Thursday, November 30, 2017

Room Mates by Kendall Ryan - Series Cover Reveal

We are thrilled to announce the release of ROOMMATES: 

The Series from Kendall Ryan coming on December 26!

           



Book Description:

Life is smooth sailing until these new roomies find themselves stuck between a rock and a very hard place. Because lusting after the one person you shouldn't ever mess around with--your new roommate is like cardinal rule number one. Get ready for 4 complete friends-to-lovers rom-com standalones. The Room Mate - Her best friend's younger brother moves in and rocks her world with his amazing bedroom Olympics. The Play Mate - Her older brother's best friend becomes the financial backer to her lingerie company then these two office-mates decide to become play mates. What's the worst that could happen? The House Mate - He's the hot single dad, and she's the new live-in nanny. This is swoonworthy perfection if you like single dad romance! The Soul Mate - The smoking-hot one-night stand she was never supposed to see again? She's pregnant, and he’s her hot doctor. 

  



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

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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Master Bits and Mercenary Bites: Girls Night by Lexi Blake and Suzanne M. Johnson - Review and Except

   

  


Author: Lexi Blake and Suzanne M. Johnson
Publication Date:  28 November 2017
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Inc
Series:  Masters and Mercenaries - Topped 
Genre:  Contemporary Romance/Cookbook 
Age Recommendation: 18 and up (some BDSM elements)
Rating: 4 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 


Book Description:

From the creators of Master Bits and Mercenary Bites, New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake and Southern food expert and USA Today bestselling author Suzanne Johnson, comes a new look at the Masters and Mercenaries world—Girls Night. 
 Join us for easy to cook, delicious recipes and stay for the stories of the women of McKay-Taggart. From slow cooker special dinners to cocktails that will elevate your game, Suzanne will show you that easy can be delicious. Lexi dives into what happens after happily ever after. Charlie and Ian try to have a night out—but their kids prove that anything can happen when Taggarts are involved. Faith and Ten get a gift they never expected. Karina and Derek go on a stakeout. And Serena finds the meaning of Bliss. All these stories and more explore what it means to be a wife, a mother, a woman navigating love and responsibility. Good meals, good times, good friends. Bon appétit!        

    



My Review:

This is going to be a bit of a short review for me, because if you have read any of my reviews you know how I like to pontificate, haha.  Don't worry though, this won't be a short review because I didn't;t like the book, it's just going to be short due to the fact of the type of book it is.  

Master Bits and Mercenary Bites (MBMB): Girl's Night is a combination of novella and cookbook and like the first MBMB I had a ton of fun going through this book.  In fact, I think this one was even more fun.  I hate to say I haven't tried one of the recipe's yet, holidays and turkey and all, but I know from the original MBMB that the recipes are wonderful, I haven't cooked one yet that I didn't like.  What made this second book even better, the stories.  I adored the little snippets of the McKay-Taggart families daily life, their struggle to continue to build strong relationships in their marriages.  The brutal honesty (though Ian and Charlotte's children are an entirely different matter, ha) of maintaining a healthy and desirable communion between each other.  I laughed, I nodded my head in understanding, I cringed, I came away with a serious craving for lemon tarts!  It was just a lot of fun to read. My favorite part is how every couples chapter blended into the others.  The image of Ian running down the road shouting "I am {MFing} (got to keep it clean for Amazon) Emmit Smith" while Charlotte notices a oddly familiar vehicle, then a chapter later two people in a van hear someone shouting and wonder if there is a Cowboy game on.  It's jut all perfectly done and hilarious.  

I will admit it gets a little confusing for me when it comes to Serena's story and I am wondering if I am missing a crossover that I now need to go find or is Lexi Blake's wild imagination on the run and I just like where it's going, ha!  I feel like I should know these people or I need to know them at least.  I think from what I read about Bliss, Colorado it would be a wild ride of a book.  

All in all this is just a wonderful look into the lives of the McKay-Taggart family and you know it is anything but 'average', but it is full of love, friendship, good food...and by the looks of it a few more babies!  


