Review: The Sinful King by Claire Contreras

THE SINFUL KING
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Claire Contreras
Release Date: March 5, 2020

If you had any ties to Marbella, it was impossible for you not to have heard the stories about Prince Elias and his debauchery.

Every summer he arrived with his security detail and friends in tow and rented out a row of cottages near the water.

Cottages that belonged to my family.

Each of those summers, my parents sent me away – summer camp and later, boarding school. Anything to keep me away from the royals and their partying.

I hadn’t been home in years, but when I finally come back for the summer, I see that not much has changed. Like all the summers I’d been gone, Prince Elias is back, but this time with an incognito security detail and no friends.

This time, there is no partying, no noise, no crowds. No reason at all to even think he was there.
I’m given strict orders not to talk to him, not to even look in his direction, but he makes this an impossible task.

I may be doing everything in my power to stay away from him, but there is no one in the world who can say no to the future King of France.

AMAZON

You don’t curtsy to me,” he said into my ear.
“Are you not my King?”
“Are you not my world?”

If you’re looking for an utterly romantic and swoony royal romance chock full of heart and brimming with passion, look no further. The Sinful King was all of those things. I greedily devoured it in one sitting. It was just one of those sweet, steamy and feel-good type of romances that’s easy on the angst but with plenty of feels.

Say it, Addie.”
“Say what?” I was already finding it hard to breathe and we hadn’t even started doing anything.
“You want to get f*cked by your king.

Adeline and Prince Elias’s story is full of surprises and passion. It’s basically a fairytale for the modern day woman, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Adeline has always lived on the skirts of the royal family. Her father is in the King’s cabinet but has always been vocal in his views on the monarchy and what they stand for. In one night for herself, Adeline meets a handsome stranger and shares a passionate night with him. Only to find out when she leaves that she just shared the night with the future king of France. Years later, she’s back, on the tail end of a personal scandal. The last thing she needs is more spotlight. She’s looking to get her party planning business more successful and stay out of the camera’s flashes. But that’s difficult to do when the prince of France has his eyes set on you.

Gosh this book was dreamy. I loved the two of them together. I loved Adeline’s sweet naivety and Eli’s quiet intensity. I loved their chemistry and the way they just set the pages on fire. This was just one of those wonderfully satisfying standalones that leaves you with a smile on your face.

New & Upcoming Releases: March 9-13

New Releases coming at ya this week!


AVAILABLE NOW


THE RICH BOY by Kylie Scott

I’m the type of girl who’s given up on fairy tales. So when Beck – the hot new busboy at work – starts flirting with me, I know better than to get my hopes up. Happily ever afters aren’t for the average. I learned that the hard way.

But how can I be expected to resist a man who can quote Austen, loves making me laugh, and seems to be everything hot and good in this world?

Only there’s so much more to him than that.
Billionaire playboy? Check.
Troubled soul? Check.
The owner of my heart, the man I’ve moved halfway across the country to be with, who’s laying the world at my feet in order to convince me to never leave? Check. Check. Check.

But nobody does complicated like the one percent.

This is not your everyday rags-to-riches, knight-in-shining armor whisking the poor girl off her feet kind of story. No, this is much messier.


MY VALDEZ VALENTINE by Katy Regnery 

 

Fall in love with Katy Regnery’s superhot Alaskan men…

When Los Angeles lawyer Addison receives a desperate voice mail from her adventure-seeking brother, Elliot, she hires Alaskan helicopter pilot Gideon (whom she first discovers via an ad in the Odds Are Good) to take her to her brother’s last known location. As the two uncover more and more details about Elliot’s last days, they find themselves falling deeply for each other.

*****

An Odds-Are-Good Standalone Romance

Single In Sitka
Nome-O Seeks Juliet
A Fairbanks Affair
My Valdez Valentine (Mar 2020)
Kodiak Lumberjack (May 2020)


MOUTHFUL by CR Grissom

Life after high school still blows

Between a judgmental beauty advice columnist mom who sends clothes several sizes too small, and social media sex-shaming her senior year of high school, Faith Lacerna needs a self-confidence boost. Being a freshman at Fortis University in Silicon Valley will be fine, as long as she doesn’t attract attention. Except wearing oversized hoodies in sunny California isn’t the best choice for blending in.

When football jock Caleb St. John shows interest, she recommits to studying anything but the hot tight end. Caleb wants to lose himself in football, avoid his unfaithful ex-girlfriend, and – unlike his cheating dad – live his life with integrity. He knows there’s more to Faith than baggy clothes. Her humor and audacity spark more than Caleb’s competitive nature.

Faith doesn’t want to be interested, but Caleb’s kindness and sense of adventure has her hooked. She soon realizes she needs to confront her hurts and fears if she wants to embrace a relationship with Caleb and not let the past intercept her future.


RELEASING MARCH 10


CREOLE KINGPIN by Meghan March

New York Times bestselling author Meghan March goes back to New Orleans and the world of Lachlan Mount with a dangerous and bold new anti-hero.

The thing about ghosts is they’re supposed to stay dead.
That’s exactly what I am, but I can’t stay away from Magnolia Marie Maison for one more day, let alone another year.
We’ve already got fifteen of those between us.
As it stands, she’ll want to kill me as soon as she lays eyes on me. And knowing her, she’s completely up to the task.
But I’m a man on a mission, and I’ve got everything riding on this.
So, here I come, Magnolia. This ghost is ready for whatever you got.
After all, there’s only one way I want this to end—’til death do us part.

Creole Kingpin is the first book in the Magnolia Duet. Magnolia’s story concludes in Madam Temptress.


IN FURY LIES MISCHIEF by Amo Jones

She was everything that I wanted.
He was everything that I despised.

Until she wasn’t.
Until he wasn’t.

Killian Cornelii was a walking calamity. He reached inside of me and touched every single inch of my ruined soul, but he didn’t just touch it. He caressed, petted, and captivated it. He tailored me to fit into the palm of his hands. The same hands that possess so much cruelty, were the very same that comforted me.
I thought I knew him.
He thought he knew me.
This isn’t a fairy tale, or some achingly beautiful story about two soul mates who instantly fall irrevocably in love with each other.
This is a story about a love so painful, so rich, that it destroys everything and everyone around it.
Including ourselves.

Midnight Mayhem is the platform to which Killian performs his tricks on, but the greatest trick wouldn’t come from him.
It would come from me.

Tricksters don’t have hearts.
They just pretend that they do.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.


DARK MAGIC by Danielle Rose

There’s something about the scent of blood from the undead.

