Thursday, June 29, 2017

COVER REVEAL: I Do(n't) by Leddy Harper

Release Date: August 10, 2017

~Synopsis~

I fell in love with Holden York when I was six years old.

Most of my youth came with spiral notebooks filled with doodles, wedding plans, and “Janelle York” looped in bubbly handwriting.

However, one night in Vegas changed everything.

I woke up to more than just a fantasy of my brother’s best friend.

Five years later, I'm standing on his doorstep confronting him about the secret he kept from me.

If you think this is the story of how we rode off into the sunset together…

You’re so wrong.

But if you think this is the story of how Holden blackmailed me into living with him...

You couldn't be more right.
Cover Designer - Wicked by Design


Leddy Harper had to use her imagination often as a child. She grew up the only girl in a house full of boys. At the age of fourteen, she decided to use that imagination and wrote her first book, and never stopped. 

She often calls writing her therapy, using it as a way to deal with issues through the eyes of her characters.

She is now a mother of three girls, leaving her husband as the only man in a house full of females. 

The decision to publish her first book was made as a way of showing her children to go after whatever it is they want to. Love what you do and do it well. Most importantly Leddy wanted to teach them what it means to overcome their fears.

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Monday, June 26, 2017

COVER REVEAL: Seducing Lola by Jessica Prince

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Publication Date: July 18th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance

~Synopsis~

I’ve had my fair share of bad relationships. I’ve dated liars, cheaters, shoe fetishists, and everything in between. Sure, these experiences would make any woman cynical when it comes to dipping her toe back into the dating pool, but I used my past for good and made a career out of helping other women avoid going down the same paths I had.

And I was damn good at it.

Until a random act of fate set my life on a course I’d been avoiding for years, and put me in the crosshairs of a man that made me feel things I swore to never feel again.

Now I’m in his sights and it seems like he’ll stop at nothing to seduce the hell out of me. He might hold my career in the palm of his hands, but if Grayson Lockhart thinks he can blackmail me into submission with his sexy voice and sexy hands and sexy everything, then he’s…probably right.

 GOODREADS

Seducing Lola front cover high res

Born and raised around Houston Texas, Jessica Prince spent most of her life complaining about the heat, humidity, and all around pain in the ass weather. It was only as an adult that she quickly realized the cost of living in Houston made up for not being able to breathe when she stepped outside. That's why God created central air, after all.

Jessica is the mother of a perfect little boy--she refuses to accept that he inherited her attitude and sarcastic nature no matter what her husband says.

In addition to being a wife and mom, she's also a wino, a coffee addict, and an avid lover of all types of books--romances still being her all time favs. Her husband likes to claim that reading is her obsession but she just says it's a passion...there's a difference. Not that she'd expect a boy to understand.

Jessica has been writing since she was a little girl, but thankfully grew out of drawing her own pictures for her stories before ever publishing her first book. Because an artist she is not.

Friday, June 23, 2017

COVER REVEAL: Bound for Life by Alexis Abbott

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Series: Bound to the Bad Boy Book 1 
Genre: Mafia Romantic Suspense 
Release Date: August 1, 2017

~Synopsis~

Bruno:

I gave up everything for her, and she never even knew it. When I saved her from the mafia, I traded my freedom for hers. I’ve never regretted it. Never looked back. I cut her out of my life to keep her safe.

I did everything I could to protect her from the retribution of the Italian Mafia, but it wasn’t enough. They’re after her again, and all that’s standing between her and the darkest fate imaginable is me.

Serena:

It’s scary the things you can close your eyes to. Even after I was rescued from men who wanted to do the worst things to me, I went on with my life. I forgot all about the threats of the mafia, about what they forced me to do, and even the man who saved me from them.

But now, my hero has returned, and just in a nick of time. Because the mafia is coming for me, and this time, I don’t know if we’re going to get out of this alive.

Bound to the Bad Boy Book 1.png

~Excerpt~

The orange afternoon sun is on my back when I bring my car to a stop about a block away from the well-to-do little store on the corner of the street. When I turn my ignition off, I lean back and just stare at it, letting out a deep breath.

How long has it been?

The light playing off the glass window panes make it impossible to see inside the shop, but the sign outside is clear as ever: Bathing Beauty. I feel a smile on my face. As many mixed memories as it stirs up in me, there’s something comforting about knowing it’s still there, unchanged as ever. Maybe even a little nicer.

All thanks to her.

I catch a glimpse of myself in the car mirror. I’ve changed so much over the years. It feels like a lifetime ago that I was just a teenager, freshly landed in America. I kept my hair cut short back then, and my face was clean-shaven. I run a hand through the long locks that hang nearly to my shoulders now. It’s grown out thick and wavy. Even I have to admit it’s unkempt, and the short, coarse black beard on my face matches.

