one of my guilty pleasures for years and I have re-lived my teenage years vicariously through her words. Hate to Love You is exactly what the title infers, a hate/love romance, whereby the propensity to love far outweighs the innate need to hate. This was a classic case of the head saying one thing and the heart saying something completely different.


“I don’t play fair. Ever. You should know that about me.”


Kennedy Clarke was unfortunately the little sister of two brothers who were the be all and end all and she became a victim to their unrivalled popularity. People wanted to be her friend just to get to her brothers and others shunned and ridiculed her just because they could. Now at university Kennedy is determined to live her life as she determines, not how the little sister of the Clarke brothers should. Being that one of them is still on campus it is going to be hard, but her anonymity is important to her and her brothers have been told to keep their distance.

Kennedy though seems to have her work cut out for her because it seems that the star quarterback has set her firmly in his sights. Shay Coleman was the epitome of perfect, his cocky personality was all in good taste, he had a heart of gold, a great sense of humour, was extremely protective and despite his popularity was not the arrogant jerk one would automatically assume a man in his position would be. Shay’s personality shone through and I loved how hard he fought to be with the one girl had really turned his head.

Kennedy battles in vain to keep herself anonymous, she becomes a hermit, the studious student and tries everything in her power to keep herself out of the spotlight but Shay makes that extremely difficult and he doesn’t take no for an answer.


“When I see you're hurting, I want to wipe it away. When I see you doubting yourself, I want to give you the best damned pep talk in history. When you cry, I want to make you smile. When you laugh, I want to make you laugh harder. When you moan in my arms, I want to make you dissolve into a puddle. When you're insecure about how I feel about you, I want to replace that with a proclamation that I love you so hard that I never want you to question us again.”


The chemistry between these two is palpable, the banter is hilarious at times as Kennedy does her upmost best to project hostility rather than the internal lust that is just itching to get out. Kennedy though is fighting a losing battle and Shay relishes the fight. Kennedy riles him up the right way, she likes him for him and not for who and what he is, she provokes him, she challenges him, she keeps him on his toes and he never knows what way is up whenever they are in each-others company.

With drama galore, as with any Tijan book, this book has something for everyone and while it was not my favourite of hers, it was still an enjoyable read that I couldn’t put down. I did find it a little predictable and very reminiscent of The Fallen Crest series. While I believed in Shay in Kennedy, they did not have the same oomph as Mason and Samantha.


“You can let me in.”
“You’re in. You’re so far in that I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
“Then I’m in, and you’re in too.”


Excerpt:

I was almost grinning from delight as I shoved open the back door. If I hit him, hey, all was fair in the war we were fighting of who could piss each other off the best.
It didn’t.
He was leaning against the wall, the back of his head resting on the brick, and he looked over to smirk at me. “I want to see your room.”
I thrust my hand out. “I’ll take those notes.”
That smirk just widened. He patted his bag and pushed off from the wall. “They’re in my email. I need to get on a computer.” He patted my arm and moved past me, heading inside. “I can use yours.”
“Hey!” I followed him in.
He was looking up the stairs. “Sabrina said you were on the fourth floor. You saw my place. I want to see yours. It’s only fair.”
He wasn’t waiting for my go-ahead. He was already up and rounding second floor to third. He’d be at my floor before I could get there. “Stop! I am not okay with this.”
He was at the third-floor door. He glanced down with that same goddamn smirk. “Better tell me which room or I’m going to hang out in the hallway.”
“Why are you always smirking? Is it permanently attached to your face?”
“What room, Clarke?” He was at my hallway door.
Fucking hell. I gritted my teeth. “Wait. Just wait. My door automatically locks.”
He’d opened the door but let it shut. Waiting as I covered the last set of stairs, I refused to let him see me panting. I stood there, purposely holding my breath until he narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side. “Breathe, Clarke. You’re going to pass out.”
I almost burped out the small pocket of air I’d been holding. “I hate you so much.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He waved that off. “We get it. Eternal damnation in hell, the whole shebang. Whatever.” He nodded to the door. “Stop stalling. I want to see your room.”
I was picturing pitchforks and fire. Maybe that was the burning smell he mentioned. It was hell, and all the fire in there. I yanked the door, glaring as I did. “Was this Sabrina’s idea?”
“Nope. All mine.” He was right behind me. I could feel his breathing. “She refused to tell me your room number, said I had to call.”
My eyes widened at the thought of him coming up by himself, strolling down the hallway, and then knocking on my door. Good Lordy gracious. Too many would’ve seen him at my door. I would’ve been the talk of the dorm.

