Review: Hook by Gina L. Maxwell

HOOK
Series:
Neverland #2
Genre: MM Romance
Author: Gina L. Maxwell
Release Date: October 29, 2019

Journey back to Neverland, NC with NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell as she turns your favorite villain into the hero you never knew you needed.

THEY CALL ME HOOK

I’m Captain of the Pirates; a villain by design and a loner by nature.

I don’t need anyone. More than that, I don’t want anyone. Especially Officer John Darling who insists on seeing the good in everything, including me. If there was ever any good inside of me, it was snuffed out long ago.

I’ve avoided him for years, but now I need his help to save my brother’s life and take down Fred Croc, the monster from my childhood and my current employer.

Now Darling is undercover in my crew, living in my loft and forever working out shirtless. Taking Croc’s operation down from the inside is dangerous as hell, but Darling’s probing gaze and the natural way he defers to my dominant side might just be the end of me.

But I’ve lived in the dark for too long, and no amount of light can save me. Not even one as bright as Johnathan Darling.

HE CALLS ME DARLING

I’m a Task Force Officer with the FBI; a protector of the innocent and a man in love with a villain.

Before I was even old enough to understand it, I had a crush on the broody teen called Captain Hook, following him around like a puppy and hoping he’d show me the slightest bit of attention.

He never did, though, not for years. Not until I became his only viable option for getting his crew member back and throwing Croc behind bars. Now he can’t ignore me, and he can’t hide the desire burning in his eyes when I sink to my knees, eager to serve my Captain however he needs.

But secrets are hard to keep in close quarters, and when I discover the darkness lurking in his past, eradicating the evil in Neverland is no longer my only mission. Come hell or high water, I’ll make Hook see that he’s never been the villain of this story…he’s the hero.

*Trigger Warning for readers sensitive to characters with sexual assault in their pasts. Please read the Author’s Note in the beginning of the book for more details.

AMAZON

He is my Captain. And for as long as he’ll have me, I am his.

If you know me or follow my reviews, than you already know just how much I love a good tortured hero. And let me tell you, it doesn’t get more tortured than James Hook. The man is tortured personified. He’s utterly broken in the most captivating way. The second he appeared on the pages of Pan, he stole the show, and I was counting down the days until I could get my hands on his story. I’ve read a few modern fairytale retellings, and I’ll say that this one stays pretty darn close to the details. I especially love the way that Gina incorporates little pieces of Peter Pan into this book. From the evil crime boss, Fred Croc, to his loudly ticking pocket watch, everything came together flawlessly.

Hook is the Captain, or essentially the boss of his merry band of bandits or pirates as he calls them. In order to save his little brother from the evil clutches of Croc, he made a deal with the devil, at the expense of his soul. From the very first, you know there’s something darker to Hook’s history, and while the author alludes to it in the first book, she throws you into the deep end of his painful past in this one. Hook is a man that you can’t help but love. You know that his callousness and hard exterior hides the soft heart of a wounded man that’s never known affection. Hook has known nothing but suffering, but he’ll take it ten times over in order to spare the others and his brother especially.

John Darling is a cop that has been crushing on Hook ever since they were boys and he followed his sister sneaking to the School of Lost Boys to see Pan. Now he’s a grown man and understands that the child’s crush he had runs much deeper. John is determined to bring Croc’s operation down, and he’s not above maneuvering Hook in order to set up his cover as his new pirate.

Now full disclosure, Gina does make a foreword letting the reader know to suspend your disbelief when it comes to procedural details of this book. I didn’t have any problems with that. But I did have one asshole reader moment over a detail that plagued me for the entire book. You have a cop working with the FBI that goes undercover to catch a ruthless crime boss, and he uses fake tattoos. Like the stuff that can flake off when he gets into a fight or sweats or showers. And try as I might, I just couldn’t get past it. I’m sorry, okay?! I love Gina’s words, but the struggle was real here. I was on the struggle bus for the entire undercover gig. I just couldn’t with this detail. I’m an asshole when it comes to certain details, and this just ate at me. Le sigh.

Having said that, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book. The story that we get here is a beautifully and gripping, emotional and oh so steamy. Darling and Hook set the pages on fire with their chemistry. I absolutely loved them together. Gina treads the line of darkness by giving the reader just enough details of Hook’s past to build a devastating feel for why he is the way he is, without getting into the super gory details. She doesn’t spare your heart strings, though, and plays those like a violin. My whole heart!!!

I fell so hard for John and Hook’s story and romance and couldn’t get enough of them. I absolutely adored their road to a HEA and couldn’t have dreamed a better ending and epilogue. I’m so hooked on this series (see what I did there? *snorts*) and can’t wait for more!

Review: Chase The Butterflies by Monica James

CHASE THE BUTTERFLIES
Genre: Contemporary/Total WTF (snort laughs)
Author: Monica James
Release Date: December 3, 2019

“Victoria, will you marry me?”

Those words changed my life forever…just not in the way it would for most. I had it all until one fateful evening transformed my life in ways I never imagined.

Nine months later, I move to a sleepy little town, hoping to escape the demons of my past. As I attempt to claim back my life, Jude Montgomery enters my world, and things begin to change.

I thought running would appease the nightmares, but I soon discover my past won’t let go. Things are not what they seem, and I begin to question the world as I know it. Jude may hold the answers, but will my love for him blind me to the truth?

Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas? In my case, yes, it does.

Will the truth set me free? Or will it imprison us both?

My name is Victoria Armstrong, and this is my story…I think.

AMAZON

I want to consume you just as you’ve consumed every…single…part of me.
Everything I am, I give to you. Mind. Body. Soul. You own every part of me. That’ll never change. Regardless of our circumstances, I’ll love you for eternity.”

So I…
yeah so…
This was…
And then it…
…Yeah, I got nothing. Seriously. I can’t even begin to process, let alone review what I just read. I have no idea. I really don’t. Total and complete mindf*ck.

How do I even categorize this for you? I don’t know what genre this would fall into. Unless there’s a mindf*ck genre. Is there? No? Dang. But seriously, though. I am floored. Shooketh. Utterly SHOOKETH. This book took me right out of my comfort zone and then took a sharp left somewhere off of the everything I thought path and veered right into OMG lane. No lie. I read it with bated breath. With my jaw on the floor. With tears in my eyes. And when I finished? I immediately went back to re-read it. Because it’s a story that’s meant to be experienced twice. This also needs to be a movie. IMMEDIATELY. Because wow. WOW!!!

There’s actual footage captured of me reading this book. Please find below for reference:




As you can clearly see, myself was SHOOKETH.

How do I even begin to review this book without spoiling it for you? I can’t. I don’t know how. This book needs to be experienced absolutely blind. Trust me. Tori and Jude’s story will be unlike anything you’ve ever read. It’s a story of undying love and redemption. It’s a story of soul mates and heartache. It’s a story that’s as riveting as it is unique. It’s heartbreaking and completely unforgettable.

Yes, my cynical self popped up every now and then. But the story was so unique that I was able to tell that bitch to stfu and sit back down so I can keep enjoying it.

If you’re looking for something that’s different an unlike anything you’ve ever read, do yourself a favor and read this book.

#DGRFave & Review: Kings of Carrion by Keri Lake

KINGS OF CARRION
Series: Juniper Unraveling #3
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Author: Keri Lake
Release Date: December 3, 2019

Decades have passed since our world was decimated by the Dredge. Some say it was an act of God. Others believe the devil himself breached the gates of hell and turned the masses into the mindless infected with an appetite for carnage.

Those of us who’ve survived the Calico experiments know the only thing more terrifying than the monsters that seek to ravage what’s left of us, are the men who created them. Ones too capable of hiding their true form, and burying their darkest secrets.

Somewhere beneath the facility lies the answers, a cure for our suffering. To reach it, we’ll have to open the haunting tomb, where man’s deadliest mistakes, the most violent mutations, lie trapped within its tunnels, waiting to be set free.

Our only hope in surviving them are the very Alphas who were designed to hunt us down. The titans forged by cruelty and pain.

Kings of carrion.

We taught them to love, and in turn, they vow to protect us. To deliver the cure for humanity’s sake. Except this world doesn’t give without taking, and any chance of saving us will require the greatest sacrifice of all.

SERIES ORDER:
Juniper Unraveling (Book 1)
Calico Descending (Book 2)
Kings of Carrion (Book 3)

AMAZON

In many ways, we’re the same, though. He’s still the scarred boy who touched my heart. And I’m the wounded little bird, whose wings he made fly again.

When was the last time a book ruined you? I’m talking utterly gutted you. Like wrung every single emotion out of you until you were an inconsolable mess only to stitch you back together piece by devastating piece? Because THIS BOOK. Y’all. I was lucky enough to beta read Kings of Carrion a few months back and I STILL can’t stop thinking about it. I worship at the evil genius feet of Keri Lake. If you’re looking for an utterly unforgettable read, you NEED this in your life.

Kings of Carrion was darkly captivating, emotionally devastating, and positively unforgettable. It owned me from beginning to end and I still can’t get over it. I’m RUINED. Completely ruined.

Full disclosure here, this story emotional eviscerated me. I spent the latter part of the book a hysterically blubbering mess. There was no consoling me. If there’s one thing that Keri Lake knows how to do, it’s to reach into the pits of her readers souls and rip their damn hearts out. This was no exception. This is not a standalone and you need to read Calico Descending first. This is the conclusion of the story that starts there. If you’ve also read Juniper Unraveling, then you’ll be thrilled to get more Six and Wren here.

If you loved Cali and Vladys in the first book, you will fall even harder for them here. I loved Cali’s fierceness and the way she fought for her beloved. I loved Valdys’s undying love for Cali. And everything that happens in between? Unforgettable.

New & Upcoming Releases: December 1-5

New releases coming at ya this week!


AVAILABLE NOW


ENEMIES by Tijan

Stone Reeves was my neighbor, and I’ve hated him since sixth grade.

