Archives for May 2017

FRIDAY FAVORITES with Melissa Foster … with a Giveaway!

May 12, 2017 1 Comment

Join me every Friday to see my spotlight on one of my favorite authors who will be sharing a few of their favorite things!

Scroll all the way to the bottom to enter Melissa’s giveaway!

Featured today is bestselling author MELISSA FOSTER! Thanks for joining me and sharing some of your favorites Melissa!

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.

CONNECT WITH MELISSA:

My favorite color is … lavender

My favorite place to read is … on the beach

My favorite snack is … ice cream

My favorite type of music is … country

My favorite hot beverage is … cocoa

My favorite type of flower is … orchid

My favorite time of day is … any:)

My favorite candy is … Twizzlers

My favorite hobby is … exercise

My favorite place to vacation is … Cape Cod

Melissa has just kicked off a brand new series BAYSIDE SUMMERS!

Look for the first book in that series BAYSIDE DESIRES, out now!

ORDER LINKS:

BAYSIDE DESIRES
Love in Bloom — Bayside Summers

As the co-owner of Bayside Resorts, Rick Savage has a fabulous job working with his best friends and brother, and a thriving business in Washington, DC, which he’ll be returning to at the end of the summer. Spending time with his family is great, but being back on Cape Cod has unearthed painful memories. When sweet, smart, and overly cautious Desiree Cleary moves in next door, Rick is drawn to the sexy preschool teacher, and she just might prove to be the perfect distraction.

Running an art gallery was not in preschool teacher Desiree Cleary’s plans, but after being tricked into coming to her impetuous, unreliable mother’s aid, she’s stuck spending the summer with the badass half sister she barely knows and a misbehaving dog. If that’s not frustrating enough, she can’t escape the sparks igniting with her strikingly handsome and pushy neighbor, Rick, who makes all her warning bells go off.

Passion ignites as Desiree and Rick spend long summer nights sharing heartfelt confessions and steamy kisses. For the first time in years Rick is enjoying life again instead of hiding behind mounds of work miles away from his family. Desiree has touched him in a way that makes him want to slow down. Only slowing down means dealing with his demons, and he isn’t sure who he’ll be when he comes out the other side.

Released in April by Melissa:

ORDER LINKS:

Truly, Madly, WHISKEY

Eight months is a long damn time to have the hots for a woman who keeps a guy at arm’s length. But Crystal Moon is no ordinary woman. She’s a sinfully sexy, sass-mouthed badass, and the subject of Bear Whiskey’s midnight fantasies. She’s also one of his closest friends.

Just when Crystal thinks she has her life under control, scorching-hot, possessive, aggressive, and fiercely loyal Bear pushes all her sexual buttons, relentless in his pursuit to make her his.

The more Bear pushes, the hotter their passion burns, unearthing memories for Crystal that are best kept buried. But there’s no stopping the collision of her past and present, catapulting the two lovers down an emotionally charged road that has them questioning all they thought they knew about themselves.

Lots of sexy goodness ahead for us in 2017 from Melissa!

Releasing July 12:

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

BAD BOYS AFTER DARK: CARSON
Bad Billionaires After Dark

Everything’s naughtier after dark…

As the founder of a multimillion-dollar international security business, Carson Bad exposes secrets for a living. He knows better than to forge relationships built on them. But for years he did just that with his best friend, and secret lover, Tawny Bishop. She brought a sense of calm and understanding to his life—in and out of the bedroom. Until one fateful night when a knock at the door changed everything.

Tawny is no longer a naive college student. She’s a sought-after perfumer living in Paris. She has plenty of resources at her fingertips, and lots of lonely nights to think about the only man she’s ever loved—the one she ran away from all those years ago. She needs to move forward with her life, but how can she when Carson still owns her heart?

Maybe showing up in the middle of the night unannounced isn’t the best route to unraveling the past and figuring out her future, but Tawny has played it safe for ten long years, and it’s only made her long for the man she never should have walked away from. Now she’s back in Carson’s life, and he’s determined not to make the same mistake twice. If only he knew what that mistake was…

Releasing August 16:

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

SWEPT INTO LOVE
Love in Bloom — The Ryders

It’s been years since Sally Tuft’s husband died, years since she was left to raise her teenage son alone, and years since she’d told the only other man she wanted that they should be just friends. Now her son has left for college, and Sally has no distractions to keep her from thinking about her best friend and co-worker, Gage Ryder, and what could have been.

Gage Ryder believed that one day Sally would move past the death of her husband and they would finally leave the friend zone and explore the passion that’s simmered between them since the day they met. But it doesn’t seem that’s ever going to happen, and it just might be Gage’s turn to move on.

When Gage and Sally are tasked with opening a new youth center their close-knit world is expanded–and sexy new prospects move in. Sally and Gage are forced to confront their attractions, or let each other go forever.

Releasing September 5:

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

Amazon | Paperback

THE REAL THING
Sugar Lake

Bakery owner Willow Dalton’s friendship with Zane Walker has always been a bit complicated. Now a scrumptiously hot A-list actor, Zane’s always had a reputation as a player. He’s arrogant, and he’s definitely not boyfriend material. Sure, he did Willow a favor by agreeing to take her virginity before college, but is that reason enough for her to go along with a fake engagement a decade later—even if it comes with a real diamond ring?

Zane should have known better. Nothing involving Willow has ever been easy. Still, he knows her better than anyone, and becoming America’s hottest new leading man means cleaning up his reputation. An “engagement” to curvy, sass-mouthed Willow is the perfect PR move…provided no one gets hurt.