I shuddered, unlocked, and entered my room. 

About the Author: 


Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores. To find what to read next of hers, go to www.tijansbooks.com WALL STREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 

Connect with Tijan: 


Stay up to date with Tijan by signing up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/9GxnKU

Cover Reveal & Giveaway ~ Girl Crush by Stephie Walls


Cover Design: Wicked by Design
Release Date: September 21, 2017

Book Description:

I was done. Done with men. Women say it all the time; they get fed up, throw their hands in the air, and vow a life of celibacy—until the next chiseled chest comes into view and then they’re foaming at the mouth and wiping the drool from their chins. But this was different, I really meant it. I’d been manhandled by the last pig that would ever bring his sausage near me. After one of the nastiest divorces in history, followed by some of the crudest and raunchiest dates, I’d decided to bat for the other team. …At least I tried. But creating the next Brat Pack hadn’t been on the agenda. Neither had Collier West. And I wasn’t prepared for finding true love at the end of my gal-pal tryst.

Goodreads


 

Giveaway:

One of Five ARC's for Girl Crush


 

About the Author:

Stephie Walls is a literary whore - she loves words in all forms and will read anything put in front of her. She has an affinity for British Literature and Romance novels and an overall love of writing. She currently has nine novels out, four short stories, and has collaborated in several anthologies/collections with other authors; all provocatively written to elicit your imagination and spice up your world. 

Connect with Stephie

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2rwxvkc
Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2sysMyC
Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2sF1DJI
Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2sgQ7C1
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2rBGmfq
BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2xrnqnN

Tuesday 29 August 2017

Blog Tour & Excerpt ~ Shift (Hearts & Arrows #2) by Staci Hart


Bestselling author Staci Hart brings you the second installment of an addictive romantic mythology series where love is the ultimate game, and Aphrodite always wins. 

Shift by Staci Hart
Publishing Date: August 24th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance


Book Description:

Even the gods cannot betray the will of the stars.

It’s been a hundred years since she’s warmed my bed, a hundred years spent waiting for her. Now we’ll compete again in a game that matters little to me. But my prize is far greater than a token to be paid for a favor — I want her. 

And for the first time in a very long time, I have the chance to keep her.

Because now the ground has shifted, tilted in my favor, and with her footing unsteady, she will fall. 

I will catch her.

This time, I won’t let go.


Buy Links:

Read Today!
(Free in Kindle Unlimited)


Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2vEOcf1


Excerpt: 

ARES

The city stretched up like quartz against the fading sunlight, the colors of the sky deepening with every second that slipped by. Ares’s eyes were on the horizon, slashed with the darkening skyscrapers at the southern tip of Manhattan, but his mind was a thousand years behind him, and her face filled the space in between.

They were Mars and Venus. Man and woman. Ares and Aphrodite. The bond between them was unbreakable, undeniable, no matter how she had tried to reject it, tried to stay away. She’d never quite succeeded. She never would.

Even the gods could not betray the will of the stars.

It had been a hundred years since she warmed his bed, a hundred years of waiting for her. Now they would compete again in a game that mattered little to him. His prize was far greater than a token to be paid for a favor — he wanted her. And for the first time in a very long time, he had a chance to keep her.

Adonis had been in the way far too long — even murdering the human hadn’t removed him from the equation — but now the ground had shifted, tilted in Ares’s favor, and with Aphrodite’s footing unsteady, she would fall.

He would catch her.

This time, he wouldn’t let go.