Gorgeous and charismatic, he became the town’s football god, while I became the town’s invisible girl.
He went to a Division 1 school for football, while my father was fired by his father.
His team won the National Championship, while my mother died the same day.

He was a first round pick for the NFL …
… while I made the worst decision in my life.

Now I’m in Texas trying to pick up the pieces of my life.
But, Stone is here.
Stone is everywhere.

It doesn’t matter that disaster has struck my life again.
It doesn’t matter that he’s the one trying to console me.
It doesn’t matter that he’s the nation’s newest football obsession.

Because for me, he always has been and always will be my enemy.


SCROOGED by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS VI KEELAND AND PENELOPE WARD BRING YOU THREE SEXY SHORT STORIES TO HEAT UP YOUR HOLIDAYS!

SEXY SCROOGE

The Last thing I needed was to share and Uber with Scrooge – a cocky lawyer on a snowy Christmas Eve. It was bad enough I was on my way to court for the gift of eviction.

Although maybe today wouldn’t turn out so bad after all.

The Sexy Scrooge and I started to connect as we trudged our way through a storm. Our ride was about to end. But would I ever see him again?

THE MERRY MISTAKE

Note to self: Ask Santa for glasses this year. When I accidentally mistook a gorgeous man resting outside my building for a homeless person in need of a lunch, we got into it. I’d only been trying to do a good deed around the holidays, but he called me righteous. I called him something far worse. If only I didn’t have to see him again. But fate had other plans.

KISSMAS IN NEW YORK

It was just supposed to be a simple kiss with a stranger. I’d done it to prove a point – that I hadn’t lost my sense of adventure. But you know what they about the best laid plans. Maybe I’d get something in my stocking after all this holiday season. . .


A FAIRBANKS AFFAIR by Katy Regnery 

New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery returns with the third book in her Odds-Are-Good series!

Three nights. Two of us. One bed. Zero chance at love.

Boston businesswoman, Faye Findley, has devoted the last decade of her life to work, leaving no time for romance. Tired of being a 30-year-old virgin, Faye answers an ad in The Odds Are Good magazine, hoping to turn over her v-card to a sexy Alaskan she’ll never see again.

Successful distillery owner, Trevor Starling, was left betrayed and broken-hearted when his brother and fiancée had sex the night before Trevor’s wedding. Anticipating a lonely New Year’s celebration, he places an ad in The Odds Are Good for a no-strings attached weekend of hot sex.

Though mistaken identity threatens to derail everything, the chemistry between Faye and Trevor turns out to be stronger than either could have imagined. And what started out as a one-and-done mission becomes much more complicated.


KING’S RANSOM by Jane Henry

USA Today bestselling author Jane Henry delves deep into the Russian underworld, with a high-stakes, heart-rending story of betrayal, atonement, and a hard-won happily-ever-after.

He’ll make me call him daddy.
Demand my obedience.
Drive me to my knees.
I’ve been in love with Stefan Morozov for as long as I can remember.
He’s fearless. Powerful. A vicious leader of the Bratva underworld.
And he barely notices my existence.

That is, until the day I see something I shouldn’t.The day the man I love makes me his prisoner.
The day my love turns to hate…

Please note: This dark romance features kinky, sexual scenes, including a Daddy Dom, non-consent, and strong elements of violence. If such material offends you, please do not read.


WHATEVER IT TAKES by Barbara Elsborg

War in Syria has devastated Zain’s country, destroyed his family and broken his heart. When there is nothing left to stay for, he journeys to England, determined to follow in his father’s footsteps and train as a doctor in London. He might be a refugee with no money, no friends and no qualifications but he still has his dreams and he’ll do whatever it takes to ensure his future turns out to be the one he wants.

Roman is a world away from the naïve Russian boy who lost everything, one devastating day. Now he’s a fixer for a wealthy Russian, keeping the guy’s business dealings away from the attention of the British authorities. Roman is balanced on a moral tightrope which grows more unsteady by the day. The last thing he needs is to become emotionally involved with a young Syrian, especially when he can’t afford to trust anyone.

A chance discovery in Roman’s car by Zain sets off a violent chain reaction and Zain is thrown into a world that threatens not just his dreams but his life. Roman has difficult decisions to make. He’s determined to do whatever it takes to keep Zain safe. But lingering shadows from their pasts as well as prominent figures from Roman’s present need to be eliminated if they’re to have a chance together.
As lies and danger escalate, are they doomed before they’ve even begun?


RELEASING DECEMBER 3


CHASE THE BUTTERFLIES by Monica James

“Victoria, will you marry me?”

Those words changed my life forever…just not in the way it would for most. I had it all until one fateful evening transformed my life in ways I never imagined.

Nine months later, I move to a sleepy little town, hoping to escape the demons of my past. As I attempt to claim back my life, Jude Montgomery enters my world, and things begin to change.

I thought running would appease the nightmares, but I soon discover my past won’t let go. Things are not what they seem, and I begin to question the world as I know it. Jude may hold the answers, but will my love for him blind me to the truth?

Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas? In my case, yes, it does.

Will the truth set me free? Or will it imprison us both?

My name is Victoria Armstrong, and this is my story…I think.


BLITZED by Alexa Martin

One of Buzzfeed’s 16 Romantic Books To Read This Fall
One of Popsugar’s Best Books for Winter

“Definitely a must-read!”—La La Anthony, New York Times bestselling author

Maxwell Lewis has to make the play of his life in order to breach the woman of his dream’s defenses in this new football romance from the author of Fumbled.

Brynn Larson owes a lot to reality television and professional athletes. Her bar hit new heights of success after becoming a local haunt for the Denver Mustangs players and their WAGs. But although she’s grateful, that doesn’t mean she’s crazy. And that’s exactly what she would be to ever consider dating a professional athlete. Even if it’s Maxwell Lewis, whose shy smile makes her wonder what going on behind those beautiful brown eyes.

Maxwell knew from the moment he met Brynn that she was going to change his life. It was only a matter of time. But when he finally makes a move, fate conspires against him and everything goes wrong. Now he has to show her that their potential is real. Too bad for him, Brynn isn’t fooled by his glamorous NFL life, and when ghosts from both their pasts make a sudden reappearance, she must decide who she can trust. But when the person she’s most afraid of is herself, navigating life’s tackles is harder than anticipated.


DEFENDING EVERLY by Susan Stoker

The stakes are personal, hot, and dangerous in New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker’s riveting Mountain Mercenaries novel.

As tough as Everly Adams may be, the Colorado Springs SWAT officer is near a breaking point. Her fifteen-year-old half sister, Elise, has disappeared from Los Angeles without a trace, and the window to find her is closing fast. Committed to the search is Mountain Mercenary Kannon “Ball” Black. He and Everly already have a history—of rubbing each other the wrong way.

Still, Everly has to admit the man is heart-stopping. His brash alpha swagger takes her breath away. And most importantly, as a former Coast Guard first responder, Ball has what it takes to bring Elise home.

Nobody’s buying the LAPD’s “runaway” theory. And the fear that Elise is the victim of a human trafficking ring is a gut-punch that Everly and Ball can’t ignore. If only the trail were that clear cut. Because the one they’re following is more insidious and intimately dark than they could have imagined.

Now as the bond between Everly and Ball grows stronger, so does the heat. And as the stakes rise, so does the danger.


RECKLESS WITH YOU by Carrie Ann Ryan

From the NYT Bestselling Author of Breathless With Her comes a fake relationship romance that’s all too real.

Professing her love to her best friend while wearing only her favorite panty set and coat probably wasn’t the best decision Amelia Carr has ever made. In fact, it’s perhaps the worst. But when her family becomes their overprotective selves while encroaching on her life, she makes a rash decision: her brother’s best friend will just have to be her beard. Too bad, he has no idea what he’s in for.

Tucker Reinhard loves women, and they tend to love him even more. Despite the love, he never would have expected Amelia to come up with the plan she poses to him. He’ll go along with it, but only because he doesn’t want to see her hurt—even if that means fighting his best friend.

In the midst of her scheme, Amelia realizes she doesn’t know Tucker as well as she thought. And neither of them are prepared for what happens when they let the façade go and see what truly lies beneath.


KINGS OF CARRION by Keri Lake

Decades have passed since our world was decimated by the Dredge. Some say it was an act of God. Others believe the devil himself breached the gates of hell and turned the masses into the mindless infected with an appetite for carnage.

Those of us who’ve survived the Calico experiments know the only thing more terrifying than the monsters that seek to ravage what’s left of us, are the men who created them. Ones too capable of hiding their true form, and burying their darkest secrets.

Somewhere beneath the facility lies the answers, a cure for our suffering. To reach it, we’ll have to open the haunting tomb, where man’s deadliest mistakes, the most violent mutations, lie trapped within its tunnels, waiting to be set free.

Our only hope in surviving them are the very Alphas who were designed to hunt us down. The titans forged by cruelty and pain.

Kings of carrion.

We taught them to love, and in turn, they vow to protect us. To deliver the cure for humanity’s sake. Except this world doesn’t give without taking, and any chance of saving us will require the greatest sacrifice of all.

WARNING: Graphic violence with scenes that some readers may find disturbing. This is a brutal post-apocalyptic world where women are scarce due to gendercide, and therefore, makes for an unconventional romance.


SEXY AS SIN by Julie Kriss

Second chances burn hotter

The assignment should be a fashion stylist’s dream. Dane Scotland—brilliant programmer, millionaire, partner in my brother’s company—is going to a big-money meeting, and he needs to look the part.

The problem? Dane doesn’t want a makeover. He’s grumpy and reclusive, and his wardrobe consists of two pairs of old jeans. He doesn’t want me anywhere near him.

Did I mention that he’s my brother’s best friend? And that no one knows exactly what Dane and I got up to ten years ago?

The nerd I knew is gone—Dane ditched his glasses and bulked up. Now he’s six-foot-plus of hot genius, but I can be professional. I can definitely keep my hands off him. Again.

But when he looks at me like he used to, like no one else ever has, the only thing I want is to lose control.