~ HAPPY READING ~ 






 Excerpt from Rough Night  

 “You taste better than any pie, my Charlie,” Ian whispered against her lips. His hands tightened on her and she felt one of those big palms stroke her thigh. “Why don’t you straddle me and let’s see what happens.” She knew what would happen. She placed the tray of treats on the table beside them and gingerly shifted, twisting so she straddled her Master’s lap. Yes, there it was. His cock was right against her pussy. All she had to do was… Ian groaned as she rolled her pelvis. “That’s right, baby. Now give me some of that sweet, sweet lemony goodness. Ride me and feed me. That’s what I want. Let me watch you come.” “And if I can make you come?” It was a fun little game. She would try to see if she could get that big dick of his to go off before she did. “Then I’ll walk around for the rest of the night a bit on the uncomfortable side,” he replied, his hands finding her hips. He shifted and she found herself with her clitoris in the perfect position. “But that’s not going to happen. I know exactly how to make you moan, Charlie baby.” She felt her phone vibrate. Charlie winced. “It’s another text.” He pumped his hips up against hers. “Answer it. If it’s anyone except Malone telling us one of the children is missing, I’m texting them a dick pic and asking them to leave us alone. Let’s see if you can text while I do this.” His erection slid over the perfect place and Charlie could feel the orgasm starting to build. How could he still do this to her? All he had to do was start touching her, using that deep Dom voice on her, and her whole body was ready to comply to his any and every whim. Did she have to answer? It probably wasn’t anything important. Was anything in the world as important as the way this man made her feel? “Give me a taste of that tart, baby. Or better yet, pull those pretty nipples out and let me taste them. Let me lick and suck and bite on those sweet nipples.” Her vision was going soft as he hauled her close. And her phone vibrated again. “Ian,” she started. “Do what you need to,” he replied as he licked her collarbone. “I’ll do what I have to.” She was going to kill whoever was texting her. It was probably Malone, trying to figure out where the damn marshmallows were. She bit back a groan and reached for her phone. It better be so good because she was getting close, and the minute Ian started sucking on her breasts she wouldn’t be able to hold… Do you have a fire extinguisher? “What?” Charlie shifted, trying to get a better grip on the phone. And the chair under Ian kind of exploded. Charlie hit the floor, her knees knocking on the tile. Ian had gone backward but he’d managed to twist his body so he landed on his shoulder instead of knocking the back of his head against the windowsill. Panic flooded Charlie’s veins. She scrambled to find her phone. “Ian?” “I’m fine,” he groaned. “Call him. Damn it. Can’t we have one fucking night out without the world coming to an end? Ah, yeah, this is going to hurt.” Had he thrown out his back again? She couldn’t stop and find out. Sarah Stevens was here somewhere and she was a nurse. Surely she could help. Charlie grabbed the phone from the midst of the now fallen lemon tarts. The tray had turned over, but there were still several that had landed on the table. She would have to shove those in her purse if they were about to flee home. With shaking fingers she dialed the number for Michael. “Hey, Charlotte, I think I got the fire out. Boomer stopped, dropped, and rolled on it. That did the trick. The girls thought it was hilarious, but we’ve got another problem now,” Michael was saying. “There was a fire?” She practically screamed the question. “Tell Boomer to sit on it,” Ian said from the floor. “Put him on speaker.” She didn’t need his sarcasm, but he had the right to listen in. She clicked to go to speaker. “Where was the fire, Michael?” “Well, you see when I told the girls we could have a campout in the living room, I kind of thought we would build a fort made out of sheets, you know what I’m talking about,” Michael continued, his Texas drawl slow and steady. “Damn, Charlotte. I didn’t think the girls would take it so literally.” Her girls took everything literally. “The girls tried to start a fire? In my living room?” “It was minor,” Michael promised. “Mostly because they couldn’t take apart the furniture to burn. That was their plan. Apparently Ian taught them how to use whatever’s around to stay warm in case they find themselves out in the woods at night. I saved the sofa, but they did manage to get that wicker basket of yours to burn. Kala said she had to use it because she couldn’t get to the hatchet.” Charlie turned to her husband. “Why would our daughters know how to use a hatchet?” He was a nice shade of pale and his shoulder seemed weird. “You told me to teach them some life skills.” She was going to kill everyone.   

          
 

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

FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ WEBSITE ~ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE



About Suzanne Johnson: Suzanne Johnson is family-trained, a south Georgia native who’s been cooking all of her life, creating not only some really unique food, but precious memories that re-occur every time she smells something simmering in the oven.  In all of her books, Suzanne shows that making a delicious meal doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to be made with love.  So go ahead, don’t be bashful, dive right in.  Who knows?  You might just make a few memories of your own.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi - Review





I am beyond excited to be a part of this blog tour for Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi.  