Now Zane and Willow’s little white lie has turned into an irresistible recipe for sweet temptation. And soon no one will be able to tell the difference between their fake engagement and the real thing—including them.

Releasing October 18:

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

THRILL OF LOVE
Love in Bloom — The Bradens — Peaceful Harbor, MD

Fall in love with Ty Braden, a world-renowned mountain climber and nature photographer. He’s about to take on his toughest assignment yet—winning the heart of the one that got away.

Get started on 5 great series … FREE!

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Filed Under: Author Spotlight, Friday Favorites

* Blog Tour / Release Blast * PAYBACK by Christina Phillips

May 12, 2017 1 Comment

Payback
Viking Bastards MC #2

By: Christina Phillips

Releasing May 1, 2017
Entangled Scorched

BLURB:

Gage…

I don’t fuck girls who work for me, but as soon as Amelia turns those big green eyes on me I know she’s trouble. I can’t keep my hands off her, and the almost-but-not-quite-sex we share in the kitchen is the hottest thing I’ve ever had. Except she calls it quits, before we’ve even started.

Instead of moving on, she’s all I can think about and that’s bad news. I’m breaking all my rules for her, and don’t even care.

Until I find out who she is and what she really wants. She’s after payback, but there’s no way she’s going to get it. No way in hell…

Buy Links: AMAZON | B&N | iTUNES | KOBO

Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master/2017/3/29/payback-christina-phillips

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34741829-payback

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/197376-viking-bastards-mc

I trace the outline of her ear and those three irresistible hoops. She gives a little shiver but still doesn’t grab hold of me. Guess it’s time to ease her mind on things.

I move in closer, and she steps back until she’s flat against the larder door.

“What happens between us tonight doesn’t affect your job. You understand?”

“You mean if I knee your nuts, you won’t fire me?”

Instinctively, I cradle my junk. “That wasn’t my first thought.”

Her smile damn near takes my breath away. “I bet it wasn’t. I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

“Is that right?” I’m sure my package is safe so I twist a length of her hair around my finger. It’s as soft and silky as I imagined. “What’s that, then?”

“I think you’re trying to get inside my thong.”

The image of Amelia in nothing but a sexy thong fills my head. “You got a problem with that?”

“Yeah. It’s not happening.”

My gaze drops to her mouth. “Wanna bet?”

“I don’t need to bet. I’m telling you. All you get tonight is a kiss.”

Chicks don’t lay down the law to me. But then again, I’ve never been with a girl who confuses me as much as Amelia. If she wants to leave, she could easily walk away. I won’t stop her. But she stands there, like she’s daring me to take me up on her offer.

A kiss.

I give her a mocking smile. “You’ll want more than a kiss from me.”

She doesn’t answer right away, and I hide my smirk of victory as I lean in to claim her mouth. Her head tilts to the side, evading me, which is both frustrating and oddly fascinating.

“It doesn’t matter what I want. A kiss is my best offer. Take it or leave it.”

Despite the throb between my legs, I have the crazy urge to laugh. “That’s your best offer? You sure you don’t want me to go down on you?”

For a second I swear she’s about say yes, but then she hitches in a ragged breath. “Totally sure. Keep your head right where it is.”

No chick has ever refused that offer before, and the way she’s so desperately trying to hide how turned on she is makes me grin. “Okay. But I’ll only kiss you on one condition.”

“Huh?” She sounds drunk, and blinks at me like everything’s out of focus. “You have a condition?”

“It’s only fair.”

She stares at me as though I’ve lost my mind. I think I fucking have. Not that I care, since crazy as this all is, I’ve never had as much fun hooking up before.

Finally, she speaks. “What is it?”

“I can use my hands on you.” I wave my fingers in her face and she glances at them as though she has no idea what I’m talking about.

“Okay.” There’s a cautious note in her voice as though she thinks it’s some kind of trick. “But that’s all. Just your hands.”

That’s all I need.

AUTHOR INFO:

Christina Phillips is addicted to good coffee, expensive chocolate and bad boy heroes. She writes on the sizzling side of naughty, and loves bringing her tough biker heroes to their knees (her heroines enjoy this, too ☺)

She is also owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around their needs. They are not wrong.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Release Blast / Book Review * THE MAGNATE’S MARRIAGE MERGER by Joanne Rock

May 11, 2017 1 Comment

The Magnate's Marriage Merger by Joanne Rock
Series: The McNeill Magnates
Published by Harlequin Desire on May 1, 2017
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

The matchmaker meets her match…in one very persistent tycoon!

Secretive matchmaker to the rich and famous, Lydia Whitney prefers to stay behind the scenes. But after one mistake, rich resort developer Ian McNeill is hot on her trail, and he's more attractive—and persistent—than ever before.

Ian can't believe it when he figures out who's messing with his family: a woman who has deceived—and seduced—him before. What's her agenda? And why can't he resist her? He'll get the answers to all his questions, if Lydia agrees to his convenient marriage proposal. But once she's in his arms again, will he let her go?

A dashing business man gets a second chance with the one that got away! The characters are easy to like, and we enjoy seeing them interact with the rest of the family that we got to know in the previous book. A fast-paced, satisfying read! Looking forward to more in the series … and especially delving into the secrets that were uncovered!

Resort developer Ian McNeill got more than he bargained for when he hired his PI buddy to track down the matchmaker that caused a huge scandal for his brothers a couple of months ago. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he’d come to him with a picture of his ex!