Dane and I gave each other our first taste of heartbreak. Are we destined for another round?


HEIDI’S GUIDE TO THE FOUR LETTER WORD by Tara Sivec & Andi Arndt

Cowritten by USA Today best-selling author Tara Sivec and award-winning narrator Andi Arndt, a hysterically funny, heartfelt romance about starting over and taking chances.

Nothing good ever comes from drinking a box of wine alone. So when I decided to entertain my drunken self by setting up some hand-me-down podcasting equipment and reading the steamy parts from romance novels, I never thought anyone would actually listen. The fact that I admitted my huge crush on my sexy next door neighbor made the whole thing even more mortifying. But sometimes life surprises you, and that’s how my podcast, Heidi’s Discount Erotica, was born.

Now I, Heidi Larsen, a sweet former kindergarten teacher in Waconia, Minnesota, lead a scandalous double life reading erotic novels to the listening world. And with each episode, I find myself embracing my new alter ego more and more. Now I’m starting to feel more comfortable in my own skin and do things I never would have dreamed of – like kissing my neighbor.

Look out, Waconia, because Heidi’s on the loose! She’s in your ears, in your hearts, and down your pants…wait, that didn’t sound as good as it did in my head. Well, you get the picture, don’tcha know!


HATE SOBER by TL Smith 

Our love wasn’t enough.

He had demons.

I had hopes.

Together we were never meant to be.

That didn’t stop us, though.

Even when it should have.

Even when I saw those demons loud and clear.

I should have stayed away.

Should have never looked back.

But love, it’s a fickle thing.

And sometimes…

You need to embrace the darkness.

Or let it destroy you.

I was drunk once.

Now, I’m sober.


THIS IS LOVE by Melissa Foster

She has everything money can buy, but her bodyguard is all she wants—and together they’re exactly what each other needs in this heart-racing romance by Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of Call Her Mine.

Actress Remi Divine is sick of bodyguards, sick of stalkers, and sick of feeling like she is always under a microscope. But this movie star isn’t helpless by any means. She’s got a rebellious streak, and she knows how to use it. First order of business: getting rid of the overbearing bodyguards who are sticking to her like glue.

Mason Swift has made protecting others his life, and when Remi ditches his two best men, he takes over and gives it everything he has. Having grown up in the foster-care system, and as a former special operative, he knows all the tricks. Nothing gets by him, especially not gorgeous, sneaky Remi.

He thinks she’s a diva. She thinks he’s arrogant. But when sparks turn to flames and their walls come down, their true hearts are revealed, and their connection is unstoppable. And when tragedy strikes, Remi realizes that being protected isn’t the worst thing in the world—but losing Mason just might be.


A MADNESS OF SUNSHINE by Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh welcomes you to a remote town on the edge of the world where even the blinding brightness of the sun can’t mask the darkness that lies deep within a killer.…

On the rugged West Coast of New Zealand, Golden Cove is more than just a town where people live. The adults are more than neighbors; the children, more than schoolmates.

That is until one fateful summer—and several vanished bodies—shatters the trust holding Golden Cove together. All that’s left are whispers behind closed doors, broken friendships, and a silent agreement to not look back. But they can’t run from the past forever.

Eight years later, a beautiful young woman disappears without a trace, and the residents of Golden Cove wonder if their home shelters something far more dangerous than an unforgiving landscape.

It’s not long before the dark past collides with the haunting present and deadly secrets come to light.


KISS ME WITH LIES by SM Soto- buy link TBA

Two sisters. One unsolved murder. A sickening plot for revenge.

When Mackenzie Wright attends her first real high school party, held somewhere deep in the woods of her small California town, no one expects to wake up the next morning to news of a gruesome murder. Especially not her own sister’s.
No suspects.
No motive.
No convictions.
Just one unsolved murder and whatever’s left of the now deserted town.

Mackenzie has spent years with her sister’s death weighing heavily on her shoulders, but it isn’t until she stumbles across a photograph that changes everything for her. The memories, everything from that night, come flashing back in high-speed technicolor and Mackenzie soon finds herself obsessed with the truth.

Determined to find out what really happened to her sister, Mackenzie relies on that one photograph to give her the answers she needs by embedding herself into the lives of five of the wealthiest men in Los Angeles. Consumed by her need for revenge, Mackenzie infiltrates the world of the rich and elite, only to come face-to-face with an alluring complication in the form an elusive playboy.

When enemy lines are drawn, Mackenzie has to choose between her loyalty to her sister and the man who has stolen her heart.


THE INTIMIDATION GAME by CL Stewart

Bruises heal, but broken hearts can be scarred forever…….

Nikki fled South Africa to escape an abusive relationship. All she wanted was to disappear and start anew and Glasgow offered the perfect place to hide. Landing in the world of corporate espionage was the last thing Nikki had in mind. Landing in her boss’s bed was certainly a step beyond. If the last year taught her anything, this is not a road she wants to travel again.
Keeping her secret shame close to her chest is just as important as staying hidden.

Dan has it all, or so it seems. A worldwide software empire, staff to meet his every need, and wealth beyond comprehension. He can’t help wanting one more thing. Nikki. But he has secrets of his own, and secrets have a way of rearing their ugly head when least expected.
Can Nikki and Dan forge a new life together, or will a love borne from secrecy be the catalyst that brings down an empire?

The line between business and pleasure is well and truly destroyed in this hot new novel from the author of The Soul Series.

Buy this thrilling contemporary romance now!


WOULD LIKE TO MEET by Rachel Winters

Can you fall in love like they do in the movies?

It’s Evie Summers’s job to find out. Because if she can’t convince her film agency’s biggest client, Ezra Chester, to write the romantic-comedy screenplay he owes producers, her career will be over. The catch? He thinks rom-coms are unrealistic–and he’ll only put pen to paper if Evie shows him that it’s possible to meet a man in real life the way it happens on the big screen.

Cynical Evie might not believe in happily ever after, but she’ll do what it takes to save the job that’s been her lifeline . . . even if it means reenacting iconic rom-com scenes in public. Spilling orange juice on a cute stranger? No problem. Leaving her number in books all over London to see who calls? Done. With a little help from her well-meaning friends–and Ben and Anette, the adorable father-daughter duo who keep witnessing her humiliations–Evie is determined to prove she can meet a man the way Sally met Harry. But can a workaholic who’s given up on love find a meet-cute of her very own?


WONDER WITH ME by Kristen Proby

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes a new story in her With Me In Seattle series…

Reed Taylor doesn’t pay much attention to the holidays—until he receives a surprise present. Four-year-old Piper is the daughter he never knew about, and with the death of her mother, is also now the roommate he never expected. He’s determined to make their first Christmas together one she’ll never forget.

Noel Thompson has gotten her share of strange requests in her career as an interior designer. The call to design a beautiful home for Christmas is more like a dream come true. And that was before she met her new employer—sexy and mysterious, he’s everything she ever hoped Santa would bring her.

As Noel showers his home with holiday spirit, Reed showers Piper with love. And the busy life he’s created for himself no longer seems nearly as important as the one Noel is helping him build with his daughter. But if he can’t convince his decorator to stay, this could be the only year he feels the true wonder of the season.

**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.**


WATCH OVER ME by Mila Gray

From the author of Come Back to Me comes a striking new novel about a young woman— desperately trying to protect her family from their violent father—who finds safety, and a passionate romance, with an ex-Marine.

Ever since Zoey was a kid she’s been caring for her mom and her little sister, defending them from her violent father. She’s been the strong one, the responsible one as she sacrificed her wants and dreams to keep her family together.

Now the life they’ve built for themselves in California is about to be upended. Her father, just released from prison, has discovered where they’re hiding and has come looking for them.

Enter Tristan. A former Marine and now member of the Coast Guard, Tristian promises his best friend, and Zoey’s Marine brother, that he will take care of Zoey and her family. Protect them, watch over them, and be the rock they need in their lives.

And as Tristan starts to help Zoey deal with the emotional fall out of her childhood, their relationship turns from protector to something more. The two grow closer as a romance blooms into a heart-pounding and powerful relationship that Zoey hopes will be strong enough to fight off the damage her father has done to her and her family.

But not everyone can be kept safe forever, and when Zoey’s father does show up, a confrontation ensues that will change Zoey’s world forever.


RELEASING DECEMBER 4


NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR by Sarah Darlington

ONE NIGHT WITH THE DRUMMER OF SUNSET REVIVAL?
Yes, I’m game.

Dani Mills, drummer of the world-famous rock band, Sunset Revival, doesn’t have time for romance. Touring with her bandmates across the country, she’s content with meaningless sex: one-night-stands, no kissing, no personal details. These are her rules…and there are never exceptions.

John Michaels lives a life of seclusion in Corolla, North Carolina. He works, eats, and sleeps—and is perfectly content with his lifestyle. He doesn’t have the time, or energy, to deal with people. Or relationships. Especially women relationships.

When Sunset Revival gets stranded on the beach, it’s John who is asked for shelter. With his sexy-as-sin good looks—covered in ink with blue eyes so deep they shine—Dani finds herself desperate for one night in his bed. That’s all either of them wants, really…one night, no-strings, no promise of tomorrow.

Yet, when one night turns into two, both find themselves breaking their own rules. Thrust into a whirlwind of passion and desire, the pair struggle to maintain the upper hand, with John learning the hardest lesson of all…never kiss a Rockstar.

**NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR can be read as a standalone, or as the second book in Sarah Darlington’s NEVER TRUST Series.


LANDON & SHAY- PART 2 by Brittainy C Cherry

Once upon a time, I fell in love with a boy.
A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles.

People warned me against our love, but I didn’t listen.
We looked weak.
Young, foolish.
Dangerously in love.
We didn’t care.

In order to keep our hearts protected from the opinions of others, we became each other’s secret.
We shared stolen moments. Tender touches. Secretive embraces.

It was our twisted love story, and it worked for us up until our lives changed forever.

The boy I loved became Hollywood’s newest golden boy.
His career blossomed as mine stalled.
He found massive success as I discovered multiple failures.
He made something of himself, while my dreams never came true.