Whichwood is a Middle Grade Fantasy and is available now! 






Author: Tahereh Mari
Publication Date:  14 November 2017
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Series:  Furthermore, book 2
Genre:  Middle Grade Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 10 and Up
Rating: 4 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 



Book Description:

Tahereh Mafi brings readers on a dark and lush new adventure about a girl who is fated to wash the bodies of the dead in this companion to her bestselling Furthermore.

Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way). Before she was left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days washing the bodies of the dead and preparing their souls for the afterlife. It's become easy to forget and easier still to ignore the way her hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair, and her own ever-increasing loneliness and fear.

But soon, a pair of familiar strangers appears, and Laylee's world is turned upside down as she rediscovers color, magic, and the healing power of friendship.





My Review:

I was thrilled when this book hit my email, I have been a fan of Tahereh Mafi's since her Shatter Me series, yes I loved Warner, no I am not a fan of how the end played out with Adam, yes I want more Kenji.  When I saw that she was writing middle grade fantasies, I was over the moon.  Tahereh's writing style is as magical as the worlds that she creates and I know will send middle grade readers off on extraordinary journeys with out 'dumbing down' the prose.  The Furthermore books are books that give the reader an amazing adventure, while stretching the mind, and teaching important lessons along the way.  

I loved the way that Tahereh Mafi wrote Whichwood, loved that she used 4th person to explain a little back story or to answer questions that aren't clear within the character dialogue.  I loved that as I read I had Lemony Snicket feelings underneath all the playful and beautiful prose.  

I could talk about her writing style and world building for days but that's not really what you are here for however, I don't want to go into too much detail about the story because once you move past the writing details and into the actual story you will find that the story arc itself is very short and difficult to discuss without giving away important elements.  So what takes up 360 pages of this book, descriptions.  Normally I would hate this, I will say there were times where I wish we could just get to the point but at the same time I was so in love with the words and the way that Tahereh was weaving the story that I didn't want to look away, I didn't want to jump ahead because every little detail was beautiful and poignant.  

So I will skip over the details of the story, you know it is a story about a girl who washes the dead and the discovery of new friends and a wonderful moral for any age to learn.  What you may not know is that this is a pretty dark book.  I would hesitate to let my 9 year old read it, perhaps if I read it to her.  I think that my 11 year old would love it but I do worry that it could create vivid and perhaps scary dreams if she read it at bedtime.  There is one particular part that I found quite 'skin crawling' and I will say if you or your young reader are extremely sensitive to the idea of bugs you may want to take a deep breath before diving in.  This is a book based around the dead, it is not what the story is ultimately about but dead bodies are discussed regularly, there is a moment where a parent is killed.  Do I think that means you shouldn't let your upper middle grade readers read it, not at all.  I think this is a beautiful story that is so much more than dark and creepy, but you may want to give it a quick read yourself and determine if it is a good fit for your middle grade reader first.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book.  Laylee has had a hard life, she's basically on her own at the age of 13 and has a weight on her shoulders that no child should ever have to bear.  I loved her strength and determination.  Her compassion for people who have not been compassionate to her in return.  I loved her grace and beauty, outside and in.  I also adored Benyamin and am hopeful that we will get more from him in future books, his story makes me a bit squeamish but he is much like Laylee and I am curious to see more of him in the future.  Alice, I need to go back for her story, she's a wonderful character and Olivier...well, Oliver is a bit of something special I think.  I can say in the beginning I thought he was a careless, thoughtless, self-absorbed boy, but in the end I fell head over heels for him and I want to see him in the future.  His heart is bigger and more compassionate than I ever could have expected and out of all the characters he moved me the most, maybe it is my romantic heart and maybe it was an ending line in the story that did me in, but he is the guy.  He in this story is my Warner.  He may be your middle grade readers first book boyfriend!  

Speaking of Oliver and Alice, some how I missed reading Furthermore, I think time just got away from me and it got pushed back until it was so deep in my TBR that I just couldn't get to it.  Even though I hadn't read Futhermore I was not lost while reading Whichwood, it is a standalone within a series.  What it did do is make me want to dig down in that pile bump Furthermore up to the top.  I loved that Oliver and Alice make an appearance and though I didn't know there story I wasn't confused, I just want to get to know them better now so as soon as I am done here I am off to start reading all about those two. 