In the heat of battle, hybrid Ava López discovers she has new and fascinating powers, but she does not know how to control them. Though her former enemies have offered her refuge and helped her acclimate to the vampire lifestyle, even they don’t understand her enhanced magic.

With mounting threats from Ava’s former coven and reckless rogue vampires, Ava and her new friends have no choice but to request the wisdom of Holland Taylor to help her understand her powers. Holland is one of the most powerful witches Ava has ever met, and he is also Jeremiah’s ex, which introduces another wrinkle.

Tension between the vampires and Ava’s former coven is building, and when the witches offer a deal Ava would be remiss to reject, she is forced to choose between the life she once considered safe and the life she never wanted.


MY WAY TO YOU by Cathrine Bybee

A woman’s journey through tragedy leads to the discovery of love in a novel about hope and survival by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee.

When a wildfire nearly destroys Parker Sinclair’s family home, it’s just one more disaster to add to her mountain of stress. For the past two years, she has shouldered the responsibility of raising her younger brother and sister after their parents’ untimely deaths. Forced to leave college for a crappy job that barely pays the bills, Parker manages her family property, which consumes every aspect of her life. Now winter is coming and the forecast isn’t spreading sunshine on the dark cloud over her head. The last thing Parker needs is a mudslide destroying everything she has worked so hard to maintain.

Colin Hudson’s job as a public works supervisor is to protect Parker’s property and neighborhood from further damage. But it’s a little hard when the owner of the land is a control freak who tries to do everything herself. The hardworking, attractive young woman is far from the “hot mess” she claims to be. In fact, her tight grip of control is one of the things that attract him the most. It’s also the hardest to crack. Now Colin’s working overtime to help Parker open up her heart, trust him, and let him in.

As Parker and Colin work together to keep her home and neighborhood safe, they may be in for another disaster. Or they may just realize that sometimes it takes destruction to create something new.


MAYBE SWEARING WILL HELP by Lani Lynn Vale

Ford Spurlock has known Ashe Trammel since they were babies.

He’s also done his level best to stay away from her because every time he gets to within five feet of her, they’re fighting like cats and dogs.

Ashe is the apple of her father’s eye. The motorcycle club princess that was never to be harmed in any way—or touched for that matter. And he’s always resented the fact that she could get away with things that he couldn’t. Things that she then blames on him and he always gets punished for.

Fast forward to adulthood, and Ashe is still off limits. Still driving him insane. Still…beautiful.

She never misses an opportunity to give him hell, either.

That has to be why he agrees to do a photoshoot for KPD SWAT that’ll benefit her charity even when he’d rather shoot himself in the foot with his duty weapon.

***

Ashe never thought he’d agree.

Honestly, she thought she’d ask him, he’d say no, and that’d be the end of it.

She never realized that she’d leave his photo up in her cubicle, and it’d be the last thing that she saw every night as she locked her office door.

When they were kids, Ford used to be that boy that threw dirt at her and pulled her hair.

Now, he’s the same Ford Spurlock, only a whole lot sexier. And a lot harder to say no to.

When he challenges her to one date, she has no other recourse but to agree.

What she didn’t agree to was falling in love with Mr. March. Or wanting to give him everything she had to give.


LOVE HARD by Nalini Singh 

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you the next sizzling story in her Hard Play contemporary romance series…

Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.

As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends—and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend.

Straitlaced Jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.

 


UNDERCOVER BROMANCE by Lyssa Kay Adams

Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction. 

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart. . .even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.


THE OTHER MAN by Nicole French

Nina Astor gave me one red-hot night, then disappeared like a ghost.
Three months later, fate drops her in my lap.
The only problem?
She’s beyond off-limits, and we’re worlds apart.

I’m a city prosecutor with a bit of a dark side.
She’s the gilded daughter of a dynasty…and property of the scum of the earth.
And the man who owns her is the subject of my next investigation.

Nina thinks I’m on the right side of the law, but she’s forgotten one thing:
When it comes to her, I’m not a good man.
To claim her as my own, I might sell my soul to the devil himself.

True be told…
When it comes to this woman, maybe I already have.


YOURS IN SCANDAL by Lauren Layne

A political golden boy and the woman of his dreams take the risk of their lives in a sexy romantic comedy of strange bedfellows and second chances by New York Timesbestselling author Lauren Layne.

Fresh off being named Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, New York City’s youngest mayor, Robert Davenport, decides it’s time to strategize. Next move: a bid for the governor’s seat. In his way: an incumbent with a flawless reputation. He also has an Achilles’ heel: an estranged wild-child daughter with a past so scandalous it could be Robert’s ticket to victory. And a charm so irresistible it could be Robert’s downfall.

Rebellion is a thing of the past for Adeline Blake. As New York’s premier event planner, she’s all about reform and respectability. Then she’s approached by Robert to organize the party of the season. Curious, considering he’s her father’s most formidable opponent. And alarming, too. Because Addie can’t help but fall for the righteously popular candidate with the movie-star smile.

Now it’s Robert’s choice. Does he pursue a future that holds his legacy? Or the woman who holds his heart?


DOWN AND DIRTY by Kendall Ryan

From New York Times bestseller Kendall Ryan comes a delicious new standalone romance featuring an accidental Vegas wedding and a totally perfect alpha hero.

Remember that time you accidentally woke up in Vegas married to your hot younger guy friend?

That’s basically my life right now.

Mistakes we made, okay?

He’s too young for me. Twenty-three to my thirty. And he’s saving himself for the right girl.

Yup. Apparently I’ve married the last alpha-male virgin on the planet. And my stubborn, oddly traditional, new husband doesn’t want a divorce.

He wants me.

Complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Down and Dirty is a sexy romp with a hero you’ll melt for and a relatable, sassy heroine you’ll love. If you’re a fan of steamy romances with laugh out loud moments, grab yourself a copy– you won’t regret it!


THE QUEEN’S BARGAIN by Anne Bishop

POWER HAS A PRICE. SO DOES LOVE.

Return to the dark, sensual, and powerful world of the Black Jewels in this long-awaited new story in the New York Times bestselling fantasy saga.

After a youthful mistake, Lord Dillon’s reputation is in tatters, leaving him vulnerable to aristo girls looking for a bit of fun. To restore his reputation and honor, he needs a handfast–a one-year contract of marriage. He sets his sights on Jillian, a young Eyrien witch from Ebon Rih, who he believes has only a flimsy connection to the noble society that spurned him. Unfortunately for Dillon, he is unaware of Jillian’s true connections until he finds himself facing Lucivar Yaslana, the volatile Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih.