Lydia Whitney admits that the secretive matchmaking originally started as a little bit of payback on Ian, but she seriously never meant for the big snafu to happen with his brothers! A big misunderstanding that she was a bit too sensitive about led to them breaking up a year ago after a short-lived relationship … and seeing each other brings back those same old feelings. Ian proposes she help him out of a situation by marrying him for a year … and she reluctantly agrees. When all is said and done, will either of them be walking away?

The Magnate’s Marriage Merger
The McNeill Magnates #2

By: Joanne Rock

Releasing May 9, 2017
Harlequin Desire

Blurb
The matchmaker meets her match…in one very persistent tycoon!

Secretive matchmaker to the rich and famous, Lydia Whitney prefers to stay behind the scenes. But after one mistake, rich resort developer Ian McNeill is hot on her trail, and he’s more attractive—and persistent—than ever before.

Ian can’t believe it when he figures out who’s messing with his family: a woman who has deceived—and seduced—him before. What’s her agenda? And why can’t he resist her? He’ll get the answers to all his questions, if Lydia agrees to his convenient marriage proposal. But once she’s in his arms again, will he let her go?

Buy Links: AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master/magnates-marriage-merger-joanne-rock

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32336143-the-magnate-s-marriage-merger

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/200999-the-mcneill-magnates

She was a woman of habit and that would serve him well now. He hoped. He remembered how much she had enjoyed swimming first thing in the morning when they were working together in the islands of Tahiti. He’d accused her of being a mermaid with her daily need to return to the sea, but even when he’d been bleary-eyed from working late the night before, he never missed a chance to swim with her. For safety purposes, he’d told her, and not just because he enjoyed the occasional chance to slide a hand beneath her bikini top or wind the wet rope of her hair around his hand and angle her sea-salty lips for his kiss.

When the elevator sounded its dull chime, he slowly looked up. The doors opened and Lydia strode into view. His gaze fell on her long, shapely legs, the hem of her black mesh tunic revealing a hint of thigh.

“Ian?” Her voice tugged his attention higher, pulling his focus to her green eyes and creamy skin devoid of makeup.

With her hair scraped back into a ponytail, she looked every inch the part of his earthy, warmhearted lover from last summer. He had to remember that she hadn’t been the woman he thought, that he’d been wrong about her, or he might have swept her up into his arms and ridden the elevator back up to her hotel room to remind her how good they were together in at least one respect.

Sex. Raw, sensual, mind-blowing sex.

His pulse ramped up at the steamy memories, so much so that he had to shut down those thoughts and focus on the present or his plan would be doomed before he even started.

“Hope you don’t mind if I join you.” Ian tucked his phone back into the pocket of the cargo shorts he’d slid on over his swim trunks.

She halted in front of him abruptly. Then, eyes sliding to the desk attendant, she stepped closer. Probably she did it to minimize the chance of being overheard.

Ian liked the opportunity to breathe in the scent of her—the lavender fragrance of the detergent she washed her clothes in and a subtle perfume more complex than that.

“What on earth are you doing here?” She glanced over her shoulder. “You realize most of the consultants working on the Foxfire are staying in this hotel? What will they say if someone sees us together at this hour?”

“They’ll think we had a whole lot more fun last night than they did.”

Last night, he’d paced the floor of his penthouse suite for far too long, thinking through every aspect of a contract marriage and what details he should include in the paperwork.

In the end, she would sign. But she wasn’t going to like him forcing her hand, and that bothered him more than it should have.

“And that doesn’t concern you? I happen to enjoy a hard-earned reputation as a professional.” Her clipped words and the high color in her cheeks told him he’d gotten under her skin in record time.

“If you don’t want anyone to see us together, we might as well hit the beach. Take refuge in the water.” His hand itched to touch her. To rest on the small of her back and steer her out the door, across the street and onto the soft sand. But he had to be careful not to push or she could dig her heels in about his suggestion and delay the whole thing.

Now that he’d made up his mind and seen the benefits of a union between the two of them, he couldn’t think of one damn reason why he should delay.

After narrowing her green eyes at him for an instant, she pivoted on her wedge sandals and strode toward the exit.

He caught up to her in two long steps, holding the door wide for her before as they headed out onto Ocean Drive, which was strangely quiet in the predawn dark. There were more joggers on the beach than bathers; a few runners kicked up sand as they pounded past them.

“It’ll be quieter down here.” He pointed out a stretch of the shore where no beach loungers had been set up yet, a spot free from any hotel guests.

In fact, he’d claimed the location for them earlier when he’d ordered a cabana and sunrise breakfast. Lydia apparently didn’t notice his preparations, however, instead appearing too absorbed in her frustrated march toward the water, her feet churning through the sand at breakneck pace.

The horizon was starting to smudge from inky black to purple as she reached the shoreline and kicked off her shoes. Then she yanked the black mesh cover-up off and over her head. Mesmerized by her silhouette as his eyes adjusted to the light, Ian watched as she ran into the surf and made a shallow dive under an oncoming wave… She was a woman of habit and that would serve him well now. He hoped. He remembered how much she had enjoyed swimming first thing in the morning when they were working together in the islands of Tahiti. He’d accused her of being a mermaid with her daily need to return to the sea, but even when he’d been bleary-eyed from working late the night before, he never missed a chance to swim with her. For safety purposes, he’d told her, and not just because he enjoyed the occasional chance to slide a hand beneath her bikini top or wind the wet rope of her hair around his hand and angle her sea-salty lips for his kiss.