This is a wonderful read, with beautiful characters.  Whichwood is a magical journey that will have your readers minds spinning with fantastical stories and will introduce them to friendships that go beyond looks, education, race, and beliefs.  It will remind them that it is not what is outside of the person but what is inside them that is the most important when finding new friends.  I really loved this book even with all of its faults. Tahereh has made me fall in love with another world and I just want more!  


~ HAPPY READING ~ 




Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series and Furthermore. She can usually be found over-caffeinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere at @TaherehMafi or on her website, www.taherehbooks.com.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

In between the Earth and Sky by Heidi Hutchinson - Review and Giveaway



Today I am helping with the blog tour for In Between the Earth and Sky by Heidi Hutchinson!

 Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!
 

Author: Heidi Hutchinson
Publication Date:  12 November 2017
Publisher: Double Blind Publishing
Series:  Standalone
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 5 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?

Remington Rohan was not a rule follower.

Former model (though not one of the “super” kind), successful influencer and life coach. Currently paid to tell people how to achieve the best from their lives and careers.  In other words, a complete contradiction to how he preferred to live—namely, on his own terms and without input from others.

Everything about his life was going according to plan.

Until he started spending way too much time with a woman who defied his prejudices and challenged his beliefs.

Lydia Larkin was not a genius.

Gifted, clever, and stubborn. Raised on star maps and Hendrix, she was born an explorer. Temporarily tied down to a private sector science job, she knew she was biding her time before she was off to discover and build something new.

Not one to let society tell her who she was, she wasn’t about to let a professional influencer tell her she had to change to be happy.

Buckle up and brace for impact.


 



My Review:

So I think that this may turn out to be one of the weirdest reviews I have ever written because I just don't know completely what to say.  I think that this book is something magical, something beautiful. I think that this book is more than I can grasp.  I think this book is like a wild thing and as the book itself says


"You can’t claim a wild thing,” she said to Brenda. “The moment you do, a part of it dies. To keep it wild, to keep it alive, you must always keep it free. All you can do is claim yourself. And sometimes, if you’re very lucky, the wild thing will invite you to stay."

It's almost as though there is so much depth to this book that I can't quite reach it, I can't grasp it.  Do I love it, yes, but at the same time I feel confused by it and I feel like I still crave answers.  It's so deep  that I can't get deep enough to be fulfilled by it.  Honestly how do you rate a book like that.  How do you say it's 5 stars or 4 or even 3 stars when you know it is something you will never be able to label, nothing you could ever cage for long enough to determine what your true feelings are.

I can say that I wanted to climb into this book.  I wanted to be on the outside watching as the Hero and Heroine find their way, to watch what will happen not just what has happened.  I can say that I am not ready to leave them, I need to be the fly on the wall, the spirit whispering to them that they can believe in that (not a religious faith, just so there is no confusion) 'faith'.  Yet, I can also say that I had to walk away several times from the book to process, that it took me a longer than expected time to read it because it is written in a slow pace and so my reading of it was slow.  I can say that I on some level can't comprehend everything I read, that I need someone to sit down and talk this book through with me chapter by chapter.  That I didn't always understand the reasons, the complexities, and yet...yes another YET, that through all of it I loved this book.

These characters will make you think. You will either be left feeling as though everything you just read is hogwash and off or you will be left wondering why we don't all live our lives with the same freedom.  Why we let ourselves be controlled by others and the world around us instead of just living the way our heart leads.  The other thing you might question is the belief that this is a love story.  Is it?  I honestly do not know.  I think that there is definitely a story of love there, the story of loving yourself, the story of allowing someone else to love you, but this is not a traditional love story.  I am uncertain what to call it.  A motivational guide hidden inside a fictional romance? A self-help book wrapped up in a love story? A psychological thriller...okay maybe that's a stretch, but maybe not.  It is most assuredly more than what you will expect.

I can say that you will love these characters even if you can't quite fully understand them.  Lydia is the wind, she is a wild heart that is good and pure, a sprite that follows that wild heart of hers even when it means she struggles to connect to the world around her.  Remington, he is a lost boy (man), he's tried for too long to control that wild heart of his (unlike Lydia who has allowed hers to rule her) and in the process lost his center.  He is someone you would look at from the outside and want to be because it seems that he has everything and yet the truth is he has very little because he's closed his true self off from the world, he's only been giving them the piece that he thinks they deserve.  While those two are the main focus, there is also Merrick and Brenda and I kind of want their stories too, especially Merrick's.  I need to know that he finds his happiness, I need to know that they ALL find their happiness because when this book ends, while you get your HEA, I can't promise you that you will know that happiness will be where everyone lands.