Meanwhile, Surreal SaDiablo’s marriage is crumbling. Daemon Sadi, the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan, recognizes there is something wrong between him and Surreal, but he doesn’t realize that his attempt to suppress his own nature in order to spare his wife is causing his mind to splinter. To save Daemon, and the Realm of Kaeleer if he breaks, help must be sought from someone who no longer exists in any of the Realms–the only Queen powerful enough to control Daemon Sadi. The Queen known as Witch.

As Jillian rides the winds of first love with Dillon, Daemon and Surreal struggle to survive the wounds of a marriage turned stormy–and Lucivar has to find a way to keep everyone in his family safe…even from each other.


THE MAN I LOVED BEFORE by Anna Mansell

‘Dear Ben, I can only write you this letter because I know you’ll never read it…’

When Jem writes to her ex Ben, it’s to explain everything. All the secrets she kept from him – from the little lies she’d sometimes tell about how new those shoes really were, or how many glasses of wine she’d had that evening… right up to The Big Thing that happened on the night that changed everything. But she never expects he will actually see what she’s written.

She is just writing because she thinks it will help to get the words out. Later, she resolves, she’ll burn the letter, and then the past will be in the past for good.

Because Jem is doing fine now. She’s busy: working, spending time with her best friend, and looking after her mother, who’s in remission from cancer. She’s even dating again and has just met a guy who she thinks she could actually fall for. At long last, Jem is really, definitely somewhere close to happy.

But her mum finds the letter and thinks she’s doing Jem a favour when she posts it to Ben. And Jem’s new, carefully rebuilt life begins to unravel in ways she could never have imagined. Then, when her mother gets ill again, she finds herself asking who has the key to her future. The man she’s falling in love with now? Or the man she loved before?

A heartbreaking, beautifully honest novel that will stay with readers long after they finish it. Perfect for fans of Diane Chamberlain, Amanda Prowse, and Susan Lewis.


TEASE ME by J. Kenner

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Kenner comes a new story in her Stark International Security series…

Entertainment reporter Jamie Archer knew it would be hard when her husband, Stark Security Chief Ryan Hunter, was called away for a long-term project in London. The distance is difficult to endure, but Jamie trusts the deep and passionate love that has always burned between them. At least until a mysterious woman from Ryan’s past shows up at his doorstep, her very presence threatening to destroy everything that Jamie holds dear.

Ryan never expected to see Felicia Randall again, a woman with whom he shared a dark past and a dangerous secret. The first and only woman he ever truly failed.

Desperate and on the run, Felicia’s come to plead for his help. But while Ryan knows that helping her is the only way to heal old wounds, he also knows that the mission will not only endanger the life of the woman he holds most dear, but will brutally test the deep trust that binds Jamie and Ryan together.

Discover more Jamie and Ryan in the Stark International Security series:

1. Tame Me
2. Tempt Me
3. Tease Me


ENTICING LIAM by Kristen Proby

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby comes an all new story in her bestselling Big Sky Royal series!

Princess Eleanor has had it up to her royal eyeballs. She’s surrounded by suitable men, each more rude and obnoxious than the last. None of them are worthy of her heart—not to mention her virginity. So what’s a girl to do? Flee to Montana to stay with her brother, lay low, and avoid both the media and the men, that’s what.

Liam Cunningham is the head of security in Montana for the royal family. For a man who has seen the worst of human nature in the Army, being in Cunningham Falls is a balm to his tattered soul.

Princess Eleanor, on the other hand, is a royal pain in the butt. She’s proven in the past that she’s a troublemaker. She’s also beautiful, smart, and everything good in life that he doesn’t deserve.

But when Ellie proposes the idea of Liam being her sex coach, how can he resist?


SWEET TEMPTATION by Cora Reilly- buy link TBA

Standalone
Age gap. Single dad. Arranged marriage.

The first time Cassio meets his fiancée, she calls him “sir.”
After losing his wife, Cassio is left to take care of two small children while trying to establish his rule over Philadelphia. Now he needs a mother for his children and someone who can warm his bed at night.
But in a world as traditional as his, choosing your wife is duty not pleasure.
Rules have to be followed, traditions heeded.
That’s how he ends up with a woman—a girl—barely of age. She may not be what he and his children need, but she’s lovely and a sweet temptation he can’t resist.

Giulia has always known she’ll marry the man her father chose for her, but she never expects to be given to someone so much older. Suddenly she’s supposed to be a mother to two small children when she hasn’t even held a baby before.
Giulia quickly realizes that Cassio isn’t interested in a relationship on equal footing. Her mother has warned her that men of power, like Cassio, don’t tolerate insolence. Tired of being treated as a nanny and clueless child-bride, Giulia decides to fight for her version of a happy family.


ABSOLVING BLUE by Freya Baker

For long-time Durango Fire Department EMT, Ava ‘Blue’ Navarro, her teammates at Station 3 represent a family more loyal than her own. However, when patients start dying on her watch, she draws the attention of local law enforcement. In particular the smooth-talking detective she’s successfully evaded for years, fearing he might stir up her quiet existence.

Detective Tony Ramirez considers himself a likable guy, which is why the perpetual cold shoulder from the athletic blonde first responder is confusing. Now he finds himself in charge of a murder investigation that threatens to shake his world both personally and professionally. A situation that won’t earn him any brownie points.

When medical examiner, Calder Stonewall, is called in to assist, it only seems to throw more suspicion Blue’s way, and Tony has to pull out all the stops to prove her innocence while securing her heart.


RELEASING MARCH 12


WITHOUT YOU by Marley Valentine

 

“Tragedy brought us together, but something stronger made me want to stay.”

Julian was the boy next door. My brother’s best friend, he fit with my family in ways I never could. While he and Rhett went on to play house, I left the only life I knew, desperate for a fresh start.

Until everything changed.

Heartache came along, and the aftermath of my brother’s death was here to stay. I was now face to face with Julian more than I ever wanted to be.

Being around him brought up all my insecurities, forced me to deal with hard truths, and conjured up feelings I had no business entertaining. He wasn’t the man I thought I knew. He was complex and layered, and inherently beautiful in all the ways I’d never noticed.

Not on another person.

Not on another man.

Not until him.


WHERE WE FALL by Cynthia A Rodriguez

Two lovers, meant for each other, defying their destiny.

 

But when catastrophe nearly tears them apart, will fear separate them further?

 

 

Or will love bring them back together?

 

Where We Fall is a companion novella to When We Crash, the story that introduced us to Dexter Andrews and his passionate yet troubled soulmate, Noa Cruz.


THE TRADE by Meghan Quinn

Can you pinpoint a time in your life where you realized you are completely and utterly screwed?

I can. I got the dreaded phone call, the one every baseball player hopes and prays never comes.

I was traded. Yeah, that phone call.