Author Info

Four-time RITA nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn’t like. The author of over eighty books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her life outlook perfectly–love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann. When she’s not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded sons.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Prize 1: a Lily Pulitzer weekly calendar, makeup bag, scented soap, nail polish set and romance by Maisey Yates and Joanne Rock ( 1 winner – US Only)

Prize 2: $10 Amazon GC and digital download of The Magnate’s Mail -Order Bride by Joanne Rock (1 winner, open INTL)

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Release Day Blitz

* Blog Tour/ Release Blast * BETTING THE BAD BOY by Stefanie London

May 11, 2017 1 Comment

Betting the Bad Boy
Behind the Bar #3

By: Stefanie London

Releasing May 8, 2017
Entangled Lovestruck

BLURB:

Self-confessed perfectionist Paige Thomas isn’t used to failing. But when a critical error in romantic judgment sends all her big city career dreams crashing down, she scrambles to find a job—any job—to make ends meet.

Noah Reid may as well have “trust issues” tattooed on his forehead. Being raised in the foster system didn’t give him a positive outlook on relationships, but now he’s looking after his best friend’s bar for one month, and he can’t do it alone.

Things get steamy when Noah hires Paige, but she’s determined not to repeat her mistakes and she bets Noah that she can keep her hands to herself while they’re working together. Too bad for her, Noah is an expert at breaking the rules…

Buy Links: AMAZON | B & N | ITUNES | KOBO

Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master/2017/4/3/betting-bad-boy-stefanie-london

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34738007-betting-the-bad-boy

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/160771-behind-the-bar

She held the blindfold while trying to ignore the flutter of excitement in her stomach. Her fingers toyed with the elasticated band meant to hold the mask in place.

“Both partners are going to get a turn at being blindfolded,” Libby said from the front of the room. “Between yourselves, pick who’s going to go first.”

Noah looked down at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He ran a hand along his jaw, catching the reddish-gold bristles of his burgeoning beard. For a moment, Paige was totally captured with the idea of how the bristles might feel on her skin. Would they be smooth or rough? Would she shriek if he brushed them along her inner thigh?

“What do you say, new girl?” He cocked his head. “Would you rather do the blindfolding or be blindfolded?”

At that point she would have been happy to go all in— blindfolded, tied up, and held down.

Holy crap, would you listen to yourself? This is a work function, not a goddamn re-creation of Fifty Shades.

“Blindfolded,” she squeaked, thrusting the mask into his hands and spinning so quickly that she almost lost her footing.

“You know, I’ve never done this before.” His hand steadied her, the reassuring warmth of his touch seeping into her skin. Her bones felt like jelly.

“Blindfolded someone?” she asked, cringing at how shaky her voice sounded.

“Ah, no. I meant the taste test.” He chuckled as he slipped the mask over her eyes.

Heat rushed up to Paige’s cheeks. Of course he meant the taste test. What an idiot she was. Just because her brain was earning an R-rating tonight didn’t mean his was, too. She fought back a tremor as he brushed some loose hairs from her neck so he could adjust the strap on the mask.

Everything went dark, and Paige gripped the edge of the table for support.

Warm breath whispered over her ear, and she could tell he’d leaned in a little closer. The scent of coffee and faded cologne tempted her to turn her head toward the source.

“I’ve definitely blindfolded someone before, but it wasn’t for a taste test.” Her breath hitched, and she was grateful that she’d had the presence of mind to hold on to something.

“Oh.” 

He chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what she said.” 

Holy. Freaking. Shit.

AUTHOR INFO:

Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of over ten contemporary romances with humour, heat and heart. Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. Thus, it was no surprise Stefanie was the sort of student who would read her English books before the semester started. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. When writing emails and newsletters didn’t fulfil her creative urges, she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.

Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is currently in the process of doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and zombie movies.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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Filed Under: Blog Tour, Release Day Blitz

* Release Week Blitz * SCORE by Victoria Denault

May 10, 2017 Leave a Comment

Title: SCORE

Author: Victoria Denault

Series: San Francisco Thunder, #1

On Sale: May 9, 2017

Publisher: Forever

Trade Paperback: $14.99 USD

eBook: $3.99 USD

Add to Goodreads

“Denault launches a new series, featuring the bad boys of the San Francisco Thunder, with gusto, passion and heaps of tension and sensual detail. Several genre-defying complications makes the story feel unexpectedly fresh. Moreover, the consistent reinforcement of the female characters’ strength and individuality turns this book into something unique, and provides plenty of incentive for fans of sport romances to seek out this new series without delay.” –RT Book Reviews

“Sexy, sassy, and a perfect new adult read for fans who love hockey and romance, not necessarily in that order. An excellent new sports series launch.” –Library Journal

He’s used to winning, but now he’s playing with his heart.

Jude Braddock. Hockey god. That’s how everyone sees him now. But when they were teenagers, Zoey knew him as the kid who didn’t have enough nerve to make a move on their one and only disastrous date. Seems he doesn’t have that problem anymore, though. According to the rumors, he’s with a different woman every night. After a rough divorce, the last thing Zoey needs is more heartbreak. But Jude’s cocky, playful attitude is mighty hard to resist.

Jude knows he isn’t built for long-term relationships. But he’s getting sick of women pounding on his door in the middle of the night looking for a rematch. When Zoey comes back into his life, it’s like fate has given him a second chance. He’ll do anything to make her happy again. Is this what love looks like? He has no idea. All he knows for sure is that this time, he’s playing for keeps.