We moved into different realms where our pieces no longer fit together.

In the fairy tales, love conquered all.
In reality, love was the main reason empires began to fall.

I always knew Landon belonged in my story.
He was my beginning, middle, and end.
The only problem? I wasn’t certain I still belonged in his.

*Book Two of the Landon & Shay Duet.*


RELEASING DECEMBER 5


THE LINEUP by Meghan Quinn

Want to know a secret?

It’s about that girl over there.
Don’t look, but she’s the one in the power suit—with the long, black hair and the serious expression, the one I’m about to go on a date with . . .

Yeah, according to her, she “accidentally” donated an obscene amount of money to my charity — The Lineup — to win said date but I found out the truth. Miss. Button Up Blouse has a secret, passionate crush on me.

I didn’t know her name until two days ago, despite the friends we have in common.
Was I oblivious? Probably.
Was I blind to it? Definitely.

But I’m no fool, I see it now. The High Heel Harlot wants more than just a date with Jason Orson, she wants to be able to claim the best butt in baseball as hers.

Here’s another secret . . . she has no idea I know.


GILDED LILY by Staci Hart

They say there’s no such thing as perfect.

But I’ve built my life to perfection—the perfect boyfriend, the perfect apartment, the perfect career planning celebrity weddings. My job—my only job—is to make sure every event is absolutely and completely perfect.

What’s not perfect? Kash Bennet.

And I wish I didn’t find that so appealing.

I could have told you every perfectly imperfect thing about the gardener at Longbourne. Like his hair, lush and black and far too long. Or his nose, the flat bridge of a Greek god, bent a little like it’s been broken. Or his size. Beastly. Roped and corded with muscles, gleaming with sweat and peppered with dirt.

There’s no escaping him, not if I’m going to use his family’s flower shop for my events.

But nothing is what it seems. And in the span of a heartbeat, my perfect life is turned inside out.

They say the best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody new. When Kash offers his services to the cause, it sounds like the perfect plan.

What’s not part of the plan? Falling in love with the gardener.

But they were right—there’s no such thing as perfect.
And I’m the fool who finds out the hard way.


TEQUILA by Dr. Rebecca Sharp

From bestselling author, Dr. Rebecca Sharp, comes a new and sexy second-chance romance standalone novel….

A pilot, a park ranger, and a bottle of tequila sit down at a bar.
One shot. One kiss. One night together on top of the Rockies changed everything… until morning rolled around.

Six years later, Shay Covington returns to Colorado. Famous. The best fighter pilot in the Air Force. Infamous. Pulled from her command and fleeing her shadow of shame. When torrential rains strand her in town, the mountain man who rescues her is none other than Logan Daniels – the Park Ranger she disappeared on after one night.

Shock. Logan never thought he’d see his tequila girl again. Betrayal. She hadn’t even given him her real name. Unfortunately, with highways closed and hotels full, he has only one choice: to bring Shay home with him.

But this time, fate decides to give them more than a single night.

By morning, they’re trapped by one of the worst floods Estes Park has ever seen. Shay and Logan join the rescue effort, but as the water rages and danger rises, so does the attraction between them.

When disaster tips the balance between duty and desire, and secrets float to the surface, can they risk their hearts as easily as they’ve risked their lives?


LATE NIGHT KISSES by Whitney G.

The Official Recipe for Nathan Benson:

2 cups cockiness
1 mouth that’s far sexier when it’s shut
1 huge ego that can’t fit in the damn mixer
1 BIG, HARD co—Well, you get the picture…

As a pastry chef, I can tell exactly what a man is made of the moment he walks through my shop’s frosted glass doors.

So, the moment Nathan Benson showed up over half an hour late to our blind date (with no explanation), caught the gaze of every woman in the diner with his panty-melting smile, and said, “I personally don’t think we should waste any more of our time sitting here talking,” after only five minutes of conversation, I knew he was one of the rudest concoctions ever created.
I also knew there was no way in hell I was going to see him again.

Or, so I thought.

Days after I abandoned him on our first date, he tracked me down with one hell of a way to get me to agree to a second one. (And a third, and a fourth.) I swear if it weren’t for the fact that I was being blackmailed by the sexiest man I’ve ever met, I would’ve reported him to the authorities a long time ago.

Then again, holding out for a few late night kisses (and maybe a bit more) from his mouth of perfection may not be a complete recipe for disaster after all…

**This is a steamy, contemporary romance novella.**

Review: Lethal Balance by Cherise Sinclair

LETHAL BALANCE
Series: Sons of the Survivalist #2
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Author:
Cherise Sinclair
Release Date:
November 26, 2019

His name means hunter.

Once the best assassin in black ops, Cazador is now the best at saving lives. His path has changed from seeking bloody vengeance to running a health clinic in Rescue, Alaska.

He will never again risk loving someone he can’t protect.

His mother and sister were murdered in front of him, his fiancée slaughtered in a war zone. Despite his popularity with women, he’s determined to remain unattached. His heart can bear no more loss.

Unfortunately, the universe isn’t listening.

First, his brother hires JJ, a fiery-haired, tough cop who lives on the edge of danger and has the biggest heart of anyone he knows. And then, his disreputable past returns in the shape of an adorable, foul-mouthed nine-year-old daughter. Now he has two loved ones to protect. An impossible task, because…

Life is dangerous. Especially in Alaska.

AMAZON

She needed to remember to keep her distance from Cazador, mentally and physically and every other way.

It doesn’t matter what genre it is, there’s one constant when it comes to Cherise Sinclair books: the woman can WRITE. Whether it’s writing tortured heroes with a heart of gold, or immeasurably strong heroines that are fully capable of fighting their own battles, Cherise just delivers each and every single time. This is a very different series from what I’m used to of hers. It’s a character driven contemporary with a splash of suspense and I’ve been in love with it since book one.

Lethal Balance brings the story of the second most tortured foster brother; Cazador. (I’m already dying for the most tortured, Hawk, to get his book. But I digress) Cazador became an orphan when he watched his beloved mother and sister get killed in front of his eyes when he was just a young boy. Later rescued from the system by an ex military survivalist, Caz grew up hard, but not without love. His foster siblings and father became the only family he needs. He’s refused to put his heart on the line for someone as vulnerable as a woman that he may not be able to protect. The lesson was further driven home when he lost his fiance in a war zone. Now he’s developed a rep in their small town as the love them and leave them type, but still women flock to him.

JJ has only ever wanted one thing; to be a cop. But when chauvinism in her police unit along with the egging on from her spiteful ex leave her questioning her safety while on duty, she has no other alternative but to turn to the small town in Alaska. Being hired on the police staff by Gabe, she soon discovers that not all men in power look down at women. She begins to see a life for herself in a place she last expected to find it in along with a man that she knows she needs to stay away from in order to shield her heart.

I love the fine balance of poignant and sensual that Sinclair creates in this story. Caz’s discovery of having a daughter melted my heart. I loved watching this rough and lethal man melt for his little girl and the way that he fought for her. I loved watching him fall slowly but surely for JJ. I loved the tie that binds the three of them together. And I absolutely loved watching their relationship blossom into something much more. The little girl was the perfect secondary character and I adored the parts we get in her POV. It broke and melted my heart all in one breath.

An emotional, heartwarming and sensual read that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to finish. I’m already itching for the next installment!

Review: The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard

THE BEAST OF BESWICK
Genre:
Historical Romance
Author:
Amalie Howard
Release Date:
November 26, 2019

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare meets Taming of the Shrew in the start to a new Regency series from award-winning author Amalie Howard.

Lord Nathaniel Harte, the disagreeable Duke of Beswick, spends his days smashing porcelain, antagonizing his servants, and snarling at anyone who gets too close. With a ruined face like his, it’s hard to like much about the world. Especially smart-mouthed harpies―with lips better suited to kissing than speaking―who brave his castle with indecent proposals.

But Lady Astrid Everleigh will stop at nothing to see her younger sister safe from a notorious scoundrel, even if it means offering herself up on a silver platter to the forbidding Beast of Beswick himself. And by offer, she means what no highborn lady of sound and sensible mind would ever dream of―a tender of marriage with her as his bride.

AMAZON

Thane had never begged for a single thing in his life, but he’d drop to his knees for her in a heartbeat.

I usually hate when a blurb makes a comparison to another book that I adored. Because more often than not, it sets an entirely unrealistic expectation for the book that it never lives up for. But when it says that this is The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare meets Taming of the Shrew, it’s right on point. It’s like a historical Beauty And The Beast meets Duchess Deal if I were to describe it.

Now look, if you’re a die hard historical romance fan, I’ll warn you that this isn’t quite accurate as a true regency. It’s more of a modern spin on it, if I’m being honest. I didn’t mind this in the least, because the story had me so enraptured, I couldn’t be bothered to care. I will also say that if you’re a contemporary fan that wants to dip their toe in the historical romance pool, I can’t think of a more perfect book to start with.

Lady Astrid Everleigh is desperate to get out from her greedy uncle and aunt’s thumbs when she learns that they have agreed to a marriage of her younger sister to a man that was responsible for her public ruin. She’ll do anything to save her sister from the fate of being married to man with no scruples, even if it means that she’ll promise herself to a man far more fearsome. Lord Nathaniel Harte is the answer to all her troubles, if only he’d be more agreeable.

Thane isn’t known as the Beast of Beswick for no reason. He returns from the war horribly scarred, and with the disposition to match. He’s angry, grumpy, and a complete recluse. He just can’t fathom how a beauty like Astrid could truly want someone like him. There’s something about her that stokes his temper and fires his blood. She’s infuriating and beautiful, and it doesn’t take long for him to agree to a marriage in order to help. But the passion between them is no fake thing…

I don’t know who I loved more in this story, Thane or Astrid. Both of these characters were so perfect in their own way. Astrid with her sharp wit and even sharper tongue. Thane with his grumpy demeanor and underlying layer of vulnerability. Then you add in the electric secondary characters, and I was absolutely hooked. This was such a fun and sexy read that hit the spot for me just right. I’m a new fan of Amalie Howard, and will happily read any of her future books.