Traded from my long time team of over ten years. And not just to any team, but my childhood rivals; the Chicago Rebels.

Completely and utterly screwed, right? Wrong. The trade was the least of my concerns.

I met a girl. Natalie. Man, she’s perfect.

I swore I would never get involved with anyone during the season. Too complicated. But can you believe I have zero restraint when it comes to this girl? I couldn’t get her out of my head and the more I talked to her, the more I realized I needed her in my life.

So what’s the problem? Why am I screwed? Because, Natalie, the girl I can’t stop crushing on, yeah . . . she’s married.

At least, that’s what I was told . . .


ALL THE LIES by Rina Kent

When lies become the truth.

My name is Reina Ellis.
Popular.
Beautiful.
Untouchable.
Problem is, I remember none of it.

His name is Asher Carson.
Gorgeous.
Silent.
Dark.
Oh, and my future husband.

He has three rules for me:
I’ll bow.
I’ll break.
I’ll pay for what I’ve done.

Problem is, I don’t remember what I’ve done, but I have a clue.
There was a fire.
A dead girl.
And I was there.

All The Lies is a dark new adult book that contains dubious situations some readers might find offensive and/or triggering. If you’re looking for a hero, you won’t find him in Asher Carson. Please don’t read if any of that bothers you.

All The Lies is part of a duet and is NOT standalone. The entire duet will be released two weeks apart.


RELEASING MARCH 13


AFTER THE FALL by Giana Darling- buy link TBA

I was settin’ up to live a good life, the kinda life I’d fought hard to deserve.
With a good woman––the best woman––at my side, a degree under my belt, and the whole world at my feet, I was livin’ the kinda happily ever after usually denied the rebellious and the criminal. I’d turned my back on that kinda life, thinkin’ I needed that clean, wholesome kinda happy.
Then the devil came dressed in the wings of an angel and took someone from me.
And I realized I was wrong.
There was no clean and wholesome for a man like me with poetry in his heart and outlaw in his blood. The life I’d been livin’ was only purgatory, holding me over until the time came for me to descend into Hell and pick up the tarnished crown that awaited me.
I was condemning my woman to a life of violence, blood, and heartache, but I had to hope she’d step up and finally be the rough and tumble queen to my Fallen MC king.

*After the Fall can be read as a stand-alone romance, but you first meet the couple in Lessons in Corruption (The Fallen Men, #1)*


EXPLOSIVE by Abby McCarthy

Alejandra
There’s been one truth in my life—one thing that I’ve always known. My body is not my own. I’m a bargaining chip, used by my family’s business to seal a deal or impress a client. I’ve never had a real family, no mother to wipe my tears. Sure, I have a sperm donor, but he’s only seen me a handful of times and not a single time was he fatherly. One day, he shows up and offers me a gift, my freedom for informing on my brother. I had no clue I even had a brother. I want to know him, but the idea of freedom is something I’ve longed for.

Ace
As a former Marine, going into a hostile situation and retrieving a target was a specialty I excelled at until I was captured and held as a POW, cutting my military career short. Adjusting as a civilian was difficult until I met my “brothers” and we formed The Bleeding Scars MC. When my VP, Gunner, discovers he has a sister, I know it has to be me that saves her. Not only do I need to rescue her for Gunner, but once I see her picture and learn how she’s been locked up most of her life, I can relate to the lost look in her eyes. Rescuing Alejandra is the hardest mission I’ve ever had to accomplish.

No war has ever been won alone. The battles we face will be more than a little difficult, they’ll be explosive. Once the dust has settled and the war is finally over, I know deep in my soul, that it will all be worth it.

#DGRFave & Review: Runaway Road by Devney Perry

RUNAWAY ROAD
Series:
Runaway #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Devney Perry
Release Date: March 6, 2020

Londyn McCormack didn’t have a typical childhood. She ran away from home at sixteen, escaping parents more interested in drugs than their daughter. She doesn’t have loving siblings or an adorable pet. Her only family is the five other runaway kids who shared her junkyard home.

Life pulled them all in separate directions, taking her to Boston. For a short time, she thought she’d found something permanent. But after a devastating divorce, she’s running away again, this time to find a lost friend.
She’s driving across the country in her convertible. As a teenager, the rusty car was her shelter. As an adult, it’s her ride to freedom.

Except one flat tire derails her trip. Her life collides with Brooks Cohen. They walked away from the first crash. The second might destroy them both.

AMAZON

There was something fresh about her. Maybe it was her outlook on life or her spirit. Maybe it was that she had gone through so much and she hadn’t become jaded or cynical. Londyn intrigued me. She stirred my blood.

My heart feels so full right now. This book. GUYS. I just can’t. A lighthearted, feel-good romance full of swoons and feels. I devoured this book in one sitting. I kid you not. I sat down, opened my kindle, blinked, and I was already at 80%.

The wind whipped through my hair as I sped along the highway.
Just me and my cherry-red Cadillac.
On a runaway road.

I don’t think there was one thing I didn’t love about this story. The sweet and swoony hero. The slightly damaged but not broken heroine. The charming small town setting. The wonderfully vivid secondary characters. And the romance! OMG the romance! It was one of those things that just sneaks up on you. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t angsty. It wasn’t quick and mighty. It was a beautiful slow burn full of emotion and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Londyn McCormack thought she had everything she needed. A runaway teen that learned to survive on the streets, she married a rich husband and quickly lost herself. Now divorced, she yearns to move on and find herself. So she leaves her old life and her best friend behind to drive to California to find an old friend, but along the way things get complicated. A flat tire lands her in a sleepy small town where she meets a man that changes everything.

Brooks Cohen is one of the most swooniest heroes I’ve read in a long while. He’s sweet, caring, and patient. He’s everything that Londyn needs and nothing she thought she wanted. He’s unexpected but the chemistry between them is undeniable. They slowly get to know one another during casual dinners by the lake and it’s not long before they each weave their way into each other’s hearts.

I cannot gush enough about this story. I fell hard and fast for these characters and the premise of the series. A group of teen runaways that find themselves to happiness as adults? Yes, please and thank you! If you’re looking for an easy and light-hearted read that full of depth and emotion, this book is not to be missed.

Excerpt & Review: Wicked As Sin by Shayla Black

WICKED AS SIN
Series: Wicked & Devoted #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance
Author: Shayla Black
Release Date: March 3, 2020

Pierce “One-Mile” Walker has always kept his heart under wraps and his head behind his sniper’s scope. Nothing about buttoned-up Brea Bell should appeal to him. But after a single glance at the pretty preacher’s daughter, he doesn’t care that his past is less than shiny, that he gets paid to end lives…or that she’s his teammate’s woman. He’ll do whatever it takes to steal her heart.