My voice sounds different, too. I think back to the thick accent I had in those years that I was still learning English, fresh from the old country. I’m so used to it now that English almost sounds as natural as my native Italian on my tongue. I might as well be a different person.

Better that way, I think. When I look into that mirror, I’m not sure I even see myself anymore. What I do see is the face of a man who’s done terrible things. A “made man,” they call us in this country. Mafioso.

What are you really doing here, Bruno?

My mind flashes back to her face, that gorgeous face that’s kept me going all this time. A bright candle in the darkness.

That face doesn’t need to know fear ever again. It doesn’t need to know me.

So why am I here, coming to risk dragging the past back? I don’t dare turn the ignition and drive off. I’ve made my decision, and I’m a man of my word.

After all, I tell myself, I’m not here just to see her, to remind myself that she’s alive and living happily, that what I did for her was all worth it. I’m here to make sure she’s safe.

Pre-Order: iBooksstencil.facebook-post (15).jpg

Alexis Abbott is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes about bad boys protecting their girls! Pick up her books today and find yourself transported with super steamy sex, gritty suspense, and lots of romance.She also writes as Alex Abbott for her erotic thrillers and contemporary romance. She lives in beautiful St. John's, NL, Canada with her amazing husband.

~Giveaway~

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Thursday, June 22, 2017

BLOG TOUR: Scored by Marquita Valentine

 Publication Date: June 20th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance

~Synopsis~

Dallas Drake has a big salary and an even bigger…ego…and he’s not afraid to use either of them to his advantage. As infamous as he is attractive, Dallas has all the equipment necessary to bring home the win.

The first time I met him, I was in handcuffs.
The second, he saved me when I fell off a ladder.

Now? Now we’re working together to plan a charity event.

I may not be interested in what Dallas has to offer, but as the game goes on, I’m becoming more open to his passes.

Is he looking for the win, or just determined to score?
~Book Review~

4 Stars

Paige Owen, 26, is a librarian who doesn’t like or follow football even if her sister is the PR rep for a team. But once NFL pro Dallas Drake, 34, catches a glimpse, he’s determined to change her mind if he wants to win a bet and get the good girl.

“‘I asked you out because I liked the way those pink stickers looked on your tits and the fact you allowed a complete stranger to talk you into being cuffed. Seemed at odds with your blushes and conservative outfit, which meant you were…are the perfect naughty librarian for me.’”
Turns out, Dallas has a good heart and is a caring guy. I appreciated that the bet was laid out to Paige from the start, and the story didn’t fall prey to that predicable plot climax. Dallas’s downside though was that he’s a reformed manwhore. While there is thankfully no OW sex scenes or drama, the manwhore characterization has become really tired and overused in the romance market and the plentiful references to his player past grew old fast. For something that was supposed to be history, it was sure brought up a lot in the present.
“‘And if you could never mention that ever again, that would be tremendous.’”
If only you could follow your own advice Dallas. ;-)

On a positive note, Paige wasn’t into players either. She was so refreshing in the opening. This girl had brains and not just book smart brains, but the intuition to decipher when Dallas was speaking from the heart and when he was recycling lines. Heck, even I had to go back and reread what he said because Paige was just that sharp.

“‘I want to take you to bed and fuck you exactly like you want. If along the way, something more comes out of this, I’m fine with that. And if it doesn’t, then what’s the worst that could happen?’”
Paige really makes Dallas work to prove himself, his sincerely, and his interest in her. I liked their banter and the build up in the first half. They had good chemistry and their sex scenes were hot!

I did feel that the story lost some momentum in the last quarter, partly due to relationship development that stalled out, but largely due to a shift in the otherwise likable characters. Dallas became less charming and more caveman; Paige lost some of her spunk; and the purpose of the side characters was a bit murky. I kept trying to figure out where Aiden fit in, and Layton’s approach to tackling a serious potential hitch to her pending nuptials seemed immature.

Told via Paige and Dallas’s alternating first person POV, this is still an upbeat, low angst romance with a devoted hero. And you don’t have to be a fan of sports (I’m not!) to enjoy it either.