Ares had already chosen his human player, and soon he would make his way down to the throng of gods who waited for the game to begin. She would be there. She would make her choice, and the fire between them would ignite as it always did — first with a spark, then a flicker. Then, she would be consumed, and so would he.

It would be the same as it ever was, and he was so starved for her, his body tensed from head to heart to heel in anticipation of what was to come.

From a hundred years down to a few days, the distance traveled worth every second of longing, and with every moment that passed, the stars moved closer to alignment and to his favor. And there was nothing she could do to fight it.

He’d see to that.

Start the Series Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Paper Fools


Add to GoodReads➜ https://goo.gl/SggznE

About the Author:


Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. 

From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Connect with Staci:

Pre-Order Blitz & Giveaway ~ Exes With Benefits by Nicole Williams



Coming September 18th


Book Description:

He wants a second chance. I want a divorce. To get what I want, I’ll have to give him what he does. 

From New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Nicole Williams, comes a new standalone romance in the same vein as Roommates with Benefits.

Buy Links:



Giveaway:

$10 Amazon Gift Card 
A signed copy of Trusting You & Other Lies 

Click HERE to enter


About the Author:

Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time. 

Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency. 

Release Day Blitz ~ Hate to Love You by Tijan

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Hate to Love You, an all-new standalone from New York Times Bestseller Tijan is LIVE!

HATETOLOVEYOUFINALCOVER2

Hate to Love You 
by Tijan 
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: August 28th

Book Description:

Rule #1: No hot guys.

It might sound ridiculous. I get it. It kind of is, but college was supposed to be my sanctuary. It was my place to start over. The rumors, the whispers, and the jealousy I endured through high school would all be gone.

No one would know me at college.

Rule #2: No drama.

I’d major in pre-law. I’d make a few loyal friends. Everything would be easy breezy. No one was going to use me or hurt me. I wouldn’t let them.

Rule #3: New year. New place. New me.

Right?

Wrong.

And all because of Shay Coleman.

Football captain and quarterback, he was the big guy on campus. The cocky guy in my political science class with a smirk. I hated him on sight . . .

. . . and he was about to break all my rules.

TIJAN-HTLY-AN KU

Buy Links:

Read Today!


Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2rwVniM

HTLY-Teaser3

About the Author:


Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores. To find what to read next of hers, go to www.tijansbooks.com WALL STREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 

Connect with Tijan:


Stay up to date with Tijan by signing up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/9GxnKU

Thursday 24 August 2017

Blog Tour, Review, Excerpt & Giveaway ~ Beard in Mind (Winston Brothers #4) by Penny Reid

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Beard in Mind, an all new standalone in the bestselling, romantic comedy Winston Brothers Series by Penny Reid, is available NOW!

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Book Description:

All is fair in love and auto maintenance.

Beau Winston is the nicest, most accommodating guy in the world. Usually.
Handsome as the devil and twice as charismatic, Beau lives a charmed life as everyone’s favorite Winston Brother. But since his twin decided to leave town, and his other brother hired a stunning human-porcupine hybrid as a replacement mechanic for their auto shop, Beau Winston’s charmed life has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Shelly Sullivan is not nice and is never accommodating. Ever.

She mumbles to herself, but won’t respond when asked a question. She glares at everyone, especially babies. She won’t shake hands with or touch another person, but has no problems cuddling with a dog. And her damn parrot speaks only in curse words.

Beau wants her gone. He wants her out of his auto shop, out of Tennessee, and out of his life.
The only problem is, learning why this porcupine wears her coat of spikes opens a Pandora’s box of complexity—exquisite, tempting, heartbreaking complexity—and Beau Winston soon discovers being nice and accommodating might mean losing what matters most.


LIVE


Buy Links:

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)


Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/hsTLLC

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“Don’t set yourself on fire trying to keep other people warm.”