New & Upcoming Releases: November 24-30

New and upcoming releases coming at ya this week!


AVAILABLE NOW


SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY by Emma Scott

“A romance novel meant for the masses. For all humans, for all readers, for all love.”–Nicky F. Grant, award-winning author of Behind the Masks

EVERYONE needs to read this book! Riveting, electric, and poignant. Emma does not waste her words. Every sentence, every line of this story was magic.–Kate Stewart USA Today Bestselling Author

How long would you wait for love?

Max Kaufman was kicked out of his home as a teen and his life has been an uphill battle ever since. From addiction and living on the streets, to recovery and putting himself through nursing school, he’s spent the last ten years rebuilding his shattered sense of self. Now he’s taken a job as a private caretaker to Edward Marsh III, the president and CEO of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Max soon learns Marsh’s multi-billion-dollar empire is a gold and diamond-encrusted web of secrets and lies.

The longer Max works and lives with the Marsh family, the tighter the secrets tangle around him. And his heart—that he’s worked so hard to protect—falls straight into the hands of the distant, cold, and beautiful son of a dynasty…

Silas Marsh is set to inherit the family fortune, but his father is determined his heir be the “perfect” son. Before Silas can take over the company and end its shady business practices, he must prove himself worthy…and deny his true nature.

Silas must choose: stand up to his father by being true to himself and his undeniable feelings for Max. Or pretend to be someone he is not in order to inherit everything. Even if it means sacrificing a chance at happiness and real love.


EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH LISA by Lucy Eden

When I first noticed Lisa Betancourt, she threatened me with a baseball bat.

To be fair, I deserved it.

But none of that mattered when I found out I had a baby brother—a brother who is now left to my care. Too bad I don’t know the first thing about parenting. If I have any hope of not ruining this poor kid’s life, I need Lisa’s help. She quickly becomes my salvation, my heart. And even though our timing is all wrong, I can’t help but wonder how I can convince her to stay with me—with us—forever.

Cole Simmons is just my insensitive jerk of a neighbor.

Or, that’s all he used to be.

Now he’s in completely over his head, taking care of an adorable child that I’m getting way too attached to way too fast. And the scary part? I’m starting to get attached to Cole, too. After my nasty divorce, I was sure I’d never risk falling in love again—but Cole has me questioning my resolve at every turn. Frankly, I’m starting to wonder if Cole isn’t the only one who is in completely over his head.

Neither of them was looking for love or a ready-made family. But what will they do when they realize they’ve stumbled head-long into both?

This full-length novel can be read as a standalone but is the third book in the Everything’s Better series. You’ll see friends from Everything’s Better with You, Everything’s Better with Kimberly & Cherishing the Goddess. Cole & Lisa’s love story is chock full of Enemies to Lovers, Single Parent, Secret Baby (or two), Nanny (no power imbalance) & Fake Engagement goodness and is safe with NO cheating.


WANNABE HEIR by Kim Karr


CROWN CHASER, KINGMAKER, POSER, PRETENDER, WANNABE HEIR

They had it all wrong.

I never wanted to rule the world; all I wanted was her.
But they couldn’t see past my bad reputation, so they forced us apart.

That was ten years ago, and I’ve grown up.
I’m still a rebel.
I’m still reckless.
But I’m also ruthless.
Determined.
And I have even bigger balls.

So, when I find out she’s in trouble, I have to help her.
It doesn’t matter that she hates me.
She’ll get over it.

Fighting for her is what I was born to do.

I never wanted to rule until she needed me to, and this time I won’t stop until I get what I want.
If they think I will…
They have it all wrong. 


BOSSY BRIT by Kendall Ryan

This is a standalone novella with lots of steam and a guaranteed HEA. If you like bossy British guys with big hearts…one click this one today!

Sexy billionaire Liam Bennett is cocky, dangerously handsome, and more importantly, my new boss. If only my ovaries didn’t flutter when he was near—yeah, that’d be super helpful.

When our long hours lead to a dare—and an X-rated encounter—I never expected it to be the hottest sex of my life.

It’d also be super helpful if Liam didn’t know it and taunt me about it every chance he got. Unable to deny our attraction any longer, our work relationship brings a whole new meaning to the term inbox.

But being with him comes with some baggage—like an ex-wife and three kids kind of baggage. And a lawyer who wants half of his company.

Unsure that I’m cut out for this new level of complicated, my traitorous ovaries beg me to try.

Heaven help us all.


THE CHOICE by Stella Gray

On the day my husband and I committed to each other, I didn’t wear a white dress.

We didn’t exchange rings.

There was no audience or minister to witness our union.

Only the two of us.

We swore to put each other first, to take on the evils our families had perpetuated together. Side by side.

But that was before the past returned to haunt us.

Now everything has changed.

Stefan can’t have both his past and my future.

I can’t ask him to choose.

And neither of us can do what has to be done without the other. It’s an impossible choice, but we’ve run out of time.

Book three in the Arranged Trilogy.


THE MIGHTY ANCHOR by Carrie Aarons

A stoic force to be reckoned with.
The steady rock on which England is destined to lean.
Everyone’s reliable mate, at the ready to defend when called upon.

To the world, Vance Morley is the next great keeper for the Rogue Football Club, biding his time at the academy. The definition of tall, dark and handsome, his quiet confidence and mysterious persona only draw the public in. He’s their mighty anchor, both on and off the pitch.

But when it comes to the one woman he claims to love, he conveniently vanishes at the exact moment I need him. The first time I saw Vance, he was a ten-year-old standing on his lawn across the street. The first time he kissed me, we were sixteen and sitting on the very shores we grew up on. We crashed into each other like waves in a storm, fated to destroy everything in our paths. Including each other.

The first time Vance saw our son, by serendipitous accident, my little boy had already lived the first year of his life. And instantly, the man who chose football over me wants to have it all. There is no way I can trust his declarations of love and fatherhood, especially when I’m set to marry another man.

We’re a new game, one to occupy him until the world stage beckons. But the more I try to tell myself he’s not the one, the more Vance’s efforts to win us back increase.

How can I guard my heart against seeing my son with his father?
Can Vance really sacrifice his dreams in the name of love and family?
Is there a way that everyone else’s safe harbor can finally become mine too?


THE IMPERFECT GUY by Leddy Harper

I never set out to be famous. It sort of fell into my lap.

Just like Finn.

He was exactly what I needed in an assistant, and the exact opposite of everything I looked for in a guy, which made hiring him an easy decision.

It was perfect.

Then it wasn’t.

One by one, I started to fall for all of Finn’s imperfections, leaving me to question…

Was I simply looking for all the wrong things in a man?

 

Or was Finn perfect because he was imperfect?


RELEASING NOVEMBER 26


WHERE WINTER FIND YOU by JR Ward

#1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward is heating things up this winter with a holiday novel featuring some of her most iconic Black Dagger Brothers.

When Trez lost his beloved to a tragic death (The Shadows, Black Dagger Brotherhood #13), his soul was crushed and his destiny seemed relegated to suffering. But when he meets a mysterious female, he becomes convinced his true love has been reincarnated. Is he right? Or has his grief created a disastrous delusion?

Therese has come to Caldwell to escape a rift with her bloodline. The revelation that she was adopted and not born into her family shakes the foundations of her identity, and she is determined to make it on her own. Her attraction to Trez is not what she’s looking for, except the sexy Shadow proves to be undeniable.

Has fate provided a grieving widower with a second chance…or is Trez too blinded by the past to see the present for what it really is? In this sensual, arresting book full of the themes of redemption and self-discovery, two lost souls find themselves at a crossroads where the heart is the only compass that can be trusted…but that may require a courage that neither of them possesses.


WEEKEND FLING by Stacey Lynn

It’s just supposed to be a weekend fling. . . . “Stacey Lynn always knows how to perfectly balance sexy and sweet.”—New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne

Fresh out of a long-term relationship, Willow Parks is working two jobs and caring for her mother, whose husband left her with nothing but a pile of bills. That’s why Willow made a vow: no men until she figures out her own life.

But while she may not need a man, she could use a break. And a weekend away at a California beach to clear her head? That’s appealing. Even if the offer comes from Trey Collins, the irresistible tech-mogul millionaire who visits her coffee shop every morning like clockwork—and needs a date for his best friend’s wedding. With an adorable, occasional stutter, he refuses to take no for an answer.

Once the weekend begins, Trey is intent on proving how good they can be together. Willow’s even feeling tempted to break her vow—until reality rudely interrupts her well-deserved getaway. There’s no way she and Trey have a future, not with the colossal amount of baggage Willow has to offer.

But Trey is used to getting what he wants. He just has his work cut out for him convincing her that they want the same thing.


COMPLETE BALLS by Andie M. Long

OUT FOR ***ONE WEEK ONLY***
don’t miss out.

This limited edition collection of all eight ‘Balls’ stories will entertain and delight.

Meet Camille, Dylan, and the gang as they find love, laughter and their happy ever after. With stories of enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, surprise pregnancy, and second chance romance, there’s something for all.

Grab your balls today!

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Includes:
Balls
Snow Balls
New Balls Please
Balls Fore
Jingle Balls
Curve Balls
Birthing Balls
Balls Up


NIGHT’S RECKONING by Elizabeth Hunter

Pulse-driving paranormal mystery from USA Today Bestseller, Elizabeth Hunter. Darkness comes for everyone, and some fates are inescapable.

For over a thousand years, the legendary sword Laylat al Hisab–the Night’s Reckoning–has been lost in the waters of the East China Sea. Forged as a peace offering between two ancient vampires, the sword has eluded treasure hunters, human and immortal alike.

But in time, even the deep gives up its secrets.

When Tenzin’s sire hears about the ninth century shipwreck found off the coast of southern China, Zhang Guo realizes he’ll need the help of an upstart pirate from Shanghai to retrieve it. And since that pirate has no desire to be in the middle of an ancient war, Cheng calls the only allies who might be able to help him avoid it.