~Excerpt~

The one good piece of advice my mom gave me concerning men is that their egos are huge yet fragile and it takes the delicate, yet strong touch of a woman to handle them.
Leave it to a man I know only by reputation to drive that point home.
Dallas sits in my office, an ice pack on his lip and the back of his head. To be nice, and since it was my fault he’s in pain in the first place, I’m holding the one on his head, so he can have at least one hand free.
“Sorry,” I say for what has to be the tenth time in the past twenty minutes. “I didn’t get to explain myself before, but I wasn’t laughing at you…well, it was at you, but not your pain. Pain is not funny. When I fell out of a tree and broke my wrist at the growth plate, I laughed the whole way there because that’s the only way I could deal with the pain. Finley didn’t order to me stop either.”
Dallas glances at me, his normally warm eyes icy. “Not sure how that helps.”
“Hopefully, it lets you know that I’m not laughing all willy-nilly.”
Willy-nilly,” he mutters. “Who says willy-nilly?”
“I do, and to be honest, you’re not that soft. It actually hurt to fall on you.”
He arches a brow. “You weren’t exactly a pile of feathers.”
“Yeah… that’s not helping either.” I take the ice pack away and gently inspect the back of his head. “There’s a tiny,” he hisses, “bump here, but um, I’m sure if you go to the doctor that you’ll get fixed up in time for your next game.”
“You do realize that if I have a concussion, I can’t play this week.”
Slowly, I shake my head. “I didn’t know that.” Now I feel even worse for freaking out when I fell off the ladder. The dang thing is only three feet off the ground. I wasn’t falling to my death or into a pit of snakes.
I shiver.
Pushing away the thoughts of snakes and pits, I focus on Dallas. Although, I plan on making it up to him, I do need to say something about his sneaky ways.
“This could have been avoided altogether if you hadn’t sneaked up on me.”
His jaw works. “I spoke to let you know I was there, so I wasn’t sneaking up on you.”
This time, I’m the one arching a brow. “Next time, do you mind waiting until you’re standing on the ladder with me, or I don’t know… wait until I’m done with said ladder before scaring me to death?”
Dallas tosses the ice pack on my desk. “I guess you have a point.”
He’s agreeing with me? From my Google snooping, or Snoogling as I like to call it, everything about Dallas screams he is a cocky, confident man who has been known to argue with a referee a time or two. Then again, according to the article I read, Dallas argued with the ref over not throwing a flag for unnecessary roughness due to player being tackled after the whistle was blown. That kind of behavior, the other player’s, I mean, is considered very poor sportsmanship and worth some sort of penalization.
So maybe he was right to argue… and maybe I’m wrong to assume the worst about him. Even Finley says he’s not that bad, which for her is practically an endorsement.
But not for us to date—I’m not that stupid.
Or am I…?
“Is there any way I can make it up to you?” I ask. Yes, that is a hopeful tone in my voice. I do want to go out with him, try something new, and see what happens. Besides, it’s not like he’s going to ask me out again. That ship has sailed based on his grumpiness.
“Have drinks with me tonight at 451,” he says.
The ice pack I’m holding plops onto his head, and he grunts. “Sorry. Dang it.” I grab the pack and toss it onto my desk, where it slides precariously close to the edge. “Yes, I’d love to have drinks with you. My treat, of course, since I’m the cause of your injury and… you can send me any outstanding bills.”
“Why would I do that? You didn’t make me try to save you, and I sure as hell could have finessed my approach better.”
“Drinks only, then?”
“Appetizers, too. My treat.” His infamous grin curves his lips. “Don’t want you to think I’m trying to take advantage of you due to an empty stomach.”
So smooth. I eye him. “You might want to get your head looked at first because I’m pretty sure that alcohol and concussions don’t play nice together.”
He salutes me. “Will do.”
I fist my hands on my hips. “Did you come by here to see me, or to see the event space?”
He bites the unbruised side of his lip. “Would it bother you if I said both?”
My stomach flips at his answer. “No. I like honesty.”
“Then you’re going to love this,” he says with a serious look in his eyes that is in direct opposition of his tone, “because I need you to help me win a bet so a fellow teammate can get some mentoring.”
Intrigued, I reach across my desk and drag my office chair around. The floor is smooth and the feet have wheels, so it’s relative easy to do. Plus, I’m pretty sure Dallas is checking out my butt right now and I kind of like it.
Plopping down, I cross my legs and lean forward. “Tell me more.”
“You might not like it,” he warns.
“Do we have to kill anyone?”
His brows shoot up to his hairline. “No, but it’s kind of scary and insulting that you’d go there first.”
“Had to be asked.” I shrug.


Marquita Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Holland Springs and Boys of the South series. Since first taking the plunge in July of 2012 to self publish, Marquita Valentine has appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling Ebooks Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes&Noble. She's been called "one of the best new voices in romance" (Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews) and her books have been accused of being "a sexy, fun, and slightly addicting contemporary read" (The Book Queen). When she's not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the south with her husband, two kids, and a dog.