Damn, this series just gets better and better. I was late to the Penny Reid train and have read a fair few of her books now, but this series is by far my favourite. From the gorgeous covers, to her unique characters, to her fantastic penmanship, these books have it all. This book was a long book, but it never felt that way, each page captivated me one hundred percent as the story of Beau and Shelly evolved before my eyes. Penny Reid is truly one of a kind, she writes her stories…her way, her character connection and dialogue is always on point, her wit is prevalent throughout and the way that she crafts her stories is second to none. Each character comes to life to the point that you can picture them, their nuances and their personalities shine through, you live and breathe a Penny Reid story and Beard in Mind was no different.


“He needed to pick one muffin, and stick with that muffin. He didn’t get to lay claim to all the muffins, because that’s not how life worked.”


Beau Winston, OMG, this guy stole my heart. Selfless is an understatement for Beau, he helps anyone and everyone and his heart is the size of Texas. Beau is as pure as they come, his outlook on life, his love and dedication towards his family and then the relationship he embarks on with Shelly. Beau is basically perfect, he works hard, he doesn’t play around and loves with everything he has. Seriously, perfect.


“Your mother named you well…Every single part of you is beautiful.”


Shelly was a rose…beautiful to look at but incredibly prickly, but don’t let this deter you. Shelly was an amazing character and Penny Reid did a fantastic job of presenting Shelly and her issues. Underneath that outgoing frostiness was a woman desperate to find herself…her true self. Afraid of herself and those around her Shelly was a victim of her own self-inflicted prison, one that she was desperate to escape from and one where she was working towards her goals. A talented artist and even more talented mechanic, Shelly could give the Winston’s a run for their money, but this woman only had eyes for one.


“But mostly, I feel sorry for everyone else. Because from what I’ve seen, the glimpses of herself she’s shared with me, it’s a damn shame no one else gets to see it. It leads me to suspect that what we see of her on the outside has nothing on the beauty on the inside.”


I loved the relationship between Beau and Shelly, from that initial hate, to understanding, to friendship to more. Penny Reid perfectly captured this couple navigating their way through the trials and tribulations of life. Cletus was always the Winston brother for me, but Beau has knocked him on his backside. Seriously, any Winston brother would be a catch, but Beau, he was so much more.


“People need to be polished, to be stroked, touched,” her tone was abstract, “and when they’re not polished, their colors fade. They fade, they change, warp, become something different.”


This was a truly stunning story, the amount of research that must have gone into this book was phenomenal. Once again, I bow down to this authors greatness, the way she arranges those innocuous twenty-six letters of the alphabet is a true talent, she always delivers honest, real, relatable stories that never fail to tug at every heart string. You always learn something with a Penny Reid book even if you don’t realise it at the time, and the lesson from this book will be an invaluable one. We all have our idiosyncrasies but what may be a hill to some could be a mountain for others. Adored every single word of this book.


“What must that be like? To be a prisoner to your own mind? To have your actions and desires held hostage by irrational fear?”


Excerpt: 

She’d taken the sofa, in her own house, and given me the bed. That didn’t make a lick of sense.

I crouched next to her, threading my fingers into the silky hair at her temples. “Honey.”

“Mmm.”

I bent to whisper, “Shelly.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to carry you to your bed. I’ll take the sofa.”

“Mmm.”

I grinned at her soft noises, at the untroubled expression on her face, and how her brow—even in sleep—still looked regal and stern.

Sliding my arms under her legs and shoulder, I picked her up. And, unfortunately, that woke her up.

She jerked in my arms. “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you to the bed.”

“Don’t do that.”

“I don’t mind, I’ll take the sofa.” Our mouths were just inches apart, and hers was distracting.

She squirmed. “Put me down.”

Sighing unhappily, I did. I set her on her feet next to the couch. The blanket pooled at her feet and I stepped back to give her some space. It was dark, but I could see her just fine, and that meant I had to force my eyes to remain above her neck. The woman was wearing two pathetic scraps of fabric as pajamas. A thin little tank top and shorts. That’s it.

I set my jaw and turned to the side, waiting for her to walk past.

“Where are you?”

I glanced at her and realized she couldn’t see at all. She didn’t have a hand out, but the way her eyes were moving about the room gave away her blindness.

“I’m here.” I didn’t touch her, because if I did, I wouldn’t want to stop.