This is a book you are going to want to take your time with so be prepared to shut out the world and bring a carafe of tea/coffee not just your normal cup.  You may question the book as you go along but I urge you to just keep going it's a slow read but a worthy one.  You will definitely question life when you finish but, you will know that there is something incredibly special about this book and you will be happy you didn't give up.  If you wonder how with all this I can still say without question that this is a 5 star review from me, (something I do not give out often or lightly) it is because my heart still hasn't found it's rightful place in my chest yet. Because I still haven't been able to stop thinking about the characters, that I haven't been able to stop thinking about the possibility of everything that this book is.  It is because this is a book that moved me and my own wild heart!


~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Enter Heidi’s Giveaway:


About Heidi Hutchinson:

Heidi Hutchinson was born in South Dakota and raised the exact right distance away from the Black Hills. She had an overactive imagination very early on, and wasted no time in getting most of her friends in trouble due to her unrealistic and completely ridiculous ideas. Seeing as she was so lazy and also afraid people would think she was bonkers, she didn't write down any of the story lines that played out in her daydreams.

During her high school years, she took pen to paper and filled more notebooks than she is proud of with angsty, depressing, self-deprecating poetry. This led to her writing down more things: notes, ideas, character bios, plot twists that had no plot yet to twist. After years of cleaning up her own scraps of imagination with nothing solid to hold on to, she sat down and wrote the story that had been in her head the longest. Fueled by coffee and her unwavering and perfectly normal devotion to Dave Grohl, she discovered a writer living inside of her.

She still lives in the Midwest, though not as close to the Black Hills as she would prefer, with her alarmingly handsome husband and their fearless child. They eat more pizza than God intended and she listens to her music the same way she lives: loudly.

Connect with Heidi:

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Unmasked by Megan Vernon - Review and Giveaway

Today I am helping with the blog tour for Unmasked by Magan Vernon! 

I'm excited about this fantastic new release. 

Be sure to grab your copy now!

Cover Designer: Kassi Snider of Kassi Jean Formatting



Author: Magan Vernon
Publication Date:  6 November 2017
Publisher: Self-Published
Series:  Standalone
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Age Recommendation: 17 and Up
Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 
   

Book Description:

  Can a hotshot snowboarder de-ice the ice queen? At twenty-six, Blake Tremblay is one of the oldest snowboarders in the game. His sights are set on the gold medal, and he knows it’s now or never. Kelly Johnson has spent her entire life skating and winning. She’s had no time for friends or an active social life, earning her the nickname “Ice Queen” – in and out of the rink. Blake makes a bet without knowing all the terms. His ego won’t let him back out, even though his target is none other than the American Ice Queen herself.   What are the odds the dreadlocked playboy can warm the frosty figure skater when the real games are unmasked? Let The Games Begin.


 

My Review:

I have to say that I love me a sports romance so when this came across my path I was all over it.  I mean who isn't going to want to fall into the mother of all sports romances, an Olympic romance!

I will say that I was uncomfortable about that way that this romance began, it's a bet and ugh the anxiety that causes in my heart because you know at some point everything will come to light and your heart is going to break.  Lucky for my heart Magan played this out all just right.  Does that mean there isn't any drama, nope, but it's manageable and the journey is so worth the destination.  I loved that this story was more than just a romance as well.  It is about setting your boundaries, knowing your dreams, discovering yourself; growth and change.  It is about falling in love with someone else while falling in love with yourself too.

The main couple in this series are wonderful.  Kelly is the Olympic couples ice skating  'Ice Queen', on her third trip to the greatest sports event and more gold medals in her future she is determined, she is methodical, she's prim and proper, she is focus itself.  Blake, a laid back snowboarder with a mass of blond dreadlocks, a dirty mouth, a first time Olympian with a gold medal ancestry that haunts him. They are complete opposites but amazing together.  This is very much an opposites attract and in the very best kid of way book.

I really enjoyed the way that Megan Vernon wrote these characters and especially their one on one moments together.  One of my favorite is their first date when Blake attempts to teach Kelly to snowboard.  I can so see that all playing out as if I was one of the characters.  I would be about as graceful as Kelly was in that scenario, haha.  It was just such a light and fun moment with so much swoon revolving around it that I could read that one bit over and over again and feel completely satisfied.