 

Brea has always been a dutiful daughter and a good girl…until she meets the dangerous warrior. He’s everything she shouldn’t want, especially after her best friend introduces her to his fellow operative as his girlfriend—to protect her from Pierce. But he’s a forbidden temptation she’s finding impossible to resist.

 

Then fate strikes, forcing Brea to beg Pierce to help solve a crisis. But his skills come at a price. When her innocent flirtations run headlong into his obsession, they cross the line into a passion so fiery she can’t say no. Soon, his past rears its head and a vendetta calls his name in a mission gone horribly wrong. Will he survive to fight his way back to the woman who claimed his soul?

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Pre-order the stunning conclusion, Wicked Ever After!

Releasing April 7th

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What the devil was she doing here? Courting danger. Pierce Walker was more man than she could handle. She was likely to get herself in over her head.But Brea owed him her thanks. And, okay…she was dying to see him again.

What could five minutes alone with the man hurt?

Suddenly, the volume on the music dropped under a dull roar and heavy footfalls got louder as they headed her way. Then the door whipped open, and Pierce stood on the other side of the threshold, scowling.

He was covered in nothing but ink, body hair, and bulging muscle from the waist up. Well-washed jeans hung low on his hips. He dangled the neck of a half-empty beer in one hand. His bare feet were built like the rest of him—big and overwhelmingly masculine.

Brea sucked in a silent, shaking breath. “Hi.”

“Brea.” His scowl disappeared. “This is a surprise.”

How was it possible that his eyes had been on her a handful of seconds and she somehow felt naked?

“Sorry to drop by. I-I just wanted to thank you.” She held out the container to him.

He took the dish from her hands. “For what?”

As Pierce propped himself against the doorframe and stared, she nearly lost herself in his fathomless black eyes. She forced herself to blink, but her wayward gaze wandered down his body. A Marine crest tattoo covered his right pectoral. More dark ink enveloped both shoulders, emphasizing every ridge and swell of his sizable physique. Well-washed denim cupped the substantial bulge between his legs.

And she utterly forgot everything she’d planned to say.

“Brea?”

His deep voice jolted her. She jerked her gaze from places it didn’t belong and cleared her throat. “Um…helping me get to the hospital the day Daddy collapsed. And for bringing my car to me afterward. It was very kind of you.”

“No problem. How’s he doing now?”

“Recovering. His surgery went well. Since you thoughtfully left me your contact information in my console, I meant to come sooner to tell you how much I appreciated your help, but I’ve been taking care of him. I finally got a few minutes, so I-I brought you these cookies. Since I didn’t know what you liked, I baked a few different kinds…” She dropped her gaze to collect her thoughts and stop rambling, but her stare glued itself to him again, this time fixating on his ridiculously delineated twelve-pack abs. “But you don’t look like you eat many.”

He laughed. Pierce Walker was menacing when he scowled, but when he smiled he was stunning. Something wild and reckless quivered in her belly, urging her to put her hands on him, press herself against him, beg him to somehow stop this breathless, fluttery yearning she’d only ever felt with him.

“Because I don’t have anyone baking me cookies.” He peeled the lid off the top and peered down. “These look good.”

“I baked the chocolate chip without nuts. I didn’t know if you were allergic.”

“I’m not.”

“I also included checkerboard, cinnamon sugar, and gluten-free almond wafer.”

“Thank you.” He curled his fingers around her shoulder. They burned like a brand as he scooted her breathlessly close to his naked torso and locked the door behind them. “Why don’t you come in and let me get you something to drink?”

“I shouldn’t stay. I would never want to interrupt your…” Goodness, what had he been doing? It was a Friday night. Maybe he was getting ready to go out. Or heaven forbid, planning to stay in…with female company.

“Game of pool. You’re not interrupting. Stay. Like a lot of things, it’s a lot more fun when you’re not playing alone.” He winked.

His seemingly suggestive words sparked a reaction low in her belly. “I-I’ve never played.”

He raised a dark brow. “Ever?”

“Daddy isn’t much for games. My friends aren’t, either.”

“What about Cutter?”

She shrugged. “He’s never shown any interest.”

He sent her a stare that looked somewhere between stunned and dubious. “You sure? I’ve seen him play.”

That didn’t surprise Brea. Cutter had a whole life she barely knew about. “I’m sure he does, but not with me.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

Were they still talking about billiards? “Anyway, I won’t keep you…”

“Don’t go. One game.” He wrapped his arm around her middle and ushered her deeper into his house. “What do you say?”

She risked a glance up at him. “You’re sure I’m not in your way?”

“No. I’m thrilled as hell to have you here, pretty girl.”

That low, deep declaration of his did something to her insides. Heat crawled up her cheeks. She ran her tongue across her suddenly dry lips. “O-one game, then.”

After one look, I wanted you. But after one kiss, I knew I’d do anything to have you.”

I have been waiting for this moment all my life!!! OK, so maybe not my entire life. But it sure feels like it, dang it! Because Shayla Black has been tempting us with One-Mile and Brea’s story for too long and I’ve been chomping at the bit in my glee to get my grabby little hands on it. And the second this baby hit my kindle? I DEVOURED IT. I don’t think I even blinked. Or maybe I did blink. Once. And then I realized I was done. GAH.

She wanted to be his, even if it was for a night. Even if it was a sin. Even if she burned in hell for this desire. It couldn’t be any worse than twisting in agony without him.

Now I’ll be honest, usually the uber good girl heroine doesn’t do it for me. They tend to annoy me with their holier than thou everything. But Brea was my one exception to the rule. There’s just something so incredibly endearing to her sweet and innocent personality. She’s like this ray of sunshine that you can’t help but love. Or maybe it’s that perfect dynamic of One-Mile’s uber bad boy to her uber good girl? I dunno. But whatever it was, it worked, and I loved it.

If you’ve read Shayla’s Wicked or Devoted series than you’ve met these characters. And if you haven’t, you won’t have any problems diving right into this one. Brea is Cutter’s best friend from Devoted to Pleasure. I have to say, as much as I loved Cutter in his own book, I wanted to slap him here. His holier than thou attitude towards One-Mile drove me up the wall. He’s fiercly protective of Brea while Brea is inexplicably drawn to One-Mile. One-Mile thinks that she’s Cutter’s girlfriend, but that doesn’t stop his singleminded pursuit of her.