Shelly turned her head in my direction and took a deep breath. Still she didn’t reach for me. I didn’t know the specifics of what to expect after her Friday session, but I recalled Dr. West saying something about Shelly doing self-guided ERP exercises over this week.

“Can you see?” She licked her lips, her voice sandpapery. “Because I can’t see at all. It’s so dark.”

“I can see.” Unbidden, my eyes dropped to her body, to the swell of her breasts, the panel of bare stomach, the curve of her hips. Pinpricks of heat raised over my skin and I curled my hands into fists.

She shuffled forward and I caught her before she bumped into me, setting my hands gently at her waist.

“Let me take you to your room.” My voice was rough, for obvious reasons.

Saying nothing, she brought her hand to my forearm, her body gently colliding with mine. And then her hand on my arm slid up my bicep to my shoulder.

“Shelly.” I was running out of breath.

“I like this.”

“What?”

“Touching you.”

Oh fuck.

I held still and endured her hands moving over my body, down the front of my shirt, stopping at the hem, then pushing it up.

“Take this off.”

I did. I pulled the T-shirt over my head and let it drop to the floor.

We stood there, facing each other in the dark, not touching. Despite the session on Friday and the progress that had been made, I realized she wasn’t quite there yet. Dr. West was right, Friday was just a step, the first step. Shelly wasn’t able to initiate contact. Not yet.

Her hands balled into fists and she swayed forward, her breath struggling little puffs.

If anything was going to happen tonight, I had to initiate it. I had to be the one to touch first.

God, how I wanted her. How I wanted her above me, beneath me, surrounding me. But how could I?

“I know why I hesitate,” her voice was breathless, “but why do you hesitate?”

“Lots of reasons.”

“Give me one.”

“I don’t want to you use you.”

“I wish you would.”

That pulled a laugh from me, just a small relief from the mounting tension. My eyes moved over her body, an undeniable impulse to devour the sight of her, her legs, stomach, chest, then up her neck to her lips.

“You asked me on Saturday if sex was a big deal for me, or if it was you. The answer is both.”

She held very still, and I got the sense she was holding her breath, straining to listen.

“You are a big deal to me. I don’t want a fling. I don’t want a flirtation. I want promises.”

“What can I promise you?”

That you’ll love me. That I’ll be your priority.

She shifted her weight from foot to foot. A spike of anxiety that she might leave me like this had me acting without forethought. I lifted my hands to her waist again and immediately, her fingertips skimmed over skin of my lower stomach in response, making my muscles tense in hot anticipation. She grew more assertive as she caressed my sides, abdomen, ribs, chest, shoulders, and then back down.

Shelly stepped closer, a hint of thrilling contact between her breasts and my torso, and all the words and worries melted from my mind, died on my tongue, suffocated by the feel of her body, and the possibility of this moment.

Her finger hooked in the waistband of my jeans. “Take these off.” Her hand turned, her fingers and palm cupping me over my zipper.

Instinctively, I pressed myself into her touch even as I grabbed her wrist.

“Beau, I promise—”

She didn’t get to speak, because I kissed her, hard and wild, unbuttoning and unzipping my fly with one hand and bringing her palm inside my boxers with the other.

Giveaway:

BT-Giveaway.jpg

Enter the Giveaway!


About the Author:


Penny Reid is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny:

Twitter: @ReidRomance

Release Day Blitz ~ Shift (Hearts & Arrows #2) by Staci Hart

SHIFT BANNER RB

Bestselling author Staci Hart brings you the second installment of an addictive romantic mythology series where love is the ultimate game, and Aphrodite always wins.

cover-wrap-shift

Shift by Staci Hart
Publishing Date: August 24th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Even the gods cannot betray the will of the stars. 

It’s been a hundred years since she’s warmed my bed, a hundred years spent waiting for her. Now we’ll compete again in a game that matters little to me. But my prize is far greater than a token to be paid for a favor — I want her. 

And for the first time in a very long time, I have the chance to keep her. 

Because now the ground has shifted, tilted in my favor, and with her footing unsteady, she will fall.