Unfortunately, Tenzin is on one side of the globe and Ben is on the other.

Tenzin knows she’ll need Ben’s keen mind and political skills to complete the job. She also knows gaining Ben’s cooperation won’t be an easy task. She’ll have to drag him back into the darkness he’s been avoiding. 
Whether Ben knows it or not, his fate is balanced on the edge of a thousand-year-old blade, and one stumble could break everything Tenzin has worked toward.

Night’s Reckoning is the third novel in the Elemental Legacy series, a paranormal mystery by Elizabeth Hunter, USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Mysteries.


ONE TIMER by Toni Aleo

You’ve known Harper Allen and Jakob Titov since you met them in Taking Shots. You know their story already, right? Ha! You only think you do. In One-Timer, they’ll tell it for themselves.

Harper has been hurt so many times, and she has no interest in anything more than a one-time thing, but Jakob Titov has other ideas.

He is looking for his forever. He has his sights set on a girl who is so good at blocking his attempts, she could be a star goalie in the NHL. Jakob is persistent, though, and he knows what he wants: Harper—forever. together, he knows they’ll make one hell of a team.

The last twenty years have been even better than they could have dreamed. But when their daughter comes home, informing them she’s giving up everything for a boy, they know it’s past time to tell the truth about the shutout they scored all those years ago to get where they are.

It wasn’t easy. But sometimes, that one-time thing leads to a fairy-tale kind of ending.


A DREW + FABLE CHRISTMAS by Monica Murphy

It’s Christmas time at the Callahan household and Drew is trying his best to find a little alone time with his wife, Fable.

Doesn’t help that they have two little ones who demand all their mom’s attention, plus they have guests…

Fable’s brother Owen is staying for Christmas along with his girlfriend, Chelsea.

Nerves are eating Owen alive as he prepares to ask the woman he loves the most important question of his life.

Will she say yes?

You’ll find out all the answers in A DREW + FABLE CHRISTMAS! Plus read the first FIVE chapters from my next book, featuring Autumn Callahan all grown up! CLOSE TO ME is coming February 11, 2020!


A COWBOY LIKE YOU by Donna Grant

In the Heart of Texas, a heartthrob cowboy may get his second chance at love…

Danny Oldman, the handsome Lone Star sheriff, is still single. He tells himself, and anyone who asks, that he is married to his job—and what matters most is keeping the people of his beloved Texas hometown safe. The truth? Danny still hasn’t gotten over his high school crush. She moved away after graduation and took Danny’s heart with her.

Skylar Long never thought she would have to flee Houston and return home—where it all began for her. But that’s what happened after the man of her dreams turned out to be an actual nightmare. Now, Skylar is desperate to escape her obsessive boyfriend. Nothing shocks her more than seeing Danny again and realizing that their long-ago attraction is more powerful than ever. But can she and Danny find a way to fight against Skylar’s wealthy, powerful ex who is dead set on tearing them apart?


MISADVENTURES WITH A TIME TRAVELER by Angel Payne

Workaholic Allie Fine isn’t thrilled about a surprise birthday trip to the French countryside, where there’s nothing to do but drink wine and tour old castles. But boredom takes a hike when a sexy period actor shows up to be her special between-the-sheets gift.

Maximillian De Leon, the towering god with eyes of gold and pecs of steel, is the most incredible lover she’s ever had. But Allie wakes with confusion when her French lover tells her he’s actually Prince Maximillian, and he hasn’t seen the light of day since 1789.

Crazy or not, Max De Leon is the hottest man Allie’s ever met—and the perfect piece on her arm to impress the corporate brass and take her career to the next level. So what if he keeps claiming he has to marry her to break a centuries-old curse in order to stay alive. He’ll get over that soon enough…right?

*****
Misadventures is a romantic series of spicy standalone novels, each written or co-written by some of the best names in romance. The stories are scandalous, refreshing, and, of course, incredibly sexy. They’re the perfect bedside read, a ‘quick blush’ for the reader who loves a page-turning romance.


UNSPOKEN by Kelly Rimmer

Sometimes it’s what you don’t say that can change everything…

Isabel Winton had planned to spend the last few days of her marriage at her vacation home, intending to reflect, regroup…or maybe just do some solitary sulking. Instead, she collides with her almost ex, Paul, who has the same idea. Too stubborn to leave, Isabel figures this is a chance for them to get some closure. But she’s astonished to see that months apart have transformed her emotionally aloof husband into “Paul 2.0,” more open than ever before.

Paul was blindsided when Isabel left him. He had no idea she felt he was more committed to his career than to their marriage. With his new, hard-won self-awareness, he blames himself for letting her walk away. But winning her back will take more than simple words. It’ll mean finding the courage to grow, to trust, and grab a second chance at life by each other’s sides.


LETHAL REDEMPTION by April Hunt

April Hunt “will keep you on the edge of your seat” (Lori Foster, New York Timesbestselling author) in this heart-pounding new romantic suspense.
Top FBI profiler Grace Steele was just a girl when she escaped the Order of the New Dawn, and she’s spent the last seventeen years trying to forget her time there. But when private security firm Steele Ops needs her help extracting a young woman from the secretive cult’s clutches, she’s all in. Even though the mission requires posing as the fiancée of the only man who’s ever broken her heart.

It’s been nine years since Cade Wright turned his back on his childhood sweetheart, and he’s never stopped regretting it. Now that they’re forced to work together, he knows this is his opportunity to show Grace how much he’s changed. But the deeper they get pulled into New Dawn, the clearer it becomes that the demons still haunting Grace are very real, and Cade will have to risk everything to keep her safe . . . including his own life.

Includes the bonus novel Extreme Honor by Piper J. Drake!


THE RISE OF MAGICKS by Nora Roberts

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Year One and Of Blood and Boneconcludes her stunning new trilogy praised as “A match for end-of-the-world classics like Stephen King’s The Stand.”

After the sickness known as the Doom destroyed civilization, magick has become commonplace, and Fallon Swift has spent her young years learning its ways. Fallon cannot live in peace until she frees those who have been preyed upon by the government or the fanatical Purity Warriors, endlessly hunted or locked up in laboratories, brutalized for years on end. She is determined to save even those who have been complicit with this evil out of fear or weakness—if, indeed, they can be saved.

Strengthened by the bond she shares with her fellow warrior, Duncan, Fallon has already succeeded in rescuing countless shifters and elves and ordinary humans. Now she must help them heal—and rediscover the light and faith within themselves. For although from the time of her birth, she has been The One, she is still only one. And as she faces down an old nemesis, sets her sights on the enemy’s stronghold, and pursues her destiny—to finally restore the mystical shield that once protected them all—she will need an army behind her…


LETHAL BALANCE by Cherise Sinclair

His name means hunter.

Once the best assassin in black ops, Cazador is now the best at saving lives.  His path has changed from seeking bloody vengeance to running a health clinic in Rescue, Alaska.

He will never again risk loving someone he can’t protect.

His mother and sister were murdered in front of him, his fiancée slaughtered in a war zone.  Despite his popularity with women, he’s determined to remain unattached. His heart can bear no more loss.

Unfortunately, the universe isn’t listening.

First, his brother hires JJ, a fiery-haired, tough cop who lives on the edge of danger and has the biggest heart of anyone he knows.  And then, his disreputable past returns in the shape of an adorable, foul-mouthed nine-year-old daughter.  Now he has two loved ones to protect. An impossible task, because…

Life is dangerous. Especially in Alaska.


Four boys that grew up hard and were finally rescued by a tough as nails, ex-military survivalist–and grew up into incredibly fascinating, yet broken in their own way men? Yes, please, and thank you!
  ~ Dirty Girl Romance


MY FAKE RAKE by Eva Leigh

In the first book in Eva Leigh’s new Union of the Rakes series, a bluestocking enlists a faux suitor to help her land an ideal husband only to be blindsided by real desire…

Lady Grace Wyatt is content as a wallflower, focusing on scientific pursuits rather than the complications of society matches. But when a handsome, celebrated naturalist returns from abroad, Grace wishes, for once, to be noticed. Her solution: to “build” the perfect man, who will court her publicly and help her catch his eye. Grace’s colleague, anthropologist Sebastian Holloway, is just the blank slate she requires.

To further his own research on English society, Sebastian agrees to let Grace transform him from a bespectacled, bookish academic into a dashing—albeit fake—rake. Between secret lessons on how to be a rogue and exaggerated public flirtations, Grace’s feelings for Sebastian grow from friendship into undeniable, inconvenient, real attraction. If only she hadn’t asked him to help her marry someone else…

Sebastian is in love with brilliant, beautiful Grace, but their bargain is complete, and she desires another. Yet when he’s faced with losing her forever, Sebastian will do whatever it takes to tell her the truth, even if it means risking his own future—and his heart.


BROKEN RECORD by K.A. Linde

A new angsty second chance romance stand alone in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s steamy Record series

Savannah Maxwell’s life is perfect.

She landed her dream job, is moving to D.C. after graduation, and finally has plans to live with her long-term boyfriend, Easton. Everything is exactly how it should be.

Until the boy next door walks back into her life.

Now, Lucas Atwood is offering her everything she’s ever wanted.

The life she only dreamed of.

 

How can she choose between the easy love that she thinks she deserves and a second chance with the boy who broke her heart?


THE BEAST OF BESWICK by Amalie Howard

Beauty and the Beast meets Taming of the Shrew in this laugh-out-loud and heartfelt Regency romance.

Lord Nathaniel Harte, the disagreeable Duke of Beswick, spends his days smashing porcelain, antagonizing his servants, and snarling at anyone who gets too close. With a ruined face like his, it’s hard to like much about the world. Especially smart-mouthed harpies—with lips better suited to kissing than speaking—who brave his castle with indecent proposals.