Monday, June 12, 2017

COVER REVEAL: Break Line by Sarah E. Green

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 30, 2017

~Synopsis~

Emery Lawson was on the path to follow her dad’s footsteps. Going pro in surfing had always been the plan. The dream.

Until it wasn’t.

Now, at nineteen, everyone thinks Emery is done surfing and, aside from two of her best friends, no one knows the truth. Emery hasn’t stopped surfing. What was once her dream is now her little secret.

But if she wants to go pro, that secret is going to have to come out.

Twenty-two-year-old Sebastian “Bash” Cleaton has worked hard to get to where he is. For eight years he’s never had a day off, never taken a vacation. He is the best in his sport for a reason. But the passion that once drove him to chase the waves is missing. And Bash—Bash is tired.

When he escapes for a recharge in a small beach town, he never expects to crash into a girl who introduces him to a new life.

Secrets, hardships, and relationships come out of this debut tale of starting over and never letting go of your dreams.


Sarah E. Green is a born and raised Florida girl who has an unhealthy obsession with the beach, Netflix, and her pit-mix, Echo. She can be found either at her laptop, working on her next novel, or by the water with her latest reads. When she’s not working or reading, she’s with family, friends, or binging Teen Wolf. She’s currently finishing up her B.A. in Creative Writing and minor in History from UCF.


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Sunday, June 11, 2017

BOOK REVIEW: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Haven't been finding a lot of romance titles that catch my eye so took a little break with this famous mystery...

3 Stars

And the killer is…

Just kidding! This is a mystery novel so this review is spoiler free.

Ten strangers are enticed to a semi-remote British island home for what appears to be a social vacation only to find there is a far more nefarious purpose behind the vague and deceptive invitations.  

Set during the 1930’s, the book is a bit of a product of its time thus depicting in places various sexist, racist, and bigoted attitudes and conventions. (Even the story’s previous titles are offensive.) None of the characters are ultimately sympathetic. They are stereotypical, under developed, and flat, though no doubt done purposely.  That being established, I won’t say it didn’t interfere with my ability to feel completely satisfied with the ending/final reveal. It also caused some difficulty holding my interest in the opening chapters and keeping the characters (or suspects) straight.

This is predominantly a plot driven novel. At a certain point, I couldn’t put it down if for nothing else than to find out who was the next victim and how it was all being played out.  Following the disturbing tone of the poem/ nursery rhythm, the suspense plot is well crafted with apt use of foreshadowing. (I must have flipped back to that poem a dozen times!) But there's a vast amount of suspension of disbelief required to accept the execution (no pun intended) of the murders in the order and fashion of the poem, which is posted in every room of the house for the victims to read, and thus avoid if they had any sense. These characters have the foresight and self-preservation qualities of a slasher film victim.  In fact, the 1986 horror satire, April Fool's Day is based on the premise. 

Contemporary readers could also easily draw comparisons and similarities to popular culture production such as the TV series Lost and the movie version of the board game Clue. Most notably, (aside from the obvious settings and premise) the tale poses certain philosophical questions like Lost but does not offer that superior level of character development, while creating an engaging who-done-it puzzle like Clue but minus the quirky, comical qualities. 

Stylistically, the story also draws on gothic fiction elements to weave its suspenseful and macabre tale.  
“There was something magical about an island—the mere word suggested fantasy. You lost touch with the world—an island was a world of its own. A world, perhaps, from which you may never return.”
Typical and often necessary with mysteries, this book is written in the 3rd person to which I’ll admit I’m not a fan of that POV. This is also the first book I’ve ever read of Agatha Christie, and since not previously familiar with her writing style, I was rather surprised by the choppy nature for such a renowned author. Too many sentences with “She said:” and “He thought:” type of dialogue and narration kept the writing far from smooth. 

The perseverance of this novel no doubt lies in the numerous other works it inspired (many of which improved upon the quality) making it a pop icon rather than a literary masterpiece.  None the less, it is an intriguing little riddle to spend a few hours with. Despite its dark nature, this mystery thriller is unlikely to inspire too much anxiety.  Might even make a make a good lazy day or relaxing beach read.

Monday, June 5, 2017

BLOG TOUR: Their Virgin Nanny by SC Daiko

Genre: Contemporary/Menage Romance
Release Date: May 24, 2017

~Synopsis~

Two super-hot daddies + one willing girl = sparks

ELERI
Working as a nanny in an exclusive London borough
for two bisexual alphas
is my dream job.
Except Gabe and Luke are so damn hot they’re making me think dirty thoughts.
I can’t have them, though… it would be totally outta line.
And they couldn’t possibly be interested in a twenty-two-year-old virgin like me.
I should give my V card to someone else, right?