 I will catch her. 

This time, I won’t let go.


fb-now-live-1

Buy Links:

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)


Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2vEOcf1

teaser2

Start the Series Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Paper Fools


Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/SggznE

About the Author:


Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Connect with Staci:

Wednesday 23 August 2017

Blog Tour, Review & Excerpt ~ Hollywood Scandal by Louise Bay

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Hollywood Scandal 
by Louise Bay 
Release Date: August 22nd 
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Hollywood Scandal, an all-new contemporary romance by Louise Bay is available NOW!!

HollywoodScandal.Ebook.v3

Book Description:

HE’S A HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR. SHE’S LITERALLY THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

One of Hollywood’s A-listers, I have the movie industry in the palm of my hand. But if I’m going to stay at the top, my playboy image needs an overhaul. No more tabloid headlines. No more parties. And absolutely no more one night stands.

Filming for my latest blockbuster takes place on the coast of Maine and I’m determined to stay out of trouble. But trouble finds me when I run into Lana Kelly.

She doesn’t recognize me, she’s never heard of Matt Easton and my million dollar smile doesn’t work on her.

Ego shredded, I know I should keep my distance, but when I realize she’s my neighbor I know I’m toast. There’s no way I can resist temptation when it’s ten yards away.

She has a mouth designed for pleasure and legs that will wrap perfectly around my waist.

She’s movie star beautiful and her body is made to be mine.

Getting Lana Kelly into my bed is harder than I’m used to. She’s not interested in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but I’m determined to convince her the best place in the world is on the red carpet, holding my hand.

I could have any woman in the world, but all I want is the girl next door. 

A sexy, standalone romance. 

AVAILABLE NOW - landscape copy

Buy Links:


Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/Stv8Cv

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“There was no way a Hollywood superstar and a girl from Worthington, Maine, were meant to be together.”


Hollywood Scandal was my first read by Louise Bay and will definitely be the first of many. I loved this authors writing style as she effortlessly transports the reader to a quiet little town in Maine, where I could smell the ocean and hear the waves. Just up the coast a huge movie is being made and when the male lead decides he wants to stay somewhere anonymous and tranquil that same little town was incredibly appealing…as was the next-door neighbour. This was a cute romance, where Hollywood meets hermit and sacrifices and compromises must be made if this relationship is to have any legs at all. Opposites attract and these two were magnetised.


“The man a million women wanted only wanted me.”


Lana had been burned in the past and had sworn off men. Returning to her little town from New York gave her the anonymity she wanted and embraced her self-inflicted celibate, hermit status. Everyone knew everyone and here she felt safe. Lana was an artist who made and designed jewellery, she had her little shop and was starting to branch out into commission pieces. Lana’s life was quiet, peaceful and easy, just how she liked it, until an infuriating, drop dead gorgeous, handsome as sin man rented the cottage next door.


“I couldn’t help but think I’d just made a deal with a very handsome devil.”


Matt is a Hollywood actor who at first fell victim to the trappings of success and money. Women were his vice and now having cleaned up his act he was determined to keep it that way. Away from the rest of his co-stars and production crew, the quiet life was one he seeked, he had aspirations and to make them a reality he had to keep his nose clean. Matt came from nothing and wanted nothing more than to provide a decent life for his family. His heart was in the right place and I adored his work ethic. He had knuckled down, was focused and was far from complacent. Matt knew the industry was a fickle beast so he had to strike while the iron was hot.


“…I could imagine starting a war for a girl like her.”


I loved the interaction between Lana and Matt, Lana does not have a scooby who he is and just treats him as another visitor. It is this innocence that first attracts Matt to Lana and the fact that she was smoking hot. Matt could just be Matt around her, not Matt Easton the actor, and her innocence also went some ways to prove her sincerity. The banter between them was great and I was glad that Lana stood up for herself and was far from a doormat. While at times it was hard to understand where she came from and why her insecurities and fears were so strong, I could understand and while an A List actor may not be the best man to jump back on the horse with, it delivered an entertaining story.