But Lady Astrid Everleigh will stop at nothing to see her younger sister safe from a notorious scoundrel, even if it means offering herself up on a silver platter to the forbidding Beast of Beswick himself. And by offer, she means what no highborn lady of sound and sensible mind would ever dream of—a tender of marriage with her as his bride.


THAT RING by Jillian Dodd

Quarterback Danny Diamond loves to score. Touchdowns. Get those dirty thoughts out of your minds, ladies. Just because he has two Super Bowl rings, model good looks, and a well-defined athletic body doesn’t mean he’s a player off the field. Sure, he has women swooning over his messy blond hair, brilliant blue eyes, and cocky smirk, but he’s been married to his college sweetheart since he was drafted, and they have two beautiful children.
Just when he’s gearing up for what he hopes is the best season of his career, his picture-perfect wife of fifteen years completely blindsides him when she asks for a divorce.

Award-winning actress Jennifer Edwards also lives a seemingly fairy-tale celebrity life with rock star and international DJ, Troy Malone. That is, until he’s caught on video in an Amsterdam brothel, and their love becomes tabloid fodder.

Years ago, Danny and Jennifer met at a party, and their chemistry was off the charts. After a few months of being just friends, he did the right thing—cut off all contact with her to focus on his family.
It was the right decision at the time. But they’ve never forgotten each other. Or the special connection they felt. And, when Danny’s next-door neighbor offers Jennifer a place to hide out from the paparazzi, they meet … again.

Will Jennifer and Danny find true love after getting sacked, or are they destined to watch from the sideline forever?


RELEASING NOVEMBER 27


NEFARIOUS BOYS by Leia Thorne

My name is Sawyer Van Doren, and I’m hijacking this story. See, nice girls like Remi always win in the end. They get the guy, the friends, the crown, you name it–but it’s a total cliché, and aren’t you sick of clichés?

Why can’t the bad girl get her happily ever after, too?

It’s true I helped set Remi up to be destroyed. Toying with nice girls has always gotten my rocks off, but here’s a secret: Remi isn’t that nice. She has a dark side, and Gage just might be in danger from her.

How’s that for irony?

Here’s another secret: During the process of breaking down Remi, I’ve changed, I’ve grown–I’ve learned something about myself… I just might have a soft spot for the girl. And I just might be a little nice myself. I’ve fallen for a boy from the wrong side of the tracks (or financial territory), and I’m torn over my feelings for him and my loyalty to Gage Astor.

I guess the choice will depend on the ending. How will Gage and I reconcile what we’ve destroyed? How will a minor secret society amid an elite academy take on a major player in one of the most powerful societies in the world? Will the Broken Saints remain broken…or will we find a way to repair the damage?

I have two words for you: stay tuned. You haven’t seen anything yet.


RELEASING NOVEMBER 28


OPHELIA by Tara Brown

“You think you know his story.
Let me tell you mine.”

For generations, the Agards have served the “kings” of New Denmark, a city controlled by the Jacobi crime family.
Ophelia Agard has spent her life dreaming of being free of it all, and now at nineteen, that dream has the chance to become a reality.
Until her fate is forcibly tied to the young prince of New Denmark, who is destined to be king.
Ophelia is pushed into the den of temptation, put there by her own mother, a woman desperate to see her family advance.
But Ophelia’s heart is won over by the one person she is meant to deceive.

Prince Lucas Hamlet Jacobi favors freedom over family and has no interest in taking over the kingdom.
His father’s untimely death has all eyes on him, but he finds himself in the middle of a grand conspiracy.
And standing next to him is none other than the one girl he promised he would never love.
Forbidden romance whirls in the air amidst war and a plot to take over the city.

But this is not a love story.
This is a tragedy.
This is a tale of ghosts.

A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet


THE WAITING SERIES by Ginger Scott

The boy.

His game.

Her whole entire heart.

Who says high school sweethearts can’t be forever?

The Waiting Series follows high school sweethearts Reed Johnson and Nolan Lennox through football, life, love and everything messy that goes along with it.

 

 

The series begins with Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long. Book 3, The Hail Mary, is for more mature readers and deals with adult themes.


SCANDAL QUEEN by Anna Bloom

I never meant to fall for a prince… now nothing can be the same again.

It wasn’t meant to be this way… My life was safe and protected; perfectly controlled.

Then he came and smashed everything I knew, everything I thought I knew, into pieces.

He broke my heart with his lies and deception, but now he’s under my skin and I can’t go back to the life I once had. All roads lead to him, the king of my heart, the man I would change everything for.

But with royalty comes obligation and expectation. Everyone wants a piece of him.

Inside the palace walls, he swears to keep us safe, yet I know the promise isn’t his to make.

Can he be the person his country needs while also loving us? Can I be the woman who stands proud by his side, or will I always be the daughter of a drug addict who has no place in the higher realms of society?

He says we can make it work, that we can fight tradition and give his people something new.

I wonder what price we will pay to be free to live our dream.


RELEASING NOVEMBER 29


EDGE OF DARKNESS by Lara Adrian

In the newest Hunter Legacy paranormal romance from New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian, Breed vampire and former assassin Knox is a solitary man, closed off to the pain of love—and loss.

 

 

He deals in death and dark justice, expecting nothing in return . . . until a desperate beauty enlists his lethal assistance and tempts not only his hunger, but his wounded heart as well.

 

While this novel is Book 3 in the Hunter Legacy series, each story in this Midnight Breed spin-off series can be read as a complete standalone with HEA and no cliffhangers.


RELEASING NOVEMBER 30


THE GUY ON THE LEFT by Kate Stewart – buy link TBA

It started with a lie. A night of blurred lines between a teacher and a student.

I wasn’t her student, yet it was the single most defining night of my life.

I’ve never been the man she thinks I am.

Most people have no idea about the life I’ve lived or the words that ring true when it comes to me—still waters run deep.

But you’d be hard-pressed to find a coed on the TGU campus who knows otherwise…because I’ve never corrected them.

The clock is ticking down, it’s Fourth and Inches with the ball inside the one-yard line and the focus is on me, The Guy on the Left. I’ve never felt like a football god, inside I’m…just Troy.

It’s time to set the record straight.

For my son, I‘ll find the strength.

In her eyes, I’m determined to gain redemption.

I will have them both, even if I have to take my eye off the ball.

Review: The Fake by Rebecca Jenshak

THE FAKE
Series:
Smart Jocks #4
Genre:
New Adult, Sports Romance
Author:
Rebecca Jenshak
Release Date:
November 21, 2019

I’ve made a lot of dumb mistakes but none dumber than losing her.

Senior year. I should be partying and living it up with my friends before graduation, but one more mistake and I’m off the team.

Enter Chloe.

She comes into my life at a low point, but she becomes the bright spot I reach for every day.

She’s the kind of girl who makes a guy want to be a better man.

And for a while, I even start to believe I’ve changed enough to deserve her.

I’ve got my eye on the future, and I’m letting my past stay where it belongs.

But the thing about the past… it always comes back to bite you when you least expect it.

AMAZON

Catch up on the Smart Jocks series!

Book 1 – The Assist

AMAZON

Book 2 – The Fadeaway

AMAZON

Book 3 – The Tip-Off

AMAZON

I feel like we’re finally seeing each other without any pretenses or expectations, and us like this—as a real couple—we’re even better than I ever imagined when we’d been faking.


What is it about Rebecca Jenshak’s books that just make me giddily happy every time I finish one? She has this knack for writing completely addictive sport New Adult romance that I fall head over ovaries for and The Fake was no exception! I simply ADORED Nathan and Chloe’s story.

I’ve been a huge fan of this series since discovering it early this year, and it seems like it only keeps getting better with each book. Because I think The Fake was easily my favorite of the Smart Jocks. There’s just something so incredibly endearing about Nathan. He may have the looks and the talent on the outside, but he’s struggling to hold his family together and keep them afloat after the passing of his father. His desperate need for money leads him to a terrible decision that almost costs him everything. On the cusp of dealing with the repercussions, he meets Chloe, a girl dealing with her own personal demons.

Chloe is a recent transfer who’s desperate to make a name for herself on her volleyball team and gain the trust and respect of her teammates. Tarnished with her parent’s mistakes, she’s still struggling to prove her worth. Money has never been a concern for this rich Cali girl. But proving herself and stepping outside of the stain of of her parents money and privilege has been a struggle. Nathan is the perfect storm that she never saw coming. He holds the answers to what she needs. Her teammates love him and she’s desperate for her teammates acceptance. The answers? A fake relationship. Only it’s not as fake as she tries to make herself believe.

Nathan is such an incredibly sweet guy. He’s absolute perfection. I couldn’t get enough of him. He’s an endearing combination of cocky and vulnerable; sexy and sweet. His treatment of Chloe and the way that he was always there for her just warmed my heart. Chloe was wonderful in her own right. She’s strong, smart, and incredibly loyal. I loved all of the secondary characters along with past favorites that make cameos. The Fake delivered on the feels and the steam and I loved every single page of it. I’m obsessed with this series! If you haven’t read it yet, you’re seriously missing out.

The author is giving away a signed set of the Smart Jocks series (US only) and a $25 Amazon Gift Card (open international). ENTER HERE —> www.facebook.com/rebeccajenshak

Rebecca Jenshak is a self-proclaimed margarita addict, college basketball fanatic, and Hallmark channel devotee. A Midwest native transplanted to the desert, she likes being outdoors (drinking on patios) and singing (in the shower) when she isn’t writing books about hot guys and the girls who love them.

Stay up to date with all things Rebecca!

Newsletter | Website | Amazon | Bookbub | Facebook | Instagram | Join Rebecca’s Rad Romantics on FB

#DGRFave & Excerpt & Review: Outmatched by Kristen Callahan & Samantha Young

OUTMATCHED
Genre: Contemporary
Author: Kristen Callihan & Samantha Young
Release Date: November 19, 2019

What happens when a boxer finds chemistry with a geek?