I want you to kiss me,” she whispered. “Now.”
He tensed. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Even though it’s wrong?”
“Yes.”
“Even though this could get out of control?”
“Yes.”
“Brea. Baby…” Desire darkened his expression. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

One-Mile is one of the most endearing misunderstood characters. He’s painted to be the cold and aloof bad boy, but is he really? He’s a trained operative and and lethal sniper, but there’s so much more to him than that. I loved seeing his fuzzy side come out when he’s around Brea. But there’s also this edgy appeal to him that you can’t deny. Their chemistry was absolutely incendiary! And the story completely addicting with plenty of suspense to really keep the reader on their toes. I loved it from cover to cover!

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly eighty novels. For over twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Connect with Shayla:

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New Release & Giveaway: Kiss The Stars by AL Jackson

A Falling Stars stand-alone romance from A.L. Jackson
“Edgy and sexy and sure to have you clinging to every hauntingly beautiful word from beginning to end. Move aside Lyrik West . . . Leif Godwin takes intense, broody, and sullen to a whole new level, and I AM HERE FOR IT.” 
– NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Molly McAdams
“I’m dead. Deceased. Put a fork in me. I’m flooded with feels and adrenaline and awe after reading this glorious book! My heart is beating so fast right now. HOLY CRAP! Steam, suspense, and FEELS, FEELS, FEELS! I can’t recommend this one highly enough!” 
-Lauren Rowe, USA TODAY & International Bestselling Author

KISS THE STARS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: AL Jackson
Release Date: March 5. 2020

A Falling Stars STAND-ALONE NOVEL from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson…

A single mother.

An up-and-coming drummer with a sordid past.

Their paths never should have crossed.

But when a senseless crime rocks Mia West’s entire world, she agrees to spend the summer hiding out at her rock-star brother’s mansion in Savannah until the storm blows over.

What she never expected was the gorgeous, brooding drummer living in the guest house.

His darkness a lure.

His gaze a trap.

She knows better than to go after what will hurt her most.

Leif Godwin has two focuses in his life: his band, Carolina George, and seeking retribution for what was stolen from him.

Mia was never supposed to be a part of the equation.

Her eyes an appeal.

Her body a temptation.

Touching her is nothing but a sin.

But will loving her destroy them all . . .


COMPLETE BLEEDING STARS SIGNED SET & $50 Gift Card



   

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, and CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART novels. Grab her latest stand-alone, KISS THE STARS, available now!

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

Connect with A.L.

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Twitter: @aljacksonauthor

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Review: Kiss of Vengeance by S. Young

KISS OF VENGEANCE
Series:
True Immortality #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: S. Young
Release Date: March 3, 2020

A standalone adult paranormal romance from New York Times Bestselling author Samantha Young writing as S. Young.

Fionn Mór was once a high king of Ireland; a fierce warrior who led his tribes against the invading fae. It was a war he couldn’t win and to save his family he turned consort for the Fae Queen. Fionn escaped as the thing he once despised, and the people he loved betrayed him for it. Now, centuries later, it’s time to reopen the gates to Faerie to take his revenge against the Faerie Queen.

At sixteen Rose Kelly discovered family secrets that changed her forever. Years after, she’s still lost, traveling across Europe in search of that elusive missing ‘something’. When she’s attacked by a vampire, not only is she wrenched into a supernatural underworld she never knew existed, a knock on the head releases a spell on her mind and unlocks powers beyond her wildest imaginings. And with them more questions. Questions Fionn Mór claims to have answers to.

Following the powerful and enigmatic Fionn to Ireland, Rose quickly realizes she’s a pawn in his plan for vengeance. What begins as a passionate battle of wills leads to an inexplicable but undeniable connection. One that will force them to face an impossible choice between the deepest love… and the darkest revenge.

AMAZON

No one had ever kissed her like Fionn. Like she was air. Life. Food and water all in one.

I am completely obsessed with this vividly rich world that Young has created and my obsession only grows with each new book. I thought I loved the first book in this series, so I was completely unprepared just how much more this one would suck me in. WOW.

PNR was the genre that made me fall in love with romance. So suffice it to say I’m incredibly picky when it comes to it. There’s something so unique and authentic about this world and these characters, in a way that only Young can create, that I just can’t seem to get enough of.

He wanted to fuck the woman he planned to use in his vengeance. It was inconvenient to say the least.

While this is a standalone with a new couple, I highly recommend reading War of Hearts first as it really paves the foundation of the story. There’s an overarching story arc that continues with each book and I really feel like you’d miss out on the full experience of the story not having read the books in order.

Fionn was a character that grabbed me in the first book and he wasn’t even represented in real life. We just learn about him as the heroine read about him and he was THAT vivid. Now the full experience of Fionn? Holy moly! The man is intense. Fionn is desperate for vengeance against the queen of fae that took away everything from him. He’s been hunting for a way back to their world ever since he’s been awakened, and when he stumbles into Rose, he knows that not even his deep rooted desire for her will stop him from doing what he needs to do.

Rose Kelly doesn’t know who she is. She’s been a nomad for years. Never staying in one place long enough to form any connections. But when she looks into the arresting eyes of Fionn Mór when he walks into the bar she works at, she has a sense of something more. Little does she know her true role in his mission.

I devoured this book. The story is a bit of a slow burn but perfectly paced. There’s so many layers to this book that go beyond the romance. That’s not to say the romance didn’t take center stage, because man did it! I loved Story and Fionn together. What I love the most about this series is how incredibly strong and capable the heroines are. They aren’t damsels in distress waiting for a strong man to ride in and ave the day. They’re fierce. And Rose is certainly no exception. She may be young but she’s not naive. She’s strong and fiery with a sharp tongue and a quick wit.

I’m completely addicted to this series and salivating for the next book. If you’re a fan of PNR, this is an absolute must read. And if you’re not, this series may make a converter out of you.

#DGRFave & Review: The Guy In The Middle by Kate Stewart

THE GUY IN THE MIDDLE
Series:
The Underdogs Series #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kate Stewart
Release Date: February 29, 2020

From the bestselling author of The Guy on the Right comes a heartwarming, steamy, second-chance romance. The Guy in the Middle is BOOK THREE of The Underdogs Series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

I was born to play and bred to win.

My priorities were instilled in me early on—family and football. Those ideals led me to TGU and a coach whose ironclad principles mirrored my own.

With one last college season to play, my goal was singular—get drafted. By realizing my NFL dream, I could save my family, our ranch, and the only home I’d ever known.

Two birds, one ball.

Playing hard was my only option, but there’s always a wild card.

For all of my planning and hard work, I never anticipated falling for the coach’s daughter. Harper was a fair catch, but who knew loving her could be the one play to throw my career before it started or that the weight of our secret would change the game.

The Underdogs Series order
The Guy on the Right
The Guy on the Left
The Guy in the Middle
*The Guy in the Middle was previously published as a short story (34k) in an anthology but has been expanded to full length novel of 107k words, including an extended epilogue.