“You deserve to be happy, but that doesn’t mean you can run from the storm. Sometimes it’s good to get a little rained on.”


This was a cute, honest romance, where compromises had to be made and life adjustments were par for the course. This was all about dealing with your past to embrace your present and finding love when you least expect it. This is definitely an author I will be reading again.


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Excerpt:

Matt Easton
“You have a boyfriend?”
She took another sip of wine and set it back on the table before she replied. “You’ve half asked that before.”
I chuckled. True. Not that I was going to act differently if she told me—either way I needed to keep my distance. I just wanted to meet the man who had managed to land this woman. “And I’m still coming up empty.” I glanced at the rise and fall of her creamy breasts, only barely covered by her camisole, and swallowed. Hard. I really should leave.
“See that?” she asked, pointing up over the ocean. “Lightning. And again.”
“Wow, that nearly cut the sky in half.”
Our eyes locked first in excited, shared understanding and then the connection transformed into something that had nothing to do with the lightning. She looked away first. I would have stayed, my eyes fixed on hers the whole night, if she hadn’t. “The air feels charged with something.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” she whispered.
It was an invitation, and not one I wanted to turn down. I wanted to touch her, see if her lips were as soft as they looked.
“I want to kiss you,” I said, shifting so that she, and not the storm, had all my attention.
The thunder rumbled again.
Despite the noise surrounding us, I could only focus on the sound of her breathing. My pulse jumped under my skin, at my neck, in my wrists, in my dick.
I really shouldn’t be doing this.
But it was just a kiss.
And she was so beautiful.
And then it would be over.
I slid my thumb over her bottom lip. “Look at me,” I said.
My gaze flickered down as her breasts rose with her breath. It took every ounce of control not to yank her cami down and put my mouth on that warm, soft, pliant flesh.
As I looked at her, our eyes locked, and this time heat passed back and forth between us, growing more scorching with each passing moment.
She wanted me to kiss her. Maybe even strip her naked on this deck and fuck her hard and long until I knew every part of her.
I groaned, blood rushing to my dick, and leaned in to press my lips softly on the corner of her mouth. Her breath was hot and heavy against my cheek. I dropped my hand to her ass and slid her onto my lap.
Wrapping my hands around her silky hair that smelled of the ocean, I pulled, tilting her head back and exposing her neck.
I’d been kidding myself to think this was just a kiss. I wasn’t sure if it was because it had been so long since I’d fucked someone new or whether it was the storm or just the way Lana looked at me, but my whole body reverberated with lust. I wanted to touch, hold, possess her.
I trailed my teeth along her jaw and she squirmed in my lap. I slid my palms up her thighs and lifted her so she was straddling me.
Just a kiss. Right.
I wanted her closer, so I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and brought her mouth to mine in a fractured, desperate connection. With my other hand, I pushed her ass against me. The heat of her covered pussy against my erection made me groan. Sliding my tongue against the seam of her lips, I delved deeper. Fuck, I’d forgotten how hot making out could be. The stuff before the fucking. Before my reform, it had been all about release. All about seeing how fast I could have a woman’s mouth wrapped around my cock after making eye contact with her.
But not now. Not out here on the porch with Lana. All I could think about was how I couldn’t fuck her, how I’d never make it that far.

She smelled so damn good. Tasted even better.

About the Author:

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

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

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

She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!


Connect with Louise:

Tuesday 22 August 2017

Review Blitz ~ Drunk Dial by Penelope Ward


Drunk Dial is LIVE!!!


Book Description:

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new, sexy standalone novel.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Look up Landon Roderick, that boy from childhood whom I’d never been able to forget—even though he so easily forgot about me—and call him. 

Then again, anything sounds like a good idea when you’ve had a little too much wine before bed, right? It was supposed to be just a quick, meaningless, prank call. Instead, I went off on him—unloading thirteen years of pent-up emotions. 

I didn’t think he’d call me back. 

I certainly could never have anticipated the weeks of sexually tense phone conversations that followed as I got to know the man he’d become. 