GABE AND LUKE
Sweet, innocent Eleri doesn’t realize how cute she is.
Like a breath of fresh air, a ray of sunshine, and every other cliché you can think of.
She’s also sexy as f*ck, tempting as sin, and trouble with a big T.
We wanna take her, break her and make her ours.
We know it’s wrong, she’s our kids’ nanny, but it feels so freaking right.
It’s not like we’re gonna fall for her… not like she’s gonna fall for us either.

Just a bit of fun… nothing more, nothing less.
Until it isn’t…

~Book Review~
3 Stars

Gabe Aldridge and Luke Addison are a seemingly wealthy, bisexual couple in their thirties, living in London with two sons. Their full time nanny is resigning to get married, and they quickly narrow down their applicant pool to Eleri Thomas, 22.

Eleri is instantly attracted to them as they are to her, hence setting up the taboo nature of the tale as Eleri wrestles with maintaining her professionalism and the guys struggle with the ethics of her being their employee. Of course, none of them lament over this very long.
“We’d have taken her lovely pussy between us last night if she hadn’t been our virgin nanny.”
The sexual tensions and interactions between Gabe and Luke are pretty hot! It’s easy to feel the chemistry between them.
 “They’re soaping each other, their dangling cocks swinging, balls heavy, thighs thick and powerful, arms hard and bulging with muscle.”
Gabe and Luke are in a committed relationship with each other but occasionally bring women into the play for adventure. 

There’s a bit of “tell” when it comes to feelings and specifically how “perfect” Eleri is. Unfortunately, it felt like more tell than show. I didn’t feel as if they were in love with her or vice versa. It came across more like Eleri liked the attention of two men and the boost of self esteem that came with that, while the men enjoyed the fascination and added adventure of having a regular, docile female in the mix. 

While I liked Luke and Gabe who seemed better developed as characters, Eleri was difficult for me to connect with.  She made a quick jump from virgin to eager beaver risqué sex fiend. And while she was an okay nanny, there was nothing spectacular so I struggled to understand what they guys saw in her. And then the tale throws in some contrived, eye-roll worthy drama of the soap opera variety towards the end that made the women characters in the tale seem one dimensional.

Told via Luke, Gabe, and Eleri’s alternating first person POV,  I liked that the premise was one I hadn’t read before.  As a three way love story though, it fell short. Otherwise, if you are looking for an erotic ménage and don’t mind drama, give this a whirl.  

*Review Note: Changes were made to the ARC by the author after my read. This review is an edited version based on the changes indicated. It's possible the final published copy may have also addressed some of the issues above as well.

~Excerpt~
The wall-to-wall beige carpet is soft beneath my bare feet as I pad towards the queen-sized bed. I pull back the duvet, it’s too warm for that; thankfully, there’ a sheet underneath. The wine I drank has made me sleepy, and I start to drift off almost as soon as my head hits the pillow. 
Something disturbs me not long afterwards; I’m not completely submerged in sleep yet, and I’m suddenly wide-awake. What the hell is it? A strange sound, like someone’s in pain. No. Not pain. Oh. My. God! I’ve watched enough movies to know what that grunting noise is. There’s a rhythm to the sounds coming through the wall behind my head. Gabe and Luke are having sex. 
They can’t realize how thin the partition is between their bedroom and the guest room. Maybe they’ve never had anyone stay here before? Or could be they didn’t do it when there was someone? Eek, what should I do? 
I bury my head under the pillow, but I can still hear them. Should I go and wait it out in the bathroom? It won’t take long, surely, for them to finish? But I don’t get out of my bed… I’m too caught up in what’s happening next door. Just the thought of what they’re doing is sending tingles through my tits down to my pussy. My legs fall open and I slip my fingers inside my pajama bottoms. I’m soaking wet.
I’m a virgin as far as having sex with a man goes, but I’m not a prude and I’ve learnt to satisfy my urges without shame. I close my eyes and imagine Gabe pinning Luke to the bed, or is it the other way around? Jesus, I’d give anything to see. Oops, where did that come from?
My clit buzzes as I stroke it, and my pussy clenches around the finger I slip inside. There’s a groan from the next room, deep and guttural. Is it Gabe? My nipples pucker.
Loud as anything, I hear Luke’s voice. “Are you enjoying that, loverboy? Is it making you hot there’s a sweet, sexy little girl in the next room?”



SC Daiko is a romance junkie who loves writing about strong heroines and hot alpha males. Her stories are sexy and emotional reads. Originally from the UK, she now lives in Italy with her husband and two cats. Nothing makes her happier than connecting with readers and fellow authors.



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