BUY THE BOOK HERE

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IndieBound
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EXCERPT:

Still staring at my blank phone screen, I stumble toward the door and of course I walk straight into someone. Of course. Because to- day is going to be shitty in every possible way. Luckily, I manage to avoid getting chai latte on either of us; it barely spills over the lid and only dribbles onto my hand.

“I’m so sorry!” I say at the exact same time she does, and I look up to see a familiar face staring back, but I can’t place it.

She blinks azure eyes and then her whole face lights up. “Zoey?

Zoey Quinlin? Oh my God!”

She’s hugging me before I realize what’s happening. I wrap the hand not covered in latte around her back and return the embrace. She pulls back, still holding my shoulders, and smiles. “Holy crap! It’s been over ten years! Oh my God.” She pauses and glances around before adding in a softer voice, “It’s Dixie. Dixie Braddock. You used to babysit me at my family’s summer cottage in Maine. You were friends with my brother, Jude.”

“Holy shit! Dixie Braddock?” I can’t believe it. The last time I saw her she was thirteen. Wheat hair; pink, suntanned skin; freckles across her nose and chronically scabbed-up knees from trying to keep up with her older sisters and brother, who were all daredevils on their bikes and skateboards and surfboards. Babysitting them—well, the girls, anyway—for the two years I lived in Maine was a highlight of my summers. And so was seeing their brother. Shit, I hadn’t thought of Jude Braddock in a while. I find myself smiling now that I am.

“You live in San Fran?” she questions as she takes my elbow and leads me over to the counter and hands me a napkin for my latte- soaked hand.

“Yeah. Stayed local after college,” I explain as I put down the latte and wipe my hand. “And you live here?”

She nods, her sleek blond bob moving like a curtain around her face. She looks close to the tiny thing I babysat but much more refined and beautiful now. I do the math: she’s only twenty-four, but she looks more put together than any twenty-four-year-old I’ve known.

“Yeah. I went to school for sports media, then interned with the San Francisco Thunder hockey team, and they hired me full- time this year.” Her eyes dart around, and her voice drops again. “Jude plays for them, so I use my mom’s last name, Wynn, so no one thinks he got me the job. He didn’t.”

“Jude is in San Francisco?” I don’t know why I felt the need to say that with such breathless shock. I knew he made the NHL, but I had thought he was playing in Milwaukee. That’s where he was last time I Googled him, which was three years ago, before I married Adam.

“Yeah. Got traded a couple years ago,” Dixie explains. “So how’s your family? Where’s your dad preaching now?”

“He’s retired. Mom and Dad are in Sacramento,” I explain. “My brother, Morgan, is a teacher here in San Francisco.”

“Morgan!” She laughs and her cheeks turn a little pink. “Sadie, Winnie and I had such a crush on your brother when we were little. Remember we used to keep begging you to invite him over when you were watching us?”

I nod and can’t help but smile back. Yeah, that memory hasn’t faded. The Braddock girls wanted my brother to come over, but I never invited him. Not because he was gay, which I already knew at that point, but because if Morgan was around, he would tease me about gawking at Jude, which I always did if he happened to come home before Mr. and Mrs. Braddock’s date night ended.

Dixie glances at her phone in her hand, and I realize we both must have been looking at our screens when we collided. She frowns. “I have to go. I have a meeting at the arena in twenty.” She puts a hand on my arm again. “But I would love to catch up with you, and I know Winnie and Sadie would too. They’re going to be in town this weekend. Would you be able to do brunch?”

“Yeah, I can do brunch,” I reply and am shocked at how excited I am at her suggestion. I haven’t really done much of anything social since the separation. I kind of lost touch with a lot of my friends after marrying Adam and adopted his circle of friends. And they all promptly orphaned me after the separation. I didn’t care much because I didn’t feel up to social interaction, but suddenly this seems like a pleasant distraction from my reality. The Braddock family was one of my favorite parts of my childhood.

“Amazing!” Dixie almost squeals. “How about tomorrow. Eleven?”

I nod. “Where?”

“You pick.”

“MKT?” I blurt out because it’s in my hotel and I’m too flustered to think of anything else. To be honest, I don’t even know what they serve for brunch.

“Great! Sadie loves that place, and she’s normally impossible to please.” She hugs me again. “See you tomorrow! Winnie and Sadie are going to be so excited!”

And then, before I can even lift my hand to wave, she’s back out the door. She never even got a coffee, but she doesn’t seem to notice. I’m more dumbfounded and confused than I was from the phone call with Minerva. The Braddocks are here. Well, at least Jude and Dixie are here. In San Francisco. Where I live. When the hell did that happen?

I look around the coffee shop to make sure there’s no one else from my past lurking around. A teacher, a neighbor, another sister of an old unconsummated love. Although Jude was my only unrequited love, but he did have three sisters. Whom I will be having brunch with tomorrow. Crazy!

I slip out of Peet’s and concentrate on the clicking of my heels as I make my way back over to my office. I finally take a sip of my jostled latte. It’s barely warm but the caffeine still manages to clear my head a little. Not enough that eagle-eye Marti doesn’t notice something is up.

“Everything okay?” she wants to know as she stands at her desk, gathering things she needs for her day and placing them in her bag. “You look more out of it than you did before the coffee.”

“I ran into someone I haven’t seen in a long time,” I murmur, and for some reason Jude’s seventeen-year-old face floats through my head, not Dixie’s from this morning. “The last time I saw her was in Maine eleven years ago, so it was surprising.”