Turned out, Landon had never really forgotten me, either. That special connection we had was still there. I opened up to him, but there were also things about me he didn’t know. And he had his own secrets. 

Over the countless hours we talked on the phone, I wondered what would happen if we actually saw each other. One night, I did something impulsive again. Only this time, I went to the airport and booked a ticket to California. We were about to find out if one phone call could bring two lost souls together or if my drunk dial really was all just a big mistake.

A complete STANDALONE.
    

Buy Links:


Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4.5 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***



“Do you have a Rana? If not, I feel really bad for you. So, I don’t want to be Rana when I grow up. Because there’s only one Rana. And she’s my friend.”


Drunk Dial is not what you would expect from the title…yes this does begin with a drunk dial, but the story was so much more than one intoxicated phone call. Our hero and heroine had been friends when they were younger until they were thirteen. Best friends and neighbours, until one was taken from the other. One bottle of wine later, one rant for not trying to find the other and old wounds are opened and one long distance friendship begins. These two had history and a lot of chemistry…surely distance was something they could overcome once they ironed out their past? Rana Banana and Landon’s Lunchbox will have you swooning in no time!


“In many ways, our story was a lot like the Rubik’s Cube – colourful and complicated. It took years to work it out, but then suddenly like magic, on a random Sunday, everything all came together.”


Rana Saloomi was incredibly lonely, her past was that of a poor family, a mother who deserted her and a father who stifled her with the best intentions. Rana Saloomi had made a lot of mistakes, ones that she had learned from and had no desire to repeat, but with abandonment issues and self-esteem issues, the chances of putting herself out there were slim to none. Despite the above though her profession as a belly dancer was something she enjoyed, despite the low self-esteem and one where she could forget and where more importantly no-one knew her.


“She may be imperfect, but her love for you isn’t. It’s unbreakable.”


Landon Roderick was not the boy that Rana once knew. Long gone was the thirteen-year-old neighbour that seemingly had the world at his feet. In his place was a man that was a little lost, tattooed and yet had turned the corner and was trying to make the best out of the hand he had been dealt. Landon went away to find himself, something he hadn’t yet found…but it seems his answers may have found him after one drunken phone call.


“…a wise boy once told me that ‘maybe it’s not really a mistake if you learn from it.’”


I loved Landon and Rana’s back stories, neither was perfect, neither knew their place in life, both were still searching for answers. I adored the too and fro of their messages and their chats as they reconnected. Landon had such a huge heart and it was obvious from the beginning that he had a lot of love to give. Rana was such an adorable heroine, despite her insecurities, which I have to admit were not what I was anticipating. The effect the relationship we have with our parents can be what moulds us, but also in the extreme can break us and Rana’s past did just that.

Penelope Ward delivers a book that I didn’t expect. This was emotional at times, heart breaking and all-consuming. The banter between Landon and Rana was relatable, believable and honest and their connection only grows in real time. While I will admit the ILY came quite quickly, because of their history and the amount of time they had spent catching up and reconnecting it did not bother me and I found myself swept away in their story.

This was a fantastic story, one I couldn’t put down and one that totally blindsided me. It just goes to show how much a title can skew your expectations, I thought I was getting one thing and yet, I got something so much better. Adored this one!!

About the Author:

 

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author of thirteen novels. With over a million books sold, her titles have placed on the New York Times Bestseller list sixteen times. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 12-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 10-year-old boy. Penelope, her husband, and kids reside in Rhode Island.   

  Connect with Penelope Ward 


Other Books by Penelope Ward

Sins of Sevin



Stepbrother Dearest


Gemini



Jake Undone (Jake #1)



My Skylar



Jake Understood (Jake #2)

kobo: http://bit.ly/1LQ7Fvk


Mack Daddy

Kobo: http://hyperurl.co/r3hv19


Room Hate

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2149B7w
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2149EQE
iTunes: http://apple.co/1PgsvE7
B&N: http://bit.ly/1PLGnSL
kobo: http://bit.ly/1POvSnW

Co-Written with Vi Keeland

Playboy Pilot

Cocky Bastard