AMAZON

I’ve spent enough time denying myself. It’s time to fight for what I want.

WOW.
Talk about ending the series with a bang. This book was EVERYTHING. I don’t even have the words for just how much I loved it. Beautifully written, brimming with emotion, full of passion, and layered in angst, this was one of the most satisfying second chance romances I’ve read in a while.

Loving Lance has always meant embracing his demons. Two years ago, we were able to keep them at bay. That no longer seems to be the case.

Lance and Harper were the perfect story of opposites attracting. Lance is the quiet and intense one of the group. His quiet intensity hides plenty of turmoil and demons that no one ever gets to witness. His only goal is to get through the season and get drafted because that’s his way out. He takes out his aggression on the football field, but everything that’s left over he saves for the boxing ring.

Harper has a goal of her own. She promised her father that she’ll finish college and that means two more years until she can go after her true dream to be a dancer. Her and Lance butt heads the seconds they meet, and the sparks fly immediately.

You really should do something about that.”
I glance back at him. “About what?”
“About that thorough fucking you need.”

Their story is not without bumps along the way. Forced to make a devastating decision for everyone’s sake, Harper leaves Lance to pursue their dreams. And their reunion two years later is no less bumpy.

The one thing I loved most about this book is Harper’s tenacity. The girl is a fighter just as much as Lance. She fights for him tooth and nail and I loved that about her. Even when everything is stacked against her, she doesn’t back down. Even when he gives her every reason not to, she still does.

Lance was impossible not to love. The man is full of so much depth and every time you peel back one layer, you find one hundred more. His emotion and everything that he buries deep is heartbreaking to watch at times. His inner rage and turmoil just as devastating. But the love between him and Harper is simply one of a kind. It’s fiery and angry and full of feeling. It’s raw and real and I just couldn’t get enough of it.

I loved the way they fought for each other. And I definitely love me a good grovel, and if there’s one thing this badass boxer knows how to do is GROVEL. GOD was it good.

This was, hands down, my favorite book in the series. Phenomenal and every second worst the wait.

Review: Crowne of Lies by CD Reiss

CROWNE OF LIES
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: CD Reiss
Release Date: February 28, 2020

Logan Crowne needs one year from Ella.

Twelve months living in his house, holding his hand, wearing his ring on her finger, and in exchange, she’ll get her father’s company in the divorce settlement.

They have one year to convince his skeptical parents that they’re happily in love, and he’s settled enough to run Crowne Industries.

Ella wants the company badly enough to live with a man who will never love her. She’ll sleep in his room and kiss him for show.

Her heart may melt whenever he’s around, and his touch may ignite a fire inside her, but surrender will break her heart.

She’s sure she can last a year without giving him her body.

She’s wrong.

AMAZON

Naughty was the wrong word for Logan. He was a completely and wonderfully debauched demon.

You know what I love about CD Reiss? The woman can write one heck of a sinfully sexy hero. I’m talking the cream of the crop here, people. A dirty talking god of a man. Logan Crowne was all of the things!

What’s in your head?”
“Getting my hand under your dress and finding out if you’re wet.”
“Logan,” I scolded in a hiss. “We just said—”
“We said no feelings.” He took me by the chin. “If I took you right now, f*cked you raw, gave you a dozen orgasms and came deep inside you, it would mean nothing to me.”
My panties were soaked through. “Me neither.”

I’ll give you a moment to compose yourself. Need a tissue? Some ice? All of the above. I’m telling you!!! The man damn near ruined me.

If you’re a fan of the marriage of convenience trope, this book is going to be your crack of choice.

What I love even more that Reiss’s dirty talking alpha males are her strong and sharp witted heroines. And boy did Ella check those boxes. She’s the polar opposite of proper and tightly wound Logan. She’s a free spirit, an artist, a woman that stands on her own two feet and will never let a man define her. But she’s also desperate to sustain her beloved father’s fashion label after his passing. She made a promise to him that is becoming increasingly difficult to keep with her step mother heading up the company. All she wants is enough money to buy the company outright, and the answer comes in the shape of an equally desperate Logan Crowne.

All Logan has known for years is work. Running himself thin has never been a problem, until his father ultimately gives him an ultimatum. His brother will run the company while Logan goes out there and lives his life. And when he finds happiness and a woman to settle down with, he’ll give him back the reins. Unfortunately Logan has no interest in love and happily ever afters like his parents’ marriage. So what’s a man to do? Pay a woman ten million dollars to marry him for a year. Ella challenges him at every turn. She’s nothing like what he needs, but he soon finds that she becomes everything he craves.

I loved the fiery chemistry between these characters. There’s just something so hot about a tightly wound man with a wicked tongue and a free spirited artist with sass and a nose ring. They’re polar opposites, but when they get together…FIREWORKS.

I gobbled this up in one sitting. I’ve become completely obsessed with this series. And the set up for the next book? I DIE!!! I need it!

Review: Stolen Soulmate by Mary Catherine Gebhard

STOLEN SOULMATE
Series: Crowne Point #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Mary Catherine Gebhard
Release Date: February 27, 2020

There’s a rule in Crowne Hall: never look a Crowne in the eyes.
It protects us more than them.
I broke it once, the night Grayson Crowne mistook me for his true love and stole my first kiss. I’ve regretted it every day since.
He hates me.
He torments me.
He won’t let me go, because that night he whispered a secret against my lips not meant for me. Grayson Crowne, heir to the Crowne empire and notorious playboy prince is… a virgin.
I signed a contract in my heart’s blood as much as ink: help him get back his love, repair what I broke. Give him my body, my soul, my heart, let him use all of me, so when the time comes to marry her, he won’t need me.
I shouldn’t need him.
But he’s my stolen soulmate, and I’m at his mercy.

Stolen Soulmate is the second book in the Crowne Pointuniverse. You do not need to have read Heartless Hero to read Stolen Soulmate, though it is recommended. It will enhance your reading experience as you will catch easter eggs and the timelines overlap.

AMAZON

When you look at a Crowne, they ruin your life. When you cross a Crowne…they make sure you wish you’d never been born.

*pats head to make sure I have any hair left*
*takes deep sigh*
*pats head again to double check*
*goes to pour self all of the alcohol*

OH MY GOD. NEVER has a book infuriated and fascinated me equally like this one did. It was angst to the OOOMPF degree. I have anxiety, heart burn, and the shakes all at once. GAH. Seriously. It’s a wonder my kindle survived the entirety of the story because I wanted to chuck it at the wall so many times. Almost as many times as I wanted to punch the hero in the baby maker. SO MANY TIMES. He was INFURIATING. And I loved him so much. What the hell is wrong with me? Wait! Don’t answer that. Rhetorical question, okay? GOD. But I digress here.