Parker Brown can’t believe she needs to hire a fake boyfriend. When she landed her dream job in renewable energy, she thought she’d be entering a world at the forefront of progressive thinking. But the head boss prefers to promote employees who are “settled.” Thankfully, she’s found the perfect candidate, a fellow intellectual looking for some quick cash. What Parker gets is his protective big brother—Rhys Morgan. The tall, muscled ex-boxer with a foul mouth shows up just as her boss does, and now she’s stuck with the manipulative jerk.

Responsibility weighs heavily on Rhys. Now permanently out of the ring, he’s trying to hold together his late father’s gym and keep his younger brother, Dean, on the straight and narrow. To save Dean from himself, Rhys takes his place, ready to give this society girl a piece of his mind. Instead, he finds an opportunity. Even though they can hardly stand each other, posing as Parker’s boyfriend is a win-win deal. She gets to keep her job, and he’ll charm her star-struck boss into sponsoring his gym.

Problem is, they can barely keep their hands off each other. And what started as an easy deal isn’t so easy anymore. Because what future can a rough ex-boxer, afraid to open his heart, and a polished society geek, who has sworn off real relationships, possibly have?

They say opposites attract. These opposites are about to combust on impact.

AMAZON | KOBO | iBOOKS | B&N

AngryTink: Hey. This is Parker. Parker Brown.

My phone dinged loudly. I fumbled around my bed, finally finding the damn thing under a pillow. Wiping the sleep off my face, I rolled onto my back and read the text that had pulled me out of a pleasant sleep. I smiled. It was just so … Parker. Settling in, I answered her.

RhysThis: Don’t have to tell me who you are. Your number is programmed on my phone. What do you want?

AngryTink: Well, good morning to you too, Happy Pants.

My smile turned into an evil grin. The girl was always going to punch back and make it count.

RhysThis: That’s Mr. Happy Pants. Though, TBH, my pants aren’t too happy at the moment. Want to help me out with that?

AngryTink: Tempting. Truly. But, no.

RhysThis: RU sure? ‘Cuz Happy Pants Rhys is much more agreeable than Sad That He Had to Self-Satisfy Rhys.

AngryTink: Would you please behave?

RhysThis: I’m not the one who mentioned the emotional state of my pants.

AngryTink: ARGH!

A chuckle rumbled in my chest as my thumbs tapped out a response I knew would piss her off more.

RhysThis: Was that even English? Honestly, Ms. Brown, I thought you were educated.

She took a moment to answer. I could picture her, phone in hand, grinding her teeth.

AngryTink: You’re deliberately trying to annoy me, aren’t you?

RhysThis: You’re quick. I’ll give you that.

AngryTink: Mr. Morgan, I’m about ten seconds away from finding an alternate fake boyfriend. A goat on a rope would be a better candidate at this point.

It was cute she thought that was threatening.

RhysThis: Yeah, probably. But the goat doesn’t have a signed contract. I do, Tinker Bell.

AngryTink: ARGH@!!

RhysThis: You’re kind of cute when you talk pirate.

If we made it through this ruse with me going to prison for assault instead of murder, I’d call it a win. The guy really pushed my buttons. And I hadn’t even known I had any.

I. AM. SO. HAPPY. RIGHT. NOW.

Seriously. I don’t even know what to do with myself? What do you do when two of your favorite authors co-write a book together and not only does it live up to your RIDICULOUSLY BIG expectations but actually EXCEEDS it?!! You flail like the happy fangirl that you are and offer up an ovary on the chance that this will mark the first book in a series. What? It’s a totally normal reaction. Stop judging me. GOD.

If you love enemies to lovers and fake relationship tropes, this is your next obsession. Guys, I’m not even kidding. This book was everything. All of the things. Witty banter, humor, and all of the steam. And the characters? My god! Talk about opposites attract.

Parker Brown is a girl after my own heart. She comes from privilege but it certainly doesn’t define who she is. She’s a lot smart and with just the right amount of quirky. Desperate to make an impression on her boss’s misogynistic a-hole boss in order to secure the job of her dreams. Sounds easy right? Too bad it’s not her knowledge at work that matters, but the having a boyfriend. So what’s a girl to do? Hire one, of course!

Rhys Morgan is a retired boxer desperate to keep his gym afloat after the passing of his father. So when he learns that his brother got a job pimping himself out to some pretentious rich chick, he’s all too eager to put a kibosh on it. But when he stomps to meet her and put her in her place, he somehow ends up making an impression on her boss and offering to take his brother’s place. PLOT TWIST!!

The banter between these two was off the charts hot. SWEET BABY JEBUS! The banter was everything. Rhys and and Parker absolutely burn up the pages together. Their chemistry is incendiary. The slow building romance is packed with so much sexual tension that you feel like your fingers singe just turning the pages. The pages are full of witty banter and sizzling chemistry that I just couldn’t get enough of. Parker may have grown up privileged but she’s determined to make her own way. I just loved her. Then there’s the mouthy Boston boxer with a heart of gold. Together they set the book on fire. And that’s not even mentioning the incredible secondary characters that I’m desperately hoping will be getting their own books.

Basically, this book was freaking fantastic!! An absolute must read full of heart, humor, and steam!

About Kristen:

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

Connect with Kristen:

Facebook | Twitter | WebsiteAmazonGoodreads  

About Samantha:

Samantha Young is a New York Times and #1 International bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. She has since published over thirteen romance titles including the New York Times Bestsellers Into the Deep, Hero, and her most recent contemporary romance Play On. When writing Adult Paranormal romance she writes under the pen name S. Young.

Connect with Samantha:

FacebookWebsite | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon | Goodreads | Bookbub 

New Release & Review: Hate Crush by A. Zavarelli

HATE CRUSH
Genre: Forbidden, Erotic Romance
Author: A. Zavarelli
Release Date: November 21, 2019


They call him the devil.

When I crash-landed into him on my first day at Loyola Academy, I was sure that couldn’t be true.

He was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen in real life.

Little did I know he was also the cruelest.

I went from starstruck to stunned the moment his cynical eyes cut through me.

I can’t tell you what it was that made him want to punish me. But from that day forward the brooding recluse of a man made it his goal to torment me.

I want to loathe him, and some days, I do.

But good or bad, nobody’s attention has ever tasted so sweet.

What do you do when you have a hate crush on your bully?

Worse yet, what do you do when he’s also your teacher?

AMAZON


There’s something about Stella that makes me believe she will always go the extra mile to seek approval from those with authority. I can see it every time she looks at me. And before the end of the hour, I’ve made up my mind. In the past, I picked easy, obvious targets for my projects. Without fail, they failed me. They couldn’t withstand the expectations of their peers and their family and the machine that is Loyola Academy.

But Stella won’t fail. I feel it deep in my gut. A spark of hope that I haven’t had with any of the others. A want I haven’t experienced since my own college days. I will push her harder than I’ve pushed anyone else before her, and she will cling to hold onto herself in the face of any storm I might bring her way. I will open her eyes to the realities of this world. And in the end, she will despise me for my ruthlessness, but she will be grateful.

Stella LeClaire, welcome to my final project.

I want to eat her alive and right now, she can sense that. But I’ll never admit it. I’ll never admit that she gets to me. I just need her to know that she’s mine toy with for as long as I want, and that’s all there is to be said about it.

I love me some A. Zavarelli. The woman knows how to right books that just hit the spot for me each and every single time. There’s something about her writing that’s like catnip for me. I don’t even bother to read the blurbs to her books, they’re an auto add for me. But when I read the blurb for this one, I just about had a heart attack in my desperate need to get my hands on it. Forbidden, student/teacher romance with a splash of enemies to lovers and Zavarelli’s signature dark grit? GOD YES. Sign me up!

I was so conflicted with my rating on this one, I sat on it a full two days trying to make up my mind. On the one hand, I binge read it. Like completely incapable of putting it down sort of binge read it. On the other hand, there were elements and parts that just didn’t quite do it for me. Did I enjoy it? Hell, yes!!! Was it perfect for me? Not quite. Would I recommend it? Totally!

So what worked for me? The set up. GAH! Delicious. Sebastian is a teacher in a prestigious boarding school. His reputation for being a tough a-hole on his students is almost as big as the one for his looks. He’s the a-hole of Loyola Academy and he has no problems with that. Stella is the sweet and innocent fly that’s about to step into the spider’s web, thought she’s not quite as innocent as she looks. A product of two barely functioning parents, she just got transferred to the prestigious school because that’s what her parents decided was best to her. With a functioning drunk of a mother and a father barely seeing day light in order to keep them in the moneyed life style her mother has become accustomed to, Stella is surprisingly functional. But when she gets on the radar of the ruthless teacher and batting off the vicious verbal attacks from her fellow students, she can’t help but show a vulnerable underbelly. The spark between her and Sebastian is instant, but their connection is completely forbidden. While Sebastian fights it with everything he’s got in his a-hole artillery, Stella is determined to break his iron control.

Admittedly, the characters felt a little underdeveloped. I wished they were further fleshed out, because I would have been HERE FOR IT. As it was, I felt like I was getting a small snippet of who they were with a lot of the development and backstory happening off the pages. I also struggled with Stella being as passive as she was. She forgave Sebastian and everything he did so easily, I wanted to shake her at times. I wanted her to make him WORK for it. And while I love me a domineering and dominant alpha man as much as the next girl, Stella’s passiveness kinda killed the buzz for me a bit.

Don’t get me wrong, I really did enjoy this book. It wasn’t perfect, but it was still an addictive read. I just can’t help but wish it had another 100 pages to it. It was still a fun read and one I’d certainly recommend it.

A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author.

She likes all things chocolate, books that come with warnings, and putting her characters through hell. Her tales have been known to flirt with darkness and sometimes court it unabashedly altogether. Revenge themes and tortured souls are her favorites to write and this gives her an excuse to watch bizarre and twisted documentaries in her spare time.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Connect w/A. Zavarelli:
Website: https://www.azavarelli.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AZavarelli
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AZavarellibooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azavarelli/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-zavarelli
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13549895.A_Zavarelli
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2S3zrKS
Newsletter Signup: http://www.azavarelli.com/#!mailing-list/c46c

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