This is the first book from Megan Vernon that I have read and I have to say I am glad that it was this one since I enjoyed it so much but it also has made me want to go back and dive into all her other books.  Unmasked isn't overly long, just under 300 pages so it is a quick easy read.  It is heavy moments laced with beautiful lightness.  Romance and  growth. Secondary characters that make you crave books from them, I'd even go so far as to say I would love prequels with Blake and Kelly's stories, haha.

If you are looking for a sweet sports romance that is just a bit different in setting (the Olympic setting was so interesting) give this one a go.  It is a total standalone and well worth an afternoon of quiet enjoyment!


~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Enter Magan’s Giveaway:

 



About Magan Vernon:


Magan Vernon has been living off of reader tears since she wrote her first short story in 2004. She now spends her time killing off fictional characters, pretending to plot while she really just watches Netflix, and she tries to do this all while her two young children run amok around her Texas ranch.  

Connect with Magan:




Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ 

Amazon ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest


Bed Mate by Kendall Ryan - Review and Excerpt

 

   




Author: Kendall Ryan
Publication Date:  14 November 2017
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Inc
Series:  Room Mate, 3.5
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 5 Stars


~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 


Book Description:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kendall Ryan comes a new story in her Room Mate series… 

 I might be a typical guy, but these last few years, my love life’s been anything but. From crazy ex-girlfriends to one night stands who are stage-five clingers, my relationships go bad faster than the milk in your fridge. The only constant has been my best friend Maggie. Fresh off a bad breakup of her own, I invite Maggie to my guy’s skiing weekend knowing she needs an escape from reality. But then something funny starts to happen. I start noticing things about her that I never noticed before. She’s beautiful and doesn’t know it, she’s funny without even trying, and now she’s suddenly single for the first time in forever. Sharing a hotel room with her proves to be the tipping point in our very platonic friendship. Suddenly I want to put my hands, my mouth, and my ... other parts ... all over her gorgeous body. I want to claim her, make sure no man touches her ever again. But then her groveling ex shows up, and Maggie’s torn. Am I ready to screw up the best relationship I’ve ever had for a shot at something more?

 **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**   



My Review:

What a sweet little story this was.  This was such a wonderful friends to lovers romance and I particularly loved this one because there was no series drama between the two.  Yes there was the fear of the unknown, the fear of hurting the friendship, but none of the trying to get over each other by falling into someone else.  No painful moments between the two to get where they were always meant to me, none of that anxiety that makes me uncomfortable when reading romances.  

Maggie and Sam have been friends since college and one of them has always known that they were meant to be.  Instead of ruining their best friends status the 'knower' hides their desire for the other and promises themselves that life has to go on and if that means keeping the other in their life then they will do what it takes, but that need is always simmering there under the surface.  

I loved the strength of both of these characters.  That Maggie isn't the kind of Heroine to put up with anyone else's shite and that Sam is strong enough to be her pillar when she needs it.  I loved both of their maturity levels, their willingness when the 'light turns on' to talk when needed and not play games with each other.  These two seem so real, I can see them being people I know, people that I am rooting for as I watch them come to the realization that love can start with friendship and that another person can know you more than you do yourself.  

This is a novella so it is a totally short and sweet story, a quick sit down and not get back up until you are done kind of book.  If you haven't read any of the Room Mate stories no worries, you won't be lost at all, this is truly a standalone within the series.  If you are a fan of the series you will adore this little book in conjunction with the others!  



~ HAPPY READING ~ 


Excerpt:

Every now and then, Sam would shoot me a sympathetic look, knowing that I had no idea what they were talking about, but in truth, their company was a welcome break. Between what the woman in the shop had said and the lady on the plane’s insinuation, my mind was going a mile a minute and I was beginning to look at Sam in a way I definitely shouldn’t be. Okay, so, yeah, he was sexy. That was a no-brainer. I shot him a furtive glance, taking in the corded muscles of his forearms and the lock of dark hair that constantly flopped onto his forehead. And sure, he was sweet and attentive. He looked after me and made sure I always had a fresh drink and that I wasn’t cold or hot. He held the door for me and pulled out my chair when we went to restaurants. Hell, he’d been looking forward to this trip for months and he’d sacrificed an entire day just to make sure I got here safe and didn’t spend my time sulking. Still, that didn’t mean he had feelings for me. He hadn’t argued when I’d mentioned us being like brother and sister or anything. No, this whole line of thinking was ludicrous. Sam was a good friend. That was all…wasn’t it? After all, Trevor had loved me once and he never did any of that. Admittedly, that wasn’t the best example, but it proved my point all the same. In Sam’s shoes, Trevor never would have missed the chance to hit the slopes with his friends. He hadn’t even skipped the business trip that fell on my twenty-fifth birthday years back. But Sam was there, my brain supplied helpfully. Again, not an indication that he had feelings for me. People were just different. Sam was one of the good ones. And if he liked me surely I’d have known by now. He’d have told me or…something. “Is that your phone?” Sam turned to me and I blinked, only realizing that I’d been so encompassed in my own thoughts that I’d totally zoned out. “What?” I asked, confused. “Don’t you hear that vibrating noise? I think it’s your phone.” I listened hard and then heard the low, gentle hum he was talking about. “Yep, probably you-know-who again.” I sighed, but fished the phone from my tiny handbag all the same on the off chance it was a family member with an emergency. It wasn’t Trevor, though. He had called—I had seven new missed messages from him since I’d left for the airport, but I also had three missed calls from my friend Deanna. I hadn’t spoken to her in more than two weeks because she’d been away on a long-awaited safari, but now more than ever I really needed to hear her voice.      

 


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






Friday, November 17, 2017

Respect by Aleatha Romig - Cover Reveal

   


 

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Respect - An Infidelity Stand-alone Novel   

  “The making of a man” 

 Standing at what I believe is the precipice of my life, I, Oren Demetri, was too young to understand that it wasn’t and too old to imagine that it couldn’t be. The already hefty accumulation of my successes and failures, bravery and fears, and rewards and suffering, had brought me to this point. It was hard to contemplate the things I’d done, and yet, in reality I’d only begun to learn the possibilities.   I suppose that’s how it was for me at twenty-nine years of age on the brink of all I’d ever wanted without fully realizing the price I would pay. Yet in that moment, I knew there would be no cost too great or sacrifice I wouldn’t make. I had no idea how far-reaching that moment of self-discovery would be; because as the congregation’s murmurs quieted, bleeding into silence and allowing the thump of my heart to be the only sound I heard, I was a man filled with love and adoration, emotions in stark contrast to those I needed in the world I’d built or the one I was about to enter. Angelina Costello was my dream and now my reality. I’d worked diligently to move beyond the actuality of being a dockworker’s son to becoming a self-made, successful entrepreneur, all in an effort to earn the right to call her my own. I’d overcome servitude to others, collecting their paychecks and lowly praises, to being the one who signed the paychecks and offered the accolades when they were rightfully earned. The world was my oyster and walking toward me on the arm of her uncle was my pearl. I’d found her amongst the empty shells life had offered. There was no need to pry open another possibility. Angelina was all I wanted. Yet my path was uncharted. There was more for me to earn, lose, and willingly give.

The top of that list was respect. 


  This stand-alone novel may be read without reading the Infidelity series. 
 From New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a stand-alone novel based from her beloved Infidelity series. With classic Aleatha Romig twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions, this new epic romantic thriller will delve into a world where family takes on new meaning and even the inhabitants are suspicious of the next chapter.   
  Have you been Aleatha'd?   


PRE-ORDER NOW

         

 

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life! Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha's twisted style with an increase in heat. In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016. In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT. Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America.  She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. 

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Thursday, November 16, 2017

Tempting Boundaries by Carrie Ann Ryan - Sale!

sale-long

TEMPTING BOUNDARIES by Carrie Ann Ryan is available right now for just .99c! 

Make sure to get your hands on this sexy, brooding hero right now while he's on sale for a limited time!

tempting

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Book Description:

  The second in the bestselling Montgomery Ink series. He's kept away from her for years, but now his best friend's little sister is stepping up the game. Decker Kendrick knows it’s wrong to have feelings for his best friend’s little sister, but that doesn’t stop his thoughts from going down that path. No matter how hard he’s tried to stay away from Miranda, once she gets her sights on him, there’s no backing down. Miranda Montgomery might be the youngest of the Montgomery clan, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what she wants. Namely—Decker. She’s loved him for as long as she can remember and won’t walk away until she gives it her all. But once they give in, not all is at it seems. Decker’s father’s out of jail and someone from Miranda’s past isn’t happy with the new relationship. Even as they start to move on and overcome their pain, they’ll find that their inner obstacles are the ones they’ll have to face first.


Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.




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