This was my first book by this author and DAMN. Am I kicking myself for not reading her sooner. If y’all know me or been following my reviews for a hot minute then you know I love me some angst. And this book? BROUGHT ALL OF THE ANGST. Oh my GAH. In my typical fashion of doing things back asswards, I read book two without having read book one. I’m sorry, OCD squad. It’s just how I roll. The good news is that I was able to get sucked into this world immediately. But I also ran to grab book one immediately after finishing this one and plan on rectifying my mistake ASAP.

His words were a jagged growl, and my heart pounded and ached from them. I was drunk, I was needy. He vibrated in my soul and clouded the air.

Now if you don’t like alphaholes that are thorny, broken, and cruel, back away from this book slowly. No seriously. Grayson Crowne will give you an aneurysm. But if you’re like me and salivate for the man with every mean thing he says because you know that deep down is a broken shell of man that uses his cruel facade to hide a vulnerable center? Welcome to your next addiction.

Grayson was one of those heroes that you just love to hate and hate to love. He was infuriating. He’s cold, callous, and downright vicious when he wants to be. He has the world at his feet but happiness has always been beyond his grasp. He lives for duty and his family legacy. What they say go, and a marriage of the right degree that solidifies his family’s presence even more has never been a question. Until a woman turns his word upside down. Story Hale is a servant in his family’s estate. It’s all she’s ever known. And when she accidentally stumbles into Grayson’s hands, she doesn’t realize what she’s in for. An agreement is born, a contract is signed, and everything is on the line, including her heart.

GUYS. This book. OMG! I can’t even. I read it in one sitting. Grayson made me absolutely livid in parts and broke my heart into a million pieces in others. His and Story’s romance is not sunshine and butterflies. It’s cruel, it’s painful, and it’s utterly addicting. It’s the train wreck that you can’t seem to look away from. You know it’s doomed, but you can’t tear yourself away. What kept me going was the small glimpses into the man Grayson really is. The one he hides behind his cold mask. The one I was ravenous for even the smallest piece of.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rock myself in a dark corner somewhere until the next book in this series. Preferably with all of the wine. Because GAH. That is all.

Exclusive Spotlight with Character Interview: The Two Date Rule by @tawnafenske

THE TWO DATE RULE
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Author: Tawna Fenske
Trope: Afraid To Commit 
Release Date:
February 25, 2020

Willa Frank has one simple rule: never go on a date with anyone more than twice. Now that her business is providing the stability she’s always needed, she can’t afford distractions. Her two-date rule will protect her just fine…until she meets smokejumper Grady Billman.

After one date—one amazing, unforgettable date—Grady isn’t ready to call it quits, despite his own no-attachments policy, and he’s found a sneaky way around both their rules.

Throwing gutter balls with pitchers of beer? Not a real date. Everyone knows bowling doesn’t count.

Watching a band play at a local show? They just happen to have the same great taste in music. Definitely not a date.

Hiking? Nope. How can exercise be considered a date?

With every “non-date” Grady suggests, his reasoning gets more ridiculous, and Willa must admit she’s having fun playing along. But when their time together costs Willa two critical clients, it’s clear she needs to focus on the only thing that matters—her future. And really, he should do the same.

But what is she supposed to do with a future that looks gray without Grady in it?

From Tawna Fenske:

The Two-Date Rule is all about finding the sweet spot between planning for the future and living in the moment.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | KOBO |  B&N

CHARACTER INTERVIEW

Rom-com author Tawna Fenske interrogates her heroine from The Two-Date Rule

This is Tawna Fenske, and I’m a USA Today bestselling romantic comedy author with a brand-new release. The Two-Date Rule is the story of a woman with some very personal reasons for never dating a guy more than twice, and the sexy smokejumper who steals her heart.

The lovely folks at Dirty Girl Romance asked me to sit down with the heroine of The Two-Date Rule, Willa Frank, to ask a few questions about life and love and whether the toilet paper should roll over or under (duh, over…you think we’re monsters?)

In the interest of full disclosure, I should confess that you could swap my name with Willa’s throughout the Q&A and the answers wouldn’t change much. I should probably seek therapy for that.

TAWNA:

Hey, Willa, it’s great to see you. Love the dress!

WILLA:

Thanks! I got it for $3 at my favorite thrift store. Did you see it has pockets?

TAWNA:

That’s pretty badass. Okay, so let’s start by talking about what you like in a guy. I know you never date anyone more than twice, but for the ones who make the cut, what qualities do you dig in a man?

WILLA:

A sense of humor is huge. He has to be able to laugh at himself, and bonus points if he makes me laugh. He has to be kind to animals. That’s non-negotiable, since I have a blind dog, a three-legged cat, a deaf cat, and a beta fish with a broken tail. Um, let’s see…I like a guy who jumps up from the dinner table and offers to do the dishes. That’s always nice. And I guess I’ll admit I have a thing for gorgeous eyes. Also big, strong, massive, sexy hands. *shivers*

TAWNA:

I feel ya on that last one. Let’s see…got any makeup tips you can share?

 WILLA:

*makes face*

Does Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm count? That, and maybe a swipe of mascara. Sometimes when I’ve been working too much (which, okay, is most of the time) I’ll bust out the concealer for the dark circles under my eyes.

TAWNA:

Let’s try something a little easier. Name five things every woman should have.

WILLA:

Comfortable shoes, at least three-months’ salary socked away for emergencies, friends who will have your back no matter what, condoms and probably a backup method of birth control, and at least six contingency plans for every scenario in your life in which something could possibly go wrong.

TAWNA:

Wow. That’s…um…hardcore.

WILLA:

I believe in being prepared.

TAWNA:

No joke. Okay, last question: Can you give us any dating tips?

WILLA:

*laughs so hard she falls off her chair*

I am quite literally the last person who should answer that question.

TAWNA:

Come on, give it a shot.

WILLA:

*frowning*

All right. I guess I’d say don’t let yourself get too attached to anyone. And don’t let relationships derail your life goals or you could end up broke and homeless and scared and…

TAWNA:

Okay, um…we’re getting a little dark here. This is a romantic comedy, remember?

WILLA:

Right, sorry. How about always wear clean underwear?

TAWNA:

There you go.

***

So that’s it for Tawna’s interview with Willa. To learn more about The Two-Date Rule or any of Tawna’s other romantic comedies, visit www.tawnafenske.com

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.To learn more about all of Tawna’s books, visit www.tawnafenske.com 

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