“Wow.” Marti takes a break from filling her Michael Kors satchel with listing flyers. “Small world, huh? I love when that happens. Unless it’s someone I hate. Was it someone you hate?”

“No. Not at all,” I reply and drop down gently into my seat. “She and her sisters were sweethearts. Seems like they still are. I’ll definitely find out, because I’m having brunch with them tomorrow.”

“Cool.” Marti isn’t paying attention anymore. Her eyes are focused across the room on Parker McDavid, who is the owner of our company. He’s midforties, tall with a dad bod that is oddly at- tractive, probably because he covers it in perfectly tailored designer clothes. His dark hair is graying in all the right places, like George Clooney’s, and his eyes are warm and his smile is kind. But he’s an astute businessman who expects a lot from his Realtors, and Marti is constantly trying to impress him. I am too, if I’m being honest, but I’m new. She’s not new, but she’s still hungry.

“I’m going to tell Parker about the deal I just closed, and then I’m off for a condo showing,” Marti explains and barely even waves good-bye as she hustles toward the kitchen Parker just disappeared into for his morning croissant and English Breakfast tea.

I open my laptop and pull up my email, determined to keep my mind focused on work. I need to send a follow-up email regarding the potential Haight listing, but my brain is bouncing from Adam to Dixie.

One future encounter I’m dreading—confronting Adam—and one I’m looking forward to—seeing the Braddock sisters. But the one that isn’t destined to happen is the one that fills me with excitement I haven’t felt in a long time—the potential that since I’m meeting three Braddock siblings I might also run into the fourth: Jude.

THE SAN FRANCISCO THUNDER SERIES

SCORE, #1

SLAMMED, #2

Series Page on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria Denault loves long walks on the beach, cinnamon dolce lattes and writing angst-filled romance. She lives in L.A. but grew up in Montreal, which is why she is fluent in English, French and hockey.

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* Review * FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME by Marina Adair

May 10, 2017 1 Comment

Feels Like the First Time by Marina Adair
Series: Destiny Bay
Published by Forever on April 25, 2017
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What's wrong with a little white lie?

There are a lot of things Ali Marshal doesn't do: pink anything, a day without chocolate, and Hawk, her sister's ex-husband. Sure, he's a sexy former NHL star who can make her pulse pound with just a wink. But he belonged to Bridget first. And no matter how long she's had a crush on him, how great he's always been to her dad, or that her sister is engaged to someone else now and Ali needs a date to their engagement party, she can't give in to temptation. Can she?

It's been years since his disastrous marriage crashed and burned, and Bradley Hawk has finally moved on. So when Bridget blows back into town with her new fiancé, throwing the engagement party of the year, he could care less . . . until Ali tells one little lie that lands him smack dab in a fake relationship. After one promise to be Ali's date and two of the hottest kisses he's ever had, Hawk can't deny how much he wants her. But what happens when this fauxmance starts to feel very, very real?

Loved this story! From the first scene of Ali and Hawk together, I was hooked! I was on pins and needles waiting to make sure they wound up together. Great characters, a sensitive combination of family and love. Such a great couple!

Aliana Marshal has been crushing on Bradley Hawk since she was a kid. She met him and was immediately smitten, and they were good friends … and then the worst thing imaginable happened! He met her sister Bridget and fell under her spell instantly. Ali had to stand by and watch the man of her dreams marry her sister … her selfish and demanding sister … her wishy-washy sister … the sister that up and leaves him just as his hockey career in the NHL is ending.

Hawk was crushed when Bridget wanted out of their marriage. He was in it for the long haul … and continued to let her string him along for a time or two even after it was over. Now he’s happy living back home in Destiny Bay, running his bar and brewing his hard cider with his best friend Luke … and best of all, having his buddy Ali working and living right next door.

When Bridget shows back up in town with news of an upcoming wedding, Ali struggles with how it’s all going to affect Hawk. She knows he’s still hung up on Bridget, so she needs to protect him. When a make-believe relationship between the two of them comes out of her mouth, they’re all shocked. And when the heat that comes off of them during a couple of “fake” kisses hits her, she’s blown away … and so is Hawk … and all of a sudden he wants them to be dating … and not for pretend anymore!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * THE BRIDAL SQUAD by Samantha Chase

May 10, 2017 Leave a Comment

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* Review * THE BRIDAL SQUAD by Samantha Chase

The Bridal Squad by Samantha Chase
Series: The Enchanted Bridal Series #2
on May 10, 2017
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The Friday Night Brides are back! And this time, it’s their first season running the business! It was one thing to just model in a weekly fashion show, it’s quite another to be the ones calling the shots and making future brides’ dreams come true. Their first client has them wondering if they’re really prepared for their new roles!

The Bride: Julianne is big on fitness, small on patience. And planning her wedding is grating on her every last nerve. As a Zumba instructor, she loves the freedom to create and choreograph her routines and help others achieve their goals, but having to stand back and let others choreograph her big day has her wanting to hip-hop toward eloping!

The Matron of Honor: As the only married member of the bridal party, Natalie considers herself the aficionado on all-things weddings. And even though her time in the spotlight is over, that doesn’t mean she isn’t full of ideas on how her best friend’s wedding should look and feel and be! And it doesn’t take long for her to realize that maybe it’s not so much that she’s wanting to help as it is that she’s afraid of her own honeymoon ending.

The Bride’s Sister: Nothing screams unwanted relationship advice than when your younger sister gets married before you. It’s not that Harper doesn’t want to get married, after three failed engagements she really does! But finding the right man to walk down the aisle with is proving harder than she thought. And it gets even harder when constantly being compared to the perfect couple!

The Reluctant Bridesmaid: There is nothing Kayla wants more than to see one of her best friend’s get married…if only the whole process wasn’t so exhausting! Travel and adventure and being on the go fuels her. Having to stay in one place for an extended period of time while wearing taffeta? Not so much. Her job tends to take her away on a moment’s notice and this is one time she may have to pass up the trip of a lifetime in the name of friendship.

A heartwarming story about friendship and the toils of life! The characters were all interesting and watching them evolve into more assured people was enlightening. It was fun to get sort of get 4 stories instead of one.

Julianne Burke just got engaged to the love of her life, Gavin. She’s excited to kick off the wedding planning, and is bringing along her 3 best friends for the ride. Her big sister Harper and two of her best friends since childhood, Kayla and Natalie. As the story unfolds, we get a delve into each of their lives and relationships and watch them all go through their various turmoils.

Julianne knows that she wants to marry Gavin, but this wedding stress is really getting to her. It’s making her feel an anger she’s not used to. She has to somehow find a way to get these bickering people off her back and get to just enjoy loving her man again!

Big sis Harper adores her sister and wants nothing but happiness for her, but the constant sniping from Mom about her own three failed engagements is driving her crazy! It’s demoralizing enough to have her little sister get married before her already … and to constantly have her past thrown in her face on top of it? GRRRRR!

Self-named matron of honor Natalie loves to talk up her own wedding of a year ago and considers herself an expert. As she spends time with the girls and sees the various things going on in their lives, she starts to doubt that honeymoon lifestyle she thought she had going on with her own husband.

Free-spirit Kayla … the sporty nature photographer who lives her life jumping from one assignment to another all over the world, no matter how dangerous it is. She’s a no commitment, no plans type of gal and really enjoys it … until the things she was taking for granted suddenly aren’t there anymore and she has to decide if she wants to change her way of living to make room for them.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Blog Tour / Book Review * GOING IN DEEP by Carly Phillips

May 9, 2017 Leave a Comment

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* Blog Tour / Book Review * GOING IN DEEP by Carly Phillips

Going In Deep by Carly Phillips
Series: Billionaire Bad Boys #4
Published by CP Publishing on May 9, 2017
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He isn't Mr. Nice Guy…

Julian Dane thought he'd hit rock bottom — until he met a woman (isn't that what they all say?). He used her and broke her heart. Now he wants to turn things around but the damage he dealt stands in his way.

Kendall Parker's unique issues have made it hard to live a normal life. Very few people understand her and she trusts even less … but she believed in Julian once, and he only betrayed her.

Now Julian is back — a new man — and determined to win Kendall's heart. But this reformed bad boy just might find that Going in Deep is harder than it looks.

What a comeback story! I never thought I could like Julian after all that we heard about him in the prior books, but Carly Phillips did a phenomenal job of resurrecting an injured soul and former bad guy and making him really easy to love. Great job! If you’ve followed along in the series, you will recognize almost all of the characters of friends and family … great characters, a redeeming storyline, and a really hopeful message that there can be a second chance and a happy ending no matter where life might have previously taken you!

We met Kendall Parker early in the series when her twin sister, Lexie fell in love with Kade Barnes. We saw some not so stellar moments of how she treated her sister, how she tortured herself and how she managed to find the strength to say she wanted to get help and live a better life once and for all. She’s back, she’s healthy and she’s trying to live her life for herself in a way that makes her accountable for the first time in a long, long time.

Julian Dane was in Kendall’s life for a short time and helped her derail herself into one of her deepest spirals ever. He thought he had gone as low as he could go in his life until he met her … and realized he had used and damaged an unwell person. He wants more than anything to make amends and let her know how very sorry he is. He’s living a different life these days, and when Kendall finally agrees to hear him out, she sees a different man than she knew before.

The attraction between them is just as deep as it ever was, but can she find the strength to trust him and what he’s showing her right now? Will she be able to have a relationship with him when she knows it will not make her sister and friends happy?

Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys, Book 4) by Carly Phillips

Date of Publication: May 9, 2017

Blurb

He isn’t Mr. Nice Guy…

Julian Dane thought he’d hit rock bottom — until he met a woman (isn’t that what they all say?). He used her and broke her heart. Now he wants to turn things around but the damage he dealt stands in his way.

Kendall Parker’s unique issues have made it hard to live a normal life. Very few people understand her and she trusts even less … but she believed in Julian once, and he only betrayed her.

Now Julian is back — a new man — and determined to win Kendall’s heart. But this reformed bad boy just might find that Going in Deep is harder than it looks.

Billionaire Bad Boys: Rich, Powerful and Sexy as hell.

All Billionaire Bad Boys Novels stand alone!

Available From

Amazon (Kindle)
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Kobo
iBooks
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Amazon (Print)

About Carly Phillips

After a successful fifteen-year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find out more about Carly at www.carlyphillips.com.

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* Review * BETTING THE BAD BOY by Stefanie London

May 8, 2017 Leave a Comment

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* Review * BETTING THE BAD BOY by Stefanie London

Betting the Bad Boy by Stefanie London
Series: Behind the Bar
Published by Entangled: Lovestruck on May 8, 2017
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Self-confessed perfectionist Paige Thomas isn’t used to failing. But when a critical error in romantic judgment sends all her big city career dreams crashing down, she scrambles to find a job—any job—to make ends meet.

Noah Reid may as well have “trust issues” tattooed on his forehead. Being raised in the foster system didn’t give him a positive outlook on relationships, but now he’s looking after his best friend’s bar for one month, and he can’t do it alone.

Things get steamy when Noah hires Paige, but she’s determined not to repeat her mistakes and she bets Noah that she can keep her hands to herself while they’re working together. Too bad for her, Noah is an expert at breaking the rules…

Sexy and fun is the motto when country chick meets city dude! He’s hot, down with the ladies and out for a good time always … she’s a unique take on sexy, sweet and dedicated to finding her perfect life. Total opposites right? So why do they mesh so well? He finds himself feeling more for her than he ever imagined was possible … but can she accept less than she was looking for and learn to trust in what he’s offering?

Paige Thomas disappointed her parents by taking off for a life in the city instead of staying closer to home, so there’s no way she can fail and have to run crying home again! She had a job she thought was going to take her places, but she mistakenly trusted the wrong person and now she’s crashing on her friends sofa with no job and no money! What’s a girl to do?

Noah Reid is a fun guy to hang with, but he doesn’t take anything too seriously. Growing up in the foster system and having disappointment after disappointment taught him not to trust in anything being there when he needed it. He has some great friends, loves his job and has a blast cruising through life … but that’s all he’s looking for.

He is filling in for his buddy while he’s away for a month and ends up hiring Paige at the coffeeshop/bar temporarily. Instant attraction is her worst fear realized, so she playfully puts a bet in place to make sure they don’t fall into the lusty trap! Will they be able to hold out, or will she be pushing her rules to the side faster than she can recite them?

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Blog Tour / Book Review * THE FIREMAN’S SON by Tara Taylor Quinn

May 8, 2017 2 Comments

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour / Book Review * THE FIREMAN’S SON by Tara Taylor Quinn

The Fireman's Son by Tara Taylor Quinn
Series: Where Secrets are Safe
Published by Harlequin Superromance on May 1, 2017
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Secrets are burning out of control

After she broke his heart in college, Faye Walker is the last person fire chief Reese Bristow ever expected to see again, especially as his new EMT. But that's not Reese's only surprise. Faye has an eight-year-old son, Elliott, whose counseling at The Lemonade Stand shelter is her first priority.

It's nearly impossible to accept that she had a child with another man—and married that man—right after their breakup. Trusting Faye won't be easy. Especially when she reveals a secret about the boy that might tear them apart for good.

Emotionally raw and gut wrenching! You feel sorry for the child for what he’s been through, and as secrets and questions unravel, you find yourself feeling so sad that such little things caused such a monumental life change for all of them. Really connectible characters who we hope can find the peace they all need.

The last person fire chief Reese Bristow expected to see walk up to one of his fire scenes as his newest EMT is his high school/college sweetheart who broke his heart almost a decade ago! He’s become bitter about life over time, and he’s not interested in reconnecting with her what-so-ever. When he finds out she has a son who needs the counseling only The Lemonade Stand can give him, he agrees to work with her, but plans to keep his distance.

Faye Walker will do anything to heal her son from the damage her life choices have caused him. She needs to find a way to forgive herself for her mistakes and find the courage to reach out for the truth that may very well save her son.

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

The Fireman’s Son
(Where Secrets Are Safe #11)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
May 1st 2017 by Harlequin Superromance

Secrets are burning out of control

After she broke his heart in college, Faye Walker is the last person fire chief Reese Bristow ever expected to see again, especially as his new EMT. But that’s not Reese’s only surprise. Faye has an eight-year-old son, Elliott, whose counseling at The Lemonade Stand shelter is her first priority.

It’s nearly impossible to accept that she had a child with another man—and married that man—right after their breakup. Trusting Faye won’t be easy. Especially when she reveals a secret about the boy that might tear them apart for good.

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Want to chat with TTQ and three other Superromance authors? Join the Facebook party HERE!

Other Books in the Where Secrets Are Safe Series
(Books released as of March 2017. Each can be read as a standalone.)

About the Author

The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. A 2015 RITA finalist Tara appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists, and multiple showings on the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning.

Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.

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Tour Schedule

May 6th: Launch
May 7th:
underneath the covers
deal sharing aunt
May 8th:
Thoughts of a Blonde
Brooke Blogs
EskieMama & Dragon Lady Reads
May 9th:
Nicole’s Book Musings
Angels with Attitude Book Reviews
May 10th:
Celticlady’s Reviews
Becky on Books
beck valley books
May 11th:
Superromance Facebook Party, 7 PM EDT/4 PM PDT
Kindle and Me
Book Lover in Florida
Harlie’s Books
May 12th:
Harlequin Junkie
May 13th: Grand Finale

Domestic Violence Shelter Drive

As Tara supports speaking out against domestic violence and supporting those who have been abused, both through her books and in her community, she would love for you to join her in donating items to a shelter in your area. Find out more here.

Tour Giveaways

1ST RAFFLECOPTER:
1 winner will receive ebooks of Where Secrets are Safe series books 1 – 13 (open internationally)
1 winner (per the four tour segments) will receive a $10 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)

2ND RAFFLECOPTER:
1 winner will receive 25,000 Harelquin My Rewards Points, equivalent to 5 books (US and CAN only)
1 winner will receive 5,000 Harelquin My Rewards Points, equivalent to 1 book (US and CAN only)

Both Rafflecopter giveaways end November 30th, 2017

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